Episode 396
A deep, resonating hum filled the air as the dagger embedded in Do-cheol’s heart began to vibrate violently.
The storm of dark energy blocking Zeke intensified, growing even more ferocious than before.
“What on earth has he done?”
Zeke had sensed something was amiss the moment Do-cheol plunged the dagger into his own heart. He had seen similar rituals performed by dark sorcerers and demons, who would stab their own hearts to invoke powerful magic.
A low, guttural sound emanated from Do-cheol’s body as it began to change. His hunched form twitched, and something seemed to writhe beneath his skin, struggling to break free.
With a tortured scream, Do-cheol collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony. Zeke watched intently from within the storm of dark energy.
Suddenly, Do-cheol’s back burst open, and a black hand emerged, clawing its way out.
“What is that?”
In his previous life, when Nigel had captured Do-cheol, nothing like this had happened.
“Has my return altered the course of events, causing the Four Fiends to align with the Abyss?”
The black hand tore through Do-cheol’s flesh, as if something monstrous was trying to escape from within.
A blood-soaked figure began to emerge from Do-cheol’s body, its presence chilling and otherworldly.
“This can’t be allowed to continue!”
Zeke prepared to use his spirit weapon skill to escape the storm of dark energy. But just as he was about to activate it, the storm vanished without a trace.
Raising his head, Zeke saw a figure rising from Do-cheol’s discarded skin. It was a creature, covered in sticky blood, like a newborn, yet exuding an aura of ancient power.
The creature lifted its head to the sky and muttered something.
“So, their words were true. I’ve finally shed this cursed shell.”
Zeke scrutinized the being, sensing an ominous energy emanating from it. It bore a resemblance to Do-cheol, with massive horns, but its presence was far more intimidating and powerful than any beast.
Its face and body were covered in fur, with sharp claws and fangs, reminiscent of a demon. Yet, the aura it exuded was entirely different.
Zeke had encountered a similar presence before.
“The Queen of Ice… a Nephilim.”
The creature stretched its body, then fixed its crimson eyes on Zeke.
“Insignificant human, you shall pay the price for defying the bloodline of the gods.”
Zeke was taken aback by the creature’s transformation and its words.
“The bloodline of the gods?”
A memory flashed through Zeke’s mind.
“This is a being born from the divine blood of the constellations!”
He recalled what Arata had said when they faced the Nephilim. The energy emanating from the transformed Do-cheol was unmistakably similar.
Zeke slowly raised his hammer, ready to confront this new threat.
“What are you?”
Do-cheol took a deep breath, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
“Such knowledge is not for a mere human. You are nothing more than our sustenance.”
Zeke remembered the Nephilim’s words, claiming humans would forever be their slaves, and he let out a dry laugh.
His expression hardened as he gripped his hammer, electricity crackling around it.
“Let’s see if a mad dog responds to a beating. Maybe it works on beasts too.”
Do-cheol sneered, pulling his lips into a twisted grin.
“Arrogant fool. Do you think a mere human can withstand the divine power I’ve reclaimed?”
Do-cheol reached out towards Zeke.
A deep hum resonated in Zeke’s ears, causing him to stagger slightly, his head spinning.
“What is this?”
Do-cheol watched Zeke’s confusion with satisfaction.
“Go, kill your fellow humans. Their blood and flesh will nourish us, and we will grow stronger by consuming the powerful among you.”
Despite Do-cheol’s command, Zeke stood unmoving.
Do-cheol tilted his head, puzzled.
“Why do you hesitate? Go and kill your kin.”
He spoke as if Zeke were already under his control.
Zeke shook his head, then advanced towards Do-cheol, hammer in hand.
Channeling all his strength into a powerful strike, he swung the hammer at Do-cheol.
With a sickening crunch, the hammer connected with Do-cheol’s abdomen, the sound of breaking bones echoing.
Do-cheol, caught off guard, glared at Zeke in disbelief.
“Impossible! How can a human resist the power of the gods?”
“I have no idea what nonsense you’ve been spouting.”
Zeke’s curt reply was met with a snarl from Do-cheol, who summoned iron claws from the ground to attack Zeke.
The claws lunged at Zeke, poised to tear him apart.
But to Do-cheol’s shock, Zeke caught the iron claws with his bare hands.
With a surge of strength, Zeke snapped the claws in half.
He then grasped the broken shards, igniting them with the power of flame.
The intense heat melted the iron into molten metal, which dripped to the ground.
Do-cheol recoiled in horror.
“How can a human wield such power?”
Panicking, Do-cheol attempted to flee, but Zeke had already ensnared him.
Chains shot out from Zeke’s hand, wrapping around Do-cheol like living serpents.
Do-cheol struggled against the chains, his eyes wide with fear.
“How does a human possess this?”
Zeke tightened his grip on the chains, donning Agamemnon’s mask to channel the power of purification.
Golden light seeped into Do-cheol’s body.
“Argh!”
Zeke held the writhing Do-cheol, demanding answers.
“Tell me everything you know about these chains.”
Do-cheol, despite his fearsome appearance, was the weakest and most cowardly of the Four Fiends. He was ruthless to the weak but craven before the strong.
He thought he could buy time to regain his strength.
Tears streaming down his face, Do-cheol pleaded with Zeke.
“Please, spare me.”
“One moment you’re calling me insignificant, and now this? What are you plotting?”
Zeke was well-versed in dealing with cunning adversaries.
Ignoring Do-cheol’s pleas, he continued to channel the purifying energy through the chains.
Do-cheol exaggerated his cries of pain, hoping to stall for time.
But Zeke saw through his ruse.
“Playing tricks, are we? Fine, keep it up.”
Recalling Do-cheol’s claim of being a “bloodline of the gods,” Zeke retrieved a sacred spear from his inventory.
Do-cheol’s eyes widened in terror at the sight of the spear.
“Why is that here…? Could it be the power of immortality?”
“The one who sent you after me didn’t mention this, did they? Too late now.”
Zeke drove the spear into Do-cheol’s leg.
A hiss of black smoke rose from the wound.
“Argh!”
This time, Do-cheol’s scream was genuine, filled with agony.
Zeke withdrew the spear, observing its effect.
“It works. I wish I’d had this when facing Gung-gi.”
At the mention of Gung-gi, Do-cheol’s panic intensified.
“What have you done to my brother?”
“Brother? So the Four Fiends are like siblings.”
It seemed there was indeed a connection between them.
Zeke pressed the spear to Do-cheol’s throat, his voice low and threatening.
“You know this is a true god-slaying spear. It’s in your best interest to answer truthfully.”
The spear, capable of killing the divine bloodline, was undeniably effective against Do-cheol.
“Damn it. They never told me about this.”
He had only agreed to a contract with the Abyss, believing they would help him reclaim his divine status. The contract required him to capture Zeke alive.
But he hadn’t known Zeke was the immortal one wielding the sacred spear.
Zeke pressed the spear’s tip into Do-cheol’s neck, demanding answers.
“Tell me what you know about these chains.”
Do-cheol hesitated, but as the spear pressed deeper, he finally spoke.
“Solomon! King Solomon’s chains.”
Zeke was taken aback by the unexpected name.
“Solomon, the king of Carcosa?”
Do-cheol nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. King Solomon used those chains to bind the gods.”
Zeke had inherited these chains as part of Terracan Draker’s legacy.
He had hoped to learn more about Terracan by pressing for information, but the story he uncovered was entirely unexpected.
He had assumed the chains were no ordinary artifact, given they could capture not only demons but also fallen constellations. But to think they were King Solomon’s chains was beyond his imagination.
“Solomon’s ring was a gift from an Elder Dragon. Could it be that these chains were crafted by an Elder Dragon as well?”
Zeke gripped his holy spear and addressed Docheol.
“Who sent you here? Explain your current form.”
Docheol felt a deep fear as he realized a weapon capable of erasing his existence had found its way to his neck. Known for terrorizing the weak, he now found himself in the opposite position.
Trembling, Docheol finally spoke.
“A priest of the Abyss approached me. He promised that if I joined forces with him, he would help me shed my cursed form and reclaim my divine status.”
Hearing this, Zeke tugged on the chains, forcing Docheol to meet his gaze.
“What is this ‘cursed form’ and ‘divine status’ you speak of? Are you saying you’re more than just a demon beast?”
Docheol hesitated before slowly responding.
“As I mentioned earlier, we are descendants of a great god.”
“Speak clearly so I can understand. Otherwise, this spear will find its way into your heart.”
Docheol swallowed hard, realizing Zeke was not one to make idle threats.
“My siblings and I were created from divine blood.”
“So, you’re saying you’re Nephilim?”
Docheol’s eyes widened in shock at Zeke’s knowledge.
“How do you know that? I thought that history was erased from human memory!”
“I captured a Nephilim myself.”
Zeke replied nonchalantly, channeling the power of freezing through the chains.
Crack!
The freezing power began to encase Docheol’s body in ice.
“Ugh!”
Even the Nephilim were not immune to this power.
Zeke watched Docheol’s agony and continued his questioning.
“So, the Four Fiends are Nephilim… But why do you appear as demon beasts now?”
Docheol, sweating profusely, answered.
“We are cursed.”
“What kind of curse?”
“A curse that seals our divine status within our forms, forcing us to reincarnate eternally.”
Zeke began to understand why these aberrations differed from other demon beasts. In his past life, he had never encountered the Abyss, so they had remained merely stronger beasts.
“Did all Nephilim receive this curse?”
Docheol shook his head.
“Only those who allied with the fallen constellations were cursed. The others either died or lost their divine status, moving to higher dimensions as spirits.”
Zeke now understood why Nephilim were no longer seen in the material world.
“The fact that the Snow Queen remains sealed is unusual. I still don’t know why Master Kaishir chose to seal her rather than destroy her.”
Zeke gathered his thoughts and pressed his foot against Docheol’s chest.
“I get the gist of it. But why did the priest order you to capture me?”
Docheol shook his head frantically.
“I-I don’t know! I swear!”
“Is that so? Then you have no more use.”
As Zeke raised his spear to strike Docheol’s heart, Docheol cried out desperately.
“W-wait! I remember!”
Zeke paused, the spear hovering just above Docheol’s heart, and glared at him, urging him to speak.
Docheol, trembling, finally spoke.
“He said it was necessary to cast a curse!”
“What curse?”
Zeke’s icy voice prompted Docheol to nervously shift his eyes before he finally answered.
“A curse to bring down Draker!”