Episode 405
“Dr. West, the madman Harvey is the priest of the Abyss?”
Harvey West, who once dabbled in forbidden magic by experimenting with human transmutation using corpses, had not just ended as a mere lunatic. He had become the priest of the Abyss, delving into even more horrific taboos.
After a moment of contemplation, Zeke looked at the leader and spoke.
“Are you saying we need to capture Harvey West, the priest of the Abyss?”
The leader nodded solemnly.
“If we don’t stop him, the large-scale invasions happening in the current realm will continue unabated.”
With a snap of his fingers, several images appeared in the air, each showing different scenes.
Zeke was taken aback by what he saw.
“Monster armies?”
Gates had opened across the continent, unleashing massive monster armies, not just in the places Zeke had defended. The images showed the High Table and the Highlanders fighting to hold them back.
“We’re doing our best to prevent them from reaching populated areas, but we’re nearing our limits.”
Though each Highlander agent was elite, their numbers were far too few. Moreover, the High Table members were each responsible for their own territories, making it difficult for them to move freely.
Zeke’s expression hardened as he watched the scenes.
“So, the Highlanders have been holding off the monster armies without my knowledge.”
If those armies were to attack simultaneously or if the Highlanders failed in their defense, the situation would be drastically different.
Zeke turned to the leader and said, “Alright, I’ll take on the priest of the Abyss. But can the Highlanders continue to fend off the monster invasions in the meantime?”
The leader spoke slowly, “Maintaining the world’s balance is our duty, so we’ll do our utmost. However, their forces are growing, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to manage alone. But since you’ve decided to confront the priest, we’ll have to find a way.”
“Then how about we form a joint front? For now, stopping the monsters takes precedence over the priest. If the Highlanders contact us, we’ll dispatch forces to help combat the monsters.”
As a knight of salvation, this was something Zeke had always done. The more his reputation grew, the more influence he could wield within the Drake family. Ultimately, Zeke aimed to seize control of the Drake family, so he planned to actively deploy the Black Sword Knights to eliminate the monsters and gain combat experience.
The leader nodded in agreement with Zeke’s proposal. “It would be a great help. I’ll appoint Adnan and Bodmir, who have worked with you before, as liaisons. Naboo of the High Table will also assist you as much as karma allows. And…”
He paused before continuing, “There’s a place you must go to confront Harvey West.”
“Where is that?”
“The Forest of the Forgotten. There, you must meet Nigel, the hermit of the forest.”
Zeke fell silent for a moment.
“The Forest of the Forgotten, huh.”
It was a place he had always intended to visit, but he had never quite made up his mind to go. In his past life, Nigel had taught Zeke to harness mana through his mid-dantian when he couldn’t open his lower dantian, and had passed on the art of the soul. Thus, Nigel was both a benefactor and the most intimidating figure to Zeke.
Zeke asked the leader, “Why do I need to meet the hermit of the forest?”
The leader smiled enigmatically. “Well… it’s hard to say exactly, but I have a feeling it’s something you must do.”
The leader’s response was as cryptic as a prophecy.
“Since I have to go to the Forest of the Forgotten anyway, it seems like an unavoidable fate.”
Zeke made up his mind and nodded. “Understood.”
Hearing Zeke’s decision, the leader stood up. “I’m glad. To save you some precious time, I’ll give you a little help.”
“What?”
A bright light emanated from the leader’s body, enveloping Zeke.
A message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[The teleportation portal is forcibly activated.]
[Coordinates are being set.]
The teleportation system began to operate forcefully.
“How is this possible?”
As the portal began to glow, ready to transport Zeke, the Highlander leader spoke to him.
“May light guide your journey.”
With a burst of light, Zeke was pulled into the portal.
With a resounding hum, a ship appeared in the sky amidst a brilliant light.
Zeke opened his eyes on the deck of the ship, which was plummeting toward the ground.
“What the…?”
Startled, Zeke quickly conjured a wind barrier to safely land the falling ship.
Boom!
With a massive cloud of dust, the ship settled in the heart of the forest.
Realizing he had been transported along with the ship, Zeke woke Richmond and Bane, who were sprawled on the deck.
“Richmond, Bane. Wake up.”
As Zeke roused them, Richmond and Bane slowly regained consciousness.
“Ugh… Master, what happened?”
Richmond, clutching his head, looked around and was shocked.
“Gasp! Master, weren’t we just at sea? How did we end up in a forest all of a sudden?”
Zeke looked at Richmond and asked, “Don’t you remember entering the underwater city?”
“What? How could there be a city underwater?”
”…Never mind.”
Not wanting to explain, Zeke let it go.
“Did Richmond and Bane lose consciousness back then? It’s unclear if the space where the leader was even existed in reality.”
It might have been a dreamlike space, similar to when he met the hermit of the story.
Regardless, the current situation was more pressing, so Zeke jumped off the ship and surveyed the forest.
“Did we end up right in the Forest of the Forgotten?”
The forest was forbidden due to its endless sea of trees. Even Nigel, the forest’s caretaker, didn’t know its boundaries.
Zeke pondered as he looked around the vast forest.
“I need to find where my master is.”
If he took a wrong turn and got lost in the sea of trees, he might waste a lot of time here.
Bane and Richmond joined Zeke after disembarking from the ship.
“Master, where are we?”
“I sense a sinister energy all around.”
As an elemental lich, Bane seemed to sense the cursed energy of the forest.
“This is the Forest of the Forgotten.”
Richmond and Bane were visibly alarmed by Zeke’s words.
“The Forest of the Forgotten? Isn’t that forbidden?”
“The cursed forest where once you enter, you can never leave… Why have we come to another forbidden place after the stormy seas, Master?”
Even Bane, who usually maintained a respectful demeanor, spoke with a hint of reproach.
Zeke shook his head at the noisy liches.
Thud!
Just then, a dull sound echoed from the other side of the forest.
Richmond and Bane recoiled in fear.
“M-Master! It sounds like a monster!”
Zeke clicked his tongue at the liches hiding behind him.
“You two need to remember your roles as summoned creatures…”
Rumble!
The sound of trees falling grew louder.
“This feeling…”
Sensing something familiar, Zeke drew Bahamut and pointed his sword toward the source of the sound.
At that moment, a massive beast emerged, crashing through the trees.
The creature, resembling a bear, was several times larger than any bear, with sharp horns protruding from its back.
Seeing the familiar beast, Zeke realized he was indeed back in the Forest of the Forgotten.
“A beast bear. A common sight in the forest. It’s been a while.”
Unaware of Zeke’s nostalgic thoughts, the beast charged at him.
Zeke immediately unleashed an aura blade, slashing at the beast.
Boom!
The aura blade struck the beast’s body.
Roar!
The beast let out a pained roar as Zeke’s aura blade hit it.
Zeke shook his head at the sight.
“Even the aura blade can’t penetrate its hide. It feels like coming home.”
Charging forward, Zeke swung his sword imbued with power at the beast.
Crunch!
The sword dug into the beast’s body with immense force.
Roar!
Despite the severe blow, the beast bear roared in agony and lowered its body, ready to swallow Zeke whole.
At that moment, Zeke infused his sword with the power of the soul.
Sizzle—
The energy of connection flowed into Zeke’s sword.
Roar!
With a fierce cry, Bahamut pierced through the beast bear’s throat.
Crunch!
With a loud noise, the beast bear’s throat was pierced, and it finally collapsed, tongue lolling out.
Thud!
As Zeke felled the beast bear, Richmond and Bane approached.
Richmond, who had a keen interest in monsters, examined the beast bear with newfound excitement.
“I’ve never seen a creature like this before, Master.”
“This is more of a beast than a monster. The Forest of the Forgotten is full of all sorts of creatures, so stay alert.”
Zeke approached the carcass of the beastly bear, intending to absorb its energy and regain his strength.
But then, it happened.
A sharp, whistling sound cut through the air.
A chilling presence, as if the very atmosphere was being pulled taut, made his skin crawl.
It felt like a razor-sharp blade was poised right beneath his chin.
One wrong move, and it seemed that blade would pierce his throat.
Even Zeke, a seasoned black knight, dared not move under such a menacing aura.
He sensed this deadly intent emanating from beyond the forest.
Zeke swallowed hard.
‘This feeling…’
It was a sensation he could never forget, not even in his dreams.
His former master, Nigel.
She was there, beyond the trees.
‘I expected her to come if I used the Soul Blade, but I didn’t think she’d respond so quickly.’
Before he could even sense her presence, the blade was already at his throat.
As Zeke stood frozen before the beast, Richmond and Bane sensed something was amiss.
“Master?”
Just then—
A sharp slash flew towards Richmond and Bane.
In an instant, Zeke unleashed a gust of wind, deflecting the attack with his Bahamut sword.
Clang!
Though it was a single strike, the force behind it was enough to make his wrist throb.
Richmond and Bane recoiled in shock, quickly assuming a defensive stance.
Zeke shouted urgently, “Don’t move recklessly!”
He tried to dismiss their summons, but another attack came before he could.
Whoosh!
Zeke swung his sword again, blocking the oncoming strike.
Crash!
The blows rained down on him, each heavier than the last.
Gritting his teeth, Zeke parried the attacks, trying to pinpoint Nigel’s location.
But her presence was elusive.
Then, suddenly—
A powerful surge of energy from the Soul Blade was felt behind him.
Startled, Zeke shouted to Richmond and Bane, “Dismiss the summons!”
Just in time, he managed to unsummon them before Nigel’s blade, charged with the Soul Blade’s energy, could strike them down.
Sizzle—
The ground where Richmond and Bane had stood bore the mark of the Soul Blade.
If Nigel’s sword, imbued with true Soul Blade power, had struck, it could have obliterated their very souls.
Nigel’s form vanished as swiftly as it had appeared.
‘Where is she?’
Zeke raised his sword, activating the Astral Sword to extend his senses.
He reached out with his will, trying to detect Nigel’s presence.
But she was nowhere to be found.
‘Even with the Astral Sword’s domain, I can’t sense her.’
Then, in a flash, Nigel appeared behind him.
Her sword was charged with the formidable power of the Soul Blade.
To evade her sudden attack, Zeke used the spirit-binding skill of his scabbard.
Swoosh—
Stepping into the boundary of dimensions, Zeke maneuvered to appear behind Nigel, seeking an opening.
Emerging from the dimensional rift, he swung his sword, infused with the Astral Sword’s power.
Whoosh!
Nigel spun gracefully, meeting Zeke’s descending blade with her own, charged with the Soul Blade.
Crash!
The clash of the Soul Blade and Astral Sword warped the space around them.
Both were thrown back, unable to withstand the powerful shockwaves.
Boom!
Zeke anchored himself to the ground, absorbing the impact.
He looked up at Nigel, standing across from him.
She wore a cloak with a hood, just as she had in his past life.
Suppressing his fear, Zeke steadied his grip on his sword.
Nigel lowered her blade and slowly removed her hood.
Her hair, a unique shade of bluish-gray, was styled in a familiar updo.
Her eyes, cold and amber, showed no hint of emotion.
Her youthful face and petite frame belied her ruthless nature, making her look more like a noble lady than a seasoned warrior.
But Zeke knew the true nature hidden beneath his master’s appearance.
Facing his former master, Zeke calmed his breathing.
Nigel pointed her sword at him and spoke.
“Who are you?”
She bared her sharp fangs, her expression fierce as she continued.
“Damn it, how can a mere human wield the Soul Blade?”