Episode 438
Rumble―
The Duke of Crevan’s powerful strike surged toward Zeke, aiming for the very core of his being.
The duke’s attack was as formidable as a spear, unyielding and precise.
Zeke met the oncoming force head-on, his hand poised like a blade.
He countered the duke’s assault with the Infinite Sword Technique.
Infinite Sword Technique: Black Sword Art
Black Dragon Emerges
Combining the Infinite Sword Technique with his own Black Sword Art, Zeke forged a unique “sword” of his own.
A new form of black sword energy, surpassing the Black Wind and Black Wings, erupted from Zeke’s hand.
A dragon, dark and all-consuming, opened its massive jaws to clash with the duke’s spear.
The dragon and spear collided.
Boom!
The realms of Zeke and the Duke of Crevan collided, their incompatible forces beginning to cancel each other out.
Waves of energy rippled from the point of impact, spreading outward.
Whoooom!
The massive shockwave scattered the thick dust cloud, enveloping those watching from afar.
“Ugh!”
The Black Sword Knights braced themselves, raising their auras to withstand the tidal wave of force.
Even just blocking the shockwave drained their lower dantian of aura.
At the forefront, Aul and Andrei felt the full brunt of the power, their expressions hardening.
‘Is this the true power of a Black Knight?’
‘I still have a long way to go.’
The Red and Blue Knights stepped forward to help, but their combined strength wasn’t enough to fully counter the force.
Then, a powerful gust blew from behind.
Rumble―
A domain of tempestuous winds formed, neutralizing the shockwave created by Zeke and the Duke of Crevan.
Andrei and Aul, regaining their composure, turned to see what had happened.
To their surprise, Duke stood firm, having established a domain of wind to block the shockwave.
Andrei and Aul looked at Duke in astonishment.
“Sir Duke, have you perhaps reached the realm of the Black Knight again?”
“Have you regained your former strength?”
Duke, having dissipated the shockwave, released his domain and gave a wry smile.
“Not quite perfect yet. But I’m getting there. Still… I knew the Duke of Crevan was a monster, but Zeke’s capabilities are beyond comprehension.”
Andrei and Aul nodded in agreement with Duke’s assessment.
As the dust settled, Zeke and the Duke of Crevan stood revealed in the devastated central garden.
Zeke, with his hand poised, and the duke, with his spear extended, stood facing each other, seemingly frozen in time.
After a long moment, the Duke of Crevan lowered his spear and spoke to Zeke.
“I wouldn’t mind another cup of that tea we had earlier.”
Zeke relaxed his stance and nodded politely.
“Please, follow me. There’s a quiet place where we can enjoy a cup.”
Zeke and the Duke of Crevan walked slowly to one side of the garden.
The others watched in a daze as the two disappeared into the garden’s corner.
Daria, in particular, wore a look of disbelief.
‘I knew Zeke Dreiker was strong, but to think he could stand equal to the duke…’
The dust had obscured the actual battle, leaving the details unknown. However, Daria, who had learned the art of the spear from the duke, could read a subtle satisfaction in his expression.
Satisfaction.
The emotion on the duke’s face was unmistakable, a joy at having found a worthy opponent after so long.
At that moment, Karus approached Daria.
“What do you think, Commander? Do you think that stubborn duke will change his mind?”
Daria pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
“Your Highness, I’m afraid that’s not for me to judge.”
Karus seemed pleased with her response.
“Hmm, if the commander says so, then perhaps there’s hope.”
Karus watched Zeke and the Duke of Crevan with a subtle smile.
Zeke led the Duke of Crevan to a secluded spot in the garden.
Pointing to a particular area, he said, “In the gardens of the Rom Imperial Palace, I find this spot the most pleasant.”
The duke looked at the area Zeke indicated. Though the view was lovely, it was not set up for tea, which puzzled him.
Then Zeke surprised him by pulling a table, chairs, and a tea set from his inventory, leaving the duke momentarily taken aback.
The Duke of Crevan, not easily surprised, couldn’t hide his amazement at the sudden appearance of a tea party setup.
Artifacts could create pocket dimensions, but using them for such a purpose was a first for him.
“Do you always carry all this with you?”
“You never know when you might want a cup of tea. Please, have a seat. The water is at the perfect temperature.”
Zeke brewed the tea and handed a cup to the duke.
The duke set aside his surprise and savored the aroma before taking a sip, a satisfied expression soon spreading across his face.
“Nowadays, young knights seem to prefer coffee over tea.”
Zeke frowned slightly at the comment.
“I never understood why they like something so dark and bitter.”
The duke nodded in agreement with Zeke’s sentiment.
After leisurely finishing his tea, the duke set his cup down and spoke.
“Sir Zeke, do you wish to bring Rom under the control of the Dreiker family?”
In response to the duke’s question, Zeke also placed his cup on the table and shook his head.
“I have no interest in the Rom Empire. I came here to capture Abel and Siemens.”
The Duke of Crevan studied Zeke intently.
“You brought Julius, the consul, two princes, and two imperial legions into Rom. Yet you claim you have no intention of ruling the empire?”
“It’s true I used their power to draw Abel and Siemens out of Rom, but I have no desire to become its ruler.”
The duke scrutinized Zeke’s eyes, searching for the truth in his words.
What he saw was a singular desire.
‘A pure yearning for freedom.’
The freedom to soar toward one’s desires, unbound by anything.
Zeke was navigating a long and arduous journey to attain that freedom.
After a long silence, the Duke of Crevan spoke slowly.
“Even if you have no such intentions, the empire’s nobility will not see it that way.”
As the duke suggested, even if he believed Zeke, the majority of the empire’s nobility and great houses would likely assume the Dreikers had subdued Rom to seize the empire.
Zeke looked at the Duke of Crevan and spoke.
“That’s why I have a favor to ask of you, Your Grace.”
“A favor, you say. What is it?”
Zeke met the duke’s gaze.
“After an official duel with me in the Colosseum, claim victory and become the patron of Prince Leo.”
If the Grand Stadium was the landmark of Atlas, then Rom’s iconic landmark was the Colosseum.
In the past, Emperor Nero had held grand tournaments there, where countless knights showcased their skills.
The champion of the league would gain wealth and fame in an instant.
However, after Nero descended into madness, obsessed with immortality, the tournaments ceased.
Zeke proposed a duel in the Colosseum, a symbol of Rom’s golden age.
The Duke of Crevan regarded Zeke thoughtfully.
“I understand the significance of a duel in the Colosseum. But what do you mean by orchestrating your own defeat?”
“I will use the duel as a pretext to leave the Rom Empire with the Black Sword Knights. Afterward, I ask you to support Prince Leo’s ascension as his patron.”
The duke’s eyebrows twitched at Zeke’s words.
It was hard to believe that Zeke would willingly forfeit the chance to seize the vast Rom Empire.
Sensing the duke’s skepticism, Zeke continued.
“In return, I have two requests for you.”
“Requests, you say. If there were no conditions, I would be even more suspicious. What are these requests?”
“The first is that you teach me the spear.”
The Duke of Crevan looked surprised.
“You wish to learn the art of the spear?”
Zeke shook his head.
“It would be impossible for you to pass on your secret techniques to a Dreiker. I’ve wielded only swords until now, so the spear is unfamiliar to me. I wish to learn about the weapon itself from you.”
Previously, Zeke had received the Holy Spear Technique and the sacred spear Longomianth from the Holy King.
Though Longomianth had transformed into a form similar to Bahamut in Zeke’s hands, it fundamentally remained a spear.
To face the fallen constellations, Zeke needed to wield Longomianth effectively, but he had never properly used a spear before.
Meeting the Duke of Crevan, a master of the spear, Zeke seized the opportunity to learn.
The Duke of Crevan nodded, understanding the significance behind Zeke’s request to learn the art of the spear.
“Very well. What is your second request?”
Zeke’s expression grew serious as he responded to the Duke’s inquiry.
“Siemens has allied with a group called Narak to resurrect the Demon King in the physical realm.”
The mention of the “Demon King” from Zeke’s lips left the Duke momentarily speechless, the term feeling foreign and out of place, as if it belonged only in tales and myths.
Unfazed by the Duke’s reaction, Zeke continued his explanation.
“They intend to summon demons and monsters from the demon realm to wreak havoc on our world and steal the souls of the innocent. The horrific massacre in Rom was just a prelude to their plans.”
The Duke’s face darkened as he recalled the brutal purge orchestrated by Abel.
After a moment of hesitation, he spoke slowly.
“The resurrection of the Demon King…”
“This isn’t a story from the past; it’s our reality. Though not widely known, the Liberation War a thousand years ago, led by Terracan Draker, was actually a battle to prevent the Demon King’s return, not just against an evil dragon.”
The revelation about the true nature of the Liberation War widened the Duke’s eyes in surprise.
“How do you know all this?”
“When I received the blessing of the Fairy King, I was made aware of the impending dangers to our world.”
Invoking the Fairy King’s blessing was always a reliable way to lend credibility to his claims, and the Duke seemed convinced, nodding in agreement.
Zeke addressed the Duke once more.
“My second request is for you to assist Prince Leo in stabilizing the Rom Empire and to aid in the upcoming battle against the demon legions.”
Thanks to Zeke’s efforts, Siemens and Narak had lost their stronghold and were on the defensive. However, after meeting Narak’s priest, Harvey West, Zeke realized their power was beyond imagination.
He suspected they were biding their time, waiting to unleash their hidden strength and launch an assault to destroy the physical realm. To counter this, Zeke aimed to secure the Rom Empire as an ally.
The Duke pondered Zeke’s words before nodding in agreement.
“Very well. I will support your cause.”
Zeke was taken aback by the Duke’s swift decision and asked again, “Are you sure you don’t need more time to consider? This is no simple matter.”
“In times of peace, I might have hesitated, but your words suggest this is not such a time. Though the concepts of the Demon King and demon legions still feel unreal, if what you say is true, I cannot stand idly by as a Black Knight of the Empire.”
The Duke had seen Zeke’s swordsmanship firsthand and was certain of one thing: Zeke’s blade was as pure and unwavering as his resolve. The title “Knight of Salvation” was no empty moniker, and the Duke decided to trust him.
Rising from his seat, the Duke spoke.
“Let’s start with your first request. I can fulfill that immediately.”
He turned to Zeke and said, “Lend me a sword.”