Episode 452
The once rugged Bahamut had transformed into a cross-shaped sword, remarkably similar to the newly forged holy sword, Ascalon. However, unlike Ascalon, Bahamut’s blade was etched with ancient silver runes.
As the transformation completed, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[The Black Sword Bahamut has absorbed the Holy Spear Longomianth, fully releasing its seal.]
[The Black Sword Bahamut, having regained its original power, is enhanced by the relic’s strength.]
[Evolving into a legendary item, the sword is bestowed with a true name.]
[The sword is named ‘Levatein, the Sword of Chaos.’]
“Levatein, the Sword of Chaos?” Zeke murmured, gazing at the newly transformed Bahamut.
He reached out and grasped Levatein. The moment he held the sword, Zeke could feel it. The name and appearance had changed, but its essence remained Bahamut.
Vrrrrr—
Levatein seemed to resonate with Zeke’s energy, vibrating and humming its name.
Zeke checked Levatein’s details.
—Levatein, the Sword of Chaos—
Description: A sword forged from the hardest fang of the cursed dragon Bahamut, tempered by a master craftsman with spiritual sight using blue flames, and imbued with the power of the Holy Spear Longomianth.
Unique Power: Chaos Aura.
Unique Abilities: Indestructible, Mana Conversion, Shape-shifting, Magic Absorption.
Special Note: Deals five times the damage to Celestials and Holy Beings. / Can nullify the powers of Celestials when Chaos Aura is activated.
Zeke was stunned by the description.
“It can nullify the powers of Celestials?”
Celestials could manipulate causality and twist the world’s laws at will using karma. If Levatein could nullify such powers, it would give Zeke a significant advantage against them. Moreover, dealing five times the damage to Celestials and Holy Beings would be a tremendous asset.
“This will be invaluable against the fallen Celestials trying to resurrect the Demon King.”
With the holy sword Ascalon and the dark sword Levatein, Zeke was now equipped for the battles ahead.
He marveled at the great sage’s ability to perform such miracles in spirit form. Even the legendary archmage Hoshgard, the founder of the Nirvana family, couldn’t wield such power.
“No wonder he’s a figure of legend.”
At that moment, the great sage’s form grew even fainter. He looked at Zeke and spoke.
“It seems my time is truly running out, Sir Zeke. Please, take this.”
The great sage extended his hand toward Zeke. A golden key materialized above his palm, floated through the air, and merged with Zeke.
[You have acquired the Legendary Item: Key to the Treasury of the Chronos Kingdom.]
[As a reward for completing the linked quest, you have obtained the title: Heir of the Chronos Kingdom.]
[As the heir, you can use the key to access the kingdom’s treasury.]
[You can use the items within the Chronos Kingdom’s treasury for a limited time.]
[Some items may require karma points for causality.]
The great sage smiled at Zeke.
“The treasury of the Chronos Kingdom is now yours, Sir Zeke. And this is my gift to you.”
He produced a monocle from his robes and handed it to Zeke.
[You have acquired the Great Sage’s Monocle.]
[Equipping it grants the power of Clairvoyance.]
The great sage smiled warmly.
“May this gift aid you in navigating your destiny.”
Beside the flickering sage, a shadowy dragon figure appeared. The voice of an Elder Dragon echoed in Zeke’s ear.
『One who defies fate, it is time for you to leave this place.』
Rumble—
Zeke felt the entire city, including the temple, begin to tremble.
“Is Carcosa collapsing?”
『This place is an illusory space, pieced together from fragments of non-existent time and space. The longer you stay, the more you lose your causality.』
Vrrrrr!
With those words, a rift in the dimension opened behind Zeke. A portal formed within the rift, pulling Zeke inside.
Just before he was drawn into the dimensional rift, Zeke called out to the Elder Dragon and the great sage.
“If I am truly destined to vanquish the Demon King, tell me! What must I do?”
The great sage, his spirit form fading, smiled gently.
“The signs of the end will guide you. Seek the single ray of light in the depths of despair and follow that path.”
Vrrrrr—
With those words, Zeke was completely pulled into the dimensional rift.
Boom—
Within the dimensional storm, Zeke endured excruciating pain as if his body were being torn apart.
“Argh!”
At that moment, Raven appeared beside him.
Whoosh—
Hearing Raven’s phoenix call, Zeke managed to regain his composure.
Through the storm, he saw a distant white light.
Zeke communicated his intent to Raven.
“Raven, let’s head there!”
Raven spread its wings wide, cutting through the storm toward the light.
Zeke followed the path Raven carved, propelling himself forward.
He pushed through the raging storm and leaped into the light.
Vrrrrr—
Zeke’s body was ejected from the portal.
“Huff, huff!”
Exhausted, Zeke struggled to catch his breath.
Had he not possessed the immortal physique, he would have been torn to shreds within the dimensional rift, leaving no trace behind.
Soon, his infinite stamina kicked in, restoring his breath and healing his body.
Once he regained his senses, Zeke checked the messages before him.
[You have successfully completed the main quest mission.]
[As a reward for the main quest, a new system feature has been unlocked.]
[All functions of Defense Mode have been unlocked.]
[System-linked features are now active.]
[You can directly control the Defense Zone, including the mobile fortress.]
[You can use karma points to install armaments and barriers in the Defense Zone.]
[Allies designated as Guardians and Administrators receive buff adjustments in the Defense Zone.]
[All battles conducted in Defense Mode are linked to the Administrator, and karma points are calculated based on the results.]
[As a reward for the main quest, the active skill Area Buff has been transformed into Power Amplification.]
[You have received 10,000 karma points as a reward.]
[You have received one out-of-grade random box as a reward.]
It seemed he had received rewards for successfully completing the main quest mission.
Zeke’s jaw dropped as he reviewed the rewards.
“So, I can earn karma points based on the results of all battles in Defense Mode?”
Previously, even if Guardians defeated enemies in large-scale battles, Zeke didn’t receive karma points directly. But according to the new information, he could now earn karma points based on the battle results of all participants, including Guardians.
“In a large-scale battle against a monster horde… I could earn an enormous amount of karma points.”
Moreover, being able to install armaments and barriers directly in the Defense Zone meant that even if a gate opened and enemies swarmed in, defense would be much easier.
“Ten thousand points and an out-of-grade random box… The rewards for the main quest are incredible.”
Zeke decided to open the out-of-grade box later and first figure out where he was.
“Where am I?”
Surveying his surroundings, he saw only a barren plain stretching out before him. Scattered remnants of broken pillars and ancient ruins were visible, but they were so eroded that their original forms were unrecognizable.
“Looks like an ancient ruin…”
Zeke tilted his head in confusion and opened the system map to check his location.
[Confirming the Administrator’s location.]
[Unable to find location information for the given coordinates.]
[Accessing karma data to update new location information.]
“Unable to find location information? Where on earth am I?”
Soon, the location information was updated, and the blank map began to fill in.
Even after seeing the map, Zeke couldn’t pinpoint where he was.
“System, display the continental map with the current location.”
[The continental map has been updated with the current location information.]
Moments later, the continental map appeared before Zeke. However, it looked slightly different than usual. The map now included not only the central continent but also the eastern continent. Zeke’s current location was marked on the eastern continent.
Seeing this, Zeke was taken aback.
“Could this really be the eastern continent?”
Just then—
Thud, thud, thud!
From across the plain, soldiers on horseback were galloping toward Zeke.
Zeke drew the dark sword Levatein and prepared to confront the approaching soldiers.
The eastern warriors, clad in Murk Empire-style armor and wielding scimitars at their waists, halted before Zeke. They carried a vibrant banner, and Zeke was startled by the emblem on it.
“A double-headed eagle… That’s the symbol of the Murk Empire’s Sultan.”
The eastern warrior holding the Sultan’s emblem shouted at Zeke.
“Barbarian from the west! What reason do you have for trespassing in the Sultan’s forbidden land?”
With those words, the warriors behind him drew their scimitars and aimed them at Zeke.
As Zeke made his way out of Carcosa, he realized that the portal’s exit had inadvertently led him to the Sultan’s forbidden grounds, a place he had not intended to intrude upon.
“Could it be that this place was once where Carcosa stood?”
The Elder Dragon had once told him that during the Age of Constellations, the continents were not divided as they are now but were part of a single landmass.
If that were true, it wouldn’t be surprising if Carcosa had been located on the Eastern Continent.
“Come to think of it, the ancestors of the High Elves also lived on the Eastern Continent before moving to the Northern Continent. If the continents hadn’t been divided, travel might have been much freer.”
When Zeke didn’t respond, the Sultan’s warriors stepped forward.
The blades of their scimitars began to shimmer with light.
A low hum resonated as the light from the scimitars enveloped the warriors.
Zeke realized these were not ordinary warriors but the “Heirs” of the East.
The Eastern Heirs wielded weapons that sealed spirits known as “Genies,” a blend of elemental and spectral beings, and these weapons were called “Magical Spirit Arms.”
The Heirs had a unique combat style that utilized these Magical Spirit Arms.
With a whoosh, flames erupted from the sword of one of the warriors.
This indicated that the weapon he wielded contained a spirit of fire, which he had inherited.
The other warriors also unleashed their powers and began to advance slowly toward Zeke.
At that moment, Zeke employed a technique to reverse the flow of magic.
A buzzing sound filled the air as the reversal field spread, causing the magic controlling the Heirs’ weapons to become entangled.
“Ugh!”
Zeke could have increased the power to overwhelm them instantly, but he chose to adjust the reversal technique just enough to make them retreat.
As he watched the Eastern warriors step back, Zeke pondered his next move.
“If this is the Murk Empire… it might be worth proposing a deal. Besides, Hades and Yelin could still be in the Sultan’s palace.”
Given the situation, he thought it might be best to meet the Sultan and bring Hades and Yelin back with him.
Zeke addressed the warriors in their language.
“I didn’t come here on purpose. There was an accident with the portal.”
The warriors were taken aback by Zeke’s fluent Eastern speech.
After a moment of hesitation, the one who seemed to be their leader spoke.
“Even so, trespassing on the Sultan’s sacred grounds is a grave offense. Lay down your weapons and surrender. Your fate will be decided by wise judges.”
Zeke shook his head at this.
“I am no criminal. I was invited to the palace as a guest of the Sultan.”
The faces of the Eastern warriors hardened at Zeke’s words.
“How dare you use the Sultan’s name as an excuse… Barbarian, your crime grows heavier…”
Before they could finish, Zeke summoned Raven from the dimensional rift.
With a rumbling sound, Raven appeared near Zeke’s shoulder, rubbing its eyes sleepily.
Having grown to the size of an eagle, Raven’s plumage was now more vibrant and colorful than ever.
The sight of Raven made the Eastern warriors recoil in shock.
“My goodness! That… it’s a divine beast!”
“A phoenix! A good omen has appeared in the sacred grounds!”