Episode 463
“The Knight of Salvation!”
At Nabu’s shout, the Highlanders lifted their heads. They had heard tales of the legendary knight, Zeke Draker, but seeing him in person was a first. A glimmer of hope sparked in their eyes, a belief that perhaps the tide of battle could be turned.
Zeke raised the holy sword Ascalon high, unleashing the “Will of Light.” A radiant, sacred light emanated from the sword, enveloping the battlefield in a protective veil.
The light expanded, surpassing even the reach of the Absolute Barrier of Mana, trapping the monstrous hounds within its bounds.
The creatures writhed in agony, merely exposed to the “Will of Light.” The Highlanders, witnessing this, shouted with renewed vigor.
“They fear the light!”
“Attack now!”
Despite their exhaustion, the Highlanders refused to surrender, raising their weapons to fight the beasts. And as if responding to their indomitable spirit, something miraculous occurred. Within the domain of the “Will of Light,” even ordinary strikes pierced the thick hides of the beasts, causing them to fall, bleeding violet.
Zeke’s “Holy Spirit Technique,” activated alongside the “Will of Light,” imbued the Highlanders’ weapons, amplifying their impact against the monsters. Though they didn’t fully understand why, the Highlanders realized their attacks were now far more effective, and their eyes shone with newfound determination.
The tide of battle began to shift.
Zeke didn’t stop there. He amplified his healing factor and infinite stamina skills, spreading them across the central stronghold.
A mystical light seeped into the Highlanders, restoring their strength and healing their wounds.
“My God…”
The Highlanders were left speechless by the miracle Zeke had brought. But only for a moment. Rejuvenated, they gripped their weapons and leaped from the ramparts, charging at the oncoming beasts.
“Haah!”
The Highlander knights stood firm at the boundary of Mana’s Absolute Barrier, cutting down the beasts. Adnan and Bodmir joined them, swinging their swords tirelessly.
Meanwhile, Zeke, observing the battlefield from atop Bucephalus, noticed a disturbance beyond the forest, his expression turning grave.
“What is that…?”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Trees toppled as the ground shook. From beyond the forest, massive boar-like beasts were advancing toward the central stronghold.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Zeke spotted dark sorcerers of the Abyss riding atop the boar beasts.
“They’re launching a full-scale assault.”
The lead creature opened its maw wide toward the sky, revealing a massive flame within.
Fwoosh!
As the creatures anchored themselves to the ground, the sorcerers commanded them to unleash fireballs toward the central stronghold.
Boom!
The sound of explosions echoed as a dozen fireballs hurtled toward the stronghold.
Crash!
Fortunately, the Absolute Barrier of Mana absorbed the impact, preventing the fireballs from devastating the stronghold. Without the barrier, the stronghold would have been reduced to ashes in a single strike.
“We need a defense line to withstand their assault.”
Surveying the situation, Zeke activated Defense Mode from atop Bucephalus.
[Applying Defense Mode to the battlefield.]
[Deploying guardians and summons. Please designate their positions.]
[You can summon defense towers by consuming Karma. Please specify their locations.]
Before fulfilling the system’s requests, Zeke summoned Richmond and Vayne.
“You called, Master!”
“We have come at your summons, Master.”
Zeke instructed the two archliches to construct a defensive line of bone and ice. In response to his command, a wall of bone and ice rose before the Absolute Barrier.
Crack!
The triple-layered wall narrowed the passage for the beasts, making it easier for the Highlanders to confront them.
Zeke didn’t stop there. He deployed guardians atop the wall and unleashed shadow spirits and dragon warriors.
Horus, Idas, and Lynceus, positioned on the wall, launched attacks at the creatures.
Idas and Lynceus fired arrows of light, while Horus unleashed a magical beam from his mouth.
Boom!
The creatures, unable to withstand the guardians’ assault, fell one by one, forcing the dark sorcerers to retreat beyond the range of attack.
They attempted to breach the wall with the beasts once more.
At that moment, Zeke summoned and positioned the Golem Knights before the guardians.
The Golem Knights, wielding massive shields, stood firm against the charging beasts.
Crash!
The beasts were crushed against the Golem Knights’ shields, collapsing in defeat.
Screech!
As the beasts’ cries echoed across the battlefield, Zeke, monitoring the situation through Defense Mode, was surprised by the rapidly accumulating Karma points.
“Already over 30,000 points.”
Satisfied with the swift accumulation, Zeke continued to absorb mana from the shadows, maintaining the guardians and summons.
The once-endless horde of beasts had significantly dwindled.
Sensing the time was right, Zeke began to move.
He aimed the holy sword Ascalon at the retreating dark sorcerers.
Hum!
Zeke channeled the power of the Elemental Sword.
Rumble!
Unleashing the force of the golden field, Zeke struck the ground, shaking the earth beneath the beasts.
Crash!
The ground beneath the creatures split open, swallowing them into the depths.
Roar!
The beasts’ cries echoed from the chasms as the panicked sorcerers struggled to save them, but they couldn’t halt the upheaval.
Zeke gradually withdrew the golden field, controlling the elemental power.
“At least my control has improved.”
Since the Elemental Sword’s upgrade, Zeke had struggled with its control. But as his mastery grew, so did his ability to wield it in battle.
Though not yet perfect, he could now effectively use the Elemental Sword in combat.
With the beasts swallowed by the earth, the battle’s momentum shifted entirely.
The remaining beasts began to retreat.
Growl—
Watching the fleeing creatures, Adnan shouted.
“They’re retreating!”
The seasoned Highlanders knew not to let their guard down, aware that complacency could lead to a counterattack. They reinforced their defenses, wary of any hidden threats.
Meanwhile, those with energy to spare formed groups to pursue the retreating beasts.
Crash!
Bodmir, venting his pent-up frustration, swung his bastard sword at the fleeing creatures.
“Whew!”
Soon, the remaining beasts vanished into the forest, leaving the battlefield littered with the fallen.
With the battle nearly over, Zeke descended from Bucephalus, approaching Adnan and Bodmir.
“You all fought bravely.”
Adnan gave a wry smile at Zeke’s words, while Bodmir rushed toward him.
“Wow, Zeke Draker! Or should I say, Knight of Salvation! You saved us. How about a kiss?”
Zeke shook his head at Bodmir’s blood-splattered face.
“I’ll have to decline, Bodmir.”
Gently pushing Bodmir aside, Zeke joined the other Highlanders in efficiently clearing the battlefield and tending to the wounded before heading to the central stronghold.
There, Nabu was tending to the injured.
“Zeke Draker!”
Zeke greeted Nabu.
“It’s strange to see you in reality rather than in dreams.”
He smiled, retrieving a large supply of potions from his inventory and handing them to Nabu.
“These are new potions from the Naga tribe. Use them for the patients.”
Thanks to Zeke’s earlier healing factor, there were no critical injuries. The Highlanders skillfully treated their wounds with the provided potions.
For the self-reliant Highlanders, adept at emergency care and healing, such skills were essential.
Once the situation was under control, Nabu led Zeke into the central tent.
Inside, Mana lay unconscious on the floor.
“Gasp! Mana!”
It seemed Mana had fainted from exhaustion after maintaining the Absolute Barrier.
Mana only regained consciousness after Nabu recited the phrase, “Awaken, hero.”
“Ugh, I was in a state of nirvana for a moment.”
“Enough with the nirvana talk. You must be fine if you’re spouting nonsense. Drink this and pull yourself together.”
Mana gulped down the potion Nabu handed over, eyes widening.
“What is this…?”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“It tastes terrible. Like home.”
The biggest drawback of the Naga tribe’s potions was their awful taste.
The existing potions made from processed troll blood were infused with various scents to create different flavors. However, the naga tribe’s potions, crafted through the fermentation of herbs, prioritized preserving their natural aroma, making it impossible to add other scents.
As a result, the twin alchemists were spending astronomical sums on research, determined to create a delicious naga potion, much to the dismay of Kei and Fainan.
Manna took a peppermint candy from his pocket, savoring it as he clasped his hands together in greeting towards Zeke.
“Zeke, my benefactor. I am called Manna. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Zeke had actually encountered Manna in a past life, during a mission he shared with Nigel. Manna had been there to assist with setting up a barrier.
‘My master was odd, but Manna was even stranger. I used to think everyone at the High Table was peculiar.’
Recalling his past life, Zeke chuckled inwardly and greeted Manna as if meeting him for the first time.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Zeke Draker.”
While the two exchanged pleasantries, Nabu slumped into an armchair, looking exhausted.
“Ugh, I want to go back to Mount Ouroboros. I’m sick of dealing with those damned beasts.”
Manna chanted a prayer in response.
“You hardly do anything when you’re there, so why complain?”
“I’m busy. I have to fix the roof, water the fields, and take my naps.”
“Om Aranam Arada Sabaha. May Nabu find his conscience and achieve blissful rebirth.”
Zeke, observing the weary Nabu, shifted the topic.
“Where is Master Nigel being held?”
At his words, Nabu sprang to his feet.
“Oh, right, Nigel. I almost forgot about the old lady.”
With a wave of his hand, a map appeared in the air.
Pointing to the map, Nabu explained, “See this marked spot? That’s where their gate is. The three locations around it are the gate’s energy sources. Nigel’s signal was lost on the left side.”
Zeke scanned the map, storing the information.
He then asked Nabu, “I heard a high-ranking demon captured her. I’m worried about her safety.”
“Nigel will be fine,” Nabu reassured.
“Have you received any contact from her?”
Manna, standing nearby, shook his head.
“If the demons dare to harm Nigel, she would go berserk, even if it means ascending to the heavenly realm.”
Zeke nodded, suppressing a laugh at Manna’s words.
‘She’d cause chaos before leaving this world.’
For the demons holding Nigel, it must feel like having a ticking time bomb in their midst.
Zeke turned to Nabu. “So, closing the gate takes priority over rescuing Master Nigel?”
Nabu nodded. “That’s the logical approach. As I mentioned through the mirror, we can’t go there. Only you can defeat them, Zeke.”
Having witnessed Zeke’s combat prowess firsthand, Nabu was convinced. Zeke’s strength was on a different level from ordinary knights, and he wasn’t bound by the laws of karma. Though this peculiarity puzzled Nabu, he decided not to dwell on it, as Zeke’s power was crucial now.
After a moment of contemplation, Zeke looked at Nabu and asked, “There’s something I’d like to know.”
“What are you curious about?”
“What exactly are the demons trying to take from the Forest of the Forgotten?”
Nabu and Manna fell silent at Zeke’s question. As Manna began to speak, Nabu raised a hand to stop him, then turned to Zeke and spoke slowly.
“They’re after the ‘Black Star.’”
“The Black Star? What is that?”
Nabu hesitated before answering.
“It’s the shattered heart of an Elder Dragon.”
He continued, meeting Zeke’s gaze.
“That’s the true nature of the Black Star.”