Episode 470
Rumble!
With a flash of light, a portal opened, and Zeke, the Three-Eyed siblings, and the Irregular children arrived at Nigel’s treehouse in the heart of the forest.
Nigel’s treehouse might have looked unassuming from the outside, but it was actually surrounded by layers of powerful defensive magic circles crafted by dragons. Even if a legion of demons invaded the forest, Nigel’s treehouse would remain a safe haven.
Just then, Nabu emerged from the treehouse.
“What the…?”
Nabu had been reinforcing the seal of the Black Star with Mana. He was understandably startled when Zeke suddenly appeared through a portal with a group of children.
Ignoring Nabu’s surprised expression, Zeke led the Irregular children inside and laid them on the beds.
Nabu approached Zeke, puzzled. “I sent you to raid a supply depot, and you come back with a bunch of kids?”
Zeke, after settling the children, turned to Nabu. “These children were the energy source powering the gate.”
“What?”
Nabu’s eyes widened in shock. He formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger, peering through it at the children lying down.
He was taken aback and lowered his hand. “These kids are Irregulars?”
Zeke nodded. “It seems so, but even Irregulars can’t supply infinite energy to a gate, can they?”
Nabu nodded, moving closer to the children. This time, he formed a circle with both hands and looked through it with both eyes.
“Hmmm…”
He studied the three Irregular children lying on the bed, deep in thought. After a while, he nodded in understanding.
“Well, this is unexpected.”
He turned to Zeke. “These kids are triplets.”
“Triplets?”
Zeke had suspected they might be siblings due to their similar hair color and features, but triplets were a surprise.
Nabu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Ancient records say twins are born with an unexplainable mystery. Triplets, even more so, carry a greater mystery.”
“Are you saying these children, being Irregular triplets, possess infinite magical power?”
Nabu shook his head. “Not exactly. Their ability to emit endless magic comes from the fact that they carry sacred blood.”
“Sacred blood… You mean they’re descendants of Nephilim?”
“Yes, though rare, humans have been known to bear children with Nephilim. In ancient times, such children were called ‘Angel’s Children.’”
“Angel’s Children… So these kids are triplets, Irregulars, and bearers of sacred blood—a combination of impossibly rare traits.”
Nabu nodded. “Honestly, the odds of such a natural occurrence are slim. These children seem to have an innate ability to draw mana from their surroundings and store it infinitely.”
“Infinite magic… Is that even possible?”
“That’s a common trait of Angel’s Children. But despite their sacred blood, their bodies are still human. Ancient records say Angel’s Children rarely live past ten years.”
Zeke looked at the children. “They seem older than that.”
“My guess is that their Irregular nature allows their bodies to withstand the accumulated magic. Being triplets might also play a role.”
Irregulars were created by the God of Chaos to fracture reality, allowing them to defy the world’s natural laws. Nabu’s explanation made sense.
Zeke turned his gaze from the triplets to Nabu. “Can these children survive?”
Nabu pondered, looking at the children. “Hmm, I’m a scholar, not a doctor, so I can’t say for sure.”
“If you don’t know, who would?”
Nabu looked puzzled. “What? There’s someone more skilled in medicine than me—High Table.”
“Who is that?”
Nabu shook his head. “You didn’t know Nigel is skilled in medicine?”
“My master?”
Zeke had only memories of being beaten by Nigel in both his past and present lives, never considering her medical prowess.
‘Then again, surviving those beatings might be proof enough.’
Recalling how Nigel had opened his middle dantian, something impossible with ordinary knowledge, Zeke nodded. “We need to rescue my master from the demons to heal these children.”
“Yes, if anyone can, it’s Nigel. But are the ones outside also Irregulars?”
“It’s complicated… They’re descendants of the ancient Three-Eyed Tribe who have chosen to follow me.”
“Wow, the Three-Eyed Tribe… You sure have interesting companions.”
As they caught their breath and exchanged words, a sound like the sky tearing apart echoed from outside.
Zeke and Nabu rushed out of the treehouse.
Titus and Yulina, who had been standing guard, were on high alert, their eyes wide.
Zeke drew Ascalon, standing in front of the Three-Eyed siblings, and glared at the source of the disturbance.
A crow, formed from dark energy, appeared on the ground, flapping its wings as it grew larger.
Crack!
Soon, the crow spread its wings, revealing a massive form over two meters tall. It resembled a humanoid, but with wings sprouting from its back.
The transformed crow spoke to Zeke and his group.
[The adopted daughter of the Demon Duke, the Enchantress of the Demon Realm, who commands ten thousand demons…]
Before the crow could finish, Zeke unleashed a sword strike.
Boom!
The strike exploded, raising a cloud of dust.
As the dust settled, the crow emerged, having shielded itself with its wings. Its eyes glowed red with anger.
[Such rude humans…]
Zeke stepped forward, raising his sword. “I have no interest in learning manners from demons. You’ll regret breaking through the barrier to get here.”
With those words, Zeke’s sword erupted in a brilliant light.
The crow, sensing the holy power that could inflict fatal wounds with a mere touch, retreated in alarm.
[W-wait! I bring a message from Lady Anastasia, the Demon Princess!]
“I have no need for messages from demons.”
Crackle!
A bolt of light shot from Zeke’s sword, striking the crow.
The crow tried to evade, but it was futile.
Crackle!
The crow was reduced to ashes before it could even scream.
Nabu and the Three-Eyed siblings gaped at Zeke’s decisive action.
But then, from the ashes, a black haze rose, coalescing into a face.
The haze formed the visage of a woman with horns on her forehead, and a voice emerged.
[To kill my messenger so swiftly… I find you quite intriguing, Zeke Draker.]
The one who had sent the message, a high-ranking demon, Anastasia, had appeared.
Her hazy face turned to Zeke. [You know your master, Nigel, is with me, don’t you?]
“Why did you take that dangerous woman? Return her quietly before you get yourself destroyed.”
Anastasia laughed heartily. [You’re just like what I saw in Nigel’s memories. I like you even more.]
Zeke didn’t miss the mention of “Nigel’s memories.”
‘If she can access my master’s memories, she must have mental abilities. That’s dangerous. She could harm my master or learn how to break the seal…’
He needed to find a way to rescue Nigel quickly.
Anastasia spoke again, her gaze fixed on Zeke. [Zeke Draker, I have a proposal for you.]
She smiled alluringly. [You’re planning to come to me to destroy the gate anyway. Why not make a wager with me instead?]
Zeke knew that when demons spoke of wagers and contracts, it was time to be wary. But given the circumstances, he decided to hear her out.
“What kind of wager?”
[Come to where I am and face me. If you win, I’ll return Nigel to you, and we’ll withdraw. But if you lose…]
Anastasia’s face, formed from shimmering heat waves, drew closer to Zeke.
[If I win, the black star and you will both be mine.]
Baron, the commander of the Black Guard, entered the office of the head of the Four Seasons Star.
“You called for me, my lord.”
Hearing no response, Baron glanced around the room, but Arthur was nowhere to be seen.
He slowly made his way into the inner chamber of the office.
Passing through Arthur’s personal storage room, Baron approached a crystal orb mounted on the far wall. He removed his gloves and placed his hand on it.
A low hum resonated as the portal activated, responding to Baron’s touch.
The room’s scenery shifted, revealing a hidden passageway.
Baron, familiar with the path, walked down the corridor until he stood before a door marked with the emblem of the Draker family, the legendary sword clan.
As he reached out, the door creaked open.
Rumble!
A secret space, one Arthur Draker had never shown even to Kalina or Abel, was easily accessible to Baron.
He passed by a statue of a sword deity and entered through an arched doorway.
Before him lay the grave of swords, where the blades of past Draker heads were embedded in the ground.
There, Baron found Arthur Draker.
Arthur stood silently before a rugged black claymore, a sword unknown to the world but belonging to Saturn Draker, the founder of the Draker lineage.
Arthur gazed at the sword in silence.
Baron approached and bowed his head.
“My lord.”
Only then did Arthur snap out of his reverie and turn to face him.
“Baron, you’re here.”
He glanced at Baron briefly before returning his gaze to the black claymore.
Then he spoke to Baron.
“Zeke couldn’t draw this sword either.”
Baron lifted his head and replied.
“Did you wish for it to be drawn?”
Arthur chuckled softly at the question.
“Who knows… When I look at Zeke, my mind is a jumble. I still don’t know what I expect from him.”
He turned to Baron and continued.
“This is a first for me. No, not the first. Laura Agamemnon… she was the same.”
At the mention of Laura Agamemnon, Arthur’s eyes darkened, a look never seen on him before.
He quickly changed his expression and reached out to grasp the hilt of the black claymore.
Rumble—
A tremendous energy surged from his body, causing the entire grave of swords to tremble.
It seemed as if the place might collapse at any moment.
Yet, the sword remained unmoved.
Arthur released the hilt, and the overwhelming energy dissipated.
“Hmm.”
He studied the immovable black claymore for a moment before turning away.
He spoke to Baron.
“Baron, we can’t just sit idly by. The day of the Red Moon is approaching… It’s time to execute the plan we discussed.”
Baron’s eyebrows rose at Arthur’s words.
“If we proceed with that plan, it will have significant repercussions across all of Midland.”
“Exactly, that’s the point. It needs to happen.”
Arthur grinned and patted Baron’s shoulder.
“Spread the news of my death across the continent. That will draw out the rats hiding in the shadows.”