Episode 486
The pureblood lineage of dragon slayers, blessed by aura.
For the researchers of the Nostra family, who specialized in studying bloodline abilities, this was the most coveted subject of study.
Two magicians, carrying a vial of blood drawn from Doal, moved to the laboratory with anticipation.
The body of Zeke, contained in a chest, had already been transported to the lab by the apprentice magicians.
As soon as the head magician arrived, he addressed the senior magician.
“Bring out the body of the pureblood dragon slayer.”
At his command, the senior magician opened the chest, which was under preservation magic, revealing Zeke’s crumpled form inside.
With a gesture from the senior magician, the apprentices lifted Zeke’s body and placed it on the examination table.
The head magician approached the table to inspect Zeke’s form.
“The preservation is excellent. It seems freshly dead. There’s plenty to experiment with.”
The senior magician, standing nearby, voiced his concern.
“But this knight… isn’t he the famed Knight of Salvation? Howard might handle it, but I’m worried about potential repercussions.”
The head magician clicked his tongue and replied sharply.
“A true seeker of truth must rise above worldly concerns. In life, he might have been something, but in death, he’s merely a specimen. Don’t let fear cloud your judgment.”
Chastised, the senior magician nodded, pressing his lips together.
The head magician, examining Zeke’s body, spoke again.
“We should examine the interior before more time passes. I’ve always been curious about the awakening of a Draker pureblood and the formation of their lower dantian. I suspect it’s one of the bloodline abilities. What do you think?”
The senior magician nodded in agreement.
“I think so too. The mana rejection reaction seen only in purebloods could also be considered a type of bloodline ability.”
The head magician nodded.
“Good. Whether we can extract that ability from this specimen remains to be seen. It would have been ideal to have him alive, but that’s too much to ask.”
They prepared to dissect Zeke’s form.
Whirrrrr!
The senior magician stood at the ready with a magic-powered saw.
He instructed the apprentices behind him.
“Remove that uniform carefully. We’ll need it for the fake body later.”
As the apprentices moved to undress Zeke’s body, something unexpected happened.
Sssssss—
Suddenly, black smoke began to seep from Zeke’s body.
“What the—?”
The apprentices, enveloped in the smoke, staggered back, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed.
The head and senior magicians, witnessing this, scrambled to react.
“What is this?”
But before they could cast any spells, the black smoke engulfed the entire lab.
The head and senior magicians soon fell to the floor.
Zeke’s form on the table dissolved into smoke, and the real Zeke emerged from the shadows, watching the paralyzed magicians.
The head magician, eyes wide with disbelief, stared at the living Zeke Draker.
Zeke approached him slowly.
“A true seeker of truth, you say? Is that how you’ve justified your actions?”
He chuckled, placing a hand on the head magician’s head.
“Let me see just how close you’ve come to the truth.”
Vroooom!
The power of the Blood King and the wisdom of the dragon surged, probing every corner of the head magician’s mind.
Despite the overwhelming force threatening to destroy his brain, Zeke remained unfazed, sifting through memories for information.
The head magician’s eyes rolled back, drool dripping from his mouth.
Yet Zeke didn’t allow him to lose consciousness.
With amplified healing, he revived the magician’s awareness, ensuring he felt every ounce of pain.
Having extracted all the information he needed, Zeke stood, looking at the now vacant-eyed head magician.
“I’ve planted an eternal nightmare in your mind. You’ll be tormented endlessly by those you’ve wronged.”
Zeke cast similar curses on the other magicians, then located the secret space where the research data was stored, as seen in the magician’s memories.
He gathered all the materials into his inventory, severed the hands of the head and senior magicians, and approached the black door once more.
Rumble—
The door opened, revealing Doal trapped inside a glass chamber.
A third eye opened on Zeke’s forehead.
『Descendant of the fallen god.』
As he communicated through the third eye, Doal, who seemed lifeless in the chamber, slowly opened his eyes.
Zeke spoke to Doal.
『I offer you a chance for revenge. But there’s one condition.』
Doal’s eyes focused on Zeke.
Zeke continued, meeting Doal’s gaze.
『Reveal the identity of the Nostra family’s boss who imprisoned you here.』
Boom!
A massive door opened, and Howard Draker entered the underground base.
He grimaced at the oppressive atmosphere within.
The bloodline ability users escorting him remained expressionless, accustomed to the environment.
Alongside Howard were not only the Draker knights but also the mystics of Ishtar.
One of Ishtar’s conditions for cooperation was an introduction to the Nostra family.
They were keenly interested in the Nostra family’s chimera research and sought to establish a partnership through Howard.
For Howard, strengthening ties with Ishtar meant more strategic options, making it a beneficial arrangement.
Moreover, with Ishtar’s mystics present, it was expected that the Nostra family would be less likely to act recklessly.
‘It’s irritating to see those who once feared Arthur Draker now acting so boldly…’
As Zeke had anticipated, Howard was the liaison for the Draker family’s unsavory dealings with the Nostra family.
Arthur Draker, having recognized Howard’s true nature early on, had appointed him to handle such clandestine transactions.
Howard, quick to preserve his position, had readily engaged in illegal activities with criminal organizations upon Arthur’s orders.
After Arthur’s death, Howard capitalized on being the sole link between the Draker family and the Nostra family.
Howard, accompanied by his loyalists, Himmel’s Ishtar mystics, and the family’s bloodline ability users, ventured deeper into the underground base.
Upon reaching the reception room, they were greeted by a man in a fine suit.
“Howard! My old friend. Welcome.”
The man, a middle-aged gentleman named Peter Olson, greeted him warmly with open arms.
Peter was a noble from the central region, overseeing a small estate.
However, this was merely a facade; in reality, he was a high-ranking member of the Nostra family, wielding significant influence in the underworld.
“Peter, it’s been a while.”
Howard exchanged pleasantries with Peter and introduced Himmel beside him.
“This is Himmel Ishtar, the heir of Ishtar, as I mentioned. Himmel, this is Peter Olson, the de facto operator of the Nostra family.”
Peter laughed heartily, clapping Howard on the shoulder.
“You shouldn’t say such things lightly.”
With the grace and restraint befitting a central noble, Peter bowed to Himmel.
“Welcome, heir of Ishtar. It’s an honor to have you here.”
He attempted to kiss her hand as one would with a lady, but Himmel withheld her hand, glaring at Peter with sharp eyes.
Peter, slightly embarrassed, straightened up and offered them seats.
Howard, Peter, and Himmel sat around a round table.
Soon, attendants brought wine.
Holding his glass with noble elegance, Peter addressed Howard.
“You seem to be in high spirits.”
Howard nodded.
“Ishtar’s support has been invaluable. The mystics’ poison is truly fearsome. Even a black knight can fall in an instant. Of course, your assistance was crucial. We captured Zeke Draker thanks to the bloodline ability users who amplified the gravity field.”
Peter clicked his tongue.
“Zeke Draker was a thorn in our side too, which is why we deployed top-tier ability users. I was surprised when the boss made that decision. It shows how much of a threat he considered him.”
Peter’s words caught Howard off guard, surprising him.
“I didn’t expect the boss to personally target him. If left unchecked, Zeke Draker might have become an even greater monster than Arthur Draker.”
Peter raised his glass of blood-red wine, winking.
“Anyway, it’s fortunate we captured him. Let’s toast to the death of Zeke Draker and the rebirth of the Draker family.”
Peter and Howard clinked their glasses, but Himmel remained seated, not lifting her glass.
After taking a sip of wine, Peter turned to Himmel.
“I’m curious to know what brings the heir of Ishtar to us.”
In response, Himmel retrieved something from her pocket.
A vial containing a black liquid.
The vial in question was a potent enhancement drug, crafted using the corrupted holy blood, once in the possession of Rahim, the leader of the Six.
Himmel, struggling with the language, spoke in a halting Central Continent dialect.
“We need it. This drug. Ishtar.”
He was referring to the enhancement drug created by the Nostra family, which the Ishtar family required.
Peter’s eyes widened in surprise at Himmel’s words.
“Well, I didn’t expect the Ishtar side to show interest in this. More importantly, how did you even get your hands on it?”
The black drug was a top-secret item, even within the Nostra family, never meant to leave their confines. How it ended up with Ishtar was a mystery.
Himmel’s gaze sharpened as he continued.
“Decide. Deal or death.”
A choice befitting the transcendent Ishtar family: a deal or death.
Peter, taken aback, soon shook his head with a chuckle.
“Ha, that’s just like the Ishtar family. Even I wouldn’t want to become a target for the sorcerers.”
He set down his wine glass and looked at Himmel.
“We’re open to dealing with Ishtar. But there are conditions.”
Himmel tucked the black drug into his coat and replied.
“Name them. The conditions.”
Peter grinned slyly and spoke slowly.
“We need test subjects.”
In an instant, a murderous aura emanated from Himmel, prompting the bloodline warriors behind him to tense up, while the Ishtar sorcerers drew their swords.
Sensing the escalating tension, Howard stepped in to mediate.
“Let’s avoid bloodshed during negotiations. Let’s resolve this through dialogue.”
His words slightly eased the tension on the Ishtar side, and Peter nodded in appreciation before addressing Himmel again.
“If you intend to use that enhancement drug, clinical trials will be necessary. The Ishtar family, with its elven lineage, might react unpredictably to a drug designed for humans. Provide us with test subjects, and we’ll share the experimental data and an improved version of the drug.”
The Nostra family was already aware of the Ishtar family’s elven heritage.
Himmel frowned, glaring at Peter, then gestured to the sorcerers behind him. They sheathed their swords and stepped back.
Himmel spoke to Peter.
“No test subjects. Name another condition.”
Peter shook his head.
“We can’t offer much else. We have plenty of money. What’s truly valuable is information, isn’t it?”
Himmel pondered Peter’s sly words, then reluctantly nodded.
“Fine. I agree to the condition. But I have another demand.”
Peter smiled, raising his wine glass.
“Very well. Let’s hear it.”
Himmel raised her hand, holding up three fingers, then slowly folded them down one by one.
Peter and Howard exchanged puzzled glances at her cryptic gesture.
When the last finger folded down, a massive explosion echoed from outside.
As Peter and Howard tried to rise in alarm, they realized they were paralyzed.
“Poison?”
The bloodline warriors and knights behind them had already been swiftly subdued by the Ishtar sorcerers.
One of the sorcerers removed their mask, revealing the true heir of Ishtar, Yelin.
She looked at Peter and Howard and spoke.
“The new condition is simple: your worthless heads.”