Episode 51

“Constantinus? And Siemens?”

Constantinus was a name associated with the imperial family of the Rom Empire. The inclusion of Siemens as a middle name suggested a blood relation to that family. It was unthinkable that Siemens, one of the main allied families of the Draker, could be related to the Rom Empire’s royalty. Only the electors, noble families with the right to vote for the emperor, could have such a middle name.

Cain steadied himself and looked at Zeke. “You’re a knight too valuable to kill, but you’ve seen too much.”

A chilling aura surged from Cain’s sword, forming an aura blade. Unlike blue knights who could only create aura blades, red knights could manipulate them freely, changing their length and shape at will. Cain’s aura blade transformed into a massive lance, its surface solidifying under his control.

As Cain raised his sword, his armor, Hershion, activated, automatically placing a helmet over his face. Clad in his magical armor and wielding the enormous aura lance, Cain charged at Zeke with a fluid motion.

The speed was incredible, likely enhanced by Hershion’s magic. The lance-shaped aura blade began to spin, drawing in the surrounding air.

Zeke steadied his breath, gripping Bahamut. “I can’t counter this with ordinary techniques.”

He assumed the stance for the Elemental Sword, a technique he had mastered with great difficulty. A field of water energy unfolded from his hand.

Elemental Sword

Field of Water

Wave Blade

Zeke’s sword moved like a crashing wave, meeting Cain’s spinning lance head-on. At that moment, a voice echoed in Zeke’s mind.

“You fool! The essence of water is its softness! When strength meets strength, only mutual destruction remains!”

Zeke relaxed his body, recalling the lessons of yielding he had learned from Kaishir. He let the force of the lance pass over him like a wave, his sword striking Cain’s waist.

The impact was solid, but Hershion remained unscathed. Undeterred, Zeke maneuvered into Cain’s blind spot, striking again.

Once more, his attack landed, but failed to penetrate. Cain quickly regained distance, aiming his lance at Zeke. Despite the short range, he thrust with his entire body, the lance’s power threatening to shred anything it touched.

Zeke hardened his skin with the dragon skill, Dragon Scale Armor, to withstand the pressure. They exchanged blows at close range, evenly matched.

Zeke sought an opening, using the dragon skill, Dragon Claw, but even that was blocked by Hershion. The armor’s resilience was astonishing, making Zeke wonder what it was made of.

He circled Cain, searching for a weakness. In a prolonged duel, his infinite stamina would give him an advantage, but time was against him. Other imperial knights would soon arrive, tipping the scales unfavorably.

Cain slowly retreated, pointing his lance at Zeke. “I’m impressed. I never imagined a knight your age could challenge me like this.”

He raised his lance. “But it’s time to end this.”

Red electricity crackled from Cain’s lance, a more menacing aura enveloping him. Zeke steadied his breath, gripping his sword as a message appeared before him.

[Detected demonic energy.]

[Defeating an enemy with demonic energy grants bonus points.]

“Demonic energy?”

Before Zeke could fully process the message, Cain charged, his lance wrapped in red electricity. Zeke braced himself, extending his sword in a counter-charge.

It was the Dragon Slayer Sword Technique left by Shaton Draker.

Dragon Slayer Sword Technique

Chapter 8, Verse 2

Dragon Scale Thrust

A lethal move designed to pierce a dragon’s vital point in one strike. Zeke anchored his legs, twisting his upper body to add powerful rotation to his thrust. The aura on his sword spun, clashing directly with Cain’s lance.

The collision sent a massive shockwave through the dungeon.

“Ugh!”

Zeke gritted his teeth as Cain’s aura pushed back his thrust. Bahamut’s heart in his core pumped mana furiously.

Despite his efforts, Zeke was overpowered, sent flying into the burning camp.

The camp, already weakened by the aura’s force, collapsed completely.

Cain deactivated his helmet, gesturing at the camp’s remains. The ashes parted, revealing Zeke, slumped against the debris, a gaping wound in his abdomen.

“Ugh!”

He struggled to rise, but his body wouldn’t respond. Cain approached slowly, looking down at Zeke.

“You must be of the Draker bloodline.”

Zeke glared up at Cain. “How… did you know…?”

“The way you deflect magic, your swordsmanship—it resembles the Dragon Slayer techniques.”

Zeke’s techniques were from the latter part of the Dragon Slayer Sword Technique, which was forbidden to be shared outside. Cain’s knowledge implied a leak from the Draker family.

“Damn Siemens… what are they plotting?”

Though unclear, it was evident Siemens was deeply entangled with the empire. Zeke coughed up black blood, asking Cain, “Are you… an imperial red knight?”

Cain looked at the nearly defeated Zeke. “Not officially, but close enough. Titles mean little to me.”

“What… do you mean?”

“Exactly that. The old aura techniques are obsolete. I will surpass even the black knights with new power.”

Cain slowly raised his sword. “I’ve said too much. It’s been a while since I faced a worthy opponent. I honor you with a noble death.”

He reversed his grip, aiming for Zeke’s heart.

“Rest in peace.”

The sword pierced Zeke’s heart. After a moment, Cain withdrew his blade, confirming Zeke’s stillness. He sheathed his sword, turning away.

“Moving the lab will take some time.”

Just then—

A blade of wind grazed Cain’s neck. He instinctively turned, but couldn’t fully evade. Blood trickled from his neck as he looked back in disbelief.

“How!”

Zeke, having barely healed his heart and abdomen, charged with Bahamut. He thrust his sword into the gap he’d created in Hershion.

The aura-coated Bahamut pierced Cain’s side. Cain glared at Zeke with bloodshot eyes.

“You! You bastard!”

Zeke tripped Cain, pinning him to the ground. He blocked Cain’s arms, preventing him from drawing his sword, and pulled a dagger from his inventory.

“Haah!”

Zeke stabbed at the exposed part of Cain’s neck.

“Argh!”

Cain tried to activate Hershion, but Zeke’s magic reflection prevented it. Zeke stabbed Cain’s neck repeatedly.

“Ugh, cough!”

Blood gushed from Cain’s mouth. He died with his eyes open.

[You have eliminated an enemy corrupted by demonic energy.]

[You receive 300 Karma Points as a reward.]

Zeke finally stepped back from Cain’s body.

“Haah. Haah.”

His heart wound had healed somewhat, but the aura-inflicted abdominal wound was still a mess internally. Without a potion in his quick slot, Cain’s attack might have killed him.

Zeke tried to stand, but his body wouldn’t cooperate.

Then—

[Excessive skill use has exceeded fatigue limits.]

[Administrator consciousness will be suspended for safety.]

Zeke was startled by the warning message.

“No, this can’t be happening!”

Losing consciousness in the heart of enemy territory was not an option.

Desperately, he tried to open a portal, but his vision was already blurring, making it impossible to focus on the interface.

Just then, Cain appeared before Zeke’s eyes.

With every ounce of strength he had left, he shouted the skill’s name.

“Devour!”

Before his consciousness slipped away completely, shadows extended from his body, engulfing Cain.

[You have devoured a corrupted being tainted by dark magic.]

[Stamina, mental strength, and mana are replenished.]

[The bloodline ability of the devoured being has been absorbed, upgrading the skill Static (Grade C) to Lightning (Grade A).]

His fading consciousness slowly returned.

Zeke took a deep breath and pushed himself up.

“Damn, I thought I was a goner.”

Absorbing Cain’s body not only restored his consciousness but also transformed his skill.

“My skill’s rank increased?”

Zeke tested the newly upgraded Lightning skill.

Crackle!

Though not as powerful as Cain’s, electricity surged around his weapon.

“So, I can gain bloodline abilities by devouring not just beasts but also beings corrupted by dark magic.”

After sheathing his sword, Zeke prepared to leave the area quickly.

But something caught his eye where Cain had fallen.

“What’s this?”

It looked like a chest plate, meant to protect the torso.

As Zeke picked it up, another message appeared.

[You have acquired ???‘s Armor.]

[Would you like to register as the user of this armor?]

”???‘s Armor? Why doesn’t it have a name?”

Zeke chose to register it.

Strange patterns emerged on the chest plate, which then disassembled with a rustling sound and attached itself to Zeke’s body.

[You are now registered as the user of the armor.]

[You can determine the armor’s form based on your will.]

[Out of the 28 grand magic circles inscribed on the armor, 3 are currently activatable.]

When Zeke activated the armor, it transformed into a full plate armor, just like the one Cain had worn.

“Wow, this is incredible.”

Despite being full-body armor, it felt weightless, allowing for unrestricted movement.

Zeke reverted the armor back to its original chest plate form.

“If I use it as is, the Empire’s soldiers might recognize it. I’ll need to modify it later. For now, I need to get out of here…”

Escaping before more soldiers arrived was his top priority.

Zeke opened the map to find a way out of the dungeon.

He quickly exited the cave where the camp was located, aiming to leave the territory of the Pamela Cartel.

But something felt off ahead.

“That smell…”

It was the stench of dried blood and filth.

Hesitant but curious, Zeke cautiously approached, suspecting something significant lay ahead.

He discovered a hidden site deeper within the dungeon.

“Those damned bastards.”

Seeing the scene, Zeke clenched his teeth and fists in anger.

This wasn’t an ancient ruin.

It was a human experimentation site run by the Rom Empire.