Episode 514

A high-pitched whine filled the air as a spear forged from shadows clashed against a translucent barrier. The spear spun, drilling through the shield.

A deep hum resonated as Germain hastily conjured multiple layers of defense. Yet, the shadow spear pierced through, and the tentacles attached to the walls began to writhe.

With a sickening crunch, blisters formed on the tentacles’ surface, bursting open to release a swarm of new tendrils.

A sharp, guttural screech echoed as the tentacles, lined with razor-sharp teeth, lunged at the invading spear.

The spear’s blade, still spinning, sliced through the barrier, and from its shaft, black blades shot out, severing the attacking tentacles.

The severed tendrils fell to the ground, and the spearhead pressed closer to the core.

Suddenly, the brain-like core sprouted long arms from its surface, which reached out to grasp the spinning spear.

Just as the spear was about to penetrate the core, a dozen arms anchored themselves to the floor and walls, lifting the brain-like mass.

A section of the brain split open, revealing a cavernous mouth filled with enormous teeth. Thousands of tendrils erupted, wrapping around the spear.

Despite the spear’s blades, the sheer number of tendrils overwhelmed it, forcing it to a halt.

The core detached from the wall, standing on numerous legs, while Germain’s mental entities began to strategize.

—Zeke Draker is a threat.

—He must be eliminated here.

—Kill him!

—Kill him!

A foreign thought suddenly intruded, startling the entities.

—Is this truly our thought?

—No, it isn’t.

—We all know we never thought that.

—How could another thought intrude?

—Impossible.

—Is it truly impossible?

The foreign thought returned, causing the entities to pause before they began to rationalize the intrusion.

—We thought it impossible, but let’s consider the possibility.

—Zeke Draker.

—He has infiltrated our inner world.

—It could be possible.

—He absorbed one of our avatars.

—Even so, entering our inner world should be impossible.

—For an ordinary human, yes.

—But for Zeke Draker, it might be possible.

—Yes, it is possible.

The core let out a monstrous scream, and the entities refocused their thoughts.

—We must destroy the spear.

—He’s using it to infiltrate our thoughts.

—No, our thoughts are diverging.

—We must not be confused.

—Our thousand-year-old thoughts are unyielding.

—Are they truly unyielding?

—We must not fall into his trap.

—We should subdue and absorb his mind.

—No, that could backfire.

—We must capture him while he remains in this realm.

—You call this realm your own.

—We must block his thoughts.

—Where is Abel Draker?

—His goal is Abel Draker.

—We must protect Abel Draker.

—Stop thinking about Abel Draker.

—He’s leading our thoughts where he wants.

—The more we try to stop, the more we think of Abel Draker.

—We can’t stop our thoughts.

Germain cut off the thoughts entirely, thwarting Zeke’s plan to use the confusion to locate Abel Draker.

Zeke, facing Germain’s core, spoke, “If I keep cutting and cutting, eventually, both you and Abel will be severed.”

With that, Zeke charged at Germain’s core, wielding his sword, Levatein, with all his might.

The sword, imbued with the power of his soul, slashed toward Germain’s core.

The core moved to block Zeke’s attack with its body, but the force of the strike cleaved it in half.

The core let out a horrific scream of pain, and the grip on the spear loosened.

The spear resumed its spin, drilling into the core.

The rotating spear embedded itself deep within, and blades emerged from the shadows, spinning rapidly.

The interior was shredded, leaving gaping holes.

The core spewed fluid, and Zeke seized the opportunity to unleash another soul attack.

Sensing the immense power, the mental entities urgently communicated with Zeke.

—Zeke Draker.

—We propose a deal.

—Spare us.

—A deal with the cursed?

—Information about Arthur Draker.

—We know secrets you don’t.

—Kill us, and the secrets die with us.

Germain’s entities offered Arthur Draker’s secrets as a bargaining chip.

Zeke stepped closer to the core.

—Arthur Draker is dead.

—He is not.

—Arthur Draker lives.

—He deceived the entire continent.

The assertion that Arthur Draker was alive caught Zeke’s attention.

‘Arthur Draker is alive,’ Zeke thought, considering the possibility. In his past life, Arthur Draker was said to have died from illness. Even a dark knight could succumb to disease or old age. But Arthur Draker was a transcendent being, a grandmaster or beyond. His death had always seemed suspicious to Zeke.

Germain’s words piqued Zeke’s curiosity about the secrets they held.

The entities, sensing Zeke’s interest, pressed on.

—Spare us, and we’ll reveal Arthur Draker’s secrets and support you.

—We’ll give you the full power of the Nostra family.

—Our accumulated power is beyond imagination.

—With us, you could surpass Arthur Draker.

Zeke listened to Germain’s offer and spoke, “Do you truly want to make a deal with me?”

Germain quickly responded.

—Yes.

—Our true enemy is the cursed bloodline of Tebeia.

—We have no grudge against the Drakers.

Zeke replied swiftly to Germain’s rapid communication.

“Fine, but if you want to deal with me, there’s one more condition.”

He pointed his sword.

“Hand over Abel Draker. If you do, I’ll consider the deal.”

At Zeke’s demand, the core’s tendrils trembled.

Their response reached Zeke.

—That is impossible.

—We have a deal with the Abyss.

—The deal must be fulfilled.

—Name another condition.

—We’ll grant any other wish.

Zeke chuckled at the entities’ response.

“The deal is off, you cursed bastards.”

His sword flared with soul energy once more.

The entities’ thoughts grew frantic, and Zeke read them again.

—Wait.

—Fine.

—We’ll hand over Abel Draker.

—Withdraw your sword.

The entities’ desperate plea made Zeke pause, sword in hand.

“Don’t try any tricks. Bring Abel Draker here. The deal comes after.”

The core’s tendrils writhed, and one approached Zeke.

It swelled, forming a pod-like structure, which split open to reveal Abel, unconscious inside.

Zeke looked at Abel, still connected to the tendrils, and spoke.

“Is he still alive?”

The entities’ thoughts reached Zeke, and he focused on them.

—Yes.

—We were healing his damaged heart.

—Without us, Abel Draker would be dead.

The heart, pierced by a deadly shard, had been saved by them somehow.

Zeke approached the pod containing Abel, who remained unconscious.

He pointed Levatein’s tip at Abel’s heart.

Before striking, Zeke spoke.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”

He glared at the core as he asked.

“Did you really think I’d fall for something like this?”

In that instant, it happened.

A shriek pierced the air as Abel, who had been lying still with his eyes closed, transformed into a monstrous creature and lunged at Zeke.

Zeke responded by unleashing a gravitational field towards the creature.

With a deafening crash, the powerful force crushed the fake Abel.

Flesh and fluids burst from the pressure, splattering in all directions.

Zeke expanded the gravitational field, intensifying the pressure on the creature’s core.

The entities within it screamed in agony.

Watching this, Zeke smirked with disdain.

“Still have time for these childish tricks, do you?”

His words provoked a cacophony of chatter from the entities.

“Abel Draker is still with us.”

“If you want a fair trade, disarm yourself, Zeke Draker.”

“Then we’ll truly hand over Abel Draker this time.”

Zeke shook his head at Germain’s words.

“You fools, do you even know what a deal means?”

A low hum filled the air as Zeke brandished Levatein in one hand and Caladbolg in the other, summoning their power.

Levatein shimmered with a radiant energy, while Caladbolg pulsed with shadows.

“I’ll tear you to pieces. Maybe Abel’s remains will spill out too.”

The entities, caught off guard by Zeke’s unexpected ferocity, communicated their panic.

“We can’t handle him.”

“He was dangerous from the start.”

“He must be killed.”

“He must be killed at all costs.”

Suddenly, a massive tremor erupted around Zeke.

Germain attempted to crush him with a bloodline ability.

Zeke raised his swords, channeling the full force of his energy.

A deep hum resonated as he unleashed the ultimate technique taught by his master, Nigel.

The Triple Spell of Nullification.

As the will of nullification spread, the bloodline abilities surrounding Zeke vanished as if erased.

Simultaneously, the core housing the entities began to collapse, unable to maintain its form.

“Our body is melting.”

“We can’t hold our shape.”

“Our minds will scatter at this rate.”

Tentacles attached to the core started emitting a green mist.

The air hissed as the mist filled the space.

Zeke stepped back, avoiding the green haze.

But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just mist.

“What kind of particles are these?”

Tiny particles clustered together, creating the illusion of mist.

Then it happened.

A powerful wave emanated from Germain’s core, riding the green mist and spreading throughout the space.

As the wave, infused with the green mist, swept over Zeke, everything went black in the blink of an eye.

Gradually, the darkness lifted, and someone approached Zeke.

Zeke frowned as he recognized the face.

“Zeke, it’s been a while.”

The figure was none other than Arthur Draker.