Episode 522
The continent’s most formidable warrior, known as the Overlord.
The person who had been conversing with the priest was none other than Arthur Draker, disguised as Baron.
“Hmm…”
Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully before turning his head to the side.
“Baron.”
At his call, Baron appeared from the empty space.
Arthur addressed him, “What do you make of Harvey West’s words?”
Baron pondered for a moment before responding, “Are you referring to his comments about the celestial beings?”
Arthur shook his head. “No, I’m curious why he’s so obsessed with Zeke.”
“Perhaps he’s preparing another vessel to replace Abel Draker’s body. Using your body would be ideal, but dealing with the Drakers is risky, so he’s likely preparing a backup plan.”
Arthur nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.”
“If you wish, I can gather information from within the Abyss.”
Arthur waved his hand dismissively. “No, it’s not that critical. Besides, Dr. West is quite sensitive. We might stir up unnecessary trouble. Instead…”
Arthur flashed a charming smile. “I need you to keep an eye on Zeke for a while.”
Baron looked surprised. “Zeke Draker?”
“Yes, I have a feeling there’s something about him I don’t know.”
Arthur continued, stroking his chin. “At first, I thought it was the power he gained from the ruins of Terracan Draker, but now I’m not so sure.”
Baron bowed his head. “I will uncover the secret Zeke Draker is hiding, as you command.”
“Good, I’m counting on you.”
Crackle—
Suddenly, sparks flew from Arthur’s body, and his form began to blur.
Baron tensed and moved toward Arthur, but Arthur raised a hand to stop him, observing his own fading form.
“Hmm, it seems this is as far as I can go for now.”
He looked up at Baron. “I won’t be able to fully absorb the Black Star just yet.”
“You’ll awaken completely soon.”
“Yes, it’s a shame I can’t witness these events unfold firsthand.”
Arthur smiled. “I’m curious to see how Zeke will surprise me next.”
With those words, a strong spark erupted from Arthur’s body, and he gradually vanished.
Baron watched the spot where Arthur Draker had disappeared, then turned away.
Outside, Baron addressed the knights with a sharp gaze. “Finish the task at hand.”
At his command, the Draker knights bowed and moved swiftly outside.
Thud!
The streets were littered with bodies—those of the Valdeck family’s knights and soldiers.
The Valdeck estate in Canus was ablaze, and the city was filled with screams.
As Baron stepped outside and surveyed the chaos, the Draker knights dragged someone before him.
“Ugh!”
The man, coughing up blood and kneeling before Baron, was none other than Wolfgang Valdeck, head of the Valdeck family.
Baron had personally struck against the Valdeck family, the largest blood ally of the Drakers after Siemens.
Baron looked down at the kneeling Wolfgang. “Wolfgang Valdeck, do you admit to conspiring with the Siemens family to support Howard Draker and plot treason against the Draker family?”
Wolfgang spat blood at Baron and laughed maniacally. “Hah! Just like Arthur’s dog, you bark nonsense well.”
He raised his head and spat more blood at Baron.
Swoosh!
The Draker knights swiftly blocked the blood with their coats.
Baron gazed coldly at Wolfgang. “So you deny the treason?”
Wolfgang glared at Baron. “Do you think the Drakers will be safe after treating Valdeck like this? The council won’t let you off! Baron, I’ll tear you to shreds—”
Slice—
Wolfgang’s head fell to the ground.
Baron gestured to the knights. “Seize all assets of the treasonous Valdeck family and arrest those involved. Transport them to the Four Seasons Castle.”
The Draker knights bowed and, with a murderous glint in their eyes, headed toward the Valdeck estate.
Baron, watching the knights, gestured to Souma beside him. “You take charge here.”
“Are you returning to the Four Seasons Castle, Captain?”
Baron shook his head at Souma’s question. “I’m going to Mycenae.”
The mention of Mycenae startled Souma, but he didn’t question further and bowed. “Understood, Captain.”
Leaving the Draker knights at the scene, Baron led the Black Shadow unit toward Mycenae.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan, but Baron was unaware of the group watching them from the shadows of Canus.
Hidden in the darkness, vampires reported the events to their queen, Carmilla.
The continent’s power dynamics were shifting rapidly.
Rustle!
Bound by Solomon’s chains, Arzidum was led toward his master, Elizabeta’s stronghold.
Surprisingly, the First Princess’s base was in the sky.
A barrier was located not far from the gate Zeke had destroyed, and as Arzidum approached, an entrance opened.
Inside, a floating fortress summoned from the demon realm hovered in the air.
Zeke marveled at the sight. ‘It’s smaller than Anastasia’s, but its ability to float makes it strategically valuable.’
He finished his assessment and tugged on the chain, addressing Arzidum. “Is your master inside that fortress?”
For a proud demon noble like Arzidum, being humiliated by a human like Zeke was unbearable.
Yet, he endured the shame and brought Zeke here for a reason.
‘The moment you step into that fortress, you’re as good as dead.’
Elizabeta’s floating fortress wasn’t always airborne.
Like the invasion fortress of the Third Princess, Anastasia, it originally rested on the ground.
However, Elizabeta had chosen the smallest fortress and modified it to float.
Her deep understanding of magical theory allowed her to transform the invasion fortress into a floating one.
Inside, the fortress was filled with numerous magical traps created by Elizabeta and elite demon warriors.
Arzidum planned to lure Zeke into the fortress, trap him, and present him to Elizabeta.
‘Once I capture him, I’ll quickly learn the Third Princess’s whereabouts.’
Hiding his intentions, Arzidum spoke to Zeke. “This way, follow me.”
Still bound by Solomon’s chains, Arzidum led Zeke to the lower section supporting the floating fortress.
It was a secret passage known only to high-ranking demons, with no guards, but difficult for intruders to access.
Thud!
Zeke followed Arzidum to the solid rock support area.
Arzidum pointed to a spot. “Release the chains. I need to touch it directly.”
Zeke manipulated the chains to free Arzidum’s hands.
Arzidum reached out, and a section of rock shimmered, revealing an entrance.
He looked at Zeke. “This is it.”
The suspicious-looking entrance didn’t deter Zeke, who followed Arzidum inside.
The vertical passage, used by high-ranking demons, lacked ladders or handholds.
Zeke, with Arzidum leading, unfurled his dragon wings and ascended the vertical passage.
Whoosh!
Beyond the passage lay a corridor within the floating fortress.
Despite being a demon structure, it resembled a grand palace hallway.
“Lead me to the princess.”
Arzidum swallowed nervously and nodded. “This way.”
Bound by chains, Arzidum led the way down the corridor.
After a while, they reached a door.
Arzidum spoke to Zeke. “Release the chains. I need to touch it to open it.”
Without hesitation, Zeke released the chains.
Arzidum placed his hand on the wall beside the door.
Vroom—
A strange magic circle appeared on the wall.
Arzidum knew it was a security device, but assumed Zeke wouldn’t recognize it.
Buzz—
Soon, the magic circle where Arzidum placed his hand vibrated.
Simultaneously, multiple magic circles appeared above and below Zeke in the corridor.
Arzidum smirked as he watched.
“You foolish human! I’ve got you now!”
The man, having cast aside any semblance of noble dignity, sneered at Zeke with a wicked grin.
Crackle!
A kaleidoscope of electric currents began to flow from the magic circles etched into the floor and ceiling.
Crackle!
The powerful magic surged through the entire corridor like a storm.
Arzidum was certain that Zeke wouldn’t escape the trap.
But then, something unexpected happened.
A high-pitched whine filled the air—
Zeke had triggered a mana reversal technique, causing the magic circles in the trap to emit an eerie sound.
The currents of mana went haywire, ricocheting unpredictably, and even darted toward Arzidum, who had his hand on the magic circle.
Crackle!
“Ugh!”
Arzidum was taken aback as the mana currents, instead of striking Zeke, backfired and lashed out at him.
‘How… how is this possible?’
He couldn’t believe that the magic trap, personally set by his master, Elizabeta, had been dismantled by a mere human.
Zeke, who had been observing the situation, gripped Solomon’s Chain and spoke.
“Such a pathetic attempt.”
He flung the chain into the chaotic mana currents beside him.
The wild currents converged, traveling along the chain toward Arzidum.
Panicking, Arzidum frantically tried to untangle the chain wrapped around him.
But the chains of the soul were unyielding.
“No, no!”
Crackle—
The concentrated mana currents surged through the chain and struck Arzidum.
“Argh!”
As the currents coursed through him, Arzidum felt his muscles contract painfully, clenching his jaw so tightly he feared his teeth might shatter.
Zeke watched the paralyzed Arzidum for a moment before slowly approaching him.
Crackle!
With the magic circles destroyed by the mana reversal, the currents dissipated entirely.
Zeke looked down at Arzidum, who was now steaming from head to toe.
“Ugh…”
Zeke spoke clearly to the dazed Arzidum.
“Demon, you’d better stop testing my patience.”
Just then—
Rumble—
The tightly shut doors slid open on either side.
Zeke looked ahead.
Inside the vast hall, hundreds of demons glared at him.
Though they resembled humans, some had multiple arms and eyes, and they sported hair and skin in colors humans could never possess.
Zeke could sense that each demon present was at least of intermediate rank.
‘So, the fortress’s power allows them to summon demons here without the usual karmic restrictions.’
Anastasia had filled her ranks with lower-tier demons to bolster her numbers.
But it seemed Elizabeta’s forces had an unusually high number of high-ranking demons, likely due to her own formidable magical prowess.
At that moment, Arzidum, trembling, raised his hand toward someone.
“M-my lady, I have lured Zeke Draker here as you commanded.”
Zeke turned his gaze to where Arzidum gestured.
A woman sat on a throne atop a high platform, wearing a golden mask.
It was the First Princess, Elizabeta, revealing herself at last.