Episode 540
The relationship between the Central Continent and the Northern Continent was complicated, to say the least.
The reaction of the Delpoa mages, who seemed to have a fit at the mere sight of Northern knights, was enough to illustrate the tension between the two continents.
In such a climate, it was indeed surprising that Zeke, the guardian knight of Draker, the heart of the Central Continent, was helping Himonas without expecting anything in return.
Had Zeke not saved Himonas from the demon attack, Alicia might have suspected he had ulterior motives.
But it was clear that Zeke genuinely wanted to help Himonas.
Zeke had to suppress the surge of emotions as he met Alicia’s gaze, her blue eyes shining with curiosity.
In a calm voice, he said, “The Grand Duke must grow stronger to fight the demons. The invasion of the demon realm will eventually become a problem for the entire world, so we must prepare in advance.”
Alicia looked into his eyes, silent for a moment, before speaking slowly, “This is the first time you’ve lied to me, Zeke Draker.”
She had caught the slight tremor in his eyes, a telltale sign of his feelings for her.
Alicia leaned in closer, her face almost touching his. “Is there something you’re hiding from me?”
Zeke hesitated, unable to answer immediately. Being near her brought back memories as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.
He remembered the harsh winters they had survived together, huddled in caves, and the times he had comforted her as she wept over fallen comrades.
Her bright blue eyes always brought back those memories, eyes he had longed for in both his past life and this one.
Though he had reunited with many from his past and formed new bonds since his return, none stirred his heart like Alicia.
It was only after his return that Zeke realized he had loved Alicia all along.
Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to meet her immediately because he feared facing the Alicia of the past, the one who shared those memories with him.
Strictly speaking, if the Alicia of the past was gone and only the one who had forgotten everything remained, then the woman he loved might be lost forever.
But Zeke felt, with certainty, that the Alicia before him was indeed the same woman from his past.
Even if she didn’t share his memories, her essence was unchanged—still fierce, still rough, yet lovable and vulnerable.
Every time he realized that the Alicia he loved and missed was the same as the one before him, he was overwhelmed with emotion.
However, he couldn’t reveal the truth of his experiences and the past to her.
The past was the past, and now was a new life, a chance to forge a different relationship with Alicia.
After collecting his thoughts, he looked at her and said, “Do you really want to know the truth, Grand Duke?”
Alicia met his gaze deeply before turning away. “I have a feeling I shouldn’t hear what that truth is.”
“I would never do anything to harm you or the North. I’m asking for your help, not the other way around.”
Alicia shrugged at his words and picked up the bottle of strong liquor in front of her, taking a swig before passing it to Zeke.
Like the Northern knights, Zeke drank straight from the bottle.
As he set it down, Alicia asked, “Zeke Draker, why do you want to save this world? Is it because you’re the Knight of Salvation?”
In the Central Continent, a knight’s title was said to determine their fate.
Some claimed that Zeke, as the Knight of Salvation, was destined to save the world, like the legendary Hero King or the Dragon Slayer, Terracan Draker.
Zeke hesitated before answering Alicia’s question. “Save the world, you say.”
He had never thought of it that way. He had only turned back time with the power of an Elder Dragon to avoid the miserable death he had once faced.
What he truly desired was not to save the world.
Looking at Alicia, he said, “I’ve never thought about saving the world. What I’ve always wanted was something personal—freedom.”
He recalled the words of Aslan, the Knight of the Crossed Swords, who once said his dream was to wander aimlessly, helping the weak and defeating monsters.
Though it seemed like a romantic notion, Zeke’s ultimate dream of freedom was not so different.
He wanted to live in a world at peace, wandering freely.
Alicia nodded at his words. “Freedom, huh? That’s much better than pointless talk of salvation or heroism.”
She stood up slowly, picking up the sword she had leaned against the wall, and looked at Zeke.
“It’s hard for me to judge how much of what you say is true. But at least I don’t think you mean any harm.”
She strapped the sword to her back and continued, “And regardless of everything else, I’m all for eradicating those damned demons threatening my freedom and the North. So, as you suggested, I’ll meet the Sword King and hone my skills.”
The proud ruler of the North had decided to accept Zeke’s proposal.
Zeke nodded at Alicia’s decision. “I am deeply grateful for your cooperation and consideration, Grand Duke.”
She placed a hand over her heart and bowed in the Northern style, her blue eyes twinkling with a smile.
“Likewise. Until we meet again, Knight of Salvation—or should I say, Knight of Freedom.”
Alicia opened the door to her office and stepped outside.
Zeke watched the spot where Alicia’s warmth lingered, then shook his head.
He cast aside the memories and emotions of the past Alicia that filled his mind.
‘The past is just the past. It’s time to move forward.’
With renewed resolve, Zeke’s eyes gleamed with determination.
Rumble!
Following the formation and agreement of the Continental Alliance, the march toward Jupiter in the southern part of the Empire began from various parts of the Central Continent.
The plan was to gather at Helly, the border region between Midland and the Empire, and then head south past the Thermo Fortress to reach Jupiter.
After the decision, troops from the Central Continent began to converge on Helly.
At the center of it all was Helen Draker, renowned as the Knight of Steel, who was to lead not only the Draker Knights but the entire alliance as the supreme commander.
While Helen led the alliance against Jupiter, Zeke prepared to strike the underground labyrinth of Siemens, where the Abyss was hiding.
Zeke set up a base with the reconnaissance unit at an old castle site not far from the underground labyrinth, preparing for infiltration.
Boris, leading the Six and the assassins of Salmak, devised an infiltration plan.
The underground labyrinth was heavily fortified, and it was impossible to predict what kind of experiments or monsters might be inside.
After devising a plan, Boris and Shadia approached Zeke to report.
“It seems we’ll have to blow this place up.”
Infiltration by the reconnaissance unit was supposed to be stealthy.
But Boris proposed a plan that defied the principles of covert operations.
Zeke asked Boris and Shadia, “Why plan such a noisy approach? The enemy might escape.”
Boris hesitated before answering, “No matter how we look at it, we can’t find a route to approach without leaving traces.”
The underground labyrinth, long hidden by Siemens, was as solid as a fortress.
Moreover, not only were the Abyss’s dark mages present, but also Siemens’s main forces and the secret troops of Emperor Nero, making it highly likely they would be detected upon infiltration.
Boris clenched his fist and said, “If stealth is impossible, it might be better to create a distraction and erase our traces.”
If they were going to be discovered anyway, it was better to cause an explosion to draw the enemy’s forces away, creating an opening to exploit.
Zeke turned to Shadia after hearing Boris’s reasoning. “Shadia, do you agree with Boris’s plan?”
Shadia pressed her lips together and nodded. “As an assassin, it’s embarrassing to admit, but I agree with Captain Boris. Normally, even armies need basic supplies, and Salmak usually exploits those gaps. But… we couldn’t find any such gaps with them.”
Zeke nodded at Shadia’s words.
The underground labyrinth, guarded by monsters rather than humans, seemed impossible to infiltrate by conventional means.
After reviewing the infiltration plan, Zeke stood up.
“Proceed as you suggested, except for one thing.”
He placed the report back on the table and continued, “Instead of using explosives, I’ll be the one to shake them up.”
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted in the middle of a barren wasteland that seemed devoid of anything.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
In an instant, the ground split open, and with a deafening explosion, mounds of earth erupted from below.
Amidst the chaos, something enormous began to rise from the soil.
Screeeeech!
A monstrous worm, bristling with terrifying tentacles and razor-sharp hooks, twisted its massive body and burst forth from the fractured earth.
Screeeeech!
From its gaping maw, a stream of green acidic liquid spewed out, splattering in all directions.
Sizzle—
Wherever the acid touched, a noxious fume rose, filling the air with a deadly mist.
Scorpions and lizards that roamed the wasteland were caught in the toxic cloud, their bodies bubbling and dissolving into nothingness.
In mere moments, the wasteland transformed into a deathly expanse, choked with poison.
Then, the barren surface of the wasteland began to tremble, and a black hole opened up in the ground.
From this abyss, knights clad in dark armor emerged, marching in perfect formation.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The black knights, unaffected by the toxic mist, maintained their ranks and began to patrol the area.
As they appeared, monstrous creatures resembling eagles swooped down from the sky, scanning for any suspicious activity.
They seemed intent on uncovering the cause of the sudden explosion.
Amidst the swirling mist, the black knights spotted something unusual.
Rustle—
There stood Zeke, draped in a cloak of shadows, wielding the mighty Levatein atop a hill in the wasteland.
Both the black knights and the skyborne beasts took note of his presence, relaying the information to their dark sorcerers through pre-prepared spells.
The black knights drew their swords and charged up the hill towards Zeke.
Whoosh!
From all sides, sword strikes imbued with deadly energy rained down upon him.
This energy could nullify aura, making it impossible for an ordinary knight to withstand such an assault head-on.
But Zeke was no ordinary knight.
Boom, boom, boom!
The shadows enveloping Zeke surged upwards, deflecting every attack from the black knights.
With his Shadow Armor absorbing the onslaught, Zeke raised Levatein.
“Dragon Slayer Technique. Black Sword Art. Black Wind.”
A colossal gust of black wind erupted from his blade, engulfing the black knights in an instant.