Episode 595
Serazad’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Zeke holding the jade seal of the Tantra Kingdom, marked with three eyes.
“That symbol… Could it be that the legendary Three-Eyed Tribe of the Eternal Mountains truly exists?”
Zeke nodded.
“They are the descendants of ancient Shambhala, now known as the Tantra Kingdom.”
“So, having that seal means you’ve conquered the kingdom?”
Zeke hesitated before responding to Serazad’s question.
“Conquered might not be the right word… But I have inherited the legitimacy of the Shambhala king, the origin of the Tantra Kingdom.”
Serazad was left speechless, overwhelmed by the depth of Zeke’s abilities and mysterious background.
‘Just how many more astonishing secrets does this man hold?’
Zeke, noticing Serazad’s dazed expression, continued.
“You needn’t worry about the beasts beyond the Eternal Barrier anymore. I plan to unite the tribes within the mountains, using the Tantra Kingdom as a base to establish a defensive line.”
Serazad’s eyes widened even more at his words.
“Are you saying you intend to develop beyond the Eternal Barrier? That’s a place that hasn’t allowed outsiders for millennia. Even for you, it won’t be an easy task.”
“The Tantra Kingdom has maintained their secret realm within the mountains since the fall of Shambhala. With their power, it’s possible to explore the mountains.”
Zeke had already devised a plan to unleash the potential of the Tantra Kingdom, which had been bound by blood ties, and to actively utilize it.
By awakening the latent powers of individuals like Titus and Yulina, he aimed to control the beasts and gradually expand the safe zones within the mountains.
Additionally, by establishing branches of the Feynan Corporation and the Reinhardt Trading Company in the Tantra Kingdom, he could accelerate development by introducing central continental culture.
Serazad nodded in agreement after hearing Zeke’s plans for the Eternal Mountains.
“Developing beyond the barrier with the Tantra Kingdom at the center… It’s an impressive plan.”
“For this, we also need the support of the Murk Empire. If you allow trade with the Reinhardt Trading Company, we can create a vast trade route connecting Tantra, the Murk Empire, and the central continent.”
Serazad, having maintained her position as sultan for a long time, was a shrewd woman.
She quickly calculated the benefits the Murk Empire could gain from the trade route Zeke proposed.
‘This would be advantageous for the empire in many ways.’
Nodding, Serazad spoke to Zeke.
“So, you’re asking us to prepare our forces to secure these benefits. If Arthur Draker revives the Demon King and causes chaos, establishing such a large trade network would be impossible.”
“Exactly. Trade flourishes when the continent is stable.”
Serazad knew Zeke’s words were true.
After considering various factors, she nodded.
“Very well. Zeke Draker, if you can guarantee what you’ve said, I can persuade the ministers.”
Zeke sighed in relief at Serazad’s words.
Then, Serazad clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“If only you were my national advisor, this would be much simpler. You’re taking the hard road.”
“That could lead to other complications.”
Serazad, well aware of the delicate relations between the central and eastern continents, understood Zeke’s point.
She smiled wryly.
“Your words are hard to counter. Anyway, now that the urgent matters are settled, we can enjoy the banquet at leisure…”
Woooom!
Before Serazad could finish, a vibration emanated from Zeke’s pocket.
He pulled out the source of the vibration—a mirror given to him by Nabu.
The communication network had been out of reach within the Eternal Mountains, but it seemed to have reconnected upon reaching the Murk Empire.
Zeke immediately answered Nabu’s call through the mirror.
“Master, I was just about to contact you…”
—“Zeke! It’s an emergency!”
Nabu’s urgent voice shouted through the mirror.
—“Damn it! Storm Fortress! They’re attacking us!”
Zeke’s expression hardened as he stood up abruptly.
“Attacking Storm Fortress? Who is it? Don’t tell me…”
—“Arthur Draker! His men are behind this! Harvey West has joined him!”
Zeke frowned at the mention of Harvey West, who had survived and allied with Arthur Draker.
‘Harvey West and Arthur Draker…’
It was the worst-case scenario he could imagine.
Nabu’s voice echoed again.
—“Damn it, most of the High Tables have fallen to Arthur Draker! In the chaos, Harvey West is leading the beasts to attack us!”
“Are they after the Black Star there?”
Nabu gritted his teeth and replied.
—“Zeke, listen carefully! The Book of the Dead is here…”
Crackle—
—“It… is…”
Crackle!
The communication cut off before Nabu could finish.
But Zeke had heard enough to understand.
‘The Book of the Dead is at Storm Fortress?’
As far as he knew, the Book of the Dead, which sealed the Demon King’s soul, was located in the Last Tower on the abandoned continent beyond the Dark Sea.
He couldn’t fathom why it was at Storm Fortress, but it was clear the situation there was dire.
Zeke put the mirror back in his pocket and turned to Serazad.
“Your Majesty, it seems we’ll have to postpone the banquet.”
Having witnessed the entire situation, Serazad shrugged and nodded.
“Understood. Heroes are always busy. What can I do to help?”
Zeke pondered for a moment before speaking to Serazad.
“Please persuade the ministers. Inform them that Arthur Draker’s advance is imminent and that we must prepare together.”
“Consider it done. You needn’t worry about that. I’ve already made up my mind during our conversation. Is there anything else you need?”
“Please relay my situation to Mycenae. I’ll provide the details. And lastly…”
His eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Could you lend me a ship? A sturdy one, if possible.”
Rumble!
Zeke sailed towards the Stormy Seas on a ship provided by Serazad.
The ship’s appearance was anything but ordinary.
Its surface was made of bone and ice, with the prow adorned by the skull of a fearsome beast.
To an observer, it might seem like a cursed ghost ship adrift at sea.
It was a vessel fit to be called a monster ship, and on its deck, two archliches were busily floating around.
They were tirelessly repairing holes in the ship’s sides with summoned bone and ice whenever the fierce waves struck, and warding off approaching sea monsters.
At the helm, the spirit beast Nahuel was diligently steering the ship through the stormy waters.
Roar!
Suddenly, a massive sea monster rose, ready to devour the ship in one gulp.
Startled, Vayne and Richmond immediately cast their spells.
Boom!
The monster froze under Vayne’s ice magic and was pierced by a bone spear from Richmond, sinking back into the depths.
Richmond, looking exasperated, spoke to Zeke.
“Master, what kind of sea is this? It seems even rougher than last time.”
Even on the rocking ship, Zeke calmly sipped his tea, protected from the splashing seawater by his shadow armor.
He replied to Richmond in a composed voice.
“Yes, so be thorough and check for any holes in the ship.”
Richmond gritted his teeth and trembled at Zeke’s words.
‘He went to the demon realm and returned as a grand lord, and now he’s become a real demon…’
“I can hear you, Richmond.”
“Gah! I-I didn’t say anything. It was Vayne, Master!”
Desperate to save himself, Richmond dragged the innocent Vayne into the conversation.
Leaving the repairs to Richmond and Vayne, Zeke continued sipping his tea, gazing at the turbulent sea.
‘Richmond is right; the sea is much rougher than before.’
This wasn’t a natural storm.
The sea had been calm near Murk, but as they approached Storm Fortress, it became violently turbulent.
‘This storm is connected to Storm Fortress.’
The sea had always been tumultuous, but now it was beyond comparison.
As the two liches and Nahuel struggled to navigate the rough waters, Vayne shouted from above.
“Master! I see something ahead!”
Zeke stood up, enhancing his vision to look in the direction Vayne indicated.
His expression hardened.
Dozens of ships bearing a familiar insignia came into view.
‘Draker’s Black Stage.’
Ships marked with the Black Stage insignia were gathered around Storm Fortress.
Officially, the Black Stage had pledged allegiance to Zeke alongside Baron Draker.
But Zeke never fully trusted Baron or the Black Stage’s loyalty.
If he had, there would have been no need to establish a new intelligence organization, Nemesis, centered around Boris.
“The current Black Stage is loyal only to Arthur Draker.”
If Arthur Draker had truly died, it might have been a different story. But with the revelation that his death was a ruse, trust was a luxury they couldn’t afford.
“Just as the Silver Sage said, Arthur Draker seems to have a hand in this. The Black Stage is here.”
Zeke narrowed his eyes and steered his ship toward where the Black Stage’s vessel was anchored.
Suddenly, he sensed something approaching his ship. At first, he thought it might be a sea monster, but the aura was different.
“An Outsider?”
As soon as Zeke realized, a grotesque creature with countless tentacles emerged from beneath the waves.
A monstrous, three-headed worm-like beast writhed its tentacles, attempting to ensnare Zeke’s ship.
Richmond and Bane quickly reacted, casting their spells.
Thud, thud, thud!
Hundreds of ice and bone arrows flew toward the beast, striking true.
The creature recoiled, seemingly wounded by the barrage.
But it wasn’t over. The beast extended its tentacles again, aiming to attack Zeke’s ship.
Zeke summoned his guardians from the shadows.
Guardian Caligula and Ashvin appeared, the most powerful attackers among Zeke’s summons.
Caligula’s three eyes gleamed as it raised a black crescent blade, while Ashvin unfurled four wings, crafting a spear of shadow.
“Finish it.”
At Zeke’s command, Caligula and Ashvin launched their assault on the Outsider beast.
Caligula’s black crescent blade sliced through the tentacles with precision.
As the beast hesitated, stunned by the sharp attack, Ashvin hurled the shadow spear, imbued with the power of the wind.
Boom!
The spear pierced the creature, leaving a gaping hole.
The Outsider beast, unable to regenerate under the relentless assault, shrank back.
In that moment, something descended from above.
Crash!
Zeke, wielding the holy sword Ascalon, struck the Outsider with a divine thunderbolt.
Crackling with energy, the lightning struck the creature, leaving it charred and sinking silently into the sea.
Richmond and Bane gaped at the sheer power of Zeke’s newly summoned guardians.
“We’re going to be out of a job at this rate.”
“Hope the master doesn’t decide to turn me into a decorative skull.”
Ignoring the anxious thoughts of the two liches, Zeke guided the ship toward the Black Stage’s vessel.
Just then, a long-distance communication came through.
Bzzz—
Zeke retrieved a crystal orb to take the call.
“Greetings, Sir Zeke.”
The voice on the other end belonged to none other than Souma, the right-hand captain of the Black Stage.