Episode 621
As Zeke reached out, shadows began to envelop the spirit of Hercules.
A soft crackling sound filled the air as Hercules, wrapped in shadows, started to emit a radiant light. This was unlike any reaction Zeke had seen when transforming other spirits into shadow entities.
“What is this?” he wondered.
Just then, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes:
[The spirit of Hercules, the Last Warrior of the Titans, submits to the noble will of the Constellation, the One Who Transcends Walls.]
[The ‘Twelve Labors’ within Hercules’ spirit respond to the powers of the Constellation.]
[The Constellation’s powers of Infinite Breakthrough and Re-Creation empower Hercules’ ‘Twelve Labors.’]
[The spirit of Hercules transcends the limits of a guardian spirit.]
A deep rumble echoed as Hercules, shrouded in shadows, began to evolve into something entirely different, rather than becoming a mere shadow spirit like the others.
[The spirit of Hercules has been reconstituted as the Guardian Star of the Constellation, the One Who Transcends Walls.]
[The rank of Guardian Star Hercules rises.]
[The unique power ‘Heroic Majesty’ is created for Guardian Star Hercules.]
[Guardian Star Hercules is registered as the user’s guardian.]
A vibrant hum filled the air as Hercules, clad in orichalcum armor, slowly rose, radiating a dazzling array of colors. Remarkably, the spirit of Hercules had responded to Zeke’s powers, ascending in rank to become a Guardian Star.
The presence and majesty of Hercules, now a Guardian Star, were distinctly different from other guardians. As a hero of Atlantis, his powerful spirit had achieved a new level, making it difficult to fathom the extent of his strength.
Watching Hercules, Zeke had a thought. “Could other guardians also become Guardian Stars if their rank increases?”
Zeke recalled that he had previously confirmed through the system that spirit beasts could evolve into divine beasts by accumulating karma points and meeting certain conditions. He speculated that the shadow spirits, now guardians, might also be capable of such evolution.
“I’ll need to look into this,” he mused.
With his thoughts organized, Zeke looked up at the radiant Hercules and spoke. “Hercules, I look forward to working with you.”
Hercules descended to the ground, kneeling with one knee and placing his right hand over his left heart, pledging to Zeke, “I vow my loyalty to you, my lord.”
This was a solemn oath unique to the Titans, a promise of loyalty as a guardian to Zeke. The weight of a constellation’s promise was far greater than that of a human’s, and Zeke, understanding this, nodded in satisfaction.
At that moment, Nabu and Nigel approached from behind.
“What on earth is this?” Nabu exclaimed, nearly fainting at the sight of Hercules as a Guardian Star.
Nigel, though equally surprised, had more pressing matters. “It seems Baron has infiltrated the temple.”
Zeke furrowed his brow at Nigel’s words and turned to Hercules. “Hercules, what security measures are in place inside the temple to stop intruders?”
Hercules replied, “The temple’s interior is another unique space created by the power of the Great Sage. Anyone who enters without permission will lose their way and be unable to escape.”
Nabu sighed in relief. “Phew, then that’s a relief. If the Great Sage prepared it that way, even Baron won’t easily get the Book of the Dead.”
But Zeke shook his head. “We can’t be so sure.”
Nabu looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Nigel answered in Zeke’s stead. “The Demon King’s voice. Is that what you’re referring to?”
Zeke nodded. “Yes, Master. If the Demon King’s voice guides Baron, escaping the maze created by the Great Sage might not be impossible.”
Nabu’s face turned pale at Zeke and Nigel’s words. “Damn it, then we need to stop him quickly. Let’s go!”
As Nabu urged them on, Zeke nodded and asked Hercules again, “Do you have the authority to control the temple’s internal security?”
Hercules shook his head. “The Great Sage did not grant me such authority.”
Nabu’s eyes widened in despair. “Ugh! So if we’re not careful, we might get lost in the maze ourselves!”
To avoid getting lost, they would have to listen to the Demon King’s voice and follow his guidance, risking the corruption of their souls.
As Zeke pondered, he spoke to Nabu. “I have an idea, but I’ll need your help.”
Nabu looked up, surprised. “You have a plan?”
Zeke retrieved something from his inventory: the Absolute Compass, a unique item that could guide them to a specified location.
Nabu nodded in understanding. “Ah, of course! We have this!”
While Nabu was relieved, Zeke remained serious. “The compass can guide us, but there’s a problem.”
“A problem? What is it?”
“Once we set a location, we can’t change it until we reach it.”
“Why’s that an issue? Can’t we just ask it to lead us to the Book of the Dead?”
Nigel interjected, “You fool. And you call yourself a sage?”
Nabu tilted his head in confusion, then realized the issue and sighed. “Ah, there’s another Book of the Dead elsewhere.”
Zeke nodded. “I was saving the compass for finding the last Book of the Dead.”
Using the compass here could complicate things, making it impossible to find the path to the Dark Continent.
“Nothing’s ever easy,” Nabu grumbled.
Zeke approached Nabu. “That’s why I need to ask you a favor.”
He whispered something to Nabu, who looked surprised, then thoughtful.
“Hmm… It might work, or it might not.”
“Please, I need your help,” Zeke urged.
After a moment’s hesitation, Nabu nodded. “Alright. I can’t guarantee success, but I’ll try.”
He summoned several books, flipping through them until he found the passage he needed.
“With the cheerful yet majestic net of the Fisher Knight, Reyes, the sky is covered, and a golden wave ensues! The vile orc horde is ensnared in its wake!”
Nabu recited the incantation to summon the net of the Fisher Knight, Reyes. The sky was soon covered with a golden net.
Zeke reached out to the net, using the power of the Chronos Archive to summon a spirit.
A resonant hum filled the air as the Chronos Archive and Reyes’ golden net reacted.
A shimmering haze appeared before Zeke, slowly forming into a human shape.
“Weep! Rise! What can stop me? Ah! Wipe your tears, beautiful one!”
The spirit of Reyes, known for his poetic nature, emerged, announcing his presence with verse.
Though the spirit was faint and indistinct, summoned through Nabu’s net rather than a typical relic, Zeke was satisfied.
He approached Reyes’ spirit. “Fisher Knight Reyes, I have a request.”
Without waiting for a response, Zeke offered the Absolute Compass. “You were the legendary owner of this golden compass. No one else could wield it as you did.”
Looking into the eyes of Reyes’ spirit, Zeke continued, “To prevent the Demon King’s resurrection, I ask for your guidance. Teach me how to use this compass properly.”
Reyes’ spirit nodded. “I sense a noble spirit in you. You are a knight of great virtue.”
Zeke had encountered Reyes before, albeit as a memory in the Inverted Tower. Despite being a faint spirit, Reyes exuded his characteristic cheerfulness.
“Using the golden compass properly? That’s not difficult at all!” Reyes laughed heartily. “Sincerity! A genuine desire to find something! That’s all you need!”
Zeke furrowed his brow. “Is there no more precise method?”
Reyes’ spirit tilted his head. “Hmm? Not really. When I was sincere, what I sought always came to mind clearly.”
Zeke, slightly deflated by Reyes’ response, shrugged his shoulders.
Reyes, the romantic fisherman, never seemed to have a precise method for using the golden compass from the start.
“Come to think of it, he did give off that impression back then too.”
They had summoned Reyes, the original owner of the golden compass, expecting him to know exactly how to use it. But his response was unexpected.
At that moment, Nigel, who had been listening to Reyes, approached Zeke.
“True intentions and a sincere heart… Zeke, does that ring any bells for you?”
Zeke pondered Nigel’s words for a moment before something clicked.
“The Soul Infusion?”
With Nigel’s hint, Zeke grasped the compass and channeled the power of the Soul Infusion into it.
Vroooom!
To his amazement, the compass reacted to the Soul Infusion, beginning to glow with a golden light.
Reyes’s spirit nodded approvingly and said, “Yes! That’s it! It’s resolved!”
With a satisfied smile, Reyes’s spirit waved at Zeke, as if his task was complete, and then faded away. It seemed that without the proper artifact, spirits couldn’t linger long in the physical realm.
Vroooom!
Just as Zeke was feeling a bit regretful for not being able to say a proper goodbye, the golden light from the compass flowed into his body.
Simultaneously, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[The power of the Constellation
[The authority ‘Manlian’ imbued with the Constellation’s power is activated.]
[The authority Manlian is now linked with the Kabbalah System.]
[Through the authority Manlian, you can specify and search for the direction you wish to find.]
The power of the Soul Infusion was rooted in the will and desire of the soul. As Nigel had predicted, the key to unlocking the compass’s power was indeed the Soul Infusion.
Zeke smiled as he reviewed the functions of the Manlian authority now linked with the Kabbalah System. Unlike the limited features he had used before, he could now set precise targets.
He turned to Nigel and Nabu, saying, “I’ve unlocked all the compass’s functions. With this, we can find the Book of the Lion without the Demon King’s voice.”
Nabu nodded in agreement. “Great, that’s good news. We need to find it before Baron does. Let’s move.”
With Nabu’s words, Nigel also prepared to enter the temple.
Once ready, Zeke turned to Hercules. “Hercules, please let us into the temple.”
Hercules nodded and extended his hands.
Rumble!
A massive portal opened in front of the temple, leading into the sealed-off sacred space within.
“Baron, you will never get your hands on the Book of the Lion,” Zeke vowed, stepping into the portal with Nabu and Nigel.