Episode 640
The dark matter floated ominously in the air, its surface rippling like a living metal. Though it appeared calm now, its nature of distorting causality meant it could unleash chaos at any moment.
Zeke cautiously approached, intent on retrieving the dark matter. But suddenly, it reacted.
With a thunderous roar, the dark matter expanded, ensnaring the frozen “Light of Annihilation” from Raguel. It absorbed the light, transforming into a massive black flame.
Despite absorbing the time-frozen light, the dark matter seemed unaffected. The black flame began to morph, sprouting limbs and a face, with fiery wings unfurling behind it. It roared at Zeke, resembling a dark angel.
“Has it absorbed Raguel’s power and the essence of the angelic form?” Zeke wondered, raising his sword, Levatein, towards the fiery angel.
The dark matter, now an angelic figure, lunged at Zeke, spewing flames. Astonishingly, the black flames turned white mid-flight.
These were the flames of judgment, created by Raguel’s power, and they surged towards Zeke with fierce intensity.
But then, a brilliant light from Ascalon intercepted the white flames, absorbing them completely.
The dark matter, now a fiery angel, intensified its flames, but it couldn’t escape the light’s grasp. While Ascalon held back the flames, Zeke charged forward with a gust of wind.
In a flash, Zeke closed the distance, raising Levatein, now imbued with dark energy, which emitted a sharp, resonant cry.
The dark matter retaliated, lashing out with tendrils of black flame. One wrapped around Levatein’s blade.
Zeke smirked, “Foolish.”
As he spoke, Levatein began absorbing the black flame tendril. Despite the dark matter’s twisted causality, Levatein’s dark energy allowed it to absorb the flame effortlessly.
The dark matter let out a ghastly wail as its own flames were drawn into Levatein. Zeke reached out, “Regret is futile.”
A powerful force pulled the angelic dark matter towards Zeke, unable to escape his domain, and it was absorbed into Levatein.
The dark matter tried to resist, unleashing one last burst of flame at Zeke, but it was in vain. The flame was caught in Zeke’s grasp, transforming back into the dark substance it once was.
Shadows from Zeke’s hand engulfed the remnants of the dark matter, absorbing it completely into Levatein and his shadow.
As the dark matter was fully absorbed, white flames ignited in Zeke’s hands, forming rings around his wrists, identical to those once worn by Raguel.
“Has Raguel’s power transferred to me through the dark matter?” Zeke mused, examining the white rings. But then, like ink spreading, the rings turned pitch black.
The white flames transformed into a serene black flame, and a message appeared:
[You have fully absorbed the power of ‘Flames of Judgment.’] [Levatein absorbs the source of twisted causality, ‘Dark Matter.’] [The power of ‘Flames of Judgment’ transforms into ‘Abyssal Flames.’] [You acquire ‘Abyssal Flames,’ one of the lost powers of the Arrogant Savior.] [Unlocking abilities and memories related to ‘Abyssal Flames.’]
As Zeke read the messages, memories of the Abyssal Flames flooded his mind. It was one of the most crucial memories of the Arrogant Savior, now unlocked.
“The Flames of Judgment were originally based on the Arrogant Savior’s power, the Abyssal Flames,” Zeke realized.
The Flames of Judgment, known for their apocalyptic power, were indeed one of the lost powers of the Arrogant Savior.
The black flame ring on Zeke’s wrist roared, acknowledging its new master. Zeke examined the power of the Arrogant Savior, once known as Lucifer, the strongest of the celestial beings.
The black flames, capable of burning even shadows, wrapped around Zeke’s wrist, exuding a noble beauty.
Zeke turned his gaze to Hela, the divine beast summoned by Raguel, now crouched and unable to return.
Hela bared her teeth at Zeke, wary. Zeke gestured to her, “Come here.”
He unleashed the Abyssal Flames from the black ring, forming a massive ring of fire. Hela’s expression changed as she approached the ring.
With a leap, Hela passed through the ring, her body transforming from white flames to black.
Now beside Zeke, Hela showed no signs of hostility. “Hela, you’ve returned to your true master.”
Hela, the second beast of the apocalypse, was originally a creature of the abyss, empowered by Lucifer’s authority.
With the memories of the Abyssal Flames unlocked, Zeke realized he was Hela’s true master. The crimson dragon with seven heads, summoned by Lilith, was the first beast of the apocalypse, Tiamat, who had also lost its powers after falling with the Arrogant Savior.
Tiamat and Hela were the strongest divine beasts, serving Lucifer, the most radiant celestial being.
“Tiamat will also regain its true power once I find the Arrogant Savior’s other lost abilities,” Zeke thought.
Hela, delighted to reunite with her true master, nuzzled Zeke with her lion heads. Zeke patted her mane, “We’ll have our fun soon. For now, rest in the shadows.”
Reluctantly, Hela transformed into black flames and disappeared into Zeke’s shadow.
[The second beast of the apocalypse, the Abyssal Divine Beast Hela, is registered as a summon.]
Zeke dispelled the burning purgatory realm with a wave of his hand. The crumbling Babel, with its towering pillars of fire, receded, revealing Atlas once more.
The city seemed to have regained its calm, thanks to the floating ark and the Atlas walls switching to defense mode, successfully fending off the beastly attacks.
“Thank goodness.”
Had Zeke been even a moment late, not just Atlas, but all of Midland might have fallen.
Just then, something flew towards Zeke.
“Zeke!”
It was none other than Kali, riding on Bucephalus.
Clad in silver armor and mounted on the dragon king Bucephalus, Kali looked like a Valkyrie from legend.
“Sister.”
Zeke flew through the air to meet her.
Kali, her face flushed, examined Zeke closely before speaking.
“Zeke, you never cease to amaze me. Becoming a celestial being, of all things…”
Kali was genuinely astonished at Zeke, who had surpassed realms she could hardly imagine.
Zeke shook his head at her words.
“I’m still just me. Nothing has changed.”
Kali shook her head, half in exasperation, half in relief, at Zeke’s response.
“Zeke, I should thank you first, but there’s no time for that. Come with me.”
Zeke sensed urgency in Kali’s voice, indicating something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Kali’s expression turned grave as she replied.
“Lord Rex is at his limit.”
Rex Turn, the head of the Turn family, had been ambushed on his way to save Atlas and was now at death’s door.
Kali quickly continued.
“He wishes to speak with you one last time.”
Zeke’s eyes widened at her words.
“One last message for me?”
Rex Turn was the only person who knew the truth about his father, Arthur Draker, and Laura Agamemnon. Even Zeke, who knew many secrets of this world, was still in the dark about their relationship.
Why had Laura Agamemnon married the man she despised, Arthur Draker? Why had she accepted Zeke, who wasn’t her biological child, and then killed him? Rex Turn might hold the answers.
Zeke furrowed his brow and took Kali’s hand.
“Hold on tight. It might be dizzying at first.”
“What do you mean…?”
Before Kali could finish, Zeke activated the portal.
Whoosh!
With a burst of light, Zeke and Kali vanished from the spot.
Whoosh!
In a flash of light, Zeke and Kali appeared in a secluded part of Winter Keep, the deepest area of the Four Seasons Castle.
“Ugh.”
Kali, experiencing a portal for the first time, staggered slightly, feeling dizzy.
Zeke cast a full recovery spell on her and slowly turned around.
Having already read Kali’s memories to locate Rex Turn, he could sense Rex’s presence just beyond the nearby door.
Kali spoke to Zeke.
“Go on, Zeke.”
Leaving Kali behind, Zeke opened the door and stepped inside.
To his surprise, Rex Turn sat cross-legged on the floor, his upper body bare, revealing thick muscles.
“You’ve come.”
Despite being on the brink of death, Rex Turn exuded an even more vibrant energy than before as he greeted Zeke.
Rex picked up the sword in front of him and stood.
Then, pointing it at Zeke, he said,
“Zeke Draker, I want to see your sword. One last time.”