Chapter 641
Rex Thurn, the head of the Thurn family and one of the top five warriors on the continent, stood silently, his massive sword in hand. Zeke faced him, his eyes steady and unwavering.
With a slight nod of respect, Zeke drew his own weapon, the Levatein, from his inventory and pointed it at Rex Thurn. The air between them grew heavy, charged with anticipation.
Rex Thurn was the first to move. Despite his enormous size, he made no sound as he stepped forward, his movements bold yet fluid. He swung his great sword toward Zeke with a force that seemed to shake the very air.
Zeke met the descending blade with his Levatein, blocking the powerful strike. Even for someone like Zeke, who had surpassed human limits, the resonance of Rex Thurn’s attack was profound.
But Rex Thurn was far from finished. His massive form seemed to compress, gathering energy for another assault. In an instant, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, targeting Zeke’s vital points with precision.
Zeke’s eyes widened at the unexpected display of skill. The Levatein glowed, its blade rising to meet the onslaught, deflecting the attacks with a brilliant flash.
Yet, even as the strikes were parried, Rex Thurn pressed on, stepping forward with a force that felt like an avalanche. Zeke braced himself, countering the charge with his own strength.
The impact of their clash sent shockwaves through the room, shaking the very foundations of Winterkeep, the heart of the Draker family stronghold. Designed to withstand any assault, even Winterkeep trembled under the might of these two superhuman warriors.
As the dust settled, both men stepped back, breathing heavily. Rex Thurn raised his sword, his vitality belying his years. Yet Zeke sensed that Rex Thurn’s time was running out.
“You are remarkable,” Rex Thurn acknowledged, his voice steady. He readied himself once more, a fierce determination in his eyes.
A strange aura emanated from him as he prepared to pour his final will into his sword. Zeke understood the gravity of the moment, recognizing the significance of Rex Thurn’s last stand.
With a deep breath, Zeke steadied his own weapon, the Levatein, merging his spirit with the blade. As Rex Thurn advanced, the room seemed to shift, and Zeke found himself in a void, facing a colossal sword descending from above.
The sheer size and power of the blade were enough to crush the spirit of any ordinary person. But Zeke remained calm, his gaze fixed on the final strike of Rex Thurn’s indomitable spirit.
He stepped forward, channeling all his energy into a single, decisive swing. His blade met Rex Thurn’s, and to his surprise, a crack appeared, spreading rapidly until the massive sword shattered into dust.
The illusion faded, and they were back in the room, Rex Thurn kneeling, his strength spent. Zeke rushed to his side, but Rex Thurn waved him off.
“I’m fine,” Rex Thurn insisted, planting his sword in the ground and sitting with a serene expression. Zeke quickly assessed him, but it was too late; the vessel of his soul was beyond repair.
“Zeke Draker,” Rex Thurn said, meeting his gaze. “Do you know why I wanted to see you one last time?”
Zeke nodded, understanding the unspoken message. “I will ensure the Thurn family receives your final insights.”
Rex Thurn smiled, relieved. “Thank you. But there’s more. I must tell you about Arthur Draker and Laura Agamemnon.”
Zeke had sought Rex Thurn to uncover the secrets entwining these two figures. “I know Arthur killed my mother,” he admitted.
Rex Thurn was taken aback but nodded solemnly. “And you know he wasn’t your father?”
“Yes, and you knew as well,” Zeke replied.
“Do you know who your real father is?” Rex Thurn asked, pausing before continuing. “I don’t, unfortunately. But I do know Laura and Arthur never shared a bed, and she despised him.”
Zeke recalled Laura Agamemnon’s hatred for Arthur Draker, yet she had married him, enduring scorn for her family’s curse. She bore Zeke and died by Arthur’s hand.
“Laura had the power of prophecy,” Rex Thurn revealed. “Arthur coveted that power.”
Zeke’s mind raced. Arthur’s obsession with powerful bloodlines, his experiments with women of unique abilities, all pointed to a sinister motive.
“Did he marry my mother to create a child with prophetic powers?” Zeke asked, his voice sharp.
Rex Thurn hesitated, then nodded. “It’s hard to deny.”
“Arthur was a friend, but he was always an enigma,” Rex Thurn admitted, a hint of regret in his voice.
Arthur Draker, Ramon Jimenez, and Lex Turn.
These three were not only the heads of powerful allied families but also childhood friends who had grown up together.
However, as the years passed, their paths diverged dramatically. Ramon Jimenez allied himself with the abyss, seeking to resurrect dark gods and demon lords, while Arthur Draker aimed to bring about the apocalypse and ascend to godhood himself.
Lex Turn lifted his head and looked at Zeke.
“Zeke, listen carefully. What I’m about to tell you is something I’ve never shared with anyone.”
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.
“Forty years ago, when Arthur, Ramon, and I were just young upstarts, we set out to find a dungeon that no one had ever heard of.”
Arthur Draker, Ramon Jimenez, and Lex Turn trusted each other enough to explore dungeons together, forming an unbreakable bond.
Zeke recalled a story he had heard from Laura Agamemnon in the past.
“Mother, you said Arthur Draker, Ramon Jimenez, and even Lex Turn formed a party to search for the Elder Dragon’s ruins.”
Arthur Draker had long sought the Elder Dragon’s ruins.
Though in the end, it was Zeke who claimed them.
Zeke asked Lex Turn, “That dungeon, was it the Elder Dragon’s ruins?”
Lex Turn shook his head at the question.
“The Elder Dragon’s ruins… It’s been a while since I’ve heard that name. Yes, there was a time when we searched for it tirelessly.”
His eyes took on a distant look, as if lost in memories.
“Laura was with us back then too. Looking back, those were some of the happiest days of my life. We bickered constantly, got lost and had to camp out under the stars… but it was fun.”
Lex Turn’s voice grew softer as he reminisced.
Zeke sensed the life force rapidly draining from Lex Turn and stepped closer, channeling divine energy to revitalize him.
A golden aura enveloped Lex, bringing a bit of life back to his weary form.
Lex Turn looked up at Zeke again.
”…Incredible power. I’m glad I called for you one last time.”
He continued speaking.
“Anyway, the dungeon we sought back then wasn’t the Elder Dragon’s ruins.”
“Then what were you looking for?” Zeke asked.
Lex Turn took a deep breath before answering slowly.
“It was an ancient temple, its name long forgotten. Arthur scoured the entire continent to find it. But there…”
Lex hesitated, unable to continue for a moment.
After a pause, he spoke again, his voice strained.
“There was an accident. An unexpected, terrible accident.”
Zeke looked at Lex Turn, pressing for more details.
“What kind of accident?”
Lex Turn bit his lip at Zeke’s question, then spoke in a low, somber voice.
“Arthur… he died there.”