Episode 644
A deep hum resonated through the air as the energy from the sword coalesced, forming a dark matter.
The dark matter hovered in the air, slowly drifting toward Arthur Draker’s chest, its surface rippling with an eerie texture. Soon, black particles, like iron filings, began to fall from it.
The particles moved of their own accord, seeping into the wound in Arthur Draker’s heart.
With the movement of the dark matter, the entire altar, along with the sword statue, pulsed as if it had a heartbeat.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Zeke watched as the dark matter burrowed into Arthur Draker’s heart, and he couldn’t help but shiver.
“Is the dark matter merging with Arthur Draker’s dead body?”
This meant that the dark matter, which twisted the laws of causality, had been within Arthur Draker for decades.
The dark matter, now reduced to black dust, was completely absorbed into Arthur Draker’s body, leaving no trace behind.
Moments later, a change began in Arthur Draker’s lifeless form.
His joints twisted grotesquely, limbs contorting unnaturally. He gasped, his mouth opening wide as if drawing breath for the first time.
“Ahhh!”
His shrunken lungs filled with air, his chest heaving as he resumed breathing.
“Arghhh!”
Arthur Draker, now revived, screamed in agony, clawing at his chest with his twisted arms. Through the torn fabric of his clothes, his heart was visible, surrounded by grotesquely bulging black veins.
He panted heavily, clutching his chest again, his muscles swelling and darkened tendons protruding.
A sickening crack echoed as his bones realigned themselves.
Unable to bear the pain, he tore at his clothes, shredding the dragon leather armor to pieces.
His bare torso was a bizarre sight, with bulging muscles and protruding veins.
Bones shattered and reformed, muscles swelled and contracted, repeating the cycle. Blood flowed from ruptured veins, staining his skin.
A groan escaped his tightly clenched teeth, blood seeping from his mouth. Even his eyes bled, tears of blood streaming down his face.
Regaining some semblance of consciousness, Arthur Draker tried to stand, but he lost his balance and fell from the altar.
Thud!
Lying in a bloody heap on the altar floor, Arthur Draker bore no resemblance to the continent’s mightiest warrior.
Even as his body continued to change, a layer of skin peeled away, as if he were shedding.
“Ugh!”
He spat out a clump of dark, foul-smelling blood, which splattered across the floor.
Finally, he managed to grasp the altar and pull himself upright.
Zeke was stunned by the sight of Arthur Draker’s transformed body.
“What is that…?”
In the past, Zeke had absorbed the heart of the dragon Bahamut, transforming his body into the “Heavenly Bone Physique,” allowing him to harness the pure mana within the dragon’s heart. This transformation optimized his physical form, enhancing his abilities and mana conductivity.
As he grew, his physique evolved from the Heavenly Bone Physique to the Martial God Physique.
Though Zeke’s unique combination of dragon and immortal traits, along with divine attributes, made direct comparison difficult, it was undeniable that such transformations significantly impacted growth rates.
To Zeke, Arthur Draker’s new form seemed to surpass even the Heavenly Bone Physique.
A message appeared before him.
[You have witnessed the Solar Saint Physique.]
[Updating Akashic Code information on the Solar Saint Physique.]
Zeke was astonished by the abilities of the Solar Saint Physique.
The Solar Saint Physique represented a transcendent power, akin to a living constellation, capable of surpassing human limits.
As Zeke reviewed the system’s information, his eyes stopped on a particular detail.
The only known possessor of the Solar Saint Physique in the past was the Avatar Adam.
Another message appeared.
[Information on the absorbed ‘Avatar Adam’s Regeneration’ is being updated.]
[Unlocking some previously inaccessible information.]
Adam, the progenitor of the Draker lineage and a Nephilim.
Zeke had first learned of Adam’s name when he absorbed Harvey Draker, Adam’s regeneration, through a system message.
While much related information was updated, most details about Adam remained inaccessible, shrouded in mystery.
However, Arthur Draker’s transformation into the Solar Saint Physique had unlocked new information about the Avatar Adam.
Zeke recalled the message that appeared after absorbing Harvey Draker.
[You have absorbed the regeneration of the first Avatar ‘Adam,’ crafted and breathed into life by ■■■.]
The obscured part of the message flickered, revealing the hidden text.
[You have absorbed the regeneration of the first Avatar ‘Adam,’ crafted and breathed into life by
“Sun God Apollyon?”
Zeke was taken aback by the revelation.
The arrogant savior, Satan, had referred to the Sun God as the one who held the wheel of destiny.
Zeke also knew the secret that the Sun God had led the constellations of the Zodiac to slay the primordial light and steal its power.
Satan had said that the Sun God sought to become a perfect being by orchestrating a flawless scenario with perfect actors on a perfect stage.
As the fourth entity from beyond the Sun God’s stage, Zeke was the only one capable of defying the wheel of destiny.
“The Sun God, who sought to control everything according to his will, was named
Zeke thought of Siemens Apollyon, the adopted son of the Hero King and disciple of the Great Sage, who had become the Last Sage in another timeline.
It was no coincidence that he bore the name of the Sun God, Apollyon.
The Sun God Apollyon had created the first Avatar, Adam, a human-like Nephilim, to dominate the material world.
The power of the Sun God, embedded in Adam’s blood, allowed his descendants to transcend human limits.
Solomon, the King of Carcosa, was also a descendant of Adam, chosen as the first Avatar of the Demon King due to his extraordinary lineage.
This lineage continued through Siemens Apollyon, then through Shaton Draker, and finally to the Draker family of swordmasters, culminating in the hero, Dragonslayer Terracan Draker.
In a way, all these events were orchestrated by the will of the Sun God Apollyon.
Zeke finally understood what Satan meant by the stage created by the Sun God.
“Apollyon has been indirectly influencing the material world through the Avatars of the Draker lineage.”
The reason the Demon King could descend into the material world through the Draker lineage was because the power of the Sun God, who had slain the primordial light, was embedded in their blood.
Zeke trembled as he realized the hidden secret within the Draker lineage.
He felt a primal fear of the absolute constellation that subtly manipulated the material world to its will.
This was why Satan, the Elder Dragons, and the Great Sage had long awaited Zeke, the
Rumble!
Arthur Draker, now transformed by the dark matter into the Solar Saint Physique, examined his body.
He moved his arms and legs with a detached expression, as if testing his body for the first time.
His movements were fluid and resilient, perfectly suited for mastering martial arts.
Zeke could sense that Arthur Draker’s physique surpassed even the Heavenly Bone Physique.
“It seems his physique is superior to the Martial God Physique. Is this why Arthur Draker could reach the level of a Grand Master?”
Arthur Draker, moving his body, turned his gaze to the sword before the sword statue.
As he reached for it, the black claymore vibrated.
With a sudden burst, the claymore dissolved into black smoke and reappeared in Arthur Draker’s hand.
He gripped the sword and assumed the stance of the Dragonslayer technique.
He immediately unleashed a swift strike.
Swoosh—
Though it was a simple downward slash, Zeke instinctively stepped back from Arthur Draker’s blade. Even knowing this was a reconstruction of past memories, the sharpness of the sword felt as if it could cut through his very soul.
“So this is the power of the Solar Entity.”
Arthur Draker swung his sword several more times. His movements were so deliberate and precise that he resembled a monk deep in meditation. What was truly astonishing, however, was the reaction of the otherworldly beasts watching him. They stood still, silent, their eyes fixed on Arthur Draker as he wielded his sword.
Whoosh—
The sound of the blade slicing through the air resonated throughout the vast chamber, creating an atmosphere of tension. Even the pulsating vibrations of the space seemed to pause, as if everything in existence was focused solely on Arthur Draker.
Swish!
After a while, Arthur Draker slowly lowered his sword. As he did, the blade dissolved into black smoke and seeped into his chest.
Sizzle—
Where the sword had vanished, a mark of the sun and a sword appeared on his chest. The otherworldly beasts, witnessing this, bowed their heads in reverence, as if paying homage to Arthur Draker.
Zeke realized why Arthur Draker could command dark matter and control these creatures. “Dark matter that twists causality… Is it the power of the sun god who killed the primordial light?”
Satan had once said that even the sun god, who held the wheel of fate, was not free from the karma created by the primordial light. Remembering this, Zeke understood that the sun god had created an avatar, Adam, and resurrected Arthur Draker with dark matter to escape the constraints of karma.
Arthur Draker looked at the bowing beasts. “The day the sword is drawn from the stone… the true day of arrival will come.”
With those words, he turned his gaze to Zeke, who stood before him. Zeke, knowing this was merely a reenactment of the past, didn’t expect Arthur Draker to actually see him, so he met his eyes.
But then, unexpectedly—
“Remnants are just remnants… They cannot stop me.”
Arthur Draker murmured cryptically and reached out toward Zeke.
“Could it be…?”
As Zeke watched him approach, disbelief etched on his face, Arthur Draker’s eyes suddenly lost focus.
Thud!
Like a puppet with its strings cut, Arthur Draker collapsed to the ground.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the altar began to shake violently, accompanied by a deep rumbling sound.
“What on earth…?”
Startled, Zeke instinctively moved toward the fallen Arthur Draker, but then he felt an inexplicable force pulling him back.