Episode 649
“The place where Arthur Draker was resurrected.”
Zeke furrowed his brow as he examined the emblem of the sun and sword, then approached the door, extending his hand.
“System, search for access to administrator privileges.”
At Zeke’s command, the system activated the Kabbalah system.
[Administrator access privileges cannot be found.]
The message repeated, indicating that the system couldn’t connect to the Kabbalah system to locate the administrator privileges.
After a moment of contemplation, Zeke recalled how the external beast had opened this door in the reconstructed past he had accessed through Rex’s memories.
“The external beast used its tentacles to open it. Maybe it requires a specific pattern.”
He conjured shadows, shaping them into multiple tendrils like the beast’s tentacles from his memory.
“System, analyze the pattern the external beast used to open the door in the reconstructed memory.”
Following Zeke’s command, the system analyzed the method the beast used and applied the pattern to the shadow tendrils.
The shadow tendrils slipped into the tiny holes around the sun and sword emblem.
Just as the external beast had done, the shadow tendrils delicately manipulated the door’s mechanism.
Creak! Creak!
The disc engraved with the sun and sword emblem rotated in reverse, following the pattern applied by the shadow tendrils.
As the sword’s tip pointed upward, a metallic click sounded, and a crimson light spread from the center of the disc.
Sssss—
The crimson hue intensified, transforming the entire door as if it were covered in capillaries.
Rumble!
The door slowly parted, revealing the hidden interior.
Zeke, on guard, entered the revealed space with his sword drawn.
Just as when Arthur Draker was resurrected, a vast chamber lay before him.
Zeke gazed at the towering altar in the center of the chamber.
In the reconstructed memory, it was there that Arthur Draker had embraced dark matter in his heart and been resurrected.
Zeke levitated himself, ascending to the top of the altar.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Zeke reached the altar’s summit.
As he set foot on the altar, he felt a rhythmic pulsing beneath him.
Thin lines, glowing with an eerie light, spread across the altar’s floor like fine veins.
Zeke walked slowly to the center of the altar.
There lay none other than Draker’s sword statue.
Seeing the sword statue identical to the one in his memory, Zeke furrowed his brow.
In his past life, a device shaped like this sword statue had identified him as a healer, leading to his expulsion from Draker and the start of all his tragedies.
When Zeke discovered that the true identity of the sword statue was the avatar Adam, the progenitor of the Draker lineage, he was sickened by the relentless wheel of fate.
“Why did Arthur Draker leave this as his legacy?”
Zeke checked the system window while gazing at the sword statue.
―Final Scenario (Chapter of the Twisted Temple)―
[Find the Temple of the Twisted Constellation.]
[Scenario Reward: Granting of the Constellation’s Power]
Despite having discovered the twisted temple, no reward was forthcoming.
“Is this not the Temple of the Twisted Constellation?”
The system map clearly labeled this place as the Temple of the Twisted Constellation, yet no message appeared.
“System, search for information on the Temple of the Twisted Constellation.”
The system executed Zeke’s command and displayed a message window.
[Beginning search as per user’s command.]
[Searching for location.]
[Search failed.]
[No karma data exists for the name ‘Twisted Constellation.’]
Zeke looked puzzled at the system message before him.
“No data for the name ‘Twisted Constellation’? That can’t be.”
The mission window clearly specified the name ‘Twisted Constellation’ and marked this location. Yet, the absence of karma data was baffling.
Zeke questioned the system again.
“System, does that mean the Twisted Constellation doesn’t exist?”
The system displayed another message in response to Zeke’s inquiry.
[No data for the constellation exists in the Akashic records.]
The system’s message plunged Zeke into deeper thought.
“Does that mean the term ‘Twisted Constellation’ is incorrect, or that the karma data for it hasn’t been updated yet?”
Based on the information from Rex’s memory, it seemed the Twisted Constellation referred to the sun god Apollyon, but Zeke couldn’t be certain.
After a moment of contemplation, Zeke approached the sword statue.
“Once I obtain related information about the Twisted Constellation, the data will update.”
Zeke reached out to the sword statue, activating the Dragon’s Wisdom to read the karma data.
Sssss—
As the Dragon’s Wisdom unfolded, the power of the Sage’s Eye, linked to the Akashic records, activated.
Then, it happened.
Whirrr—
The sword statue reacted to Zeke’s power, a strange energy forming on its surface.
The energy from the sword statue coalesced, taking shape.
Whooo—
Zeke recognized the object taking form.
“Is that…?”
The strange energy had formed a sword identical to the shadow sword Caladbolg.
The shadow sword that had once merged with Arthur Draker’s heart now reappeared before Zeke.
“Why is this here?”
Zeke stared at the sword emanating the strange energy, then drew a sword from the shadows.
Sssss—
A black sword of the same shape was in Zeke’s hand.
The true name of the sword he held was the “Sword of Solid Shadow, Caladbolg,” and Zeke recalled the epithet that accompanied its true name.
“A fragment of the Promised Sword of Liberation.”
The sword Zeke had seen in the reconstructed past with Arthur Draker, the sword from the Draker family’s grave, the Caladbolg he now held, and the sword before him—all were identical.
The four identical swords pointed to one thing.
“The Promised Sword of Liberation.”
Zeke found himself murmuring the name.
At that moment, the Caladbolg in his hand and the sword before the statue resonated, vibrating in unison.
Vroooom!
As the two swords resonated, the statue, altar, and entire space pulsed in harmony.
Zeke realized there was a connection between this space and the shadow sword.
“What is the true nature of this sword?”
Zeke had obtained this sword from an out-of-grade random box, acquiring the legendary item, Siemens Apollyon’s Sword.
Siemens Apollyon was the second host of the Demon King and, in another timeline, the final sage who witnessed the world’s end and traveled back in time to prevent it.
However, Siemens Apollyon succumbed to madness, unable to withstand the rift in his soul from traversing time.
Ultimately, he summoned the Demon King into his body, using this sword to seal the divine dragons that protected the world, and called the Demon King’s army to the surface.
The savior who became the Demon King.
Zeke looked at the Caladbolg in his hand and the sword before him.
“The shadow sword points to one sword. The Promised Sword of Liberation might be the key.”
Zeke slowly reached out toward the sword before him.
Then, it happened.
Vroooom!
The sword emitted a loud vibration, releasing a strange energy.
Sssss—
The energy coalesced, forming dark matter, just as it had with Arthur Draker.
Crackle! Crackle!
The dark matter, with its peculiar texture, seemed to beckon Zeke, slowly approaching him.
The strange power that had resurrected the dead Arthur Draker and transformed him into a solar entity now reached out to Zeke.
―Descendant of Adam.
A voice echoed in Zeke’s ears.
The voice, rising from the depths, was an amalgamation of countless voices, impossible to distinguish as old or young, male or female.
The surface of the dark matter shifted again, and the voice resonated in Zeke’s ears.
―Come this way.
Zeke, entranced by the voice, gazed at it with slightly unfocused eyes.
The surface of the dark matter changed, forming the shape of a hand.
The hand extended toward Zeke.
―Accept your destiny. Then all you desire shall be yours.
Zeke, captivated by the voice, slowly reached out toward the approaching black hand.
Just as Zeke’s fingertips were about to touch the black hand, it happened.
Crackle!
Suddenly, plasma erupted from the sword that had created the dark matter.
Creak!
Zeke’s summoned shadow moved stealthily, attempting to absorb the sword embedded in the ground.
Crackle!
The other shadow sword before the statue reacted violently, sending concentric waves outward.
The waves scattered Zeke’s shadows, unable to maintain their form.
―Do you dare defy your destined fate?
The black hand turned to smoke, swiftly attempting to coil around Zeke’s hand.
At that moment, a golden aura emanated from Zeke’s hand.
Vroooom!
The golden wave enveloped the dark energy trying to tempt Zeke, neutralizing it.
Simultaneously, Zeke drew Levatein and hurled it straight at the dark matter hovering in the air.
Boom!
Levatein flew with incredible speed, piercing the heart of the dark matter.
Crack!
The twisted force of causality surrounding the dark matter tried to shatter Levatein, but it was futile.
Instead, Levatein’s dark energy activated, absorbing the chaotic power into the blade.
Sizzle—
As the twisted force was absorbed, the surface of the dark matter transformed, bristling like sharp scales in surprise.
Screech!
A piercing sound erupted from the dark matter.
At the same time, the sword embedded in the ground began to rise slowly into the air.
Vroom!
The energy flowing from the sword connected with the dark matter ensnared by Levatein, intensifying the vibrations.
Vroom!
The vibrations spread throughout the entire altar, soon resonating through the entire space.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Fine lines, like capillaries, appeared on the massive walls, pulsing violently.
It felt as if the space itself was a living creature.
Zeke glared at the sword floating in the air and spoke.
“Stop resisting and behave, you piece of metal.”
Zeke, who had seemed entranced by the sword’s voice, had returned to his usual self.
Feigning to be seduced by the strange voice, he had been planning to absorb the sword’s power entirely.
Vroom!
The sword, furious at being outwitted by Zeke’s trickery, let out a fierce cry.
Yet Zeke remained unfazed by the sword’s intense wailing.
“Levatein, absorb it all.”
Sizzle—
Levatein, piercing the dark matter, fully unleashed its power and began absorbing the twisted causality.
Crack!
Sensing its power being drained, the core of the dark matter tried to escape Levatein, but it was too late.
Levatein’s blade was already absorbing even the core of the dark matter.
Whine—
As the dark matter was absorbed, the sword floating in the air began to wail even more fiercely.
Then, a change occurred in the pulsating space.
Crack! Crack!
Various forms of monstrous creatures began to emerge from the walls.
Screech!
Thousands of these external beasts burst from the walls and floor, charging toward Zeke on the altar.