Episode 665
Rumble!
A fierce energy surged from the bodies of the decapitated angels.
Sizzle―
The severed heads, now back in their rightful places, glared at Zeke with renewed intensity. The angels, avatars of Raziel and Samael, unleashed their formidable powers, their presence growing even more menacing.
Rumble!
The storm of lightning that had erupted from the temple and tower of Laocoon was pushed back by the overwhelming force of the two celestial beings.
While Samael’s avatar spewed a toxic mist to counter the lightning, Raziel’s avatar produced a book and scales. Tearing a page from the book, Raziel placed it on the scales, which began to glow with a powerful light, etching an indomitable will directly onto Zeke’s soul.
“Kneel. Worship me.”
The command, impossible to resist, echoed within Zeke’s very being. Raziel’s true power was manifesting. Confident that Zeke would submit, Raziel watched intently.
But the outcome was far from what Raziel expected.
Crash!
Zeke neither knelt nor worshipped. Instead, he looked down at Raziel with calm, unwavering eyes.
“This can’t be…”
Disbelieving, Raziel tore more pages from the book, placing them on the scales. A brighter light flared, and an even stronger will was forced upon Zeke’s soul.
“Kneel and confess your sins!”
The command, one that no mortal could defy, struck Zeke’s soul. Yet, Zeke remained unchanged, simply staring at Raziel hidden behind the avatar.
Unable to watch any longer, Samael moved his avatar forward. His lower body, like a serpent, transformed into a scorpion’s tail, armed with a deadly stinger aimed at Zeke.
The stinger, potent enough to dissolve souls, shot towards Zeke.
Boom!
Zeke raised his hand towards the incoming stinger. Shadows swirled around it, attempting to envelop Samael’s attack.
Sizzle―
Astonishingly, the stinger dissolved even the shadows. It pierced through, continuing its deadly path towards Zeke.
Yet, Zeke did not evade. He caught the stinger with his bare hand.
Sizzle!
The stinger, capable of melting shadows, should have destroyed Zeke’s hand. His palm melted, revealing bone beneath.
But only for a moment.
Sizzle―
Thanks to the light of the beginning, Zeke’s regenerative power surpassed Samael’s poison. His hand healed faster than the poison could destroy it.
Sizzle―
The poison dripped harmlessly, turning to vapor. Samael, witnessing this through his avatar, spoke in a trembling voice.
“This is impossible… It makes no sense…”
At that moment, Zeke hurled the stinger he had caught towards Raziel’s avatar.
Thud!
The stinger, moving faster than the eye could see, embedded itself in the chest of Raziel’s avatar.
Sizzle―
The deadly poison, capable of dissolving souls, began to destroy the angelic body.
“Ugh!”
Not only did the avatar’s body dissolve, but Raziel’s soul within was also affected. Writhing in agony, Raziel shouted urgently at Samael.
“Quick, remove it! Now!”
Panicked, Samael tried to extract the stinger from Raziel’s chest. But Zeke appeared in Samael’s blind spot, driving Ascalon into his back.
Crunch!
Ascalon pierced through armor and flesh, emerging from Samael’s chest.
Crackle!
The power of the sacred weapon surged through the angel’s body, dealing a blow to Samael’s soul, just as it had to Raziel.
Trapped in Zeke’s domain and bound by Solomon’s chains, the two celestial beings had no escape.
Zeke, looking down at the suffering avatars, drew out Solomon’s ring.
“Are you ready?”
Realizing Zeke’s intent, the two celestial beings cried out in shock.
“How dare you!”
“Do you intend to insult the celestials?”
Ignoring their protests, Zeke activated Solomon’s ring.
Glow!
The sealing power of the ring erupted in a brilliant light.
Buzz!
“Noooo!”
“Stop!”
With a final, desperate cry, the souls of the two celestial beings were sealed within Solomon’s ring. Their emblems appeared on its surface.
“With Raziel and Samael sealed, that makes five of the Zodiac’s celestial beings under my control.”
As Zeke examined the ring, the bodies of the two angels, now devoid of their souls, began to crumble.
Extending his shadow, Zeke enveloped the remains of the angels.
Sizzle―
Just as he had transformed Azrael’s angel into the Guardian Ashvin, Zeke intended to merge the damaged bodies into a single guardian.
[The power of the ‘One Who Transcends’ is eroding Guardians 6 and 7.]
[Detecting damage to Guardians 6 and 7.]
[Replacing damaged parts with Solomon’s chains and shadow power.]
[The power of the ‘One Who Transcends’ fully erodes the systems of Guardians 6 and 7.]
Sizzle!
The damaged bodies of the angels connected through Solomon’s chains. Shadows enveloped them, merging them into a single form.
Crunch!
The newly formed shadow avatar had four arms and a scorpion’s tail. Each arm held a sword, spear, scales, and book, while the chest bore the face of the celestial from the Libra constellation.
[Guardians 6 and 7 have been combined into one by the power of recreation.]
[Reconstructed as a shadow avatar through the power of the ‘One Who Transcends.’]
[The reconstructed shadow avatar is registered as your guardian.]
[Would you like to name this guardian?]
Zeke looked at the newly formed guardian and spoke.
“I’ll name you Brontos.”
Brontos, a legendary assassin from the era of the Seven Kingdoms, was known for using scorpion venom to eliminate knights.
The guardian, now named Brontos, glowed with a soft green light from its eyes.
[Shadow Avatar Brontos at your service. I pledge everything to you, my lord.]
Satisfied with his new guardian, Zeke withdrew him into the shadows and released his domain.
Sizzle―
As the stage vanished, Zeke returned to the original realm, looking down at the massive beast half-buried in the ground.
At that moment, something approached Zeke.
“Zeke!”
Riding on a magical carpet, Nigel and Arina flew towards him.
Zeke flew to meet them.
“Master, Lady Arina. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Seeing them unharmed, Zeke sighed in relief.
Nabu, controlling the carpet, shouted.
“Hey! Am I invisible to you?”
Zeke paused, then nodded.
“Yes, I’m glad you’re safe too, Hermit.”
Nabu clicked his tongue at Zeke’s bland response.
Arina looked at Zeke with concern.
“Sir Zeke, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Don’t worry, Lady Arina. I’m fine.”
As Arina expressed her concern, Nabu grumbled.
“That monster getting hurt? Unthinkable… Ow!”
Nabu fell silent after Nigel elbowed him.
Nigel, having silenced Nabu, spoke to Zeke.
“The portal’s restored, and reinforcements from the Kingdom of Cusco and the central continent have arrived. Things are still chaotic, but we’ll regroup soon.”
Zeke nodded at Nigel’s words.
“That’s good news. But… there’s a bigger problem.”
Nabu, alarmed, asked.
“Just when things seemed settled! What problem now?”
Zeke looked at each of them before speaking.
“Arthur Draker is leading a fleet beyond the Dark Sea.”
Nigel’s eyes widened in shock.
“The Dark Sea? You don’t mean…?”
Zeke nodded.
“Yes, he’s heading to the abandoned continent beyond the Dark Sea to resurrect the Demon King’s soul.”
Hearing his words, the faces of Nabu, Nigel, and Arina darkened.
Zeke looked at the three of them and spoke.
“Once the system is reorganized, I plan to leave as well.”
There was a fierce determination in Zeke’s eyes.
“It’s time to bring this tragedy to an end.”
The ship of Apollyon sailed through the Dark Sea, a place where no being was allowed to approach, without any hindrance.
Thanks to the monstrous creatures surrounding the ship, the sea’s beasts couldn’t even come close.
These creatures pulled the ship forward, propelling it across the water at a speed unimaginable for an ordinary vessel.
Standing at the helm, a knight with ash-gray hair in a pristine white uniform, Rivaine Apollyon, gazed beyond the Dark Sea.
Another knight approached Rivaine.
“Brother, Father is calling for you.”
Rivaine immediately descended below deck and entered the central cabin.
The central cabin was an empty room, devoid of anything.
But as he closed the door behind him, the room began to transform.
Ssshhh—
Soon, the room turned into a graveyard of swords, where countless blades of the Draker family were embedded.
Familiar with the sight, Rivaine walked past the swords and ascended the stairs.
At the top stood a building resembling a temple, and inside, a vast hall unfolded.
In the center of the hall stood a statue of a sword deity, with a single black sword embedded before it.
Rivaine’s gaze lingered on the sword.
“Do you wish to try and draw it?”
Arthur appeared suddenly behind him, whispering to Rivaine.
Rivaine immediately composed himself and bowed his head to Arthur.
“Father, it’s an honor to see you.”
Arthur chuckled, patting Rivaine on the shoulder.
He approached the sword embedded before the statue.
Grasping it slowly, he exerted his strength to pull it free.
Rumble!
Despite Arthur’s immense effort, the entire temple shook, but the sword remained unmoved.
He released the sword, a look of disappointment crossing his face.
“I’ve tried for so long to draw this sword. I thought I might succeed this time, but it seems not yet.”
To Rivaine, Arthur was akin to a god.
The mere thought that there was something even he couldn’t do felt almost blasphemous.
Arthur shook his head, observing Rivaine’s reaction with interest.
“It’s curious. You and your brothers are the children I consider ideal. Yet, I don’t feel the same anticipation as I do when I think of Zeke, that imperfect one.”
At the mention of Zeke’s name, Rivaine’s fists clenched involuntarily.
Arthur watched him with a curious gaze and asked, “Rivaine, does it anger you?”
Rivaine replied with an emotionless expression, “I only follow Father’s will.”
Arthur nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“Good. One prodigal son who betrayed his father is enough with Zeke. The other Draker fools are just trash, not worth worrying about.”
Arthur slowly approached Rivaine, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Rivaine, you are the son who resembles me the most.”
He leaned in closer, whispering in Rivaine’s ear.
“Would you be willing to give everything for me?”