Episode 666
Arthur’s whispered words sent a shiver down Raven’s spine, making him tense up involuntarily. Yet, he quickly composed himself, nodding with a determined expression.
“I am ready to give everything for you, Father.”
Arthur’s smile widened at Raven’s declaration, a smile so captivating it seemed to dispel the sinister aura that usually surrounded him.
“Raven, you truly are my son.”
Arthur patted Raven on the shoulder before continuing, “Once you reach the mainland, find the tower. Open its doors.”
Raven bowed with precision, acknowledging Arthur’s command. “Understood, Father.”
Arthur watched him with satisfaction, but suddenly turned his head sharply, his gaze piercing beyond the temple walls. His brow furrowed as he muttered to himself.
”…He’s escaped. And with Raziel and Samael…”
The smile vanished from Arthur’s face as he murmured to himself, then turned back to Raven.
“Zeke Draker will also seek the tower.”
At the mention of Zeke Draker, Raven’s expression shifted, recalling the face of the nemesis he was destined to vanquish. His hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword, embodying the righteous knight determined to eradicate evil.
Arthur observed Raven’s resolve and spoke, “Do you think you can defeat Zeke with your skills?”
Raven clenched his jaw. Despite being hailed as the most accomplished of Arthur’s creations, he hesitated to answer. Memories of Zeke Draker’s formidable prowess flooded his mind. Apart from his father, he had never encountered such overwhelming power.
Arthur nodded, understanding Raven’s silence. “This is why you are my greatest son, Raven. You possess the desire to grow stronger and rule over others.”
Arthur stepped closer, whispering again, “I have a gift for you. Use it to stop Zeke Draker. Reach the final tower and open the door.”
With Arthur’s whisper, the surroundings shifted once more.
Raven looked up to find the temple and Arthur Draker gone, leaving him alone in an empty room. The audience with Arthur, who was like a god to him, had ended, and Raven’s back was drenched in cold sweat.
In the Apollyon Order, only Raven had the ability to meet his father in another dimension. Yet, even for him, facing Arthur Draker was always a daunting task.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Raven noticed something before him.
‘This is…’
A suit of armor engraved with a demon’s visage and a sinister, blood-red sword lay before him. They were none other than the Dragon Armor and the cursed sword Zahhak, once belonging to Abel Draker.
Raven realized that these were the gifts Arthur had promised.
‘Father has given me this…’
He approached the armor and sword slowly, as if they were calling out to him. A strange sound echoed in his ears as he reached out to touch them.
In that instant, Raven was startled by a vision of a massive demon engulfing him. When he snapped back to reality, the Dragon Armor and Zahhak had vanished.
But Raven could feel it. The armor and sword had fused with his soul, ready to be summoned at his will. He was captivated by the overwhelming power now coursing through him.
He recalled Arthur’s question.
Zeke Draker.
Could he defeat him?
As he pondered this, a dark aura swirled in Raven’s eyes, filled with a deadly intent.
Just then, the door to the chamber opened, and Raven’s brothers entered.
“Brother.”
“The continent is in sight.”
“We’ve reached our destination.”
At their words, Raven turned to face them, speaking on behalf of their father.
“Once we land on the forsaken continent, we will find the final tower. We will open the door to welcome Father. And…”
A strange heat emanated from Raven’s eyes.
“Zeke Draker will come here too. We will kill him and prove we are Father’s true sons.”
The other knights of Apollyon nodded with expressionless faces, ready for the final act to unfold on the forsaken continent.
A portal opened with a hum, and Zeke emerged at Agamemnon Castle. The first to greet him was Yellin.
“Sir Zeke.”
Yellin, heir to the Ishtar family, one of the three transcendent houses, bore the noble blood of a high elf. Zeke bowed to her.
“Lady Yellin, it’s been a while.”
Yellin sensed a profound change in Zeke. Even when he had reached the rank of a black knight, he had been extraordinary. But now, having surpassed the Grand Master and attained a transcendent class, Zeke exuded a power beyond that of a celestial being.
Yellin felt the distance between them grow, her expression complex and conflicted.
Beside her, Hades, in his usual elven boy form, floated over to Zeke.
“Huh? What happened to you? I knew you were growing fast, but now you don’t even seem human.”
Even Hades, with his long years of experience, struggled to gauge the extent of Zeke’s newfound power.
Zeke simply bowed to Hades. “I’m glad to see you’re safe, Lord Hades.”
Hades scowled. “Ugh, how did I end up tangled with someone like you? Just tell me your wish already. I’ll grant it and then retire to a quiet mountain to live out my days.”
Zeke shook his head. “That’s not possible, Lord Hades.”
Hades grumbled, “Not possible, my foot! I’m done working! I’m tired of it! I just want to make what I want!”
Zeke continued seriously, “The Demon King will soon be resurrected.”
His words froze both Hades and Yellin.
Yellin’s voice trembled as she spoke to Zeke. “Didn’t you find the Book of the Dead to prevent the Demon King’s resurrection?”
Zeke turned to her, shaking his head. “I only absorbed part of the soul, a fraction of it. But Arthur Draker has found a way to resurrect the Demon King with the other half.”
Hades cursed under his breath. “Damn it, I thought everything was settled. I was ready to retire and live quietly!”
“If you wish to retire, you must stop the Demon King’s resurrection. Otherwise, Ragnarok will begin, and the end will come.”
Hades rubbed his temples at Zeke’s grave tone. “There’s never a peaceful day with you around. Damn it, so what’s your plan? You must have one.”
Zeke nodded, looking between Hades and Yellin. “Arthur Draker is after the final tower where the Demon King’s soul is sealed.”
Yellin asked, “The final tower? Where is it?”
Zeke snapped his fingers, and a screen appeared, showing the desolate continent from Duke’s memories.
Hades gasped at the sight. “No way… Is that beyond the Dark Sea?”
Zeke nodded.
Hades closed his eyes, muttering, “This life is ruined. Ruined.”
“If the Demon King is resurrected, we’ll all be ruined. To protect the material world, we must cross the Dark Sea and stop Arthur Draker and his followers.”
Hades grumbled, “It’s not like I don’t know that. But crossing the Dark Sea is the problem. Human ships can’t make it across…”
“We won’t be crossing the Dark Sea.”
“What? Then how do you plan to get there without crossing the sea…?”
At that moment, a flash of light streaked across the sky.
A massive portal opened in the air, revealing hundreds of ships floating above.
Hades and Yellin gaped at the sight.
“What in the world…?”
Zeke pointed to the ships. “We won’t cross the Dark Sea. We’ll leap over it to reach the forsaken continent.”
At Agamemnon Castle in Mycenae, countless forces from across the central continent gathered.
The Western Alliance, composed of beastmen and demi-humans, the Red Eye led by the vampire queen Carmilla, the small but mighty Barbarian unit, and the mercenary forces under the command of the mercenary king Liam Stone all arrived in succession.
From atop Agamemnon Castle, Zeke looked down at the allies who had chosen to stand with him, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
In his past life, he had died alone, hunted down by hounds. But in this life, he was not alone.
As he reflected, someone approached him.
“Master.”
It was Boris, the leader of the intelligence unit Nemesis, and Felix, now the chief knight of the Black Phantom Brigade.
The Black Sword Knights, led by Duke, had decided to stay in Atlas to protect the central continent alongside Kali. Only the Black Phantom Brigade, directly under Zeke’s command, returned to Agamemnon Castle.
Zeke looked at Boris and Felix and spoke.
“You’ve heard the news, I assume.”
Both nodded in response to Zeke’s words.
Despite hearing that they must venture to the unknown lands beyond the Dark Sea to prevent the Demon King’s resurrection, they agreed to follow Zeke without hesitation.
Felix, now a confident Red Knight, addressed Zeke with a composed demeanor, a stark contrast to his former self.
“I will go anywhere with you, Master.”
Boris, sharing the same serious expression, nodded in agreement.
Zeke approached them, placing a reassuring hand on their shoulders.
“Thank you.”
It was a brief but heartfelt expression of gratitude.
Boris, with a determined look, spoke up.
“But Master, do you plan to transport all our forces to the forsaken continent using airships?”
Zeke shook his head.
“If the Dark Sea were merely a turbulent ocean filled with monsters, it wouldn’t have such a fearsome reputation. The very space there is unstable, making it difficult for airships to cross.”
“Then…?”
Instead of answering, Zeke snapped his fingers, and an ark materialized in the air.
Rumble!
Boris, observing the ark floating above, continued.
“It’s impossible to transport all our forces with just the ark.”
“I never intended to move everyone with the ark. Once we cross the Dark Sea and reach the forsaken continent, I plan to establish a base where we can open a gate.”
Boris looked surprised at Zeke’s plan.
“But isn’t the area unstable? Can you really set up a functioning gate there?”
In response, Zeke snapped his fingers again.
A new object appeared in the air, distinct from the warships that had passed through the gate from the Southern Isles.
Felix was startled by the sight of the newly revealed airship.
“Master, is that…?”
It was none other than the mobile fortress of Elizabeta, the First Princess of the Demon Realm.
Zeke nodded at the astonished Felix and spoke.
“The mobile fortress of the Demon Realm. With this, establishing a base on the forsaken continent is possible.”