Episode 695
Boom!
Zeke watched the massive explosion of light painting the sky as he swiftly descended toward the obelisk.
Up close, the obelisk was far more colossal than it had seemed from a distance.
As he approached, Zeke tried to pinpoint Terracan Draker’s location to head straight there. However, due to Azitahaka’s power, Terracan Draker’s position no longer appeared on the system map.
“I need to find the entrance first.”
Zeke decided to use the system to locate the entrance. Soon, the structure of the obelisk unfolded before his eyes. The system analyzed the entire building and found the entrance, deducing that the obelisk and the entire city of Eden faced the direction of the rising sun.
“Bucephalus, let’s head that way.”
Guided by the system, Zeke urged Bucephalus toward the entrance. As he neared the entrance in the middle of the obelisk, he noticed black stains spreading across the building’s surface. Pausing to examine them, Zeke realized these stains were the result of the demonic energy emanating from the Dark Lord’s soul.
“The seal is weakening.”
With a somber gaze, he dismounted Bucephalus, unsummoned it, and entered the obelisk. Inside, the black stains were even more pervasive. The unstained areas bore a structure and style reminiscent of the pyramids of Carcosa he had seen before.
Zeke moved deeper inside, observing the engravings and reliefs on the walls. Following the obelisk’s blueprint analyzed by the system, he headed toward the deepest part, sensing an ominous presence ahead.
Growl―
Soon, he saw creatures exuding demonic energy approaching him. They resembled Nephilim but were twisted into something unrecognizable, transformed by the demonic energy. They had massive horns, hideous skin oozing acidic fluid, and sharp teeth and claws.
Zeke sensed a familiar aura from them, reminiscent of the “Four Fiends” he had faced in the past.
“Ancient beings corrupted by demonic energy, perhaps.”
Growl―
The corrupted Nephilim bared their sharp teeth and charged at Zeke. He summoned Ascalon and Laevatein, observing their movements. He intended to deal with them quietly to avoid attracting more.
Mistaking Zeke’s stillness for paralysis by their demonic energy, the Nephilim raised their claws and lunged at him.
Screech!
As they rushed at Zeke, black shadow blades erupted from the ground.
Slash―
The shadow blade sliced through the neck of the leading corrupted Nephilim. Its severed head fell to the ground, and the creature vanished into the shadowy mire Zeke had laid.
Satisfied with the karma points gained from the fallen Nephilim, Zeke smiled.
“Not bad.”
The remaining Nephilim, unaware of what had just happened, continued their charge. Once again, shadows extended from Zeke, forming black blades.
Shhh―
The silent black blades emerging from the walls, floor, and ceiling slaughtered the corrupted Nephilim. They were absorbed into Zeke’s shadows without realizing what had happened.
Having dealt with the group of corrupted Nephilim, Zeke ventured further inside. The deeper he went into the obelisk, the denser the demonic energy became. At some point, the air was entirely replaced by the oppressive energy.
“This place is worse than the demon realm.”
Shielding himself from the demonic energy with shadows, Zeke descended further, clicking his tongue in disbelief. A new space appeared before him—a vast chamber with an altar for rituals.
Cautiously, Zeke descended into the chamber. Unlike the corridors filled with thick demonic energy, the chamber felt devoid of it. He dispelled the shadows and surveyed the surroundings.
Suddenly, the empty chamber trembled, and powerful magic surged from the floor.
Buzz―
Strange symbols emerged from the ground, summoning Nephilim. Unlike the ones he encountered outside, these Nephilim appeared intact, clad in heavy armor with shields and swords, similar to those he had faced in the air.
Hundreds of fully armed Nephilim knights were summoned into the chamber, exuding a terrifying aura as they faced Zeke. He sensed that each of them possessed power comparable to the Black Knights.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
To catch up with Arthur Draker, Zeke had to break through them. The Nephilim knights, as if understanding his resolve, raised their swords and let out an eerie battle cry before charging at him.
Zeke launched Laevatein and Ascalon at them.
Crackle!
Boom!
The light-infused lightning and dark-infused waves surged toward the Nephilim knights. They raised their shields, and the concentrated energy from the shields attempted to protect them.
At that moment, Zeke gripped Gram and unleashed his full power.
Hum―
The will of destruction, imbued with the power of the elemental sword, flew toward the Nephilim knights. The energy from their shields was nullified by the will of destruction, allowing the lightning and waves to strike them unimpeded.
Boom!
Despite the knights falling to Zeke’s attacks, others quickly filled their ranks, charging at him again. Zeke raised Gram and swung at the oncoming knights.
His infinite sword technique tore through their sturdy armor like paper.
Slash―
The knights struck by Zeke’s sword were absorbed into the shadows, disappearing without a trace. The hundreds of Nephilim knights filling the chamber rapidly dwindled.
At this rate, he would soon break through them.
Then, a massive summoning circle appeared at the altar.
Hum―
From the circle emerged a knight larger than the typical Nephilim. Though clad in the same heavy armor, the size of its sword and the aura it exuded were formidable.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As the giant sword-wielding Nephilim knight approached, the others stepped aside. Zeke calmly assessed the situation, raising Gram to face the new opponent.
The Nephilim knight charged at Zeke, its massive sword raised.
Boom!
Despite the simplicity of its movement, the speed was blinding, accelerating without any preparatory motion. The knight closed the distance in an instant, bringing its sword down on Zeke.
Boom!
The impact created a deep crater, exploding with force. Though the dust cloud obscured vision, the knight calmly raised its sword again, maintaining its guard.
Zeke appeared behind it, swinging his sword.
Boom!
Gram clashed with the knight’s sword, producing a deafening explosion. The Nephilim knight staggered back, quickly regaining its balance and charging at Zeke again, swinging its massive sword.
Though the sword was larger than a grown man, the knight wielded it with ease, pressing Zeke with its precise swordsmanship. Zeke was impressed by the knight’s skill, but he knew it was merely a remnant of a bygone era.
Once a renowned knight in the ancient city of Eden, it was now just an obstacle in Zeke’s path.
Focusing his power into Gram, Zeke activated the four elemental forces simultaneously.
Hum―
Flames engulfed the Nephilim knight, wind pushed it back, and intense gravity crushed it.
Rumble!
Simultaneously, Zeke’s sword enveloped the knight’s weapon like a tidal wave, deflecting it.
Boom!
As the knight staggered back, Zeke’s sword unleashed the energy of his full power. He stepped forward, invoking the double spell, the will of destruction.
“Haaah!”
The destructive energy from Zeke’s sword, combined with the elemental forces, pierced the Nephilim knight’s spirit.
Boom!
Cracks spread across the knight’s armor. Though it stood firm, gripping its sword, it couldn’t withstand the force and disintegrated into dust.
Rumble!
With the giant sword-wielding knight gone, Zeke focused his power on the floating Laevatein and Ascalon. Instantly, lightning and waves swept through the chamber, obliterating the remaining Nephilim knights.
The area was soon filled with the ashes of vanished spirits. Zeke walked toward the altar in the chamber, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
He approached the altar, reaching out toward the strange energy emanating from it.
Crackle!
A powerful plasma current lashed out, rejecting Zeke’s presence.
But Zeke, undeterred, focused his energy even more intensely, twisting the waves until they yielded to his will.
Crackle!
The plasma surged violently, tearing open the space above the altar.
Cautiously, Zeke stepped into the rift.
What lay beyond was a landscape unlike anything he had ever seen.
A twisted black earth stretched out beneath a black sky, a land devoid of life, a true realm of death.
Crackle!
Above, a violet storm of electricity raged, and not a trace of life could be found. It was a desolate, ominous land.
In the midst of this wasteland stood a solitary temple, exuding an aura of foreboding.
Zeke felt an indescribable malevolence emanating from the temple.
Then, a voice echoed in his mind.
“Come here, chosen one.”
It wasn’t a voice in the traditional sense, but a whisper of intent that resonated directly with Zeke’s soul.
He recognized it as the whisper of the Demon King, which had echoed in his soul before.
Zeke realized he was nearing the place where the Demon King’s soul was sealed.
He moved toward the temple where the Demon King was imprisoned.
The temple doors were already wide open, and a thick miasma seeped out like fog.
This miasma, leaking from the sealed tower, affected not only the abandoned continent but also reached across the dark sea to the central continent.
Zeke raised shadows to shield himself from the miasma as he ventured deeper into the temple.
Expecting to encounter creatures influenced by the Demon King’s aura, Zeke remained on high alert. But his expectations were wrong.
Only remnants of bones and husks, likely once creatures, lay scattered throughout the temple. Nothing living moved.
The miasma from the Demon King’s soul was so potent that no creature could withstand it.
As Zeke ventured further into the temple, the miasma thickened, and he felt as though he was being swallowed by complete darkness.
He remembered wandering through such darkness before.
Thus, he remained calm, navigating the shadows with confidence.
As he walked through the darkness, a door suddenly appeared before him.
It bore the symbol of the primordial light.
Zeke slowly opened the temple door.
Rumble!
The door swung open without resistance.
Beyond it lay not infinite darkness, but a new scene.
A black brick altar stood before him, and behind it, a massive headless statue loomed.
On the altar sat a black throne, occupied by someone.
Zeke fixed his gaze on the figure seated there.
“Welcome, Zeke.”
Arthur Draker looked down at him, not through the body of Revaine, but in his own flesh.