Episode 81
As Zeke made his way back to the mansion after the preliminary rounds, his mind was consumed with thoughts of Helen.
“Helen Draker entered the martial arts tournament.”
Helen was Zeke’s older sister, only about five years his senior. Since it had been less than five years since she was promoted to a Purple Knight, she was eligible to participate in the tournament. Yet, Zeke, who remembered Helen from his past life, never imagined she would actually compete.
“The Iron Knight.”
After the Platinum Knight, Carly Draker, was killed by the Pirate King in the southern seas, the Draker family fell into chaos. Until Arthur Draker, the current head, passed away and Abel took over, the family was divided into two factions, with Helen Draker, the Iron Knight, at the center of it all.
When Abel became the head and the Draker family merged with the Empire, Helen organized a rebellion to uphold the Draker legacy, staging a sit-in at the Duchy of Troy. The northern faction reached out to her, proposing an alliance against the Empire, but she declined, expressing her desire to remain a pure Draker until the end.
Ultimately, Helen died fighting against Abel’s imperial forces. Zeke, who was on a mission in another battlefield, learned of her death too late.
“Still, Helen was one of the better ones among the Drakers. She had the true spirit of a knight.”
In a family known for its schemes and power plays, Helen was closer to a traditional knight. This made it hard for Zeke to understand why she would enter the Draker martial arts tournament, notorious for its intrigue.
“Does she have a reason?”
Perhaps, like Zeke, she was participating under Arthur’s orders. He felt the need to learn more about Helen.
Upon returning to the mansion, they found Catherine waiting for them, having arrived from Pansthas. She nodded as she listened to Zeke.
“Sir Zeke, your prediction was spot on.”
“Without Catherine’s help, we wouldn’t have uncovered Siemens’ shallow tricks,” Farrell said with a smile.
“Fortunately, all three of us have advanced to the finals.”
In the Draker martial arts tournament, having more people from the same faction was advantageous, as some events required teamwork.
Catherine smiled and said, “I’ve found out the event for the first round. This time, it’s for sure.”
Zeke and his companions focused on her words as she spoke slowly.
“The first event of the finals is a race.”
Felix looked incredulous at the mention of a race as the event.
“A race? In a martial arts tournament?”
Farrell, standing beside him, spoke with a serious expression. “A race. It’s actually one of the common events in the Draker martial arts tournament.”
Zeke recalled the manual and past events Farrell had given him and nodded.
“There’s about a 64% chance that the first round is a race.”
Felix looked even more bewildered.
“A race as a main event? That’s odd, Master.”
Zeke shook his head.
“It’s not just any race, Felix.”
“What do you mean? A race is a race, isn’t it?”
Farrell explained to Felix.
“It’s called a survival race, and it’s quite famous in Draker circles. Even though I’m not from the academy, I’ve heard that academy graduates have all tried it at least once.”
Zeke nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Sir Farrell.”
Felix asked Zeke, “A survival race? What’s so famous about it?”
“In a survival race, you just have to reach the destination.”
“Then it’s just a race, isn’t it?”
Zeke shook his head.
“There’s one key difference. During the race, any action to hinder opponents is allowed.”
Felix’s jaw dropped as he realized why it was called a survival race.
“Anything is allowed…?”
“Ambushes, poison, outright fighting—it doesn’t matter. As long as you reach the destination within the time limit.”
Liam and Felix understood why the Draker martial arts tournament was a microcosm of factional warfare. If the survival race was indeed the first event, having more allies would give them an edge in the survival competition and a better position for the second round.
Zeke advised Felix and Liam, “The finals start tomorrow. Make sure to manage your condition well.”
Felix, looking defeated, shuffled back to his room like a zombie, while Liam headed to the training room for more practice.
Zeke returned to his room, meditating to calm his thoughts.
“Looking back, Helen Draker would never have sided with Abel. She was aligned with Sister Carly.”
After Carly’s death, Helen took over her faction and served as a guardian knight. Though uncertain now, she was potentially an enemy of Abel and the Empire.
“I need to find out what Helen Draker wants.”
Whoosh!
In the training room, Helen swung her sword tirelessly until she was drenched in sweat. Just then, someone entered the room.
“Helen.”
Helen lowered her sword and turned around. Carly Draker stood at the door. Helen respectfully greeted her.
“Greetings, Carly Draker.”
Carly shook her head at Helen’s formality.
“When it’s just us, call me sister.”
Despite Carly’s repeated requests, Helen never called her sister comfortably. Unlike Zeke, who quickly adapted to calling her sister, Helen remained formal.
Carly, with her long platinum hair resembling a legendary Valkyrie, contrasted with Helen’s simple appearance, marked by her short brown hair.
Carly asked Helen, “What did you think of Zeke?”
Helen tightened her grip on her sword. Carly nodded, observing her reaction.
“Zeke has something that stirs a competitive spirit. It makes you want to test your skills as a knight.”
Helen silently nodded in agreement with Carly’s assessment.
“The thrust he showed in the preliminaries was impressive.”
The Dragon Slayer Technique, Dragon Scale Thrust. Naturally, as a Draker, Helen knew the technique. But Zeke’s execution was different.
“It felt primal. That thrust seemed capable of truly slaying a dragon.”
Helen had been promoted to a Blue Knight a year ago. Despite being a fellow Blue Knight, she believed her experience gave her an edge over the younger Zeke. But seeing him in person made her reconsider.
“He’s not beneath me.”
Carly approached Helen, lost in thought, and patted her shoulder.
“Zeke will be a great asset to our side. Helen, test him to your heart’s content until you can acknowledge him.”
Helen nodded at Carly’s words. The family was soon to discuss the conferment of the guardian knight title to Abel. The Drakers were rapidly changing.
Standing by Carly, Helen realized that even as a Blue Knight, there was little she could achieve by merely wielding a sword. Yet, she couldn’t stop.
As she resumed her training, she thought of Zeke.
“Zeke, I look forward to seeing your skills.”
The first round of the finals took place in the city of Marake, not far from Atlas. As Catherine had informed them, the event was indeed a survival race.
Once again, Gareth delivered the event details to the participants.
“There’s nothing special. Just reach the destination at the peak of Atlas within 48 hours.”
After the announcement, Draker knights handed each participant a backpack and a dagger. These were the only items allowed in the race.
Zeke, Liam, and Felix donned their assigned backpacks and stood at the starting line. Once all participants were ready, the referee raised his hand and shouted.
“Begin!”
The 48-hour countdown started. About a hundred participants dashed towards Atlas Mountain.
Most were aware of the survival race and had prepared their routes to the summit. Many moved with their faction members.
Zeke instructed Felix and Liam, “Let’s move.”
Without hesitation, Zeke chose the most treacherous path. Atlas Mountain was known for its rugged terrain, and Zeke led them up the steepest route.
Watching them, Edward smirked.
“Tsk, tsk. They don’t seem to understand what a survival race is.”
He leisurely opened the front pocket of his backpack. Unlike the others, he had a map inside, marking traps and essential supplies.
Grinning at the map, he thought, “Struggle all you want, fools.”
Edward led his followers from the Siemens family along the marked route.
“Liam, Felix. Empty your backpacks.”
After climbing a fair distance, Zeke instructed Liam and Felix. The backpacks contained a bottle of water, dried rations, and basic camping gear.
Zeke sampled the water and food.
[A trace of Red Clown Mushroom poison detected.]
[Due to your immunity, the poison has no effect.]
As he suspected, the water and food were tainted.
“It’s not lethal, but eating it would put you out of commission for a week.”
Even a knight of the highest order would be helpless against poison.
Zeke held the golden mask of Agamemnon, which he had taken from his inventory, close to his chest and activated his purification skill.
[The power of purification removes the poison.]
Without wearing the mask, he couldn’t use the full power of the Great Purification, but the basic purification skill was still within his reach.
After gathering purified water and supplies, Zeke opened the map and used the navigation function to plot his route.
He then examined the traces left on the ground.
“Judging by the droppings and footprints, it should be over there.”
Zeke deliberately ventured deeper into the forest.
Eventually, he discovered a hidden cave.
Without hesitation, he sent Felix inside.
“Ugh!”
Felix, who had gone in, suddenly screamed and bolted out.
“Roar!”
A massive grizzly bear emerged from the cave.
While Felix flailed about with his dagger, Zeke calmly threw his own dagger, striking the bear squarely between the eyes.
Thud!
The bear collapsed with a ground-shaking thud.
Up close, its size was so immense it resembled a small hill.
Zeke retrieved his dagger from the bear’s forehead.
Then he turned to Liam and Felix.
“Liam, grab that side. Felix, go gather some branches. We’re going to skin it and tan the hide.”
With practiced skill, Zeke used his dagger to skin the bear.
He divided the hide into three parts, hung them on poles, and began smoking them.
Felix, following instructions, asked Zeke, “Master, what exactly are you doing?”
Zeke glanced at Felix.
“Ever been to the top of Atlas Mountain?”
Both Liam and Felix shook their heads.
Zeke recalled his past life experience.
He had underestimated Atlas Mountain, climbing it lightly, only to nearly lose his hands and feet to frostbite.
“If I hadn’t had healing skills, I’d have been done for.”
Atlas Mountain wasn’t cold at the base, but the temperature plummeted as you ascended. Near the summit, snow was a constant presence. Most thought they could prepare once they got close, but the cold hit well before the peak.
Seeing his backpack lacked any cold-weather gear, Zeke had immediately decided to hunt the bear and use its hide for warmth.
“Going up unprepared would be a disaster.”
Moreover, there were “things” up there on Atlas Mountain.
Zeke applied bear fat to the smoked hide and began tanning it.
“What are you waiting for? Get to it, Felix.”
The three of them sat together, tanning the bear hide.
Atlas Mountain was a formidable and towering peak.
For seasoned knights, climbing it wasn’t particularly challenging.
Reina, along with participants from the Turn family, ascended the mountain via a pre-planned route.
As the cold set in, they donned the cold-weather gear stashed along the way and continued upward.
Despite their preparations, the sudden expanse of snowfields took them by surprise.
They had heard about it, but seeing it firsthand was a different experience.
The chill seeped through their gear.
Then, something approached Reina’s group across the snowfield.
“What is that…?”
Realizing what it was, Reina was taken aback.