322
Chapter 322
When Abel realized Zeke was a Black Knight, his demeanor changed instantly.
Black Knights are superhuman warriors numbering less than twenty across the continent.
Each one was a strategic weapon capable of destroying entire kingdoms, giving them a weight far different from ordinary knights.
That's why the continent was turned upside down when Abel became a Black Knight.
It was considered almost impossible for someone of Abel's age to become a Black Knight, no matter how talented they were.
Even Abel knew well that without the power of baptism, he wouldn't have reached the realm of Black Knight.
Learning that Zeke, who was even younger than him, had reached the realm of Black Knight without baptismal power sent chills down his spine.
Abel soon realized the nature of this base emotion he was feeling towards Zeke.
'Jealousy? Am I jealous of him?'
Until a few years ago, Zeke was nothing more than an insignificant insect to him.
Zeke, who had been too weak to even bother with, was now right below his neck with a sword pointed at him.
Abel felt a horrible sensation as if a disgusting insect was crawling all over his body.
He glared fiercely at Zeke.
'I must kill him. I must kill him here without fail.'
If he were to let him go here, there was no telling how much stronger he would become before appearing before him again.
Abel stretched his hand toward the sky.
The space rippled and a sword appeared.
It was longer and thicker than ordinary swords, with a dark red blade emitting an ominous light.
Abel pointed the sword at Zeke and said.
"Today you die here. Without fail."
In response, Zeke raised Bahamut and countered.
"That's my line."
Zeke also needed to end this here.
The problem was the Hersion Abel was wearing.
Despite taking a direct hit from the Astral Sword, Abel didn't seem very affected.
'Rather than dragon-human power, it could be the power of that Hersion.'
Astral Sword was a power that reached the source.
If Hersion could block even such power, it was no ordinary artifact.
'Even so, there's no way he took no damage at all. I'll aim for that opening.'
Zeke glared at Abel holding the ominous sword, then quickly launched his body with Shadowless Step and activated Sacred Light.
A light mace struck down toward Abel.
CRASH!
The massive light mass struck Abel's body.
But when Abel swung the bizarre sword, surprisingly, the light mace shattered into scattered light.
"To think I'd have to draw Zahak."
Sensing an unusual energy from Abel's sword, Zeke retreated for now.
'Zahak? That the sword's name?'
Though it was a name he'd never heard, he could guess it possessed power stronger than the Dragon Sword’
Soon black flames erupted from Zahak.
When Abel swung Zahak, the black flames stretched out like a snake and flew toward Zeke.
WHOOSH!
Zeke lifted his body into the air to dodge the black flames.
Suddenly the flying black flames spread sideways, becoming dozens of fire arrows that engulfed Zeke.
FWOOSH!
Though Hersion was still active, the black flames that caught Zeke didn't extinguish but burned even more fiercely.
'This is...'
These were flames created by an authority far stronger than the Dragon Sword's power.
Zeke tried to control the flames with elemental power, but it was useless.
SIZZLE!
The intense heat of the black flames penetrated inside Hersion.
'Must control these flames.'
Zeke had the Freeze authority he had absorbed from the Queen of ice before.
He used the Freeze authority toward the burning areas.
TSSSSSS!
As he used the Freeze authority, frost formed on the Hersion, and the unextinguished black flames began fighting fiercely with the freezing cold.
"HAAAAAAH!"
With the flames not completely extinguished, Zeke charged toward Abel.
WOONG!
Bahamut howled with a strong blade cry.
Gripping Bahamut, Zeke raised the Astral Sword and thrust it toward Abel's heart.
Infinite Sword Technique Dragon Slaying form
Chapter 6 Verse 2
Dragon Heart Pierce
The Astral Sword wrapped around the blade spun violently as it charged strongly toward Abel's Hersion.
CRACK!
The Dragon Slaying technique Zeke thrust struck dead on.
But surprisingly, even with the Astral Sword imbued, Bahamut couldn't pierce Abel's Hersion.
Zeke pushed the sword harder while sweating coldly.
But Abel's Hersion didn't budge at all.
"What a futile act."
Abel reached out and firmly grabbed the blade of Bahamut that Zeke had thrust.
Then he raised Zahak held in his other hand high.
Black flames wrapped around the blade and burned fiercely.
"This is the end!"
Abel swung the flame-covered sword at Zeke.
WHOOSH!
In that moment, Zeke used the Spirit manifestation skill engraved on the scabbard.
His body entered the boundary of dimensions and disappeared from Abel's sight.
Suddenly seeing Zeke vanish, Abel shouted in momentary confusion.
"Where are you?! Stop running and come out, Zeke!"
Even with Dragon Eye, Zeke who had entered the dimensional realm couldn't be found.
From beyond the dimensional wall, Zeke contemplated how to pierce Hersion and attack Abel.
'Physical attacks cannot deal damage to him.'
He recalled among his techniques one that could directly attack the soul.
'What if I combine Astral Sword and Spirit power?'
Astral Sword attacks the source of existence, while Spirit Power attacks the soul.
The Spirit manifestation skill's duration was almost over.
As Zeke concentrated his consciousness on the sword, time gradually slowed.
He could feel each and every energy flowing throughout his body.
Zeke could feel the moment of unity between sword and self, when he became one with the blade.
The Astral Sword rose and enveloped Zeke's sword.
Something felt different from before.
In the dimensional gap, Zeke could intuitively sense what the Astral Sword that touches the source was.
WOOOONG!
Zeke took a silent step in the gap of slowed time, holding his sword.
KUGUUUU!
Abel sensed intuitively as Zeke broke through the dimensional gap and emerged.
He slowly turned around, holding Zahak wrapped in black flames.
The black flames, much larger than before, formed a demon-like shape.
Abel thrust his sword wrapped in black flames toward Zeke.
The black flames that seemed to devour everything flew toward Zeke.
KWARRRR!
Like a waterfall pouring down, the storm of black flames engulfed Zeke.
Zeke, who broke through the dimensional wall, held Bahamut in a calm stance.
He imbued the will of Spirit Power together with Bahamut's blade empowered by Astral Sword.
Zeke exhaled and took another step forward as he swung his sword.
Soul technique
Double Spell
Will of Destruction
WOOOONG!
Zeke's sword imbued with the will of destruction touched Abel's Hersion.
KIIING!
Like before, Zeke's sword was blocked by the unknown power of Abel's Hersion.
However, when the Astral Sword that cuts the source combined with the will of destruction, it could cut through Abel himself who existed inside the armor, beyond the unknown power.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG!
The will of destruction that Zeke unleashed struck Abel.
Abel was thrown backward, hit by the sword strike that penetrated Hersion.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG!
"KHEUK!"
Abel, who was slammed into the wall and coughed black blood, couldn't regain his senses from the pain of his chest being split.
As he tried to get up, Zeke had already approached right in front of him and held his sword to his neck.
"Let's end this."
Zeke's sword flew toward Abel's neck.
KKANG!
In that moment, as the helmet covered Abel's face again, Zeke's sword attempting to cut his neck was blocked.
Simultaneously, red light flowed from Abel's helmet.
KWADDEUDDEUK!
Dark red energy poured out from the armor and grabbed Zeke's sword, swinging it to the side.
WHOONG!
The formless energy lightly lifted Zeke and tried to slam him into the wall.
Zeke rotated in the air with dragon wings and then launched a light mace with Holy Light Energy.
Kwakwang!
The dark red energy that was hit by the light mace subsided and could be seen entering back into the armor.
Zeke caught his breath for a moment, and hardened his expression while looking at the Hersion that had attacked him.
'Could it be that Hersion is moving on its own?.'
Instead of Abel who had suffered serious injury from the will of destruction, The Hersion was moving directly.
Although the Empire's technology was excellent, it was unheard of for a Hersion to move on its own and attack enemies.
It was undoubtedly as remarkable an artifact as Theia's Hersion that Zeke obtained from Cain.
Abel's Hersion, still emanating dark red light from its eyes, glared at Zeke and pointed Zahhak.
KWADDEUDDEUK!
Something was making sounds inside the Hersion. Seeing the small groans coming from Abel's mouth, it seemed to be treating his wounds.
'What an incredible artifact.'
Zeke too was in a state where much mana had been consumed from using Spirit Power and Astral Sword.
'I need to replenish my strength.'
At that moment, Zeke's eyes caught sight of the broken Dragon Sword that Abel had dropped on the ground earlier.
As it was a unique artifact made from dragon's teeth, it was clear that absorbing it would replenish his strength.
While pointing his sword at Abel's Hersion, Zeke quickly extended his shadow to absorb the Dragon Sword.
TSSS! TSSS!
Upon absorbing the Dragon Sword, messages appeared.
[You have absorbed the unique item Dragon Sword imbued with Red Dragon's power.]
[Your depleted health, mental power, and mana are being restored.]
[You gain the authority of Flame by absorbing the item's ability.]
[Active skill Solar Shot combines with the authority of Flame.]
[Black Sword Bahamut partially unseals after absorbing the Dragon Sword. (Current seal level: 55%)]
The seal on Bahamut also lowered after absorbing an item from the same dragon lineage.
'How fortunate. To be able to absorb such an artifact. I even gained the authority of Flame.'
After replenishing his strength by absorbing the Dragon Sword, Zeke raised his sword again and rushed toward the fallen Abel.
Then, a red light burst forth from the Hersion that Abel was wearing.
TSSS! TSSS!
Everything the light touched began to melt.
Zeke blocked the pouring light by transforming Bahamut's form into a demon-slaying sword.
After a while, the Hersion slowly rose.
Seeing this, Zeke gritted his teeth.
'I don't know the principle behind it, but physical attacks are useless against that Hersion...'
At that moment, the helmet of the armor Abel was wearing began to change gradually.
The helmet transformed to look like a demon's face, then opened its mouth wide and let out a horrific scream toward Zeke.
KAAAAAAAK!
The scream itself carried strong power like a dragon's roar.
Something grew from the back of the Hersion that was spraying light in all directions.
KWADDEUUUK!
Surprisingly, a pair of wings sprouted from the armor.
The Hersion fluttered its wings and rose into the air.
KAAAAAAAK!
Abel's Hersion, which was gradually transforming into a demonic form, roared at Zeke and began to fly away as if escaping.
Zeke also flew into the sky to chase Abel.
'This becomes more incomprehensible. A demon's form. Could it be related to the fallen constellations.'
Zeke chased the flying Hersion and launched a holy light technique.
KWAREUREUREURNG!
A massive lightning bolt of light struck the Hersion.
However, perhaps due to the Hersion's effect, the light magic had no effect at all.
Zeke clenched his teeth.
'It's not magical energy, nor is it aura or mana, what on earth is that?.'
Then Zeke could think of one possibility.
'Could it be Spirit Power ? Is that Hersion moving with Spirit Power?'
Although Zeke was also using Spirit Power for dragon clan skills and soul techniques, he hadn't precisely grasped what that power was.
He had only vaguely thought of it as using the power of the soul.
'Since the soul technique attack worked earlier, attacks using Spirit Power might work.'
Zeke focused the power he had at the moment before making his move.
WOOOONG!
As light shone from the pattern engraved on his chest, that pattern appeared above the Hersion.
When Zeke activated the skill Dragon's Breath, compressed mana shots burst forth from the pattern.
BOOM!
A massive light spread its two wings and flew toward Abel's Hersion, which was soaring into the sky.
The Dragon's Breath hit Abel's Hersion.
BOOM!
A strong explosion occurred in the air, and the flash spread in all directions.