Chapter 347
Chapter 347
<w:bottom w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:right w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:between w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:spacing w:after="0" w:before="0" w:line="276" w:linerule="auto"><w:ind w:left="0" w:right="0" w:firstline="0"><w:jc w:val="left"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="0"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="333333"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:r w:rsiddel="00000000" w:rsidr="00000000" w:rsidrpr="00000000"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="1"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="333333"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:rtl w:val="0"><w:t xml:space="preserve">Chapter 347 'A continent beyond the Dark Sea?'While Zeke had vaguely thought something might exist there when Duke told him about the Dark Sea, he never expected a continent.'Chronos said it. The truth is hidden beyond the Dark Sea.' Terakan Draker said the way to revive dead Bahamut was beyond the Dark Sea.Zeke's expression hardened as he considered the Terakan Draker's words.'Could the method to revive Bahamut involve using the Book of the Dead?'He recalled the Terakan Draker's crazed expression in the video.A tired hero who lost his reason to live after losing his soul companion.He disappeared without revealing he was the father to his own son, Geo Lubern.'An abandoned continent beyond the Dark Sea. I need to look into this more.'Zeke looked up at the Holy King."If the Book of the Dead is beyond the Dark Sea as you say, there's essentially no way to break the Demon King's seal. So isn't all this preparation unnecessary…?"The Holy King shook his head."The great sage and dragons did seal it, but nothing is perfect. Even while sealed, the Demon King's powerful soul emits evil energy and creates its spawn."Something clicked for Zeke hearing the Holy King's words."Could it be the demon beasts…?"The Highlanders had theorized demon beasts appeared from beyond the Giant Mountains bordering the Dark Sea.If they were occurring due to the sealed Demon King's power affecting them from the abandoned continent beyond the Dark Sea, it would explain why demon beasts kept appearing endlessly.The Holy King spoke to Zeke."The Abyss believes the Demon King's soul will eventually break its seal and guide them. They're preparing vessels while waiting for that time."Zeke realized what the Abyss and Jiemens were doing to resurrect the Demon King.'So the Abyss was preparing Abel's body as a vessel to receive the Demon King.'Cain who died by Zeke's hand, and Abel who replaced him as a vessel with an implanted dragon heart.He recalled who was behind all these plans.'Ramon Jiemens.'There was no doubt he was now the central figure trying to resurrect the Demon King.With Abel dead by Zeke's hand, he would be desperately seeking a new vessel.'There's only one solution. Eliminate Jiemens.'Without Jiemens, the Abyss would lose its driving force.Zeke's eyes flashed as he found a new target.But then the Holy King's body began gradually fading."Your Majesty?"The Holy King spoke while looking at his increasingly transparent body."Time is almost up now."He said to Zeke."Successor. I'm sorry to pass such a difficult task to you. Please stop the Demon King with the holy spear and bring peace to this world."The Holy King approached Zeke.He placed his hand on the chest where the dragon heart slept.Bahamut's heart, his mother's, slept within Zeke's body, but the Holy King didn't know this.The Holy King spoke to Zeke."It was good to meet you, my distant descendant. May the blessing of light be with you on your journey."WOONG! WOONG!A massive light burst from the Holy King's placed hand and settled into Zeke's body.As the Holy King's body transformed into light and scattered, the entire space filled with bright light.Simultaneously, messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.[The power of Radiant light is unlocked.][Title 'Knight of Radiant Light' changes to 'Inheritor of Brilliant Light'.][Due to title effect, proficiency of special skill Holy Light Technique increases.][Due to title effect, proficiency of active skill Lightning increases. Light attribute is added simultaneously.][Due to title effect, proficiency of Purification Blade increases.][Purification Blade transforms into S-rank skill Blade of Brilliant Light.][Acquired special skill 'Holy King Spear Technique (S-rank)'.][Special skill Holy King Spear Technique can be linked with special skill Holy Light Technique.]WOONG WOONG!Zeke could feel the Holy King's power filling his body.Simultaneously, his vision filled with light.* * *After the light subsided, Zeke slowly opened his eyes.'This is...'The surroundings had changed again.A chapel decorated in the Lubern Dynasty style spread before his eyes.In the center of the chapel stood a statue modeled after Geo Lubern in armor, with a stone coffin placed below it.Zeke slowly approached the stone coffin.The coffin's surface was decorated with the sun emblem he had seen in the Ark and other ruins.Zeke suddenly realized something when he saw that symbol.'Ah, this doesn't symbolize the sun but light itself.'The Holy Empire founded by Geo Lubern initially worshipped the God of Light, symbolizing the Creator God.However, when the Lubern dynasty fell and the Holy Empire split, its nature changed to the Order of the Sun.The emblem's shape seemed to have changed during this process.Zeke caressed the emblem carved on the surface and slowly opened the coffin lid.If the Emperor was after the Holy King's remains, he needed to secure them first.Zeke opened the coffin lid and checked inside.However, what was inside wasn't the Holy King's remains."What's this?"Surprisingly, what lay inside was an old spear.And that old spear was none other than the Holy Spear Longomiant, possessing god-slaying power.'Was this Holy Spear what the Emperor was after, not the Holy King's remains?'He slowly reached for the Holy Spear.At that moment, light burst from Zeke's chest.'What's this?'From Zeke's chest rose the same light emblem that was carved on the coffin's surface.He remembered how the Holy King had transferred the power of light to him in his final moments.Then a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.[Holy Spear Longomiant detects the title Bearer of Radiant Light.][Confirms legitimate successor of the spear.][Holy Spear Longomiant restores its original form.]WOOOONG!The Holy Spear that had been lying quietly in the coffin slowly rose into the air.As light flowing from Zeke's body enveloped the spear, it absorbed the light and began to change its form.TSTSTSTS―The surface of the worn-out spear rippled.'This looks different from what was in the glass case earlier?'[Holy Spear Longomiant has completed transformation to match successor's soul.]Surprisingly, the transformed spear's appearance was similar to the black sword Bahamut that Zeke carried.The previous form of the Holy Spear that Zeke had seen was in spear form to match Terakan Draker's soul.Geo Lubern, the successor after Terakan, couldn't become the spear's complete master and thus kept the spear in its form from Terakan's time, but Zeke, possessing immortal power, could draw out the spear's true power.Zeke reached out toward the newly transformed Holy Spear.WOOOONG!The spear vibrated lightly as if accepting its new master.Zeke grasped the Holy Spear.Then surprisingly, the spear vanished like smoke and seeped into Zeke's right forearm.TSTSTSTS!When Zeke rolled up his sleeve, he saw a pattern etched like a tattoo on his right arm."So like the chains, the Holy Spear is also engraved on the body."Zeke summoned the spear using his will, just like when using soul sealing techniques.The pattern immediately responded, and the Holy Spear appeared before Zeke.Zeke closely examined the god-slaying spear made of adamantium."A spear with the power to kill constellations. With this, it should be possible to annihilate the fallen constellations too."The Abyss Horde was not only summoning Demon Lords but also demons to the material plane using blood stones.This god-slaying power was necessary to stop demons that transcended the material plane's power.Zeke put away the spear and raised his head to examine Geo Lubern's statue.He bowed his head to the Holy King's statue before turning around.That's when it happened.KUGUGUNG!The moment he detected vibrations from outside the sanctuary, Zeke's eyes flashed.'Now, it's time to hunt the Emperor.'* * *Calito and the Thousand Scorpion Knights followed the Imperial Knight toward where the Emperor was.The Emperor was staying in a cavern where the hounds had set up a camp in advance.The hounds and cultists were searching the Holy King's ruins.When they reached where the Emperor was, a cultist mage approached Calito."His Majesty commands you to lead the knights in exploring this place."Calito realized the Emperor had summoned them to use them for exploring the ruins.'Damn it.'Having to continue pretending to be brainwashed, Calito participated in the dungeon exploration while shouting praises for the Emperor without complaint.The hounds and Thousand Scorpion Knights followed the cultist mages into the ruins.After walking deep into the underground space, they came upon an underground catacomb with traces of the Lubern dynasty.Though the paths were intricately tangled like a maze, the cultist mages at the front found their way without much difficulty using the power of fallen constellations.They could read the constellation's will through the movement of the skull wrapped with a snake that hung from their staffs.A massive door appeared before the group who had been wandering the underground paths.The door was engraved with the emblem of light, different from the current Order of the Sun's emblem.It was the emblem symbolizing the original form of the Order of Light before the Holy Empire's division.The cultists slowly approached and placed their staffs against the door.Then the skulls began to shake violently.The mage shouted joyfully."It's the Holy King's ruins! We've found Geo Lubern's tomb!"Having found the Holy King's ruins, the mage immediately returned to camp to report to the Emperor."Your Majesty! We've found the Holy King's ruins!"The Emperor behind the curtain exhaled roughly and said to the mage."Open the door. I must obtain the Holy King's remains and restore my original form as soon as possible."The mage bowed his head and said."Understood. Soon the Serpent of the Black Maw will bestow upon Your Majesty the glory of youth and immortality."The cultist mages busily prepared the ritual to open the door leading to the Holy King's ruins.The snake in the black mouth they worshipped was a constellation of contracts and deception.If appropriate sacrifices were offered and prices paid, the snake in the black mouth would grant suitable rewards.In this way, he could intervene in the material plane in various ways compared to other fallen constellations.As part of this, the mages grabbed one of the wounded knights for the ritual, placed him on a magic circle drawn with blood, and began chanting spells.The knight trembled in terror, begging the mages to spare his life.But the mages continued chanting without concern, sprinkling suspicious liquid from a bowl onto the knight's head.As the chanting intensified, the knight began showing strange reactions."UUUGH..."The knight writhed as if in pain.Then one of the mages pulled out a dagger."We offer this sacrifice to the great constellation, please open this door!"Just as the mage swung the dagger to pierce the knight's heart while chanting―KUGUGUGU!The entire catacomb began shaking as if an earthquake had struck.CRACKLE!Strange reactions occurred in the magic circle drawn by the mages.The cultist mage sensed an ominous energy and shouted."Someone here is interfering with the ritual!"At the mage's shout, both the hounds and Thousand Scorpion Knights drew their swords and stepped forward.Calito gritted his teeth and surveyed the surroundings.'Damn it, what's happening now?.'Free from the cultist's magic, Calito had no loyalty left for the Emperor.Both he and the other Scorpion Knights were exhausted, their eyes bloodshot and dark circles under them.Calito prepared to flee at any moment if other enemies appeared to be attacking.Then something appeared before those on guard.TSTSTSTS!White mist covered the floor as frost began forming on the walls.White steam puffed from their mouths in the sudden cold.Calito stepped back in confusion.'What's this suddenly…?'Then the masked Elemental Lich Bane appeared from the white mist and shouted at the Imperial forces.『Who dares defile this sacred place where the holy one rests?!』
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