<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 349 "Stop, block it!"The cult's mages screamed in terror at the sudden lightning bolt.But the light's lightning didn't just strike the palanquin.CRACKLE!The lightning spread sideways, engulfing the surrounding cult mages."GRRRRRK!"The struck cult mages collapsed, foaming at the mouth.The Imperial Guard, who were about to charge forward to face the golem knights, turned and rushed back toward the palanquin.That's when the golem knights attacked the Imperial Guard with their greatswords.WHOOSH!Greatswords larger than most adult men fell toward the Imperial Guard's heads.CRASH!Unlike the Scorpion Knights, the Imperial Guard scattered individually to dodge the greatswords.Just then, a powerful mana ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cannon shot flew toward the Emperor's palanquin.Before the Imperial Guard could reach it, the instantly arriving mana cannon caused an explosion.BOOM!A massive explosion shook the entire Holy King's ruins.Watching from hiding, Calito ground his teeth.'Damn it. I shouldn't have come here. I should have bowed to Julius and sided with him!'As the dust cloud cleared, the hidden palanquin was revealed.But surprisingly, the palanquin was completely unscathed.BZZZZ!A barrier had surrounded the palanquin and blocked the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana cannon. However, seemingly depleted of power, the hemisphere surrounding the palanquin soon crumbled away.When the barrier that blocked the mana cannon disappeared, the Imperial Guard immediately rushed toward the palanquin."Leave this place immediately!"The Imperial Guard tried to carry away the Emperor's palanquin.But then something suddenly emerged from behind the curtain.THUD!A black, withered hand like that of a mummy grabbed the crown of the Imperial Guard knight carrying the palanquin.HISSSS!The withered hand instantly drained the knight's life force."AAAAGH!"The knight holding the palanquin transformed into a dried-up mummy as his vitality was absorbed.THUMP!The knight, now a mummy with only thin skin over bones, collapsed to the ground.The withered hand that had grabbed the knight's head - the Emperor's hand - gradually regained vitality and returned to a normal hand's appearance.But even that hand's appearance could hardly be considered human.The skin was stained black, and the nails were large and sharp like those of a beast.The Emperor, keeping his hand inside the curtain, shouted:"Enter where the Holy King's remains are! Hurry!"Thinking he could regain his original power if he just found the remains, the Emperor drove the Imperial Guard toward certain death with a manic voice.The Imperial Guard headed back toward the door as ordered. As they raised their swords with firm resolve, their Aura Blades surged.The Imperial Guard swung their Aura Blades at the golem knights.CRASH!Though powerful sword strikes erupted, the golem knights blocked even the Imperial Guard's Aura Blades.Their solid mithril shields plated with orichalcum made even those useless.THUD!The golem knights held their shields forward and stood guard in front of the room.With a solid wall erected, they could advance no further.Then the Emperor shouted from inside the palanquin:"Wake up Gillian!"At the Emperor's shout, a nearby cult mage startled and hurriedly raised and shook a sacred object.A skull statue entwined with a snake caused strong vibrations before its mouth gaped open.HISSSS!The snake sculpture, thought to be made of stone, began moving with an eerie sound.The snake slithered down the staff to the ground and quickly moved toward the restrained Gillian."W-What?!"Calito, standing next to Gillian, startled at the sudden approach of the black snake and swung his sword trying to chase it away."Get away! I said get away!"The snake raised its head stiffly and met Calito's eyes.The snake's red pupils flashed, and Calito's eyes meeting them began to cloud over."Huh...?"As Calito staggered backward, the snake slithered toward the restrained Gillian.HISSSS!Making an eerie sound, the snake crawled up Gillian's body.When the snake burrowed into the leather restraints, Gillian thrashed about screaming horribly.GRAAAAH!Gillian's writhing body soon went limp.Then suddenly he jerked upright.SWISH!An ominous black energy flowed from Gillian's body.The leather restraints, their magic now dispelled, could no longer hold Gillian.Gillian immediately tore apart the leather restraints.CRACK!The magical restraints made of dragon leather were ripped away.Gillian also tore off and threw away the metal muzzle on his face."Heh, heh..."On Gillian's revealed face, black snake patterns were engraved like tattoos.His pupils were stained red, similar to the snake's eyes that had made Calito lose consciousness."UGH!"Gillian clutched his head in pain.Then another thundering voice erupted from the palanquin."Gillian! Remove those bastards from my sight immediately!"At the Emperor's command, Gillian's pupils turned even redder."GRRRRRR!"Black energy surged from Gillian's body.Gillian, who had been approaching the level of Dark Knight, was originally an exceptional knight even among the Imperial Legion commanders.But the energy now emanating from Gillian's body far surpassed his usual level.Gillian drew the greatsword strapped to his back.He tore off the wrapped chains with his bare hands and unwrapped the cloth.It was a large, blunt greatsword like what a butcher would use to behead beasts in a slaughterhouse.He charged toward the golem knights blocking the way, wielding the greatsword.WHOOSH!Gillian swung his greatsword at the golem knights' shields while emitting black energy.CRASH!The golem knights who hadn't budged at the Imperial Guard's Aura Blades had their formation broken by this single strike.Gillian's attack didn't end there.WHOOSH!Gillian pulled back his greatsword and struck the golem knights again in succession.CRASH!When hit by Gillian's greatsword, not only the shields but even the mithril armor dented, and some golem knights were sent flying into the walls.BOOM!Under Gillian's powerful attack, the golem knights' formation crumbled and the path to the door opened.The Imperial Guard quickly entered carrying the Emperor's palanquin.The Holy King's resting place was as large as Vadoka's Grand Cathedral.Detailed paintings covered the walls, and the interior was decorated beautifully yet solemnly in Lubern style.A massive statue of the Holy King stood in the center, with a sarcophagus placed before it.A cult mage shouted excitedly."Your Majesty! That's it! Those must be the Holy King's remains!"The Emperor reached his hand outside the curtain, gesturing to check.The Imperial Guard knights approached and opened the sarcophagus lid. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Inside lay a knight wearing armor identical to the statue's, hands clasped over a sword on his chest.It was a fitting image for the Holy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠King who symbolized holy knights.RUMBLE!Suddenly, the entire resting place began to shake.Seemingly unconcerned, the Emperor parted the palanquin's curtain and slowly walked out.But something was wrong with the Emperor's revealed body.Though his face was covered with thick cloth, his massive build and frame exceeded normal human proportions, making the purple imperial robes seem ready to burst.CRACK!Something made a strange sound at the Emperor's shoulder as bones protruded. The already taut clothing was about to tear.The floor shook with each step as the Emperor descended from the palanquin.He finally reached the sarcophagus with slow steps.Just as he extended his beast-like hand to grasp the Holy King's remains inside the sarcophagus.A cult mage approached the Emperor."Y-Your Majesty!"The Emperor turned his head, looking at the cult mage through the cloth covering his face, and shouted."What are you doing?! The Holy King's remains are here! Offer them to the Serpent of the Black Maw and fix my body quickly!"The cult mage looked at the Emperor with incomprehension and said:"The Constellation does not desire this, Your Majesty."RUMBLE!The resting place shook again as cracks appeared in the walls.Even through the thick cloth, the Emperor's fierce gaze was visible."Are you daring to insult me?!"The Emperor reached for the mage.The mage was pulled into the Emperor's hand by an unprecedented force."UGH, UGHK! Y-Your Majesty!"Holding the mage in one hand, the Emperor spoke in a beast-like raspy voice"I brought those remains as your god wanted. But you say this isn't what it wants!"CRACK!As the Emperor applied force, the mage's neck snapped and his body dangled like a doll.BZZZZ!The Emperor absorbed the life force of the mage in his grasp.CRACK!Again the Emperor's back and shoulders became lumpy as his clothes swelled taut once more.He shouted at the other mages."Summon your god immediately! Bring me a young, strong! immortal body..."STAB!The Emperor slowly turned around at the sudden pain in his back.The Holy King's remains had risen from the sarcophagus and stabbed him in the back with the sword.The Emperor's eyes flashed for a moment."You little rat!"CRACKLE!Lightning surged from the sword that pierced the Emperor's back with brilliant light."AAAAGH!"The Emperor screamed as the light's power burned through his body.SWISH!Zeke removed his shape-shifting cloak and returned to his original form from where he had laid in the sarcophagus.Leaving Roland embedded in the Emperor's back, Zeke immediately drew Bahamut.The Imperial Guard rushed at him.WHOOSH!Over a dozen Aura Blades flew at Zeke, but he didn't flinch.Zeke leaped from the sarcophagus and swung his sword at the Imperial Guard.Dragon Slaying Technique Black Sword EnergyBlack WindA wind imbued with black energy swept through the charging Imperial Guard."UGH!"As the Imperial Guard retreated, Zeke immediately activated Ice Hell against them.The Imperial Guard, already struggling from the Black Wind, panicked as the temperature dropped and their bodies grew sluggish."HAH!"The Imperial Guard knights desperately tried to shake off the cold with their Aura.That's when massive flames engulfed them."AAAAGH!"The Hell Fire that Zeke triggered in succession met the Black Wind, creating fierce flames that wrapped around the Imperial Guard.Before the cold could fade, the Imperial Guard caught fire and struggled in vain to escape.What befell the Imperial Guard knights was literally hell.Through the burning flames, Zeke slowly approached the Emperor.'With Roland embedded and taking a direct hit from Heaven's Thunder, he should be finished.'Thinking this while heading toward the palanquin where the Emperor hid, the cult mages cast curses at Zeke.WOONG!The curse reflection activated, sending the curses back at their casters."AAAAGH!"The mages who received their own curses back collapsed to the ground trembling.Zeke mercilessly swung his sword and beheaded the mages.'Using magic despite the mana seal. More like sorcery than magic.'The magic used by the cult mages was inherited from ancient magic forms and was closer to sorcery as Zeke suspected.Using mediums like drugs and the Constellation's power for curses rather than mana, they weren't affected by the mana seal.Just as Zeke finished off the mages and approached the palanquin.Suddenly the palanquin shook and flew toward Zeke.CRASH!Zeke split the flying palanquin with Bahamut.Then something massive flew at Zeke again.BOOM!Condensed magical power like Zeke's compressed mana cannon poured toward him.Zeke quickly raised Bahamut and swung at the magic cannon.CRASH!The magic cannon itself split sideways, canceled out and destroyed.Zeke raised his head to confirm who had fired the magic cannon at him.GROWL!A body and build larger than an ogre. Hair spreading in all directions and rough beard. Sharp, pointed teeth like those of a demon beast.A horrific appearance barely recognizable as human.This terrible monster was the true form of Nero Claudius Constantinus, Emperor of the Rom Empire.