<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="360" 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 351 'You'll grant my wish?'The fallen constellation made a direct deal with Zeke through the Emperor who had become its avatar.The message appeared again before Zeke's eyes. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠[The Serpent of the Black Maw says it can grant whatever you desire.][It says even supreme power or immortality is possible.]Zeke spoke while looking at the Emperor who had completely turned into a monster."If you can grant everything I say, why don't you just use that power to take the Holy Spear from me?"[The Serpent of the Black Maw says there are limits to its intervention in the physical world due to karma.][However, it says if an immortal becomes its avatar, it is allowed to use its powers regardless of karma.][The Serpent of the Black Maw reveals that unlike other constellations' powers, even karma cannot stop its authority.]Through the Serpent of the Black Maw's words, Zeke could guess the current situation.'The power of fallen constellations is still limited by karma. But there are ways to circumvent such karmic restrictions.'It was similar to how superior demons were summoned to the physical world through bloodstones in the Abyss without karmic sanctions.Zeke wanted to learn information about fallen constellations through the Serpent of the Black Maw.He opened his mouth toward the Emperor who had become its avatar."Are there no disadvantages if I become your avatar?"Messages appeared again at Zeke's question.[The fallen constellation Serpent of the Black Maw says there will only be trivial costs compared to what you'll gain from its authority.]It was quite a clever way of putting it.It only spoke in ways that could be interpreted positively, without mentioning what the rewards or costs would be.Zeke asked another question."I want to know what those costs are. I can't make a deal without knowing that."After staying silent at Zeke's words, the Serpent of the Black Maw soon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sent another message.[It says to become a constellation's avatar, souls must be connected through chains of covenant.]Zeke recalled something upon hearing the Serpent of the Black Maw's words."By chains of covenant, do you mean those chains that connect hearts when contracting with dragons?"[The Serpent of the Black Maw says it's similar to that.]Looking at the message that appeared, Zeke realized the Serpent of the Black Maw was downplaying the meaning through clever expressions.'The contract between dragons and contractors connects them as equals. But the connection between a fallen constellation and its avatar can't be the same.'Zeke guessed that becoming a constellation's avatar meant pledging your soul and becoming completely subordinate to them.Through his conversation with the Serpent of the Black Maw, he could guess what deals with demons meant and how they affected the physical world while avoiding karmic sanctions.Zeke spoke while looking at the Emperor."That proposal is quite interesting."The Serpent of the Black Maw sent another message at his words.[The fallen constellation Serpent of the Black Maw promises the highest treatment if you become its avatar.]Zeke nodded at the message.Then he took out the Holy Spear from his inventory.The Emperor, who had become the Serpent of the Black Maw's avatar and now looked similar to Bahamut, opened his mouth upon seeing the Holy Spear that had changed appearance."The master desires the Holy Spear."Zeke spoke while looking at the Emperor."How can I trust and give this to a monster like you?"Another message appeared.[The Serpent of the Black Maw says once you hand over the Holy Spear to its avatar, the contract will be established and it can immediately engrave its seal with its authority to grant the immortal's wish.]Zeke had doubts while looking at the Serpent of the Black Maw's message.'Even though it's through an avatar, expressing its will in the physical world should be subject to karmic sanctions, yet it's talking quite a lot considering that.'He could sense that the Serpent of the Black Maw was quite anxious for some reason.Zeke spoke toward the constellation."If I make this deal, will I gain the power to eliminate Arthur Draker, the head of the Drakers?"A son wanting to eliminate his powerful father and take his place.Humans have always continued their history through such power struggles.The Serpent of the Black Maw accepted this as truth because Zeke's just-spoken desire felt very 'human-like' to it.[The fallen constellation Serpent of the Black Maw says it's entirely possible.]RUMBLE! RUMBLE!The energy bursting from the Emperor's body shook the entire Sanctuary of the Holy King.Zeke realized this vibration wasn't a threat but rather came from the constellation being unable to contain its joy.After seeing the message, Zeke nodded and slowly approached.The Emperor who had become a monster glared at Zeke with red eyes.At the same time, snakes writhed behind his back and his head began to change.His skin wrapped in viscous fluid split open and red eyes appeared from within.Dozens of red eyes at the ends of tentacles glared as if monitoring Zeke's movements.Zeke held the Holy Spear, stood before the Emperor, and looked up at him.Then he pointed the spear he was holding toward the Emperor.GRRRRRR!When the spear tip was pointed at him, the Emperor bared his sharp teeth and made a fierce sound toward Zeke.Zeke smirked at the Emperor."Here, take it."Zeke twirled the spear and held out the shaft forward.Though wary of Zeke, the Emperor moved his tentacles toward the spear shaft he held out.As the tentacles wrapped around the spear shaft to take it, Zeke, still not letting go of the spear, spoke to the Emperor."But you know what? Emperor, seeing you, there's something I really wanted to ask."The monstrous Emperor flashed his red eyes while looking down at Zeke.Zeke spoke to him."Why the hell did you do it?"At that moment, another message appeared.[The fallen constellation Serpent of the Black Maw says the deal will only be established when the Holy Spear is completely handed over.]Ignoring that, Zeke spoke to the Emperor again."Why did you mess up the entire continent so badly just to do something with that pathetic old body of yours, you bastard?"Zeke unconsciously slipped into his rough way of speaking from his past life.When strong killing intent flowed from Zeke, the Emperor instinctively swung his sharp claws toward him.WHOOSH!The Aura Blade suddenly rose from Anexi's dagger in Zeke's hand.SLASH!The Aura Blade that Zeke unleashed cut off the Emperor's arm."GAACK!"The Emperor let out a monster's cry and tried to back away.But Zeke's hand holding the spear shaft shot out chains first.RATTLE! RATTLE!The chains followed the spear shaft and wrapped around the Emperor's arm and body.Unable to retreat, the Emperor ended up in a standoff with Zeke with the Holy Spear between them."How dare you?, you insignificant creature!"The Emperor shouted and extended the tentacles behind his back.Black energy-filled mist rose from the tentacles, sharp protrusions emerged, and flew toward Zeke.At that moment, golden aura flowed from Zeke's body as he held the spear shaft.ZZZZZ!The black mist that touched the golden aura was instantly annihilated."HAAAT!"Zeke jumped into the air while holding the spear shaft and twisted the Emperor's arm backward.CRACK!The Emperor's arm twisted around completely, but this level of damage meant nothing to him who had already become a monster.Rather, the Emperor showed a grotesque appearance as his neck and limbs turned backward and his back writhing with tentacles became his chest.But Zeke wasn't simply aiming to twist joints.He reached toward where the tentacles were writhing.GRAB!He grabbed the handle of the jeweled sword Roland that was stuck in the Emperor's back.Simultaneously, Zeke raised a blade of radiant light.WOOONG!Powerful light burst from inside the Emperor's body.BOOM!The Emperor's body exploded from the power of the radiant light blade."GAAACK!"With most of his left torso blown away, the Emperor screamed in agony.But soon bones and flesh grew from the Emperor's exploded body, regenerating back to its original form.The Emperor extended his new arm not caught by the soul sealing technique and swung at Zeke.SWOOSH!Zeke dodged the Emperor's attacks while holding the spear shaft.Though the Emperor who had sacrificed all his power as a knight to transform into a monster's body may have surpassed human limits in strength, he could not match Zeke the Black Knight in technical aspects.Zeke only dodged attacks before unleashing the Elemental Sword's golden aura field.RUMBLE!Powerful pressure pressed down on the Emperor's body.Feeling Zeke's power that exceeded normal bounds, the Emperor's eyes widened as he spoke."Did you also receive power from a constellation?!"Instead of answering, Zeke put away Anexi's dagger and clenched his fist.Then he immediately began striking down at the Emperor with fists full of golden aura.BANG! BANG! BANG!Zeke crushed the monstrous Emperor's body with fists containing ten thousand jin of force.CRACK!The battered body that was hit by Zeke's fists regenerated again through the constellation's power.Zeke repeatedly turned the Emperor's body into a mass of flesh with his fists, and the Emperor's body kept regenerating instantly.Through the repetition of terrible pain, the Emperor felt fear at Zeke's attacks."S-stop!"But Zeke didn't stop.His fist struck the Emperor's face again.CRASH!The Emperor's face was crushed as teeth, bones, and brain matter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠splattered everywhere.ZZZZ!But the Emperor's body recovered again without fail.He cried out to the Serpent of the Black Maw."Master! Save me! Quickly! Give me the power to kill him!" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The Serpent of the Black Maw showed no reaction to the Emperor's desperate plea.Watching this, Zeke spoke to the Emperor."It has already abandoned you."The Emperor trembled in disbelief as he looked at Zeke and spoke."Th-that's impossible. I-I was supposed to rule the empire forever as the immortal emperor...""Rather than doing pointless things with such crazy delusions, you should have just died quietly."Zeke's punches began again.It was literally just raw punching without any techniques or anything else mixed in.Zeke's fists filled with golden aura thoroughly destroyed the Emperor's body again and again.As his body was repeatedly destroyed and regenerated, the Emperor's fighting spirit was completely broken.Trembling, he spoke to Zeke."Sp-spare... me. I'll give you anything you want. Money, power, beautiful women... a-anything...""I don't need anything."The Emperor was flustered at Zeke's firm words."Th-then the em-empire... I'll give you the empire. Be-become the emperor.""I wouldn't take that even if you gave it to me."The Emperor felt both shock and terror at Zeke's words.A new kind of human he had never seen before, one who wanted nothing, making any temptation meaningless.The Emperor wasn't the only one who felt this fear.The constellation Serpent of the Black Maw that had descended into the Emperor's body felt similar emotions.Unlike other humans full of desires, it couldn't grasp what Zeke wanted at all.The Serpent of the Black Maw, which had obtained what it wanted through deals since ancient times, couldn't help but question Zeke's very existence.Because of this, the constellation instinctively felt it needed to escape quickly.Currently descended into its avatar's body, its origin was somewhat connected to the physical world.Being well-informed, it knew that the Herald of Blood and Madness had directly attacked Zeke only to have part of its origin sealed by him.Though it was a shame to lose the Emperor's body that it had worked hard to tempt into becoming its avatar, it could also lose its power like the Herald of Blood and Madness if it wasn't careful.It had no choice but to observe the situation and try to escape from the Emperor's body.HISSSSS!Because of this, the Emperor's body began scattering like sand.Zeke noticed that the Serpent of the Black Maw was trying to abandon the Emperor's body.The Emperor, whose soul was mortgaged to the Serpent of the Black Maw, had no choice but to be dragged to the demon realm with it."N-no..."At that moment, Zeke turned the spear shaft he was holding upside down.Then he thrust the Holy Spear with all his might toward the heart of the Emperor whose body was turning to dust.