Chapter 363
Chapter 363
Chapter 363
"Huh?"
For a moment, it felt like his entire body had been cut off.
Zeke unconsciously stepped back again.
Zeke had an immortal body that would immediately recover even if cut.
However, beyond that, there was something different about the power in Bernas's sword.
'What exactly is this? This is the first time...'
Zeke was reminded of Nigel, the Hermit of the Forest, who was his master in his previous life, when he looked at Bernas.
'Could it be that Bernas is also a Grand Master?'
Though he wasn't sure if he was a Grand Master, he could feel that Bernas was close to that level.
Zeke steadied his breathing and gripped his sword again.
"WHEW."
He decided to no longer hide his Black Knight status.
His stance changed.
Zeke took the stance of Infinite Sword Technique.
As he did, the energy flowing from Zeke's body changed.
WOONG!
If Bernas's sword was static, Zeke's sword was dynamic.
Being an immortal who wouldn't break no matter how many times he was struck, Zeke was ready to clash violently at any moment.
When Zeke's momentum changed, Bernas finally changed his sword stance from its lowered position.
He too held his sword at middle level and pointed it toward Zeke.
Once again, Zeke charged forward first.
He deployed Shadowless Step while quickly penetrating Bernas's blind spot.
SWISH!
His sword, imbued with aura, flew toward Bernas's side.
Though it was a fierce attack, Bernas lightly deflected Zeke's sword strike with a swing.
But Zeke didn't hesitate and continuously performed Dragon Slaying Technique movements.
WHOOSH!
Dragon Head Slash and Dragon Heart Pierce followed almost simultaneously.
Bernas's sword trajectory changed as he ingeniously broke through and nullified Zeke's sword strikes.
This time, Bernas swung his sword first to attack Zeke.
Zeke avoided his attack with Shadowless Step while thrusting his sword into the blind spot again.
Dozens of exchanges clashed in an instant.
The exchanges between the two in mid-air were so fast that others couldn't even follow with their eyes.
Then at some point, Bernas stepped back and pulled his sword to his chest, gathering energy.
Zeke expected him to finally use Aura Blade or Astral Sword.
But Zeke's expectation was wrong.
Instead of Aura Blade surging from Bernas's sword, white heat haze-like energy rose from his entire body.
'That is?'
At that moment, Bernas's movement became different from before.
WHEESH!
Bernas charged at Zeke with movement several times faster than before and swung his sword.
WHOOSH!
Zeke raised his sword to block Bernas's attack.
KWACHING!
The power of the sword strike felt in his hands was on a completely different level from before.
'Both speed and power are completely different.'
This was the first time he had encountered this type of attack.
Bernas's attacks continued.
WHOOSH!
The static sword shown at first was nowhere to be seen as strong attacks continued to push Zeke back.
The problem was that the power grew stronger with each sword clash.
KWACHING!
Zeke deflected Bernas's attack and stepped back.
'WHEW...'
It was such a fierce attack that even Zeke, with infinite stamina, could clearly feel the momentary consumption of stamina and mental energy.
Unlike usual, being in a situation where he couldn't use skills and Elemental Sword among other techniques, it was like fighting with one hand and foot tied for Zeke.
Then Bernas spoke to Zeke.
"Why aren't you using that power blessed by the Fairy King that's so famous?"
Zeke showed a surprised expression at Bernas's words.
"I thought you would dislike using it since it's not the power of a knight."
"Would such words come out after having your neck cut by the enemy's sword?"
It was quite a pleasing response.
In my previous life, I saw many knights who died doing foolish things, trying to maintain an impossible code of chivalry while experiencing real war.
Zeke nodded at those words.
"Then I won't hold back and will show you everything."
Zeke immediately unleashed his Holy Light technique.
CRACKLE!
A white sphere appeared above his head.
At the same time, Zeke also took out Tyr's Giant Hunter from his inventory.
When Zeke raised the Giant Hunter above his head, the power of the Holy Light technique was imbued within it.
He threw the Giant Hunter with all his might toward Bernas.
WHOOSH!
The Giant Hunter flew toward Bernas, emitting bolts of light.
Seeing this, Bernas instead ran forward with his sword drawn.
SWISH!
With a light movement, he jumped over the Giant Hunter and rushed straight toward Zeke.
But that's when it happened.
CLATTER!
Zeke pulled on the chain attached to the Giant Hunter, making it change direction.
The Giant Hunter came back around, aiming for Bernas's back.
Bernas sensed this and turned around, swinging his sword downward.
CRASH!
The Giant Hunter hit by his sword was slammed into the ground.
CRACK!
It was struck so powerfully that the training ground's floor made of black adamantine completely cratered, and all the surrounding stones shattered into pieces.
But the Giant Hunter was just a decoy.
It was merely a means to buy time before launching the real attack.
Bernas could feel the energy behind him making his skin tingle.
TSSS!
A mirage-like energy rose from Zeke's sword and then formed a vortex.
The Astral Sword, a sword of will that could cut through the very source, had been activated.
The spectators watching this backed away in panic at the powerful energy emanating from Zeke's sword.
Zeke's sword flashed toward Bernas.
Dragon Sword Technique Secret Technique
First Form
Sun and Moon Slash
Bernas raised his sword toward the incoming Astral Sword.
A heat haze rose from his body.
In that instant, Bernas's body shot forward like an arrow and clashed head-on with Zeke's sword strike.
Bernas had met the source-cutting Astral Sword with his entire body.
Simultaneously, Bernas's sword split the sword strike clean in half.
SLASH!
And Zeke clearly saw the truth contained in that sight.
'That's?'
Bernas's sword hadn't cut through the sword strike.
He had pushed his sword into the gap in space itself and cut away the very space where the sword strike existed.
'Such an attack is possible?'
No matter how large a flame you draw on paper, if you eliminate the paper itself, the flame must disappear.
Bernas's sword had essentially pierced through the paper and erased space itself from a higher dimension.
That's when it happened.
CRACK!
The sword Bernas was holding shattered and fell to the ground in pieces.
The ordinary sword was too weak to withstand Bernas's dimension-crossing attack.
He threw the sword handle to the ground with a thud, gave Zeke a quick glance, and slowly opened his mouth.
"Well, not bad for a youngster."
With that, he turned around and left the training ground.
Those watching the duel wore confused expressions as they watched Bernas leave.
'What, what was that?'
'I feel like I saw something amazing, but I'm not sure what I saw.'
The duel was of such a high level that those participating in the inauguration ceremony couldn't properly comprehend what they had just witnessed.
That's when it happened.
Kali, who had been sitting, stood up.
"Knight of Salvation Zeke Draker has received recognition from the Sword King Bernas."
Drawing everyone's attention, she continued speaking while looking at Zeke.
"The Sword King himself has proven that Zeke Draker has reached none other than the level of a Black Knight!"
The participants' jaws dropped at the mention of Black Knight.
"A Knight of Salvation becoming a Black Knight?"
"Wait... isn't Sir Zeke just twenty years old?"
"Good heavens, a Black Knight at twenty? Is that even possible?"
It hadn't been long since Abel Draker had set the record as the youngest Black Knight, but that record had already been broken.
Zeke turned his head to look at Kali. She smiled at him.
Zeke realized Kali's decision as he looked at it.
'Sister has decided to give up the successor position to me.'
Kali Draker had decided to give up competing with Zeke and help him instead.
That's why she deliberately asked their master, the Sword King Bernas, to have a duel with him.
The elders, other Guardian Knights, and Cross Council members had clearly witnessed Zeke's skills exchanging swords with Bernas.
The most renowned knight in the continent who reached the level of Black Knight and received recognition from the Sword King.
At this level, even the strict Draker elders couldn't deny his abilities.
Zeke felt grateful for Kali's consideration.
'Is it fortunate? That I don't have to fight Sister Kali.'
Given the Draker family's nature, it was uncertain when Kali might point her sword at him again, but this could be considered a smooth resolution.
At that moment, Arthur Draker, who had been sitting quietly all along, stood up.
He spoke while looking at Zeke.
"You, the youngest, have reached the level of Black Knight faster than your siblings."
While feeling subtle emotions inside about the words that seemed to erase Abel, Zeke bowed his head respectfully to Arthur and said.
"It would have been impossible without the family's consideration and Lady Kali Draker's help."
Arthur spoke to Zeke with a satisfied expression.
"I hereby grant all of Abel Draker's territory and his assets to Sir Zeke Draker, Black Knight of Draker and Guardian Knight."
Everyone present, including Kali, was shocked by Arthur's bombshell announcement.
Ignoring such reactions, Arthur's statement continued.
"Furthermore, Abel Draker is excommunicated as a traitor to the family. He can no longer use the Draker name. Additionally, Jiemens, blood ally of Draker, is also stripped of their qualification as blood allies."
It meant expelling Jiemens and Abel from the Draker family.
The central continent's key figures couldn't help but be bewildered by Arthur's sudden declaration.
Zeke bowed his head upon hearing Arthur's words.
"I will accept the family head's command."
Arthur spoke towards Zeke.
"I hereby issue the first mission to Sir Zeke Draker, who has received the Guardian Knight position. Capture and execute the family traitor Abel immediately, and stabilize the Rom Empire."
The atmosphere became even heavier at Arthur's words.
Currently, Abel had seized Rom and was preparing to ascend as the empire's emperor.
Arthur's statement was nothing short of a declaration of war against Rom.
One thought arose in the participants' minds.
'A continental war is coming.'
There hadn't been any large-scale wars in the central continent for hundreds of years since the Eastern Empire's invasion.
If Draker and Rom clashed, the battlefield's impact would clearly spread across the entire continent.
Participants with pale faces began leaving the appointment ceremony one by one.
They needed to inform their home countries of this fact as soon as possible.
Arthur grinned watching their departure.
Then he moved close to Zeke and whispered in his ear.
"I'm looking forward to it. Please entertain me more."
Thus ended Zeke's Guardian Knight appointment ceremony.
* * *
After the ceremony, Zeke went up to his newly assigned office in the Four Seasons Castle.
Though it was where Abel had worked, his traces were nowhere to be found.
Somehow, the office itself had been decorated to Zeke's taste.
'To think I've become Draker's Guardian Knight.'
In his previous life, this would have been an unimaginable position.
Who would believe that Zeke, who had been expelled as an academy dropout, would become the Guardian Knight symbolizing Draker?
While looking at the Four Seasons Castle's view through the window, someone visited the office.
"Sister."
It was none other than Kali Draker.
"Zeke."
The two remained silent for a while, looking at each other.
"I have many things I want to discuss with you, Sister."
Zeke guided Kali to her seat and quickly brought tea.
Kali's expression looked much more comfortable than before as she sat drinking tea.
Zeke looked at Kali and asked directly.
"Sister, why did you give up the successor position to me?"
She put down her teacup at his question.
Then looking at Zeke, she slowly opened her mouth.
"I just thought you would do that job better than me."
"You mean the job as successor?"
Kali shook her head at Zeke's words.
"Then...?"
At that moment, Kali spread her aura to block surrounding sounds.
She looked at Zeke with a serious face and said.
"Zeke, only you can stop the Draker family."