Chapter 371
Chapter 371
Chapter 371
Zeke looked at the grotesque incarnation possessing the power of two constellations and asked Arataso.
"Arataso, what exactly is that?"
Then Arataso replied in an unbelieving voice.
[A constellation's subordinate accepting another constellation's power... ?No, if what you're saying is true, and Viper is a fragment of the Endless Devourer, then it might just be possible.]
The fallen constellations traded souls as currency for what they needed.
The Endless Devourer, capable of splitting and multiplying souls, used this trade to devise a plan.
He had previously attempted trading souls in exchange for borrowing other constellations' subordinates.
And beyond borrowing subordinates, he tested whether it was possible for fallen constellations to trade abilities among themselves.
The Endless Devourer proposed a trade to borrow power from the Judge of Endless Struggle.
While other demons would have instantly rejected his proposal, the Judge of Endless Struggle was curious.
He accepted the trade, which made it possible for the avatar of The Endless Devourer to fully use that power.
Since the Judge of Endless Struggle was the ruler of Balrog and master of the Tuma tribe, his power made it possible to strengthen the avatar and create an incarnation with powerful combat abilities.
Viper, now an avatar, spread his wings and looked down at Zeke.
[The fallen constellation 'The Endless Devourer' glares at the Immortal.]
Naturally, The Endless Devourer seemed quite angry at Zeke.
But then a new message appeared.
[The fallen constellation 'Judge of Endless Struggle' observes the Immortal with interest in the power's reaction.]
Thanks to lending power to The Endless Devourer' incarnation, the Judge of Endless Struggle seemed able to watch this situation as well.
Black smoke billowed from the mouth of Viper, who had transformed into an incarnation.
Soon the smoke gathered and formed clown-shaped demons smaller than Viper's main body.
KUKUKUKUKUK!
They made a chilling laugh and soon rushed toward Zeke.
Zeke swung his hammer toward them.
KWAKWABANG!
But even before the hammer made contact, the small demons' bodies exploded.
The explosion was so powerful that Zeke had to step back.
That's when Viper burst through the dust cloud and rushed toward Zeke.
KWAKWAKWA!
Viper attacked Zeke, swinging a giant scythe created through dark magic.
PACHING!
Zeke drew Bahamut and blocked Viper's scythe.
Holding the hammer in one hand and Bahamut in the other, he glared at Viper with lowered eyes.
[The fallen constellation 'Judge of Endless Struggle' shows interest in the Immortal's fighting style.]
As a constellation obsessed with struggle, he seemed to like Zeke's intense combat.
While blocking Viper's scythe, Zeke swung his hammer with his other hand.
KWABANG!
The hammer struck Viper's side.
However, a barrier created through dark magic blocked the hammer.
Viper smiled a creepy smile, seemingly satisfied with the powerful strength borrowed from the Judge of Endless Struggle.
[The fallen constellation 'The Endless Devourer' makes a proposal to the Immortal.]
[He proposes he can reduce the pain somewhat if you willingly offer your soul now.]
Zeke smirked at The Endless Devourer' proposal.
"You're stingier than the Serpent of the Black Maw. Now I understand why you only have avatars and not a single proper subordinate."
At Zeke's words, Viper frowned and let out a roar, creating twelve black scythes through dark magic and launching them at Zeke.
SAAAAAAAK!
Each one contained power as strong as a condensed Aura Blade.
Zeke put down his hammer and gathered energy while holding Bahamut.
TSUTSUTSUTU!
The energy of the Astral Sword gathered in Zeke's sword.
The Astral Sword that cuts the origin was powerful enough to affect even the constellation dwelling in the incarnation's body.
The Endless Devourer, startled by the power of origin felt from Zeke's sword, tried to retreat.
But Zeke's sword was faster.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
He charged towards Viper, wielding the Astral Sword with a different swordsmanship than usual.
It was the Water Force Field of the Elemental Sword, not the Infinite Sword Technique.
'Completely remove all force.'
When learning swordsmanship from Kaisir, Zeke had the most difficulty with this Water Force Field.
However, the Endless Devourer was a constellation capable of soul division and multiplication.
To inflict proper damage, it was necessary to dig into the source and cut off the flow itself.
Zeke concentrated, imagining the flow of clear water while removing all force from his body, reaching a state of complete relaxation.
[Passive skill Limit Break's power is taking effect.]
Sensing an unusual energy from Zeke, Viper frantically unleashed attacks.
KAAAAAAK!
Dozens of black sickles shot out from his body, and Zeke could see the flow of those sickles flying towards him.
'Cut off the flow.'
Zeke's sword moved like a wave.
Elemental Sword
Water Force Field
Flow-Breaking Sword
CHWAAAAAAAK!
Like water flowing and falling, Zeke's sword moved in harmony with that flow.
The black sickles had their flow broken by Zeke's sword and dispersed, being nullified.
Seeing this, Viper shouted in disbelief.
"AAAAH! Judge of Endless Struggle! This is different from the contract! Add more power, quickly!"
Zeke's sword didn't stop and advanced towards Viper.
The power of the Astral Sword flew towards the source of the Endless Devourer residing in Viper's body.
Simultaneously, the sword's flow changed.
Elemental Sword
Water Force Field
Reverse flow Sword
As the water flow reversed, it cut through Viper's source as if wrapping around it.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
The reversed water flow even swallowed up the power of the Endless Devourer attempting division and proliferation.
Feeling like being submerged deep underwater, Viper's avatar body couldn't regain consciousness.
Zeke calmly continued his attack.
CHWAREUREUREURUK!
Pulling the chain to grip the hammer, he swung it with all his might towards Viper, imbuing it with the power of the water wave technique , the Golden aura Field, and the Soul technique.
Soul technique
Double Spell
Will of Crushing
The hammer containing Soul technique struck Viper's body.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG!
Hit by the hammer containing the Will of Crushing, Viper's body, despite being an avatar, burst into pieces.
Already having its source damaged by the Flow-Reversing Sword, it could only writhe without properly exercising its division and proliferation abilities.
Zeke took out Solomon's Ring and approached Viper.
Then, an urgent message appeared.
['The Endless Devourer' makes a proposal to the Immortal.]
[He says he will grant a satisfactory wish to the Immortal if the fight ends here.]
Zeke made an expression of disbelief at the message.
'Whether it's the Serpent of the Black Maw or the Endless Devourer, they always do this when they're at a disadvantage.'
Just looking at the dead Emperor Nero, one could clearly understand how wishes proposed by fallen constellations come true.
Without further consideration, Zeke approached the sickle Viper was holding.
Then he took out Solomon's Ring.
When he brought the ring towards the sickle, he could feel the energy of the Endless Devourer flowing out and seeping into the ring.
TSUTSUTSUTSUTSU!
Black haze flowed out and was absorbed into Solomon's Ring.
After a moment, a coin-shaped pattern was engraved inside the ring, and a message appeared.
[The fallen constellation 'The Endless Devourer' has been sealed in Solomon's Ring.]
[The true name of The Endless Devourer, 'Mammon', is engraved on Solomon's Ring.]
[You can use the unique power 'Multiplication' of the fallen constellation 'Mammon' once per day.]
As it was sealed in Solomon's Ring, it was also revealed that the true name of The Endless Devourer was Mammon.
At that moment, a message related to the 'Judge of Endless Struggle' appeared.
['Judge of Endless Struggle' admires the immortal's struggle.]
['Judge of Endless Struggle' says they will keep watching the immortal's struggle.]
True to their constellation name, the Judge of Endless Struggle seemed purely interested in struggle itself.
'A demon's interest, huh?.'
While Zeke had an unsatisfied look on his face, reward-related messages continued to appear.
[You have achieved the remarkable feat of sealing a fallen constellation.]
[Dragon clan skill Dragon Speech proficiency has increased.]
[Special skill Soul Sealing proficiency has increased.]
[Active skill Blood Eye proficiency has increased.]
[Active skill Stealth proficiency has increased.]
[Active skill Doppelganger proficiency has increased.]
[You obtain a special random box as a reward.]
[You gain 10,000 Karma points according to the achievement.]
Mammon was a constellation with the ability to split souls and multiply through them.
That's probably why the proficiency of soul-related skills increased.
'It's been a while since I received a special random box.'
Until now, all artifacts from special random boxes were unique item grade, so he was looking forward to it.
Zeke took out the special random box from his inventory.
Seeing the golden color unique to special random boxes, a satisfied smile naturally appeared.
'Wonder what will come out this time.'
At this moment, Arataso, who approached Zeke's side holding a spear, showed surprised eyes upon seeing the random box.
[Another constellation box…?! It's something even retainers rarely receive, how unfair this world is.]
Today, in the phenomenal world, only Zeke could receive artifacts containing constellation power this directly.
It would have been impossible without the power of the system.
Zeke realized anew what kind of power he was utilizing from Arataso's reaction.
'The Kabbalah system engraved in my soul through the Elder Dragon's blessing. According to Lord Hades, only the Elder Dragon knows the true identity of this system...'
But the Elder Dragon had long disappeared even before the Liberation War.
'Maybe I can find information about the Kabbalah system if I gather all of Chronos's seals and reach the Primordial Temple.'
Zeke put aside thoughts about the Kabbalah system and opened the random box first.
WHOOOOSH!
With a flash of rainbow-colored light, an artifact appeared from the random box.
Zeke tilted his head looking at the artifact that came out of the box.
‘What's this?’
What came out of the special random box this time was none other than a small drum.
Zeke picked up the drum and checked its information.
―Drum Information―
Description: A drum containing the power of the 'Judge of Endless Struggle', ruler of the Tuma clan
Unique Ability: Earthquake and Magma Summoning
Special Note: Can only be used on battlefields full of hot fighting spirit.
"Earthquake and Magma Summoning?"
Zeke read the drum's information with a dumbfounded expression.
It seemed something related to the 'Judge of Endless Struggle' came out after defeating them.
Previously, an artifact containing the power of the 'Judge of Endless Struggle' had appeared, and at that time it was a horn.
That horn had the ability to summon meteors, while this drum contained the ability to summon earthquakes and magma.
Arataso nodded upon hearing the drum's ability.
[A drum that summons earthquakes and magma. A precious artifact indeed. Demon clan members would go crazy for it.]
Zeke shook his head while looking at the drum with a serious expression.
"If I use this on the battlefield, both allies and enemies would all be swept away and die, how am I supposed to use this?"
[That's an everyday occurrence in demon realm battles.]
Arataso made an expression as if wondering why that would be a problem.
Zeke, not wanting to know what happens in the demon realm, put the artifact imbued with the Judge of Endless Struggle's power into his inventory without responding to Arataso's words.
Anyway, after successfully blocking the gate, Zeke used the power of flame purification to sweep away all traces in the surroundings, then rode Bucephalus up into the air to observe the situation of monsters advancing toward the city.
Zeke asked Arataso, who had returned inside the green sword.
"We caught the high-rank demon Viper, so why do the monsters continue their advance?"
Then Arataso answered in a troubled voice.
[It seems there must be another one controlling that monster army.]
Arataso added that there's no way the ill-tempered Viper would have quietly led monsters according to human words.
Zeke frowned at those words.
"Then that means there could be another high-rank demon on that side."
[Looking at the current situation, that possibility is high.]
'I should have investigated more thoroughly earlier. I focused too much on the gate side.'
Zeke hardened his expression and without delay quickly grabbed Bucephalus's reins and dashed through the air toward where the monster army was.