398
Chapter 398
Zeke left the scene to Alicia and headed towards where Caligula's tomb was hidden, dragging Icarus along following the key.
He kept Icarus restrained as he dragged him along - while Icarus might look laughable due to his delicate appearance, he was still a high-ranking demon.
If he were to accidentally let him escape, Icarus could use hypnosis to brainwash the knights of Himonas and potentially cause a civil war.
To prevent such a risk, Zeke decided to take Icarus with him on the journey.
Bound by Solomon's chains, Icarus had no way to escape from Zeke's grasp.
'To think that I, a proud high-ranking Nightmare demon, would be captured by a mere human and end up in such a miserable state.'
Finding the situation unbelievable, Icarus looked for any opportunity to escape.
However, Zeke didn't even sleep as they traveled, which left Icarus astounded.
'Is this guy really human?'
While Icarus was being forcibly dragged along, thanks to traveling without sleep, Zeke was soon able to arrive at the place the key pointed to.
It was located even deeper than the Elder Dragon ruins, a desolate place surrounded by hard ice called permafrost.
The temperature was so low and the ice was as hard as steel that it seemed no living creature could survive here.
Being a demon, Icarus wasn't affected by the cold, and Zeke could endure the cold just fine with Jerome's cloak and the power of his immortal body, so he easily set up camp in a cave near the ruins and waited for Carmilla's group to arrive.
He had sent a signal to Nicky to bring Carmilla and Bacchus, who were waiting in Himonas, after informing them of this location.
After setting up camp, Zeke summoned Richmond and Bane.
"You called for me, master."
"I have come at your summons, master."
Icarus was shocked to see the two Arch Liches appear suddenly.
'A human controlling two Arch Liches? Just who is he?'
Zeke stared at the restrained Icarus for a while before asking Richmond.
"Richmond, would that thing be useful if we turned it into an undead?"
Icarus was horrified at the suggestion of being turned into an undead.
"W-wait! U-undead? I-I am a proud member of the Nightmare demon clan! I'm d-different from those worthless undead!"
Richmond carefully examined Icarus before shaking his head.
"It's a demon so it's questionable. We could turn it into an undead, but then it wouldn't be able to use its seduction abilities."
"Hmm, is that so. Then what should we do with it? Should we just kill it and absorb it?"
Icarus trembled as he watched Zeke contemplating what to do with him.
'I-if I'm not careful, I might really die.'
Succubi like Icarus weren't a race with strong combat abilities like other demons or demi-demons.
They mainly used powerful mental techniques to seduce and confuse opponents, or used schemes to make them fall apart on their own.
However, against someone like Zeke who had powerful mental strength, such succubus techniques were completely useless.
Icarus approached Zeke, fell to his knees, and begged desperately.
"P-please spare me! My subordinate demon and I will surely be useful. Please spare my life!"
At this point, Icarus had thrown away all demon pride and dignity.
While Zeke continued to contemplate his decision as he looked at Icarus prostrating before him.
And shortly after, Bacchus, Carmilla, and Nicky entered the cave.
"What's going on here?"
Bacchus wore a perplexed expression seeing Icarus kneeling before Zeke begging for his life.
Seeing this scene, Nicky narrowed her eyes and said.
"The Knight of Salvation's secret hobby... or something like that?"
Zeke clicked his tongue at Nicky's words and gestured.
"Stop saying unnecessary things and come in."
Thanks to the vampires' arrival, Icarus's life was temporarily extended.
Zeke looked curiously at Carmilla who was standing next to Bacchus.
When he saw her before she looked under ten years old, but now she appeared to be around fifteen.
Sensing Zeke's gaze, Carmilla spoke.
"I've grown somewhat, but I'll probably stagnate here for a while. It will take a few years to become a full adult."
It meant she hadn't fully regained her power yet.
Bacchus asked Zeke.
"Is Caligula's tomb in this direction?"
"Yes, the tomb is somewhere around here. And, there's one thing I want to make clear."
Zeke brought up a point.
"Are you certain that Carmilla can control Caligula's power?"
Bacchus's expression hardened at his words.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I learned this while searching for Caligula's tomb. They say Caligula's power was so dangerous that even the Elder Dragon sealed it under this deep permafrost. There's no guarantee that even a True Blood can properly control it."
Just as Bacchus was about to say something, Carmilla spoke first.
"Zeke Draker, your words are correct."
Zeke turned his gaze toward Carmilla.
"When you say I'm correct, does that mean you cannot control that power?"
After contemplating Zeke's words, Carmilla slowly answered.
"Although I am a True Blood, my power cannot compare to the true Royal Vampires of the demon realm. Probably even a Royal Vampire would find it impossible to control Caligula's power."
"You must know how dangerous uncontrollable power can be, so why are you trying to find the tomb? The risk seems too great if it's just to avoid Arthur Draker's pursuit."
As the Vampire Queen, Carmilla could have found other ways to avoid Arthur Draker's pursuit.
However, he couldn't understand why she was specifically seeking Caligula's dangerous power.
She opened her mouth while looking at Zeke.
"The reason is because of a dream I had."
"What kind of dream?"
Carmilla hesitated before continuing her answer.
"In my dream, I saw Caligula's power fall into another human's hands."
Zeke's expression tensed at Carmilla's words.
'Carmilla's dreams are connected to my life before the regression. Could it be that Caligula's power fell into someone else's hands in my previous life?'
Zeke asked in a calm voice.
"Who obtained Caligula's power?"
Carmilla slowly spoke while looking at Zeke.
"It was someone named Cain."
Zeke was shocked to hear this.
'Cain? He never revealed his name in my previous life. So in reality, he had obtained Caligula's power.'
Carmilla spoke while trembling slightly.
"This person called Cain who obtained Caligula's power was truly a terrifying being. Probably even if Arthur Draker stepped forward, it would have been impossible to stop him."
If Zeke hadn't killed him, Cain would have grown stronger as Jiemens's secret weapon and received baptism to gain even more power.
Zeke recalled Abel's power after receiving baptism.
'Because Cain died, Abel received the baptism instead and had the cursed dragon's heart transplanted. If Cain had received the baptism instead of Abel, he might have awakened as an even stronger being.'
Ramon Jiemens likely had plans from the beginning to excavate Caligula's tomb and give that power to Cain.
Finding Caligula's tomb through Icarus might also be part of their plan to give that power to the resurrected Abel.
'Whatever they're plotting, I should obtain Caligula's power before Ramon Jiemens can get his hands on it.'
Zeke nodded at Carmilla's words.
"So you mean preventing enemies from obtaining that power is more important than using it yourself."
Carmilla nodded.
"Yes. It was too dangerous a power to let fall into enemy hands."
Zeke agreed with those words as well.
He nodded in understanding and slowly got up from his seat.
"Let's go to the ruins for now. We should see what kind of power is hidden there and make our judgment then."
* * *
TSSS! TSSS! TSSS! TSSS!
A figure wearing a robe sat before a long table in a dark room.
Suddenly, one by one, Black mist started appearing in the empty seats at the table.
The black mist gathered and transformed into figures also wearing black robes.
When all twelve seats were filled, the black-robed figure sitting at the head of the table spoke.
"Everyone seems to be here."
The being who had gathered the twelve apostles.
This was the High Priest who held and decided everything in the Abyss.
The gathered apostles bowed their heads in respect toward the High Priest.
The High Priest spoke while looking at the apostles.
"The gate at the northern continent point has been destroyed."
The apostles jerked their heads up at the High Priest's words.
"Could it be Zeke Draker's doing again?"
Following the Bird tribe and Vadoka Holy Kingdom, then the Dorta Republic, and now the northern continent.
Their long-prepared plans were all being shattered by Zeke Draker's hands.
The High Priest nodded.
"Yes. After defeating the knights of Crab Palace in Barkal, he joined forces with the Northern Grand Duke and launched a surprise attack on Ice Valley."
The apostles listened to the priest’s words with expressions of disbelief.
『B-But that place is not only guarded by high-ranking nightmare demons but also by one of the Four Fiends, Taotie. There’s no way an ordinary human knight could handle a Fiend...』
BANG!
The priest slammed the table.
From within his robe, his eyes glowed red.
"Do you all still believe that he is just an ordinary human knight?"
At the priest's chilling words, the apostles tensed up and shook their heads.
『No, that’s not what we meant...』
『It seems there is something we do not yet know.』
『We must capture him as soon as possible.』
At the priest's thunderous command, the apostles finally voiced their agreement that they must capture Zeke Draker.
At that moment, one of the apostles stood up.
『There is something I wish to report to the priest.』
He was none other than Ropocale, disguised in the form of an apostle.
The apostle who had performed the summoning ritual to borrow the power of the ‘Writhing Pit of Darkness’ had instead been overwhelmed by Ropocale’s will, losing his consciousness and having his body taken over.
Mimicking the apostle’s mannerisms, Ropocale intended to use the Abyss to carry out his master’s orders.
He presented the information delivered by his master, the ‘Writhing Pit of Darkness.’
『The ‘Writhing Pit of Darkness’ had already recognized the threat posed by Zeke Draker and has bestowed a divine revelation regarding him.』
The priest silently observed him for a moment before nodding.
"What is this revelation?"
『The revelation states that Zeke Draker must be lured to Rom and captured there.』
At those words, the other apostles murmured among themselves.
『Lure Zeke Draker to Rom?』
『How do they intend to draw him there?』
The priest raised his hand, silencing them.
"Continue."
『The ‘Writhing Pit of Darkness’ has spoken: Zeke Draker possesses the power of immortality. Since he holds a power unlike that of ordinary knights, a special trap is required.』
The priest momentarily held his breath at the mention of Zeke Draker’s immortality.
Then, he slowly spoke.
"Are you saying that the Constellation has declared Zeke Draker to be one who possesses the power of immortality?"
Ropocale nodded.
『That is precisely what was said.』
The other apostles did not grasp the full weight of the term ‘immortality,’ but the priest did.
His eyes were filled with astonishment, elation, and excitement.
‘At last, a true immortal has appeared!’
Only now did he finally understand why all the plans he had meticulously laid out had inevitably crumbled.
‘If he truly possesses the power of immortality, then it all makes sense. He holds the only power capable of annihilating a god.’
Rising from his seat, the priest spoke to Ropocale.
"What did the Constellation command regarding Zeke Draker once he is captured?"
『No specific instructions were given. However, it was declared that capturing Zeke Draker is essential to reclaiming our king.』
At the mention of ‘the king’, the apostles bowed their heads and chanted praises to the Demon King.
The priest addressed Ropocale.
"I grant you full authority. Lure Zeke Draker to Rom and capture him, fulfilling the will of the Constellation."
Ropocale bowed his head toward the priest and answered.
『I will carry out the command.』
With that, the priest concluded the meeting and dismissed the apostles.
Left alone in the dark room, the priest slowly removed his robe.
One side of his face was that of a young man, while the other was hideously deformed.
The eye on the twisted side had been crudely stitched shut.
Tracing his fingers over the sewn-up eye, the priest smirked with a sinister grin.
‘An immortal… After all these long years, I can finally claim that power for myself.’