Chapter 433
Chapter 433
Chapter 433
'Evil Disaster God's Power?'
Messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You have absorbed an Outer Being imbued with the power of the Evil Disaster God.]
[Your depleted health, mental power, and mana are being restored.]
[You have gained part of the power 'Flesh Eating' by absorbing the Outer Being' abilities.]
[The Devouring power is still unstable and cannot be properly activated. Full power will be manifested after absorbing more of the Disaster God's source.]
[The proficiency of skill 'Shadow Clone' has increased from absorbing the Outer Being' abilities.]
[The proficiency of skill 'Smoke Form' has increased from absorbing the Outer Being' abilities.]
[Absorption skill grade has increased as a reward for absorbing a marked-for-death being.]
[4,000 Karma Points awarded as a reward.]
[One Special Random Box acquired as a reward.]
Zeke was surprised to read the floating text indicating he had acquired part of the Devouring power.
'So they call Ajitahaka, the Flesh Eating Emperor, a Disaster God.'
Caligula, who was the king of Shambhala and ruler of the White Face, Demon, and Beast tribes, also held the title of king.
From this, he could deduce that Ajitahaka with the title of Disaster God was of higher rank than Caligula.
'According to Ropocale's memories, Ajitahaka was human, not an ancient species. What evil deeds did he commit to earn the title of Disaster God...'
Given the circumstances, Ramon Jiemens, the head of House Jiemens, was clearly wielding the power of the evil Disaster God Ajitahaka.
After thinking quietly, Zeke took something out from his inventory.
It was Azmund Varios's helmet that he had retrieved from inside the Flesh Eating Beast.
It must have been an artifact with powerful magic, as all of Azmund's flesh and armor had melted away, but only this helmet remained inside the beast.
'If I use Dragon's Wisdom on the helmet, I might be able to access Azmund's data and get information about Ramon and Ajitahaka.'
Since Azmund had received Ajitahaka's sword directly from Ramon Jiemens, there might be information remaining about him.
Zeke placed his hand on the helmet and activated Dragon's Wisdom.
WOOOONG!
As expected, Zeke was able to access related karma data using the helmet as a medium.
While examining the karma data through the Sage's Eye, Zeke discovered something.
'This is?'
Just like when he saw Duke’s memories, there was data that was sealed.
Zeke called up the sealed data and used his Unlock skill.
[The powerful seal rejects the user's Unlock attempt.]
Even Zeke's Unlock skill couldn't break the data's seal.
'Is it because my Unlock skill proficiency is only at Expert level?'
Data hidden behind such a powerful seal must surely contain important information connected to Ramon Jiemens.
Zeke asked the system.
'System, is it possible to increase Unlock skill proficiency with karma points?'
The system answered his question.
[15,000 points are required to increase this skill's proficiency.]
He currently had 19,478 points.
Though the required points were not small, after contemplating, Zeke decided to use the points to increase the proficiency.
[Using 15,000 points to increase Unlock skill proficiency.]
[Unlock skill proficiency has increased.]
The Unlock skill proficiency increased to Professional level.
Zeke immediately tried to release the sealed data with the Unlock skill.
WOOOONG!
Another message appeared.
[Unlock skill is releasing the sealed data.]
The unsealed data began forming a shape.
A massive being whose size was difficult to gauge revealed itself.
This enormous entity wore a mask modeled after a demon's form, and on both shoulders were hideous tentacles that intertwined with each other to form the shape of giant snakes.
Zeke felt overwhelmed as he gazed upon this being that transcended human limits.
'Just looking at it feels like my soul might be annihilated.'
The pressure bearing down on Zeke's mind was incomparably stronger than when he stood before Blood King Caligula.
The being looked at Zeke and opened its mouth.
[??????????????????]
Like the form that remained in William Jiemens's forbidden arts, this being spoke to Zeke in a completely incomprehensible language.
‘URGH...'
Zeke felt like he might vomit blood just from directly hearing the massive being's 'True Words'.
Without the passive skill 'Indomitable Will', it would have surely been impossible to maintain his sanity.
At that moment, that ominous being slowly reached its hand toward Zeke.
Just from it reaching out its hand, Zeke felt as if his body was being split into countless tiny pieces.
That's when it happened.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the Phoenix Cry of Raven was heard.
WHOOSH!
Along with the Phoenix Cry, someone quickly pulled his body away, and he felt the space itself stretching and distancing.
BOOM!
Zeke's consciousness rapidly escaped from the mental world and returned to reality.
HISSSSS!
White smoke rose from Zeke's body as he returned to reality.
"WHEW..."
Zeke unknowingly dropped the helmet he was holding to the floor.
The helmet had completely burned black and could no longer maintain its original form.
After regaining his composure, Zeke recalled the transcendent being that existed within the sealed karma data.
'Disaster God Ajitahaka... Did I just glimpse his soul that's supposedly trapped in the Isolation System?'
Zeke felt cold sweat forming after encountering this legendary being who had reached a transcendent realm far beyond what he could handle.
Ajitahaka, the only human to receive the title of Disaster God while in human form.
As he was deeply contemplating this, suddenly a voice rang in Zeke's head.
[...What was that just now? For a moment I thought I was facing a Demon Lord.]
Arataso, who had been sleeping inside the Green Sword, had awakened startled after sensing the Disaster God's power.
Through Arataso's words, Zeke realized that Ajitahaka was a being comparable to the six strongest demons among the fallen constellations.
'If a Demon Lord's power is at this level, just how powerful must the Demon King be?'
After encountering Ajitahaka, Zeke could finally gauge the true power of the constellations.
Recalling Ajitahaka's true form, he was reminded of how much his own power was still lacking. But it wasn't enough to make him despair.
'Elemental Sword, Soul Technique, and Mind Sword. If I can properly handle these powers sleeping within my body, I can face any Disaster God or Demon Lord.'
After collecting himself, Zeke returned to reality and decided to move on to the next plan.
'Richmond, report the current situation.'
He sent a message to Richmond who was with the intelligence agents, but there was no reply.
'Did something happen?'
Thinking he should check personally, Zeke left the Rom Imperial Palace in the care of the Black Specter Squad and went outside to summon Bucephalus.
NEIGH!
Mounting Bucephalus, Zeke quickly flew into the skies above Rom and headed toward the Imperial Tomb where Abel was.
* * *
WHOOSH!
Boris clicked his tongue as he watched Rom's sacred ground burning.
'I knew he was crazy but to think it would be this bad...'
He had come to Rom's Imperial Tomb with intelligence agents after hearing Abel's location through Richmond.
The Imperial Tomb was a sacred place that had continued since the Kingdom of Rom era, enshrining the memorial tablets of past kings and emperors.
Hero King Kaisir who was raised by the hands of the holy Wolf King.
The emperors of Rom had always claimed they were descendants of this Hero King who liberated humans and established a nation for humans.
And the Imperial Tomb, as a sacred place showing the legitimacy of the Rom Empire claiming to be descendants of the Hero King, had never once been destroyed in all this time.
But now that sacred place was being engulfed in black flames and crumbling.
RUMBLE!
Between the black flames devouring the Imperial Tomb stood a man.
A being with flowing red hair, black scales covering his entire body, and flashing dragon eyes filled with madness.
It was Abel who had awakened as a Dragon Human.
"Zeke! Zeke Draker!"
Boris, who had positioned intelligence agents throughout the burning Imperial Tomb ruins and was himself hiding in one spot, watched Abel howling with madness.
Beside him were the pale-faced Zion and Zeke's shadow clone that was about to dissipate after being attacked by Abel.
'If I send my shadow clone to Abel, he will surely go berserk and destroy the Imperial Tomb.'
As Zeke had predicted, Abel, who had been hiding in the Imperial Tomb, went berserk as soon as he saw Zeke's shadow clone and began destroying the Imperial Tomb like a madman.
Thanks to this, the Imperial Tomb that symbolized the glorious Rom Empire was on the verge of becoming ashes.
Looking at the growing black flames, Zion said to Boris.
"Captain, provoking him was fine and all, but how do we get out of here now?!"
Boris ignored Zion’s words and frantically tried to figure out how to create an escape route.
Just then, something rose from the ground.
CRAAACK!
A massive ice wall emerged to block the black flames.
Boris realized that Bane, who had been standing by, had summoned the ice wall.
Simultaneously, Zeke's flickering shadow clone stood up and drew Abel's attention, who was spewing flames.
Boris shouted to Zion.
"Let's escape through that ice wall!"
Boris and Zion entered the ice wall, trying to escape the intertwined imperial tomb that was like a maze.
However, the black flames Abel created quickly melted Vane's ice wall and penetrated inside.
"HAAH!"
Zion used psychic power to block the black flames pouring from above.
Then they saw Adol and Serina running from the opposite ice wall.
"Captain! This way!"
Serina, who had transformed her exterior into metal, gestured toward Boris and Zion.
She had received signals from Aaron and Visco from afar, detecting the escape route and leading them in that direction.
Just as they moved a bit further, the ice wall shattered with a tremendous sound.
BOOM!
Adol hurriedly raised a sand wall to barely block the broken ice wall.
Abel appeared above the collapsed ice wall, holding Zeke's shadow clone.
His eyes flashed with madness as he looked down at the spy team.
"Zeke Draker... Give me the real Zeke Draker!"
Abel emitted strong magical energy from his body.
Boris raised his sword and unleashed his aura to counter Abel's magical energy.
The other spy team members also raised their bloodline abilities to try to counter Abel's power.
But the power of a dragon human was too much for them to handle alone.
RUMBLE!
As powerful pressure bore down from above, Boris's team could barely breathe.
'Insane... how did the boss fight against this monster?'
At that moment, Abel stretched out his hand, and the ominous sword Zahak appeared.
As black flames erupted from Zahak, Boris's face was colored with despair.
'I didn't it expect to go like this.'
Though he had thought he might die someday carrying out a misZion, he never imagined he'd turn to ashes in Rom's imperial tomb.
Boris gripped his sword and said to the spy team members.
"Adol, when I rush forward, get out of here immediately."
The members realized what Boris was trying to do.
Before they could say anything to stop him, Boris ran toward Abel with his sword.
Zion shouted in surprise.
"Captain!"
At the same time, Adol raised sand and pulled everyone underground.
Abel breathed black flames toward Adol and the others trying to escape underground.
WHOOSH!
The black flames flew toward them like a beast baring its fangs.
Boris leaped forward faster to block Abel's black flames with his body.
"No!"
Zion, sinking into the ground, screamed seeing Boris engulfed in flames.
As the black flames wrapped around Boris, the other spy team members seeped into the ground.
Boris, his entire body melting in the flames, smiled faintly seeing his subordinates disappear.
'Good. I hate melodrama anyway.'
He felt his body breaking apart from the black flames.
His corneas and eardrums must have all burned away, as Boris could no longer see or hear anything.
But then.
WOONG!
Suddenly, sensation returned to his body along with a warm feeling.
'Huh?'
When he opened his eyes, someone was standing in front of him.
A man wearing the familiar Draker uniform and holding a black sword.
Somehow, Zeke Draker had appeared and was standing before him.