Chapter 439
Chapter 439
Chapter 439
"You mean the sword, not the spear?"
Duke Craven nodded.
Zeke handed Roland to Duke Craven from his inventory, though puzzled.
The Duke pointed the sword at Zeke.
WOONG!
Zeke was surprised to see the same aura emanating from Duke Craven's sword stance as when he wielded the Wise King's Spear.
Duke Craven asked Zeke.
"What do you think of my form?"
"Have you trained with swords before?"
The Duke shook his head.
"I've never properly learned swordsmanship. I only trained with spears."
"But your sword stance is too perfect to say that."
"Does what I'm holding look like a sword to you?"
Zeke tilted his head at the Duke's cryptic question.
Then suddenly, Roland's appearance in the Duke's hand changed.
TZZZT!
A spear that took Roland's form was now in Duke Craven's hand.
More precisely, what Zeke perceived felt like a spear.
Zeke stepped back, startled by the killing intent emanating from that spear.
'When did the Duke get a spear?'
When Zeke looked at Duke Craven again, he was holding Roland, which had returned to being a sword.
He finally understood what the Duke meant.
"You're saying there's no need to specifically learn spear techniques."
Duke Craven relaxed his stance and returned Roland to Zeke, saying.
"You can create swords with your hands, and even your whole body can become a sword. So why couldn't you use a spear as a sword?"
Indeed, just moments ago, Zeke's hands became swords while the Duke's became a spear.
Though Zeke could instinctively respond to this, his old training made him distinguish between swords and spears, causing him to mistakenly think he needed to learn spear techniques anew.
Duke Craven broke down Zeke's preconceptions and broadened his perspective.
'A spear and sword are ultimately extensions of the hand. I've already achieved unity between sword and body, so becoming one with a spear should also be possible.'
Having gained insight from Duke Craven's advice, Zeke slowly raised his hand, extended it forward, and stretched out his arm.
Like Duke Craven during their earlier battle, Zeke's arm became a spear.
Zeke swung his spear-arm.
WHOOSH!
The Wise King's spear technique manifested from his arm.
KUGUGUGU-
His spear-arm sliced through the air effortlessly.
The spear technique that initially followed the forms taught by the Wise King gradually transformed into sword techniques.
As Zeke's arm shifted from spear to sword form, the boundary between spear and sword crumbled.
The distinction between spear and sword techniques no longer held much meaning for him.
He could perform sword techniques with a spear and spear techniques with a sword.
Suddenly, messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Passive Skill Limit Break activates.]
[Through enlightenment, Special Skill Wise King's Spear Technique combines with Special Skill Infinite Sword Technique.]
[Special Skill Infinite Sword Technique grade increases from SS to SS+.]
[Special Skill Infinite Sword Technique proficiency has increased.]
The proficiency of Infinite Sword Technique, which had remained at beginner level, finally improved.
Duke Craven watched with amazement as Zeke performed the Infinite Sword Technique forms in a trance-like state after his enlightenment.
The Duke realized his eyes hadn't deceived him.
'A new wave is sweeping across the continent.'
And at the center of this new wave was Zeke Draker.
* * *
The plan was executed smoothly.
Zeke and Duke Craven agreed to duel in the Colosseum and heavily promoted the event.
News of the battle between two Black Knights spread throughout the Central Continent.
Crowds flocked to Rom's Colosseum to witness the duel between the Knight of Salvation and the Wise King.
The highly anticipated battle took place, and after hundreds of exchanges, Zeke Draker acknowledged defeat to Duke Craven di Panion.
He accepted his loss and announced he would withdraw the Black Sword Knights from Rom.
However, something unexpected occurred.
The citizens of Rom refused to accept the withdrawal of Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation.
They wanted Zeke, who had saved them from Abel's tyranny, to remain in Rom.
The citizens' unexpected reaction was quite intense, forcing Zeke to decide to stay in Rom temporarily.
However, judging that he couldn't continue staying in the Imperial Palace, Zeke left with his knights and is currently staying at Rom's newly reopened luxury hotel. Now residing in the hotel's suite, Zeke sat in a chair with his chin propped up, lost in thought.
'This deviates from the plan.'
Originally, Zeke planned to hand over Rom's affairs to Duke Craven, withdraw the Black Sword Knights, and take a break. He intended to secretly search for the Temple of Goddess Theia and the final seal during this break.
However, staying in Rom made it difficult to search freely due to many people wanting to meet him.
He was also concerned about the watchful eyes of Baron and the Black Corps, Arthur Draker's confidants.
After contemplating, Zeke stood up.
"Can't be helped now. I'll have to search carefully and quickly, then leave Rom when the opportunity arises."
Since waiting wouldn't solve anything, Zeke decided to act immediately.
Taking out the absolute compass, he considered whether to search for the Temple of Goddess Theia or the seal first.
He opened the Temple of Goddess Theia mission window.
-Achievement Quest (Chain)-
[Find the Temple of Moon Goddess Theia and obtain the authentication code. (No time limit)]
[Activate the inactive item using the obtained authentication code. (No time limit)]
[Quest Mission Reward: Title 'Theia's Blessing']
[Chain Quest Mission Reward: ???]
There were two inactive items related to Goddess Theia.
One was armor imbued with Goddess Theia's power, and the other was the recently acquired legendary item, Jiemens Apollion's sword.
Both required an authentication code from Theia's temple for activation.
Zeke took out Jiemens Apollion's sword from his inventory.
'This sword keeps bothering me.'
He looked at the sword that was identical to the one embedded in the Draker family's secret space.
Deciding to uncover the sword's secrets first, he picked up the compass.
"Show me the location of Goddess Theia's temple."
As Zeke set his destination, the absolute compass's needle spun rapidly before suddenly stopping to point in one direction.
'South of Rom.'
After confirming the compass's direction, he went to the terrace, opened the hotel window, and took flight.
Zeke's figure vanished without a trace into the darkness.
* * *
KNOCK KNOCK!
Baron Draker knocked on the office door.
A voice soon invited him in.
Entering, Baron saw Arthur fixing his clothes.
"Welcome. Sit here."
At Arthur's gesture, a beautiful woman in a dress bowed and left the office.
Baron recognized her as a currently popular singer.
Arthur poured whiskey into a glass and handed it to Baron.
"You've returned sooner than expected. I thought it would take longer."
Arthur took a sip from another glass of whiskey.
Baron placed the whiskey glass on the table and spoke.
"Have you heard about Zeke Draker's defeat to Duke Craven at the Colosseum?"
Arthur nodded at Baron's words.
"Yes, I read the report from Black Corps. Zeke did quite an interesting thing."
Arthur emptied his whiskey in one go, smirking.
He said to Baron.
"I didn't assign that mission expecting Zeke to win against Duke Craven, but I didn't expect him to use it this way."
Baron replied.
"That match was manipulated according to Zeke Draker's intentions."
Arthur's eyebrow twitched.
"Manipulated? You mean Zeke and Duke Craven pre-arranged the outcome?"
"Yes."
Arthur stroked his beard.
"Hmm, Duke Craven isn't the type to do such things. If that's true, it's truly surprising. He's more rigid than the Sword King."
Baron spoke with a serious expression.
"Zeke Draker and the Wise King had already clashed before the Colosseum match."
"Oh? I didn't know that. What was the result?"
"It ended in a draw, without a clear winner."
"A draw with the Wise King…?"
After pondering Baron's words, Arthur spoke.
"What do you think? Should we leave Zeke be?"
After a long silence, Baron answered.
"Zeke Draker's goal is to confront Jiemens and the Abyss. He isn't yet a threat to the family."
Arthur showed interest in Baron's response.
"Baron, I didn't expect you to say that. I thought you'd suggest restricting him before he grows further."
"While Zeke Draker's growth is remarkable, compared to the family's overall power, his force is insignificant. We can control him sufficiently."
The Draker family's hidden power is far greater and more fearsome than what they reveal.
Baron knew well that the core of this power lay with the head of the family, Arthur Draker.
That's why he believed that no matter how steep Zeke's growth was, it wouldn't interfere with family matters.
Arthur nodded at Baron's words.
"If that's how you feel, then it must be so. Let's leave Zeke be for now. After all, his growth benefits me as well."
After finishing the discussion about Zeke, Arthur tapped the armrest with his fingertips.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke to Baron.
"Zeke isn't the important matter here. Ramon Jiemens. Have you still not located him?"
Baron slowly responded to Arthur's question.
"Most of Jiemens's forces have been located, but the whereabouts of Ramon Jiemens himself remain unclear."
KUGUGUGU!
Suddenly, a strong wave of energy spread from Arthur's body.
His smiling face hardened instantly.
Arthur spoke in a lowered voice.
"If Ramon Jiemens receives the second baptism, he'll fully acquire Ajitahaka's power. Having complete authority over flesh would become quite troublesome."
He slowly rose and walked toward Baron.
As Arthur drew closer, Baron felt his heart constrict and breath stop from the pressure emanating from his body.
The supreme ruler among the continent's strongest.
The Tyrant king Arthur Draker.
Even Baron struggled to withstand the wave of anger he emitted.
Baron's face had turned pale, his body trembling.
Arthur placed his hand on Baron's shoulder.
"The lunar eclipse begins soon. If we don't find him before then, the war with Ramon could become very long and tedious. You know well how much I hate such things."
Baron managed to nod at Arthur's words.
Suddenly, the pressure crushing Baron's body vanished completely.
As the force lifted, Baron unconsciously let out a deep breath.
A thin line of blood trickled from his mouth.
Arthur clicked his tongue at Baron.
"My, you seem to have gotten weaker lately."
Arthur casually patted Baron's back.
After returning to his seat, he gestured to Baron.
"Find his location as quickly as possible. I'm dying to see that fly Ramon's distorted face."
Baron composed himself and bowed as usual.
"I will fulfill your command, Lord."
After Baron left the office, Arthur remained alone, lost in thought.
"Ramon Jiemens..."
Arthur muttered softly as he rose and approached the window.
Looking at Atlas's landscape beyond the Four Seasons Castle, he murmured.
"No matter how much you struggle, you'll never escape my grasp."
TZZZT!
For a moment, Arthur Draker's shadow wavered before returning to normal.
A cold madness flickered in the Tyrant's king eyes reflected in the window.