Chapter 441
Chapter 441
Chapter 441
The Four Guardians reached out simultaneously towards Zeke.
It was to completely eliminate him as an intruder.
Black mist, cold air, and telekinetic force engulfed Zeke's body in an instant.
At that moment, Zeke's body began to crumble.
SWISH!
However, the fallen Zeke was just a shadow clone, not his real body.
The Guardians who noticed this shouted urgently.
"This is not the intruder's real body."
"The intruder must be eliminated."
"Find the intruder."
Then something shot up from beneath the Guardians' feet.
WHOOSH!
Solomon's chains appeared and wrapped around the four Guardians' bodies.
CRACK!
The Guardians wrapped in chains struggled desperately to break free.
Zeke revealed himself before the struggling Guardians.
BZZT!
Using the power of Spirit manifestation stored in his scabbard, Zeke emerged from the dimensional boundary to finally show his true form to the Guardians.
"A power that acidifies blood. This is my first time seeing such a thing."
If Zeke didn't have an immortal body and healing factor, he would have dissolved into a puddle of blood.
But Zeke's powerful regeneration overcame the Guardians' power and restored his body.
However, judging it would be difficult to face the Guardians with just that, he created a shadow clone to distract them while hiding himself with Spirit Realm to wait for an opening.
The chained Guardians tried to break free, but it was impossible to undo Solomon's chains.
Zeke slowly approached the Guardians and tried to remove the masks covering their faces.
ZAP!
However, when he tried to remove the mask, a strong electric current sparked.
At the same time, strange sounds flowed from the Guardians' mouths just like before.
"Warning. Warning."
"To completely eliminate the intruder."
"Self-destruct system."
"Activating."
RUMBLE!
Strong light began to pour out from the Guardians' heart areas.
Seeing this, Zeke urgently spoke to the system.
'System, connect to those Guardians and cancel the self-destruct command.'
At his command, the Kabbalah System connected to the Guardians' control system.
[Protected by powerful security program.]
[Karma data viewing and interpretation through Dragon's Wisdom needed for cancellation.]
Zeke immediately ordered execution upon seeing the system's message.
BZZT! BZZT!
The system activated Dragon's Wisdom to access the Guardians' karma data and select relevant information.
[Found encrypted administrator access code.]
[Would you like to Unlock the code and connect using curse removal skill?]
'Yes, decrypt it.'
At Zeke's command, the system used the curse removal skill to break through the Guardians' security settings and cancel the self-destruct command.
"Canceling self-destruct command."
When the self-destruct command was cancelled, strong electric current sparked again from the masks covering the Guardians' faces.
CRACKLE!
At the same time, the Guardians collapsed like puppets with cut strings.
THUD!
Zeke approached the fallen Guardians.
He tilted his head as he observed them up close.
‘They seem too human-like to be golems... but they don't give off the unique energy of undead either.’
Zeke grabbed a Guardian's hand and activated Dragon's Wisdom again.
This time, karma data about their existence emerged.
Only then could Zeke understand what the Guardians really were.
'Homunculus?'
The Guardians' true identity was none other than homunculi.
The only homunculus Zeke knew was the one created by the Great Sage in the image of the Hero King to stop the Demon King.
The Hero King's homunculus that the Dark Elves called a war machine and feared.
That's why Zeke looked at the four Guardians with renewed interest.
"Homunculus... so that's how they could produce such power."
Zeke laid the fallen Guardians against a wall and asked the system.
'Is it possible to reactivate these guys?'
The system replied with a message to Zeke's question.
[Power source and new system settings needed for reactivation.]
Zeke tilted his head at the message.
'Power source and new system settings...'
As he was an amateur in this field, it seemed he couldn't reactivate them right away.
Unlike the previous golems, they needed something extra. As Zeke pondered this, looking around, he discovered the coffins where they had been sleeping.
'If they're not living beings but homunculi that need a power source...'
Zeke placed one of the Guardians in a stone coffin and closed the lid.
Then he tried putting the entire coffin into his inventory.
BZZT! BZZT!
Surprisingly, the coffin containing the Guardian went into the inventory.
"I tried it on a whim but didn't expect it to work. Seems the coffin is the power source."
Zeke put the remaining Guardians in their coffins and stored them in his inventory.
'Lord Hades would probably know something about this.'
If he could reactivate them and investigate, he might discover how they were able to give homunculi such strong blood abilities in ancient times.
After securing the Guardians, Zeke stood before the tightly sealed stone door.
Such powerful Guardians guarding this door meant Goddess Theia's temple must be inside.
'But homunculus Guardians protecting Theia's temple..? I can't figure out what constellation this is.'
Usually, ancient ruins and temples had monsters or Guardians related to their constellation.
But it seemed unlikely a constellation would create homunculi as Guardians.
'Did someone else place homunculi here? To prevent access?'
Zeke tried connecting to the door with his system while pondering.
But the connection failed again.
Theia's temple was blocking intruders more thoroughly than any other secured area.
Zeke sighed and swung his hammer at the door.
CRASH!
Surprisingly, when he struck the door with his spirit-imbued hammer, all the rebound force returned to him.
"Hmm."
Massaging his tingling hand, Zeke examined the door again. This stone door was clearly different from typical ancient dungeon doors.
After considering, he took out his scabbard and used Spirit Realm skill.
BZZT! BZZT!
He entered the dimensional gap to try passing through the stone door.
But amazingly, he couldn't cross to the other side.
WHOOSH!
Bounced back from the dimensional gap, Zeke stared at the stone door with a dumbfounded expression.
"This isn't just a normal door."
Though it took the form of a door, it seemed to be a passage to another dimension.
Without opening it properly, entering Theia's temple appeared impossible.
"Hmm..."
After pondering, Zeke took out the Eastern Continent's sword from his inventory.
Then he summoned Nebilos who was trapped inside.
WHOOSH!
Nebilos appeared with black chains.
[Zeke! Zeke Draker!]
Nebilos, who had been sealed back in the sword after being tricked into only opening the demon realm's lock, howled in rage.
Zeke spoke to him:
"Been well, Nebilos?"
Seeing Zeke's shameless expression, Nebilos' eyes blazed with ghost fire.
[I'd heard rumors, but you truly are more demonic than demons, Zeke Draker.]
"I'll take that as a compliment. Since you're out after so long, why not help me with this?"
Zeke casually deflected while pointing at the unopening door.
Seeing it, the ghost fire in Nebilos' eyes blazed stronger.
[How dare you?! Do you know who I am?! I am the most trusted inspector of the Abyss Lord and noble of the demon realm...!]
CLANK!
Zeke took out a bundle of black chains from his inventory.
These were soul chains that Ropocale had brought from the East to capture Zeke.
Seeing Zeke holding more chains than those binding him, Nebilos' ghost fire wavered.
[W-what is that?]
"You seem too comfortable in there. So I got more chains."
At Zeke's glib response, Nebilos gnashed his teeth.
[...A human threatening a demon. The mortal realm truly nears its end.]
Though he said this, the threat worked as Nebilos subdued his ghost fire and approached the door Zeke pointed to.
After studying the stone door intently for a while, he shook his head.
[Even I don't know this.]
"You must be quite comfortable in there?"
As Zeke twirled the chains, Nebilos frantically waved his skeletal hands.
[It's not a lie, it's true! This isn't demon realm style, nor is it magic! It has constellation authority on it!]
Zeke narrowed his eyes and looked at Nebilos suspiciously.
Under that gaze, Nebilos shook his head and shouted indignantly.
[No matter how you look at me, what's impossible is impossible! Without powerful demon authority, this absolutely cannot be opened...!]
At that moment, Zeke took a step toward Nebilos.
"What did you just say?"
Startled by Zeke's sudden approach, Nebilos stammered:
[W-what do you mean?]
"You mentioned something about strong demon authority."
Nebilos clicked his teeth and said:
[Since it's locked with authority, it can only be opened with authority. But there couldn't possibly be a being who can use multiple powerful authorities...]
Zeke shook his head at Nebilos' words.
"We can't be so sure about that."
[What do you mean?]
Zeke sat Nebilos down and explained about his authorities and the fallen constellations' authorities stored in Solomon's ring. Then he asked the surprised demon if there could be a suitable combination to open the door.
Hearing about Zeke's authorities, Nebilos' jaw dropped, more shocked about a human possessing authorities than any potential combinations.
[N-no way. How could... Wait, then do you also have the 'Serpent of the Black Maw' authority?]
"You mean Belial. Yes, I can use the authority of 'Deception'."
Nebilos was shocked to hear about Belial's authority.
[Good grief, a human having that authority. The great demons of hell would faint at this news.]
At Zeke's urging to devise a way to open the door, Nebilos calmed his surprise and fell into thought. After deep consideration, he came up with a way using Zeke's combined authorities.
[It might be possible with Deception and Spirit Realm.]
"Oh? How?"
Like the renowned dark mage he was in hell, Nebilos calmly explained:
[That door has a structure connecting specific coordinates under certain conditions. Since it's protected by constellation authority, it returns all external impacts, making conventional opening impossible.]
Zeke nodded at Nebilos' words.
He had felt something was wrong when striking the door with his spirit-imbued hammer.
[But with Deception, we can trick it into thinking the specific conditions are met. When the door opens coordinates, hide your body with Spirit Realm and enter.]
Nebilos' explanation seemed quite plausible.
"What happens if it fails?"
[You'll probably lose your body and become dimensional lost.]
Nebilos casually spoke these frightening words.
Zeke nodded and lifted the Eastern Continent's sword.
WHOOSH!
[AARGH!]
While off guard, Nebilos was bound by soul chains and sucked back into the sword.
[Z-Zeke Drakerrr!]
Watching Nebilos being sucked in, Zeke grinned.
"If I become lost in dimensions, you'll be lost too while sealed in the sword. So pray for success, Nebilos."
[AAARGH!]
Nebilos let out an anguished scream as he was sealed back in the sword.
Zeke looked at the Eastern sword containing Nebilos and slightly lowered the seal's strength.
[...Wait, I can see and hear around me. What's going on?]
Nebilos spoke in confusion at being able to sense his surroundings while trapped.
Zeke chuckled and said:
"It's a reward for your effort. Stay quiet or I'll strengthen the seal again."
[O-okay.]
Nebilos was gradually becoming tamed by Zeke.
Zeke took a deep breath, stood before the stone door, and extended his hand wearing Solomon's ring.
"Deception."
When he activated Deception authority, black mist enveloped Zeke's body.
BZZT! BZZT!
Surprisingly, as Deception activated, the firmly closed door began to respond.
Simultaneously, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[$!# Confirmed. Conditions met. #%@$. Great Sage's @#!&@!]