Chapter 442
Chapter 442
Chapter 442
'The Great Sage?'
Zeke quickly caught a noticeable word in the broken message.
'Could it be that the Great Sage was the one who blocked entry to this place...?'
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
At that moment, there was a reaction from the door.
The door split in half, and dimensional energy swirled inside.
Simultaneously, a dimensional gate like a portal opened in the center.
'Is that it?'
Zeke quickly gripped his scabbard and used Spirit manifestation .
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Zeke, now in Spirit Form, entered through the dimensional gate.
And at the same time, a message appeared before his eyes.
[Anomaly detected.]
[Unauthorized entity intrusion detected.]
[Implementing emergency measures according to manual.]
The security system seemed to detect Zeke trying to enter the dimensional gate in Spirit Form.
CLICK!
The walls hidden around the door opened, and sharp metal needles protruded.
Strong plasma arose from these needles, creating a net in front of the dimensional gate.
CRACKLE! CRACKLE!
This plasma net stretched out and caught Zeke who was in Spirit Form in the dimensional gap.
'URGHH!'
Being attacked while in Spirit Form was a first for Zeke, so he couldn't help but be flustered.
Moreover, he was caught in the plasma net unable to move, and to make matters worse, the door started to close.
'No!'
The startled Zeke tried to escape from the plasma net somehow, but he couldn't move at all.
Finally, he tried to release his Spirit Form and jump into the dimensional gate, but due to the plasma net, he couldn't escape from the dimensional gap either.
'Damn, things have gotten complicated...'
If he exceeded the time he could stay in Spirit Form in the dimensional gap, the path to the physical world might close.
'URGHHHH!'
Feeling the crisis, Zeke tried to escape by using his Astral Sword and Soul Technique, but it was difficult to exert proper power inside the dimensional gap.
Just as the door was about to close.
WHOOOOO!
Raven's phoenix cry echoed through the dimensional gap.
Raven, now larger than before, spread its wings and flew towards Zeke. And surprisingly, it started to peck and eat away at the plasma net wrapped around Zeke's body.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
While watching Raven devour the plasma net as if it were delicious, the surprised Zeke quickly broke free from the restraints.
He sent a telepathic message to Raven.
-Raven! Come here!
Raven, looking regretful about leaving the remaining plasma net remnants, flew towards Zeke.
Zeke grabbed Raven and launched himself towards the nearly closing dimensional gate.
'HAAAAAH!'
With a shout, Zeke used all his strength and barely passed through the dimensional gate as if being sucked in.
BANG!
The stone door closed again simultaneously.
As if nothing had happened, the door maintained its silence, keeping its mouth tightly shut.
* * *
CRACKLE CRACKLE!
"UGH!"
With a strong spark, Zeke emerged into the physical world, rolling on the ground while holding Raven in his arms.
"PHEW..."
Zeke caught his breath and first surveyed his surroundings.
'Did I come to the right place?'
Since he could breathe and feel solid ground beneath his feet, it seemed he hadn't become lost between dimensions.
However, looking around, something felt strange.
'Is this really Theia Goddess's temple?'
Unlike typical temples, various grotesque statues were lined up all around.
Sharp teeth, distorted faces, bodies that seemed to be combinations of terrible creatures.
Looking at these statues, Zeke was reminded of one thing.
'Outer Being?'
The shapes lined up resembled Outer Being with their tentacles, teeth, and grotesque bodies.
Zeke slowly approached the Outer Being statues and touched them, then jumped back in surprise.
"What is this... They're alive?"
Although fixed like statues, he could clearly feel the presence of Outer Being essence within them.
Zeke looked at the Outer Being statues filling the massive cavern.
'If all these creatures are alive...'
For a moment, Zeke imagined all these monstrous beings awakening and revealing themselves in the physical world.
Just imagining it made his body shudder, too horrifying to contemplate.
'Wait, did the Great Sage seal the temple and prevent anyone from entering to stop these beings?'
Zeke could now understand why, unlike other ruins, the security code for this place hadn't been deactivated.
It was obvious that if these Outer Being were to pour out, an irreversible catastrophe would occur.
'Well, since this seems to be the temple, let's go inside.'
The size of the cavern housing the temple was too vast to easily measure.
The height was so great that the top of the cavern appeared as a black hole, making it impossible to know just how many Outer Being statues were contained within.
Passing through the mass of statues, a temple building constructed in Central Continent style appeared in the middle of the cavern.
Zeke approached the building.
The white marble building standing alone amidst the horrific Outer Being statues created a discordant feeling.
As he got closer to the temple, he saw the door leading inside was open.
Entering, he found a typical temple interior made entirely of white marble.
'Is this really the Goddess Theia's temple?'
Zeke followed the long path into the temple.
Moving inward, he discovered a statue standing in the temple's center.
'The Holy Maiden statue of Goddess Theia?'
It seemed so at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't just a simple Holy Maiden statue.
"What is this?"
Half of the holy statue's body was attached to horrific Outer Being tentacles.
The form was so vivid it looked like a sculpture of a monstrous Outer Being about to devour the Holy Maiden statue in one bite.
Looking even closer at the Holy Maiden statue, Zeke couldn't help but be shocked.
'The Outer Being isn't devouring the Holy Maiden statue. This... the Outer Being is bursting out from inside the Holy Maiden statue.'
It depicted a horrific Outer Being emerging and taking form from within the holy maiden's sacred body.
Then Zeke heard something.
『???????...come here. Child...』
It was similar to what he had heard from Ajitahaka's remnant before.
Hearing the words flowing from the Holy Maiden statue, Zeke approached slowly as if entranced.
But then.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Raven, perched on Zeke's shoulder, raised its head and let out a phoenix cry.
Zeke, momentarily entranced by the voice from the Holy Maiden statue, snapped awake at Raven's cry.
'What was that?'
Regaining his senses, Zeke looked at the Holy Maiden statue.
The voice flowed from the statue again.
『Bearer of my remnant... come here. Receive my will...』
Somehow, Zeke found it difficult to resist the voice coming from the Holy Maiden statue.
Before he knew it, he was slowly approaching again.
Then messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Title 'One Blessed by the Great Dragon' detects traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Glory of the Sea God' opposes traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Forest Companion' opposes traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Guardian of Earth' opposes traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Fairy's Blessing' helps oppose traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Divine Beast's Grace' helps oppose traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
[Title 'Great Mage's Protection' helps oppose traces of 'Unspeakable Darkness'.]
The titles Zeke had accumulated joined forces to oppose the voice flowing from the Holy Maiden statue.
Then the Holy Maiden statue began to vibrate.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The Outer Being statue trying to emerge from inside the Holy Maiden statue started moving ever so slightly.
RUMBLE!
Raven flapped its wings and flew into the air.
Then it opened its mouth and spewed flames at the Outer Being trying to emerge from the Holy Maiden statue.
WHOOSH!
Orange flames engulfed the Outer Being statue.
The emerging movement that had been causing vibrations hesitated, and the Outer Being showed signs of retreating back into the statue.
RUMBLE!
But when Raven's flames weakened, the horrific tentacles of the Outer Being tried to crawl out again.
Seeing this, Zeke equipped Theia's Hersionand Agamemnon's Mask, then drew out Roland.
Then he raised the Holy Light Orb above his head.
WOONG!
As the Holy Light Orb's sphere rose into the air, Zeke struck down light lightning at the Outer Being trying to emerge from the Holy Maiden statue.
CRACKLE!
When the light lightning and Raven's flames hit simultaneously, the Outer Being' tentacles stopped moving again.
Meanwhile, Zeke raised his sword and summoned purification power.
WOONG!
Golden aura rippled around his body.
And right after, golden waves spread in all directions from his body, wrapping the Holy Maiden statue in great purification power.
RUMBLE!
When the Outer Being trying to emerge from the Holy Maiden statue was exposed to the great purification power, it silently retreated inside.
Then a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
―Sudden Quest―
[Restore the broken statue of Moon Goddess Theia.]
[Quest Mission Reward: ???]
A sudden quest appeared.
While maintaining the great purification power, Zeke pondered how to restore the broken statue.
Recalling when he freed Hades from Blanca, he asked the system.
'System, find a way to restore that statue.'
The system began searching at Zeke's command.
[One method found. Would you like to proceed with this method?]
"Execute it now!"
System messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Sacred artifact obtained from Forest God Hermes activates with elixir.]
[Activated Hermes artifact reveals its true form.]
WHOOSH!
With the message, Hermes' artifact appeared.
The goat statue met the catalyst elixir and began extending tree branches in all directions.
The grown branches slowly stretched toward the broken Holy Maiden statue.
The branches wrapped around the statue and began filling the broken parts where the Outer Being had hidden.
'Huh?'
Maintaining the great purification power, Zeke watched Hermes' artifact fill the statue's broken parts.
CREAK!
It looked as if trees had grown on half of the Holy Maiden's face and body.
Another message appeared.
[The purest elemental power must dwell in the trees grown from Hermes' artifact.]
'The purest elemental power?'
Zeke immediately realized what elemental power the system meant.
He withdrew the great purification power and approached the statue.
He placed his hand on the trees covering the statue and raised Elemental Sword power.
WOONG!
Pure power of fire, wind, water, and metal.
Four-colored light rose from Zeke's body as he raised elemental power.
WOONG!
The four elemental powers surging from Zeke's body enveloped the Holy Maiden statue.
Amazingly, Hermes' trees began absorbing that power.
WHOOSH!
The tree branches that absorbed the four elemental powers slowly burned and scattered into ash.
Simultaneously, the trees' color gradually changed to white, becoming smooth and stone-like rather than wooden.
'The tree surface is becoming harder than before.'
Zeke infused stronger pure elemental power into Hermes' trees.
The trees imbued with pure power turned completely white.
WOONG!
Strong vibrations arose from the Holy Maiden statue.
Zeke finally withdrew the elemental power and stepped back.
Light spread in all directions as the broken statue was restored to a complete white divine statue.
At that moment, messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Restored broken Holy Maiden statue of Goddess Theia.]
[Successfully completed sudden mission.]
[Reward: Tears of Goddess Theia granted.]
'Tears of Goddess Theia?'
The quest reward appeared before the puzzled Zeke.
Seeing this, Zeke exclaimed in surprise.
"This is Adamantium?"