Chapter 443
Chapter 443
Chapter 443
'The Tears of Goddess Theia are Adamantium?'
How Adamantium containing god-slaying power was created remained unknown. Even its existence wasn't widely known.
Messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Restored Theia Goddess statue detects Hersion worn by user.]
[Checking inactive Hersion status.]
[Goddess statue sending authentication code to user.]
WOONG!
[Authentication code acquired from Theia Goddess statue.]
[Code activates inactive item.]
The Hersion reacted to the code.
[Activating inactive item.]
[Sealed grand magic circle activates.]
[All 29 magics engraved in Hersion activate.]
The grand magic circles glowed with mysterious patterns.
More messages appeared:
[Code detects Shadow Dragon power sleeping in user's heart.]
[Title "One Blessed by Great Dragon" responds to code.]
[Hidden code in activated item operates.]
[Hidden code reveals true form of Theia Goddess's legacy.]
RUMBLE!
The Hersion vibrated and changed form.
CRACK!
The Hersion forcibly disengaged, ejecting Zeke.
Black energy emerged from the opened armor.
WHOOSH!
The energy enveloped Zeke and settled into his body. A crest appeared over his heart as the dragon's heart moved.
His shadow formed shape and wrapped around his body.
[True legacy "Shadow Armor" dwells in user's body.]
[Bahamut's heart seal reduced to 25%.]
[Bahamut's power doubles when using Shadow Armor.]
‘Theia Goddess's true legacy? Shadow Armor?’
The Orichalcon Hersion merely sealed this Shadow Armor.
The shadow rippled like it had physical form, moving according to Zeke's will. He tested forming a shield.
TING!
The shadow wrapped around his hand, forming a shield hard as metal.
Testing further, Zeke formed full plate armor. It fit closer than the Hersion with almost no weight.
‘How is this even made?’
The Shadow Armor could create anything he willed.
Zeke approached the original Hersion, still glowing with grand magic circles.
"I'll use this normally and save the Shadow Armor for emergencies. With all magic circles active, it'll be more useful."
After Zeke transformed Hersion into armor form and equipped it again, he took out the sword of Jiemens Apollion from his inventory.
'Time to find out what this sword really is.'
Zeke applied the authentication code he received from the Theia statue to the sword.
[Activating inactive item.]
[The sword's 'true name' that was sealed is now revealed.]
[One facet of the Promised Liberation Sword, the Sword of Solid Shadow 'Caladbolg' unleashes its power along with its true name.]
WOOOOOONG!
As the message appeared, the sword in Zeke's hand began to vibrate strongly.
'Caladbolg?'
It was a name he had never heard before.
At that moment, the unleashed Caladbolg and the Shadow Armor dwelling in Zeke's body began to react.
[Caladbolg, sharing the same power source, connects with Shadow Armor.]
[Caladbolg combines with Shadow Armor.]
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
Caladbolg transformed into shadow form and seeped into the Shadow Armor.
'Caladbolg shares the same power source as Shadow Armor?'
Zeke looked up at the Theia statue.
It wasn't strange that they would have a close relationship, since he had activated two inactive items using Theia statue's code.
Zeke recalled how the Shadow Armor, containing Theia goddess's power, had also connected with Bahamut's heart, the Shadow Dragon.
Through this, Zeke could reach one conclusion.
'Could Theia goddess's main authority be related to shadows?'
The common thread between Bahamut, Shadow Armor, and Caladbolg was 'shadow'.
Zeke realized that the power source of the constellation known as Theia goddess was connected to shadows.
Zeke thought of the sword that had been embedded in the Draker family's secret location.
'Wait, the message earlier said ‘One facet of the Promised Liberation Sword’. Does that mean there are multiple swords containing shadow power, including Caladbolg....'
As he was thinking about the sword, another message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Inactive item has been activated.]
[Achievement quest completed successfully.]
[Received title 'Theia's Blessing' as reward.]
[Received authority 'Shadow Domination' as linked quest mission reward.]
[Due to existence of identical authority, two authorities combine to form a new authority.]
[Acquired authority 'Shadow King'.]
[Skill 'Shadow Clone' is absorbed into authority 'Shadow King'.]
[Skill 'Smoke Form' is absorbed into authority 'Shadow King'.]
[Dragon race skill 'Absorption' is absorbed into authority 'Shadow King'.]
[Bahamut's power strengthens through authority of 'Shadow King'.]
[Shadow spirits' power strengthens through authority of 'Shadow King'.]
[Shadow Armor and Caladbolg's power strengthens through authority of 'Shadow King'.]
Zeke was surprised at the messages that appeared.
‘Authority of Shadow King…’
Having gained an unexpected authority, Zeke tried raising shadows as a test.
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
Zeke's shadow rose and moved freely.
Additionally, the Shadow Armor completely merged with Zeke's shadow, moving freely according to his will.
‘Caladbolg.’
When Zeke called out its true name to check the sword, Caladbolg emerged from the shadows and appeared in his hand.
When Zeke swung Caladbolg, he felt as if the sword was connected to his body.
‘This isn't just unity of sword and body in name only - it really feels like the sword has become part of my body.’
Although getting here wasn't easy, Zeke felt sufficient satisfaction since he received rewards worthy of the effort.
However, since what he gained far exceeded common sense, Zeke decided to keep Caladbolg hidden like the Shadow Armor and use it only in emergencies.
He put the sword back into the shadows and looked up at the Theia statue when he suddenly remembered something.
'Come to think of it, how do I get out of here?'
He had somehow managed to get in using the authority of deception, but he hadn't thought about how to get out.
After pondering, Zeke tried opening a system portal.
[This is a portal deactivated area.]
But as expected, the portal didn't work.
'This is becoming troublesome.'
While looking at the restored Theia statue and thinking about ways to exit, Zeke remembered the title 'Theia's Blessing' he received as a reward.
‘With this, I should be able to access the administrator system now.’
When Zeke hopefully commanded the system to try accessing the administrator system, a message soon appeared.
[Accessing administrator system using code extracted from title Theia's Blessing.]
[Releasing security area with corresponding code.]
[Found message stored in system for user of corresponding code.]
[Would you like to check the message?]
"There's a stored message?"
Zeke decided to check the message with a puzzled expression.
[Checking message.]
[Karma data stored in message is being transmitted to user.]
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
Suddenly something appeared before Zeke's eyes.
'Is that?'
Surprisingly, what took form before Zeke was the spirit body of someone he knew.
[Zeke Draker.]
A woman with snow-white hair and eyebrows, resembling Hero King Kaisir.
It was Chronos, the Dragon of Time.
"Lady Chronos?"
After meeting her in the past across the timeline, he hadn't expected to meet Chronos again like this.
Chronos's spirit body, which appeared semi-transparent as if not in perfect condition, smiled at Zeke.
[You've arrived here just as I predicted.]
Zeke showed a surprised expression at Chronos's words.
"You knew I would come here?"
[I am the dragon who handles time. I see countless futures and determine which future will come to us. I did see the possibility of you coming here... but honestly, I didn't have high expectations. It was such a difficult path.]
CHIJIJIJIK!
Chronos's spirit body wavered as if it would scatter at any moment.
She spoke while looking at Zeke.
[Since time is short, I'll start with the important matters. The time of destiny is gradually approaching.]
"Does that mean... the day of the Demon King's revival is near?"
Chronos nodded.
[There are several omens related to this world's destruction and the Demon King's revival. And one of those omens will occur soon.]
"An omen of destruction... What is the first omen you speak of?"
Chronos took a breath before continuing.
[A lunar eclipse. When the moon turns red, the Disaster God will arrive in the material world. When that happens, it should be seen as the first signal flare of destruction.]
Zeke recalled something upon hearing about the lunar eclipse and Disaster God.
"Disaster God... the power of Flesh-Eating Emperor Ajitahaka... could it be?"
Something clicked in Zeke's mind.
Ramon Jiemens could use the authority of Flesh-Eating Emperor Ajitahaka.
He hadn't shown himself at all even when Abel was occupying Rom, as if waiting for something.
'He must be preparing for a new baptism. If that means summoning Ajitahaka, who has become a Disaster God, to the material world?'
Zeke recalled the terrifying power after seeing Ajitahaka's true form trapped in the isolation realm.
If Ramon Jiemens received baptism during the lunar eclipse and invoked Ajitahaka's power into his body, the continent's power balance would certainly be completely overturned.
Even for a Grand Master like Arthur Draker, it was uncertain whether he could face Ajitahaka's power.
Then Zeke remembered Abel, who was left as just a shell.
At that moment, Zeke's body trembled.
It was because he could guess Ramon Jiemens's intention.
He spoke while looking at Chronos.
"If Ramon Jiemens obtains the authority of flesh-eating, he'll be able to devour Abel and absorb the Draker bloodline."
The authority of flesh-eating can absorb the abilities of what it devours.
If Ramon Jiemens obtains the complete authority of flesh-eating and then devours Abel's flesh, he can fully absorb the power of that flesh.
Draker blood flowed through Abel's body, and that blood contained immortal power passed down from King Solomon through Jiemens Apollion and Terakan Draker.
Zeke looked at Chronos with a grave expression and asked.
"Is Ramon Jiemens trying to become the Demon King himself?"