Chapter 452
Chapter 452
Chapter 452
The crude-looking Bahamut surprisingly transformed into a cruciform sword similar to the newly created holy sword Ascalon.
However, unlike Ascalon, ancient characters were engraved in silver on Bahamut's blade surface.
After the transformation was complete, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Black Sword Bahamut completely releases its seal after absorbing the holy spear Longomiant.]
[Black Sword Bahamut, having regained its original power, is strengthened by the power of the holy relic.]
[Evolving into a Legendary item, the sword is granted a true name.]
[The sword is named 'Dark Blade Leviathan, Bearer of Chaos']
'Dark Blade Leviathan, Bearer of Chaos?'
Zeke gazed at the newly transformed Bahamut.
Then he reached out and grabbed Leviathan.
The moment he held the sword, Zeke could feel it.
Though its name and appearance had changed, its essence remained that of Bahamut.
WOOOONG!
As if sensing Zeke's energy, Leviathan trembled and let out a resonant hum.
Zeke checked Leviathan's information.
-Dark Blade Leviathan Information!
Description: A sword of chaos imbued with the power of the holy spear Longomiant, forged from the hardest fang of the cursed dragon Bahamut by a skilled craftsman with the Spirit Eye using blue flame.
Unique Authority: Chaos Energy
Unique Abilities: Indestructible, Mana Conversion, Form Transformation, Magic Absorption
Special Properties: Inflicts 5x damage when used against Constellations and those with Constellation blood. / Can nullify Constellation authorities when Chaos Energy is activated.
Zeke was shocked by the description written on Leviathan.
'It can nullify Constellation authorities?'
Constellations can freely manipulate causality using Karma and distort the world's laws as they please.
If it was possible to nullify such authority, it would give him a much more advantageous position when dealing with Constellations.
Additionally, being able to inflict five times the damage to Constellations and those with Constellation blood when attacking with Leviathan would be a great help.
'This will be useful when dealing with the fallen Constellations trying to resurrect the Demon King.'
Holy Sword Ascalon and Dark Blade Leviathan.
With these two Legendary swords, Zeke had acquired the power to prepare for future battlefields.
Zeke marveled at how the Great Sage had demonstrated such miraculous abilities in spirit form.
Even the Archmage Hoshgar, the founder of the Nirvana family who remained as a spirit entity transcending human limitations, hadn't been able to demonstrate this level of power.
'You're not a legendary figure for nothing.'
At that moment, the Great Sage's body became even fainter than before.
He spoke to Zeke.
"It seems I truly have very little time left now. Sir Zeke, please take this."
The Great Sage extended his hand toward Zeke.
A golden key floated above his palm, then flew through the air and merged with Zeke.
[Acquired Legendary Item: Chronos Kingdom Treasury Key.]
[Acquired title 'Heir to the Chronos Kingdom' as a linked quest mission reward.]
[As heir to the kingdom, you can use the Treasury Key.]
[User can utilize items contained in the Chronos Kingdom Treasury for a certain period of time.]
[Some items require Karma Points for causality.]
The Great Sage spoke to Zeke.
"The Chronos Kingdom Treasury is now yours, Sir Zeke. And this is my gift to you."
The Great Sage took out a monocle from his breast.
He approached Zeke with his flickering spirit form and placed the monocle in his hand.
[Acquired the Great Sage's Monocle.]
[When equipped, can use the authority of Clairvoyance.]
The Great Sage smiled at Zeke.
"May this gift be of great help as you navigate your destiny."
A flickering black dragon statue appeared beside the flickering Great Sage.
The Elder Dragon's voice reached Zeke's ears.
『One who defies fate. It is time to leave this place.』
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Zeke felt the entire city, not just the temple, being engulfed in massive vibrations.
'Is Carcosa collapsing?'
『This is an illusory space pieced together from fragments of non-existent spacetime. The longer you stay here, the more you lose causality.』
WOOOONG!
With those words, a dimensional rift appeared behind Zeke's body.
Soon a portal emerged from within the dimensional rift, pulling Zeke's body inside.
Just before being sucked into the dimensional rift, Zeke shouted at the Elder Dragon and the Great Sage.
"If it is truly my destiny to annihilate the Demon King! Please tell me! What must I do?!"
At those words, the Great Sage, his spirit form gradually fading, smiled and said.
"The signs of the end will guide you. Find the single ray of light shining through despair and follow that path."
WOOOONG!
With those words, Zeke's body was completely sucked into the dimensional rift.
* * *
CRASH!
In the dimensional storm, Zeke had to endure pain as if his entire body was being torn apart.
'KUUUGH!'
At that moment, Raven appeared beside Zeke.
RUMBLE!
Hearing Raven's phoenix cry, Zeke barely regained his senses.
Through the dimensional storm, he could see a white light shining from far away.
Zeke conveyed his will to Raven.
'Raven, let's go there!'
Raven spread its wings wide and flew toward the light, breaking through the storm.
Zeke propelled his body along the path Raven had cleared.
He pushed through the raging dimensional storm and leapt into the light.
WOOOONG!
Zeke's body was thrown out of the portal.
"Huff, huff!"
Completely exhausted, Zeke barely caught his breath.
If he hadn't possessed the Immortal Body constitution, he would surely have been torn to shreds by the storm in the dimensional rift and disappeared without a trace.
Soon his breathing returned and his body recovered due to his infinite stamina.
Finally regaining his senses, Zeke checked the messages floating before his eyes.
[Main Quest Mission successful.]
[New system features unlocked as Main Quest reward.]
[All Defense Mode functions have been unlocked.]
[System link function activated.]
[Direct control of Defense areas including mobile fortresses is now possible.]
[Can install armaments and defensive walls in Defense areas using Karma Points.]
[Guardian and Administrator's designated allies receive buff corrections in Defense areas.]
[All battles in Defense Mode are linked with the Administrator and Karma Points are calculated based on results.]
[Main Quest reward changes Active Skill Area Buff to Authority Amplification.]
[10,000 Karma Points awarded as reward.]
[One Unranked Random Box awarded as reward.]
It seemed he had received rewards for completing the Main Quest mission.
Zeke's jaw dropped at seeing the reward contents.
"So this means I can receive all Karma Points calculated from the results of battles in Defense Mode?"
Until now, there were no separately calculated Karma Points for Zeke even when Guardians defeated enemies in large-scale battles.
But according to what was shown now, it meant he could receive Karma Points based on the battle results of not just Guardians but all personnel participating in battles.
'In a large-scale battle against monster legions... I could acquire an enormous amount of Karma Points.'
Additionally, being able to directly install armaments and defensive walls in areas where Defense Mode applies meant there would clearly be more flexibility in defense even if gates opened and enemies rushed in all at once.
"Ten thousand points and an Unranked Random Box... as expected of a Main Quest, the rewards are incredible."
Zeke decided to open the Unranked Box later and first tried to figure out where he was currently.
‘Where is this place?’
Looking around, only desolate plains stretched out nearby.
There were traces of broken pillars and old settlements here and there, but they were worn down to the point where their original forms were hard to recognize.
'Seems like ancient ruins...'
Tilting his head, Zeke opened the system map to check his location.
[Checking Administrator's location.]
[Cannot find location information for these coordinates.]
[Updating new location information by accessing relevant Karma data.]
'Can't find location information? Just where on earth is this place...'
Soon the empty map began filling in as the location information updated.
Even looking at the displayed map, Zeke couldn't determine where this place was.
'Show this location marked on the system's continental map.'
[Updated continental map including relevant location information.]
After a moment, a continental map appeared before Zeke's eyes.
However, it looked slightly different from usual. The continental map showed not just the Central Continent but the Eastern Continent as well.
Furthermore, Zeke's current location was pointing to a spot on the Eastern Continent.
Seeing this, Zeke was quite taken aback.
'Don't tell me this is actually the Eastern Continent?'
But that's when it happened.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
From across the plains, mounted soldiers could be seen charging toward Zeke.
Zeke drew out the Dark Blade Leviathan and watched the approaching soldiers warily.
The Eastern warriors, wearing Muruk Empire-style armor and carrying scimitars at their waists, came to a stop before Zeke.
They were carrying ornate banners, and Zeke was startled when he saw the emblem drawn on them.
'A double-headed eagle emblem. That's the symbol of the Muruk Empire's Sultan.'
An Eastern warrior holding the banner with the Sultan's symbol shouted at Zeke.
"Western barbarian! For what reason have you trespassed into the Sultan's forbidden grounds!"
With those words, the warriors behind him drew their scimitars and pointed them at Zeke.
Zeke realized that the portal he had escaped through from Carcosa had connected to the Sultan's forbidden grounds, causing him to unintentionally trespass there.
'So this is where Carcosa used to be.'
The Elder Dragon had said that in the Age of Constellations, the continents weren't divided as they are now but were connected as one continent.
If that was the case, it wouldn't be strange at all for Carcosa to have been in the Eastern Continent.
'Come to think of it, the ancestors of the High Elves also lived in the Eastern Continent before moving their settlement to the Northern Continent. If the continents weren't divided like they are now, movement between them might have been more free.'
When Zeke didn't respond, the Sultan's warriors stepped forward.
And light began to ripple across the blade surfaces of their scimitars.
WOOOONG!
The light from the scimitars settled into the warriors' bodies.
Zeke realized these weren't ordinary warriors but Eastern 'Successors.'
The Eastern Successors used weapons that sealed 'Djinn,' beings between spirits and wraiths, which they called 'Spirit Weapons.'
The Successors wielded these Spirit Weapons in their unique fighting style.
WHOOSH!
Flames erupted from one warrior's blade.
This meant his weapon had sealed within it a spirit that could use the power of flames, which he had inherited.
The other warriors also opened their magical power and slowly approached Zeke.
That's when Zeke deployed his magic reversal technique.
ZIIIIING!
As the reversal field spread around him, the magical power controlled by the Successors began to tangle.
"KUGH!"
While he could have increased the output more strongly to reverse their magic and take them down in one go, Zeke only adjusted the reversal technique enough to make them retreat.
Looking at the retreated Eastern warriors, Zeke pondered what to do.
'If this is the Muruk Empire... it's worth proposing a deal. Besides, Lord Hades and Lady Yelin might still be staying at the Sultan's palace.'
Since things had come to this, he thought it would be better to meet the Sultan and bring back Hades and Yelin as well.
Zeke spoke to the warriors in the Eastern language.
"I did not enter these forbidden grounds intentionally. There was an accident while traveling through a portal."
The warriors were surprised by Zeke's natural Eastern speech.
After hesitating for a moment, their apparent leader spoke.
"Even if that's the case, the crime of trespassing into the Sultan's sacred grounds is severe. Throw down your weapons and surrender quietly. Your crimes will be judged by wise judges."
Zeke shook his head at those words.
"I am no criminal. I was invited to the palace as the Sultan's guest."
The Eastern warriors' faces grew fierce at Zeke's words.
"How dare you make false excuses in the Sultan's name... Barbarian, your crimes are even more…"
Without listening to the end of their words, Zeke summoned Raven who had been waiting in the dimensional rift before them.
KURURURURU!
Appearing near Zeke's shoulder, Raven rubbed its eyes with its feet as if sleepy.
Having grown significantly, Raven was now as large as an eagle. Moreover, its multicolored feathers had become even more brilliant than before as its body had grown.
The Eastern warriors retreated in shock upon seeing Raven's appearance.
"Good heavens! That's... a, a Divine Beast!"
"It's, it's a Phoenix! An auspicious sign has appeared in the sacred grounds!"