Chapter 463
Chapter 463
Chapter 463
"Knight of Salvation!"
At Nabu's cry, the Highlanders looked up.
Though they had heard rumors about Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation, this was their first time seeing him in person.
Hope flickered in the Highlanders' eyes, wondering if this could turn the tide of battle.
That's when Zeke raised the holy sword Ascalon and unleashed 'Will of Light'.
Holy light erupted from the sword, forming a curtain that enveloped the entire battlefield.
WHOOOOSH!
The light barrier expanded to cover an even wider area than Manna's Absolute Barrier, trapping the endless waves of demon hounds within.
KEEEEEEEK!
The demon hounds writhed in agony just from being exposed to the 'Will of Light' domain.
The Highlanders shouted as they watched the demon hounds:
"Those creatures fear the light!"
"Attack them now!"
Though completely exhausted, the Highlanders refused to give up, raising their weapons to fight the magical beasts.
And as if responding to their determination, something amazing happened.
When they swung their weapons within the 'Will of Light' domain, even normal attacks could tear through the demon hounds' thick hides in one strike, making them collapse while bleeding purple blood.
The 'Holy Spirit Technique' that Zeke activated along with Will of Light had imbued the Highlanders' weapons, allowing them to deal greater damage to the magical beasts.
Though they didn't understand why, the Highlanders' eyes changed when they realized their attacks were now much more effective.
The tide of battle began to turn.
Zeke didn't stop there, using his amplification power to spread Healing Factor and Infinite Stamina skills toward the central fortress.
TZZZZZT!
As mysterious light seeped into the Highlanders' bodies, their strength returned and wounds began healing.
"Good heavens..."
The Highlanders were speechless witnessing the miracle Zeke brought.
But that lasted only a moment - having regained their strength, the Highlanders gripped their weapons and charged toward the demon hounds rushing down the ramparts.
"HAAAAH!"
The Highland knights held the line at the boundary of Manna's Absolute Barrier, cutting down demon hounds.
Adnan and Bodmir also swung their swords alongside them again and again.
However, Zeke, watching the battlefield while mounted on Bucephalus in the air, tensed up at the energy he sensed beyond the forest.
'That's...'
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ground shook as trees fell.
Massive boar-like magical beasts were approaching the central fortress from beyond the forest.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Zeke spotted dark mages of the Abyss riding atop the boar beasts.
'They're launching an all-out attack.'
Just then, the lead demon boar opened its mouth wide toward the sky.
Flames could be seen building up inside its mouth.
WHOOSH!
As the demon boars planted themselves on the ground one by one, the Abyss mages ordered them to spit fireballs toward the central fortress.
KUAAANG!
With sounds like massive bombs exploding, over a dozen fireballs flew toward the central fortress.
KABOOM!
Fortunately, the fireballs were blocked by Manna's Absolute Barrier, merely exploding above the fortress.
Without the Absolute Barrier, the central fortress would surely have been obliterated in a single attack.
'We need a defensive line to block their attacks.'
As he assessed the situation, Zeke activated Defense Mode while mounted on Bucephalus.
[Applying Defense Mode to battlefield domain.]
[Deploying Guardians and summons on battlefield. Please specify positions.]
[Possible to summon Defense Towers using Karma. Please specify summon locations.]
Before fulfilling the system's requirements, Zeke first summoned Richmond and Bane..
"You called, Master!"
"I have come at your summons, Master."
Zeke ordered the two Arch Liches to construct a defensive line of bone and ice.
Following Zeke's command, walls of bone and ice rose up in front of the Absolute Barrier.
CRACKLE!
With triple-layered walls narrowing the path of the magical beasts, it became much easier for the Highlanders to deal with them.
Zeke didn't stop there, deploying Guardians atop the walls and unleashing shadow spirits and dragon warriors.
Horus, Idas, and Lynceus, positioned atop the defensive walls, attacked the demon boars in the rear.
Idas and Lynceus fired arrows of light, while Horus opened his mouth to unleash magical artillery.
KABOOM!
When the demon boars collapsed under the Guardians' attacks, unable to properly use their strength, the Abyss mages immediately retreated beyond attack range.
They tried again to break through the defensive wall by sending demon hounds ahead.
That's when Zeke summoned and deployed the Golem Knights in front of the Guardians.
The Golem Knights took position with massive shields, directly blocking the charging demon hounds.
CRASH!
The demon hounds crumpled and fell against the Golem Knights' shields.
KAAAARK!
As demon hound howls echoed across the battlefield, Zeke was slightly surprised to see the rapidly increasing Karma points while monitoring through Defense Mode.
'Already over 30,000 points.'
Satisfied with the quickly accumulating points, Zeke maintained his Guardians and summons by continuously replenishing depleted mana through absorbing magical beasts with shadows.
The endless waves of demon hounds noticeably decreased in number.
Deciding the time had come, Zeke began to move.
He aimed the holy sword Ascalon toward the Abyss mages who had retreated on their demon boars.
WHOOSH!
Zeke drew upon the power of Elemental Sword.
RUMBLE!
After spreading a field of earth power, Zeke swung down his sword to shake the ground beneath the magical beasts.
CRASH!
As the ground beneath the magical beasts shook and split, the monsters tumbled down.
GRAAAWR!
Demon boar roars echoed from the crevices in the ground.
The panicked Abyss mages tried desperately to pull up their demon boars, but they couldn't stop the ground from overturning with their power.
Zeke gradually withdrew the earth power field while controlling the elemental power.
'Still better control than before.'
Zeke had struggled with control since the Elemental Sword's grade increased.
But as his mastery improved, his control over the Elemental Sword gradually strengthened.
Though not completely satisfactory, it became possible to use the Elemental Sword in battle.
The tide of battle completely turned once the demon boars sank into the ground.
The charging demon hounds began retreating.
GROWL!
Watching the fleeing demon hounds, Adnan shouted:
"They're retreating!"
The battle-experienced Highlanders knew well they could face a counterattack if they let their guard down in this situation.
Instead, they strengthened their vigilance, watching for other enemies that might attack from behind.
Simultaneously, those with remaining strength formed groups to target the retreating demon hounds.
CRASH!
Bodmir wildly swung his bastard sword at the fleeing demon hounds as if venting his accumulated frustration.
"WHEW!"
Soon after, the remaining demon hounds all fled into the forest, leaving countless fallen magical beast corpses on the battlefield.
As things settled, Zeke landed on the ground riding Bucephalus, dismounted, and approached Adnan and Bodmir.
"Good work everyone."
Adnan gave a bitter smile at Zeke's words while Bodmir rushed toward him.
"Wow, Zeke Draker! No, Knight of Salvation! You saved us. Want a kiss?"
Zeke shook his head seeing Bodmir's face stained with magical beast blood.
"I'll politely decline, Bodmir."
Zeke pushed away the welcoming Bodmir and went up to the central fortress after efficiently clearing the battlefield and gathering casualties with other Highlanders.
There was Nabu, tending to the wounded.
"Zeke Draker!"
Zeke greeted Nabu.
"It feels strange seeing you, Hermit, in reality rather than in dreams."
Smiling as he spoke, he took out large quantities of potions from his inventory and handed them to Nabu.
"These are new potions made by the Na family. Use them for the patients."
Fortunately, there were no critical patients since Zeke had cast Healing Factor broadly during battle.
The Highlanders skillfully began treating their own wounds with the distributed potions.
First aid and healing arts were essential for Highlanders who always had to be self-sufficient during missions.
Once the situation settled somewhat, Nabu took Zeke inside the central tent.
But Manna lay unconscious on the tent floor.
"Gasp! Manna!"
He seemed to have fainted after using up all his strength maintaining the Absolute Barrier.
He finally came to my senses after hearing the phrase 'Wake up, warrior' recited by Nabu.
"Hmm, I have awakened from my brief nirvana."
"Stop talking nonsense about nirvana. You seem fine since you're talking gibberish. Here, drink this and come to your senses."
I took a refreshing drink of the potion handed over by the meeting Nabu.
His blurry eyes sharpened instantly.
"Oh, this is..."
"What? What's wrong?"
"It tastes quite bland. It tastes like home."
The biggest drawback of the Naga clan potion was that it had no taste.
While existing potions made from processed troll blood contained various flavors by adding different aromas, the Naga clan's potion was made by fermenting herbs, so it was impossible to add other flavors as it was important to preserve the original aroma.
Thanks to this, the twin alchemists were troubling Kei and Feinan by spending astronomical amounts of research funds trying to make delicious Naga clan potions.
Manna took out a peppermint candy from his chest for a palate cleanser and made a gesture of prayer toward Zeke.
"Benefactor Zeke. I am called Manna. It's nice to meet you."
Zeke had actually seen Manna, a High Table member, once in his previous life.
It was when they came as an assistant to set up barriers during a joint mission with Nigel.
'Just like Master was strange, The Monk Manna was also strange, so I thought all High Table members were strange people.'
Zeke recalled his previous life, laughed inwardly, and greeted Manna as if seeing them for the first time.
"Nice to meet you. I am Zeke Draker."
While the two were exchanging greetings, Nabu slumped down in an armchair, looking tired.
"UUUGH, I want to go back to Mount Ouroboros. I'm sick and tired of dealing with these damn magical beasts."
To those words, Manna chanted a Buddhist prayer and said:
"You don't do anything even when you go to the mountain, so why complain?"
"I'm busy. I need to fix the roof, water the fields, and take naps."
"Om aranam arada svaha. May Benefactor Nabu find their conscience to reach nirvana."
Zeke changed the subject while looking at the slumped Nabu.
"Where is Master Nigel being held captive right now?"
At his words, Nabu jumped up from their seat.
"AH, right, Nigel. I forgot about that old hag."
They waved their hand and a map appeared in the air.
Nabu pointed at the map and said:
"See this marked spot here? This is where their gate is. And these three spots marked around it are where the gate's energy sources are. Nigel's signal was lost on this left side."
Zeke scanned the map Nabu unfolded and saved the information.
Then he asked Nabu.
"I heard a high-ranking demon took her away. I'm worried if Master will be alright."
"Nigel should be fine."
"Did you receive any separate contact?"
At those words, Meeting beside them shook their head.
"If the demons touch Benefactor Nigel, she will go berserk even if it means ascending to paradise through the Dowonhyang incense."
Zeke nodded while suppressing a bitter laugh after hearing Meeting's words.
'You mean she'll cause havoc before leaving this world.'
From the perspective of the demons holding Nigel captive, it must feel like holding onto a massive bomb that could explode at any time.
Zeke looked at Nabu and said:
"Then closing the gate takes priority over rescuing Master."
Nabu nodded at those words.
"That's rational. As I said through the mirror, we can't go there. Zeke, only you can defeat them."
Nabu felt this for certain while watching Zeke’s battle directly.
A strength that was on a different level from ordinary knights.
While also not being restricted by the laws of karma, Zeke was clearly an anomalous existence. Though this point was questionable, Nabu decided not to think too deeply about it since that power was needed right now.
Zeke, who was thinking for a moment at Nabu's words, looked up at Nabu and said,
"There's one thing I'd like to ask."
"What are you curious about?"
"What exactly are these Abyss creatures trying to take from the Forest of the Forgotten that they would go this far?"
At Zeke's question, Nabu and Manna kept their mouths shut for a moment.
As Manna tried to say something, Nabu raised his hand to stop him.
Then he slowly opened his mouth while looking at Zeke.
"What they're trying to take from here is the 'Black Star'."
"Black Star? What is that?"
Nabu hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
"The broken heart of an Elder Dragon."
He continued speaking while looking at Zeke.
"That is the true identity of the Black Star."