Chapter 464
Chapter 464
Chapter 464
‘An Elder Dragon’s heart?’
Zeke asked with a puzzled expression at Nabu’s words.
“You mean the broken heart of an Elder Dragon is in the Forest of the Forgotten?”
Nabu nodded at Zeke’s words.
“Yes, it’s sealed in the deepest part of this forest under the name Black Star.”
“But… wasn’t this forest cursed after the Second Demon Lord Army invasion?”
Zeke recalled meeting Reyes, the Fisher Knight, in the hidden stage inside the Inverted Tower when the Forest of the Forgotten didn’t exist yet.
That’s why he thought the ever-expanding forest was created due to the curse after the Demon Lord Army’s invasion.
“The curse part isn’t wrong. This place changed like this when the Elder Dragon’s heart was sealed.”
This meant the Elder Dragon’s heart was what transformed the forest.
It was the moment the secret held by the Forest of the Forgotten, one of the Central Continent’s largest restricted areas, was revealed.
After hearing Nabu’s words, Zeke spoke as if realizing something.
“Could it be that Master stayed here for a thousand years to guard the sealed Elder Dragon’s heart?”
Manna, who was listening beside them, nodded while making a prayer gesture.
“That is correct, Benefactor Zeke. The Black Star contains too much power to be released into the phenomenal world, so the Head sealed it here personally.”
Zeke understood why the Abyss group was launching a full attack here after hearing Manna’s words.
‘They plan to use the Elder Dragon’s heart for the Demon Lord’s revival through the Second Baptism.’
Zeke had been able to look into the memories of how Solomon fell into becoming a Demon Lord in Carcosa.
Something flashed through Zeke’s mind.
‘Solomon shared his heart when making the contract with the Elder Dragon and Dragon-people. If Solomon became a Demon Lord in that state, wouldn’t it have affected the Elder Dragon who shared the heart?’
It didn’t seem likely that a simple sealed broken heart would curse the entire forest like this.
Zeke considered the possibility that the Demon Lord’s energy could be seeping into the sealed Black Star.
‘Either way, it’s definitely dangerous if it falls into the hands of those Abyss creatures.’
Zeke looked up at Nabu.
“Is the Black Star’s seal secure?”
Nabu nodded.
“The Black Star is safe as long as it’s in this forest. With Nigel as its guardian, there’s no chance it’ll leave the forest.”
“You seem too relaxed considering Master is captured.”
“Only the guardian protecting this place can unseal the path to the Black Star. Unless Nigel has dementia, there’s no way she’ll guide them.”
Zeke shook his head at those words.
“We can’t be so sure. Among the avatars who received powers from fallen constellations, there could be those with abilities to break or deceive seals.”
In fact, Zeke himself had once breached the Great Sage’s seal and entered Goddess Theia’s temple using Belial’s power of deception.
Similar powers could exist among other fallen constellations.
Both Nabu and Manna’s expressions darkened at those words.
“Hmm, that would be troublesome.”
After pondering, Nabu spoke to Manna.
“Zeke’s point is quite valid. Manna, you should come with me to the forest center to defend it.”
Manna nodded while making a prayer gesture.
“Understood, Benefactor Nabu. But what about this place?”
Nabu nodded.
“I’ll cast a large-scale storytelling spell for now, so it should be fine for a while. I’ll leave some Highlanders too.”
They pointed at the floating map and said:
“While we guard the center, Zeke, you can attack the energy supply stations to close the gate. There are three locations total.”
“Understood. What’s the scale of enemy forces?”
“At least legion-sized units are stationed. The important thing is attacking all three simultaneously rather than one by one. If they notice one location being attacked, they’ll strengthen defenses at the others making attacks impossible.”
Zeke pondered Nabu’s words.
“So we need to cut off energy supplies simultaneously. Hmm…”
Various strategies flashed through his mind.
Zeke quickly organized his thoughts and stood up saying:
“I should examine the sites first and make a plan.”
“Right, I’ll assign some of the stronger Highlanders to help you.”
"That's fine. I'll carry out the attacks alone. The Highlanders would be better off guarding this place."
Surprised at Zeke's words, Nabu asked:
"Huh? Going alone? How will you cut off energy supplies at three locations simultaneously by yourself?"
"Don't worry, I have a method."
Nabu looked at Zeke with disbelief before nodding.
"Well, seeing how you fought earlier, you'll probably manage."
Manna, listening nearby, also nodded while maintaining prayer hands.
Zeke stood up and said.
"I'll keep deploying summons and guardians, so focus on defense. This place can't fall until the gate is closed."
"Got it. We'll protect this place somehow, just return safely."
After leaving the central tent, Zeke checked the map locations Nabu had marked showing the gate's energy sources.
'With this scale, they must have substantial defenses.'
Needing to check firsthand, Zeke planned to use a system portal to secretly move nearby.
Checking his karma points earned from the recent battle, Zeke's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
He thought the karma point units were marked wrong.
"What's this?"
Over 200,000 points showed in his status window.
While he expected significant points, this exceeded expectations.
'Guess I don't need to worry about points anymore?'
Zeke had always calculated points to use them most efficiently.
Now with massive points available, he could use system functions more freely.
He opened a system portal without hesitation, using his abundant karma points.
WOOOONG!
His body vanished with a massive light.
* * *
GRRRR!
A magical beast larger than the demon dogs that attacked the Highlanders, with huge hooks on its tail, prowled around the forest.
Called ‘Demon tigers’ by the Highlanders, their speed and strength far surpassed the demon dogs.
Zeke hid behind a tree, concealing his presence while extending his spiritual sense to survey the surroundings.
'Seems there's only one.'
He activated Shadow Armor for stealth.
TSTSTSTS!
The shadow armor wrapped around his body completely erased Zeke's presence.
In that state, he stealthily approached behind the demon tiger, raised shadows and transformed them into a giant sickle, then swiftly swung at the beast.
SLASH!
Unable to sense Zeke until he was right behind it, the demon tiger's head was cleanly severed by the black sickle.
THUD!
The demon tiger's body collapsed without resistance.
Using Shadow Armor in actual combat, Zeke was stunned by its overwhelming power.
'I didn't know it was this strong. This is completely broken.'
Quickly composing himself, he raised shadows to absorb the fallen demon tiger and pressed deeper inside.
He sensed presences beyond the forest.
'Must be there.'
According to Nabu, all three energy supply stations needed to be destroyed to close the gate.
'So I need to take out three heavily fortified strongholds simultaneously.'
While Highlanders defended against magical beasts and the High Table guarded the Black Star's seal, Zeke took out the green sword and eastern sword from his inventory as planned after hearing the situation from Nabu.
'Arataso, Nebilos. I'll need your help.'
While Arataso, used to Zeke, accepted this, Nebilos remained silent at Zeke's brazen plan to use demons to attack the Abyss stronghold.
Zeke shook the eastern sword containing Nebilos.
'Hey Nebilos, answer me.'
That's when Arataso spoke:
[Nebilos is a high-ranking demon, Abaddon's subordinate. Someone so proud won't comply easily.]
Zeke clicked his tongue at Arataso's words.
'These demons never listen to just words.'
Zeke immediately raised his will of light while gripping the eastern sword.
TSTSTSTS!
As holy light seeped into the sword, Nebilos's terrified voice burst out:
[AAAARGH!]
'Want to die? Answer quickly when I call you.'
Trembling at Zeke's harsh tone, Nebilos said.
[You're more demonic than demons!]
'Shut up and listen to my explanation. This plan requires precise timing - fail and i'll be holding onto this holy sword all day.'
Nebilos could only yield to Zeke's cruelty. Though grinding his teeth, he responded positively asking to hear the plan.
Zeke planned to send Nebilos and Arataso to separate energy supply stations and destroy them simultaneously using system portals.
'I'll send ghost warriors to standby with you. When I signal, create chaos and make space for my portal arrival. I'll destroy the energy supply station as soon as I emerge.'
Arataso agreed to Zeke's words, while Nebilos remained silent until receiving another baptism of light.
After getting proper answers from both, Zeke summoned ghost warriors, gave them the green and eastern swords, and sent them to the energy supply stations.
He then infiltrated toward the first station.
Being a crucial stronghold, various magical beasts and monsters besides demon dogs and tigers patrolled the area.
Inside, there was a fortification wall built with solid stones, with familiar construction techniques.
'Orcs?'
Recognizing this, Zeke realized Orcs were the main force guarding the supply station.
Inside the fortification, Zeke was surprised to find not just Orcs.
Besides Orc legions in thick armor with steel axes, there were other races:
- Satyros with goat horns and legs
- Arachne with spider bodies and female human torsos
- Small but vicious Gremlins
'These races vanished from the surface with the Orcs. Where did the Abyss find them?'
A fight broke out between an Arachne and an Orc warrior. The Satyros watched with interest while Gremlins egged them on.
Zeke noticed the Arachne speaking in ancient Eastern Continent language, unlike the Orcs who used ancient Central Continent language.
'Could these ancient races have maintained their lineage beyond the Eternal Mountains? There might be more.'
As the situation escalated, black mages from the Abyss appeared with a hooded figure.
The races didn't fear the dark mages but seemed wary of the hooded figure.
『You inferior beings.』
A strange resonating voice spoke.
When the figure removed their hood, Zeke was shocked to see:
'That's...?'
A clear blood eye in the forehead - it was one of the Three-Eyed clan who once ruled Shambhala.