Chapter 470
Chapter 470
Chapter 470
KUGUGUGUGUGU!
With a flash of light, the portal opened and Zeke, along with the Three-Eyed siblings and the Irregular children, arrived at Nigel's treehouse in the center of the forest.
While Nigel's treehouse appeared crude from the outside, it actually had several layers of large-scale defensive magic arrays created by dragons surrounding it.
Even if the demon army were to enter the forest, Nigel's treehouse would be considered a safe place.
Just then, Nabu came out of the treehouse.
"Huh? What's this?"
Nabu had been strengthening the Black Star's seal with Manna. He couldn't help but look surprised when Zeke suddenly opened a portal and entered.
Ignoring Nabu's startled expression, Zeke took the Irregular children into the treehouse and laid them on the bed.
Seeing his actions, Nabu approached Zeke and asked.
"I told you to raid the supply depot, so why did you bring back so many children?"
After tending to the children, Zeke told Nabu.
"These children were the energy source supplying magical power to the gate."
"Huh?"
After hearing Zeke's words, Nabu made a surprised expression, then formed a circle with his thumb and index finger and looked at the sleeping children through it.
He dropped his hand in shock.
"These kids are Irregulars?"
Zeke nodded.
"That seems to be the case, but even if they're Irregulars, they shouldn't be able to supply unlimited magical power to the gate, right?"
Hearing Zeke's words, Nabu nodded and approached the lying children.
This time, he made a circle with both hands and looked at the children with both eyes.
"Hmmmm..."
Nabu let out a contemplative sound while looking at the three Irregular children lying on the bed.
After staring for a while, Nabu eventually nodded.
"Huh, so this is possible too."
He said to Zeke.
"These children are triplets."
"Triplets?"
While their hair color and appearance were similar enough that he thought they might be siblings, he hadn't expected them to be triplets.
Stroking his chin, Nabu said.
"Ancient records say that twins carry inexplicable mysteries from birth. Let alone triplets - they must carry even greater mysteries."
"Elder, are you saying these children have infinite magical power because they were born as Irregular triplets?"
Nabu shook his head at Zeke's question.
"Not exactly. The reason they emit infinite magical power is because they carry sacred blood."
"By sacred blood... do you mean they're descendants of the Nephilim?"
"Yes, though it's very rare, sometimes offspring are born between humans and Nephilim. In ancient times, such children were called 'Children of Angels.'"
"Children of Angels... so these children were born through an impossible probability - triplets who are both Irregulars and carry sacred blood."
Nabu nodded.
"To be honest, I wonder how likely it is for someone to be naturally born with such conditions. In any case, these children seem to have the innate ability to draw in surrounding mana and accumulate infinite magical power in their bodies."
"Infinite magical power. To think that's possible..."
"Actually, that's a common characteristic of Angel's Children. However, even with sacred blood, their bodies are still human. According to ancient records, Angel's Children have short lifespans and die before reaching ten years of age."
Looking at the lying children, Zeke responded to Nabu's words.
"These children look older than that though."
"My guess is that their Irregular powers allow their bodies to withstand the accumulated magical power. Being triplets probably has an effect too."
Irregulars were scars created by the God of Chaos to create rifts in the material world.
Since they could transcend the normal laws of the world, Nabu's words made sense.
Taking his eyes off the triplets, Zeke asked Nabu.
"Can these children survive?"
Nabu contemplated while looking at the children.
"Hmm, I'm a scholar, not a doctor, so it's difficult for me to make any definitive statements."
"If you don't know, Elder, who would?"
Nabu made a puzzled expression at those words.
"Huh? What are you saying? There's a High Table member who's better than me at medicine."
"Who is that?"
At Zeke's words, Nabu shook his head and said.
"You didn't know old lady Nigel was skilled in medicine?"
"What? Master?"
Throughout both his past life and current one, he only remembered getting beaten up by Nigel, so he had never thought she would be skilled in medicine.
'Well, considering I didn't die despite all that beating, I guess it makes sense.'
Thinking about how she had opened the middle energy point in Zeke's human body, it seemed impossible with ordinary knowledge.
Nodding at Nabu's words, Zeke said.
"So we need to rescue Master from those demons to treat these children."
"Yes, Nigel should be able to handle it. By the way, are those children outside Irregulars too?"
"It's a bit complicated to explain... but you can think of them as descendants of the Three-Eyed clan, an ancient race that chose to follow me."
"Oh? The Three-Eyed clan... you sure have some interesting folks around you."
Just as they were catching their breath while talking...
KIEEEEEEING!
A sound like the sky being torn apart was heard from outside.
Zeke and Nabu rushed outside the treehouse.
Titus and Ulina, who had been waiting outside, showed their bloodshot eyes while maintaining vigilance.
Zeke drew Ascalon and stood in front of the Three-Eyed siblings, glaring at whatever was showing these strange signs.
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
A crow made of dark energy appeared, fluttering on the ground before starting to grow in size.
KWADUDUDUK!
Soon after, the crow spread its wings, revealing a massive body over 2 meters tall.
It looked similar to the bird tribe overall, but the difference was the wings on its back.
The transformed crow opened its mouth to address Zeke's group.
[As the adopted daughter of the Archduke of Demons, the Demon Lord of craftsmen, a princess of the demon realm who commands ten thousand demons, an enchantress of inescapable charms...!]
SHIIIK!
Before the crow demon could finish speaking, Zeke launched a sword strike.
KWAKWABANG!
The sword strike caused an explosion, raising a cloud of dust.
As the dust cloud cleared, the crow was revealed to have blocked the sword strike by wrapping itself with its two wings.
The crow's eyes glowed red between its wings.
[You disrespectful humans...]
Zeke stepped forward, raising his sword.
"I have no intention of learning manners from demons. I'll make you regret breaking through the barrier to get here."
WOONGWOONG!
Along with his words, radiant light surged from Zeke's sword.
It contained radiant energy that could inflict fatal wounds on beings with demonic energy just by grazing them.
Sensing the unusual power of the holy sword, the crow demon stepped back in confusion.
[W-Wait! I bring a message from Lady Anastasia, the demon realm princess!]
"I have no need for demon messages."
PAJIJIIJIK!
Lightning of light burst from Zeke's holy sword and struck the crow demon's body.
It tried to quickly retreat to avoid the lightning, but it was useless.
PAJIJIJIJIK!
The crow demon struck by the lightning of light scattered into black ashes without even time to scream.
Nabu and the Three-Eyed siblings gaped at Zeke who had boldly destroyed the demon.
But then, black haze rose from the scattered ashes on the ground.
The risen haze gathered and soon formed a face.
A voice flowed from the haze that took the form of a woman's face with horns on her forehead.
[To kill my messenger in one strike... I quite like you, Zeke Draker.]
The high-ranking demon who had sent the message.
Anastasia had shown herself directly.
Her face formed from the haze looked at Zeke and spoke.
[Zeke Draker, you must know that I have your master Nigel.]
"Why did you take that dangerous person? Don't do unnecessary things and get yourself destroyed - quietly return Master."
Anastasia laughed loudly at Zeke's words.
[You're similar to what I saw in Nigel's memories. I like you even more.]
Zeke didn't miss the words ‘Nigel's memories’ that Anastasia mentioned.
'She says she looked into Master's memories, a High Table member - could she be a demon with Psychic abilities?'
The crow demon had introduced Anastasia as the adopted daughter of the Archduke of Demons, the Demon Lord of craftsmen.
'If she can use the incarnation powers of a Demon Lord, we can't let our guard down. She could harm Master using those powers, or find out how to break the seal...'
He needed to figure out how to rescue Nigel as quickly as possible.
That's when Anastasia spoke to Zeke.
[Hey, Zeke Draker. I'd like to make you a proposal.]
She smiled seductively and said.
[You'd come to where I am anyway to destroy the gate. Instead of that, let's make a bet.]
As far as he knew, one should be most wary when demons brought up bets and contracts.
But given the situation, Zeke decided to hear what Anastasia had to say first.
"What kind of bet are you talking about?"
[Come to where I am and compete with me. If you win, I'll hand over Nigel and we'll withdraw from here. However.]
Anastasia's face made of haze moved closer to Zeke.
[If I win, both the Black Star and you will become mine.]
* * *
Baron, the Black corps Commander, entered the clan head's office of the Four Seasons Castle.
"Head of family. You called for me?"
Hearing no response, Baron looked around the office but couldn't see Arthur.
He slowly entered the room inside the office.
After passing through Arthur's personal storage room and going further in, Baron stood in front of a crystal sphere attached to the inner wall, removed his gloves, and placed his hand on it.
WOONGWOONG!
Surprisingly, the portal activated in response to Baron's hand as well.
Soon the room's scenery changed and a cavity appeared.
Baron walked through the familiar corridor and stood before a door marked with the absolute sword clan Draker's emblem.
As he reached out his hand, the door slowly opened.
KUGUGUNG!
The secret space that Arthur Draker hadn't shown even to Kali and Abel was easily accessible to Baron.
Baron passed by the sword god statue standing in the secret space and entered through an arched doorway.
The sword graveyard appeared, with swords of past Draker clan heads stuck in the ground.
There, Baron could find Head of Family Arthur Draker.
Arthur Draker was standing before a crude black claymore.
Unknown to the public, it was the sword of the Sword Saint Sethon Draker, founder of the Draker clan.
Arthur Draker was silently staring at that sword.
Baron approached Arthur and bowed his head.
"Family Head."
Only when Baron approached did Arthur snap out of it and turn his head.
"Baron, you're here."
He looked at Baron briefly before turning back to gaze at the black claymore.
Then he said to Baron.
"Zeke couldn't pull out this sword either."
At Arthur's words, Baron raised his head and spoke.
"Did you want the sword to be pulled out?"
Arthur grinned at those words.
"Well... my feelings are complicated when I see Zeke. I'm still not sure what I want from that child."
He turned to Baron and said.
"This is the first time. No, not the first. Laura Agamemnon. That woman was like this too."
When Laura Agamemnon was mentioned, Arthur's eyes darkened.
It was an expression never seen on the usual Arthur.
Soon Arthur changed his expression and reached out to grab the black claymore's handle.
KUGUGUGUGU!
As massive energy rippled from his body, the entire sword graveyard shook.
It seemed like the whole place might collapse.
Yet the sword did not budge.
Soon Arthur released the sword handle, and the massive rippling energy disappeared.
"Hmm."
He examined the immovable black claymore before turning around.
Then he said to Baron.
"Baron, I don't think we can just stay like this. With the red moon approaching... that plan we discussed before. We need to implement it."
Baron raised his eyebrows at Arthur's words.
"If we implement the plan you mentioned, it will have a huge impact on all of Midland."
"Yes, that's exactly what it's meant to do, so of course it should."
Arthur grinned and patted Baron's shoulder.
"Spread news of my death across the continent. That will make the rats in hiding crawl out."