Chapter 477
Chapter 477
Chapter 477
'War in the Demon Realm.'
Actually, this was somewhat expected since he had heard about the Demon Realm from Arataso.
While on the surface, the six Great Demons including the Demon Archduke ruled over the entire Demon Realm, he had heard that fierce territorial disputes occurred daily among their demon followers.
What was surprising was that these territorial disputes didn't just happen between followers of different affiliations, but also among followers who worshipped the same demon.
It was so intense that the Archduke had created a proxy war called Demon Realm Chess based on the Constellation's battle games to preserve their forces, showing how the conflicts were incomparably more fierce than human battles.
Anastasia looked at Zeke and continued speaking.
[The Demon Realm is currently divided into four major regions. Abaddon in the south, Gehenna in the north, Abyss in the east, and Pandemonium in the west where my father, the Archduke, resides.]
Since Zeke had never heard the details about the Demon Realm's territories before, he listened carefully to Anastasia's words.
"So the demons who rule these four territories are fighting?"
[Yes. While they pretend otherwise on the surface, fierce battles are being fought to extend greater influence over the mortal realm.]
Hearing Anastasia's words, Zeke thought of something.
"Hmm? If that's the case, as the Demon Archduke, he might not be able to pay much attention to you being captured in the mortal realm. He would need to keep the other demons in check."
Anastasia flinched slightly at Zeke's words.
That was actually exactly what she was worried about.
Zeke looked at Anastasia and said.
"What do you think, Demon Realm Princess? Do you believe the Demon Archduke will come to the mortal realm for you?"
Anastasia couldn't easily answer Zeke's question.
The Demon Archduke, who possessed the strongest power among the fallen Constellations, couldn't come to the mortal realm directly in his true form.
He could only intervene by sending an avatar to lend his power, and given Zeke's achievements so far, it wasn't an easy decision as his true form in the Demon Realm could potentially be harmed if things went wrong.
As Anastasia failed to give a proper answer, Zeke's gaze grew colder.
"This makes our contract meaningless."
Zeke had planned to use Anastasia as bait to draw in the Demon Archduke.
But if Anastasia had no value as a hostage, there was no need to keep her around.
At Zeke's words, Anastasia panicked and waved her front paws.
[Ah, even if Father can't come directly, he'll send my sisters to rescue me!]
Zeke showed a skeptical expression at Anastasia's words.
"From what I heard from other demons, your sisters aren't exactly close. Aren't you all competing for the Demon Archduke's favor? The Demon Archduke who supposedly cares for you might come, but your sisters?"
Anastasia gritted her teeth at Zeke's words.
[GNASH. That's true. But those bitches will definitely come, not to rescue me but to mock me and take over my territory.]
While they wouldn't come out of sisterly love, they would come for their own reasons.
Zeke pondered slightly at Anastasia's words.
Seeing this, Anastasia in her cat form frantically waved her front paws.
[The, the contract has already been made and can't be undone! My sisters will definitely come! If you capture them like me, Father will eventually have no choice but to show himself!]
Anastasia was selling out not only her sisters but also her father, the Demon Archduke, to save herself.
It was truly demon-like behavior.
Then a chilling voice was heard from behind.
"I really hope that happens."
Startled by the voice filled with killing intent, Anastasia's fur stood on end as she jumped toward Zeke.
MEOW!
Suddenly finding herself clinging to Zeke's shoulder, Anastasia trembled in fear as she looked behind her.
THUD!
Nigel, who had put down the head of a huge demon beast on the ground, glared at the transformed Anastasia and said.
"Tell your father and sisters to come to the mortal realm."
CRACK!
Nigel ground her teeth.
"I'll devour them all as soon as they arrive."
Nigel spoke warningly while emanating thick killing intent.
Though unspoken, it seemed her anger was still burning about Anastasia putting her in a dress while she was sleeping.
Receiving the High Table's fury with her whole body, Anastasia trembled and burrowed into Zeke's arms.
[She, she’s trying to kill me!]
At those words, Zeke shook his head.
"No, she won't kill you since you have a contract with me. Though she might skin you alive and dry you thoroughly in the sun."
At Zeke's words, the transformed Anastasia's face turned pale.
Nigel glared at Anastasia in Zeke's arms with a disgruntled expression.
Then he approached Zeke, grabbed Anastasia by the scruff of her neck, and threw her to the ground.
Landing on the ground, Anastasia momentarily forgot her fear and shouted at Nigel.
[What are you doing?!]
"Don't show yourself in front of me, you're annoying. Before I skin you alive right now."
Nigel glared at Anastasia with an irritated expression, and only then did Anastasia feel fear again and slink away. Watching this, Nigel sighed and beckoned to Zeke.
"Come in. I have something to tell you."
Zeke followed Nigel into the tree house.
Inside, Nabu was dozing in an armchair.
Seeing this, Nigel kicked the chair.
"Wh-what?"
Nigel glared at the flustered Nabu with a contemptuous expression.
When she gestured for him to come out, Nabu got up from the chair while grumbling.
Taking over the armchair, Nigel looked at Zeke and said.
"I had a talk with Nabu and Manna."
"What kind of talk?"
At Zeke's question, Nigel nodded toward Nabu.
At Nigel's attitude suggesting she should explain, Nabu grumbled again and opened her mouth.
"About what to do with the Black Star."
At those words, Zeke furrowed his brow.
"Indeed, if it's the Elder Dragon's heart, demons will likely keep targeting it. We should strengthen the seals and barriers here..."
Nabu shook her head at Zeke's words.
"No, that's not it. We talked with the leader too... we think keeping the Black Star here has its limits."
Surprised, Zeke asked.
"Are you saying you're going to move the Black Star somewhere else?"
At Zeke's words, Nigel suddenly stood up from the armchair.
Then she approached Zeke closely, stared at his face, and clicked her tongue.
"I don't know what the leader is thinking, but they said to hand the Black Star over to you."
Zeke's face showed confusion at Nigel's words.
"To me?"
Nabu stroked her chin and nodded.
"Yes, if the leader said so, there must be a reason."
After pondering their words, Zeke spoke.
"If I take the Black Star, what will happen to this forest?"
Nigel answered Zeke's question.
"Nobody knows. The forest itself has gained unpredictable mysteries from being under the Black Star's influence for so long..."
Nigel continued slowly.
"We can think about the forest later. What's important is protecting the Black Star. Since you've completely absorbed Bahamut's heart, you should be able to contain the Black Star too."
Zeke was shocked at Nigel's words.
"Are you saying I should absorb the Black Star , no, the Elder Dragon's heart fragment?"
"Yes. In the current situation, we judge that's the safest way to protect the Black Star."
Zeke deeply contemplated Nigel's words.
Then something crossed his mind.
'The Black Star contains the Elder Dragon's power. If I absorb this, I might be able to break through the wall and reach the next level.'
It was clear that battles would become easier if he could use the Elder Dragon's power when facing the Abyss faction and demons using demonic authority.
Zeke nodded and said.
"I understand. I'll accept the Black Star."
"Good. Now that it's decided, there's no need to waste time."
Nigel immediately reached out and placed her palm on his diantan.
"What are you doing, Master?"
"What does it look like? I'm going to absorb the Black Star."
"What? Right now?"
WHOOSH!
A huge vibration arose from Nigel's body.
Through Nigel's hand, Zeke unconsciously frowned at the vibration transmitted to his dantian.
'Ugh...'
It felt similar to when he first opened his dantian.
After a long time, he felt the sensation of his muscles twisting and tingling throughout his body.
After checking Zeke's diantan state with the vibration, Nigel spread her other hand.
CRACKLE!
A magic circle appeared above her palm.
Then a piece of black ore appeared above the magic circle.
WHOOSH!
Zeke could feel that the black ore that appeared through the magic circle was the broken heart of the Elder Dragon.
The Elder Dragon's energy that he had felt in Carcosa was flowing from the black ore.
'To think it contains this much power when it's just a part of the heart.'
Bahamut's heart was already a power unimaginable to humans, but the Elder Dragon's heart was on a different dimension altogether.
Holding the black ore, Nigel looked at Zeke and said.
"Putting an Elder Dragon's heart into a human... even I think this sounds truly insane."
Nabu shook her head at those words.
"That guy Zeke has already surpassed the level of ordinary humans. He's probably stronger than dragons?"
Nigel didn't deny Nabu's words.
If there was a single being in the mortal realm who could absorb the Black Star, it would be Zeke.
She decided to believe in Zeke's powerful will and uniqueness.
"Clench your teeth tight."
WHOOSH!
The vibrating force scanning Zeke's body grew stronger.
Zeke tried to accept Nigel's energy while enduring pain that felt like his body would crumble to dust.
Then complex patterns appeared glowing above Zeke's chest.
WHOOSH!
Nigel brought the Black Star in her hand toward Zeke's chest.
CRACKLE!
When the Black Star touched the pattern that appeared on Zeke's chest, it emitted black electricity.
Nigel ignored the black electricity shooting in all directions and forcefully pushed the Black Star into the pattern.
"NNGH!"
Even stronger black electricity then enveloped Zeke's body.
He clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
Even with the Healing Factor active, unimaginable pain tore through his entire body.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Nigel's forehead as she pushed in the Black Star.
While it looked like she was forcing it in from the outside, she was actually carefully calculating and precisely controlling her power to stabilize the Black Star in Zeke's diantan.
WHOOSH!
When the Black Star was more than halfway into the pattern.
Messages appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[Unidentified sealing stone detected.]
[Unidentified sealing stone is reacting to the title 'One Blessed by the Great Dragon'.]
[The powerful dragon force sleeping within the sealing stone awakens the Administrator's potential.]
[If this sealing stone is accepted, it will exceed the body's mana capacity limit.]
[Continuing absorption may severely impact the Administrator's soul.]
Zeke focused on the word 'potential' that appeared in the message window.
'I must endure and break through the wall.'
Zeke accepted the Black Star while enduring the pain.
CRACKLE!
Nigel was still using all her strength to carefully push the Black Star into Zeke's diantan.
RUMBLE!
The Black Star that had been slowly entering was suddenly completely absorbed into Zeke's body.
Nigel stepped back while sweating. Now the rest was up to Zeke.
She bit her molars and watched Zeke.
But Zeke showed no reaction.
"Zeke, are you alri…?"
Then something unexpected happened.
"KUHAK!"
Before Nigel could finish speaking, Zeke collapsed while coughing up black blood.
Fallen on the ground, he twisted his body in agony.
"NNGH!"
Black blood vessels bulged across his entire body, spreading from his chest.
"ARGH!"
Zeke let out a scream before his head dropped. Then he didn't move at all.
The shocked Nigel approached Zeke and pressed on his chest.
But Zeke's breathing didn't return.
With a pale face, Nigel shook Zeke and shouted.
"Zeke... wake up. I said wake up!"
Zeke, who had collapsed while coughing black blood, couldn't get up as his breath had stopped.
And so, Zeke Draker met an unexpected death.