Chapter 500
Chapter 500
Zeke checked the message that appeared before his eyes.
[You have absorbed a part of the divine body of the Evil God Ajitahaka.]
[The incomplete restriction of the authority "Flesh Eating" has been lifted.]
[The authority "Flesh Eating" has been transformed into a new authority under the influence of the authority of the Shadow King.]
[You have acquired the authority ‘Devour.’]
[By absorbing the Constellation body, a portion of the seal on the sealing stone has been released. Current compression seal level: 55%.]
[You have obtained 25,000 Karma Points.]
[You have acquired 1 Special Random Box.]
Upon absorbing Ajitahaka’s body, the authority "Flesh Eating" transformed into the new authority ‘Devour’ under the influence of the Shadow King’s power.
Zeke activated the authority ‘Devour’ and glared at Abel.
The energy of the Evil God Ajitahaka surged from both Abel and Zeke.
Abel momentarily showed a surprised expression but quickly regained his composure and nodded at Zeke.
"…I died once because I underestimated the limits of your power. There will be no such mistake this time."
KUGUGUGU!
As Abel extended his hand, a wide-open mouth emerged in midair.
The mouth spat out a sacred relic engraved with demonic patterns.
It was the sacred relic of Ajitahaka, which had been in Ramon's possession.
As Abel gripped the dagger with one hand, the severed arm of Ajitahaka, which had been lying on the ground, began to react.
KWADUDUDUK!
The arm pressed against the ground and attempted to rise.
Seeing this, Zeke tried to suppress its movements using Ajitahaka’s authority, but Abel's control was stronger at the moment, making it impossible for Zeke to take command.
From Ajitahaka's arm, which was moving under Abel’s authority, pustules began to form and swell.
PASHAK!
The organic membrane burst open, releasing grotesque creatures from within.
Zeke immediately recognized their identity.
"The Flesh Eating Beasts."
He recalled how Azmund had once used Ajitahaka's sword to transform chimeras into aberrant beings.
KAAAAAH!
Monstrous creatures with horrifying appearances, unlike anything from the present world, let out shrill screams as they bared their sharp teeth at Zeke.
Some resembled insects, others had humanoid forms covered in writhing tentacles, and some defied all known shapes and descriptions.
Abel smiled as he watched the Flesh Eating Beasts emerge from Ajitahaka’s arm.
"They are utterly grotesque creatures, but they seem more than sufficient to deal with you, Zeke."
At Abel’s command, given through the dagger, the Flesh Eating Beasts charged toward Zeke in earnest.
KAAAAAAAK!
Zeke brandished Leviathan and slashed at the charging Flesh Eating Beasts.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG!
The creatures were torn apart by Zeke’s sword strikes, but their bodies were soon restored by the Evil God’s authority, allowing them to resume their assault.
Since they were created from Ajitahaka's body, they seemed to receive an even stronger effect from divine authority.
The reversal authority that restored the Flesh Eating Beasts worked on a different principle than Zeke’s power of immortality but produced a similar result, making them relentless attackers that refused to die.
Abel, watching Zeke surrounded by the Flesh Eating Beasts, smiled in satisfaction.
"You look quite fitting, wrestling around with vermin, Zeke."
Zeke defended himself against the aberrants' attacks using his Shadow Armor and continued to strike them down.
This time, instead of Leviathan, he drew the Holy Sword Ascalon and activated the authority of Great Purification.
WUUUUUUNG!
Golden energy enveloped Ascalon.
Zeke swung his sword, unleashing a purification-infused slash at the aberrants.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
Waves of golden energy radiated from Zeke’s sword.
Upon contact with the energy, the Flesh Eating Beasts shrieked in agony, their bodies convulsing violently before bursting apart, their forms reduced to nothing.
Zeke extended his shadow toward the shattered remains of the Flesh Eating Beasts.
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
However, he soon realized that absorbing them with his shadow was impossible.
‘Damn it!’
At that moment, a thought struck Zeke.
‘What about the newly acquired authority, Devour?’
While he hesitated, the bodies that had been destroyed began to revert to their original state under the reversal authority and once again charged toward him.
KAAAAAAAK!
Zeke unleashed the authority of Devour upon the monstrous creatures baring their hideous fangs at him.
TSUTSUTSUTSU!
The shadows surged upward.
Then, they split apart with a loud TEARING sound, revealing a colossal mouth within.
It was larger than the mouth created by Abel’s Flesh Eating authority, and its depths were filled with unfathomable darkness.
KWADUDUDUK!
The authority of Devour swallowed the charging Flesh Eating Beasts in one massive gulp.
KWADUK! KWADUK!
A horrific crunching sound echoed as the Flesh Eating Beasts were consumed by the power of Devour.
At that moment, a message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[The authority ‘Devour’ seeks more prey.]
[‘Devour’ endlessly craves sustenance and continues to grow.]
[Failure to control Devour may cause the authority to exceed its limits and consume its wielder.]
A terrifying authority that could devour anything—but if not properly controlled, even its own master could be swallowed whole.
It felt entirely different from the authority of Flesh Eating or the Shadow King.
"It’s literally an authority that endlessly consumes everything."
Zeke released the power of Devour that had swallowed all the Flesh Beasts.
However, as if unsatisfied, the power of Devour refused to retreat.
Only when Zeke forcibly severed the authority did the massive maw finally close, and the shadows that had surged up returned to their original state.
Zeke realized that he must not recklessly use the power of Devour.
‘But this power itself… it doesn’t seem to originate from Ajitahaka. Devour, huh… I still don’t fully understand it.’
Abel frowned as he watched the Flesh Beasts he had summoned get completely consumed by Zeke’s Devour.
They remained in a tense standoff, and Zeke glanced up at the sky. At some point, the glow of the Red Moon had begun to fade.
Zeke looked at it before turning to Abel and speaking.
“Abel, you won’t be able to summon Ajitahaka’s true form into the Physical Realm.”
At those words, Abel briefly looked up at the sky as well, then let out a chuckle.
“Zeke, you’re mistaken about something.”
RUMMMMBLE!
A sinister power erupted from Abel’s body.
“Ramon sought to bring Ajitahaka into the Physical Realm so that he could absorb the blood of Draker and take the Demon King’s power into himself.”
Ajitahaka’s severed arm began to float in response to Abel’s power.
CRACKLE!
The arm rose into the air and rapidly shrank in size until it was small enough to fit in Abel’s grasp.
Without hesitation, Abel seized the shrunken arm and bit into it.
CRUNCH!
RIP!
As he chewed and swallowed Ajitahaka’s flesh, Abel looked down at Zeke and spoke.
“Unlike Ramon, I have obtained the power of the Immortal Heart from the Mad Dragon, and I also wield the power of a Malefic Deity.”
RUUUUUUMBLE!
“With such power, why would I need to summon Ajitahaka’s true form at all?”
Zeke nodded in understanding.
“You’re right, you don’t need to summon Ajitahaka’s true form.”
The light of the Red Moon continued to dim, nearly fading away.
“But Abel, do you realize something?”
Zeke turned his gaze toward Abel, his voice firm.
“Karma does not permit the direct acceptance of a Constellation’s power.”
Abel’s expression hardened.
“What nonsense….”
ZZZZZZT!
Suddenly, fierce sparks erupted across Abel’s body.
“Grrrgh?!”
The backlash of causality, which the Red Moon had temporarily suppressed, had begun to take effect on Abel’s body.
“GRAAAAAAGH!”
Abel felt a searing pain, as if his entire body were being torn apart.
The laws of Karma had identified Abel as a being that disrupted the order of the Physical Realm.
Zeke gripped his sword and watched Abel struggle against the backlash.
‘I’ve been waiting for this moment.’
Even summoning Ajitahaka had required an immense amount of Bloodstones.
Forcing a Constellation-level Malefic Deity to descend into the Physical Realm, absorbing its body, and trying to wield its power in its entirety it was bound to incur severe consequences.
Zeke had been waiting for this exact moment to strike Abel.
WOOOONG!
He drew his shadow-forged sword, Caladbolg, and assumed his ultimate stance.
Zeke felt himself merge with Caladbolg as he leaped into the air.
Abel, still writhing in pain from the backlash, was suspended in the sky, unable to move properly.
“GRAAAAAAGH!”
ZZZZZZZT!
Abel saw Zeke charging toward him and raised his weapon, Zahak.
Draconic energy surged around Zahak.
The authority of Divine Punishment enveloped Abel, generating a massive storm.
“ZEEEKE! I WILL NOT FALL SO EASILY! AS LONG AS I CAN KILL YOU, THIS PAIN MEANS NOTHING TO ME!”
Ignoring Abel’s frenzied roar, Zeke thrust his blade forward.
He prepared to unleash the final technique he had learned from his master, Nigel the Triple Spell.
WOOOOONG!
Caladbolg vibrated intensely.
As the storm of Divine Punishment roared toward him, Zeke extended his sword.
At the same time, he activated his Soul Blade and unleashed the Triple Spell.
Ultimate Sword Technique
Triple Spell
The Will of Nullification
A technique Nigel had once used on Zeke.
Zeke’s Soul Blade cut through the storm of Divine Punishment, and the Will of Nullification seeped into Abel.
WOOOOOOONG!
At first, Abel felt no noticeable change from the Will of Nullification.
Then, suddenly……
BLURGH!
A torrent of black blood gushed from Abel’s mouth.
“GAAAH!”
Blood streamed from his nose and eyes as well.
The Will of Nullification rendered its target completely defenseless.
Abel, who had been barely resisting the backlash of causality with the power of a Constellation l, lost all resistance in an instant.
Fully exposed to Karma’s absolute retribution, Abel’s body began to crumble.
“GUUUHHHAAAHH!”
Screaming in agony, Abel lost control and plummeted toward the ground.
BOOOOM!
A thunderous impact shook the battlefield as Abel crashed into the ruins of the shattered platform.
“GUUAAARGH!”
Abel continued to cough up blood, realizing that his body was completely falling apart.
He had not expected that devouring Ajitahaka's flesh and directly absorbing his power would come with such consequences.
Ramon or the priest would have prepared countermeasures for this, but with Zeke’s interference, all of those had become useless.
Zeke slowly approached Abel while holding Caladbolg.
CRACKLE!
CRACK!
The storm of causality backlash, caused by Karma’s sanction, swirled around Abel’s crumbling body.
Zeke looked at Abel and spoke.
"Abel, our accursed fate is finally coming to an end. This time, don’t crawl back up from hell,stay buried in it for good."
Abel, looking at Zeke, picked up Zahak.
"Ugh… That’s my line. Zeke Draker… You…!"
Just as Zeke was about to swing his sword at Abel without listening to the rest of his words….
BOOM!
A sudden explosion went off near Zeke’s face.
Zeke swiftly retreated.
‘What is this…?’
When he lifted his gaze, he saw a man in a suit and a mask standing right in front of Abel.
The head of the Nostra Family.
He had revealed himself at last.
"Hmm, Harvey is always so sloppy with the finishing touches."
The boss of the Nostra Family pulled out a vial from his coat and immediately poured its contents onto Abel.
SSSSHHH!
The liquid turned into mist and seeped into Abel, astonishingly suppressing the storm of causality backlash.
Zeke widened his eyes and glared at the boss.
In response, the boss shook his head.
"Ah, don’t glare at me like that. I’ve made an investment in this side, too. I can’t just sit back and do nothing, now can I?"
After finishing his words, the boss snapped his fingers.
RUMBLE!
The ground trembled, and from beneath, chimeras began to emerge.
The boss looked at Zeke and spoke.
"Zeke Draker, thanks to you, things have gotten quite troublesome. I’ll be sure to collect this debt from you later."
As he spoke, he grabbed Abel, who could barely stand.
Realizing that they were about to escape through spatial teleportation, Zeke quickly threw something at Abel.
THUD!
A dagger made of adamantium pierced directly into Abel’s heart.
It was one of the adamantium daggers Zeke had crafted from the Tears of Goddess Theia, which he had received as a reward.
"Damn it!"
The boss cursed in shock, and the two of them vanished.
Zeke clenched his teeth as he stared at the spot where Abel and the boss had disappeared.
‘I lost him again…’
He had never expected the boss to suddenly appear, and because of that, he had been unable to respond properly.
Zeke steadied his breathing as he gripped his sword and faced the approaching chimeras.
The long battle had drained his strength, leaving him so exhausted that his head felt dizzy.
"Haa… Haa…"
But he couldn’t afford to collapse now. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to grip his sword and braced himself against the charging chimeras.
Just then……
SLASH!
A knight in black armor leaped down from above, instantly cleaving through the chimeras.
Zeke, recognizing him, shouted in surprise.
"Master Duke!"
Duke Draker had finally appeared on the battlefield, unleashing the power of the Black Knight.