572
Chapter 572
Bathory made an incredulous expression at Zeke's words.
"...You're saying that Arthur Draker is trying to resurrect the Demon King and summon demons from the demon realm into the physical world?"
"You understood correctly."
At his words, Bathory glared at Zeke while clenching her teeth.
"Zeke Draker, are you making a fool of me?"
Zeke met Bathory's eyes with an unwavering gaze and said:
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Seeing Zeke's steady, firm gaze, Bathory was barely able to suppress her anger.
"It seems the Empire hasn't been informed. The Allied Forces weren't formed simply to occupy the Empire. It's to prevent the Demon King and the demon realm's descent."
Though his words were unexpected, Zeke, with enough power to subdue Bathory and the Dracula Knights, had no reason to lie. Bathory analyzed the situation calmly, assuming Zeke's words were true.
With the wisdom inherited from the Red King, Bathory soon grasped the core of what Zeke was saying.
"Are you saying that Arthur Draker's abduction of the Guardian Dragon is related to this?"
Zeke nodded at her words.
"Yes. The world believes that dragons started the Liberation War, but the reality is different. Demons who possessed dragons' bodies attacked the physical world, and they tried to summon the Demon King into the body of Bahamut, who was called the strongest dragon."
Bathory jumped up from her seat in shock.
"No way! Are you saying they're trying to possess Eos with a demon's soul?"
Zeke shook his head at Bathory's words.
"We don't know what Arthur Draker's plan is yet. Unlike a thousand years ago, methods to summon demons in their complete state to the physical world have been developed now. Using the bodies of dragons, whose numbers are dwindling, to summon demons would be inefficient."
Bathory clenched her fists.
"Whatever the reason, it's not just a simple trophy. We must rescue Eos from him somehow."
"Your bond with the Guardian Dragon is impressive. Is this why the Dracula Knights show such loyalty?"
At Zeke's words, Bathory slowly spoke.
"Basarab has been where Eos resided as the Guardian Dragon since ancient times. Though she hasn't revealed herself because fear of dragons spread throughout the central continent after the Liberation War... to us, she is a benevolent mother and guardian deity. Everyone respects and follows her, which is why we've kept her existence hidden."
He could feel the affection and deep bond for Eos in Bathory's words.
'They say dragons loved humans the most. Humans must have loved dragons just as much.'
Bahamut and Terakan Draker were also bound by a deep relationship that transcended their species as dragon and human.
Zeke, too, possessed the hearts of an Elder Dragon and Bahamut, so he could sense what kind of bond existed between Eos and Bathory.
Zeke looked at Bathory and said,
"...I understand how the Countess feels. However, we must also consider the possibility that the Guardian Dragon is already dead."
At those words, Bathory pounded the Hersion she was wearing with her fist and said,
"This Hersion was made by Eos herself. As long as this light doesn't disappear, it's certain that Eos is alive."
"Are you saying the Guardian Dragon and the Hersion are connected?"
Zeke thought about it for a moment, then stood up and approached Bathory.
Then he examined the Hersion Bathory was wearing closely.
"Countess, I apologize for the intrusion."
"What?"
Zeke reached out and grabbed Bathory's Hersion, connecting to its system.
Then he opened the central power unit of the Hersion.
WHIRRRRR!
As the central part of the Hersion on her chest opened, a brilliantly glowing red jewel appeared in the middle.
Zeke looked at it with a surprised expression.
"It's a Dragon Heart? It seems Eos loved your family enough to embed her bones and heart here."
At Zeke's words, Bathory showed an even more surprised expression.
She had inherited the Hersion from the Red King and learned how to use it from Eos, but she didn't know that a Dragon Heart was inside it.
Seeing her reaction, Zeke gave a bitter smile and placed his hand on the Dragon Heart in the Hersion.
WOOONG!
The Dragon Heart vibrated strongly as if rejecting Zeke's touch.
Zeke clicked his tongue and said,
"We're trying to find your master, so stop resisting and cooperate."
Zeke raised his dragon energy to neutralize the Dragon Heart's resistance and used the system to connect to the Akashic Code.
WOOONG!
At that moment, red energy rippled from the Dragon Heart and Hersion.
Information about Eos connected to the Dragon Heart flowed into Zeke's mind.
WOOOONG!
Zeke, who had been receiving information, soon removed his hand and stepped back.
"Phew."
Shortly after, Bathory's Hersion closed and returned to its original form.
Seeing this, Bathory took a step back with a guarded expression and said to Zeke,
"Zeke Draker... what exactly are you?"
"I'm just myself. Nothing more. But..."
He spoke to Bathory with a serious expression.
"Eos's condition seems worse than I thought. Her mind appears to be contaminated. If things go wrong, she might lose her sense of self."
At those words, Bathory, who was about to sit down, jumped up in shock.
"What are you saying? Then how do we possibly…?"
"Calm down. With that Hersion, it's possible to pinpoint Eos's location. But you'll need to trust me and help."
At Zeke's words, Bathory stared at him quietly before nodding.
"...Alright. If we can save Eos, I'll cooperate with you. However, if you do anything suspicious, I'll cut off your head and put it on a stake immediately."
"As expected of the Thorn Castle's successor, you're ruthless."
But just then……
"Huh?"
Zeke raised his head and looked up.
He sensed an ominous energy coming from Jupiter Castle and immediately ran outside the tent.
Due to the energy covering the ravine, his senses had detected the anomaly a moment late.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The energy surging from Jupiter Castle was something Zeke had felt before in the underground labyrinth of Jiemens .
'The Guardian of the End.'
Zeke looked at Bathory, who had followed him out, and said:
"It seems Castro has meddled with something he shouldn't have."
He levitated into the air and gave her what was essentially an order.
"Countess, go to Jupiter Castle immediately and evacuate all citizens."
Zeke continued with a grim expression,
"Otherwise, everyone in the castle will die."
* * *
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The tightly closed gates of Jupiter Castle opened.
The Black Specter Squad, waiting after receiving Boris's contact, saw the gates open and sent a signal toward their headquarters.
WHOOOSH!
Zeros, a mage, shot a magical signal into the sky.
Clonne, who led the Black Specter Squad, gestured according to the signal.
"Burrow into the castle and first occupy one gate. Then secure positions one by one..."
But something about the atmosphere felt strange.
Thanks to the spy unit's efforts, they expected chaos inside the castle gates, but it was eerily quiet.
Clonne said to Felix beside her,
"Felix, take a few people and find out what's happening."
"Captain, why do you always give me the dangerous tasks…?"
"Do you want a beating before you go, or you’ll just go?"
Eventually, Felix avoided Clone and grumblingly took Diego and Aster to enter the castle.
"Hmm?"
Surprisingly, there were no knights or soldiers guarding the walls.
Diego tilted his head in confusion.
"Something's weird, yo?"
Aster nodded in agreement.
But just then….
"AAAAARGH!"
Several soldiers came running toward them, screaming madly.
As Diego and Aster raised their swords, preparing to cut them down, Felix raised his hand to stop them.
"Wait."
One of the soldiers, his face pale white, ran toward them as if he'd seen a monster, foaming at the mouth, and grabbed them despite their being obvious enemies.
"R-run! We need to run from here!"
The other soldiers, with terrified faces, were simply running away madly. Behind them, mercenaries and soldiers mixed together began rushing out in small groups.
Seeing this, Felix and his companions sensed that something had happened inside the castle.
"Let's go back and report to the captain..."
But just then…..
KAAAAAAAA!
A massive roar echoed throughout the castle.
The three looked up toward the source of the sound. Something was climbing the highest tower of Jupiter Castle.
Felix gaped as he examined it.
"What the hell... what is that?"
A giant black cocoon with multiple arms was climbing the tower.
Diego enhanced his vision to look at the cocoon and exclaimed in shock:
"Wow! There are people stuck all over the surface of that cocoon, yo!"
The cocoon, which had captured mercenaries, Jupiter Castle soldiers, and knights indiscriminately with its tentacles, was climbing to the top of the tower to digest them.
Following its instinct, the cocoon that had climbed to the highest point extended its tentacles in all directions.
SWOOOSH!
Hundreds of tentacles connected between the walls and other towers from the central tower.
At the center, the cocoon curled up and settled, as if incubating eggs.
Soon after, small protrusions began to grow on the tentacles the cocoon had extended in all directions.
CRACKLE!
The protrusions grew quickly and hung like fruits on tree branches.
When the rapidly growing fruits reached a certain size, they burst like amniotic fluid, spewing something along with mucus.
KAAAAK!
Horrible monsters with six arms and six eyes emerged from hundreds of fruits.
After hanging on the tentacles for a moment, the monsters began climbing down the walls and towers.
RAAAAAR!
With the commander gone, soldiers, knights, and mercenaries hiding throughout the castle began to be attacked by magical beasts amid the strange situation.
"EEEEK!"
The charging beasts had hard shells like crustaceans and spat acidic mucus.
While knights somehow pushed back the beasts with aura, regular soldiers and mercenaries couldn't properly respond.
"AAAAGH!"
Felix turned at a nearby scream. A mercenary drenched in acidic liquid writhed in agony before falling from the castle wall.
Tentacles spread across the ground collected the fallen mercenary's corpse and carried it to the cocoon.
The cocoon greedily moved its tentacles and beasts to bring food, as if trying to devour every living being in Jupiter Castle.
Even the Breaker Mercenary Corps, symbol of bravery, didn't think to resist the tentacles and beasts created by the cocoon, throwing down their weapons and fleeing.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
With the commander gone, even hiding became useless. More mercenaries and soldiers began fleeing outside the castle to escape the beasts.
Knights swung their swords at the fleeing soldiers, shouting,
"Follow orders! Death is the only other option!"
The soldiers could only panic, caught between beasts behind and knights' swords ahead.
Jupiter Castle quickly descended into chaos.
Watching the chaotic situation, something suddenly occurred to Felix.
"Even the knights can't properly respond. Wait, what about Jupiter's citizens?"
Having directly witnessed the horrible tragedy Abel caused in Rome, he couldn't stand by while innocent citizens were sacrificed.
Felix said to Diego and Aster:
"Diego, Aster. I'll go inside to help Jupiter's citizens escape. Go outside and report the situation to the Captain."
Diego and Aster nodded at Felix's words and immediately ran toward the castle gate without wasting time.
Felix ran quickly into the castle in the opposite direction.
GROWL!
Beasts charged at Felix from all directions as he tried to enter the castle.
SWOOSH!
Felix instantly cut down the beasts using swordsmanship learned from Baord, the Holy Kingdom's Arch Paladin.
The Black Specter Squad exclusive Hersion was now equipped on his entire body.
As he extended his left hand in that state, a shield appeared as the gauntlet unfolded.
"HAAA!"
Felix blocked tentacles flying at him with Arch Paladin shield techniques while swinging his sword to cut them all down.
SCREECH!
Though acidic liquid sprayed everywhere, it was mere drizzle to Felix wearing Hersion.
He pushed further inside toward Jupiter's city streets.
There he saw some citizens gathered together, barely resisting the beasts with makeshift weapons.
Felix charged straight toward them.
CRASH!
He sent beasts flying with his shield and cut down all the tentacles with his sword.
HISS!
Smoke rose as acidic liquid corroded nearby walls and wooden boards.
Jupiter's citizens were startled by the sudden appearance of a knight.
Felix shouted to the citizens,
"I'm here to save you! Follow me to escape this place!"