575
Chapter 575
The angel was bewildered by the message before its eyes.
It couldn't understand how an unauthorized user had accessed its main system.
This had never happened before throughout countless cycles of the apocalypse.
[Guardian #3 blocks unauthorized user who accessed the main system.]
[Block denied.]
[Guardian #3 blocks unauthorized user who accessed the main system.]
[Block denied.]
Warning messages kept appearing that its attempts to block the unknown user accessing its system were being rejected.
The angel was at a loss for how to handle this unprecedented situation.
Then another message appeared.
[Unauthorized user enters command into main system.]
[Releasing captured resource.]
CRACK!
With the message, the mass of tentacles writhing on the angel's body split open.
Alicia, who had lost consciousness, slipped out from within.
Alicia, tightly gripping the wolf fang sword, fell from the angel's body toward the ground.
THUDDDDD!
At that moment, Bucephalus quickly flew through the air and caught the falling Alicia on its back.
Alicia safely descended to the ground while lying face down on Bucephalus's back.
The angel, having forcibly ejected Alicia, was losing control of its main system functions in real-time.
CRACKKKK!
The angel tried to escape the current situation but had already lost control and couldn't even move freely.
Just then, space rippled in front of the angel and someone appeared.
SWISHHHH!
It was Zeke, who had arrived dragging the other angel restrained by Solomon's chains.
Zeke smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the angel that had lost control and couldn't move.
"I was right. Though there are two bodies, they're controlled by a single system."
He had accessed the main system of the angel restrained by Solomon's chains using dragon wisdom and the Akashic Code.
He had disabled the angel by unlocking the main system's security devices, forcibly gaining control rights, and forcibly terminating the angel's extinction program.
The angel glared at Zeke while trying desperately to regain control.
Seeing this, Zeke unleashed lightning toward the angel.
CRACKLEEEEE!
Powerful lightning enveloped the angel's body.
ARGHHHHHH!
The angel screamed from the pain coursing through its entire body.
Since Zeke had disabled the defense system, it could only feel the full intensity of the pain.
SIZZZZZZLE!
Unlike before, the angel's body surface turned black and white steam rose up.
"If you resist again, I'll sear you all the way through this time."
Whether Zeke's threat worked or not, the angel flinched and stopped resisting.
Soon after, Solomon's chains shot out and tightly bound the other pair of angels as well.
They were perfectly restrained, chained back-to-back just like when they first appeared.
He took the bound angels down to the ground.
THUDDDDD
Helen and Duke ran toward Zeke as he descended.
"Zeke!"
Helen approached Zeke while keeping a wary eye on the restrained angels.
"What exactly is going on here? What are these monsters?, and why is the Red king helping us…?"
"I'll explain everything slowly. For now, we should focus on securing the battlefield and stabilizing Jupiter Castle."
Helen snapped to attention at Zeke's words.
She nodded and spoke to Duke.
"Lord Duke, please lead the troops to inspect inside the castle first. There may still be enemy remnants."
"Understood. I'll send a signal right away if there's nothing wrong."
Duke led the Black Sword Knights into Jupiter Castle first.
Helen prepared to enter the castle while stabilizing the allied forces.
As Zeke watched and was about to move again, Bucephalus carrying Alicia approached him.
Zeke confirmed that Alicia was unconscious and grabbed her shoulder to activate complete recovery.
HUMMMM!
As the warm energy seeped into Alicia's body, all her remaining wounds disappeared.
At the same time, she suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.
"Ha! You monster! This level won't...! Huh?"
Alicia realized she was on horseback and looked around.
Then she was startled to discover Zeke looking at her.
"Zeke Draker!"
Her surprise was brief, and she jumped down from behind Bucephalus's back with a happy expression.
Then she patted her armored chest and said,
"How was that? You must have seen the Grand Duke's great performance?"
Zeke smiled looking at Alicia.
"Yes, thanks to the Grand Duke buying time, I was able to capture it."
Alicia looked at the twin arch angel bound in chains with renewed amazement.
"Ha, this is beyond calling it a monster. Zeke Draker, what exactly is this being?"
"An angel."
At Zeke's words, Alicia made a dumbfounded expression.
"Angel? Like from the Bible?"
Zeke quietly nodded at Alicia's words.
Alicia made a bewildered face for a moment, then approached the chained angel to examine it from various angles.
"What? Good heavens. I could accept the Demon King story, but now angels are showing up? Next we'll see constellations appearing."
"That will probably happen."
"What?"
Just as Alicia opened her mouth wide to ask Zeke something, someone approached from behind.
"Zeke Draker."
The Red king jumped down from the red horse, wearing Hersion.
As the Red king approached, Alicia instantly changed her demeanor and raised her Wolf fang sword defensively.
Zeke raised his hand toward Alicia.
"It's fine, no need to be on guard."
"Saying not to be on guard against the infamous Red king ,you're too soft, Zeke Draker."
Zeke shook his head at Alicia's words.
"Your point is valid, but above all, this person is not the Red king."
Alicia frowned at Zeke's words.
"What are you saying? How can the Red king not be the Red king?"
Then Bathory deactivated Hersion's helmet.
As the red-haired woman revealed her face, Alicia's eyes widened.
"What's this now?"
Zeke said to Alicia.
"Bathory Bathory. Successor to Red king Count Vlad. She's agreed to join forces with us."
Alicia admired Bathory's intellectual and beautiful appearance while still warily regarding her, not easily believing Zeke's words.
Bathory spoke while looking at the still hostile Alicia.
"Wolf of the North, your return of my spear was impressive."
She was referring to when Alicia had returned the thorn spear she had thrown.
Alicia snorted at Bathory's words and replied.
"It would have been more impressive if that thorn had pierced your chest."
Then Bathory's red eyes flashed as she shot back sharply at Alicia.
"I think it would suit better to have a wolf's head mounted on the thorn's tip."
"Ha? Let's see if you still talk like that after I twist and tear off that head of yours."
Just as Alicia and Bathory were about to clash, glaring at each other with rising tension.
Zeke raised shadows to separate the two.
He shook his head and said.
"Now is not the time for us to fight each other. There may still be more enemies, so preparing for that should come first."
At Zeke's words, Alicia glared at Bathory while breathing heavily.
Then Zeke spoke to Bathory.
"I'll use the ravine base. I need to extract some information from this one."
Bathory quietly nodded.
Standing next to the twin arch angel, Zeke spoke to Bathory and Alicia.
"Having fighting spirit is good, but we're on the same side now, so both of you stop fighting."
SWISHHHH
With those words, Zeke disappeared along with the twin arch angel.
Left alone, Bathory and Alicia glared at each other before turning around to return to their own camps. After walking a few steps, they suddenly turned back simultaneously and charged at each other with raised fists.
"HAAAH!"
"I'll kill you!"
Their fight only stopped when Helen arrived after organizing the allied forces.
The pride battle between dragon and wolf ended in a draw.
* * *
SWISHHHH
A portal opened and Zeke appeared with the chained twin arch angel.
The twin arch angel struggled to break free from Zeke's restraints.
But having already lost its main system to Zeke, no amount of force could help it escape.
Through the main system, Zeke was able to discover the true name of the twin arch angel's master.
'Azrael.'
The ruler of the twin arch angels, the angel of death who would blow the death trumpet at the front when doomsday comes, and the master of the windstorm.
Zeke repeated that name and then used the system to forcibly activate the power possessed by the twin arch angel.
HUMMMM
He forcibly activated the unique domain where Azrael's power reaches.
As the surroundings changed, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You have witnessed the forgotten city 'Sky City Laputa'.]
[The forgotten time fragment related to this civilization connects to the Akashic Code.]
[Large amount of karma data is being updated.]
[Acquired information about 'Sky City Laputa' through this data.]
[System restriction code related to this information has been lifted.]
[You can now browse the list of skills and items related to 'Sky City Laputa'.]
As Zeke expected, new data was updated after witnessing the angel's unique domain.
'Sky City Laputa.'
Zeke rose into the air with the twin arch angel and examined the completely transformed surroundings.
A city with an amazing civilization was built on a floating island hovering in the sky.
Looking at Laputa, Zeke recalled one thing.
'The Sky People.'
When he obtained Horus the Guardian in the Bird tribe Ghetto, he had discovered ruins of the ancient Sky People.
The ruins of the Sky People he saw then were built in a similar style to Sky City Laputa.
'Perhaps the ancient Sky People inherited the civilization of Sky City Laputa. And that civilization connected to today's Birdmen.'
Zeke thought that fragments of forgotten time might have changed form and left their traces in the phenomenal world, however small.
As he continued his thoughts, the air shimmered and someone appeared before Zeke.
"Zeke Draker."
It was none other than the Arrogant Savior, Satan.
Zeke looked at the suddenly appeared Satan with an indifferent face and said.
"I knew you would appear here."
Satan nodded at those words.
"It seems the Dragon's Tomb and unique domain combined allowed me to bypass causality's restrictions. Anyway, it's good to see your face again like this."
Satan smiled at Zeke as he spoke, but Zeke showed no particular reaction, and Satan continued unconcerned.
"Why have you called me out again?"
After contemplating Satan's words, Zeke spoke.
"I'll be direct. What is the truth you spoke of, and what arrangements have you prepared for me?"
Satan gave a beautiful smile at Zeke's words.
"So the Knight of Salvation has finally become interested in my proposal."
At those words, Zeke glared at Satan and pointed to the restrained twin arch angel.
"I just thought preparation would be needed if more of these will appear."
This time, Zeke was able to finish the battle with minimal damage by infiltrating the main system before the angel fully bloomed.
But even Zeke would struggle to stop them if two or more angels fully bloomed and attacked the continent simultaneously.
Therefore, Zeke thought he needed to become stronger through the truth and power arrangements Satan spoke of.
'Above all, I need to prepare since I can't know what Arthur Draker is aiming for and what he'll do.'
Arthur Draker was a man whose intentions were impossible to read.
And since he was convinced that whatever intentions he had wouldn't be good, thorough preparation against him was necessary.
Satan slowly nodded at Zeke's words.
Then he spoke.
"It would be better to hear the truth I spoke of from Mephistopheles rather than me. Since he, not I, is preparing the final chapter."
At the same time, Satan's eyes burned red.
He spoke to Zeke in a slightly subdued voice.
"Moreover, the arrangements I prepared... Zeke Draker. Are you ready to accept this?"
Zeke nodded at Satan's words.
"Yes, whatever you have to give, give it quickly."
Satan smiled as if pleased with Zeke's straightforward response.
He extended his hand.
HUMMMM
A red, luminously shining orb suddenly gleamed in Satan's hand.
He said to Zeke.
"Zeke Draker, this is my unique domain 'Purgatory (燃獄)'."