598
Chapter 598
"Hmm."
Zeke let out a short sigh while looking at the swollen mass of flesh collapsed in front of him.
"GRRRRR......"
Souma's body appeared unable to endure any more pain that Zeke had inflicted.
Zeke had already extracted most of the information he could from Souma.
Zeke snapped his fingers while looking at the groaning Souma.
WHOOSH!
The power of flame incinerated the mass of flesh that was Souma's form.
He disappeared completely into ashes without even being able to properly scream.
Zeke scattered purification power over the burnt ashes to completely destroy the outer beings' power so it couldn't regenerate.
Only after perfectly disposing of him did Zeke organize the information extracted from Souma.
'Arthur Draker's objective.'
That was ultimately what Zeke wanted to find out by interrogating Souma.
While interrogating Souma, Zeke also looked into the karma data using dragon wisdom when there was a gap in his consciousness.
However, like the Mines encountered earlier, Souma also had no other karma data remaining, as if blank.
It was as if karma data itself didn't remain in the power of outer beings.
'Rather than deliberately erasing the data, it doesn't remain in the first place?'
Even Zeke had limits in figuring it out since the power of outer beings was an unknown territory.
Zeke sighed and muttered Arthur Draker's objective learned through interrogating Souma.
"Perfect control of the world."
According to what was learned through Souma, Arthur Draker wasn't trying to destroy the world by summoning the Demon King.
He was trying to unite the physical world using that overwhelming power.
Just as Terakan Draker defeated the evil dragon Bahamut and united the physical world.
Arthur Draker planned to summon the Demon King to destroy the physical world 'to some extent', then step forward to save the world when the human world became one because of it.
Through this, Arthur Draker planned to write a new myth and legend like the Dragon Slayer myth, and create a world that he perfectly controls.
Of course, since it was a conclusion drawn based on information Souma spat out, it was unclear how much could be trusted, but it was something Arthur Draker would likely think of doing.
'Arthur Draker is an extreme narcissist. He's the kind of crazy bastard who would do something insane like summoning the Demon King just to become the protagonist of a new Dragon Slayer legend.'
Zeke turned his head to look at the island with Storm Castle.
If the Book of the Dead was sealed there, he had to absolutely prevent it from falling into Arthur Draker's hands.
Zeke said to Richmond and Bane.
"The remnants of the Black Corps might come here again, so no matter what happens, stop them if they try to enter the island from the outside."
Richmond and Bane prostrated themselves and loyally answered.
"Yes, my lord."
"Don't worry!"
Zeke summoned Bucephalus, leaving the rear to Richmond and Bane.
He immediately rode Bucephalus into the air and approached the Storm Island's territory.
WOOOONG!
As he got close to the island, a translucent barrier was blocking external enemies from entering.
Zeke reached out his hand toward the barrier.
CRACKLE! It
The barrier pushed him away, not allowing outsiders to enter as usual.
But Zeke didn't mind and entered Storm Island by breaking through the barrier.
CRACKLE!
Amidst the magical repulsion flying in all directions, Zeke's eyes flashed and sharpened.
'Arthur Draker, things won't go as you wish.'
Soon his figure disappeared into the protective barrier.
* * *
"Damn it!"
Nabu shouted and opened his book toward the rushing magic beasts.
"Blow, oh wind! And spears of solid iron!"
When he uttered the command, dozens of spears appeared and flew toward the magic beasts carried by strong winds.
THUD!
The spears pierced the bodies of the magic beasts.
Seeing this, Nabu raised his voice again.
"The arrow you shot into my heart became thorns, giving me indescribable pain and agony!"
At Nabu's words, thorns sprouted from the spears stuck in the magic beasts' chests.
CRACK!
Giant thorns pierced the insides of the magic beasts, tearing their bodies apart.
Watching this from the side, Nigel looked at Nabu with a strange gaze.
"...That passage probably didn't mean that?"
"Ah! Who cares when we're in a hurry?! Ivan! Curse!"
Ivan raised the crossbow in his hand at Nabu's words.
Then he fired arrows continuously at the rushing magic beasts.
THWACK!
The arrows struck the ground where the beasts were rushing rather than the beasts themselves.
Soon light rippled from the arrows and the curses engraved in them activated.
HISS!
Dark purple energy rose from where the arrows struck and seeped into the magic beasts' bodies.
The beasts' movements slowed as they lost their sense of direction and began attacking each other.
Nabu summoned more spears and threw them at the confused beasts.
Nigel, who had been protecting Nabu and Ivan, looked back when there was a gap.
There, Manna was maintaining a barrier to block the pouring magic beasts.
She said to Manna.
"Manna, to the side."
As Manna stepped aside slightly, Nigel thrust her sword forward at the beasts caught in the barrier.
CRASH!
Nigel's sword, imbued with soul energy, turned the beasts into a bloody mess in one strike.
Nabu wiped sweat from his forehead and caught his breath after dealing with all the beasts in sync with Ivan.
"Damn, there's so many of these bastards."
He clicked his tongue looking at the beast corpses scattered everywhere.
But then some of the corpses began to writhe as if trying to regenerate.
Nabu immediately opened his book upon seeing this.
"Holy light shines here to destroy all impure energy!"
WOONG!
Light surged forth to shine on the outer beings beast corpses, and they immediately scattered into black ashes.
Seeing this, Nabu collapsed to the ground as if all his strength had left him.
"Damn, holy light uses too much karma. How does that bastard Zeke use it so freely."
After taking a brief rest, judging that the rushing beasts had been somewhat cleared, he said to Ivan.
"The leader said he'll guard the Book of the Dead alone, but is it okay to just leave it like that?"
Ivan continued injecting curses into arrows with an unchanged expression as he spoke.
"The Book of the Dead is hidden somewhere in this castle. The leader probably judged it better that even we don't know its location."
Nabu made a dissatisfied expression at his words.
"UGH, even in this situation he won't work together!"
Watching Nabu's outburst, Nigel said.
"Stop complaining and get up. Since Storm Castle's barrier was breached, they'll keep infiltrating. These things multiply if left alone since they divide and regenerate repeatedly."
Nabu groaned and got up at Nigel's words.
"Oh my fate. I should've just transcended and lived comfortably without caring about this physical world. What wealth and glory am I even trying to gain…?"
But then all the gathered High Table members startled simultaneously and looked toward the end of the corridor.
They sensed someone walking in the dark corridor.
STEP! STEP!
A robed figure slowly revealed themselves.
The High Table members sensed an unusual energy from them and became alert.
Nigel stepped forward, pointing her sword while saying.
"Who are you?"
The robed figure removed the hood covering their face.
White hair, red eyes, and a youthful face were revealed.
He spoke while looking at the High Table members.
"My name is Harvey Draker. I was the priest who once led the Abyss."
Nabu behind made a surprised expression hearing Harvey Draker's name.
"Wait, Harvey Draker? Wasn't the Abyss priest originally Harvey West?"
Harvey Draker slowly opened his mouth at Nabu's words.
"The Abyss fell, and I gained a new name and life. I was reborn as a Draker, as new humanity for the new world."
Nigel furrowed her brow at Harvey Draker's words and said.
"That's quite a roundabout way of saying you became Arthur Draker's subordinate."
Harvey Draker closed his mouth momentarily at her words.
Then he glared at the High Table members and said.
"I won't speak long. Tell me where the Book of the Dead is. Then I'll grant mercy and kill you without pain."
Nigel raised her sword and drew up energy at his words.
RUMBLE!
Soul technique gathered in her sword.
Her aura alone was enough to distort the surrounding air.
"Thanks for the fascinating nonsense. I'll also show mercy and kill you quickly if possible."
WHOOSH!
Nigel's body shot forward like an arrow.
Her sword sliced through Harvey Draker's body.
HISS!
Harvey Draker's body, cut by Nigel's sword, scattered like mist then reformed behind her.
He looked at Nigel and said.
"High Table... transcendents with limited power. You lot who can't even properly reach transcendent class cannot handle my power."
Nigel made an irritated expression at Harvey Draker's words and swung her sword.
"Guys who love to talk big are never substantial. Shut up and come quickly."
The moment she stomped her foot, her form shot forward again.
Nigel's sword sliced through Harvey Draker's neck.
But it was the same as before.
HISS!
The mist-formed Harvey Draker revealed himself again from behind.
He spoke toward Nigel.
"Foolish beings. Feel the gap in our power."
Suddenly Harvey Draker's eyes changed to dragon eyes.
RUMBLE!
An enormous pressure emanated from his body.
Ignoring the enormous pressure Nigel charged at him again gripping her sword.
WOONG!
The sword's blade rang with soul technique poised to split Harvey Draker in one go.
Then Harvey Draker reached out toward Nigel and muttered.
"Fall."
Instantly Nigel dropped straight down from midair.
CRASH!
The spot where she fell cratered deeply with a tremendous sound.
"UGH!"
Nigel barely managed to rise while resisting the massive force pressing down on her.
Seeing this, Nabu opened his mouth wide and shouted.
"Crazy, isn't that Dragon's speech ?"
Dragon's speech was a power that dragons could obtain after spending over a thousand years becoming Ancient Dragons.
While there were stories passed down of Dragon Contractors in the past who could use Dragon's speech , there shouldn't be any humans left who could use it in this era where dragons had almost disappeared.
Of course, it was difficult to consider Harvey Draker simply a person of this era, but it was still surprising.
Moreover, while the command magic Nabu used looked similar to Dragon's Speech , its method and composition were completely different.
The scariest aspect of Dragon's speech was none other than its speed.
It was an incredible power to be able to create physical changes instantly through short words.
Harvey Draker's dragon eyes glowed as he looked at the High Table members including Nigel and said.
"Do you feel the gap in power?. Stop your meaningless resistance and tell me where the Book of the Dead is."
Nigel rose and scoffed at his words.
"Using such petty tricks."
She steadied her breathing and raised her sword.
Then she said to Harvey Draker.
"Boy, how many dragons do you think I've killed who had their bodies stolen by demons a thousand years ago? It's laughable seeing you act so proud with just Dragon's speech."
She was the guardian protecting the Forest of the Forgotten.
During the Liberation War, the Demon King's army must have targeted that forbidden area.
Dragons whose bodies were stolen by demons rushed into the Forest of the Forgotten, but they ultimately couldn't achieve their goal.
There was one reason.
Because Nigel the Forest Hermit was there.
HISS!
Soul technique rippled from the sword as divine body power settled in her body.
WOONG!
Nigel glared at Harvey Draker and stepped forward.
"Dragons or whatever... I'll cut them all down."