619
Chapter 619
‘Shadow Hunters.’
Zeke looked at the lost soul warriors who had transformed into Shadow Hunters.
It was a fitting name that seemed to be modeled after Zeke’s time as a hitman.
Just then, the dark knights summoned more dark knights who charged toward where Zeke was.
KAAAAK!
The lost soul warriors from the vanished world, summoned by twisted causality, charged forward while letting out horrific screams.
Seeing these lost soul warriors, Zeke gave orders to the Shadow Hunters.
“Hunters, liberate the souls of these noble warriors.”
TSTSTSTS!
The Shadow Hunters who received Zeke’s orders drew daggers in both hands and rushed toward the lost soul warriors.
SWISH!
Surprisingly, not only their appearance but also their movements resembled Zeke’s hitman days.
The Shadow Hunters moved in perfect unison, reminiscent of those times.
The hunters approached the lost soul warriors stealthily but swiftly, keeping low to the ground.
Simultaneously, the Shadow Hunters began melting into the surrounding shadows.
The lost soul warriors who had been tracking the Shadow Hunters’ movements stopped their advance when they suddenly disappeared.
While they hesitated, the shadows of the lost soul warriors rippled like dark stains seeping in.
WHEEEEEK!
As the lost soul warriors were in disarray, the hunters hiding in the shadows sprang out.
KAAAAK!
The lost soul warriors detected their movements too late and tried to charge again, but the hunters had already secured advantageous positions.
Meanwhile, two or three hunters attached themselves to each lost soul warrior, swinging their daggers from above, below, and the sides.
SWOOOOSH!
In an instant, the lost soul warriors’ bodies were shattered to pieces.
The hunters melted back into the shadows and moved to attack other lost soul warriors.
The shattered remains of the lost soul warriors fell into the shadow swamp Zeke had spread out and were reabsorbed by him.
Once again, Zeke converted those souls with vengeful will among the absorbed lost soul warriors into Shadow Hunters.
As a result, the more the lost soul warriors charged, the more Zeke’s forces grew instead.
The dark knights seemed to realize this too, as they stopped summoning lost soul warriors at some point.
KUGUGUGUGUGU!
The dark knights who had only been summoning soldiers from behind pulled out their swords that had been stuck in the ground and rose.
Ominous breath steamed out from inside their helmets.
An overwhelming pressure incomparable to the lost soul warriors emanated from the dark knights.
The Shadow Hunters who had nearly finished dealing with the lost soul warriors closed in on where the dark knights were.
That’s when the dark knights raised their swords first and charged forward.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
When the dark knights swung their swords, surprisingly, aura imbued with dark energy burst forth.
TSTSTSTSTSTS!
The Shadow Hunters tried to advance against the dark knights’ dark aura, but they couldn’t maintain their form properly and either scattered or sank back into the shadows.
Seeing the Shadow Hunters scatter instantly from just one sword strike, Zeke realized that the power possessed by the dark knights was no less than that of high-ranking demon race.
‘They must have been renowned knights in their respective eras of existence.’
Like with the lost soul warriors, Zeke wanted to save the souls of the dark knights who were captured by corrupted power.
WOOOONG!
Strong vibrations occurred in the holy sword Ascalon.
Zeke amplified his aura using wave resonance like Hercules.
KUGUGUGUGUGU!
Powerful aura burst forth from Zeke’s body.
At the same time, the dark knights charged forward and swung their swords imbued with dark aura at Zeke.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
Powerful dark aura flew toward Zeke.
Zeke raised Ascalon and charged forward, unleashing the Dragon Slaying technique.
KIIIIIING!
The amplified wave resonance vibrations carried by the Dragon Slaying technique drew a massive crescent.
When Zeke’s wave disrupted the dark fighting spirit, the dark knights’ red eyes flashed inside their helmets.
Soon after, dark storms raged from their swords.
KUGUGUGUGUGUGU!
As dozens of powerful dark storm strands raged, the earth began to shake.
KURRRRRRRNG!
The earth split and dark storms soared to the ends of the sky, then black lightning fell from above.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG!
As black lightning struck in all directions, it seemed like the end of the world was occurring.
That’s when it happened.
[Come. Here. Come quickly.]
The Demon King’s eerie voice echoed in their ears again.
Nabu, who was behind, heard the Demon King’s voice that seemed to be calling the dark knights and shouted to Zeke.
“Zeke! The Demon King’s power flowing from the temple seems to be getting stronger!”
This meant that the sealing power protecting the temple was gradually weakening.
Hercules, who was holding firm in front of the temple inside the barrier, seemed to sense the change as well and took up a defensive stance with his bow.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
The dark knights who had summoned the dark storms slowly began approaching where Zeke was.
Their presence was like seeing riders of death bringing about the end of the world.
Zeke held Ascalon and sent holy spirit energy into the wave resonance vibrations.
WOOOOOONG!
Brilliant light spread in all directions resisting the dark power, but its force was somewhat insufficient to stop the violently rising storms.
'Black storms and lightning. The obscured vision makes them tricky to deal with.'
He could face them by revealing his divine nature, but Baron was still hiding. Moreover, since they didn't know what was in the temple, it was difficult to rashly move while revealing all his power right away.
But that's when it happened.
SWISH!
A massive rain of arrows began falling from the sky.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
It was a rain of orichalcon arrows shot by Hercules. They pierced through the dark storms and struck down toward the dark knights.
KWADDDDK!
The physical force of the orichalcon arrows had pierced through the storms created by the dark knights' fighting spirit and struck them.
When Zeke looked back, Nabu and Nigel were inside the barrier, and Hercules was taking an attacking stance with his bow aimed at the dark knights.
Seeing this, the corners of Zeke's mouth rose slightly.
'So he's going to support from behind. Seems he changed his mind.'
With a more relaxed mind, Zeke steadied his breathing and raised Ascalon again.
CRACKLE!
Lightning of light imbued with holy spirit energy soared high into the sky.
Simultaneously, golden aura containing purification power flowed from Zeke's body.
The energy of the dark storms that touched the golden aura dissipated.
Zeke once again concentrated power in his sword and shot lightning of light up into the sky.
CRACKLE!
Dozens of massive lightning bolts filled the sky, consuming the dark storms and dark lightning.
At the same time, orichalcon arrows rained down from the sky again.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!
The lightning of light created by Zeke overlaid the orichalcon arrows, adding holy spirit power.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
Arrows containing lightning of light pouring from the sky showered down onto the dark knights' heads.
CRACKIIING!
The dark knights stopped their storms and swung their swords to deflect the arrows, but they couldn't prevent the lightning containing brilliant light power from seeping into their bodies.
CRACKLE
Lightning of light that burned impure power enveloped the dark knights' bodies.
KIGIGIGIK!
As the dark knights wrapped in lightning showed slowed, creaking movements, Zeke immediately charged forward.
He stretched out his hand, used power amplification, then created wave resonance toward the orichalcon arrows stuck all around.
WOOOOOONG!
At first, one arrow received the power-amplified wave and began vibrating, then other arrows started resonating with it.
ZIIIIIIING!
In an instant, the orichalcon arrows placed throughout the battlefield all resonated as if alive, then amplified and released the waves Zeke had created.
The movements of the dark knights placed in the middle of this wave field became even more rigid.
As their dark fighting spirit scattered, cracks appeared in their armor and swords.
KWADDDDD!
Seeing the attack working on the dark knights, Zeke created even stronger waves.
KIIIIIING!
The orichalcon arrows created stronger vibrations, and that power created cracks in the dark knights' armor.
Soon something began flowing out from inside the dark knights' cracked armor.
SWISHS!
Writhing, sticky dark matter oozed out from between the broken armor.
The dark matter affected by the amplified waves vibrated minutely and twisted its body here and there as if in pain.
These substances were the source of the ominous energy holding the dark knights' souls.
Zeke stretched his hand toward the dark matter flowing from the dark knights' armor.
WHOOOOSH!
He used both the power of flame and amplification to pour unextinguished flames toward the dark knights.
The flames created by his power enveloped the dark knights and burned the dark matter.
KEEEEK!
When engulfed in flames, the dark matter twisted its body here and there like a living creature, trying somehow to escape the wave field.
That's when massive white flames arose in the direction where the dark knights tried to escape.
WHOOOOSH!
The white flames breathed out by Hercules swallowed the dark knights along with the power of flame.
Due to the flame attacks from both sides while caught in the wave trap, the dark matter controlling the dark knights couldn't regain strength.
Just as Zeke was extending his shadow to absorb the burned dark knights...
BOOM!
A massive explosion echoed from behind the temple.
Simultaneously, the barrier protecting the temple slowly disappeared.
Zeke narrowed his brows as he looked toward the temple.
'Baron.'
He had clearly been using the dark knights as bait while looking for an opening to enter the temple.
Hercules' eyes turned red again as he breathed flames.
He stopped breathing flames and raised his massive body, trying to run straight toward where the explosion occurred behind the temple.
But then black vines shot up from the ground.
SWOOOOOOSH!
Hundreds of black vines burst from the ground and wrapped around Hercules' body.
Caught off guard by the vines, Hercules remained rigidly fixed in place, and unable to move.
The vines also extended toward Nabu and Nigel, attempting to attack.
"HAAAH!"
The quick-reacting Nigel swiftly swung her sword and cut down the vines.
But more vines grew from the cut spots and attacked them again.
This time Nabu opened his book and shouted at the vines.
"Let rain of fire fall from the sky and destroy the thickets blocking our path!"
As he commanded, rain made of fire poured down from the sky
BOOM!
The vines enveloped in flames seemed to take damage as they burned, unable to withstand the flames, but their bodies regenerated again to fill the spaces of the burned ones.
Moreover, the vines that burst from the ground had already wrapped around the temple surroundings, making it seem impossible to get inside.
The situation wasn't easy on Zeke's side either.
The suddenly emerged vines had pulled out all the orichalcon arrows stuck in the ground, reducing the wave amplification.
As the waves weakened, the cracking dark knights also began recovering.
The dark knights approaching Zeke with flashing red eyes and raised swords truly seemed worthy of being called an immortal knight order.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Zeke steadied his breathing as he watched the dark knights approaching him.
'Now that I've detected Baron's movements, I can move in quickly.'
Zeke calmly closed his eyes and began releasing the divine nature he had been suppressing until now.
The power of the constellation soared from his body.
KUGUGUGUGU!
Having absorbed the soul of the arrogant savior, Zeke could grow into a constellation strong enough to become a great lord of the demon world.
Since this was a space made of a separate unique barrier rather than the current phenomenal world, there were almost no restrictions on his power.
RUMBLE!
As Zeke revealed his true power, the entire earth began shaking as if it would flip over.
Nevertheless, the dark knights charged at him with raised swords while spewing dark fighting spirit.
Zeke, having fully revealed his dignity, opened his eyes.
His eyes were not his usual dragon eyes.
He had opened the 'Great Lord's Demon Eyes' bearing the color of purgatory.
Zeke looked down at the dark knights with his demon eyes and opened his mouth.
[KNEEL.]
BOOM!
At his divine words, the dark knights simultaneously fell to their knees.