630
Chapter 630
‘Adam?'
Zeke wore a surprised expression at the unfamiliar name engraved in the message that appeared.
Harvey Draker was a regenerated being created by cultivating the first Draker as a homunculus of the great sage.
So the Adam mentioned in the system message clearly referred to Harvey Draker's original body.
Along with the message about absorbing Adam's regenerated body, other messages continued to appear.
However, before he could check those messages, the Infinite Archive began to distort.
RRRRRIP!
The areas that Zeke had barely protected with his divine power began to tear as the unique space started to collapse.
Not only the library's books but also the scattered remains of the amorphous beings were being sucked into the dimensional gaps.
BOOM!
A powerful gravitational force tried to pull Zeke into the dimensional gap as well, but he was able to resist that force by exercising his divine status.
Judging that he had completed all his tasks, Zeke flew toward Innocent.
"Innocent! Open the door!"
Innocent, receiving Zeke's command, raised his staff.
WHOOOOSH!
The light that burst forth from the staff opened a portal that could lead outside the unique space.
As Zeke tried to enter the portal, an eerie roar echoed from the dimensional gap that had opened.
GROOOOOWL!
An unknown massive roar, as if trying to prevent Zeke from leaving, strengthened the pulling force.
Zeke clenched his molars and glared at the dimensional gap.
RUMBLE!
The force pulling him was growing stronger and stronger.
At that moment, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[You feel the gaze of an unknown twisted something from the dimensional abyss.]
[The unique authority ??? activates in response to the gaze.]
Along with the message, white light flickered like flames around Zeke's body.
Zeke looked at the warm light enveloping his body.
'This is?'
He realized this warm light was what he had seen when he opened the Primordial Jar.
The light seemed to block the gaze extending from the dimensional abyss and protect Zeke.
Zeke reached out toward the portal while breaking free from the force pulling him.
However, as the unstable dimensional collapse accelerated, the portal was about to disappear as well.
Seeing this, Zeke shouted loudly.
"Raven!"
In response to his call, Raven appeared from the dimensional gap.
But surprisingly, Raven's appearance was different from usual.
It was shining brightly with pure white flames, as if made of the same warm light that enveloped Zeke's body.
Raven spread its pure white wings wide and let out a long cry.
ROOOOOOOAR!
As the phoenix cry continued, the distorting dimension began to stabilize, and the portal returned to normal.
The portal's massive light enveloped Zeke, Raven, and Innocent.
WHOOOOSH!
At the same moment the white light enveloped Zeke's group, the dimensional wall completely tore and the Infinite Archive collapsed.
CRASH!
Shortly after, everything was sucked into the dimensional abyss as the space itself returned to nothingness.
* * *
WHOOOOSH!
Along with white light, the portal opened and Zeke, Raven, and Innocent appeared.
When Zeke raised his head and looked around, they were in front of the temple where Hercules had been standing guard.
"Zeke!"
Hearing someone calling him, Zeke turned his head to see the High Table members who had escaped from the Infinite Archive earlier running toward him.
Nigel spoke to Zeke in an urgent voice.
"Zeke, this place, Atlantis, will soon collapse as well."
As soon as her words ended, the ground they were standing on began to vibrate.
RUMBLE!
The ground split and began to sink.
Just as the continent of Atlantis had sunk into the sea with its destruction in the past, this time-frozen space was collapsing in exactly the same way.
Watching the collapsing continent of Atlantis, Zeke spoke to Hercules.
"Hercules, are you truly alright with leaving this place?"
At his words, Hercules bowed his head.
[This body that has pledged loyalty to the master, wherever you wish to battle is where I shall be.]
Zeke nodded at Hercules's words and sent him and Innocent back.
Then, looking at Raven who was still surrounded by pure white flames, he said:
"Raven, help us safely leave this place."
ROOOOOOOAR!
As if responding to Zeke's words, Raven's phoenix cry echoed again.
Along with this, the warm light emanating from Raven's body enveloped Zeke and the High Table members.
The light Raven emitted stabilized the unstable dimension around them.
Then, judging that he couldn't miss this moment, Zeke used Overclock to expand the system portal's ability.
WHOOOOSH!
White light rippled as another portal was created.
"Please enter here quickly!"
The High Table members immediately entered the portal at Zeke's words.
After Raven entered as well, Zeke stood before the portal one last time, watching the collapsing Atlantis.
Seeing a brilliant civilization disappear so futilely always created a great emptiness.
'If I can't stop Arthur Draker... the current phenomenal world will end up like this too.'
Zeke clenched his fist and entered the portal.
After the portal disappeared, Atlantis completely collapsed, leaving no trace of its existence.
* * *
WHOOOOSH!
A massive light appeared in the sky.
"AAAARGH!"
Nabu let out a loud scream as he fell from the air.
A moment later, after regaining his senses, he hurriedly summoned a flying carpet.
WHOOSH!
The summoned carpet caught the falling Nabu.
And soon after, Nigel, Ivan, and Manna also landed safely on the carpet.
Nabu turned his head in all directions and asked.
"Where's Zeke?"
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
As soon as he finished speaking, Zeke and Raven appeared.
Raven had returned to its original form as a phoenix with colorful feathers, the white light having disappeared.
Zeke boarded the carpet with Raven perched on his shoulder.
That's when Nigel pointed to one side.
"The island... is sinking."
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Storm Island, which had long been the Highlander headquarters, was sinking beneath the sea.
The underwater city of Rue beneath Storm Island was a secure area that housed the Book of Death, the great sage's final legacy.
But since the Book of Death had been absorbed by Zeke, it was fulfilling its final duty by collapsing after completing its mission.
As the island sank with a thunderous noise, the sea that Zeke had frozen with the Elemental Stone also shattered.
CRACK!
The ship made of bones that had been fixed in the frozen sea began to move slowly.
"Elder, please descend there."
Following Zeke's words, Nabu descended toward the grotesque undead ship.
As soon as the carpet landed, Richmond rushed toward him.
"Master!"
Seeing Richmond running urgently, Zeke realized something was wrong.
"What's the matter, Richmond?"
Richmond quickly blurted out his words to Zeke. And from the first sentence, Zeke couldn't help but be shocked.
"M-Master, chaos has erupted during the month you were out of contact!"
Surprisingly, a month had passed since Zeke had entered Storm Island.
'When I entered the unique space, the flow of time must have been different from the outside.'
Zeke calmed his startled feelings while looking at the excited Richmond and said:
"Chaos in the Central Continent? Are you saying Arthur Draker launched a major attack?"
Richmond shook his head at those words.
"Whether it was Arthur Draker or not, I'm not sure... but the major kingdoms are being attacked by never-before-seen magical beasts! They're still engaged in fierce battles even now!"
Zeke furrowed his brow at Richmond's words.
"If magical beasts had launched large-scale attacks on the kingdoms, the Black Knights would have responded, no?"
Richmond clicked his teeth as he responded to Zeke's words.
"Th-that's..."
After hesitating, Richmond continued.
"Currently, most of the Black Knights in each kingdom have either been killed in attacks or are critically wounded."
Zeke's eyes widened at Richmond's words.
'The Black Knights were simultaneously attacked?'
He recalled how previously, Blood Count, the Red King, had been attacked and killed by Arthur Draker.
The sudden attacks by mysterious magical beasts across the continent and the Black Knights being attacked, killed, or wounded could not possibly be coincidental.
Zeke thought about who might be capable of orchestrating such events.
"Arthur Draker..."
Even when he was the head of the Draker family, Arthur Draker had controlled continental politics through various behind-the-scenes operations without revealing himself.
Given Arthur Draker's nature, it was highly likely that he was behind this incident as well.
Moreover, currently, he couldn't think of anyone else who had the capability to orchestrate something of this scale besides Arthur Draker.
Nigel, who had been listening beside him, said to Zeke:
"With the Black Knights absent from each kingdom, even if they engage in siege warfare, it will be insufficient to stop the magical beasts."
Zeke nodded at Nigel's words.
If these were magical beasts summoned by Arthur Draker, they would certainly be different from ordinary magical beasts, likely containing the power of external species.
Just then, Richmond spoke to Zeke again.
"Currently in the Central Continent, Mycenae, Allensia, and Thebea are leading the defense against the magical beasts."
Since Mycenae had the Black Sword Knights stationed there, including Hades and Yelin, dealing with the magical beasts shouldn't be a major problem.
Zeke looked up and asked Richmond.
"How are the situations in the Rom Empire and Midland?"
Richmond made a troubled expression and began to answer.
"The Empire's side is doing better than other areas with Red Eye and the Western Alliance defending together. The Continental Allied Forces stationed in Jupiter immediately moved toward Midland, but they say they've been held up midway because there are too many enemies."
If Helen's Continental Allied Forces couldn't move, it meant that all of Midland was filled with enemies.
Zeke spoke again with a dark expression.
"Tell me about the situation in Atlas."
Richmond shook his head as he answered.
"Atlas has been isolated from Midland for quite some time... and we've lost contact since last week, Master."
Currently, Atlas was home to Kali, who had become the head of the Draker family, and Nemesis, the intelligence organization led by Boris.
The loss of contact between the Four Seasons Castle and Nemesis meant the internal situation was serious.
Zeke furrowed his brow and turned to speak to Nigel.
"Given the urgent situation, I will go directly to Atlas. Master, please take this ship to the Southern Islands with the other High Table members."
The Southern Islands had a headquarters established by Arina and Kei.
He spoke to Nigel in a serious voice.
"Master, you must lead the remaining Highlanders."
With Storm Island, the Highlanders' headquarters, gone, they needed a new central point.
Zeke hoped Nigel would take on that central role in the Southern Islands.
Nigel understood Zeke's words and after wearing a stern expression, nodded.
"I will do so."
After hearing the answer, Zeke turned to speak to Nabu.
"Elder, please take care of Master."
At Zeke's serious voice, Nabu unconsciously nodded with an unusually solemn expression.
Ivan and Manna also agreed with Zeke's words without raising any objections. They knew that Zeke's suggestion was the best option for now.
Judging there was nothing more to do here, Zeke spoke to Richmond.
"Richmond, take the ship directly to the Southern Islands. Arthur Draker will surely expand his range of attacks to the North, South, and beyond to the Eastern Continent after taking the Central Continent."
His eyes flashed for a moment.
"Before that happens, go to the Southern Islands and strengthen the defenses there with Lady Arina. You must block their path to the Southern Continent."
Richmond nodded at Zeke's words.
"Understood, Master! I'll sail there as quickly as possible!"
Zeke summoned Nahuel and ordered him to help with moving the ship.
Then he immediately lifted himself into the air and created a portal.
WHOOOOSH!
Zeke jumped into the portal with Raven, and soon only white light rippled in the air.
Nigel sank into deep thought while watching Zeke's afterimage disappear.
Seeing Nigel like this, Nabu spoke.
"Old hag, don't worry too much. There's almost nothing in the phenomenal world that can harm that kid Zeke."
Although the words were meant to ease her concern, Nigel was bothered by the word 'almost' in Nabu's statement.
She kicked Nabu's shin in spite, venting her anxiety.
THWACK!
"ARGH! Has this old hag gone mad?!"
Ignoring Nabu's scream, Nigel ordered Richmond to depart with the ship.
The undead ship moved toward the Southern Islands, leaving the Storm Sea behind.
A massive cloud of war loomed over the entire continent.