640
Chapter 640
CRUNCH!
The dark matter floating in the air rippled slightly on its surface, appearing like a living metallic entity.
Though it seemed calm now, being a substance that created distorted causality, it was impossible to predict what dangerous phenomena it might cause.
Zeke slowly approached to retrieve the dark matter.
Suddenly, an abnormal reaction occurred in the dark matter.
THUD!
The gently rippling dark matter instantly expanded its mass and enveloped Raguel's 'Light of Annihilation' that was frozen in time.
RUMBLE!
It then absorbed the Light of Annihilation and transformed into a massive black flame.
The dark matter seemed unaffected despite absorbing the Light of Annihilation that was frozen in time.
The dark matter burning as black flames suddenly began to change its form.
ROAR!
Something resembling arms and legs emerged, followed by a face appearing, and wings made of flames burst from its back.
The dark matter, now transformed into an angelic form, roared toward Zeke.
'Did it absorb Raguel's power and was influenced by what was implanted in the angel's body?.'
Zeke pointed Leviathan toward the dark matter that had taken the form of a burning angel.
The angel-shaped dark matter flew toward Zeke and unleashed flames.
WHOOSH!
Surprisingly, the black flames that the dark matter spewed changed to white as they flew toward Zeke.
BOOM!
It was none other than the flames of judgment created by Raguel's authority.
The white flames that burn everything poured toward Zeke with fierce intensity.
But then.
SLASH!
Ascalon, wrapped in the brilliant light of the Sacred Soul Energy, flew toward the white flames.
RUMBLE!
The light of the Sacred Soul Energy absorbed all the white flames released by the dark matter.
SCREECH!
The angel-shaped dark matter created stronger flames but couldn't escape the waves created by the Sacred Soul Energy's light.
While Ascalon blocked the flames of judgment, Zeke swiftly advanced through the air using Wind Storm technique .
BOOM!
Having instantly closed the distance with the dark matter, Zeke raised Leviathan and summoned Dark Soul Energy.
SCREECH!
Leviathan, imbued with Dark Soul Energy, howled with a sharp sound.
The dark matter then produced whip-like tentacles made of black flames from its entire body and swung them toward Zeke who held up his sword.
SLASH!
The dark matter's whips made of flames that rapidly flew toward Zeke wrapped around Leviathan's blade.
Seeing this, Zeke glared fiercely at the dark matter and muttered.
"How foolish."
As soon as he finished speaking, Leviathan began absorbing the black flame whips wrapped around its blade.
HISS!
Though it was flames mixed with dark matter's power that created distorted causality, Leviathan imbued with Dark Soul Energy had the power to absorb it without difficulty.
SCREECH!
As its black flames, which were no different from a part of its body, were sucked into Leviathan, the dark matter let out a grotesque roar.
Seeing this, Zeke stretched out his hand.
"It's too late for regrets."
LBOOM!
The powerful gravitational force erupting from Zeke's hand pulled in the angel-shaped dark matter.
Unable to escape Zeke's domain, the dark matter had no choice but to be drawn in and absorbed into Leviathan.
SCREECH!
The dark matter tried to resist somehow and attempted to spew flames toward Zeke one last time.
But it was futile.
Even the final flames meant to attack Zeke were caught directly in his hand.
CRUNCH!
The black flames caught in Zeke's hand transformed into the same black substance that had composed the dark matter earlier.
Shadows shooting out from Zeke's hand swallowed up the dark matter fragments.
HISS!
The dark matter that had been composed of black flames was completely absorbed into Leviathan and Zeke's shadows.
As soon as the dark matter was fully absorbed, white flames rose from both of Zeke's hands.
WHOOSH!
They were white flames of the same color as Raguel's authority, the 'Flames of Judgment'.
The white flames slowly wrapped around both of Zeke's wrists, forming rings.
The same white rings that had been wrapped around Raguel's wrists appeared on Zeke's wrists.
'Has Raguel's authority been transferred to me through the dark matter.'
Zeke curiously looked at the white rings wrapped around his wrists.
But then, the rings that had been shining with sacred white light gradually turned jet black, like black ink spreading.
WHOOSH!
[Authority 'Flames of Judgment' has been fully absorbed.]
[Dark Sword Leviathan absorbs 'Dark Matter', the source of distorted causality.]
[The absorbed 'Dark Matter' causes Authority 'Flames of Judgment' to undergo property conversion.]
[Authority 'Flames of Judgment' transforms into Authority 'Flames of the Abyss'.]
[Obtained 'Flames of the Abyss', one of the lost unique authorities of the Arrogant Savior.]
[Unlocking abilities and memories related to 'Flames of the Abyss'.]
As soon as he read the messages, memories related to the Flames of the Abyss clearly surfaced in Zeke's mind.
One of the most important memories of the Arrogant Savior that had been buried in his unconscious was unlocked.
'One of the Arrogant Savior's lost unique authorities, Flames of the Abyss.'
The Arrogant Savior was once among the most beautiful and powerful constellations.
However, after his defeat in war and becoming a fallen constellation, he lost many of his original authorities.
These Flames of the Abyss were one of his unique authorities lost at that time.
Only then did Zeke realize something.
"Raguel's Flames of Judgment, it was originally created based on the Arrogant Savior's authority, the Flames of the Abyss."
The true identity of the Flames of Judgment, known as the flames that bring about the end, was none other than one of the Arrogant Savior's lost authorities.
ROAR!
Then, the black flame rings wrapped around Zeke's wrists let out a strange roar as if acknowledging their new master.
Zeke examined the authority of the Arrogant Savior, the strongest constellation once called Lucifer.
The black flames that burn even darkness and shadows in the deep abyss displayed noble beauty as they wrapped around Zeke's wrists.
Zeke looked at the Flames of the Abyss rippling at his wrists before turning his head.
Where he turned, there was the sacred beast Hera, who had been summoned by Raguel but couldn't return and was crouching down.
GROWL!
When Hera's eyes met Zeke's, she bared her teeth warily at him.
Then Zeke gestured toward Hera.
"Come here."
Zeke released Flames of the Abyss from the black rings around his wrists.
The Flames of the Abyss created a massive ring of fire.
Seeing that ring of fire, Hera's wary expression toward Zeke began to change.
Hera slowly approached the black flame ring Zeke had created.
SNIFF!
Then she suddenly leaped through the black ring. Surprisingly, Hera's body underwent a transformation as it passed through the black ring.
Hera's body, which had been made of pure white flames, changed to black flames as it passed through the ring.
WHOOSH!
Hera, who approached Zeke's side while spewing black flames, showed no wariness unlike before.
"Hera, you've returned to your true master's side."
Hera, the second beast of the end, was originally a monster that Lucifer had pulled up from the abyss and became a sacred beast that absorbed his authority.
Zeke, having unlocked the Arrogant Savior's memories related to the Flames of the Abyss, could now realize that he was Hera's true master.
Also, the crimson-bodied dragon with seven heads that Lilith had summoned before.
That dragon was originally Tiamat, the first beast of the end, the red dragon who had lost its past authority when it fell with the Arrogant Savior.
And among the constellations, Tiamat and Hera were the most powerful sacred beasts who served Lucifer, who possessed the most brilliant power.
'Tiamat too will unlock its true power like Hera when we find another of the Arrogant Savior's unique authorities.'
Hera, seemingly happy to meet her true master after so long, rubbed her four lion heads against Zeke's body.
While stroking Hera's mane, Zeke said,
"We'll play soon. For now, enter the shadows."
Hera reluctantly transformed into black flames and entered Zeke's shadow.
[The second beast of the end, Hera the Sacred Beast of the Abyss, has been registered as a summon.]
Zeke stretched out his hand and dispelled the burning purgatory domain.
HISS!
As the fallen Babel with its rising pillars of fire cleared away, Atlas appeared again.
RUMBLE!
The city appeared stable, having successfully defended against the monster attacks thanks to the floating ark and Atlas's walls in defense mode.
'That's fortunate.'
If Zeke had been even slightly late, not just Atlas but all of Midland would have fallen.
Then something flew toward Zeke.
"Zeke!"
The person flying over was none other than Kali riding Bucephalus.
Wearing silver armor and mounted on Bucephalus, the Dragon Horse King, Kali looked like a Valkyrie from legend.
"Sister."
Zeke flew through the air toward Kali.
Kali examined Zeke with an excited expression and said:
"Zeke, you always surprise me. Of all things, becoming a constellation..."
Kali expressed genuine amazement at seeing Zeke who had now transcended into a realm that was difficult to even imagine.
To such Kali, Zeke shook his head.
"I am still just myself. Nothing has changed."
Kali shook her head at Zeke's words as if saying 'what can I do with you', while showing a relieved expression.
She looked at Zeke and said:
"Zeke, I should thank you first, but there's no time for that. Come down with me now."
Zeke sensed from Kali's urgent voice that something was wrong.
"What happened?"
Kali told Zeke with a grave expression:
"Lord Rex is near his limit."
Rex Tourn, head of the Tourn family who had nearly died from an ambush while coming to save Atlas.
He was now at death's door.
Kali quickly spoke again:
"He says he has final words for you."
At Kali's words, Zeke's serious eyes widened.
'Final words for me.'
Rex Tourn was the only person who knew about the relationship between Arthur Draker, his supposed father, and Laura Agamemnon.
And even Zeke, who knew many of this world's secrets, still knew little about those two.
Rex Tourn might know why Laura Agamemnon married Arthur Draker whom she had hated so much, why he accepted and then killed her after she bore Zeke, who wasn't his child.
Zeke furrowed his brow and took Kali's hand.
"Hold tight. It's dizzying at first."
"What do you…?"
Before Kali could finish, Zeke activated the portal.
WHOOSH!
With a massive light, Zeke and Kali disappeared from that spot.
* * *
WHOOSH!
With a massive light, Zeke and Kali appeared in a secluded spot in Winterkeep, located in the deepest part of the Four Seasons Castle.
"UGH."
Kali, experiencing a portal for the first time, staggered dizzily.
He cast Complete Recovery on the dizzy Kali and slowly turned around.
Having already read Kali's memories to move directly to Rex Tourn's location, he could sense Rex Tourn's presence just behind the nearby door.
Kali said to Zeke.
"Go ahead, Zeke."
Zeke left Kali behind and opened the door to enter.
Surprisingly, inside Rex Tourn sat cross-legged on the floor, shirtless and displaying thick muscles.
"You've come."
Rex Tourn, who was said to be near death, greeted Zeke with an even clearer aura than when previously seen.
Rex Tourn picked up the sword before him and stood up.
Then pointing it at Zeke, he said.
"Zeke Draker, I want to see your sword. For the last time."