673
Chapter 673
Zeke raised Leviathan while glaring at the Dark Mages of Abyss floating in the air.
'I didn't expect the Dark Mages of Abyss to still exist.'
After High Priest Harvey Draker was absorbed and disappeared into Zeke, the Abyss that remained in the Central Continent was nearly collapsed.
This was because both Zeke's Black Knight Order and the Highlanders searched throughout the Central Continent to exterminate the Dark Mages while tracking down traces of Abyss.
However, Abyss had once again stubbornly survived and maintained their lineage in this abandoned continent.
'Could Abyss have been connected to Arthur Draker from the beginning?'
It was Ramon Jiemens, the head of House Jiemens, who joined hands with Abyss.
However, they couldn't rule out the possibility that Arthur Draker had invisibly manipulated both Jiemens and Abyss to move according to his wishes.
In fact, the mafia organization Nostra Family had conducted horrific human experiments beneath Atlas with Arthur Draker's support.
Zeke recalled the Apollion Knights, called the perfect new humans created by Arthur Draker.
It was difficult to believe that the results of human experiments conducted by Abyss, the Roman Empire during its Mad Emperor era, Nostra Family, and Jiemens didn't influence their creation.
'So you're saying Arthur Draker was behind all the incidents that occurred in the Central Continent?'
WOOOONG!
An intense light flickered from Leviathan along with Zeke's anger.
The Dark Mages of Abyss who revealed themselves in the air remained motionless as if guarding Asmodeus's gate despite seeing it.
Zeke swung his sword toward them without hesitation.
SCHWAAAK!
The Astral Sword flew toward Asmodeus's gate along with the flash of the blade.
The Dark Mages of Abyss guarding around the gate pulled out their strangely shaped staffs at that attack.
ZZZZZZT!
A translucent barrier appeared in front of the gate, and the entire area deviated into a different dimension, allowing it to pass through Zeke's attack without taking any damage.
TSSSSS!
Inside the separated dimension where physical attacks didn't work, the Dark Mages continued their ritual to summon Asmodeus into the physical world.
Zeke could sense a familiar power from the staffs the Dark mages were holding.
'Dark Matter, and Distorted causality.'
They were using staffs made entirely of Dark Matter and ignoring laws using Distorted causality.
Seeing the Dark Mages using Distorted causality, Zeke could be certain these people were connected to Arthur Draker.
'Their presence here means... Arthur Draker has already arrived at the abandoned continent.'
Arthur Draker was clearly also targeting the Final Tower where the Demon King's soul was sealed.
'He must have sent the Dark Mages of Abyss here in advance knowing I would come, to interfere with my path. I didn't expect him to use the method of directly summoning the Demon lord Asmodeus here though.'
Zeke recalled Asmodeus's urgent words from earlier while looking at the gate. Based on the situation then, it seemed his sealing of Mephistopheles had some kind of effect.
However, he couldn't release Mephistopheles sealed in the abyss just because of that.
He couldn't risk letting loose an archdevil who loved plotting sinister schemes, as there was no telling when or how he might cause trouble.
Zeke drew out Ascalon as well while watching Asmodeus, whose upper body had almost completely emerged from the gate.
'I'll send him back to the demon realm.'
He decided to focus on sweeping away the Dark mages of Abyss and sending Asmodeus back to the demon realm first, leaving the situation assessment for later.
KRUUUUD!
Asmodeus was still in a state of lost sanity as he strained to emerge from the gate, but Zeke expected him to regain his original sanity once the mages of Abyss were dealt with.
If so, it would be much easier to send him back.
But then Elizabeth's voice rang in his ear.
―My Lord! We've detected thousands of unidentified lifeforms presumed to be demon beasts approaching here from not far away!
Zeke let out a small sigh at the news that demon beasts were now heading here after the monsters inhabiting the abandoned continent and those summoned from the demon realm.
‘'This is quite a predicament.'
It wasn't time to conserve energy and assess the situation.
Zeke summoned a Guardian from the shadows while contemplating how to break through the current situation.
"Caligula."
He had summoned Caligula, who had been guarding one of the strongholds in the Central Continent with the Three-Eyed clan.
Caligula, a powerful summon created from the Blood King's soul, was now able to exert even greater power than during his lifetime as the Blood King, wearing the 'Crown Made from the Cursed King's Skull,' one of the Arrogant Savior's treasures.
Zeke spoke to Caligula.
"Control the monsters with your Blood Eye. And stop the incoming magical beasts."
Caligula nodded at Zeke's command and flew toward the walls where monsters were gathering.
Then he opened the Blood Eye on his forehead and unleashed its power toward the monsters.
WOONG!
The power of the Blood Eye, amplified by the crown, gradually consumed the consciousness of the monsters rushing toward the walls.
And moments later, thousands of monsters submitted to Caligula's power and became subordinate.
Following Zeke's orders, Caligula moved the monsters to block the approaching magical beasts.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
The monsters began marching backward in formation.
Having barely put out the urgent fire, Zeke turned his head back toward Asmodeus.
KUUUUGRRRR!
Asmodeus, who had undergone giant chimera transformation, had emerged almost up to his knees.
Zeke took to the air holding Leviathan and Ascalon.
The Dark Mages of the Abyss, holding staffs made of dark matter, guarded their position while watching Zeke warily, ensuring Asmodeus could fully descend.
Seeing this, Zeke spoke to the Dark Mages.
"Do you think you can stop me with your power?"
With these words, Zeke activated Overclock to reveal his divine status.
KUGUUGUUGU!
The power of Zeke, who had now fully opened his divine status, was beyond what the Dark Mages of the Abyss could handle.
Just his aura alone was enough to force the mages to step back.
In that state, Zeke quietly raised Ascalon and pointed its tip toward the mages.
CRACKLE!
Dozens of white lightning bolts containing the brilliant light of the Sacred Soul Energy flew toward the Dark Mages.
Seeing this, the Dark Mages panicked and raised their staffs to block the lightning.
TZZZZ!
They tried to avoid the attack by distorting the lightning that struck with Distorted causality, but their power had limits.
Soon the lightning pouring toward them gradually increased, and dozens of bolts became hundreds, filling the entire area.
CRACKLE!
The Dark Mages of the Abyss noticeably panicked at the light lightning that would burn all nerves and shrivel muscles with just a touch, but they still tried to somehow block it.
Zeke spoke while watching the Dark Mages with cold eyes.
"Struggle all you want. You won't be able to escape this hell anyway."
Simultaneously, Zeke intensified the lightning.
As the lightning storm raged, it enveloped the Dark mages' bodies.
The Dark mages who had been somewhat distorting the lightning using Distorted causality were gradually being pushed back toward Asmodeus's gate, seemingly becoming overwhelmed.
Zeke raised Leviathan and unleashed Dark Soul Energy toward the Dark mages.
KUGUUGUUGU!
As waves of Dark Soul Energy that could offset Distorted causality rippled, black smoke flowed from the staffs made of dark matter.
The mages panicked at this unexpected situation and waved their staffs around.
Meanwhile, the smoke that had flowed from the dark matter was absorbed toward Zeke and transformed into Karma Points.
Zeke glared at the still floundering mages and muttered quietly:
"All of you, disappear."
As the power of Distorted causality vanished, the lightning containing Soul Harmonization Energy swept through the mages.
"KYAAAGH!"
"KAAAGH!"
With screams of death throes, the Abyss Mages turned to black ash and scattered in an instant.
The staffs they were holding also shattered into powder, which was absorbed into Zeke's shadow and disappeared.
They must have stepped forward believing in the power of dark matter given by Arthur Draker, but it didn't work against Zeke who had opened his divine status.
He turned toward Asmodeus, who had almost completely emerged from the gate, and said:
"Asmodeus, are you coming to your senses now?"
Zeke spoke to him, but Asmodeus was still not in his right mind.
After briefly examining him, Zeke slowly approached, thinking he would have to forcibly recall Asmodeus back to the demon realm and close the gate.
But then it happened.
WOONG!
A strange power began rippling from Asmodeus's body.
His eyes turned red, and in his chimera form, he opened his mouth wide toward Zeke.
From the opened mouth, lava and strong acidic substance shot out toward Zeke.
KWANG!
Zeke stretched his hand toward the waterfall-like acidic substance.
A translucent barrier formed in front of him, blocking the acidic substance Asmodeus had spewed.
The acidic substances that poured onto the ground melted the land of the Abandoned Continent while emitting ominous green smoke.
Zeke furrowed his brow at this sight.
'This is...'
Meanwhile, Asmodeus fully emerged from the gate.
KUGUUGUUGU!
The main body of Asmodeus in chimera form looked like a mixture of dragon, griffin, and basilisk.
Though grotesque in appearance, befitting a Demon Lord of the demon realm, his emanating dignity and presence were extraordinary.
Just spreading his wings and revealing his form released a powerful aura that pressed down on the entire area.
KUGUUGUUGU!
Zeke looked at Asmodeus who had fully manifested in the material world.
Originally, due to Karma's restrictions, he could never descend in his true form to the material world.
That's why even Mephistopheles could only appear in the material world through his avatar, Anastasia.
Even that alone required consuming enormous Karma.
Yet Asmodeus had directly descended to the material world without such restrictions.
Zeke realized that the strange power from Asmodeus, the Distorted causality, had made this possible.
'Perhaps it's possible because this is the Abandoned Continent. This place is both part of the material world and not.'
This Abandoned Continent was a realm that originally didn't exist.
It was created by the Elder Dragons and the Last Dragons combining their powers to seal the Demon King.
And because of that, this was the only place in the material world where one could escape Karma's restrictions.
'Did Arthur Draker know even this when he made Asmodeus descend here?'
Zeke thought that perhaps Arthur Draker might know even more about this Abandoned Continent.
While Zeke was deep in thought, Asmodeus, having fully emerged from the gate, took rough breaths before stretching his neck and raising his head toward the sky.
KRRRROOOOOAAAR!
Then he let out a massive roar that shook the entire continent.
As if responding to that roar, magical beasts flew in from all directions in the sky, creating an even more ominous atmosphere.
'The entire Abandoned Continent has become aware of our presence.'
Zeke raised Ascalon and Leviathan, glaring at Asmodeus as he spoke:
"Seems like you're beyond returning to your senses."
He decided to change his plan.
If it would be difficult to return Asmodeus to the demon realm, he judged it would be better to subjugate him now.
WOONG!
As Zeke opened his divine status after making his decision, brilliant light poured from his body.
Seeing this, Asmodeus showed instinctive rejection and opened his mouth wide.
KAAAAAAH!
The Demon Lord's power was so intense that just his cry created massive storms.
Asmodeus spread his wings wide and, without any preparation, shot straight up into the sky.
KWANG!
After soaring high at supersonic speed, Asmodeus suddenly changed direction and began descending toward where Zeke was.
KURRRRRRRR!
With a sound like the sky splitting, Asmodeus's body became like a spear, plunging down with enough force to pierce through Zeke.
Seeing this, Zeke took a deep breath and called forth the Flames of the Abyss.
HWAAAAAAAH!
Black flames enveloped Zeke's body.
"HAAAAAH!"
He launched himself toward the descending spear.
The spear of black flames and the storm-creating spear collided in the sky.
KWARRRRRRRRRR!
An impact like the world splitting spread throughout the entire continent.