A Bad Premonition
Kalderet gazed at the Heaven-Shaking Bow before them and spoke.
"Yeah. The ghost archer who sealed you away."
"Worried about me?"
Adel laughed as if reading his thoughts.
Kalderet shook his head.
Even as he said it, Kalderet couldn't tear his eyes from the Heaven-Shaking Bow.
Kalderet gave a wry smile, finding it absurd that he felt anticipation toward the damned relic that had sealed him.
"A material even gods don't know?"
Garon circled the bow, inspecting it as if his pride had been wounded.
Adel's interest deepened.
It's got an intimidating presence just looking at it. So the Ulan founder wielded a bow like this.
This was the first time even he had seen the ghost archer's bow intact.
When I came to the Ancestral Tomb, all the previous kings' artifacts had already vanished.
After the Central Nine Kingdoms War ended, the Ulan tribe was annihilated, and the Ancestral Tomb vanished with it. The tombs of past kings were lost, and the ghost archer's bow disappeared around then.
Some said it was buried with the tomb's collapse; others whispered someone had stolen it.
But seeing this, both were wrong.
Adel eyed the seals tightly wrapped around the bow.
"These aren't just spells carved into the ground. They're linked to the artifact itself. Even if the tomb collapsed, the shamans' spells wouldn't fade."
"If the seals hold, no one could touch the artifact recklessly. Yet this bow vanished. How?"
Adel glared up at the bow embedded in the peak.
"I've lived two lives, but some mysteries stumped even me. This was one."
"Exactly. Lucky I came before the tomb fell. I always wanted to see the ghost archer's artifact."
"Really? But it'll be good for you too. When the tomb collapsed and the bow vanished, you were the one who regretted it most."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Adel approached the sealed bow slowly.
"The bow I used in my past life was made by Tuan, the tomb's last caretaker after the collapse. It was top-notch."
He stood before it.
"But by then, Ulan was wiped out. He couldn't have made it for me—the enemy of his tribe—with pure intentions."
Adel smiled bitterly.
"He always said this: 'See the ghost archer's bow, and you'll stop spouting nonsense.'"
"We had a deal."
"After the Central Nine Kingdoms War, when Azal Kingdom conquered the remaining principalities and eastern alliance, I promised to protect at least the Alun tribe survivors."
His voice sank low.
"But I failed. That day I thought it was finally over…"
Adel opened his hand. His upturned palm felt slick with the blood that had drenched his final moments in his past life.
"My comrades tried to kill me, and the desert tribes were slaughtered."
"Petty reason. They feared I'd gather Ulan survivors in the desert and build power. They dreaded my strength turning against them."
"Nothing much. Just a peaceful life."
"Yeah. Took me realizing strength alone—even max-level—won't cut it."
Adel nodded.
"But no enemies means no worries."
No matter the number, anyone pointing a blade at him would die. That was the resolve etched deep in his heart upon regression.
"Don't let it fly off."
He shed the hovering cloak draped over his mantle. It fluttered uneasily into the air.
Whoosh…!!
Adel drew mana and divine power from his true blood. The Spirit Axis linking his two bloodlines activated, whipping winds around him. His ring gleamed as wind spirits swarmed.
Responding, Garon ignited fiercer flames around Adel's summoned divine power, pushing back the icy gale from the tomb's peak.
Boom—!!
That moment, as Adel neared the Heaven-Shaking Bow, a deafening roar exploded behind him.
He twisted reflexively, snatching whatever grazed his cheek.
Tzzzzz…!!!!
White smoke billowed from the Rundel's Gloves amid the shrill friction.
Adel turned to see what had targeted him.
"Thunder Sword Wiel…?"
The blade thrashed in his grip, unable to overcome his power.
Crunch.
Grinding his teeth, Adel slammed the sword into the ground.
Shhhh…!!
Snow piled on the floor melted instantly from the escaping heat.
There, six blue-glowing souls stood, heads raised toward the peak.
"…Looks like our ancestors won't tolerate anyone touching the founder's artifact."
Adel kicked the embedded Thunder Sword aside. It rolled, faded, and reappeared in the hand of a king below.
Crackle… Crackle…!
Seized by the king, it spat lightning again.
Six…
Adel smirked oddly.
"At least half acknowledge me."
"…"
Some wraiths had summoned their artifacts; others remained dormant.
Boom—!!!
Clang—!!
The massive sword stroke tore the air, unleashing lightning far beyond the first strike, exploding around them.
Grip.
Adel tightened his hold on Nazas. He felt the wind spirits trembling in fear.
True ancestors…
The majesty was like a thunder high god descending; even dragons hadn't stirred such thrill in him.
Clash!!! Scraaang—!!
Distance closed in an instant; the 4th king's Thunder Sword clashed with Nazas, sparking fiercely.
Whoosh—!!!
A long spear blade like Pelni's scythe targeted Adel's waist. The dragon spear of the 11th king—Hien's father, the previous king—roared thunderously.
Adel dodged hastily, drawing Kyeol.
Hovering horizontally midair, thunder sword above, dragon spear below—they grazed him.
Groooan…!!
One hand on Nazas, Adel hooked his foot on Kyeol's stock, sliding through the air to draw the string.
Pang—!!
The released arrow struck the 9th king's head dead-on.
Boom!!
Divine power shattered and oxidized it.
Clang…!!
The dragon spear hit the ground. Adel landed, snatched it without looking, and swung blindly.
Thud!!
Something dull impaled on the scythe-like blade.
The 6th king, who had lunged from behind with claw gauntlets at Adel's nape, gasped up at him.
Crack.
Adel twisted the shaft. The blade pierced armor, shattering the king's full plate.
"…"
"…"
Two kings vanished in seconds. The remaining four halted, retreating.
Whoosh—!!
Adel hurled the leftover claw with all his might.
Wraiths faded, but artifacts lingered.
Clang—!!!
It embedded like a bullet at the 7th king's feet. On his back hung a bow with odd ornamentation: the Variation Bow Slraf, recommended by Hul, one that chose its master.
Crack—!!
The 7th king crushed the claw underfoot, pivoting to slowly draw his bow.
Shaaaa—!!!
Oddly, it had three strings. Pulling them condensed death qi like whirlpools at the nock.
"Brother knew I'm Garon's contractor. Only power that blocks Slraf's death qi."
As he spoke, flames bloomed on Kyeol's stock.
Pang—!!
Slraf's arrow flew.
"Hup…!!"
Adel loosed at the death qi arrow.
Thud!!!
They collided midair; flames and bloody qi clumps tangled, oxidizing.
I know.
Garon enveloped Adel's hand on the stock. Shockingly, Slraf's death qi crept up his arm, blackening his wrist instantly.
"That so?"
Whoosh—!!!
Thud!!
Adel's shattered arrow reformed via spirit winds, hurtling at the 7th king's chest—crumbling on impact.
Crunch.
The king's words cut short. Kalderet lunged from shadows, biting his nape.
Flash!!
Adel leaped in, raising Kyeol overhead, looping the string over the king's neck as he vaulted past.
Whoosh—!!
He slammed the king backward onto the ground. Slraf bounced; Adel seized it, pinning the chest again.
But Adel already pulled Slraf's taut strings embedded in the 7th king's chest. His arms shook from the tension.
Crack…!!
The arrow erupted, piercing the 10th king's chest before the axe reached.
"Qualification?"
Adel beckoned the last two kings mockingly.
"Winners take it."