Chapter 405
‘Doctor West, the priest of the Abyss is madman Harvey?’
Harvey West, who studied forbidden magic of human corpse amalgamation.
He was not just a simple madman, but became the priest of the Abyss and touched even more horrific forbidden practices.
Zeke said after a brief thought while looking at the leader:
“The priest of the Abyss, Harvey West, you mean I should capture him?”
The leader nodded.
“If we do not stop him, the large-scale invasion currently happening in the present world will continue to occur.”
When he snapped his fingers, multiple images showing different scenes appeared in the air.
Zeke was startled when he saw those images.
‘Monster legions?’
Gates were occurring in various parts of the continent, beyond where he had blocked, and massive monster legions were appearing.
And the images showed the High Table and Highlanders blocking these monster legions.
“They are somehow preventing these forces from invading inhabited areas, but they are gradually reaching their limits.”
Although each Highlander agent was elite, their numbers were absolutely few.
Moreover, the High Table members each had their designated areas, making it difficult for them to move arbitrarily.
Zeke’s face hardened as he watched the images.
‘Even without my knowledge, the Highlanders were blocking the monster legion’s attacks.’
If these legions simultaneously attacked from behind or the Highlanders failed to defend, the situation would change dramatically.
Zeke said to the leader:
“Understood. I will go after the priest of the Abyss. However, can the Highlanders continue to block the monster legion’s invasion in the meantime?”
The leader slowly spoke:
“Maintaining the world’s balance is our mission, so we will do our best. However, their military strength continues to increase, so our power is gradually becoming insufficient. But since you said you will go after the priest of the Abyss, we will somehow manage.”
“Then how about creating a joint front? Right now, blocking the monsters is a priority over attacking the Abyss High priest. If the Highlander side contacts us, we will dispatch troops to fight the monsters together.”
As a Knight of Salvation, this was something Zeke had been doing.
The more his reputation grew, the more influence Zeke could exert within the Draker family.
Ultimately, Zeke, who aimed to control the Draker family, planned to proactively deploy the Black Sword Knights to eliminate monsters and gain practical experience.
The leader nodded as if agreeing with Zeke’s words.
“If you help, that would be appreciated. I will designate Adnan and Bodmir, who have worked with you, as contacts. The High Table member Nabu will also continue to help you within the range permitted by Karma. And…”
He paused briefly before speaking again.
“There is a place you must definitely go to attack Harvey West.”
“Where do you mean?”
“The Forest of the Forgotten. There, you will meet Nigel, the hermit of the forest.”
Zeke fell silent for a moment.
‘The Forest of the Forgotten.’
It was a place he needed to visit, but he had not yet decided to go willingly.
When Zeke had been unable to open his lower diantan, Nigel had taught him how to channel mana through his middle dantian and had passed down the Soul technique to him.
So he was both a benefactor and the person he feared most.
Zeke asked the leader.
“What is the reason for meeting the forest hermit?”
The leader smiled and said:
“Well… it’s hard to say exactly, but somehow I feel like you must.”
The leader presented an uncertain reason, like a prophet.
‘Anyway, I have to go to the Forest of the Forgotten. Is this an unavoidable destiny?’
Zeke soon made up his mind and nodded.
“Understood.”
After hearing Zeke’s answer, the leader stood up.
“Fortunately. I’ll help to save your precious time.”
“Pardon?”
WHOOOOOOSH!
A bright light rippled from the leader’s body and immediately wrapped around Zeke’s body.
A message appeared before Zeke’s eyes.
[Forced portal activation]
[Coordinates being set]
The movement portal system began to forcibly activate.
‘W-what is this?’
WHOOOOOOSH!
At the moment the portal was about to move Zeke with its erupting light, the Highlander leader said to Zeke:
“May light accompany your journey.”
With a massive light, Zeke’s body was sucked into the portal.
* * *
WHOOOOOOSH!
With a huge light, a ship suddenly appeared in mid-air.
Zeke opened his eyes on the ship’s deck, which was nose-diving from the sky to the ground.
‘Huh?’
Startled, Zeke spread a wind barrier to catch the falling ship and safely land it.
BOOM!
With a massive dust cloud, the ship settled in the middle of the forest.
Zeke realized he had been transported with the ship through the portal, seeing the suddenly changed landscape.
He woke up Richmond and Bane, who were collapsed on the deck.
“Richmond, Bane. Wake up.”
As Zeke called them, Richmond and Bane slowly regained consciousness.
“Ugh… Master. What happened?”
Richmond, holding his head and barely raising himself, was shocked looking around.
“Ah! M-Master. Weren’t we in the sea just moments ago? H-how did we suddenly end up in a forest…?!”
Zeke asked Richmond:
“Don’t you remember entering the underwater city?”
“What? How can a city exist underwater?”
“…Nothing.”
Zeke, too lazy to explain, let it go.
‘Maybe Richmond and Bane were already unconscious then. The space where the leader was might not have even been real.’
He thought it could be a dream space, like when he met the Hermit of Stories.
In any case, the current situation was more important, so Zeke jumped off the ship and surveyed the surrounding forest.
‘Did I move directly into the Forest of the Forgotten?’
The Forest of the Forgotten was forbidden due to its endless flood.
Even Nigel, the forest’s Hermit, could not determine the flood’s end.
Zeke pondered, looking at the expansive forest.
‘I should first find where my master is.’
If he took a wrong turn and got lost in the flood, he might waste considerable time here.
Bane and Richmond descended from the ship and stood beside Zeke.
“Master, where are we?”
“I sense a terrifying energy everywhere.”
Bane, an elemental lich, seemed to have sensed the cursed flood’s energy.
“This is the Forest of the Forgotten.”
Richmond and Bane were startled by Zeke’s words.
“If it’s the Forest of the Forgotten, isn’t that forbidden?”
“A cursed forest from which one can never return, following the Storm Sea… Why are we entering another forbidden zone, Master?”
Even Bane, usually polite, spoke with a tone of complaint.
Zeke shook his head looking at the noisy liches.
THUD!
At that moment, a dull sound came from the other side of the forest.
Richmond and Bane jumped back in surprise.
“M-Master! I think it’s a monster!”
Zeke clicked his tongue looking at the liches hiding behind him.
“You need to remember your roles as summoned beings…”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A dull sound like trees collapsing grew louder.
‘This feeling?’
Zeke drew Bahamut and pointed the sword towards the source of the sound.
Then!
ROOOOOAR!
As trees fell, a massive beast emerged.
The beast resembled a bear, but was several times larger, with sharp horns protruding from its back.
Zeke realized he had indeed returned to the Forest of the Forgotten, seeing the familiar beast.
‘A beast bear. Something commonly seen in this forest. Nice to see you again.’
Unaware of Zeke’s sentiment, the beast charged at him.
He immediately raised an Aura Blade and swung it towards the beast.
CRASH! CRASH!
BOOM!
The Aura Blade struck the beast’s body.
GROOOOOAN!
The beast hit by Zeke’s Aura Blade cried out in pain.
Zeke shook his head.
‘That durability that even withstands the Aura Blade. Feels like I’m home.’
Zeke rushed forward and swung a sword imbued with gold aura with all his might.
CRACK!
The sword dug into the beast’s body like crushing its physical strength.
GROOOOOOAN!
The beast bear, properly struck, roared in pain while opening its mouth wide, bending to swallow Zeke whole.
At that moment, Zeke raised his sword and infused the Soul technique’s power.
TSSSS!
The power of communication filled Zeke’s sword.
GROOOOOAN!
Bahamut let out a roar and pierced the beast bear’s neck as it tried to swallow Zeke.
CRACK!
With a loud noise, the beast bear with its neck pierced finally stuck out its tongue and collapsed to the ground.
THUD!
Only after Zeke defeated the beast bear did Richmond and Bane approach.
Richmond, interested in monsters, examined the beast bear with excitement different from before.
“I’ve never seen such a monster before, Master.”
“This is more of a beast than a monster. There are all kinds of creatures in the Forest of the Forgotten, so don’t let your guard down.”
Zeke slowly approached to absorb the dead beast bear and recover his strength.
Then….
SWIIIIISH!
A tense killing intent that seemed to pull the atmosphere made his hair stand on end.
A feeling of a sharp sword right under his chin.
If he moved, the sword would instantly pierce his neck.
A killing intent so sharp that even Zeke, a Black Knight, could not move rashly.
He felt this killing intent extending from beyond the forest.
Zeke swallowed hard.
‘This feeling…’
A feeling he could not forget even in his dreams.
Nigel, his master from his previous life.
he was beyond the forest.
‘I thought using the Soul technique would make my master find me first, but I didn’t expect such a quick reaction.’
The sword had reached his chin without him even sensing her presence.
As Zeke remained motionless before the beast bear, Richmond and Bane sensed something was wrong.
“Master?”
The
SWISH!
A sharp sword strike flew towards Richmond and Bane.
Zeke instantly used wind storm technique to deploy Bahamut and deflect the strike.
CLANG!
Though a single strike, it contained a heavy force that made his wrist tingle.
Richmond and Bane stepped back in shock, preparing for battle.
Zeke urgently shouted:
“Do not move rashly!”
He tried to release Richmond and Bane’s summoning, but before he could, another sword strike flew.
SWOOSH!
Zeke swung his sword again to block the strike.
CLANG!
Heavier sword strikes than before continuously poured towards Zeke.
He bit his molars and deflected the strikes while trying to locate Nigel’s position.
But her presence was not easily captured.
Then!
WHOOOOSH!
A Soul technique technique’s energy was felt from behind.
Zeke, surprised, finally shouted towards Richmond and Bane:
“Release summoning!”
He barely managed to release their summoning just before Nigel’s sword, carrying Soul technique energy, could slice them.
SWIIIIISH!
A trace of the Soul technique’s sword remained where Richmond and Bane had been.
Nigel’s sword, containing the true power of full-body technique, could have even dissolved the liches’ souls.
Nigel’s figure, who had swung the sword, had already disappeared.
‘Where?’
Zeke raised his sword, activated Astral Sword, and expanded his domain.
He was trying to extend his will to capture Nigel’s presence.
But he could not find Nigel’s trace anywhere.
‘Cannot even capture her presence with Astral Sword’s domain.’
At that moment.
Suddenly, Nigel appeared behind Zeke.
Her sword was imbued with powerful Soul technique energy.
To avoid Nigel’s sudden attack, Zeke used the spirit skill of his sword sheath.
TSSSS!
Entering the dimensional boundary, Zeke this time tried to circle behind Nigel and find an opening.
As he emerged from the dimensional gap through his sword sheath, he swung a sword imbued with Astral Sword’s power.
WHOOOOSH!
Nigel flexibly turned her body and countered Zeke’s descending sword with her own sword carrying Soul technique.
CRAAAACK!
As Soul technique and Astral Sword collided, the surrounding space warped.
Both were thrown back, unable to withstand the powerful energy wave.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Zeke minimized the impact by anchoring himself to the ground with gold aura.
He raised his head and looked at Nigel across from him.
Her appearance, wearing a cloak with a hood, was exactly the same as in his previous life.
Zeke suppressed his fear and gripped his sword.
Then Nigel lowered her sword and slowly removed her hood.
Her unique hairstyle with blue-tinted gray hair rolled up.
Cold amber eyes without a trace of emotion.
A youthful face and small build that seemed completely incongruous with her brutal personality.
From her appearance, she looked like a noble young lady who had never held a sword.
But Zeke knew the true nature hidden behind his master’s appearance.
Facing his master from his previous life, Zeke steadied his breathing.
Nigel pointed her sword at him and spoke:
“Who are you?”
Revealing her sharp fangs between her lips and frowning, she added:
“Damn, how can a mere human use Soul technique?”
