Woooooong!
The dagger embedded in Docheol's heart began to vibrate intensely.
Kwah-kwah-kwah-kwah!
With that, the demonic energy storm that blocked Zeke grew even stronger than before.
'What the hell did he just do?'
Zeke sensed that something ominous was about to happen when Docheol plunged the dagger into his own heart.
He had seen quite a few Narak mages or demonkind perform rituals by stabbing daggers into their own hearts.
Grrrruk—
A change occurred in Docheol's body after he stabbed his own heart with the dagger.
His crouched form twitched, and something seemed to try to burst out from his back, causing it to bulge and writhe.
Keeeeeek—
Docheol let out a pained scream and twisted his body before he collapsed to the floor.
Zeke glared at the sight through the demonic energy storm.
That was when it happened.
Suddenly, Docheol's back exploded open, and a black hand shot out abruptly.
'What is that?'
In his previous life, when Nigel captured Docheol, nothing like this had happened. 'Did the Four Fiends' encounter with Narak change things because of my regression?' The black hand thrashed as if it tried to tear through Docheol's skin and emerge.
Grrrrraaaah!
It was a scream like something crawling up from the bottom of hell.
Soon, a blood-soaked body began to emerge from Docheol's form.
'I can't let this happen!'
Zeke tried to use the Scabbard Spiritualization Skill to escape the demonic energy storm.
But the moment he attempted to activate the skill, the demonic energy storm that enveloped him vanished without a trace.
He lifted his head and looked ahead, where something rose from within Docheol's skin.
An unidentified entity covered in viscous blood, like a newborn fetus.
The being raised its head toward the sky and murmured something.
[Hoo... Their words were true after all. Finally, I've shed this damned cursed husk.] Zeke examined the entity that emitted an ominous aura.
It had massive horns on its head similar to Docheol's, but the energy and pressure it exuded were on an entirely different level from any magical beast.
With a beast-like face and body covered in fur, sharp claws and talons, it superficially resembled demonkind.
But the aura it gave off was completely unlike that of demonkind.
Zeke had felt a similar energy before.
'The Snow Queen. Nephilim...'
The entity that emerged from Docheol's body stretched out.
Then, with crimson eyes, it glared at Zeke and spoke.
[Pathetic human. I'll make you pay the price for defying the bloodline of the gods.] Zeke was taken aback by Docheol's sudden transformation and his words.
'The bloodline of the gods?'
At that moment, something flashed through Zeke's mind.
'This thing was born from a constellation's Sacred Blood!'
He recalled what Arataso had said when dealing with the Nephilim.
Zeke realized his sense that the transformed Docheol's aura resembled a Nephilim's was not mistaken, and he slowly raised his warhammer.
"What are you, exactly?"
Docheol took a deep breath and grinned grotesquely.
[It's not something a pathetic human like you needs to know. You humans just need to quietly serve as our livestock.]
Zeke let out a hollow laugh as he recalled the Nephilim's words about humans being eternally their slaves.
He quickly hardened his expression again, and lightning of light crackled from the warhammer he held.
"A mad dog needs a beating. Guess the same applies to magical beasts." Docheol smirked at Zeke, pulling at the corners of his mouth.
[Arrogant fool. Do you think a mere human can withstand the divine power I've reclaimed by shedding my cursed husk?]
Docheol extended his hand toward Zeke.
Woooooong—
A vibration rang in Zeke's ears.
In an instant, his head spun, and he staggered slightly.
'What was that?'
Docheol spoke to the flustered Zeke.
[Go and kill your own kind. Human blood and flesh are our sustenance, so I'll devour the strong ones here and grow my power.]
Even after he heard Docheol's words, Zeke stood there blankly.
Docheol tilted his head.
[What are you doing? Go kill your kin right now.]
He issued commands as if Zeke were his subordinate.
Zeke shook his head once, then gripped his warhammer and strode toward Docheol.
He then infused it with the Full Power Technique 'Will of Strength' and struck Docheol's body.
Kwah-dud-dud-duk!
[Kuhuk!]
The sound of bones breaking echoed from Docheol's body as the warhammer hit his abdomen.
Docheol, who had been dazed before he suddenly collapsed, glared at Zeke in disbelief.
[Impossible! How can a human resist 'divine authority'?!]
"I've got no idea what nonsense you've been spouting since earlier."
At Zeke's curt reply, Docheol ground his teeth and extended his hand, causing iron claws to erupt from the ground.
The claws shot out and lunged at Zeke, ready to tear him to shreds.
Kwah-dud!
Surprisingly, Zeke caught the iron claws barehanded.
Koo-goo-goo-goo!
Drawing upon the Chamber of Metal Power, Zeke snapped the iron claws.
Flick!
Zeke gripped the broken fragment of the iron claw and invoked the Authority of Flame.
Roooar!
The power of the authority melted the iron claw into molten metal.
As the molten iron dripped to the floor, Docheol panicked.
[H-Human, how can you wield authority...!]
Docheol, flustered, quickly tried to regain his composure and flee from the approaching Zeke.
But he was already in Zeke's grasp.
As Zeke reached out, chains shot forth and flew swiftly toward the escaping Docheol.
Chaaa-ruk!
The chains wrapped around Docheol's body like living things.
He was utterly shocked at the sight of the chains that bound him.
[Kuh... How is this in a human's hands?!]
Docheol seemed to know the identity of the chains Zeke wielded.
"You know about these chains?"
After a brief wait with no response, Zeke donned Agamemnon's Mask while he gripped the chains and infused it with the power of purification.
Tzzzzz—
Golden aura seeped into Docheol's body.
[Kraaaak!]
Zeke held the writhing Docheol and asked again.
"Tell me everything you know about these chains."
Docheol was the weakest and most cowardly among the Four Fiends, despite his brutal appearance.
He was endlessly domineering toward the weak but groveled before the strong, accustomed to debasing himself.
'He just shed his husk, so his divinity hasn't fully returned. Once I regain my power, I can subjugate him with my divine words.'
He thought he needed to buy time to recover his strength.
Tears streamed down his face as Docheol pleaded with Zeke.
[Pl-Please spare me.]
"You were calling me a pathetic human just moments ago, and now this? What's your scheme?"
Zeke was seasoned in dealing with such cunning types.
Ignoring him, Zeke continued channeling the power of purification into Docheol's body through the chains.
[Krrruk!]
Docheol exaggerated his pained cries even more.
He tried to stall for time to recover.
But Zeke saw through the deception with sharp intuition.
"You're playing tricks. Fine, keep it up."
Recalling that Docheol had called himself part of the 'bloodline of the gods,' Zeke pulled the Holy Spear from his inventory.
Docheol, who had been stalling, freaked out at the sight of the Holy Spear Zeke drew.
[Wh-Why is that here...? D-Don't tell me, the power of immortality?]
"The one who sent you after me must not have mentioned it. Too late to find out now." Zeke gripped the Holy Spear and stabbed Docheol's leg.
Tzzzzz—
Black smoke rose from Docheol's leg where the Holy Spear pierced.
[Kwaaaak!]
This time, a genuine scream of agony burst out.
Zeke withdrew the Holy Spear and said.
"It works. Would've been easier against that Qiongqi if I'd had this."
At the mention of Qiongqi's name, Docheol raised his voice in panic.
[What did you do to my brother?!]
"Brother? So the Four Fiends consider each other siblings."
It seemed they were not grouped as the Four Fiends for nothing; there was some connection between them.
Zeke pressed the tip of the Holy Spear to Docheol's throat and spoke in a low voice.
"You'll know what it feels like if you experience it yourself, but this is truly the Godslayerʼs
Spear. Better answer properly without any nonsense."
The Holy Spear was the only sacred relic capable of slaying the bloodline of the gods, making it fully effective against Docheol.
'Damn, they never mentioned anything like this.'
He had only made the contract with Narak because they promised to help him shed his cursed husk and reclaim his divinity.
And the contract's content was to bring Zeke alive.
He never imagined the target was an immortal who wielded the Holy Spear.
Zeke prodded Docheol's throat with the tip of the Holy Spear and asked.
"Tell me what you know about these chains."
Docheol hesitated, but as the spear slowly pierced his throat, he finally spoke.
[It-It's Solomon! The chains of King Solomon.]
Zeke was surprised to hear an unexpected name from Docheol's mouth.
"The Solomon who was king of Carcosa?" Docheol nodded.
[Y-Yes. King Solomon used those chains to capture the gods.]
Zeke had inherited these chains as part of Terakan Draker's legacy.
He had pressed him hoping to learn more about Terakan, but this was entirely unexpected.
He had thought they were no ordinary artifact since they could bind demonkind and even fallen constellations, but he never imagined they were King Solomon's Chains.
'King Solomon's Ring was given by an Elder Dragon. So these chains might have been made by an Elder Dragon too.'
Zeke gripped the Holy Spear again and said to Docheol.
"Who sent you here? Explain what you are in your current form."
Docheol felt immense fear at having a weapon capable of utterly erasing his existence beyond the Wheel of Reincarnation at his throat.
Docheol, whose hobby was terrifying and capturing the weak, found himself in the opposite position.
Trembling, Docheol finally spoke.
[Th-The high priest of Narak came to me. He said if I joined hands with him, he would help me shed the cursed husk and reclaim my original divinity.]
Zeke yanked the chains, forcing Docheol's head to turn and meet his eyes.
Staring into Docheol's eyes, Zeke said.
"What is this cursed husk, and what is your divinity? You're saying you're not just a simple magical beast."
Docheol slowly opened his mouth.
[W-We are the bloodline of the great gods, as I said earlier.]
"Explain it so I can understand. Otherwise, the Holy Spear goes right into your heart." At Zeke's words, Docheol swallowed hard.
'This guy's the type to do it.'
Realizing he could not deceive Zeke, Docheol had no choice but to tell the truth.
[My brothers and I were created from Sacred Blood.]
"So you're saying you're Nephilim."
When Zeke mentioned Nephilim, Docheol was the one surprised, his eyes widening.
[H-How do you know that?! Surely 'that history' was erased from humans!]
"I caught one with my own hands."
Zeke replied calmly and channeled the Authority of Freezing through the chains.
Kwah-dud-duk!
The Authority of Freezing began to slowly encase Docheol's body in ice.
[Kuh...!]
The authority worked on Nephilim as well.
Zeke looked at the suffering Docheol and resumed his questions.
"The Four Fiends are Nephilim... But why are you in the form of a magical beast now?" Sweating profusely, Docheol said.
[W-We were cursed.]
"What kind of curse?"
[A curse sealing our divinity within the husk, forcing us to reincarnate eternally.]
Zeke began to understand why the aberration species were different from other magical beasts.
In his previous life, without encountering Narak, they had simply remained slightly stronger magical beasts.
"All Nephilim are under that curse?" Docheol shook his head.
[Only those who joined hands with the fallen constellations received this curse. The others died or lost their divinity and ascended to higher dimensions as heroic spirits.] Zeke now understood why no more Nephilim appeared in the Phenomenal World.
'The Snow Queen remaining sealed was the anomaly. I still don't know why Master Kaisir sealed her instead of destroying her.'
Zeke organized his thoughts and stepped on Docheol's chest.
"I get the gist of what happened. But why did the high priest order you to capture me?" At that, Docheol shook his head vigorously.
[I-I don't know that either! It's true!]
"Is that so? Then you're worthless now."
As Zeke raised the Holy Spear to pierce his heart, Docheol shouted desperately.
[W-Wait! I-I remember now!]
Zeke paused the spear just before his heart.
He glared at Docheol as if to speak.
Trembling, Docheol opened his mouth.
[H-He said it was necessary to cast the curse!]
"What curse?"
At Zeke's cold voice, Docheol's eyes darted around before he spoke.
[The curse to bring down Draker! He said it was the curse to destroy Draker!]