"Heart-Sword?"
Zeke focused on Shattanʼs sword.
But no matter how long he waited, Shattanʼs blade didnʼt move.
"Shattan? Why isnʼt anything...?" In that instant, Zeke felt something off.
Sssrrk!
In a split second, his neck was severed, and his head tumbled to the ground.
"Gah!"
Zeke snapped back to awareness and opened his eyes.
He touched his neck and realized it was still attached as before.
"What just happened?"
He had vividly felt his head being cut off moments ago.
But when he came to, everything was back to normal.
He turned his head toward the spot where Shattan had been and opened his mouth.
"Shattan, what was that...?"
But the spot where Shattan had stood moments earlier was empty.
At the same time, Zeke sensed something strange again.
This time, his right arm was gone.
"Huh...?"
He hadnʼt even noticed when or how it had been severed.
It was as if his arm had always been missing, with only the result of the cut remaining.
When he regained his senses again, his left arm was gone, followed by one leg, then the other.
"T-This... Heart-Sword?" Snap!
With the sound of fingers snapping, Zeke came to.
Incredibly, Shattan remained in the exact same stance as when he had first drawn his sword.
Zeke himself hadnʼt moved a single step from his original position.
His back was drenched in cold sweat.
"Illusion? No, it wasnʼt some cheap illusion. I was really cut." Shattan steadied his breathing and sheathed his sword.
"How was it? The sensation of being struck by the Heart-Sword firsthand." Zeke couldnʼt find words.
He couldnʼt even tell if what had just happened fell within the realm of swordsmanship.
Finally pulling himself together, Zeke rubbed his face with both palms as if to dry it.
"Whew..."
There were no actual wounds on his body, but his mind felt as if it had been shredded.
Zeke now somewhat understood why Shattan called it the "Heart-Sword."
He looked at Shattan and said,
"Is this something I can learn right now? I couldnʼt even grasp how I was hit." Shattan smiled at Zekeʼs words.
"The fact that you even realized that is impressive in itself. If you werenʼt who you are, you wouldnʼt have woken up after the first neck slice." Zeke nodded at Shattanʼs words.
Having experienced death once before, he had truly believed heʼd died again when his neck was cut.
It was nothing like a half-baked illusion mimicking death.
He looked at Shattan and said,
"The sword of the mind... Does it mean that even without physical contact, striking with will and intent is the same as a real blade?"
"If I had to put it into words, yes. But you know this better than anyone—how difficult it is to cut someone with the mind."
"Cutting with the mind..."
He felt as though he understood, yet at the same time, it was an elusive sensation that made his head ache for the first time in ages.
Zeke had always been able to advance a step faster through limit break when he reached a new realm.
But Shattanʼs Heart-Sword operated on a far higher level, beyond such boundaries.
Seeing Zekeʼs confused expression, Shattan said,
"I didnʼt show you this expecting you to master the insight right away. Itʼs like planting a seed in the soil of Zeke Draker—if it takes root quietly, perhaps one day your sword will reach the mind."
It was the final insight of Shattan Draker, the Sword Saint.
For Zeke, who hadnʼt even reached the Grandmaster realm yet, comprehending it immediately was frankly impossible.
He paused for a moment, looked at Zeke, and said,
"My time in the Phenomenal World is nearly up."
"Already? Kaisir stayed for almost a month."
"He was always special. Remember, youʼre the successor who inherited not only my sword but also Kaisirʼs. In truth, thereʼs no one in the Phenomenal World who could withstand Kaisirʼs Elemental Sword."
"Even the Demon King?"
"If the Demon King had revived while Kaisir was around, things wouldnʼt have gotten this complicated."
"Would Kaisir have found a way to annihilate the Demon King, even without being immortal?"
"If annihilation wasnʼt possible, heʼd have chased it relentlessly, tormenting it until it self-destructed."
"Ah..."
It was an answer that somehow made perfect sense.
Shattan Drakerʼs heroic spirit chuckled softly at Zekeʼs quiet murmur, then began to fade into transparency.
"It was a pleasure to cross swords with such a talented successor. May peace and tranquility grace your turbulent future."
True to his title as the Noble Knight, Shattan Draker left with elegant parting words and slowly vanished.
Zeke stared at the spot where he had disappeared, then bowed his head.
"Thank you for your teachings, Noble Knight. Rest well."
As he wished, the insight of the Heart-Sword took deep root in Zekeʼs mind.
How it would sprout was up to Zeke.
"The road ahead is still long."
As he steeled his resolve, a message appeared before Zekeʼs eyes.
—Achievement Quest (Linked)—
[Find the secret cave where Sword Saint Shattan Drakerʼs insight remains.]
[Find the final legacy of the Absolute Sword House Draker Family.]
[Quest Mission Reward: The Sword Saintʼs Final Insight]
[Quest Mission Reward: Special Bloodline Ability]
[Achievement Quest Successful.]
[Acquired The Sword Saintʼs Final Insight as Quest Mission Reward.]
[Special Skill 'Heart-Swordʼ registered. (Inactive State)]
[Acquired Special Bloodline Ability 'Mana Rejectionʼ as Quest Mission Reward.]
[Active Skill 'Mana Reflectionʼ and Bloodline Ability 'Mana Rejectionʼ combine.]
[Active Skill 'Mana Reflection (Grade A)ʼ evolves into 'Mana Inversion (Grade S)ʼ]
[Special Random Box granted as reward.]
'Mana Inversion?ʼ
Zeke opened the information on the newly evolved Mana Inversion.
—Skill Information—
Mana Inversion: Reverses magic targeting the user, causing mana backlash.
Zekeʼs face lit up as he read the details of Mana Inversion.
'If someone casts magic on me, their mana reverses on them instead.ʼ
If this worked as described, it would maximize the effects of countering mages with mana suppression technique.
'Maybe I should call it mana reversal technique instead of mana suppression. And if I layer on an area buff?ʼ
Expanding the range of mana reversal could allow him to wipe out mages on a battlefield in one go.
It was a perfect skill for dealing with Narakʼs mages.
'Iʼve gained a lot from coming to the Forest of the Forgotten.ʼ
Now, all that remained was to free the sealed "Earth God," as per the message from Chronos that Hyperion had relayed.
Zeke left the Absolute Sword Houseʼs secret cave and dashed back toward Nigelʼs house in the forest.
*
"Narak is digging a trap to capture Zeke Draker?"
Ramon Siemens looked up from his documents in the Siemens Labyrinth, repeating the question.
The robed mage nodded.
"Yes. It seems Azmun Barrios and the Acting Consul, who is an Apostle, have joined hands."
At that, Ramon closed his documents and turned toward the mage.
"Acting Consul, eh? That demon. Lopocale, was it?"
Not just the High Priest, but Ramon Siemens had also seen through Lopocaleʼs true nature.
"Thatʼs right. A vassal of the Squelching Pit of Darkness."
"Hmm... The Squelching Pit of Darkness. A foul constellationʼs vassal and a scheming plotter have teamed up."
The mage replied to Ramonʼs words,
"Theyʼve probably formed an alliance only on the surface, hiding their true goals from each other."
Ramon stroked his chin thoughtfully before he spoke slowly.
"Whatʼs the High Priestʼs side up to?"
"No unusual movements yet. Theyʼre likely preparing the curse on Arthur Draker that we discussed."
If the High Priest managed to curse and kill or bind Arthur Draker, the Siemens family would be able to surface.
Even with Rom in hand, it had been hard to move openly at that point.
The moment they did, the Draker family would surely strike their main base.
'Arthurʼs sitting back, just waiting for me to make a move.ʼ
He had various contingencies in place, but he knew the hidden strength of the Draker family well.
That was why he couldnʼt act rashly.
If things had gone as planned, Cain would receive the consecration and become Romʼs heir, Abel would take the Draker family, theyʼd sweep the continent, and calmly prepare for the Second Consecration Rite.
But Zeke Draker, an unforeseen variable, had ruined all their long-prepared plans.
After pondering, Ramon said to the mage,
"Weʼll lend our strength to Azmun and Lopocaleʼs plan. This time, we eliminate Zeke Draker for good."
"Do we really need to get involved? If Zeke Draker bites the bait and enters Rom, heʼs as good as dead already."
"I thought that too, but heʼs slipped away every time. And counterattacked, costing us. I wonʼt tolerate it anymore. We eliminate Zeke Draker before the upcoming Second Consecration Rite."
The mage nodded at Ramonʼs words.
"Understood. What forces shall I prepare?"
"Prepare Experiment Subject No. 3."
The mage froze for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"Family Head, using that just to catch Zeke Draker seems excessive."
Ramon looked at the mage and said,
"Zeke Draker killed Abel after his First Consecration Rite. And you still think itʼs excessive?"
"That was... perhaps a side effect of the dragon heart implanted in Abel being too powerful."
"Weʼve lost every time by underestimating Zeke Draker like that. No more excuses— prepare it. This time, we must kill him. He canʼt interfere with our plans any longer."
"...Understood, Family Head."
Ramon continued,
"William is still detained in Heli?"
"Yes, under protection—nominally—guarded by the rebel forces led by Julius and the Black Sword Knight Order."
Ramon frowned at the mageʼs words.
"The geas is still active?"
"Yes, as long as the geas holds, even Zeke Draker canʼt do much."
"Fine. Youʼre dismissed."
The mage bowed to Ramon and left.
Alone, Ramon slowly rose from his seat.
He placed his palm on one wall, and a magic circle appeared, creating a passageway where none had been.
Ramon descended slowly into the passage.
At the bottom of the stairs, he stood before a secretly prepared altar.
He gazed at it, drew a dagger from his bosom, and sliced his palm.
Drip! Drip!
Blood from his hand fell into the dish before him.
Once the dish filled, he rubbed the wound with his other hand.
Surprisingly, the cut on his wrist vanished completely.
Ramon placed the blood-filled dish on the altar.
Then he began chanting.
"????????????????????????????????????????..."
An incomprehensible voice flowed from his mouth—whether it was even a language was unclear.
From the dish on the altar, a dark crimson haze rose.
Soon, it coalesced into a faint form.
Ramon addressed the form.
"O ill-fated emperor Ajitahaka, who sought godhood but fell from the heavens without achieving it." Rumble!
The haze rippled in response to Ramonʼs words, shaking the entire altar.
He looked at Ajitahakaʼs form and said,
"On the day the moon devours the sun, the Second Consecration Rite begins. Before then, foresee the future for me with the authority of arrogance."
Ajitahakaʼs form wavered, then transformed into a circular mirror.
Ramon intently examined the strange flows of smoke drifting within the mirror.
At one point, Ramonʼs eyes widened.
"Ajitahaka. Is this truly the foreseen future?"
Ajitahakaʼs form offered no reply to Ramonʼs question, dispersing like smoke and vanishing.
Ramon frowned at the statue on the altar depicting Ajitahaka in life.
'It seems the High Priest has some scheme. Iʼll look into it.ʼ
With the Second Consecration Rite approaching, he couldnʼt let things go awry now.
On the day of the rite, Ramon Siemens would be reborn anew.
'When that day comes, all shall kneel before me.ʼ