Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The spear hurtled toward him with a deafening roar, poised to impale Zeke at any moment.
But that was the instant it happened.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu!
A black shadow erupted from the ground.
The shadow wrapped around Zeke's body as he clutched Laevatein, snatched the incoming adamantium spear mid-flight, and slammed it into the floor.
Woooong!
The chaos field that had sealed the space dissipated, and his authority returned.
Enveloped in the power of shadow, Zeke finally regained his senses.
Tsk-tsk-tsk—
Zeke slowly extracted the adamantium spear embedded in his body. Once he had fully removed it, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Kuhk!"
After vomiting the black blood, Zeke felt a slight relief in his chest.
At the same time, with his unique authority restored, the abilities of his immortal body settled back into his flesh.
Kwa-duduk!
The adamantium fragments lodged in his body were forcibly expelled.
However, since they were made of godslayer stone, the wounds didn't heal so easily.
Quickly assessing his condition, Zeke opened his inventory and retrieved the divine dragon's yeouiju and Chronos's clock.
'System, activate the authority: rewind.ʼ
Having already used an elixir to unlock the power of the yeouiju in advance, Zeke intended to erase the wounds inflicted by the godslayer stone using rewind.
He had previously healed dragons afflicted by godslayer stone with this method.
[The authority "Rewind" activates.]
Zeke felt a sense of relief upon seeing the system message appear before his eyes.
As the message popped up, the hands of Chronos's clock began to turn, and the wounds on Zeke's body gradually faded away.
A moment later, another message appeared.
[Through the power of the "Divine Dragonʼs Yeouiju," the authority "Rewind" has been activated without penalty.]
[The "Divine Dragonʼs Yeouiju" has its power resealed.]
Having reverted to the state before being struck by the godslayer stone, Zeke confirmed that his body was perfectly restored.
Tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk!
Emerging from the shadow, Zeke raised Laevatein and unleashed the elemental sword: chamber of firepower.
Fwoosh!
The purest azure flames poured from Zeke's sword.
The azure flame surged toward the beasts of the bottomless pit.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The azure flame swept over the beasts like a storm and reduced them to ashes in an instant. Zeke slowly descended to the ground amid the flames.
Releasing the summoning of Caligula, whose form had faded under concentrated attacks, Zeke lifted his head and gazed at the high priest.
The high priest watched Zeke, his eyes flashing red from beneath his robe.
"...Zeke Draker."
Zeke furrowed his brow at the high priest.
"I never expected you to attack me with godslayer stone. Thanks to that, I suffered a bit.
But your trap has failed. Stop struggling pathetically and just die." The high priest shook his head.
"No, that's not it. You are not the protagonist of the finale."
And in that moment, a different energy surged from the high priest's body—one distinct from the power of the outsider species.
Woooong!
At that instant, Arataso's voice echoed from within Zeke's inventory.
[This is the power of the arrogant savior!]
Startled by Arataso's words, Zeke instinctively charged toward the high priest.
At that moment, a gate blending green and blue opened above the high priest's head.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu!
A legion of demonkind emerged from the gate.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The demonkind legion, clad in sturdy bone armor and arrayed in perfect formation, exuded a presence unlike any other demon warriors Zeke had encountered.
Hundreds of demon warriors fully emerged from the gate. Among them sat one in dark blue-glowing bone armor and a skull helmet, mounted on a massive beast resembling a tiger.
[My god.]
Arataso's voice rang in Zeke's mind.
[The Morning Star 2nd Battalion... How can they appear again?]
'Morning Star? The arrogant savior's knight order?ʼ
[Yes, the 2nd Battalion, known as the strongest alongside the 1st Battalion I led.] Zeke grimaced and replied.
'Did the high priest summon the 2nd Battalion from the demon realm?ʼ
[That's impossible. The Morning Star 2nd Battalion was annihilated long ago.]
'An annihilated legion reappearing?ʼ
Zeke realized the high priest had used the arrogant savior's authority to resurrect the long-vanished Morning Star 2nd Battalion.
'What exactly is the arrogant savior's authority to make this possible?ʼ
Zeke raised his sword, eyeing the Morning Star 2nd Battalion with their ominous aura. Arataso spoke in a tense voice.
[The one at the back is Asmodi, captain of the Morning Star 2nd Battalion. Unlike me, whose power is sealed, he's in his prime form.]
'Were you comrades with him?ʼ
[...The 2nd Battalion stood by the arrogant savior to the end, perishing under attacks from other constellations. To him, we're traitors.]
Hearing Arataso's slightly bitter tone, Zeke glared at the high priest who had summoned the 2nd Battalion.
The homunculus, with half its upper body blown away and scorched by fire, seemed to have ceased functioning.
After summoning the 2nd Battalion, the high priest continued emitting the arrogant savior's energy, infusing it into them.
'To maintain the 2nd Battalion's summoning, he must stay here.ʼ
Zeke decided to pin down the 2nd Battalion and strike the high priest.
'Arataso, while I attack the high priest, draw the 2nd Battalion's attention.ʼ
[What? You bastard, using me as bait again...?]
Ignoring Arataso, Zeke quickly pulled the green sword and eastern sword from his inventory, summoning him and Nebilos.
Woooong!
Arataso, in his divine beast form, and Nebilos, resembling a lich, materialized.
"What, what is this?"
Nebilos, who had been quietly sealed, was suddenly dragged out.
After a moment of confusion, he scanned his surroundings to grasp the situation, then gasped upon seeing the Morning Star 2nd Battalion.
"Isn't that the bone corps?"
The Morning Star 2nd Battalion, known as the bone corps, was a terror even to other demon realm beings.
Zeke commanded the summoned Arataso and Nebilos.
"While I find an opening to strike the high priest, keep their attention." With that order, Zeke's form vanished smoothly.
Suddenly facing the bone corps head-on, Arataso appeared slightly tense, while Nebilos looked utterly bewildered.
He asked Arataso.
"What is this? The bone corps, annihilated in the war, suddenly reappearing." Arataso replied in a bitter tone.
"It's a long story. I don't know the exact details either. For now... cover me, Nebilos." Arataso, in his divine beast form, slowly approached the bone corps.
The other bone corps knights showed no reaction, remaining in formation even upon seeing Arataso.
Arataso addressed Asmodi at their rear.
"Long time no see, Asmodi."
Asmodi's eyes flickered red in response to Arataso's voice.
Soon, the skull helmet covering his face dissolved, revealing it.
Asmodi's eyes, entirely red like rubies, fixed on Arataso.
"Arataso."
Asmodi regarded him with cold eyes and spoke in a voice like frost.
"To encounter a traitor here. Surely the Lord's guidance."
Gripping the bone sword at his mount's side, he continued.
"I'll personally annihilate you."
Arataso met Asmodi's gaze and replied.
"I never betrayed anyone. The arrogant savior betrayed us first." Thud!
As if in response, Asmodi dismounted, shaking the cavern.
Glaring at Arataso with ruby eyes, he said.
"The purpose of Morning Star is to protect the Lord and realize his ideals." Arataso stepped forward, shaking his head.
"That's your ideal. Morning Star is just Morning Star. The arrogant savior is merely a deserter who abandoned us and ascended to the phenomenal world on his own." At his words, an ominous energy boiled from Asmodi. "You forsake honor and spew shameless lies without remorse."
Arataso shook his head again.
"Asmodi, you've become too enamored with the arrogant savior's arrogance. Don't you realize your stubbornness led to the sacrifice of the entire 2nd Battalion?"
To the end, Asmodi had stood loyal to the arrogant savior, holding Babel alone until he perished with all his men.
It could be called a heroic death, but to Arataso, it was a dog's death.
From the moment the arrogant savior abandoned Morning Star and left for the phenomenal world, such loyalty had been meaningless.
Arataso had waited for his return for a time, but he never came. Instead, the clear verdant aspiration weakened himself to protect his subordinates.
Having witnessed it all, Arataso concluded the arrogant savior was unworthy of such devotion.
"Even as a lingering spirit after annihilation, you cling to that delusion. Foolish fool." At Arataso's words, Asmodi raised his bone sword.
Pointing it at Arataso, he declared.
"Shut your foul soul! I'll annihilate you myself to comfort the Lord's spirit!" Asmodi leaped with his massive frame, charging at Arataso.
Whoosh!
The enormous bone sword descended from above, poised to crush Arataso in one blow.
In response, Arataso extended his hand, and wooden vines surged forth, forming a sturdy green sword and shield in his grasp.
Clang!
Arataso blocked Asmodi's sword with his shield.
Then, he swung at him.
Kwa-duduk!
Asmodi twisted, deflecting the strike with his skull-shaped shoulder armor.
Arataso shouted to Nebilos behind him.
"Nebilos! Help me!"
Though reluctant, Nebilos channeled his mana.
A hole to the abyss opened in the air, from which venom-dripping insects poured out.
Skeletons rose from the floor, their red eyes glowing.
Nebilos commanded them.
"Attack him!"
The insects swarmed toward Asmodi, who was charging at Arataso.
He roared and swung his bone sword wildly.
"Do you filthy vermin think you can stand against me, the most valiant and loyal of Morning Star!"
The wind pressure from his bone sword burst the abyssal insects indiscriminately.
At the same time, Arataso gripped his sword and drew upon his demonic aura.
[The most valiant? You've never beaten me once!] Woooong!
An intense green demonic aura enveloped Arataso's sword.
He unleashed a powerful sword strike at Asmodi.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-bam!
Asmodi swung his bone sword to block it.
But Arataso's assault didn't end there.
He split into multiple copies in an instant, slashing from all directions. Asmodi raised his bone sword vigorously.
"Haaah!"
With a shout, sharp bone shards erupted from his sword in all directions.
Arataso's clones vanished upon being struck, leaving only the original charging forward with his shield raised.
Simultaneously, the sword in Arataso's hand transformed into a lance.
Woooong!
Green demonic aura rippled along the lance as he thrust it at Asmodi.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The area turned green as Arataso's lance strike hit Asmodi's armor squarely.
Kwa-dududuk!
Cracks spiderwebbed across Asmodi's bone armor, its front shattering.
"Kuhk!"
Reeling from the impact, Asmodi staggered back.
A thin trickle of blood ran from his mouth.
Asmodi stared at Arataso in disbelief.
"How can a traitor who betrayed the Lord wield Morning Star's power!" Arataso pointed his lance and replied.
"You're still ranting about Morning Star's power? You haven't come to your senses. I was always strong. Though, I suppose recovering some power by chance under a tougher master than the arrogant savior is true."
Asmodi ground his teeth at Arataso's words.
"You filthy cur. In the end, you betrayed the Lord and took a new master." Arataso clicked his tongue and said to Asmodi.
"I'm tired of your lord talk. But Asmodi, there's one thing you don't know." He paused briefly, then lowered his voice.
"The arrogant savior's soul has not yet perished."