"Shadow Hunter."
Zeke gazed at the lost-soul soldiers that had transformed into shadow hunters.
It was a name that suited their appearance, which seemed modeled after Zeke during his hitman days.
At that moment, the dark soldiers resummoned by the dark knights charged toward Zekeʼs position.
Caaack!
The lost-soul soldiers from the vanished world, summoned by the twisted causality, let out eerie shrieks as they rushed forward.
Zeke looked at them and issued a command to the shadow hunters.
"Shadow hunters, liberate the souls of those noble warriors." Tssst!
Upon receiving Zekeʼs order, the shadow hunters drew daggers with both hands and charged at the lost-soul soldiers.
Ssssh—
Surprisingly, not only their appearance but also their movements mimicked Zeke from his hitman era.
The shadow hunters moved in perfect unison, evoking memories of that time.
They crouched low, stealthily but swiftly approaching the lost-soul soldiers.
At the same time, the shadow hunters began to melt into the surrounding shadows.
The lost-soul soldiers, who had been tracking the shadow huntersʼ movements, halted their advance at the front when the hunters suddenly vanished.
While they hesitated, the shadows of the lost-soul soldiers rippled like black stains seeping in.
Whoooosh!
As the lost-soul soldiers floundered in confusion, the hunters hidden in the shadows burst forth.
Caaack!
The lost-soul soldiers belatedly sensed their movements and tried to charge again, but the hunters had already seized advantageous positions.
In that instant, two or three hunters latched onto each lost-soul soldier, swinging daggers from above, below, and the sides.
Slaaash!
In a flash, the bodies of the lost-soul soldiers shattered into pieces.
The hunters melted back into the shadows and shifted to other lost-soul soldiers, resuming their attacks.
The shattered remains of the lost-soul soldiers sank into the swamp of shadows Zeke had spread out, only to be absorbed back into him.
Zeke once again converted the vengeful souls among the absorbed lost-soul soldiers into shadow hunters.
In the end, the more the lost-soul soldiers advanced, the more Zekeʼs forces grew.
Realizing this, the dark knights stopped summoning lost-soul soldiers at some point.
Kugugugu!
The dark knights, who had only been summoning soldiers from behind, pulled out the swords they had planted in the ground and rose to their feet.
Ominous breath, laced with foul energy, poured from within their helmets.
An overwhelming pressure emanated from the dark knights, incomparable to the lostsoul soldiers.
The shadow hunters, having nearly eliminated the lost-soul soldiers, closed in on the dark knightsʼ position.
At that moment, the dark knights raised their swords first and charged forward.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
As the dark knights swung their blades, a dark demonic aura infused with dark energy burst forth.
Tssst—
The shadow hunters tried to press forward against the dark knightsʼ dark demonic aura, but they couldnʼt maintain their forms properly, scattering or retreating back into the shadows.
Seeing the shadow hunters disperse in an instant from a single sword strike, Zeke realized that the dark knights possessed power rivaling high-rank demonkind.
"They must have been renowned knights from their respective eras."
Like the lost-soul soldiers, Zeke wished to save the souls of the dark knights ensnared by corrupting power.
Woooong!
A powerful vibration emanated from the holy sword Ascalon.
Following Heraclesʼs method, Zeke triggered resonance of strong waves and empty vibration to amplify his demonic aura.
Kugugugu!
A mighty demonic aura erupted from Zekeʼs body.
At the same time, the dark knights lunged forward, swinging swords laden with dark demonic aura toward Zeke.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
The powerful dark demonic aura hurtled toward Zeke.
Zeke raised Ascalon and charged, unleashing the dragon slaying technique.
Kiiiing—
The amplified wave of resonance of strong waves and empty vibration rode the dragon slaying technique, drawing a massive half-moon arc.
As Zekeʼs wave disrupted the dark demonic aura, the dark knightsʼ eyes flashed red from within their helmets.
Immediately, a dark gale whirlwind surged from their swords.
Kugugugugugu!
Dozens of powerful dark gales raged, causing the earth to tremble.
Kurrrung!
The ground cracked, and the dark gales shot up to the skyʼs edge, only for black lightning to descend from above.
Kwaaakwaaakwaa!
Black lightning struck everywhere, as if the end of the world had come.
It was then.
[Come. To this place. Come quickly.]
The demon kingʼs eerie voice echoed in his ear once more.
Nabu, standing behind him, heard the voice calling to the dark knights and shouted to Zeke.
"Zeke! The demon kingʼs power leaking from the temple seems to be growing stronger!" It meant the sealing power protecting the temple was gradually weakening.
Heracles, steadfastly guarding the templeʼs front within the barrier, also sensed the change and raised his longbow into a vigilant stance.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
The dark knights, who had summoned the dark gales, slowly advanced toward Zekeʼs position.
Their momentum evoked the harbingers of blood and madness, bringing apocalypse to the world.
Zeke gripped Ascalon and infused it with the power of holy spirit qi through the wave of resonance of strong waves and empty vibration.
Woooong!
A brilliant halo of light spread in all directions, resisting the dark power, but it lacked the might to fully halt the raging gales.
"Black gales and lightning. The obscured vision makes them tricky opponents."
He could reveal his divinity to confront them, but Baron was still hidden. Moreover, with unknowns inside the temple, it was unwise to expose all his power prematurely.
But then.
Shuuushushu!
A massive rain of arrows began falling from the sky.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
It was the orichalcum arrow volley from Heracles. They pierced the dark gales and rained down on the dark knights.
Kwaduduk!
The physical force of the orichalcum arrows broke through the gales formed by the dark knightsʼ demonic aura, striking them directly.
Zeke turned to see Nabu and Nigel had entered the barrier, while Heracles held his longbow in an attacking posture toward the dark knights.
Seeing this, the corner of Zekeʼs mouth curved upward.
"Heʼs covering my back. Looks like he changed his mind."
With his mind at ease, Zeke steadied his breathing and raised Ascalon once more.
Pajijijijik!
Lightning of light infused with holy spirit qi shot high into the sky.
At the same time, a golden aura bearing the power of great purification flowed from Zekeʼs body.
The dark galeʼs energy withered upon contact with the golden aura.
Zeke concentrated his power into the sword again, launching more bolts of lightʼs lightning skyward.
Pajijijijijik!
Dozens of massive lightning bolts filled the sky, devouring the dark gales and dark lightning.
Simultaneously, orichalcum arrows poured from the heavens once more.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
The lightʼs lightning Zeke had conjured overlaid the orichalcum arrows, enhancing them with holy spirit qi.
Kwaaakwaaakwa!
Arrows infused with lightʼs lightning rained down on the dark knights from above.
Pachiiing!
The dark knights halted their gales and swung their swords to deflect the arrows, but they couldnʼt prevent the radiant lightʼs lightning from seeping into their bodies.
Pajijijijik!
The lightʼs lightning, which burned away impure power, enveloped the dark knightsʼ forms.
Kikikikigik!
As the lightning-wrapped dark knights slowed and creaked, Zeke charged forward without hesitation.
He extended his hand, activating authority of amplification, then triggered resonance of strong waves and empty vibration toward the orichalcum arrows embedded around him.
Woooong!
At first, one arrow vibrated upon receiving the amplified wave of authority, then the others began resonating in response.
Jiiiiing—
In an instant, the orichalcum arrows scattered across the battlefield resonated as if alive, further amplifying and emitting the wave Zeke had initiated.
The dark knights at the center of this waveʼs domain grew even more rigid in their movements.
As their dark demonic aura dispersed, cracks formed in their armor and swords.
Kwadududuk—
Seeing his attack take effect on the dark knights, Zeke intensified the wave.
Kiiiing—
The orichalcum arrows vibrated more fiercely, their power etching deeper cracks into the dark knightsʼ armor.
Soon, something began leaking from within the cracked armor of the dark knights. Ssssh—
Viscous, writhing black substances oozed out from the breaches in the armor.
The dark substances, influenced by the amplified wave, trembled minutely, twisting their forms in apparent agony.
These were the sources of the foul energy binding the dark knightsʼ souls.
Zeke extended his hand toward the black substances leaking from the dark knightsʼ armor.
Fwoooosh!
He unleashed unquenchable flames toward the dark knights, combining authority of flame and authority of amplification.
The authority-forged flames enveloped the dark knights, incinerating the black substances.
Keeeaak—
The black substances writhed like living creatures, struggling to escape the waveʼs domain amid the blaze.
At that moment, a massive white flame erupted along their attempted escape route. Fwoooosh!
The white flame from Heracles merged with authority of flame, swallowing the dark knights whole.
Trapped in the wave and assaulted from both sides by the flames, the black substances controlling the dark knights could find no respite.
As Zeke observed the situation and extended his shadows to absorb the burning dark knights, it happened.
Kwaaakwaaakwaa!
A massive explosion roared from behind the temple.
At the same time, the barrier protecting the temple slowly dissipated.
Zeke narrowed his eyes and looked toward the temple.
"Baron."
The dark knights had clearly been bait to create an opening to enter the temple.
Heraclesʼs eyes, spewing flames, turned red once more.
He ceased the flames, raised his massive frame, and tried to rush toward the source of the explosion behind the temple.
But then, black vines erupted from the ground.
Chalalaala!
Hundreds of black vines burst from the earth, wrapping around Heraclesʼs body.
Caught off-guard, Heracles was ensnared by the vines and frozen rigidly in place, unable to move as he wished.
Vines also extended toward Nabu and Nigel, attempting to attack them.
"Haat!"
The quick-reacting Nigel swiftly swung his sword, severing the vines.
But new vines sprouted from the cut ends, lunging at them again.
This time, Nabu opened his book and shouted at the vines.
"May a rain of fire from the heavens scorch the obstructing thorns!" As per his word magic, a rain of fire poured from the sky.
Kwaaakwaa!
The vines engulfed in flames seemed to take damage as they burned, but they regenerated, filling the gaps left by the incinerated ones.
Moreover, the vines erupting from the ground had already entwined the templeʼs perimeter, making entry seem impossible.
Zekeʼs side was no better.
The sudden vines had uprooted all the embedded orichalcum arrows, weakening the waveʼs amplification.
With the wave diminished, the cracking dark knights began recovering.
Their red eyes flashed again as they raised their swords and advanced on Zeke, truly embodying an immortal knight order.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Zeke steadied his breathing as the dark knights approached.
"Now that Iʼve pinpointed Baronʼs movements, I can act in earnest."
Zeke calmly closed his eyes and began unleashing the divinity he had suppressed until now.
The rank of the constellation surged from his body.
Kugugugugu!
Having absorbed the arrogant saviorʼs soul, Zeke had grown into a constellation as powerful as a grand lord of the demon realm.
This space was a separated unique domain, not the phenomenal world, so restrictions on his power were virtually nonexistent.
Drdrdrdr!
As Zeke revealed his true power, the entire earth shook as if it would overturn.
Yet the dark knights charged at him, spewing dark demonic aura and raising their swords.
Zeke, fully unveiling his rank, opened his eyes.
His eyes were no longer the usual dragon eye.
He had activated the "grand lordʼs evil eye," tinged with the hue of purgatory.
Zeke looked down at the dark knights through the evil eye and spoke.
[Kneel.] Thud!
At his divine tongue utterance, the dark knights simultaneously dropped to their knees.