'The place where Arthur Draker was resurrected.'
Zeke frowned as he peered into the Emblem of the Sun and Sword, then approached the door and extended his hand.
"System, scan if you can access the Administrator Authority." At Zeke's words, the system activated the Kabbalah System.
[Administrator Authority access not found.]
But it seemed incompatible with the Kabbalah System, as it only repeated the message that the Administrator Authority could not be found.
Zeke pondered for a moment, then recalled how the Outsider-Species Magical Beast had opened this door through the reconstructed past when he had entered Rex's memories.
'The Outsider-Species Magical Beast used its tentacles to open it, but it must require aligning a specific pattern.'
For now, he summoned his shadow and split it into multiple tendrils, mimicking the Outsider-Species Magical Beast's tentacles from his memory.
"System, analyze the pattern from the reconstructed memory of how the Outsider-
Species Magical Beast manipulated its tentacles to open the door."
Following Zeke's command, the system analyzed the method the Outsider-Species Magical Beast's tentacles had used to open the door and applied that pattern to the shadow tendrils.
The shadow tendrils slithered into the tiny holes finely scattered around the Emblem of the Sun and Sword.
Just as in the memory, the shadow tendrils meticulously manipulated the door's mechanisms.
Creak! Click!
As the shadow tendrils moved according to the pattern, the disc engraved with the sword and sun emblem rotated backward with a grinding sound.
As in the memory, when the sword's tip pointed upward, there was a click, and a bloodcrimson light spread out from the disc.
Ssssh—
Soon, the blood-crimson hue shifted to a more vivid red, and the entire door transformed as if covered in capillaries.
Rumble!
The door slowly split open to both sides, revealing what lay hidden within.
Zeke gripped his sword and entered cautiously, staying on guard.
Just as when Arthur Draker had been resurrected, a vast cavern came into view.
Zeke gazed at the towering altar stacked in the center of the cavern.
From the reconstructed memory, it was right there that Arthur Draker had embraced Dark Matter in his heart and been resurrected.
Zeke immediately levitated his body and ascended to the top of the altar, which was piled high like a tower.
Whoosh!
Zeke soared into the air and reached the altar's summit in an instant.
As his feet touched the altar, he felt a pounding pulse.
Thin lines emitting an eerie glow, like fine blood vessels, spread across the entire floor of the altar.
Zeke slowly walked toward the center of the altar.
There stood none other than the Sword God Statue of Draker.
Seeing the statue that matched the one from his memory, Zeke furrowed his brow.
In his previous life, this statue in the form of a judge had identified him as a healer, forcing him out of Draker and setting off the chain of all tragedies.
When he learned that the true identity of this Sword God Statue was Avatar Adam, the progenitor of the Draker bloodline, Zeke had been utterly disgusted by the vicious wheel of fate.
'I don't understand why Arthur Draker left this place as his legacy.'
Zeke checked the system window while staring at the Sword God Statue.
—Final Arc Scenario (Chapter of the Twisted Temple)—
[Find the Temple of the Twisted Constellation.]
[Scenario Reward: Bestowal of a Constellation's Authority]
He had discovered the Temple of the Twisted Constellation, so a reward should have been granted, but there was still no response.
'Is this not the Temple of the Twisted Constellation?'
According to the system map, this place was clearly labeled as the Temple of the Twisted Constellation.
Yet no message appeared.
"System, search for information on the Temple of the Twisted Constellation."
Following Zeke's command, the system displayed a message window.
[Searching as per user's command.]
[Searching for location.]
[Search impossible.]
[Karma data for the designation 'Twisted Constellation' does not exist.]
Zeke looked puzzled at the system message before him.
'The designation 'Twisted Constellation' doesn't exist? That can't be right.'
The mission window clearly specified 'Twisted Constellation' and marked this location.
Yet it claimed no Karma data existed, which made no sense.
Zeke asked the system again.
"System, does that mean the 'Twisted Constellation' doesn't exist?" In response, the system displayed another message.
[Among the information on Constellations recorded in the Akashic Code, the relevant data cannot be found.]
Seeing the system's message, Zeke fell into thought once more.
'That means either the term 'Twisted Constellation' was wrong from the start, or the Karma data for that Constellation hasn't been updated yet.'
Based on the information from Rex's memories, it seemed the Twisted Constellation referred to the Sun God Apollyon, but he couldn't be certain yet.
Zeke pondered briefly, then lifted his head and approached the Sword God Statue.
'I'll get related information on the Twisted Constellation, and the data will update then.'
Zeke extended his hand toward the Sword God Statue and activated Dragonʼs Wisdom to read the Karma data.
Ssssh—
As Dragonʼs Wisdom unfolded, the Eye of the Sage, linked to the Akashic Code, activated.
But then.
Keeeeen—
The Sword God Statue reacted to Zeke's authority, with an eerie energy gathering on its surface.
The strange energy flowing from the Sword God Statue rippled and coalesced into a single form.
Hummm—
Zeke recognized what the increasingly clear form was.
'What is that?'
The strange energy had formed a single sword, shaped just like the Shadow Sword Caladbolg.
It was the shadow sword that had seeped into Arthur Draker's heart, now revealing itself before Zeke once more. 'Why is this here?'
Zeke stared at the sword emitting the eerie energy, then drew a sword from his shadow.
Ssssh—
A black sword identical in shape appeared in Zeke's hand.
The true name of the sword he held was the Sword of Hardened Shadow 'Caladbolg', and Zeke recalled the descriptor attached to its true name.
'A facet of the Promised Sword of Liberation.'
In the reconstructed past, the sword of Arthur Draker he had seen, the swords in the Draker Family's Sword Grave, the Caladbolg he now held, and finally the one before him —all were swords of the same shape.
The four swords of identical form pointed to one thing.
"The Promised Sword of Liberation."
Zeke murmured the name unconsciously.
At that moment, the Caladbolg in his hand and the sword before the Sword God Statue resonated together, beginning to vibrate.
Hummm!
As the two swords resonated, astonishingly, the Sword God Statue, the altar, and the entire space pulsed in harmony.
Zeke realized from the phenomenon that there was some connection between this space and the shadow sword.
'What on earth is the true nature of this sword?'
Zeke had obtained this sword by opening an extra-grade random box and acquiring the legendary item, the sword of Siemens Apollyon.
Siemens Apollyon was the Demon King's second host and, on another timeline, the final sage who had gone back in time to witness and prevent the world's end.
But Siemens Apollyon could not withstand the soul's discord from traversing timelines and fell into madness.
In the end, he allowed the Demon King to descend upon his body and used this sword to seal the divine dragons guarding the Phenomenal World, summoning the Demon King's Army to the surface.
The savior who became the Demon King himself.
Zeke gazed at the Caladbolg in his hand and the sword before him.
'The single sword that the shadow sword points to. The Promised Sword of Liberation might be an important key.'
Zeke slowly extended his hand toward the sword before him.
But then.
Hummm!
A loud vibration emanated from the sword, and strange energy flowed out. Ssssh—
The energies coalesced, forming Dark Matter just as they had for Arthur Draker.
Rattle! Rattle!
The Dark Matter, with its bizarre rippling surface, slowly approached Zeke as if beckoning him.
The strange power that had resurrected the dead Arthur Draker and completely transformed his constitution into a Solar Saint Body now reached out toward Zeke.
—Bloodkin of Adam.
A voice echoed in Zeke's ears.
The eerie voice, rising from some deep abyss, was an aggregate of immense will— impossible to distinguish as old or young, male or female.
The surface of the Dark Matter shifted again, and the voice resounded in Zeke's ears.
—Come this way.
Zeke stared at it with slightly glazed eyes, as if entranced by the voice in his ear.
Soon, the surface of the Dark Matter changed, forming the shape of a hand within it..reaching toward Zeke.
—Accept your fate. Then all you desire shall be yours.
As if intoxicated by the voice, Zeke slowly extended his hand toward the black hand approaching him.
Just as Zeke's fingertips nearly touched the black hand.
Crackle!
Suddenly, plasma burst from the sword that had formed the Dark Matter.
Creak! Creak!
Zeke's shadow had moved stealthily, attempting to absorb the sword embedded in the floor.
Crackle!
From the other shadow sword before the Sword God Statue, a fierce reaction occurred, sending out concentric waves in all directions.
The waves scattered Zeke's shadows, unable to maintain their form.
—You dare refuse your destined fate!
In an instant, the black hand turned to smoke and swiftly tried to coil around Zeke's hand.
At that moment, a golden aura flowed from Zeke's hand.
Hummm!
The golden waves coiled around and neutralized the black energy that had tried to entice Zeke.
Simultaneously, Zeke drew Laevatein and hurled it straight at the floating Dark Matter.
Boom!
Laevatein flew at tremendous speed and pierced the center of the Dark Matter.
Crunch—
The Twisted Causality enveloping the Dark Matter tried to shatter Laevatein, but to no avail.
Instead, Laevatein's Dark-Soul Technique activated, absorbing the Twisted Causality into the sword.
Ssssh—
As the Twisted Causality was absorbed, the Dark Matter's surface sharpened like scales in alarm.
Screech!
A sharp cry erupted from the Dark Matter.
At the same time, the sword embedded in the floor began to slowly rise into the air.
Hummm!
The energy flowing from the sword connected to the Dark Matter gripped by Laevatein, intensifying the vibrations.
Hummm!
The vibrations soon spread across the entire altar, then the whole space resounded.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Fine lines like capillaries appeared on the walls of the vast space, pulsing violently.
It felt as if the space itself were a living creature.
Zeke glared at the floating sword and said.
"You're just a sword—stop resisting and obey quietly."
Zeke, who had seemed entranced by the sword's voice, had already returned to his normal self.
It had feigned enticement by the strange voice, turning to smoke, but in truth aimed to absorb the sword—the source of that power—whole.
Hummm!
Enraged at falling for Zeke's ploy, the sword let out a fierce sword resonance.
But Zeke remained unshaken by the sword's intense cry.
"Laevatein, absorb it all."
Ssssh—
Laevatein, piercing the Dark Matter, fully unleashed its power and began absorbing the Twisted Causality.
Crunch!
Feeling its power being drained, the Dark Matter's core tried to escape Laevatein, but it was too late.
By now, Laevatein's blade was even absorbing the Dark Matter's very essence.
Keeeeen—
As the Dark Matter was absorbed, the floating sword began to wail even more fiercely.
Then, a change occurred in the pulsing space.
Crack! Crack!
Various forms of Outsider-Species Magical Beasts began emerging from the walls.
Screech!
Thousands of Outsider-Species Magical Beasts burst from the walls and floor, charging toward Zeke atop the altar.