[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 102
'Abel.'
Zeke was confused about how Abel had ended up here. But questions wouldn't help him escape.
First, he had to get out of this place.
Zeke stood in front of Karus and pointed his sword at Abel and the Red Lion Knights.
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
'I need to find an escape route.'
Just then, Abel stepped forward.
"You're under arrest for kidnapping the prince. Drop your weapon immediately."
Abel didn't recognize Zeke, who was wearing a helmet.
'Kidnapping the prince, huh?'
Looking at the menacing knights, Zeke realized Abel's plan.
He intended to frame Zeke, the kidnapper trapped with no escape route, for killing Karus while resisting arrest.
Zeke held his sword steady and took a deep breath.
Then, at Abel's nod, one of the knights behind him sprang forward.
Whoosh!
As expected of a formal Draker knight, his movements were exceptional.
The knight who jumped out swung his sword at Zeke.
Clang!
Zeke, wielding his Bahamut, used the Northern style swordsmanship he had used in his past life to deflect the knight's attack.
Abel watched Zeke's fighting style closely.
It seemed he was trying to glean information about Zeke, who had smuggled Karus away, through each of his movements.
Zeke fought the knight using the rough Northern style swordsmanship, something typically used by Northern mercenaries.
Whoosh!
Zeke dodged the knight's sword and punched him in the abdomen.
The knight was caught off guard by the Northern style technique that freely mixed punches with swordsmanship.
Crack!
A terrible sound came from the knight's abdomen.
"Keuhuk!"
Zeke's fist, reinforced with powers, was like a punch from an ogre.
Overwhelming physical strength that surpassed normal limits could even overcome aura enhancement.
The knight clutched his ruptured abdomen and staggered back.
Abel nodded again.
Four of the surrounding knights approached Zeke.
'You want to keep testing me.'
Abel already thought Zeke and Karus were completely captured.
So, it seemed he was trying to uncover who was behind Karus's kidnapping.
Zeke assumed the starting stance of Northern style swordsmanship, raising his sword above his head.
The four knights charged at Zeke.
"Haaa!"
Swords laden with aura flew at Zeke from all directions.
Zeke deflected the knights' swords with his Bahamut and, with the rough and bold movements characteristic of Northern style swordsmanship, cut down Abel's knights one by one.
Whoosh!
One of the knights' legs was cut off by Zeke's swift sword.
"Kugh!"
Zeke subdued the four in an instant.
Abel, seeing Zeke with his breathing still steady, fell into thought.
Then, he raised his hand and said to the knights surrounding the portal shuttle platform,
"Capture him alive. We need to find out who's behind this."
Dozens of knights drew their swords and slowly approached Zeke.
Karus, who had been vomiting behind them, finally regained his senses and stood up, shouting,
"You insolent fools! Back off! Abel Draker! I trusted you as a friend, but to think you conspired with the Consul to kill me! Do you not fear God!"
Despite Karus's outburst, the knights didn't stop.
Zeke held his sword and regulated his breathing.
Kugugugugu!
He raised his Bahamut to its maximum.
One of the knights charged at Zeke.
Zeke swung his sword at him.
Crack!
The knight's sword shattered, and he was flung back by the force, crashing into the wall.
Ordinary knights would have been flustered, but Draker's knights were indeed different.
They seemed fearless, charging towards Zeke without hesitation.
Chwaaaaak!
Dozens of blades descended upon Zeke.
Zeke deflected all the incoming swords with his Bahamut.
Crack!
The swords of the knights who clashed with Zeke all broke.
Not stopping there, Zeke charged into the knights himself.
Bam!
Even without any special techniques, the knights couldn't withstand Zeke's charge and were sent flying.
William, who was observing this, said to Abel,
"Abel, I think that's a magic sword and armor."
Even with aura enhancement, it was impossible to exert such great physical force.
If it were possible, it would only be for those blessed with physical strength, like the Turunn or Agamemnon clans.
At William's words, Abel slowly took off his gloves.
Bzzzt!
As Abel took off his gloves, the surrounding mana lights flickered, and sparks flew from the magic circle.
Zeke realized that Abel was disrupting the mana flow.
'So that's it.'
Elemental Sword used elemental power, not mana, so it wasn't affected by the mana disruption of a Draker pure-blood awakener.
However, if he revealed that, they would become even more determined to capture him, so Zeke deliberately acted as if he was flustered.
Then Abel shouted,
"The magic's effect has worn off! Capture him alive!"
The knights swarmed towards Zeke.
Zeke, feigning panic, moved closer to Karus.
He then firmly grabbed Karus.
And just as the knights were closing in, he used the skills Dragon's Majesty, Flashbang, and Discord in succession.
Wheeeeeing!
In an instant, a flash of light erupted, and Discord disrupted the charging knights, causing them to falter.
Zeke took advantage of the opening and used Wind Force to leap towards the lounge area.
Crash!
He broke through the reinforced glass, rolled inside, and immediately got up, securing Karus.
"Karus, get a hold of yourself! We need to get out of here!"
Once they were outside the terminal, he could summon Bucephalus and escape by air.
And at that moment, knights rushed towards Zeke and Karus.
They seemed to be imperial knights, not Red Lion Knights.
Zeke swung his sword towards the imperial knights, imbuing it with the power of fire.
Whoosh!
Fierce flames flew towards the knights.
After hindering the knights with flames, he ran towards the terminal exit with Karus.
Just then, the knights who had come up from the portal shuttle platform ran towards Zeke.
"Catch them!"
Zeke was about to change direction and run when,
From the opposite side, other knights approached.
'Damn it.'
But the knights coming from the opposite side were somewhat different.
They were clad in gleaming golden armor, marching in formation with disciplined movements.
'The Golden Knights of the Graham Dukedom?'
They were the same knights who had escorted Zeke during the previous Draker martial arts tournament.
The Red Lion Knights were also taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Golden Knights.
With Zeke and Karus in between, the Golden Knights and the Red Lion Knights faced each other in a standoff.
The captain of the Golden Knights stepped forward and shouted towards the Red Lion Knights,
"You are currently trespassing on Phantasia Terminal, property of the Graham Dukedom, without permission, causing significant damage to private property."
At those words, the deputy commander of the Red Lion Knights stepped forward and shouted back,
"We are currently carrying out a Draker mission! Stand down!"
But the Golden Knights didn't back down.
"We have not received any official documents regarding the execution of a Draker mission. If you illegally occupy the private property of the Graham clan without official documents for mission execution, you will face corresponding consequences."
A tense atmosphere filled the air between the Golden Knights and the Red Lion Knights.
Just then, Abel appeared.
The Golden Knights also seemed nervous as the famous Lion Sword himself appeared.
Abel glared at them and said,
"As far as I know, the Draker Knights are allowed to carry out missions in Midland without prior notice."
The captain of the Golden Knights refuted his claim.
"This is the private property of the Graham Dukedom. You should have sent an official request for cooperation to the Dukedom."
Abel smirked and laughed.
"I don't want to hear such nonsense anymore. Step aside. Otherwise, you will face the consequences of obstructing a Draker mission."
As Abel pushed forward unreasonably, the Golden Knights also became tense and drew their weapons.
A fight was about to break out.
Just then, something appeared from behind the Golden Knights.
Whoosh!
Seeing the huge silver hawk emblem, both the Golden Knights and the Red Lion Knights were surprised.
Abel clenched his teeth.
"The Silver Knights..."
It was none other than the Silver Knight, Cali Draker, and her knights.
Among the knights was a woman clad in silver armor.
She shouted towards Abel Draker,
"Lion Sword! Thank you for your cooperation in the mission to rescue Prince Karus!"
She took out a document and unfolded it.
"The 4th Prince of the Empire! I, Cali Draker, and the Silver Knights, have been officially assigned to the rescue and escort of Karus Nerba Constantinus!"
Cali Draker showed the document to the captain of the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights immediately saluted and bowed to Cali Draker.
"In accordance with the cooperation treaty, we will follow the orders of Sir Cali Draker."
Abel realized that something was going wrong.
He slowly approached Cali.
"It's been a while, sister."
"This is a formal occasion. Address me properly."
Abel bit his lip and said again,
"Sir Cali. Don't worry, I will escort Prince Karus."
But Cali shook her head.
"The clan has already made a decision. Lion Sword, abide by the decision."
Abel looked at Karus, who was standing behind Zeke with a wary expression.
'Damn it, I was just one step away.'
He felt that he had wasted time earlier. But he couldn't give up now.
Abel glared at Cali and said,
"Sir Cali. This is a clear overreach. Matters related to the Empire are clearly my responsibility..."
"That's ridiculous. I've never heard that only Abel Draker is responsible for all matters related to the Empire."
Abel clenched his teeth.
At the same time, a murderous aura emanated from him.
As Abel, instead of sheathing his sword, further raised his aura, not only the Silver Knights but also the Golden Knights drew their weapons and became wary.
Cali, seeing Abel like this, took another step forward.
"Are you going to disobey the orders of the Guardian Knight?"
Abel also took another step forward and said,
"My knights lost their lives in the process of rescuing Prince Karus. As the commander of the Red Lion Knights, I am claiming my rightful authority."
Suddenly, Abel changed the direction of his sword from Cali to Zeke.
Clang!
Powerful sword attacks poured down on Zeke.
Zeke blocked Abel's sword with Northern style swordsmanship.
Clang!
As Zeke blocked the surprise attack, Abel straightened his sword and activated his aura blade.
Woooong!
He shouted at Zeke,
"The crime of harming a Draker knight cannot be repaid by anything!"
Abel, for the sake of justification, clung to Zeke, who was concealing his identity.
Crash!
Zeke's sword and Abel's sword clashed, creating a huge explosion.
'Ugh!'
Despite using bahamut, it wasn't enough to block Abel's sword, which was imbued with an aura blade.
At the same time, flames seemed to rise from Abel's sword.
Abel swung his flame-covered sword at Zeke.
"Die!"
The flames Abel unleashed engulfed not only Zeke but also Karus behind him.
"Oh no!"
Cali was startled and rushed towards Karus.
She hadn't expected Abel to openly try to kill Karus like this.
Whoosh!
Just as the huge flames were about to engulf Karus,
Whoosh!
A gust of wind from somewhere instantly neutralized the flames raging from Abel's sword.
"Huh?"
Even Abel was taken aback as the flames he had unleashed disappeared so easily.
It was then.
Someone suddenly walked between the two factions.
With a sword on his back and wearing thick leather clothes, he was a huge, elderly man with white hair and a beard.
He had a long scar across his face, from his forehead to his chin.
The moment the old man appeared, the Draker knights froze, speechless.
Abel's expression also hardened.
The old man stood close to Karus and Zeke.
He looked down at the two and said,
"Which one of you is the prince?"
Karus, with a frightened expression, slowly raised his hand.
Then, the old man drew his sword and stepped between Karus and Zeke.
"I'll take the prince."
Both Cali and Abel were surprised by his words.
But no one could stop the old man.
Sword King Vernas Draker.
He was one of Draker's Black Knights, said to have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]