Chapter 204
'First stage restriction released?'
The message window reappeared before his eyes.
[As the first stage restriction is released, Bahamut's second authority is unlocked.]
[Acquired the authority 'Shadow Domination'.]
[Due to the influence of the authority 'Shadow Domination', the ability of the Draconian Skills 'Dragon Tooth Soldiers' is enhanced, and the skill rank increases.]
[The skill ranks of Dragon Scale Armor, Dragon Claws, and Dragon Senses have increased to Expert.]
[The skills Dragon Eyes, Dragon's Majesty, Dragon Scale Armor, Dragon Claws, and Dragon Senses are combined into the title 'Dragon Person'.]
[The title 'Dragon Person' changes to the title 'Dragonkin'.]
[Due to the influence of the title 'Dragonkin', the ability of the authority Dragonkin Domination is further enhanced.]
[Dragonkin beings will feel an instinctive fear towards the user and adopt a posture of obedience.]
[Due to the influence of the title 'Dragonkin', the karma required to unlock Draconian Skills is reduced by 20%.]
[Due to the influence of the title 'Dragonkin', the spirit energy required to increase the rank of Draconian Skills is reduced.]
Zeke read the message window and examined the newly acquired authority and enhanced abilities.
"Authority Shadow Domination? Bahamut's second authority... then if the seal level decreases further, I'll be able to acquire other authorities as well."
Zeke checked the information on Shadow Domination and Limit Break.
---Passive Skill Information---
Limit Break: When reaching the limit, one gains enlightenment that awakens potential and allows one to break through the wall.
---Authority Information---
Shadow Domination: Grants dominion over shadows. Information can be read or targets can be bound by touching shadows.
"What?"
Zeke was startled after checking the explanation of Limit Break.
A skill that grants enlightenment upon reaching the limit was an unheard-of ability.
'What kind of skill is this?'
If this information was true, it meant that Zeke could break through the walls of mastery much more easily than others.
Reaching the limit was something that could be done with enough effort and will.
In his previous life, Zeke always pushed himself beyond his limits.
However, breaking through those limits through enlightenment was a separate matter.
"Jackpot."
For Zeke, who pushed past his limits as easily as eating, this skill was more valuable than any other stroke of luck.
It was no different from laying the groundwork for him to reach the realm of the Black Knight, which he had so longed for.
"I feel like I need to use Shadow Domination to know exactly what it does, but it's a shame I can't use it right now. Since it's Bahamut's authority, it must be a good ability."
Just reading the explanation of what dominion over shadows meant didn't really give him a clear idea.
Judging from the fact that it affected the Dragon Tooth Soldiers' stats, it seemed to be an ability linked to spiritual entities.
As he finished checking all the abilities, a new message appeared before Zeke's eyes again.
[The structure of the testing ground will be changed.]
[Moving to a hidden stage corresponding to the tests of the 91st to 98th floors.]
[As the difficulty is randomly adjusted, a corresponding reward will be granted upon clearing the hidden stage.]
A portal to the third hidden stage opened.
'If I pass through this, it's as good as clearing up to the 98th floor.'
The end of the Inverted Tower was almost in sight.
Zeke took a breath and stepped inside the portal.
A moment later, the third hidden stage that Zeke faced was a completely different landscape from the previous ones.
"What is this?"
The sky was dyed purple, and two black, blazing suns hung in the sky.
The ground was a barren wasteland, and the plants that grew there all had thorny stems and bizarre shapes, writhing as if alive.
At that moment, Arataso exclaimed in astonishment.
[No way, how did we end up in the Demon Realm?]
Arataso's voice was heard even though Zeke hadn't taken the Sword out of his inventory.
"Arataso, can you hear me?"
[Yes, I can hear you.]
As his spirit energy had increased, it seemed he could communicate more freely with Arataso.
At the same time, Arataso also seemed to be able to see the external situation without Zeke taking out the Sword.
Zeke asked Arataso again.
"Is this the Demon Realm?"
[No, wait... to be precise, it's not the Demon Realm, but an environment similar to it.]
At Arataso's words, Zeke recalled Agamemnon's castle, which he had purified.
The environment of Agamemnon's castle and its surroundings, which had been eroded by demonic energy for a long time, had a similar atmosphere to this.
'If I had left it as it was, Mycenae might have become like this too.'
Zeke wore a troubled expression at the thought that Mycenae had almost turned into the gloomy landscape before his eyes.
"Anyway, what am I supposed to do here?"
Zeke muttered to himself and stepped into a bizarrely shaped thicket to scout the terrain.
Then, the thicket extended thorny vines and lunged to entangle Zeke.
Zeke took out Bahamut and cut the approaching vines of the thicket.
Kieeeek!
Black, blood-like sap dripped from the severed vines.
Zeke swung his sword and began to cut down the thicket itself.
Krrrreuk!
Although it was a plant, the thicket died, bleeding as if it were not.
When the black sap on Bahamut fell to the ground, it hissed and black smoke rose.
'Is it because the ground is eroded by demonic energy? This is nasty.'”
At that moment, the Tower's message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[The hidden stage will now begin.]
[Go to the castle and defeat the boss demon.]
[Corresponding rewards will be granted upon successfully clearing the stage.]
[Due to difficulty adjustment, one skill restriction can be released. Choose the skill to release.]
"I can release one skill? Just how difficult is this? Hmm..."
After pondering, Zeke decided to release the Infinite Stamina skill restriction.
[The Infinite Stamina skill restriction will be released.]
As the skill restriction was released, Zeke felt his entire body lighten.
"Hoo, it feels like I've put down a lump of iron."
It was then that Zeke truly felt how powerful the Infinite Stamina skill was.
With Infinite Stamina restored, Zeke could use Hercyon or the Soul Sealing Technique more easily.
"Becoming stronger with my own power without relying on skills is also important, but for now, clearing the stage comes first."
Zeke quickly climbed up a tree using the Phantom step.
Charrrrrk!
The trees, corrupted by demonic energy, extended their branches to grab Zeke.
Zeke leaped into the air faster than the approaching tree branches.
Whoooosh!
Having jumped into the air, Zeke maximized his eyesight and instantly surveyed the terrain.
Beyond the dense forest, he saw a castle covered in thorny bushes.
'Is that where the boss is?'
Zeke descended from the air, holding Bahamut, and slashed away all the branches trying to entangle him.
Kieeeek!
As expected, the tree shrieked, dripping black sap.
Zeke slid down the tree with his sword embedded in it.
Crack!
The tree split with a loud noise.
Zeke paid it no mind and headed into the forest, following the direction of the castle he had seen from the air.
As he made his way deeper into the forest, tree branches and bushes chased him from all directions, trying to entangle him.
"Annoying bastards."
Zeke swung Bahamut like swatting away insects, knocking down the branches.
As he went deeper into the forest, he sensed suspicious movements everywhere.
'What is it?'
Suddenly, black shadows moved between the trees and instantly lunged towards Zeke.
Kieeeeeeek!
Demonic beasts resembling monkeys attacked Zeke.
Swish!
Zeke retreated and swung his sword at the demonic beasts.
Thwack!
Using only a minimal amount of aura, Zeke swung Bahamut and instantly cut down the demonic beasts that were rushing at him from all directions.
Kieeeek!
The demonic beast struck by Bahamut shrieked and retreated.
Zeke calmly moved forward and unleashed the Vibrating Force Resonance.
Whoooooom!
The demonic beast that was fleeing collapsed, vomiting blood from the shockwave of the Vibrating Force Resonance.
Zeke was able to subdue the demonic beasts with much less effort than before.
"I definitely feel like a lot of unnecessary movements have been reduced."
It was proof that he had reached the true state of Sword and Self as One.
Zeke continued deeper into the forest, defeating the demonic beasts.
As he went further into the forest, the types of demonic beasts that attacked him changed.
This time, a lion-like demonic beast bared its massive fangs and charged at Zeke.
Kroooooar!
Although the massive demonic beast attacked, Zeke, having already faced a Balrog, found this level of demonic beast as cute as a kitten.
Flick!
Zeke dodged the attack with the Phantom step and then unleashed an explosive force towards the demonic beast's flank.
Thwack!
Krrgh!
As Zeke's explosive force hit directly, the demonic beast writhed in pain and couldn't move properly.
Taking advantage of the opening, he swung his sword and cut off the demonic beast's head.
Thwack—
The demonic beast whose head had been severed turned into black ash and scattered.
A magic stone, like those of the Balrogs, lay where the demonic beast had disappeared. Zeke picked them up and put them in his inventory.
'They might be useful in a pinch.'
As he approached the castle, larger and stronger demonic beasts appeared.
Then, at one point, a hellhound the size of a basilisk with three heads bared its teeth and lunged at Zeke.
Krrrruuuuk!
Arataso, sealed within the Sword, was startled.
[Wow, it's a Cerberus. They're hard to see in the Demon Realm these days.]
"Do you know this demonic beast?"
[It's a demonic beast that many high-ranking demons used to raise. For a demonic beast, it's quite loyal to its master, so it's perfect for guarding territory.]
Krrrruuuuk!
The Cerberus bared its saw-like teeth and charged at Zeke.
Kaaaaak!
Zeke raised his sword and struck the Cerberus's teeth.
Crack!
The teeth on the Cerberus's left head shattered.
Yelp!
The startled demonic beast retreated.
A moment later, its broken teeth began to grow back.
The Cerberus, sensing that Zeke's sword was no ordinary weapon, opened its mouth wide.
Black flames ignited in its three mouths.
Kwakwakwakwa!
The Cerberus spewed black flames towards Zeke.
Whoosh!
Although the power was less than that of the Balrog champion, the Tyrant, the demonic flames were dangerous enough to burn his entire body if he let his guard down even for a moment.
Knowing this, Zeke quickly retreated using the Phantom step, evading the Cerberus's flames.
Then, he stomped down hard, spreading the Vibrating Force Resonance.
Whoooooom!
As the domain of the shockwave expanded, the burning black flames subsided.
Zeke immediately dashed through the flames and swung his sword at the Cerberus.
The Infinite Chain Binding activated, unleashing a continuous attack of Solar Swordsmanship and Golden Swordsmanship.
Krrrung!
The Cerberus retreated, trying to evade Zeke's sword strikes.
However, Zeke didn't miss the momentary opening.
Whoooooom!
A powerful sword hum resonated, and at the same time, Zeke adopted the Dragon Slayer Art's preparatory stance.
A clearer aura blade than before bloomed from his sword.
Dragon Slayer Art
Chapter 3, Section 2
Crescent Moon Slash
Bahamut unleashed crescent moons towards the Cerberus.
Papatapatapat!
Clear crescent moons flew towards the Cerberus.
The Cerberus responded by spewing black flames towards the sword strikes.
Kwakwakwakwakwa!
However, the crescent moon sword strikes created by Zeke cut through the flames and advanced towards the Cerberus.
Thwack—
The crescent moons drew an arc and severed all three of the Cerberus's heads.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Cerberus's heads fell to the ground.
Kugung!
The Cerberus, its body also collapsing to the floor, slowly turned into black ash and scattered.
In its place remained the Cerberus's magic stone and teeth.
"Cerberus teeth. Richmond would like this."
After carefully collecting the byproducts, Zeke, who was about to move on, felt that the castle was getting closer.
At that moment, Zeke heard the sound of someone fighting in the distance beyond the forest.
'Fighting sounds? Are demonic beasts fighting each other?'
Zeke invoked the Will of Concealment from his Spirit energy and hid himself, observing the direction of the sound.
Surprisingly, there was another human besides Zeke.
"Come on, you bastards!"
A knight wearing armor of a type he had never seen before was surprisingly fighting demonic beasts with a net and a spear that resembled a harpoon.
The knight spread the net, caught a demonic beast, and then stabbed it with the spear, instantly ending its life.
Demonic beasts resembling minotaurs, fearing being caught in the knight's net, couldn't approach and only cautiously kept their distance.
Zeke, watching the knight use unique techniques, suddenly remembered something.
'Could that knight be?'
As far as Zeke knew, there was only one knight who fought in such a unique way.
'One of the Clock Tower Knights, the Fisherman Knight, Reyes?'