Chapter 228
"You're a damnably insolent brat."
Hook, holding a sword curved like a hook, glared at Zeke.
Then, he stepped back and plunged the sword he was holding into his shadow.
Seeing this, Peter Pan shouted.
"Damn it! Stop that bastard, quick!"
Simultaneously with the shout, Peter Pan launched the sea serpent towards Hook.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
At that moment, black chains rose in strands from Captain Hook's shadow.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
The suddenly appearing black chains bound Peter Pan's sea serpent, immobilizing it.
'What is that?'
Zeke's eyes widened in surprise. It was similar to the soul-sealing magic he used.
And then, something emerged from Captain Hook's shadow.
Grrrrrrr.
A black crocodile was slowly crawling out of the shadow.
Black chains were wrapped around the crocodile's torso, connected to Hook's shadow.
Hook shouted at the crocodile.
"Chew that brat up!"
The crocodile, hearing Hook's words, opened its mouth wide.
Tssssssss—
Then, black mist billowed from the crocodile's mouth. Seeing this, Peter Pan retreated towards Zeke.
"If you get hit by that mist, your vision will be blocked! Dodge it!"
Having fought Captain Hook several times, Peter Pan knew how terrifyingly powerful that summoned beast was.
However, even after hearing Peter Pan's warning, Zeke didn't retreat but instead took another step forward.
Tssssssss—
As the mist touched Zeke's body, the Curse Reflection skill was activated.
Then, the mist couldn't approach Zeke's body further and instead flowed backward, reversing direction.
Seeing this, Hook screamed in fury.
"The mist isn't working! Damn it! Crocodile! Swallow that brat whole!"
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
The crocodile, with black chains wrapped around its body, quickly crawled towards Zeke.
The creature, getting close, tried to strike Zeke with its thick tail.
Thwack!
Zeke dodged using Phantom Step, and the crocodile's tail slammed into the deck.
The ship didn't break, but the entire hull shook.
Zeke looked at the black crocodile and activated the skill 'Bloodshot.'
Eeeeeeeee!
A red eye floated above his forehead, opening his vision to a world that was previously unseen.
Zeke stared at the black crocodile bound by chains with his Bloodshot eye.
And he immediately realized what the crocodile's true nature was.
'That's just a fixed form. Its essence is the soul bound to that sword.'
The crocodile was just a visualized form, and the core was the black chain that bound the soul and the sword together.
'If I cut that black chain, the soul bound to the sword will be freed.'
Zeke closed his Bloodshot eye and drew the jewel Roland sword instead of Bahamut, raising it high.
Grrrrrrrrr!
The crocodile growled menacingly at Zeke.
At that moment, Zeke, who had imbued Roland with Holy Fire, seized an opportunity and unleashed Forceful Vibration.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
The shockwave spread across the deck, momentarily stopping the crocodile's movements.
Simultaneously, he used Shadow Step to approach and swung his sword at the black chain binding the crocodile.
Clang!
Even with Zeke's sword strike, the black chain didn't break.
Seeing this, Captain Hook sneered at Zeke.
"Foolish brat! That chain can never be broken!"
He considered striking the annoying Hook's neck first, but the black chain was protecting Hook, who held the sword.
'A sword that protects its master. It doesn't seem like an ordinary weapon.'
He could sense that the black chain, as well as the soul sealed within it, possessed a powerful force.
Zeke stepped back and asked Captain Hook.
"Where did you get that sword?"
At Zeke's question, Captain Hook smirked wickedly.
"A dying man has many questions. But I am a merciful sailor, so I shall tell you. It's a unique item I obtained by raiding an Eastern merchant ship."
He had thought its shape was unique; as expected, it was a weapon from the Eastern Empire.
And Zeke's expression subtly changed upon learning that fact.
'Eastern Continent magical weapons often have nasty aftereffects.'
Many weapons from the Eastern Continent possessed powerful abilities but also devoured the user's soul, eventually leading to their demise.
To avoid such an end, special training was needed to properly use the weapon, and those who had completed such training were called 'Successors.'
Captain Hook seemed to have accidentally obtained one of the Successor's weapons and was using it recklessly.
Zeke gripped the jewel Roland sword and aimed it at the black chain again.
Then, Captain Hook, sneering at Zeke, shouted again.
"You foolish brat! You damn crocodile! Hurry up and get rid of him! Today is the day Captain Hook becomes the Pirate King Captain Hook!"
Zeke focused his mind on the tip of his sword.
At the same time, he drew upon the power of his ultimate technique.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
If the black chain was a manifestation of a spiritual seal binding a soul, then the ultimate technique that used spiritual power should definitely work.
According to Zeke's will, the power of Holy Fire and his ultimate technique combined on the sword.
Zeke's figure shot forward.
Ultimate Technique
Double Spell
Will of Shattering
Zeke's sword, imbued with his will, collided with the black chain binding the crocodile.
Clang!
It was a completely different sound than before.
Captain Hook's expression changed as the vibration traveled even to the sword he was holding.
'Th-that brat?'
He urgently pulled on the chain.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
The chain binding the crocodile was pulled taut.
Zeke swung his sword once more.
The Will of Shattering erupted again.
Clang!
The shockwave generated from the collision of the chain and the sword spread across the entire deck.
A crack began to form on the part of the chain that Zeke's sword had struck.
In that instant, the crocodile's body shuddered violently, and its form began to collapse.
Hook's face turned deathly pale at that sight.
"N-no way. Th-there's no way the chain could break...?"
Zeke brought his sword down on the chain once more.
"Haaah!"
With a shout, the black chain finally shattered.
Snap!
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
With the chain broken, the crocodile was freed from its restraints.
Grrrrrrr.
Freed from its bonds, the crocodile shuddered and its appearance gradually began to change.
Grind! Grind!
Before long, the crocodile's limbs elongated, and its shadow-enveloped body was clad in thick armor.
The crocodile, transformed into a creature resembling a massive lizardman, rose, emitting a suffocating pressure.
'That's... a Djinn, isn't it?'
He had initially thought it was just a magical weapon, but it seemed to have been imbued with magic beyond that.
The crocodile glanced at Zeke once, then turned its head back to glare at Captain Hook, who was holding the sword.
Captain Hook, still holding the sword, slowly retreated backward.
"You damn crocodile! I am the master of this sword! Obey my words!"
At those words, the crocodile warrior stomped towards Captain Hook.
Even the burly Captain Hook looked like a child before the massive crocodile warrior.
The crocodile warrior, getting close, turned into smoke and entered Captain Hook's body.
"Hoo-ah!"
Soon, Captain Hook's body swelled greatly.
Crackle!
His clothes tore apart as his muscles couldn't withstand the expansion.
Peter Pan, who was watching from behind, frowned and said.
"What the heck is that? An ancient wraith?"
"Something similar. To be precise, it's an existence called a 'Djinn' in the Eastern Continent."
A Djinn was an existence somewhere between a spirit and a wraith.
In the Eastern Continent, there was a sorcery that bound Djinn to weapons and then bestowed their power upon exceptional warriors.
During his time as a Highlander in his past life, he had seen warriors and sorcerers from the Eastern Continent called Successors, so he could recognize its true nature.
It was a unique power that was on a different level from the aura of the Central Continent.
Grrrrrrr.
Captain Hook, now possessed by the Djinn, turned his head to look at Zeke and Peter Pan.
Then, he began to say something to them.
『A wench who controls the spirits of water, is it? She will make a fine celebratory feast for my release from the seal.』
Captain Hook, possessed by the Djinn, was speaking in ancient Eastern language.
Then, he turned his gaze to Zeke, met his eyes, and activated a bizarre magic.
『Seize that wench. Then I shall grant you your wish.』
An irresistible magical power resided in the Djinn's eyes.
It was clear that any ordinary person would have fallen for the Djinn's temptation.
But unfortunately for the Djinn, Zeke was no ordinary being.
"You use very crude techniques."
The Djinn flinched in surprise as Zeke spoke in ancient Eastern language.
『What? How do you, a mere human, know our tongue?』
"That's none of your concern. Seeing as you've stolen a body, it's more accurate to consider you a wraith than a spirit."
At Zeke's words, the Djinn possessing Captain Hook smirked wickedly.
『Insolent human. After I devour your soul, I will turn you into a meat puppet to serve me.』
The possessed Captain Hook, still gripping his sword, suddenly vanished. Then, before anyone knew it, he reappeared behind Peter Pan and shouted.
『I shall devour your soul along with the spirit!』
Black smoke spewing from Captain Hook's mouth enveloped Peter Pan's body.
"Eek!"
Stopping by the power of the evil spirit, Peter Pan couldn't summon the water spirits.
However, as her body and mind weren't completely dominated, she pulled out a dagger and swung it at the Djinn.
『Struggling is futile!』
The Djinn flung Peter Pan, still wrapped in smoke, away.
Bang!
Peter Pan, hitting her head on the ship's wall, collapsed.
The Djinn slowly approached the fallen Peter Pan.
At that moment, Annexie's dagger, attached to a chain, flew towards the Djinn.
Whoosh!
Sensing an ominous aura from the chain, the Djinn retreated.
He glared at Zeke, clearly annoyed, and shouted.
『I'll devour you first!』
The massive form of Captain Hook charged towards Zeke.
He swung the Eastern Continent sword at Zeke.
Clang!
Zeke's gold-infused sword strike deflected the sword swung by the Djinn.
『I-impossible. How can a human possess such power!』
Surprised by Zeke's sword strike, the Djinn, realizing that swords wouldn't work, opened his mouth wide and spewed black smoke.
The black smoke tried to seep into Zeke's body.
That was the moment.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
Curse Reflection activated, and Zeke's body repelled the black smoke.
『Wh-what?』
The Djinn panicked and retreated back into Captain Hook's body.
At that moment, the chain lying on the ground moved.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
Annexie's dagger pierced Hook's shoulder, and the chain, moving with it, instantly wrapped around Hook's body.
Sizzle!
The chain turned red-hot, binding the Djinn and preventing it from moving at all.
The Djinn shrieked from within Hook's body.
『Th-this is! The Chain of Souls! H-how do you have this!』
Instead of answering, Zeke channeled Holy Fire into the chain wrapped around Hook.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
The Holy Fire traveled along the chain and flowed into the Djinn possessing Hook's body.
『Kyahhhhh!』
The flames of Holy Fire, which even the souls of demons couldn't withstand, worked on the Djinn as well.
The Djinn, trapped by Zeke, immediately changed its attitude and spoke in a pitiful voice.
『M-master, please spare me! If you have any wish, I will grant it. Please, just spare me!』
"I don't particularly have any wishes to make. And even if I did, I don't think you'd be able to grant them."
『N-no way... Everyone has wishes, especially humans. Please, just trust me once!』
Zeke tightened his grip on the chain and continued to pour in Holy Fire.
Eventually, the possessed Hook's body dropped the sword it was holding.
Zeke picked up the sword and slowly examined it.
"A Damascus sword. It's quite rare. How did such an evil wraith end up in such a precious sword..."
Zeke looked at Hook, who was possessed by the Djinn.
His blackened eyes rolled back as he desperately tried to escape the chains. It was a pathetic sight.
Zeke made up his mind as he watched.
'Doesn't seem like it's worth fixing. Let's just use Gluttony.'
As Zeke poured in Holy Fire even more strongly, the Djinn, in agony, burst out of Hook's body.
『Kyahhhhh!』
Zeke didn't miss that moment and used Gluttony.
Tssssssss—
Instantly, Zeke's shadow rose and swallowed the black smoke.
『N-no! This, this power is...! N-no way! It can't be!』
It was the Djinn, screaming as it was dragged into Zeke's shadow.
[Gluttony has devoured the evil crocodile wraith.]
[Due to the influence of Shadow Domination, the devoured evil crocodile wraith transforms into a Shadow Spirit.]
Tssssssss—
The figure of a warrior emerged from Zeke's shadow.
Wearing a crocodile-shaped helmet and clad in Eastern Continent-style armor, the warrior stood ramrod straight before Zeke.
[You can register the Shadow Spirit as a summon.]
[Would you like to register it as a summon and give it a name?]
Zeke pondered, looking at the rather strong-looking Shadow Spirit.
'Well, having a summon won't hurt.'
Zeke wondered what to call the summon before deciding on one of the names of Don Juan's cherished Shark Dragon.
"Let's call it Caiman."
[You have acquired the summon, Caiman.]
Caiman, now a new summon, knelt before Zeke.
[My name is Caiman. As a newly born Shadow Spirit, I pledge my loyalty to my master.]