Chapter 250
At Zeke's words, Hades recoiled in shock.
"W-What? A D-Dragon Heart?"
To a dragon, nothing was more precious than their Dragon Heart.
The Dragon Heart was an organ that absorbed mana, stored it, and converted it into magical energy—it was the source of a dragon’s power, and not something one could give away lightly.
As Zeke slowly approached, Hades flinched and stepped back.
"Didn’t you say you wanted to get out of here?"
“W-Wait a second. But still, the Dragon Heart is a bit…”
“Then should we just call the whole thing off?”
Zeke’s subtle threat made Hades panic.
“No! That’s not what I meant!”
After hesitating, Hades clenched his eyes shut and shouted.
“Grrgh! Fine, you damned human! Just do whatever you're gonna do!”
Zeke nodded and activated the Dragon-Eye.
Rumble...
As the Dragon-Eye opened, hidden things came into view.
Zeke saw a powerful connection between Hades and the monolith.
A thick, solid chain ran from Hades’ heart to the stone, with what looked like veins clinging to it.
Each time Hades' heart beat, the chain pulsed along with it.
What the hell is this...?
Seeing how the chain was completely fused with the heart, Zeke understood why Hades couldn’t leave this place.
If the chain extended beyond a certain length, it would rip the Dragon Heart from his body—killing him instantly.
Zeke examined the section of the chain connected to Hades' heart, then picked up Annexie’s Dagger.
“This might hurt a bit. Brace yourself.”
“What? Wait, what are you suddenly—”
Clang!
Zeke imbued Annexie’s Dagger with the full power of his soul technique—Will of Severance—and tapped the chain.
“GAAARGH!!”
Even with just a light tap, Hades screamed as though he were dying.
The shock seemed especially intense, as it was directly connected to his heart.
Zeke, unfazed, cast a Area of Effect Buff—Healing Factor—toward the agonized Hades.
Hummmmm...
As the healing light spread through Hades’ body, the pain on his face softened.
“Huh? It doesn’t hurt anymore. What did you do?”
Seeing that Healing Factor worked on dragons too, Zeke nodded in satisfaction.
“Good news, Lord Hades. Looks like you won’t die after all.”
“What do you mean by—”
Crack!
Instead of answering, Zeke brought the dagger down hard on the chain.
“Guhhk!”
With each strike, Zeke severed the vein-like tissues entwined with the chain, continuously applying Healing Factor as he worked.
Even though his wounds regenerated, Hades had to endure relentless pain. Eventually, he collapsed, writhing on the floor.
“E-Enough!”
He had been hopeful when Zeke mentioned breaking the seal. But he hadn’t imagined such a brutal method would be used.
Yet Zeke didn’t stop. He kept slashing, again and again.
Finally, the section of the chain buried in the veins became fully exposed.
Zeke brought forth the Sea God's Vessel and held it toward the chain.
From the vessel, branch-like extensions began to sprout and coil around the chain.
Tsssss...
Like parasitic veins, the branches grew out and latched onto the chain.
Then, a system message appeared before Zeke’s eyes:
[Blanca’s system has recognized the Sea God's Vessel as a dragonkin entity.]
[Control signals linked to the Dragon Heart will be rerouted through the Sea God's Vessel.]
[Connection between the Dragon Heart and control system will be temporarily severed.]
[Estimated disconnection time: 3 minutes.]
Tsssss...
While the Sea God's Vessel fooled Blanca’s system, Zeke had a narrow window to sever the chain.
He sheathed Annexie’s Dagger and pulled out Bahamut.
Seeing this, Hades was horrified.
“Y-You! What are you trying to do now!?”
“Bite down hard. This is really going to hurt.”
Zeke poured his soul energy into Bahamut.
Hummmmm...
—Soul Technique
—Double Spell
—Will of Severance
The power of Double Spell merged with Bahamut.
The Will of Severance—the ability to cut through anything—struck the chain embedded in Hades’ heart.
SLASH!
“GUUAAAHHH!”
Unfortunately, the chain still wasn’t severed.
Hades collapsed to the ground, writhing in unbearable pain.
His entire body convulsed, trembling violently.
“P-Please... stop... just stop...”
But Zeke didn’t stop.
Once again, he summoned his full soul power.
“If Severance isn’t enough…”
Zeke recalled the moment he had released the spirit bound to the Eastern Blade.
Hummmmm...
—Soul Technique
—Double Spell
—Will of Shattering
The soul technique manifested, imbued with the will to break bindings.
Clang!
Zeke’s sword, infused with the Will of Shattering, struck the chain of restraint.
Rrrrrrk—
Unlike before, the chain responded to the blow.
Zeke quickly checked the time remaining.
“Thirty seconds left.”
Hades had already passed out from the shock—unconscious, his body limp.
Zeke focused his remaining strength.
Double Spell, even for a Black Knight like Zeke, was an overwhelming burden to use freely.
He knew he had only one more chance to swing his sword with this power.
Rumble...
He concentrated all his energy, spending 20 of the remaining 30 seconds to gather it. Then, taking his stance, he raised his sword.
Only five seconds remained.
He charged forward.
“Haahhhhhh!”
With a sharp cry, Zeke poured the Will of Shattering into his strike.
Simultaneously, the secret art of Infinite Sword Severance was layered into his blade.
Hummmm...
The combined power of the Will of Shattering and Infinite Sword Severance tore into the chain.
CRACK!
A sharp sound rang out from the chain connecting Hades and the monolith.
But the chain hadn’t completely broken.
“Damn it…”
The entire chain was fractured, and Zeke could tell it would only take one more hit to shatter it completely.
Only two seconds remained.
But having spent all his energy, he could no longer use another soul technique.
Then, in that final moment, Zeke remembered one last option.
With 1.5 seconds left—
Zeke drew his sword back and activated the dragonkin skill, Dragon’s Breath.
As the skill triggered, a light flared in his chest, and a concentrated blast shot straight at the cracked chain.
Ziiiiing!
One second left.
Zeke funneled every ounce of strength he had left into the attack.
“UAAAGHHHH!”
CRACK!
With a roar, the compressed blast exploded in brilliant light, and the shockwave shattered the chain.
Hummmmm...
As the connection disruption ended, the branches that had extended from the Sea God’s Vessel turned to ash and scattered.
Thunk.
The vessel dropped to the ground.
Exhausted, Zeke stumbled forward and picked it up.
“Didn’t expect it to be used like this.”
Then—
HUMMMMM—
The inscriptions on the monolith flared with intense light.
A system message appeared before Zeke’s eyes:
[The system of the Golden City, Blanca, has detected an abnormality.]
[Signal from one registered dragonkin entity is no longer detected.]
[System is attempting to locate the missing dragonkin entity.]
[Registration protocol is being initiated.]
“What...?”
Suddenly, multiple chains shot out from the monolith.
CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG!
The chains that had emerged shot toward Hades, who was still collapsed on the ground.
Zeke dashed forward urgently.
“Haah!”
He slashed the chains with Dragon Claw, then quickly scooped up the fallen Hades and rolled to the side.
Using every last drop of strength he could muster, he activated a Healing Facto rwith Area of Effect Buff.
Hummmmm!
The healing energy permeated Hades’ body as he lay cradled in Zeke’s arms.
Just then, the chains from the monolith raised their heads like stiff-necked serpents and slithered toward Zeke.
He had already used Double Spell consecutively, unleashed Dragon’s Breath which rapidly drained mental energy. Zeke was on the verge of passing out.
“Damn it. If only there were some monsters around I could absorb for recovery…”
If the chains bound Hades again, Zeke wasn’t sure he could free him the same way a second time.
Clatter!
At that very moment, just as the chains were about to ensnare him—
Hummmmm!
They suddenly froze in midair.
Hades had regained consciousness while in Zeke’s arms.
His eyes now shimmered with a brilliant violet light.
Reaching a hand out toward the chains, Hades muttered,
“These damn things think they can shackle me again? Not a chance.”
With a wave of his hand, the chains began to writhe as if in agony, then shattered completely a moment later.
Zeke’s jaw dropped at the sight.
“Holy hell. He just erased those chains?”
Unfazed by Zeke’s reaction, Hades floated into the air and approached the glowing monolith.
“I’ve waited three thousand years for this moment.”
As he reached out, the monolith emitted an even stronger light.
But Hades, unconcerned, let violet energy flow from his body and wrap around the monolith.
Crackle, crackle—
The violet energy seeped into the inscriptions etched across the monolith’s surface.
Soon, the monolith dimmed and ceased to emit light.
Dusting off his hands, Hades descended back to the ground.
Zeke, barely able to stay upright, staggered toward him and asked,
“What happened, Lord Hades?”
With a sly grin, Hades replied,
“I sealed the control system with my power. Honestly, considering I was bound by that damn system, I wanted to blow the whole thing to pieces... but if I did, everything around here would be reduced to ash. So I restrained myself.”
Freed from the city's restraints, Hades looked visibly refreshed.
Then, suddenly, he let out a triumphant yell.
“YAAAHHHH! I’M FREE! I CAN FINALLY LEAVE THIS CURSED PLACE! THIS IS AMAZING!”
He jumped up and down, creating a ruckus. Zeke stared at him, dumbfounded.
“So much for draconic dignity...”
Zeke took a potion from his inventory, drank it, and finally managed to catch his breath.
Having completely spent all his energy, it seemed he’d need more time to fully recover.
Hades, seemingly done celebrating, walked up to Zeke with a bold posture and said,
“Human! You did well. I was in so much pain I nearly considered killing you, but since you’ve freed me from those chains, I, the great Hades, shall generously forgive you.”
He was brazen to the very end.
Zeke looked at him and said,
“Then start by releasing your pact with the Ishtar family.”
Hades paused in thought, then nodded.
“Hmm. Fine. That much I can do, as payment for unbinding me.”
He snapped his fingers.
And in an instant, Yellin appeared beside Zeke once more.
“Huh? Sir Zeke? Lord Hades?”
Hades turned to the bewildered Yellin and said,
“High Elf child. Do you wish to break the pact with me?”
Flustered at first, Yellin quickly nodded.
“Yes! I’d like that.”
Seeing Yellin’s resolute expression, Hades frowned with mild annoyance.
“Tch. Begging me to form a pact one day and breaking it the next... Humans. Bring me the token.”
Zeke pulled out Annexie’s Dagger and handed it to Hades.
Gripping the dagger and infusing it with power, Hades caused a series of glyphs to appear in the air before him. Squinting, he studied them closely.
“Why is the text so tiny? Let’s see… where are the pact terms…”
As he scanned through the clauses, his brow furrowed and he muttered,
“Come to think of it, about a thousand years ago, Bahamut came here with some human and asked to revise the terms. Just doing whatever they please…”
It seemed Zeke’s suspicion was correct—Terakan and Bahamut really had approached Hades in the past.
Continuing to scan, Hades eventually stopped at a particular section.
“Ah, here it is. Not just High Elves—why are there so many Elves tied into this? Want me to cancel them all?”
Yellin nodded vigorously.
Hades wet his finger with his tongue and casually began erasing the clauses.
As he did, a violet aura visibly drifted out of Yellin’s body.
“The... the binding is broken…”
A two-thousand-year-old wish of the Ishtar family had finally been fulfilled.
Overjoyed, Yellin threw her arms around Zeke.
“Sir Zeke! Thank you, thank you so much!”
Watching the scene unfold, Hades looked at Zeke and asked,
“You two dating or something?”
Zeke quietly shook his head.
Hades snickered, then floated up into the air.
“Well, whatever. Thanks for freeing me, human. I’ve paid my dues, so I’m off. Take care of yourself.”
He was just about to teleport away when something strange happened.
“Huh? What? Why isn’t the teleport working?”
Zeke looked up at him and asked,
“Lord Hades. Are you familiar with the Dragonword Pact?”
At that, Hades flinched.
“H-How do you know about that?”
Zeke had studied the Chronicles of Kaisir in great depth—he knew more than most about dragons.
“You said it yourself earlier, didn’t you? That if I freed you, you’d grant me a wish.”
Hades’ face turned pale.
“W-Wait a minute. That was just something I said—I didn’t mean to actually follow through…”
BOOM!
“Gah!”
Hades clutched his chest in pain and staggered.
The Dragonword Pact was no ordinary agreement—it was etched directly into a Dragon Heart. If the pact was broken, the Dragon Heart would begin to lose its power.
“D-Damn it!”
Zeke looked at the despairing Hades and gave a sly grin.
“Seems the Dragonword Pact doesn’t see it as ‘just something you said.’”
Zeke approached the staggering dragon and said,
“Lord Hades, my name is Zeke Draker. I look forward to working with you.”