'To protect the Savior of Fate?ʼ
Zeke realized that the Savior of Fate Laura referred to was none other than himself.
Rex furrowed his brow at Laura's words.
"You mean the savior from that prophecy you mentioned."
"Yes, the Savior with Black Eyes. The one who will lift our family's curse and prevent the end of this world."
Rex's expression soured at Laura's words.
Looking at him, Laura said, "Don't worry too much. It's just a marriage in name only. That monster wants to keep me, the prophet, by his side... so for me, staying close to him is actually the safest place."
Laura unhesitatingly referred to Arthur Draker as a "monster." Rex grimaced at her words.
"Your feelings about Arthur haven't changed, have they?"
"You know it too, Rex. The one sitting in the Draker Family Head's seat now isn't the Arthur we knew."
The overlord of Midland wielded unchecked power.
As the Family Head of Draker, Arthur Draker wielded what could only be described as "godlike" authority.
If anyone obstructed him, he would fabricate evidence of treason and without hesitation mobilize knights to eliminate them, or if that proved difficult, resort to underhanded schemes from the shadows.
On the surface, he was renowned as a knight among knights, the successor to the Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker, but in reality, he was no different from a scoundrel who shunned no vile act.
Yet, under Arthur Draker's leadership, the Draker family grew stronger day by day, its reputation soared.
Following the invasion of the Eastern Continent, the overlord's prestige could only rise further.
Now, within the Central Continent, no one existed who could stand against Draker, the pinnacle of the Three Great Transcendent Families.
Even Rex, who had become the Family Head of Thurn, and Ramon, the Family Head of Siemens, were no exceptions.
They served as Draker's steadfast Blood Oath allies, elevating their own families' prestige in the process.
Rex had recognized that Arthur Draker, once his close friend and now his liege, had changed from before, but he didn't share Laura's extreme view that he was no longer the same Arthur Draker.
Laura looked at Rex and said, "Arthur and Ramon have both changed. Only you and I remain as we were back then."
As she said, Ramon, who had become the Family Head of Siemens, had indeed changed at some point. But Rex understood the reason for Ramon's transformation.
After becoming the Family Head of Draker, Arthur had quietly "purged" one of the major Blood Oath families, Siemens.
He had eliminated all the key figures in Siemens who had been aligned with his rivals during the past succession struggle.
Once the purge was complete, Arthur installed Ramon as the Family Head of Siemens.
He then took Ramon's younger sister as his second wife and had his firstborn son, Abel, with her.
Ramon had sworn loyalty to Arthur, who had placed him in the Family Head's seat, but from that moment, something within him had twisted.
The bond of friendship they had shared was gone, leaving only a distorted lord-vassal relationship.
Afterward, Ramon cut off all ties with Rex and Laura, holing up in the Siemens main house and immersing himself in some pursuit.
Rex had tried to reclaim their old friendship with Ramon and Arthur, but it proved impossible.
In this situation where the bonds of their youth had all vanished, it was Laura who harbored the deepest contempt and loathing for the changed Arthur.
So when she suddenly announced her marriage to Arthur as his fifth wife, Rex couldn't help but be shocked. It was so unexpected that he had come here in person to hear the full story from her.
And Laura had told him that this marriage to Arthur was the only way to protect herself and the future Savior of Fate.
Rex looked at Laura with a sorrowful expression.
"...As always, I can't sway your will, Laura."
"You're right, Rex. But remember this: Arthur, Ramon, and you. Just knowing that you still hold onto our pure friendship from back then is an immense comfort to me."
Realizing he couldn't change Laura's mind, Rex nodded and turned to leave.
Arthur and Laura were still his close friends, but knowing their marriage wouldn't lead to happiness left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After Rex departed, only Zeke's translucent form remained in the spot.
Laura slowly sipped the tea, still warm, after Rex left.
At that moment, Carmilla approached her.
"Miss, even the Battle King came in person to express his concern. Are you really sure about this?"
Laura nodded at Carmilla as if to say not to worry.
"Yes, this is the only way."
With a resolute expression, as if steeling her resolve, she said, "Carmilla, prepare what I mentioned before."
At Laura's words, Carmilla's face grew even more worried.
"Are you really going through with that plan? Arthur Draker won't just sit idly by."
"No, the contract is already done. It's just a marriage in name; I have no intention of sharing my body with that monster. What he truly wants from me is my prophetic ability, after all."
Carmilla then continued cautiously, "In that case... Miss, why do you need equipment to fake a pregnancy...?"
Zeke, who had been listening, was stunned by Carmilla's words.
'Fake a pregnancy?ʼ
In Zeke's memories from the past, Laura had indeed been pregnant.
She had given birth in the cave, and Arthur Draker had killed her before taking the infant Zeke to the Draker family.
But from the conversation between Carmilla and Laura, it seemed what he had seen wasn't the truth.
If she had successfully faked the pregnancy with Carmilla's help, that is.
'Why didn't Carmilla mention this?ʼ
Puzzled, Zeke revisited his memories and recalled that Carmilla, his progenitor, had once died and been resurrected to escape Arthur Draker's grasp.
In that process, parts of her memory might have been damaged, so she could have simply forgotten this detail.
'If she really faked the pregnancy... then Laura Agamemnon might not be my birth mother?ʼ
But then— Boom!
A massive vibration shook Zeke's body.
It felt like a repulsion force trying to eject him from this world.
'No.ʼ
If Laura wasn't his birth mother, he needed to uncover why she faked the pregnancy and where the infant him had truly come from.
He desperately clung to the crumbling world of memories, focusing on the conversation between Laura and Carmilla.
"...Savior... Chronos... I... fate..."
Laura's words came muffled, as if submerged underwater.
As Zeke tried to get closer to hear more— Crack!
Cracks began to form in the world of memories created by his authority.
It was no longer possible to sustain this world with his power alone.
Crunch!
As the world collapsed, a powerful repulsion hurled Zeke outward.
***
"Ha."
Zeke opened his eyes with a short exhale.
Right in front of him sat Rex Thurn, leaning on his sword.
In reality, where far more time had passed than in the memories, Rex had already breathed his last.
"Family Head."
Zeke took Rex Thurn's hand and gently laid him on the floor.
To the very end, he had tried to protect his friendships and safeguard the Midland they had built together.
Kneeling with reverence before the pure-hearted man who had been steadfast to a fault, Zeke mourned his passing.
After a moment, as he rose, Zeke spoke to the deceased Rex Thurn as if swearing an oath.
"I will ensure the Family Head's will reaches the Thurn family. So rest in peace now." Zeke slowly opened the door and stepped out of the room.
Kali was waiting outside.
Seeing Zeke's expression, she realized Rex Thurn had passed.
"...Did the Battle King go peacefully?"
Zeke nodded slowly at Kali's question.
Kali felt deep sorrow at the death of the Family Head of Thurn, who had upheld his loyalty as a Blood Oath ally of Draker to the end, and who was one of the continent's strongest. Zeke said to the silent Kali, "Please prepare the funeral with all due honors." Kali nodded at his words.
Once her emotions had somewhat settled, she asked Zeke, "Zeke, what will you do now?"
The entire continent was plunged into chaos by the assault of the magical beasts.
Thanks to Zeke's help, Atlas had barely escaped crisis, but other kingdoms and cities were already crumbling, unable to hold out.
At Kali's words, Zeke looked at her and said, "If we build a defense line centered on the bases I've prepared, stopping the magical beasts shouldn't be difficult."
Zeke planned to activate Defense Mode and use Karma Points to establish a defense line against the magical beasts.
For those outside the line, he would use the Ark to drive them away, and for urgent areas, borrow the power of the Three Princesses of the Demon Realm to install Mobile Fortresses.
However, the magical beasts weren't the immediate concern.
"The real issue is elsewhere. Arthur Draker. We need to find the culprit behind all this." At the mention of Arthur's name, Kali's expression hardened.
Arthur Draker, the former Family Head of Draker who had faked his death, was truly the pinnacle and strongest of the continent.
She couldn't grasp why such a man would go to the lengths of feigning death to orchestrate this.
Zeke looked at Kali and said, "Arthur Draker is using the power of the constellations to bring down this world and open a new one for New Humanity."
Kali's face twisted in disbelief at Zeke's words, as if they sounded absurd.
"A world for New Humanity? What on earth does that mean?"
"If it's a world ruled by 'New Humanityʼ born from injecting impure power under the name of Draker, does that make more sense?"
As the Family Head of Draker who had dominated the Central Continent, Arthur Draker sought to transcend that and become a true sovereign, a god.
Hearing Zeke's explanation, Kali clenched her teeth, her expression even more grim.
"...So you're saying Arthur Draker is actually trying to carry out that insane idea?"
"Yes. That's why I have to stop him."
Kali looked at Zeke and said, "I agree we need to stop Arthur Draker. But right now, we have no idea where he is."
Zeke shook his head at her words.
"I think I know where Arthur Draker is."
Kali asked in shock, "Is that true?"
"Yes. So, Sister, I'm counting on you to handle the allied forces in my stead."
Zeke's eyes gleamed as he said, "I'll find him and end this."
***
Boom!
A massive door opened, revealing the Sword Grave of the Draker family.
Arthur Draker walked among the numerous swords embedded in the floor.
He ascended the dais at the far end.
Atop it was a pitch-black sword plunged into the ground.
Arthur Draker slowly extended his hand toward the sword.
Whoooong!
The sword vibrated strongly, as if sensing his touch.
Whoooong!
As he grasped the hilt, an even greater vibration surged.
Ziiing—
The black sword's resonance caused the other embedded swords to hum in response.
Sword resonances echoed from all directions, twisted the very space.
Arthur Draker tried to pull the sword from the floor amid the vibrations, but it only thrummed without budging.
Rumble!
As he applied more force, the vibrations intensified, and the space, unable to withstand the resonance, began to scream and collapse.
Arthur Draker finally released the sword.
Whoooong!
Only then did the resonance subside.
Staring at the embedded sword, Arthur Draker touched the area over his heart.
"Even this isn't enough yet."
A vast ambition burned in his eyes.
As he swallowed his regret, a shadow rippled behind Arthur Draker.
Shh—
A young knight in white attire similar to Draker's uniform appeared.
With gray hair like Arthur's and sharp eyes, the knight wore a sword at his waist and white gloves on his hands.
He moved in front of Arthur Draker, bowed his head in greeting, and spoke.
"Father, we've detected Zeke Draker's movements."