Chapter 262

“What did you say came out?”

Having arrived at Agamemnon Castle, Zeke had to hear the absurd news before he could even get off his horse.

It was that they had discovered a ‘Medusa,’ something only heard of in legends, on the Southern Archipelago where they were proceeding with development.

Aster, who delivered the news to Zeke, spoke in an excited voice, unlike his usual self who was always listless due to insomnia.

“M-My lord. Could a Medusa really exist?”

Diego, who was next to Aster, nodded and said,

“There’s a similar legend in my hometown, yo. A legend about an evil witch who turns you to stone just by making eye contact, yo!”

Seeing Aster and Diego chatter on endlessly, Zeke’s head began to throb.

Zeke summoned all the knight order’s officers to the great meeting hall.

As everyone gathered in the meeting hall, Clone slammed her hand on the round table and said,

“Boss! They say a Medusa has appeared! We have to go to the archipelago right now!”

Zeke calmed the excited Clone and sat her down.

He asked Boris,

“Boris, summarize the situation accurately.”

Boris said to Zeke with a troubled expression,

“It seems Rick’s party discovered a dungeon while exploring the island that will serve as the central hub of the archipelago.”

“A dungeon? There was a dungeon in the Southern Archipelago?”

“Yes, since it’s located in the middle of the Sea of Death, it was an island that was rarely visited, so it seems it wasn’t discovered.”

“And they found a Medusa inside that dungeon?”

At that, Boris shook his head.

“They didn't find a Medusa, but they said several traces of stone statues have come out.”

“Stone statues?”

“Yes, according to the report sent by Jason, the attire of the statues differs in era and form, and their expressions are excessively lifelike.”

Zeke pressed his temples firmly.

“And they determined that a Medusa is there based on just those statues?”

“It also states that they discovered a never-before-seen symbol and ancient architectural style inside the dungeon.”

Boris handed Zeke the drawing of the symbol that was enclosed in the urgent report he had received. Zeke tilted his head as he looked at the symbol he received from Boris.

‘I feel like I’ve seen this symbol somewhere before.’

As Zeke examined the drawing, Boris added,

“It hasn't been confirmed if there really is a Medusa, but it does seem to be an ancient ruin of a style never seen before.”

Zeke nodded at Boris’s words.

“It might be a dungeon containing an ancient civilization from before the era of the Hero King.”

At those words, Clone shot up from her seat again and went wild.

“Then all the more reason we can’t be doing this right now, we have to go quickly and save the princess! What are we going to do if more dangerous monsters than a Medusa come out!”

Zeke nodded at Clone’s words.

“Sister Clone is right. If there’s an ancient ruin of unknown identity, we don’t know what else might pop out.”

He ordered the members of the knight order to prepare to go to the Southern Archipelago.

The plan was to ride the Triangle, which was docked at the Port of Iason, and move to the archipelago at once.

After the meeting, Zeke went to Hades’s workshop.

He intended to ask about the symbol Jason had sent while preparing for the voyage.

However, when he went to the workshop, Hades was nowhere to be seen.

When he asked the attendants, they said he had gone somewhere with Yellin and the other Ishtar members, saying he was going to look for materials.

‘Both Lord Hades and Lady Yellin are unfamiliar with the Central Continent, I wonder if they’ll be alright.’

Fortunately, he heard that Boris had attached Liam to act as a guide, so Zeke was somewhat relieved.

Soon, the preparations for departure were complete, and Zeke, leaving behind the regret of not being able to solve the mystery of the symbol Jason had sent, led the Black Sword Knights and headed for Iason.

***

“Wow, my lord. The sea is really different from before.”

Felix marveled as he looked at the calmed Sea of Death, now without a single wave, from the deck of the Triangle.

After the Sea God had regained his divinity, the once-rough Sea of Death had calmed down, and the scenery of the sea had completely changed.

In particular, Zeke had received the blessing of the Sea God, so the ship he was on was safe from the threat of storms or sea monsters.

Before, the voyage had been long because they had to go around the incomparably rough Sea of Death, but now it was possible to travel to the Southern Continent much more quickly.

In addition, Captain Kidd’s treasure, the Triangle, was faster than a normal ship, so they were able to arrive at the Southern Archipelago in just a few days.

“The island is in sight!”

Zeke enhanced his vision and examined the island’s coastline.

He could see the Neverland, the Reinhardt Company’s ship, the Syndicate’s ship, and others gathered ahead.

The Triangle quickly headed toward the coastline.

As soon as they reached the coast, Zeke immediately jumped off the ship and landed on the island.

He could see a camp set up on a hill above the coastline, which was good for docking ships.

Zeke quickly climbed up the hill.

However, the camp only had traces of use; there was no sign of life at all.

‘What in the world happened?’

Clone’s party, who had followed Zeke, was also surprised to see the empty camp.

Clone, her face drained of color, said to Zeke,

“C-Captain. W-Where is the princess?”

“Calm down, Clone. You know that there are only a few people on this continent who can threaten Lady Arina. For now, go and secure the ships safely.”

Arina, who had achieved 7th-Circle Master in light magic, was a mage who ranked within the top ten on the continent in terms of combat power alone.

Besides, contrary to her delicate appearance, she specialized in attack spells, so even if a swarm of monsters came at her, they wouldn’t be able to touch a single hair on Arina’s head.

Zeke opened his Blood Eyes and examined the traces left at the camp.

‘There’s blood here and there… but most of it is from monsters. It seems there was a battle.’

He could see that the traces led from the camp into the forest.

Retracting his Bloodshot Eye, Zeke summoned Kaiman and the Dragon Warrior skill, and Gurab and the Shark Dragon unit to search for traces.

[Did you call, Master.]

“Kaiman, lead Gurab’s unit and scout the surroundings. If you see anything suspicious or any humans, report it immediately.”

[Understood, Master.]

Gurab also nodded as if he understood.

As Kaiman and Gurab’s units dispersed, Zeke decided to organize the camp first.

“Richmond.”

Richmond shimmered and emerged from within Zeke’s shadow.

“Alright, if I just get this right, it’ll finally be a success… Gasp, Master?”

Richmond, who seemed to have been in the middle of some experiment, had a bewildered expression at the sudden summons.

“Where is this, Master?”

“The Southern Archipelago. The plan is to develop this place and use it as a hub for intermediary trade.”

Zeke ordered Richmond to summon a Wall of Bones to reinforce the camp’s defenses.

Richmond summoned not only a Wall of Bones but also Skeletons to clean up the surroundings and re-establish the base.

Aster watched the skeletons moving here and there and asked Diego.

“The sleeping sand he gave me, and now this. Is the lord also well-versed in magic?”

At his words, Diego thought for a moment, then nodded.

“There’s no end to the lord’s abilities, yo. It’s easier on the mind to just accept it, yo.”

Aster nodded at Diego’s answer.

To them, Zeke was no longer considered an ordinary human.

Under Zeke’s direct command, the camp was reinforced at a rapid pace.

Around the time the camp’s base was complete, a signal came from Kaiman.

[Master, I have discovered something suspicious here.]

Zeke said to Boris.

“It seems they’ve found something. The others might come back here, so guard the surroundings well.”

He left the base in their charge, summoned ghost soldiers to watch the area, and ran to where Kaiman was.

Entering the forest, Zeke found the place where Kaiman and the Dragon Warriors were.

The surrounding area was littered with the carcasses of monsters, seemingly taken care of by Kaiman’s unit.

[Master.]

Kaiman placed a hand on his left breast in a polite gesture toward Zeke.

“What did you find.”

Kaiman pointed to a place hidden between overgrown bushes.

One of the Dragon Warriors parted the bushes, and a cave appeared inside.

“A dungeon?”

At Zeke’s question, Kaiman spoke.

[We cannot enter this place.]

Zeke’s expression changed at Kaiman’s words.

“What do you mean you can’t enter.”

[The energy flowing from inside that cave is blocking the approach of shadow spirits like myself.]

It meant that not only Kaiman but also the other Dragon Warriors could not go inside the cave.

It seemed an unprecedented power flowing from within was blocking their approach.

Zeke tried once more with the ghost soldiers, but it was also impossible.

“Richmond.”

Zeke immediately summoned Richmond to the cave.

Richmond was once again flustered by the sudden summons.

“Gasp! W-What is it all of a sudden?”

“Take a look and see if you can feel anything inside that cave.”

As commanded by Zeke, Richmond approached the cave to investigate, but then his body suddenly shuddered violently.

“Ugh!”

He hastily retreated backward.

“What is it, Richmond.”

Richmond, dripping with cold sweat, said,

“I-I can’t get close.”

“Hmm.”

For not only the shadow spirits but now even Richmond to be unable to go, it meant that an incredibly strong ancient sorcery or magic was cast within the dungeon connected to this cave.

Zeke slowly approached the cave.

Woooong!

Even as Zeke approached, a force from within the cave acted to push him away.

He raised his hand and used the Mana Sealing Art.

Kiiiiing!

He unleashed the Mana Sealing Art and delved into the flow of the mana field being emitted from inside the cave.

Crackle!

Zeke twisted the mana field blocking the cave and went inside.

‘It doesn’t seem like a barrier… Is it possible for such a powerful mana field to be created naturally.’

Zeke had somehow barely managed to get in, but in that short time, the mana field had restored itself, so his summons could not enter.

He sent Richmond back to where he was and tasked his other summons with scouting the surroundings.

Then, he went deeper inside the cave.

The long, continuous cave had not a single point of light, and its walls were damp.

Zeke scanned the inside of the dark cave with his Dragon’s Eye.

It was then.

Krrrrr—

A low growl was heard from inside the cave.

Since the space was narrow, Zeke drew Annexie's Dagger.

Looking with his Dragon’s Eye, he saw they were monsters that resembled gnoll monsters.

The monsters, with their red glowing eyes, slowly crawled toward him from the floor and even the ceiling.

Krrrrr—

The monsters, making fierce noises, rushed toward Zeke.

Swoosh!

Zeke lightly dodged the monsters’ attacks and swung his dagger as he did.

Slash!

For Zeke, who had been promoted to a Black Knight, monsters were no match.

Zeke drew out chains from his left hand, connected them to his dagger, and threw it at the rushing monsters.

Shlink!

The movements of the monsters entangled in the chains were sealed. Zeke held the chains as they were and used his Electric Shock skill.

Crackle!

As the electric shock traveled up the chains, the monsters contorted their bodies.

A moment later, when Zeke released the chains, the bodies of the monsters fell to the ground.

Krrrrr—

Zeke quickly threw his dagger at the monsters that were still alive but drained of energy, killing them.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve gained Karma Points.’

On the island of the Deep Sea Tribe, he hadn’t properly hunted monsters, so he hadn’t been able to gather any Karma Points.

Zeke swallowed the monsters, now dead from Gluttony, and made a satisfied expression.

Since they were monsters, the points were quite substantial.

‘For monsters of this level to pop out from the very entrance of the cave.’

It seemed more dangerous than a typical A-rank dungeon.

‘There isn’t really a Medusa here, is there.’

Zeke continued to move, feeling a sense of unease. As he went deeper into the cave, a wide cavern soon appeared.

Stepping into the wide cavern, Zeke felt a strange sensation.

‘What is this?’

The moment he entered the cavern, he felt the mana inside his body churning wildly.

Zeke felt a moment of dizziness and staggered before falling over.

“Hoo.”

Grabbing the wall, Zeke barely stood up, and only then did he notice that the cavern walls were studded with sharp ores.

He realized that a strange energy was flowing from these ores.

Zeke took out Annexie's Dagger, cut off a small piece of the ore, and looked at it closely, but he couldn’t tell what it was.

‘I wonder if I can check the information on this with the Dragon’s Eye.’

Zeke focused and examined the ore with his Dragon’s Eye.

—Ore Information—

Description: Called Black Light Stone or Fairy Stone.

Unique Ability: Mana Absorption

Characteristics: Fairy Stone has the characteristic of continuously absorbing mana in its natural state and storing it internally.

Zeke, who had confirmed the information, was startled.

“All of this is Fairy Stone?”