Zeke confirmed the message that appeared before his eyes.
[You have absorbed a portion of the Fell God Ajitahakaʼs divine body.]
[The incomplete restriction on the Authority of Devouring has been lifted.]
[The Authority of Devouring transforms into a new Authority under the influence of the Shadow King Authority.]
[You have acquired the Authority of Gluttony.]
[Absorbing the constellationʼs divine body has partially lifted the seal on the Seal
Compression Stone. Current compression seal level is 55%.]
[You have acquired 25,000 Karma Points.]
[You have acquired 1 Special Random Box.]
Absorbing Ajitahakaʼs divine body had caused the Authority of Devouring to evolve into a new Authority called Gluttony, influenced by the Shadow King.
Zeke activated the Authority of Gluttony and glared at Abel.
The aura of the Fell God Ajitahaka emanated from both Abel and Zeke.
Abelʼs expression flickered with momentary surprise before he regained his composure and nodded at Zeke.
"...Yes, I underestimated the limits of your power and nearly died for it. I wonʼt make that mistake again."
Rumble!
As Abel extended his hand, a gaping maw tore open in the air.
The maw spat out a sacred relic engraved with a demonic visage.
It was the relic of Ajitahaka that Ramon had possessed.
Abel gripped a dagger in one hand, and the arm of Ajitahaka lying on the ground reacted.
Crunch!
The arm pushed against the floor, trying to rise.
Zeke attempted to halt its movement using Ajitahakaʼs Authority, but Abelʼs control proved stronger, making it impossible to suppress.
Sores erupted across the arm awakened by Abelʼs Authority, causing it to swell grotesquely.
Rip!
The organic membrane burst, unleashing monsters of horrific form from within.
Zeke realized what they were.
'Devouring beasts.ʼ
It reminded him of how Azmun had once used Ajitahakaʼs sword to mutate chimeras into outsider species.
Kaaaa!
The beasts, unrecognizable as creatures of the phenomenal world, bared their razorsharp teeth and screeched at Zeke.
Some resembled insects, others were humanoid forms covered in tentacles, and many defied any identifiable shape.
Abel smiled at the Devouring beasts emerging from Ajitahakaʼs arm.
"Hideous things, but they seem more than sufficient to deal with you, Zeke."
With a command through his dagger, Abel sent the Devouring beasts charging at Zeke in earnest.
Kaaaa!
Zeke raised Laevatein and unleashed a sword strike at the oncoming horde.
Boom boom boom!
The Devouring beasts were swept away by Zekeʼs slash, only to regenerate through the Fell Godʼs Authority and charge again.
Born from Ajitahakaʼs divine body, they drew even greater power from the Authority.
The regenerative reversal of the Devouring beasts operated on a different principle from Zekeʼs immortality, yet it produced a similar effect, allowing them to persist undying.
Surrounded by the Devouring beasts, Abel drew a satisfied smile.
"Wrestling with those vermin suits you well, Zeke."
Zeke blocked the outsider speciesʼ attacks with Shadow Armor while thrusting his sword at them.
He sheathed Laevatein and drew the Holy Sword Ascalon, activating the Authority of Great Purification.
Hummm—
Golden energy enveloped Ascalon.
Zeke unleashed a sword strike infused with the power of Great Purification toward the outsiders.
Boom boom boom—
Waves of golden energy radiated from his blade.
Devouring beasts struck by the energy screamed in agony, their bodies convulsing before exploding entirely, reduced to mangled remains.
Zeke extended his shadows toward the pulverized Devouring beasts.
Ssssh—
But even they could not be absorbed into Zekeʼs shadows.
'Damn it!ʼ
In that moment, something occurred to Zeke.
'The newly acquired Authority of Gluttony might work.ʼ
As he hesitated, the mangled flesh regenerated through reversal and lunged at him once more.
Kaaaa!
Zeke unleashed the Authority of Gluttony toward the grotesque, fang-baring Devouring beasts.
Ssssh—
His shadow surged upward.
It split in half with a crack, forming a colossal maw within.
Larger than the one Abel had conjured with Devouring, its depths formed an unfathomable void of darkness.
Crunch crunch crunch—
The Authority of Gluttony devoured the charging Devouring beasts in a single gulp.
Crunch! Crunch!
With gruesome sounds, the Devouring beasts were consumed by the Gluttony.
Then, a message appeared before Zekeʼs eyes.
[The Authority of Gluttony hungers for more prey.]
[Gluttony endlessly devours to grow.]
[Failure to control Gluttony risks it consuming its wielder.]
A fearsome Authority that devoured anything, yet could turn on its master if not properly restrained.
It felt distinct from both the Authority of Devouring and the Shadow King.
'A power that truly devours its targets without end.ʼ
Zeke deactivated the Authority of Gluttony after it consumed all the Devouring beasts.
Yet it resisted, still ravenous.
Only when Zeke forcibly severed it did the massive maw close, and the surging shadow recede.
Zeke realized he could not wield the Authority of Gluttony recklessly.
'But this power itself doesnʼt seem derived from Ajitahaka. Gluttony... I still donʼt fully understand it.ʼ
With all the Devouring beasts devoured by Zekeʼs Gluttony, Abel scowled. As they faced off, Zeke glanced upward. The red moonʼs light was fading.
Noting this, Zeke addressed Abel.
"Abel, you canʼt summon Ajitahakaʼs true form into the phenomenal world." Abel followed Zekeʼs gaze to the sky and chuckled.
"Zeke, youʼre under a misconception."
Rumble!
Fell Godʼs power flowed from Abelʼs body.
"Ramon sought to descend Ajitahaka into the phenomenal world to absorb Draker blood and incorporate the Demon King into himself."
Ajitahakaʼs arm, resonating with Abelʼs power, floated into the air.
Crunch!
It shrank mid-flight, soon reduced to a small size.
Abel seized the diminutive arm and devoured it raw.
Crunch! Chomp!
Having consumed Ajitahakaʼs divine body, Abel looked down at Zeke.
"Unlike Ramon, I possess immortality through the Light Dragonʼs heart, and now the Fell Godʼs power as well."
Rumble—
"Do I really need to descend Ajitahakaʼs true form?" Zeke nodded at Abelʼs words.
"True, you have no need to summon his true form."
As the red moon continued to fade, nearly vanishing, Zeke continued.
"But Abel, do you know this?" Zeke turned his gaze to Abel.
"Karma does not permit direct reception of a constellationʼs power." Abel furrowed his brow at Zekeʼs words.
"What nonsense is—"
Crackle!
Sparks erupted violently from Abelʼs body.
"Guh?!"
The backlash of causality, held at bay by the red moonʼs power, began to ravage him.
"Kaaack!"
Abel writhed in agony as his body felt torn asunder.
Karmaʼs law had identified Abel as a violator of the phenomenal worldʼs order.
Zeke raised his sword toward the suffering Abel.
'Iʼve been waiting for this moment.ʼ
Summoning Ajitahaka had required an immense quantity of blood tear stones.
Forcing a constellation-level Fell God into the phenomenal world, devouring its body, and wielding its Authority fully invited severe repercussions.
Thus, Zeke had timed his strike for this backlash.
Hummm!
Zeke drew the Shadow Sword Caladbolg and assumed the stance for Full Power Technique.
Feeling one with Caladbolg, he leaped into the air.
Abel, afloat, remained ensnared in the causality backlash, unable to move properly.
"Kaaack!"
Crackle—
Spotting Zeke charging, Abel raised Zahhak.
Light Dragonʼs energy gathered in Zahhak.
The Authority of Heavenly Punishment enveloped Abel, conjuring a massive storm.
"Ziiike! I wonʼt fall to this! If I can kill you, this pain means nothing!"
Zeke pierced through Abelʼs scream as he thrust his sword forward.
He prepared to unleash the final technique of Full Power Technique taught by his master Nigel: Triple Spell.
Hummm!
Caladbolg vibrated lowly.
Zeke pointed his blade at the oncoming storm of Heavenly Punishment.
Manifesting his Heart-Sword, he simultaneously activated Triple Spell.
Full Power Technique
Triple Spell
Will of Nullification
It was the technique Nigel had used on Zeke.
Zekeʼs Heart-Sword cleaved the storm of Heavenly Punishment, and the Will of Nullification seeped into Abel.
Hummm—
Abel sensed no immediate change from the Will of Nullification.
But then— Urk!
Black blood surged from Abelʼs mouth.
"Gah!"
It poured from his nose and eyes as well.
The Will of Nullification rendered its target defenseless.
Abel, who had resisted the causality backlash through the constellationʼs might, lost all resistance upon its infusion.
Exposed to Karmaʼs absolute sanction, Abelʼs body began to crumble.
"Gaaah!"
In torment, Abel lost control and plummeted.
Boom!
He crashed amid the debris of the shattered dais, rolling.
"Gaaah!"
Abel vomited blood ceaselessly, realizing his body was disintegrating completely.
He hadnʼt anticipated that devouring Ajitahakaʼs divine body and embracing its Authority would bring such backlash.
Ramon or the high priest might have prepared countermeasures, but Zekeʼs intervention had rendered them useless.
Zeke approached Abel slowly, Caladbolg in hand.
Crackle, snap!
The crumbling Abel was wreathed in the causality backlash from Karmaʼs sanction.
Zeke addressed him.
"Abel, what a tiresome fate. This time, stay buried in hell—donʼt crawl back out."
Abel, glaring at Zeke, seized Zahhak.
"Guh... I could say the same. Zeke Draker. You, at least..."
As Zeke swung without waiting, an explosion erupted near his face.
Zeke retreated hastily.
'What is this...?ʼ
Looking up, he saw a masked man in a suit standing before Abel.
The boss of the Nostra Family.
He had revealed himself here.
"Hmm, Harvey always leaves loose ends."
The boss drew a vial from his coat and sprayed it over Abel.
Ssssh—
The liquid turned to mist and seeped into Abel, astonishingly quelling the causality backlash.
Zekeʼs eyes widened as he glared at the boss.
The boss shook his head.
"Ah, donʼt glare like that. Iʼve invested in this side too—I canʼt just sit idle." With a snap of his fingers, the boss finished speaking.
Rumble!
The ground quaked, and chimeras emerged from below.
The boss regarded Zeke.
"Zeke Draker, youʼve made things quite troublesome. Iʼll collect on this debt later."
He gripped the unsteady Abelʼs shoulder.
Sensing their intent to escape via spatial teleportation, Zeke hurled something at Abel swiftly.
Thud!
An adamantium dagger struck true in Abelʼs heart.
One of the daggers crafted from the adamantium rewarded as Theiaʼs tears.
"Damn it!"
With the bossʼs startled cry, the two vanished.
Zeke ground his teeth, staring at the spot where Abel and the boss had stood.
'Letting him escape again...ʼ
He hadnʼt anticipated the bossʼs sudden appearance, leaving him unable to respond adequately.
Zeke raised his sword against the oncoming chimeras, steadying his breath.
Exhausted from the prolonged battle, dizziness threatened to overwhelm him.
"Hoo, hoo."
Yet he couldnʼt yield; Zeke gripped his sword and faced the charging chimeras.
On the verge of collapse, he forced himself to hold on.
But then— Thud!
A black-armored knight descended from above, cleaving a chimera in one stroke.
Zeke exclaimed in surprise upon recognizing the knight.
"Duke, Master!"
Duke Draker had entered the fray, wielding the power of the Black Knight.