'Avatar Adam?ʼ
Zekeʼs eyes widened in surprise at the unfamiliar name that appeared in the emerging message.
Harvey Draker had been a regenerated body created by cultivating the first Draker as a homunculus of the Great Sage.
So the Adam mentioned in the system message undoubtedly referred to Harvey Drakerʼs original form.
Along with the message about absorbing Adamʼs regenerated body, a series of other messages scrolled up continuously.
But before Zeke could even check them, the Infinite Archive began to distort.
Creeeeak—
The areas he had barely held back with his divinity tore open, and the Unique Domain started to collapse.
Books from the archive, along with the scattered remains of the auxiliary bodies strewn about, got sucked into the dimensional rift.
Kwah-kwah-kwah-kwah!
The powerful gravitational pull tried to drag Zeke into the dimensional rift as well, but he resisted with his divinity.
Judging that he had finished everything he needed to do, Zeke flew toward Innocent.
"Innocent! Open the door!"
At Zekeʼs command, Innocent raised his staff.
Whoooong!
The light that burst from the staff opened a portal leading out of the Unique Domain.
As Zeke moved to enter the portal, a grotesque roar echoed from the widening dimensional rift.
Grooooaaar!
The unidentified colossal roar seemed intent on blocking Zekeʼs escape, and it intensified the pulling force.
Zeke gritted his teeth and glared at the dimensional rift.
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
The force that dragged him in grew stronger by the moment.
At that instant, a message appeared before Zekeʼs eyes.
[You sense the gaze of some twisted, unidentified entity from the dimensional abyss.]
[Your unique authority ??? activates in response to the gaze.]
With the message, a white light flickered around Zekeʼs body like flames.
Zeke looked at the warm light that enveloped him.
'This is…?ʼ
He realized it was the same warm light he had seen when he opened the Primordial Jar.
The light seemed to block the gaze that extended from the dimensional abyss and protect Zeke.
Zeke broke free from the pulling force and reached toward the portal.
But the unstable dimensional collapse accelerated, threatening to erase the portal as well.
Seeing this, Zeke shouted loudly.
"Raven!"
At his call, Raven emerged from the dimensional rift.
Surprisingly, Ravenʼs appearance differed from usual.
It shone with pure white flames, as if composed of the same warm light that enveloped Zekeʼs body.
Raven spread its pure white wings wide and let out a long cry.
Ruuuuumble-ruuuuumble!
As the Phoenix Cry echoed, the distorting dimension stabilized, and the portal returned to normal.
The massive light of the portal enveloped Zeke, Raven, and Innocent.
Whoooong!
The white light wrapped around Zeke and the others just as the dimensional wall tore completely, collapsing the Infinite Archive.
Kwah-kwah-kwah-kwah-kwah!
Moments later, everything got sucked into the dimensional abyss, and the space itself reverted to nothingness.
*
Whoooong!
With the white light, the portal opened, and Zeke, Raven, and Innocent appeared.
Zeke looked up and surveyed his surroundings—it was the temple entrance guarded by Heracles.
"Zeke!"
Hearing his name called, Zeke turned to see the High Table members, who had escaped the Infinite Archive first, rushing toward him.
Nigel spoke to Zeke in an urgent voice.
"Zeke, Atlantis will collapse soon too."
As soon as she finished speaking, the ground beneath them began to shake.
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
The earth cracked, and the land started to sink.
Just as the Atlantis continent had sunk into the sea with its destruction in the past, this time-frozen space collapsed in the same way.
Zeke looked at the crumbling Atlantis continent and said to Heracles.
"Heracles, are you truly okay with leaving this place?" At his words, Heracles bowed his head.
[A body sworn to loyalty to my lord—the battlefield you desire is where I shall be.] Zeke nodded at Heraclesʼs words and sent him and Innocent back.
He then looked at Raven, still cloaked in pure white flames, and said.
"Raven, help us escape this place safely." Ruuuuumble-ruuuuumble!
In response to Zekeʼs words, Ravenʼs Phoenix Cry echoed long and loud once more.
With that, the warm light that emanated from Ravenʼs body enveloped Zeke and the High Table members.
The light that Raven emitted stabilized the unstable dimension around them.
Seizing the moment, Zeke judged that he couldnʼt miss this opportunity and used Overclock to expand the system portalʼs capabilities.
Whoooong!
The white light shimmered, forming the portal anew.
"Hurry and enter!"
The High Table members followed Zekeʼs words and stepped into the portal.
After Raven entered as well, Zeke took one last look at the collapsing Atlantis from before the portal.
The world that had built a brilliant civilization vanished so futilely, and it always left a profound emptiness.
'If I canʼt stop Arthur Draker… the current Phenomenal World will end up like this.ʼ Zeke clenched his fist and stepped into the portal.
After the portal vanished, Atlantis collapsed completely, leaving no trace behind. *
Whoooong!
A massive light appeared in the sky.
"Kyaaaak!"
Nabu plummeted from the air, letting out a loud scream.
Moments later, regaining his senses, he hastily summoned a flying carpet.
Vroooom!
The summoned carpet caught the falling Nabu.
Soon after, Nigel, Ivan, and Manna also landed on the carpet.
Nabu looked around frantically and asked.
"Whereʼs Zeke?"
Tsss-tsss-tsss—
As soon as he spoke, Zeke and Raven appeared.
Raven had lost its white light and returned to its usual vibrant, multicolored phoenix form.
Zeke, with Raven on his shoulder, boarded the carpet.
At that moment, Nigel pointed to one side.
"The island… itʼs sinking."
Rumble-rumble-ruuuuumble!
Storm Island, which had long served as the Highlander headquarters, sank into the sea.
The deep-sea city Rʼlyeh beneath Storm Island was the Great Sageʼs final legacy and the secure zone that housed the Book of the Lion.
But with the Book of the Lion absorbed by Zeke, it had fulfilled its purpose and now collapsed, completing its final duty.
With a deafening roar, the island sank, and the sea that Zeke had frozen with the Elemental Stone shattered as well.
Rumble-rumble-ruuuuumble!
The bone ship fixed in the icy sea began to move slowly.
"Silver One, please descend there."
Following Zekeʼs words, Nabu guided the carpet down to the grotesque undead vessel.
As soon as the carpet landed, Richmond rushed toward him.
"Master!"
Seeing Richmondʼs frantic approach, Zeke sensed something was wrong.
"Whatʼs happened, Richmond?"
Richmond poured out his words rapidly while looking at Zeke. And from the first sentence, Zeke couldnʼt help but be taken aback.
"D-During the month youʼve been out of contact, Master, all hell has broken loose!" Incredibly, a whole month had passed since Zeke entered Storm Island.
'The flow of time inside the Unique Domain differed from the outside world.ʼ
Zeke calmed his flustered mind while looking at the excited Richmond and said. "Chaos in the Central Continent? Has Arthur Draker launched a massive assault?" At that, Richmond shook his head.
"I donʼt know if itʼs Arthur Draker, but… the major kingdoms are under attack from magical beasts weʼve never seen before! Theyʼre in the midst of fierce warfare even now!"
Zeke furrowed his brow at Richmondʼs words.
"If magical beasts are assaulting the kingdoms on such a scale, the Black Knights should have stepped in, right?"
At Zekeʼs question, Richmondʼs teeth chattered as he replied.
"T-Thatʼs just it…"
Richmond hesitated before continuing.
"The Black Knights in each kingdom have mostly been ambushed and killed or suffered fatal injuries."
Zekeʼs eyes widened at Richmondʼs words.
'The Black Knights ambushed simultaneously?ʼ
He recalled how Count Vlad and the Red King had been ambushed and killed by Arthur Draker before.
The sudden attacks by mysterious magical beasts across the continent and the ambushes on the Black Knights could not be coincidences.
Zeke thought of who could orchestrate such an event.
"Arthur Draker…"
Even as the head of the Draker family, Arthur Draker had manipulated the continentʼs situation through various schemes from the shadows without showing his hand.
Given Arthur Drakerʼs nature, it was highly likely he was behind this as well.
Moreover, at present, no one else came to mind who had the capability to pull off something of this scale.
Nigel, who had been listening, said to Zeke.
"With no Black Knights in the kingdoms, even mounting a siege defense would be insufficient against the magical beasts." Zeke nodded at Nigelʼs words.
If they were magical beasts summoned by Arthur Draker, they undoubtedly carried the power of the Outsider Species, making them far from ordinary.
Then Richmond spoke to Zeke again.
"Currently, in the Central Continent, Mycenae, Alencia, and Thebea are holding the line against the magical beasts."
With Hades, Yellin, and the Black Sword Knight Order stationed in Mycenae, defending against the beasts shouldnʼt have been much of an issue.
Zeke looked up and asked Richmond.
"What about the Rom Empire and Midland?"
Richmond made a troubled expression as he began to reply.
"The Empire side is managing better than others, with the Red Eye and Western Alliance holding together. The Continental Allied Forces stationed in Jupiter moved straight to Midland, but theyʼre bogged down midway because there are too many enemies."
If the Continental Allied Forces led by Helen couldnʼt move, it meant Midland was overrun with foes.
Zekeʼs expression darkened as he spoke again.
"Tell me about Atlasʼs situation."
Richmond shook his head and answered.
"Atlas has been isolated in Midland for a while… and weʼve lost contact since last week, Master."
Kali, now head of the Draker family, and Boris leading the intelligence organization Nemesis were in Atlas.
The loss of contact between the Four Seasons Star and Nemesis indicated a dire internal situation.
Zeke furrowed his brow and turned to Nigel.
"The situation is urgent, so Iʼll head straight to Atlas. Master, please take the other High Table members and board this ship to the Southern Archipelago."
The Southern Archipelago had the headquarters established by Arina and Kay.
He spoke to Nigel in a serious tone.
"Master, you must lead the remaining Highlanders."
With the Highlander headquarters Storm Island gone, they needed a new focal point.
Zeke hoped Nigel would take on that role from the Southern Archipelago.
Understanding Zekeʼs intent, Nigelʼs expression hardened before she nodded.
"I shall do so."
Hearing her response, Zeke turned to Nabu.
"Silver One, I leave Master in your care."
At Zekeʼs earnest words, Nabu unwittingly nodded with a serious expression unlike his usual self.
Ivan and Manna also agreed with Zeke without objection. They knew his proposal was the best course now.
Judging there was nothing more to do here, Zeke said to Richmond.
"Richmond, take the ship straight to the Southern Archipelago. Arthur Draker will surely seize the Central Continent and then expand his attacks to the North, South, and even the Eastern Continent beyond." His eyes flashed.
"Before that, go to the Southern Archipelago and reinforce its defenses with Lady Arina.
We must block the path to the Southern Continent." Richmond nodded at Zekeʼs words.
"Understood, Master! Iʼll steer the ship there posthaste!"
Zeke summoned Nahuel and ordered it to assist in moving the ship.
Then he levitated into the air and created a portal.
Whoooong!
Zeke leaped into the portal with Raven, leaving only a shimmering white halo in the sky.
Nigel gazed at Zekeʼs fading afterimage, lost in thought.
Seeing her worry, Nabu said.
"Old hag, donʼt fret too much. Thereʼs hardly anything in the Phenomenal World that can harm that kid Zeke."
Though meant to ease her concerns, the word "hardly" stuck with Nigel.
She kicked Nabuʼs shin in irritation.
Thwack!
"Kyak! Have you gone mad, you old hag?!"
Ignoring Nabuʼs scream, Nigel instructed Richmond to set sail.
The undead ship departed the Storm Sea region toward the Southern Archipelago.
A massive war cloud loomed over the entire continent.