A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression

Chapter 37

‘Kali Draker.’

She was Zeke’s eldest sister.

However, in his past life, Zeke had only encountered Kali Draker a handful of times. Before entering The Cradle, he had merely caught glimpses of her from afar during family events.

Kali Draker was the eldest daughter of the Draker Household and one of the Guardian Knights of the Four Constellations.

The knights affiliated with the Four Constellations numbered in the thousands, but fewer than ten were honored as Guardian Knights.

Even Abel Draker, who already commanded his own order of knights, had yet to attain the rank of Guardian Knight.

Thus, the fact that Kali Draker, still in her thirties, held the title of Guardian Knight was an extraordinary achievement.

Her exploits were equally remarkable.

The port city of Eison, the largest in Midland, had been plagued for over a century by the pirates of the Southern Sea.

These pirates, based in the Death Waters south of the Dortha Republic, operated in a decentralized network, making their complete eradication nearly impossible.

But the problem had been resolved once Kali Draker became an official knight of the Draker Household. Her first mission had been to deal with these Southern Sea pirates.

She singlehandedly boarded pirate ships, slaughtering their crews, and hunted down fleeing enemies, wiping out even those who had hidden on remote islands.

It didn’t matter whether they fought or fled; there was no escaping her.

Kali Draker thoroughly and silently annihilated the Southern Sea pirate problem that had been deemed unsolvable by many.

Five years later, pirates were no longer seen in Eison.

The sea routes of the Central Sea, which connected the Dortha Republic to the Eastern Empire, were cleansed thanks to Kali Draker.

For this accomplishment, Kali Draker was recognized and became the youngest Guardian Knight in history.

Now, Kali Draker had appeared as a special guest lecturer, and the students were buzzing with excitement.

Caught off guard by the sudden shift in attention toward Kali Draker, Duke was flustered.

Seizing the opportunity, Principal Flaubert gestured for Duke to quickly step down from the podium.

Reluctantly, Duke, having lost his spotlight to the rising star, descended from the podium, his steps heavy.

The principal cleared his throat and ascended the stage once more.

“Today, we have the honor of welcoming another special guest. Known as the Silver Knight, Kali Draker. Since the previous lecture ran long, we are running a bit behind schedule, so let’s promptly invite the Silver Knight to the stage.”

Kali Draker bowed politely to Flaubert before stepping up to the podium.

The woman knight, clad in silver armor and possessing platinum-blonde hair, stood confidently before the students.

She resembled a Valkyrie straight out of legend.

Without using a voice amplifier, she addressed the students directly.

“Attention!”

At her booming voice, all the students were startled and instinctively snapped to attention.

Even Principal Flaubert flinched slightly, so one could only imagine how the ordinary students reacted.

She then turned toward Duke and offered him a formal bow.

“I pay my respects to the honorable Black Knight, Sir Duke Draker. Everyone! Salute Sir Duke Draker!”

Students who had graduated from the academy instinctively stood up and saluted Duke in unison.

Meanwhile, those who had not attended the academy hesitated, either clumsily copying the salute or nervously gauging Kali Draker’s reaction.

After completing the greeting, Kali returned to the podium and began her lecture.

“Cadets, during my visit to Valhalla today, I took the time to observe its various facilities. And I must say, I am disappointed in all of you.”

Kali Draker had graduated from Valhalla before Principal Flaubert’s tenure. Back then, with a Draker as the principal, the academy’s discipline had been much stricter.

Her voice was firm as she continued.

“The peace we enjoy on the continent today did not come easily. It was built upon the blood of our senior knights.”

Compared to Kali Draker, Duke Draker was a much milder version of the Draker lineage.

For three long hours, she passionately emphasized the spirit of chivalry, the importance of discipline, and the necessity of grueling training. Her tone was strict and her demeanor earnest throughout.

Listening to Kali’s lecture, Principal Flaubert buried his face in his hands.

‘Damn Drakers.’

Flaubert resolved never to invite another Draker to lecture again.

The students, who had initially been thrilled to see the Silver Knight in person, slowly turned pale.

After three hours of what felt like verbal assault, the special lecture finally ended. The students staggered out of the hall, drained of all energy, resembling zombies.

Contrary to others, Zeke found Kali Draker’s lecture intriguing.

‘Strict, but everything she said makes sense.’

Having spent his life on battlefields, Zeke understood the intent behind her words.

In fact, he even sensed warmth and consideration in her speech. If she didn’t care, there would have been no reason for her to offer such advice.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Yo, bro. I just finished a new song—five hours of pure genius! Wanna check it out, yo?”

Zeke shook his head as he listened to Diego’s peculiar music.

After enduring all of Diego’s strange tunes, he finally got up to leave the lecture hall. Just as he was about to exit, someone approached him.

“Zeke.”

Turning around, he saw none other than Kali Draker.

Zeke lowered his head respectfully toward her.

“It is an honor to meet the Guardian Knight of the Four Constellations, Lady Kali Draker.”

At Zeke’s polite greeting, Kali Draker returned the courtesy with a nod.

She addressed him.

“Would you spare me some time?”

Her tone was stiff, befitting her Draker lineage.

Leaving behind a visibly disappointed Diego, Zeke followed Kali.

He had expected her to invite him for a casual conversation over tea, but instead, she led him to the training grounds.

Standing in the middle of the grounds, Kali turned to Zeke and spoke.

“Prepare yourself.”

Without any further explanation, she instructed him to get ready for a sparring match.

Zeke couldn’t discern her intentions but decided to play along with her demand.

He drew Bahamut from his back.

At the same time, Kali unsheathed her pure-white sword.

It was a solid mithril blade, a gift from the Holy Kingdom.

The Holy Kingdom, which had suffered the most from the pirates of the Southern Sea, had crafted and presented this mithril sword and armor to Kali Draker as a token of their gratitude for her role in eradicating the pirate threat.

True to its wealth, the Holy Kingdom had spared no expense.

Adorned in her pristine white armor and wielding the gleaming white sword with valor, Kali Draker had earned the moniker “Silver Knight.”

Pointing her sword at Zeke, Kali spoke.

“Show me your full power, Zeke Draker.”

At her command, Zeke leveled his sword at her.

“Then I won’t hold back.”

With that, Zeke launched himself at her, executing Phantom Footwork.

Clang!

The sound of their swords clashing echoed sharply.

As Zeke moved swiftly, leaving afterimages in his wake, Kali matched every motion with precision.

When she swung her pure-white blade, it left a trail of dazzling afterimages, like blooming flowers.

Her skill was not only formidable but breathtakingly elegant—a testament to her reputation as one of the strongest and most graceful knights on the continent.

Whoosh!

Realizing the extraordinary level of Kali’s skill, Zeke retreated.

Her abilities weren’t simply those of someone who had mastered advanced swordsmanship. They were honed through countless real battles, marking her as the genuine article.

Zeke deliberately lowered his apparent skill to the level of a Blue Knight. He was cautious, ensuring he did nothing to reveal his true abilities.

If his act were discovered, word might reach the head of the household, and that was a complication he wanted to avoid.

If word spread that he had already attained the skill level of a Red Knight, the Draker Household would never let him go. They would find every means to keep him bound to their will.

That would directly conflict with Zeke’s plan to leave this place as soon as possible and establish his own independent faction.

‘When I can wield the Draker name on my terms, that’s when I’ll return to the household.’

Whoosh!

As Zeke solidified his resolve, Kali made the first move, closing the distance when he remained defensive without engaging.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Kali Draker’s greatest strength was her overwhelming power.

Her strikes carried far more force than those of ordinary knights, her immense strength channeling through her blade.

Swish!

Zeke deflected her sword at an angle, redirecting the blow, and then found an opening to thrust his blade forward.

Thanks to the countless sparring sessions where he had been mercilessly beaten by Hero King Kysir, Zeke’s body instinctively retaliated with precision.

Kali flinched as Zeke’s sharp counterattack forced her to step back.

She was astonished at her youngest brother’s exceptional talent.

“Impressive.”

From someone as stingy with praise as Kali, such words came naturally, almost as an involuntary remark.

Clutching her sword, she began channeling her aura.

Vwoooom!

Her pure-white aura blade, a mirror of her pristine sword, enveloped her weapon. She had decided to fully utilize her aura to properly gauge Zeke’s abilities.

As Kali activated her aura, Zeke also steadied his breathing and summoned his own aura blade.

The atmosphere between them shifted drastically.

Ping!

Their movements blurred as they engaged in a clash too fast for the naked eye to follow.

Clatter!

Kali unleashed an elegant series of sword techniques, her strikes pressuring Zeke from all directions.

Zeke, however, dodged her attacks with Phantom Footwork, waiting for a gap in her defense.

While not on the level of Kysir, Kali was undoubtedly an extraordinary swordswoman, striking a perfect balance between offense and defense.

Slash!

Zeke parried Kali’s blade and unleashed the Dragonslaying Art. Even a basic move like the Crescent Slash, in Zeke’s hands, carried overwhelming force.

The impact was so immense that Kali’s body was pushed back as she blocked the attack with her sword.

When her offensive momentum was stalled, Zeke transitioned to Shadowless Footwork, aiming for her blind spot to thrust his sword.

Kali responded by pulling her blade close to her chest and channeling her energy into it.

Vwoooom!

In an instant, an immense energy storm erupted from Kali’s body.

Before earning the moniker of the Silver Knight, Kali had already been known by another title whispered among people.

Greatsword of Strength.

Those who had faced her blade often said it felt like clashing against a sword wielded by a giant.

Now, that terrifying aura engulfed her entire body, amplifying her presence like a storm on the battlefield.

At the same time, the aura blade surrounding Kali’s sword grew to the size of a bastard sword.

She swung the Greatsword of Strength toward Zeke.

Boom! Boom!

Zeke quickly used Shadowless Footwork to evade the massive swing. The force of the strike was so overwhelming that the floor of the training ground cracked and fissured.

Feigning fatigue, Zeke pointed his sword at Kali and let out a loud battle cry.

“Haaaa!”

It looked as though he was gathering every bit of aura in his body, but it was just an act.

At the same time, he deliberately avoided compressing his aura blade smoothly, letting it form roughly and unevenly. It flickered like flames, creating the impression of a burning sword.

This was a technique Zeke had created in the past when he couldn’t properly control his aura, called Sword Flame (검염). Though it was crude, its power was undeniable.

Kali’s expression changed upon seeing Zeke’s Sword Flame.

The Greatsword of Strength and Zeke’s Sword Flame clashed violently.

Boom! Boom!

Both Zeke and Kali were knocked backward by the impact.

“Urgh!”

Zeke stumbled, clutching his chest as though his aura had backfired. Manipulating his blood flow, he deliberately made his face turn pale.

Seeing this, Kali sheathed her sword and hurried to Zeke, handing him a potion.

“Zeke, drink this quickly.”

Although Zeke was perfectly fine—exceptionally healthy, in fact—he accepted the potion and gulped it down with effort. He then restored his complexion, acting as though he had barely recovered from internal injuries.

“Thank you, Lady Kali Draker.”

“Just call me sister,” Kali said casually.

Zeke was visibly startled by her words.

In the Draker Household, even blood siblings viewed each other as rivals rather than family. Acts of kindness were rare, if not nonexistent. For Kali Draker, the first in line for the position of head of the household, to extend her hand to Zeke, who lacked any backing from the family, was truly unprecedented.

“Understood, sister.”

Kali looked at Zeke with a curious expression.

“They say you became the youngest Blue Knight in the family’s history, and your skills truly are remarkable. Even Abel wasn’t at this level when he was your age.”

Until Zeke, the record for the youngest Blue Knight belonged to none other than Abel Draker. When Abel had achieved the rank at nineteen, it had caused a stir across the continent. Zeke, however, had become a Blue Knight at just fifteen, which was unheard of.

Kali’s tone shifted to something more serious.

“Zeke, this isn’t what I initially intended to talk about, but meeting you has changed my mind.”

“What do you mean, sister?”

“I want to make you an offer,” she said, looking at him intently.

“Help me stop Abel Draker, the merciless Knight of Carnage.”