Chapter498-The Book of the Star Realm
Passing through the portal created by Nald's magic, they arrived directly at the entrance of the Great Library. The guards of Storm City at the library's entrance were visibly surprised to see Duke Arsena but knew better than to question his intentions. They promptly opened the grand doors of the Great Library.
Nald walked straight into the Great Library and, upon reaching the grand hall, appeared visibly excited. It had been several hundred years since he had last set foot in this place.
"I have finally returned to the Great Library! Now I can regain all of my powers!" Nald exclaimed loudly while standing in the hall.
His declaration naturally drew the attention of everyone in the Great Library. Duke Arsena felt that Nald should quickly find the book he had mentioned earlier.
"Lord Legend Magus, I urge you to join me in heading to the top floor of the Great Library without delay. Didn't you say the book that can defeat the Mystery Saint is located there? Why are you wasting time here? The situation at the Naga Tribe is dire. If we don't act swiftly, the Mystery Saint's plans might succeed."
Arsena's words were tinged with urgency. The escalating crisis demanded immediate action, and every moment they delayed increased the threat posed by the Mystery Saint.
Urged by Duke Arsena, Nald no longer delayed. Together, they quickly made their way to the top floor of the Great Library. During the ascent, Arsena could sense Nald's power growing rapidly, realizing he would stand no chance in a direct confrontation against Nald.
Arsena's only hope was that Nald was not deceiving him. Throughout their journey to the top floor, Nald's expression remained unchanged, focused solely on regaining his optimal state.
Upon reaching the top floor, Nald immediately dismissed all the apprentice magi present. "There's no need for you to stay here. Remaining will bring you no benefit." The apprentices were somewhat resentful of Nald's words.
In their view, their quest was to guard the top floor of the Great Library, a task they had successfully fulfilled during the previous two attacks on the library.
Following behind Nald, Duke Arsena nodded in agreement, signaling the apprentice magi to leave. Reluctantly, they all departed, leaving Nald and Arsena alone on the top floor.
With the area now clear, the two were free to search for the mysterious book that Nald claimed was essential for defeating the Mystery Saint. The sense of urgency was palpable as they began their search, knowing that the outcome of their quest could significantly impact the ongoing divine war and the fate of the Order Faction.
Nald approached the forefront wall on the top floor of the Great Library. "Now, I will reveal to you the true form of the book sealed within the Great Library."
He placed his palm against the wall, and then began uttering a series of incantations that were incomprehensible to Duke Arsena. As Nald's deep voice echoed, the wall began to crack, fissure after fissure appearing on its surface.
Behind these fissures, Arsena could sense an immense power, unfamiliar and distinct from any elemental force he had encountered before.
"Both the Order Faction and the Mystery Faction are mistaken in their beliefs. You think you can control the world with your own power! You assume that relying on your deities, you can control the forces associated with them!
I must tell you that even the gods cannot control the forces of their respective elements. The gods themselves are embodiments of these elemental powers; in reality, they are the slaves to these forces."
Nald's words were filled with intense emotion, suggesting he possessed knowledge unknown to others. Duke Arsena involuntarily stepped back, a sense of impending danger looming over him.
Nald paid no attention to Arsena's movement, his focus entirely on the cracking wall. The air was thick with anticipation and uncertainty, as the true nature of the sealed book was about to be revealed, potentially altering their understanding of divine and elemental powers.
"Behind this wall lies the most powerful Sacred Relic ever possessed by the Order Faction! This Sacred Relic once successfully defeated the embodiment of dark power, the Devil himself, and also sealed the Mystery Saint!"
Nald's tone had drastically changed from before, making Duke Arsena question whether the person before him was still Nald. As Nald continued to undo the seals on the wall, more cracks appeared, and the power behind the wall increasingly seeped into the Great Library.
Even Arsena, a formidable figure, felt a tremendous threat. He wanted to caution Nald, to ensure that the forthcoming actions wouldn't bring any danger.
"Whatever that book is, it surely possesses immense power! You must be prepared; its formidable power could annihilate you in an instant!"
However, Nald did not heed Arsena's warnings, as he had already found the sealed book. It was the most powerful tome of space magic, the Book of the Star Realm.
As Nald released all the seals of the Book of the Star Realm, the entire wall collapsed, revealing a tome glowing with endless radiance before Nald and Arsena.
Nald reached out for the Book of the Star Realm, but the moment his hands were about to touch it, they burst into flames. Nald let out a tremendous cry of agony.
The flames engulfing his hands were not ordinary but a kind that could sear the soul itself.
The unfolding situation was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The power within the Book of the Star Realm was evidently beyond what anyone had anticipated, posing a grave threat even to someone as powerful as Nald. Arsena could only watch, perhaps contemplating whether intervening would be prudent or even possible under these extraordinary circumstances.
The wails of Nald heightened Duke Arsena's anxiety. Drawing his sword and releasing a Holy Light defensive skill, Arsena prepared for any eventuality. The Book of the Star Realm, glowing ceaselessly, floated in mid-air, surrounded by numerous points of bright light.
These points of light contained immense power. Arsena could feel the strong Holy Light force within them, which seemed capable of defeating any enemy if harnessed. Drawn towards the Book of the Star Realm, Arsena was suddenly cautioned by the voice of the Holy Light: "Do not be deceived, you are being hypnotized by the Book of the Star Realm!"
The Book of the Star Realm possessed a powerful hypnotic effect, capable of controlling any being that gazed upon it. Arsena, being relatively far from the book and a powerful Paladin, received assistance from the Holy Light in times of danger, which prevented him from being fully controlled.
Regaining his consciousness, Arsena noticed Nald was no longer in sight. It seemed as if Nald had vanished from the Great Library. Searching around, Arsena found no trace of Nald. In such a situation, his primary focus turned to the Book of the Star Realm.
However, when Arsena looked back, he was startled to find that the Book of the Star Realm had disappeared. It appeared that Nald had successfully escaped with the book.
The turn of events was alarming. The loss of the Book of the Star Realm, especially in the hands of an unpredictable figure like Nald, posed a significant and unknown threat. Arsena, realizing the gravity of the situation, knew he had to inform the Order Faction and possibly seek their assistance in understanding and addressing this new challenge.
The moment he realized the gravity of the situation, Duke Arsena rushed at full speed to the teleportation point in Storm City. He knew he had to return to the Naga Tribe as quickly as possible, as a terrifying possibility had dawned on him. What if Nald had been deceiving him all along? What if Nald intended to use the Book of the Star Realm to gain greater power and inflict even more damage on the Order Faction?
If this was true, Arsena could never forgive himself. He had to do everything in his power to find Nald as soon as possible.
As Duke Arsena reached the teleportation point in Storm City, Nald, with the Book of the Star Realm in his possession, appeared amidst the Naga Tribe. Nald's expression was now cruel and deranged. While he had successfully controlled the Book of the Star Realm, the book had, in turn, twisted his mind.
Nald had no intention of assisting either the Mystery Saint or John. His aim was to use the Book of the Star Realm to annihilate all these powerful beings, converting their strength into his own. The Book of the Star Realm was capable of such a feat, though the cost would be immense.
But Nald, now completely mad, was indifferent to the price he might have to pay. His actions had taken a dangerous turn, threatening not only the Order Faction but potentially the balance of power across all factions. This development posed a new and unprecedented challenge, one that required immediate attention and possibly a united response from all parties involved in the divine war.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!