The Black Book of the Library (1)

[WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU]

"Who—? Wait, what is this?" Jacob exclaimed, startled by the sudden message.

[DON'T FEAR, WE ARE YOUR ◼️◼️◼️◼️??!!???S]

"You're my what?" Jacob asked, confusion evident in his voice. He could sense something, but its nature eluded him.

[THINK 'OPEN HALL OF BLESSINGS' IN YOUR MIND]

"Why should I?" His voice trembled with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

[JUST DO IT, CHILD OF ◼️◼️◼️◼️]

"Again with the cryptic answers. Why should I trust you?" Jacob's frustration grew.

[...PLEASE, CHILD, WE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU JUST DO IT.]

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jacob conceded, "Okay, I just have to think it, right?"

[YES, CHILD]

"Open Hall of Blessings," Jacob thought.

[Opening Hall of Blessings]

A bright bluish-green light enveloped him.

"Ugh..." Jacob groaned, shielding his eyes. As the light dimmed, he found himself in a vast, white expanse.

"Where is this place?" he murmured, awe-struck.

"You have arrived at the Hall of Blessings," a melodious voice announced.

Turning toward the source, Jacob saw a woman with flowing bluish hair, her white toga adorned with intricate golden flower patterns that shimmered as she moved.

"Who are you?" Jacob asked, his mind racing to comprehend the situation.

She smiled gently, her eyes reflecting ancient wisdom. "I am Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory. We've been awaiting your awakening, Jacob."

"My awakening? What do you mean?" he inquired, bewildered.

"Come with me," Mnemosyne beckoned. "The other Gods and Goddesses are eager to meet you."

"Okay," Jacob replied hesitantly, his thoughts swirling with questions.

As he followed her, the surreal surroundings pressed in—a void devoid of any discernible features.

After a while, Mnemosyne halted. "Wait here for a moment."

"O-okay," Jacob stammered.

Suddenly, a faint crack appeared in the air, like glass splintering in slow motion, revealing a hidden fissure in the nothingness.

The cracks spread, growing larger and more intense.

"Let's move forward," Mnemosyne urged.

Swallowing hard, Jacob stepped through the fissure, entering a peculiar space.

Inside the void's crack was a vast cosmos, with a large round table at its center. Seated around it were eight beings, each exuding an aura of power.

"Where... What... in God's name is this place?!" Jacob exclaimed, his calm demeanor giving way to a mix of excitement and fear.

"Welcome to the Hall of the Blessed," Mnemosyne announced.

"Hall of the Blessed?" Jacob echoed, scanning the enigmatic assembly.

"Welcome, Child of ◼️◼️◼️, to our meeting place," spoke a being seated at the table's far end.

This slender figure had green hair and eyes that glowed like sunlit emeralds.

"Thanks, but who are you all, and what's going on?" Jacob demanded, his patience waning.

"Allow me to introduce everyone," Mnemosyne interjected.

Gesturing around the table, she began, "Starting from the left:

The curly black-haired one is Hephaestus, God of Blacksmithing. Next to him, with white hair, is Chronos, God of Time and Space. The red-haired individual is Zhao Yun, the Martial God of the East. And the one floating aloofly..."

Mnemosyne continued. "That is Hermes, the Divine Messenger of—"

"Stop, Mnemosyne. Now is not the time," Hermes interrupted.

"Apologies, Jacob. Moving on," Mnemosyne resumed.

"At the opposite end sits Loki, the God of Mischief and Trickery."

Loki smirked. "At your service, Child of 'You Know What.' " 

{What does he mean by 'As usual'?} Jacob wondered.

"To his left is the God of War and the greatest strategist, Areius," Mnemosyne indicated a being with lush golden hair.

"One and only?" Jacob questioned.

"You think anyone surpasses me in war strategy?" Areius challenged, slamming the table.

"Nope. Please continue, ma'am," Jacob replied, deciding discretion was the better part of valor.

"Next is the Lady of Mana, Queen of Magic, known to you as the Goddess of Mana," Mnemosyne gestured toward a woman with starry eyes and mystic purple hair that shimmered unearthly. "Lady Lythera."

Jacob bowed respectfully. "Hello, Lady Lythera."

"Such a polite young man," Lythera responded warmly. "Hello to you too, my sweet child."

"Then we have Nyxion, the God of Mysteries, Darkness, and Night," Mnemosyne continued.

"And finally, I, Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory, who brought you here."

Jacob struggled to process the surreal experience: the white void, the fissure, this cosmic space, and now, standing before deities.

After a moment, he asked, "So, why was I brought here?"

"You were summoned for a significant purpose in the history of Planet Mun-Yul," Loki said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Loki, enough," Mnemosyne chided. "Jacob, we are the nine overseers of Mun-Yul. Our operations differ from the planet's existing gods."

She continued, "We received a warning of a great disaster from 'a person,' instructing us to find the possessor of the Heavenly Body of Demonic Buddha."

"To that end, we scattered 16 Divine books. Unfortunately, 12 were destroyed over the past 150-300 years."

"Of the remaining four, you discovered the fourth."

"The book is titled 'Lost Arts of the Heaven Soaring Buddha.'"

"So what?" Jacob asked, still puzzled.

"It means you have the potential to attain the Heavenly Body of the Demonic Buddha through body reformation," Mnemosyne explained.

"But why me? I don't possess any special abilities," Jacob protested.

"Listen, kid," Loki interjected. "Remember when your mother died?"

"Yes… I remember. That day everything changed. I felt so lost," Jacob said, his voice trembling.

"I was called the Demon who killed his own mother."

"Everyone said I looked terrifying that day—a dark aura surrounded me, my eyes turned red, and I drooled like a wild beast, as if ready to devour… her," Jacob admitted, struggling to hide his tears.

"Yes, but that isn't entirely true," Loki interjected.

"You're not the one who killed her," he added firmly.

Jacob halted his crying and stared straight at Loki.

"Yes, my dear boy, your mother didn't die because of you," Lythera consoled gently.

"Then who did it? Who killed my mother?" Jacob asked hastily.

"We can't reveal that to you just yet," Hermes began, but then—

"If you complete certain tasks, we will show you who did it," Chronos finished.

"Okay, then what must I do?" Jacob asked, determination mingling with confusion.

"You must gain access to the Heavenly Body of the Demonic Buddha, also known as the Body of the Black Demon," Mnemosyne explained.

"How do I do that? What must I do to access it?"

"You have already tapped into its power once to protect your mother," Loki added.

"So what should I do now?" Jacob asked, his voice tinged with determination.

"To unlock your Body of the Black Demon, you must first acquire three essential elements: an Aura Core, a Mana Heart, and a Mind Space," Zhao Yun explained calmly. "By connecting these elements, you generate the pure, natural energy known as Qi. But that alone is not enough, you must also transform this Qi into Demonic Qi to truly access the power within you."

Jacob paused, considering the weight of Zhao Yun's words. "But I can cultivate Qi through my family's cultivation techniques," he replied, a spark of hope in his eyes.

"No, you have to first obtain a physique of that caliber so that when you gain the Demonic Qi, there is no Mana Reflux—and your body can handle the immense pressure required to unlock the Body of the Black Demon," Areius declared firmly.

Jacob's eyes widened, a mix of apprehension and determination crossing his face. "But how do I build such a body?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Areius leaned forward, his tone resolute. "Through rigorous training and unyielding discipline. You must push your limits, both physically and mentally. Your body must become a fortress, able to absorb and channel the Demonic Qi without faltering. And remember—failure is not an option. If you fail, your body will never be able to absorb Qi again."

Zhao Yun interjected softly, "It's not merely about strength, Jacob—it's about balance. Your mind, your spirit, and your body must all be honed to perfection. Every drop of pain, every setback, is part of your transformation."

Jacob swallowed hard, the weight of his task settling in. "And if I fail? What if my body isn't strong enough?"

"We can always find someone else," Nyxion said coldly. "Three of the books still remain."

Jacob felt a pang of unease at the implication. He wasn't the only one. He was replaceable.

"But," Nyxion continued, "if you succeed in achieving this body, you will be given the remaining books of the Soaring Buddha Scriptures—the full inheritance of its power."

Loki smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Now then, what will you do?"

A sudden ripple in space formed before Jacob as a gateway materialized out of the void.

"If you wish to continue, go with Zhao Yun," Loki said, his voice carrying an eerie finality. "Otherwise—" He gestured toward the glowing portal. "You can return to your world and feign ignorance."

Jacob stared at the gateway, his heart pounding. The choice was clear.

"I will go with Zhao Yun," he declared without hesitation.

"Very well," Zhao Yun said, his voice steady yet laced with an unreadable emotion.

"Come then, Child of ◼️◼️◼️."

The name was swallowed by an unseen force, vanishing before it could reach Jacob's ears.

Behind Loki, space twisted and folded in on itself, forming a massive gate pulsating with an ethereal glow. Its presence felt ancient—ominous yet inviting.

Zhao Yun gestured toward the door. "Step forward."

Jacob took a deep breath, his resolve solidifying. Without a word, he moved toward the gate, following Zhao Yun into the unknown.

As the two figures disappeared beyond the threshold, the scene faded into silence.