The elevator carried us higher through the Ebony Tower, past levels I hadn't seen during our initial journey to Paul's office. As we approached the 210th floor, the ambient magical energy grew noticeably denser, pressing against my consciousness like a physical weight.
"Fair warning," Paul said as the elevator slowed to a stop, "the archive can be overwhelming on first viewing. We have materials here that most necromancers consider mythical."
The doors opened to reveal a corridor that imdiately felt different from the rest of the tower. The walls here weren't just black stone—they were lined with containnt fields that humd with barely restrained power. Protective wards layered upon protective wards created a sensation of walking through concentrated magic.
At the end of the corridor stood Master Valdris, the archive curator. He was an elderly man whose appearance imdiately commanded respect—tall and lean with silver hair that seed to hold traces of ethereal light. His robes were simpler than Paul's, but the magical aura surrounding him marked him as soone of extraordinary capability.
"Deputy Tower Master," Valdris greeted Paul with a formal nod before offering a deeper bow to Jin. "Your Highness, it's an honor to have you grace our archives. Mr. Nightingale." His tone shifted to one of careful respect when addressing , clearly recognizing the political dynamics at play.
"Master Valdris," Jin acknowledged with the casual authority of soone accustod to such deference. "I trust the Tower's collection remains... adequate for our purposes?"
There was sothing in Jin's tone that suggested this wasn't his first ti seeing such materials. Valdris's expression tightened slightly at the word 'adequate,' but he maintained his professional deanor.
"Arthur here has contributed a revolutionary paper on necromantic theory," Paul explained. "Given the importance of his final summon project, I've authorized full archive access for material evaluation."
Valdris's eyebrows rose slightly. "Full access? That's... unprecedented for a non-Tower mber."
"The circumstances are exceptional," Paul replied firmly.
The curator studied for a long mont, then nodded slowly. "Very well. Follow , and please—touch nothing without permission. So of these materials have... unfortunate effects on the unprepared."
'This feels like walking into a vault of divine artifacts,' Luna observed as we followed Valdris deeper into the archive. 'The magical density here is extraordinary. Even I'm impressed.'
The main archive chamber was vast beyond my expectations. The ceiling disappeared into shadow above us, and row upon row of storage units stretched into the distance like a crystalline forest. Each container glowed with its own protective enchantnts, creating a constellation of colored lights that pulsed gently in the semi-darkness.
"We organize by beast classification and rarity," Valdris explained as we walked between the towering shelves. "One-star beast materials at the lower levels, progressing upward. The organization system has been refined over eight centuries of collection."
He led us to the first section, where containers held what appeared to be fairly standard necromantic components. "One and two-star beast materials—your basic undead creation supplies. Bone fragnts from common magical creatures, crystallized essence from forest spirits, standard soul crystals from minor undead."
Even these "basic" materials were of higher quality than anything I'd expected to see. The bone fragnts had a lustrous quality that spoke of careful preservation and enhancent. The soul crystals pulsed with steady energy that felt pure and concentrated.
"Three and four-star beast materials," Valdris continued, guiding us to the next section. "Here we have components from more dangerous creatures. Shadowbeast essences, dire wolf cores, materials from magical predators that require specialized hunting expeditions."
I recognized so of the components from my research, but many were completely unfamiliar. The containers in this section required visibly more powerful containnt fields, and the magical emanations made my skin tingle just walking past them.
"This is roughly equivalent to what most mid-tier suppliers can provide," Paul noted, watching my reaction.
"Five and six-star beast materials," Valdris announced as we entered a section that required additional authentication. He pressed his hand to a recognition panel, and new protective barriers dissolved around us. "Components from creatures that pose genuine threats to Integration-rank practitioners."
The difference was imdiately apparent. These materials radiated power that I could feel in my bones. Crystallized essences from creatures I'd only read about in theoretical texts. Bone fragnts that seed to hold whispers of the beings they'd co from. Soul gems that pulsed with such intensity that looking at them directly was uncomfortable.
"Nightmare Stalker heart crystals," Valdris pointed to a container holding what looked like a black ruby the size of my fist. "From a six-star Abyssal Nightmare. Provides trendous power density but requires careful handling—the emotional resonance can overwhelm unprepared minds."
Jin whistled softly, though his tone carried more polite interest than genuine amazent. "Nightmare Stalkers. We have a few sets of those in the royal vaults as well."
Paul's expression flickered with sothing between surprise and resignation. Of course the Ashbluff royal family would have comparable materials. Their influence extended far beyond what most institutions could access.
"They're rare for good reason," Paul said grimly. "Taking down a six-star magical beast requires coordinated effort from multiple high-rank practitioners. We might acquire such materials once every few years."
We continued deeper into the archive, past seven-star materials that required multiple layers of containnt. "Seven-star beast materials," Valdris explained, his voice taking on a more formal tone in Jin's presence. "Creatures equivalent to Ascendant-rank in power. Your Highness would naturally be familiar with materials of this caliber."
Jin nodded casually. "Father's collection includes several seven-star sets. The Storm Warden bones from the Northern Campaign were particularly impressive."
Valdris's professional smile beca slightly strained. It was becoming clear that while the Tower's collection was impressive by institutional standards, the Ashbluff royal family operated on an entirely different level.
The containers here housed materials that made my enhanced senses struggle to process them properly. Bone fragnts from creatures that had challenged kingdoms, essence from beasts that existed at the very peak of natural magical evolution.
"Void Leviathan scale," Valdris indicated a piece of material that seed to absorb light around it. "Seven-star creature from the deep ocean trenches. This single scale required a joint expedition between the Tower and three other major institutions."
"Wait," I said, recognition dawning. "Vakrt was able to provide with an eight-star Blood Wyvern skeleton for my first summon. How does that compare to what you're showing ?"
Paul and Valdris exchanged surprised glances. "An eight-star skeleton?" Valdris asked with obvious interest, though he glanced respectfully at Jin before continuing. "That's quite impressive for a private supplier."
Paul nodded thoughtfully, clearly recalibrating his assessnt. "It explains the quality of your first summon. Starting with eight-star materials would have provided an excellent foundation."
We moved to the eight-star section, where the containnt requirents were genuinely intimidating. "Eight-star beast materials," Valdris said with reverence. " We have perhaps twenty such sets of materials in our entire collection."
The containers here were works of art in themselves—crystalline structures that seed to bend space around them, containing materials that defied easy categorization. I saw what appeared to be solidified shadow essence, bone fragnts that seed to exist partially outside normal space, and crystals that made my eyes water to look at directly.
"Storm Titan bone fragnt," Valdris indicated a piece of material that crackled with residual electrical energy. "Eight-star creature that required multiple Ascendant-rankers to bring down. The expedition lasted three months."
"Your Blood Wyvern skeleton would be comparable to materials in this section," Paul noted. "Which ans Vakrt provided you with truly exceptional components for your first summon."
"And nine-star materials?" I asked, though I was beginning to suspect these would be even more extraordinary.
Valdris and Paul exchanged glances. "We have exactly seven nine-star components in our collection," Valdris said carefully, his voice holding a note of genuine pride despite Jin's casual dismissal of the lower-tier materials. "Each one represents materials from creatures that approach the very limits of what magical beasts can achieve."
He led us to a final chamber, this one requiring both his and Paul's authentication to enter. Inside were seven containers that seed to exist in their own bubble of reality, surrounded by containnt fields so complex they made my enhanced perception struggle to follow their patterns.
"Abyssal Emperor carapace fragnt," Valdris said, indicating a container that held what looked like crystallized darkness. "From a nine-star entity that ruled an entire layer of the deep sea. Acquired during the deep sea expedition three decades ago."
The second container held sothing that looked like crystallized starlight—a fragnt that seed to pulse with its own internal rhythm.
"Celestial Beast core essence," he continued. "The expedition to acquire this material cost the lives of two Immortal-rankers."
Each container represented materials from creatures so powerful they had shaped the geography around them, beasts that had required the combined effort of multiple nations to bring down.
"Any of these could serve as the core component for a truly extraordinary summon," Paul noted.
The tour continued through sections containing historic artifacts—weapons and tools created by legendary necromancers throughout history. Ancient-grade artifacts that had shaped the developnt of the discipline itself. Items so significant they were displayed more like museum pieces than crafting materials.
"The Shadowblade Koren," Valdris indicated a dagger that seed to exist partially outside normal space. "Ancient-grade artifact."
"The Bone Crown Nythara," he continued, showing us a circlet that radiated cold authority. "Ancient-grade artifact that could theoretically serve as a control matrix for multiple high-level summons."
By the ti we completed the tour, my understanding of the magical material hierarchy had been completely revolutionized. Vakrt's ability to provide eight-star materials suddenly seed far more impressive—they were operating at a level that put them among the premier suppliers in the world.
"Impressive collection," I said finally, though it felt like a massive understatent.
Paul nodded. "This is what I can offer for your final summon project, Arthur. Not just good materials, but access to components that could create sothing truly legendary. Even nine-star materials if your design warrants it."
I looked around the archive one final ti, my mind racing through possibilities I'd never previously considered. The fact that Vakrt had already provided with eight-star materials for Erebus spoke well of Rose's organization, but seeing the nine-star materials here opened up entirely new categories of possibility.
"I understand now why you wanted to see this," I said to Paul. "The decision about my summon isn't just about design—it's about understanding what level of achievent is actually possible."
"Exactly," Paul smiled. "Take your ti to consider. With access to materials like these, your final summon could beco sothing that changes the field of necromancy itself."
As we prepared to leave the archive, I felt the weight of possibility settling around like a new responsibility. Whatever I chose to create would need to be worthy of the extraordinary resources being offered.
The Ebony Tower had just shown the true pinnacle of magical materials.
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