"That item…" Zamazo's voice carried a weight that made everyone in the room pause. He leaned back, arms folded, his gaze fixed on Jack with an unreadable expression. "Hmm. It's well-known… and yet, a mystery. A powerful artifact that's been sought for generations, but no one's ever laid eyes on it. Or, at least, no one has lived to tell about it." He let out a soft chuckle, but the mirth didn't reach his eyes.
Jack remained silent, his expression set in stone. He wasn't here for Zamazo's musings; he wanted answers.
"With the scant information we have, going after it could an war. A war that stretches across planes," Zamazo continued, his tone casual but his gaze sharp. "Not that I'd shy away from a fight, but even I enjoy these monts of peace. Rare as they are." He sighed, almost wistfully, though it was clear from his deanor that peace wasn't sothing he truly believed in anymore. "Still, knowing you, I suspect you've already decided."
Jack's reply was steady, almost unnervingly calm. "The risk doesn't matter. We need it."
Zamazo smirked. "Well, this should be interesting…"
The dining hall was grand, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts, their eyes seeming to follow the group as they moved. Faint streams of sunlight filtered through the tall, arched windows, illuminating the long rectangular table in the center of the room.
Jack stood at the head of the table, his dark silhouette cutting a commanding figure. Zamazo was by his right, leaning slightly against the table with an air of nonchalance. To Jack's left stood Alisha, her arms crossed as she surveyed the scene, and beside her, Missy, her cat-like ears twitching with curiosity.
On the table lay an artifact that seed to hum with latent power—a map, glowing faintly with an ethereal light. Its ancient leather surface bore markings that were both intricate and ever-shifting, as if alive.
Jack extended his hand, summoning a dark orb from his [Storage Space]. With a faint shimr, the orb dissipated, leaving behind a pouch that appeared mundane, but everyone in the room knew better. Slowly, he untied the pouch and tilted it, pouring its contents onto the map.
Grains of sand—golden and luminous—spilled out, catching the light in a way that made them look like liquid fire. As they touched the surface of the map, a brilliant glow erupted, illuminating the entire room. The darkness that seed to cling to the corners was banished in an instant, leaving the space bathed in radiant light.
Alisha squinted against the brightness. "That's… different," she muttered, her tone edged with both awe and unease. "The last ti we used the map, it didn't react like this."
"That's because this isn't ordinary sand," Jack replied without looking up, his focus entirely on the map. "This cos from the Holy Lands of the Gods. It's said to resonate with any object connected to divinity."
As if on cue, the map began to shift. The markings on its surface blurred, the lines and symbols rearranging themselves. It was as though the map was waking up, stretching its boundaries to reveal sothing new.
Layer by layer, the map unfolded in shimring detail, revealing terrains that seed impossibly real—jagged mountains, dense forests, and sprawling deserts. Rivers snaked their way across the planes, and even the outlines of buildings ca into view. Between each layer, a swirling void marked the spatial rifts that divided the planes from one another.
At the center of the map, their current location glowed—a castle etched in vibrant gold. From this point, a thin, glowing line extended, threading its way through the rifts until it stopped at another castle, eerily similar to their own but located on a different plane.
Zamazo's eyes narrowed as he took in the final destination. "So… it's there. That conniving woman hid it all along," he said, his voice devoid of surprise but laced with disdain. "All this ti, right under everyone's noses."
Missy's ears perked up. "Another plane?" she asked, her wide eyes reflecting the glowing map. "Does that an we have to cross the rifts?"
Jack nodded. "That's how it appears."
"Naya," he murmured, glancing at Zamazo.
Zamazo gave a slow nod of confirmation. "Indeed. Of all the people to guard it, it had to be her. She's… complicated. Let's just say she's not likely to welco you with open arms."
Jack's expression didn't waver. "Because I want to take the artifact?"
"Not just that," Zamazo replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Let's just say her sudden rise in power hasn't been entirely natural. I suspect she's been using that item to fuel her strength. And if I'm right, she'll guard it with everything she has." Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire
"I wasn't planning on asking nicely," Jack said, his voice calm but carrying an edge that made the room feel colder.
Zamazo chuckled darkly. "Good. Because if you were, you'd have failed before you started. Still… you do realize the kind of power she wields, right? She's not soone to be taken lightly."
"I'm aware." Jack's fists clenched at his sides. He wasn't deluded about the challenge ahead. Without the artifact, his growth would stagnate. And stagnation ant death. He had to try, no matter the cost.
'I need the Eye of Eternity,' he thought, his resolve hardening. 'Without it, I'm nothing but a walking target. I'll do whatever it takes to claim it.'
Missy's voice broke through his thoughts. "Shouldn't we use this opportunity to find the clue to the Chapters of Ti as well? We've already gathered all the Moonlight Stones we need."
Alisha nodded in agreent. "She's right. With Zamazo's help, we've co this far. It would be a waste not to use the map while we can."
Jack hesitated, then placed his hands on the edges of the map, focusing his thoughts on the Chapters of Ti. The glowing trails shifted once more, this ti leading to a different location.
Zamazo stiffened. For the first ti, genuine shock flickered across his face. "That place?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.
"What is it?" Alisha asked, sensing the sudden tension.
Zamazo didn't respond imdiately, his gaze locked on the new destination. When he finally spoke, his tone was grim. "If the map is pointing there… then things are far worse than I thought."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Zamazo turned to him, his expression dark. "The Chapters of Ti aren't just hidden. They're protected by sothing ancient… sothing even I'd rather not cross paths with."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on them like a storm cloud.
Whatever lay ahead, it was clear that their journey was about to beco far more perilous than any of them had anticipated.
Because, It was that place.
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