Chapter 39 – The Tower’s Secret
The broken sword trembled.
Silver light spread from Azrael’s fingertips, flowing across every crack in the ancient blade.
One fracture disappeared.
Then another.
Until, at last...
The sword let out a soft hum.
It wasn’t the sound of metal.
It was gratitude.
The darkness surrounding the trial slowly faded.
The once-broken weapon floated before him before dissolving into countless silver motes.
The Trial Tower spoke once more.
Floor Four Cleared
Evaluation: Perfect
Bonus Evaluation: Weapon Empathy Achieved
Reward:
Skill Acquired — Soul Resonance (Passive)
Allows the user to communicate with sentient weapons and significantly increases compatibility with weapon spirits.
Current Compatibility with Astraeus:
10% → 15%
Astraeus appeared beside him in its spiritual form.
The silver-haired man smiled faintly.
"You continue to surprise me."
Azrael scratched his cheek.
"I just listened."
"Exactly."
"Most swordsmen only hear the sound of their own blades."
"A true guardian hears the cries of every weapon."
Before Azrael could respond, another staircase appeared.
Unlike the previous ones...
This staircase was black.
Ancient runes floated around every step.
The System issued a warning.
Entering Floor Five
Difficulty Increased
Participants Remaining:
3,812
Azrael climbed without hesitation.
The moment he reached the top—
The scenery changed completely.
He now stood inside an enormous library.
Bookshelves stretched endlessly in every direction.
Millions of books floated through the air.
Some were larger than houses.
Others no bigger than his hand.
An old man wearing simple blue robes sat behind a wooden desk, calmly reading a book.
He didn’t look up.
"You are late."
Azrael blinked.
"...Late?"
"I’ve been waiting."
The old man finally closed his book.
Unlike the Sword Saint, his eyes were bright with curiosity.
"I am the Keeper of Knowledge."
"Welcome to the Library of Truth."
Outside the Tower...
Professor Miriam suddenly stood.
"The Library Trial!"
Professor Duran frowned.
"He received another hidden floor?"
Headmaster Orion narrowed his eyes.
"The Tower is exposing him to the ancient inheritances..."
"...one after another."
Inside...
The Keeper waved his hand.
Thousands of books flew toward Azrael before stopping in midair.
"They contain everything."
"The history of kingdoms."
"The birth of races."
"The rise and fall of empires."
"The truth behind countless legends."
Azrael’s eyes widened.
"So..."
"I can read all of them?"
The Keeper laughed.
"You have one hour."
Marcus, who had just cleared Floor Six, nearly shouted after seeing Azrael’s trial through the projection.
"One hour?"
"I’d fail immediately."
Ryan nodded.
"So would I."
The Keeper raised one finger.
"You may ask me..."
"...one question."
"Only one."
Azrael immediately thought about his mother.
About Genesis.
About Oblivion.
About the Celestial Evolution System.
Hundreds of questions filled his mind.
The Keeper smiled knowingly.
"Choose wisely."
Meanwhile...
Seraphina reached Floor Seven.
She found herself standing before a gigantic crystal lake.
Floating above the water was a tiny wounded bird with only one wing.
The System appeared.
Floor Seven
Teach the Bird to Fly.
Seraphina frowned.
"But..."
"It only has one wing."
The System remained silent.
She gently carried the bird into her hands.
Instead of trying to restore its missing wing immediately...
She spent hours helping it strengthen the one it still possessed.
She created currents of gentle wind.
She encouraged it every time it fell.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Eventually...
The tiny bird jumped.
Its single wing beat powerfully.
The wind itself lifted it.
The bird soared across the lake.
Golden light filled the sky.
Trial Cleared
Evaluation:
Perfect
Reward:
Skill Upgraded — Genesis Guidance
Outside...
Professor Lyra smiled.
"She understands."
Another professor nodded.
"True leadership isn’t solving every problem."
"It’s helping others overcome them."
Back inside the Library...
Azrael slowly walked between the floating books.
One title caught his attention.
The Twelve Heavens
Another.
The Nine Abyss Layers
Another.
The First Origin War
His heartbeat quickened.
He reached toward it.
The book vanished.
The Keeper shook his head.
"Restricted."
Azrael sighed.
"I figured."
After a long silence...
He finally spoke.
"I’ve made my decision."
The Keeper smiled.
"What is your question?"
Azrael looked directly into the old man’s eyes.
"What..."
"...is the Celestial Evolution System?"
The library instantly fell silent.
Every floating book stopped moving.
The Keeper’s smile disappeared.
For several seconds...
He simply stared at Azrael.
Then he laughed softly.
"I expected you to ask about your mother."
"Or your future."
"Or your race."
"But instead..."
"...you asked about the one thing even the gods fear."
Azrael’s expression hardened.
"So you know."
The Keeper slowly stood.
For the first time...
His aura leaked out.
It wasn’t powerful.
It was...
Endless.
"The Celestial Evolution System..."
"...is not a treasure."
"It is not a weapon."
"It is not a cultivation technique."
He walked toward one of the enormous windows overlooking an endless sea of stars.
"It is..."
He paused.
Then turned around.
"...a witness."
Azrael frowned.
"A witness?"
"A witness to every evolution that has ever existed."
"And every evolution that will one day be born."
"It does not create destiny."
"It records possibility."
"The System chose you because..."
His words suddenly stopped.
Golden chains wrapped around his body.
The same chains the Headmaster had once displayed.
The Keeper grimaced in pain.
"I’ve..."
"...already said..."
"...too much."
The chains tightened.
Cracks spread across his body.
Azrael instinctively stepped forward.
"Wait!"
The Keeper smiled despite the pain.
"There is one thing..."
"...I can still tell you."
He pointed toward Azrael’s chest.
"Never believe..."
"...that you are its master."
"You..."
"...are merely its current bearer."
The library began collapsing.
Books dissolved into light.
The Keeper’s body gradually faded.
As he disappeared, his final words echoed throughout the endless hall.
"When you reach..."
"...the Seventh Heaven..."
"...come back."
The Library vanished.
Floor Five Cleared
Evaluation:
Perfect
Special Reward Obtained
Archive Key Fragment (1/7)
Description:
One of seven fragments capable of opening the Eternal Archive.
Azrael found himself standing before the staircase leading to Floor Six.
He looked down at the shimmering key fragment in his hand.
The Tower wasn’t simply testing him anymore.
It was preparing him.
High above the Academy, hidden behind layers of space, seven ancient figures sat around a circular table made of living stars.
One of them slowly opened his eyes.
"The Archive..."
"...has acknowledged another candidate."
Another figure frowned.
"So soon?"
The eldest among them smiled faintly.
"No."
"Not soon."
He looked toward the Trial Tower.
"We’ve been waiting since the First Origin War."
And far beyond the Twelve Heavens...
A mysterious woman with silver hair felt the faint resonance of the Archive Key.
She gently placed a hand over her heart.
"My son..."
"You’ve taken another step toward the truth."
Yet, bound by laws older than creation itself, she could do nothing except continue watching from afar.