Chapter 344 - 293: Warning and Requiem
The Shadow Rune dimmed, and the notebook grew still, as if nothing had happened.
But the temperature in the laboratory had plummeted by more than ten degrees.
Tiny ice crystals formed on the stone slab, each one reflecting Ian’s solemn expression.
Gaga’s feathers suddenly puffed out, and a starlight flared in its silver-grey pupils.
"Ian, what was that...?"
"A purer form of Abyssal Aura."
Ian murmured, his eyes glued to the notebook.
He finally understood why this notebook had been encrypted, why it had been abandoned in the deepest corner of the restricted section.
What was recorded within... likely touched upon the Justice Clan’s darkest secrets.
He took a deep breath, his Spiritual Power flowing out once more.
But this time, he was far more cautious, far slower.
Faintly silver threads of Spiritual Silk, like the finest needles, slowly slipped through the gaps in the Shadow Rune.
Inch by inch, they crept toward the dark red script...
Time trickled by.
The laboratory was unnervingly silent, the only sound the soft rustle of Ian occasionally turning the pages of a tome.
Gaga perched on his shoulder, its silver-grey pupils scanning their surroundings vigilantly, a small claw resting on Ian’s collar.
It was ready to activate Shadow Shuttling at a moment’s notice.
「Three hours later.」
Ian slowly opened his eyes, a silver gleam flashing for an instant in their depths before vanishing.
He exhaled a long breath, which condensed into a white mist in the air that lingered for a long time.
"So that’s how it is..."
he murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the laboratory bench.
The panel had already fully decrypted and recorded the contents of the encrypted notebook.
Though parts of it were missing, he had still managed to obtain the crucial information.
The notebook was far older than he had imagined.
At least ten thousand years old.
The author of the notebook referred to himself as the "third-generation bloodline researcher of the Justice Clan."
While researching the potential evolution of the Time Trace Bloodline, he had unintentionally come into contact with a kind of "whisper from the outer void."
The whisper came from the cracks in the world, from the Void beyond.
It promised Power, the Path of the Morning Star, and even... the possibility of surpassing it.
The first half of the notebook was filled with fervent passion and longing.
The researcher detailed how to establish contact with the whisper, how to guide the energy from the outer void to seep into his bloodline, and how to make the Time Trace Bloodline ascend...
But by the second half... the handwriting had grown chaotic, with an increasing number of smudges and crossed-out sections.
Seventh experiment failed... The subject’s body has disintegrated, its Soul stained dark red...
The whisper is deceiving me... It’s devouring the subject’s consciousness...
The Time Trace Bloodline and the energy from the outer void are completely incompatible... It was all a lie!
In the deepest part of the clan’s Secret Vault, I found a warning left by a former Clan Leader... So someone has tried this before...
The Abyss... The whisper comes from the Abyss...
The last few pages were almost entirely filled with frenzied scrawls.
A twisted spiral symbol was repeated hundreds of times, with three dark red dots in the center that looked like dried blood.
On the notebook’s final page, there was only a single line.
The characters were shaky, the ink pressed so deep into the page it looked as though it had been carved with the author’s last ounce of strength.
All who attempt to fuse with it... will ultimately be assimilated by the Abyss.
I can hear it now... It’s calling to me!
The writing ended there.
Ian closed the notebook, his fingertips gently stroking the cover.
The rough texture of the sheepskin was cool to the touch, a chill settled over ages.
He looked up, his gaze drifting out the window.
The sky had darkened, and the setting sun painted the distant buildings in shades of dark gold.
The Crystal Ball atop the Time Trace Tower began to glow with a faint golden light.
"Someone tried this ten thousand years ago..."
he repeated, his eyes as deep as the night sky.
"So, Edmund... are you just repeating the clan’s mistakes?"
Gaga tilted its head on his shoulder, its tone uncharacteristically serious.
"Ian... you’ll have to tell Aidele about this eventually."
Ian was silent for a long moment before finally shaking his head.
"I don’t intend to hide it forever, but now is not the time."
He stored the encrypted notebook by itself in the depths of his Dimension Ring, separate from the other tomes.
Then he stood and walked to the other side of the laboratory bench.
Dozens of medicinal ingredients were laid out there, all of which he had prepared beforehand.
"Now... it’s time to get to work."
He lit an alcohol lamp, its pale blue flame burning steadily beneath a glass cover.
He took out a mortar, placed three Holy Light Fruits imbued with Purification Power inside, and began to slowly grind them.
The fruits broke apart at the bottom of the mortar, releasing a milky white juice that gave off a fresh, herbal aroma.
Gaga perched on his shoulder, watching his series of skilled movements.
"Ian, are you really developing a Potion to purify the Abyss?"
"Of course."
Ian didn’t even look up as he poured the ground juice into a Crystal Flask.
"I have to keep my promises."
"Besides..."
He paused, gently swirling the flask.
The milky white liquid swirled within the glass, and faint silver specks began to surface from its depths.
"A Potion like this... we might end up needing it ourselves someday."
Gaga nodded, only half-understanding.
It watched Ian’s focused profile, the flames reflected in his deep brown eyes.
’An Ian like this... is the most reassuring,’ it suddenly thought.
The laboratory fell quiet once more.
The only sounds were the CRACKLE of the burning alcohol lamp and the soft SIZZLE of ingredients mixing.
Outside the window.
Stars twinkled in the gaps between the clouds, like countless prying eyes watching over the ancient city.
Ian looked down at the Potion gradually taking form in the flask.
The pale silver liquid shimmered in the lamplight, starlight seeming to rise and fall within its depths.
"The first version..." he murmured. "I’ll call it ’Soul Calming Potion’."
It was an ordinary name.
But only he knew that he had added a special Auxiliary Material to the Potion.
A single thread of the purest Power of Order Stars, purified by his panel.
The dose was miniscule, but... it was enough to act as a seed.
He looked up, his gaze turning toward the Clan Leader’s Palace.
A flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes.
’Titus Justice... Let me see... this body of yours, so eroded by the Abyss...’
’...how much of the Order’s starlight can it endure?’