novelraw Chapter 975: The Book of Covenant
Chapter 975: The Book of Covenant
The fireplace burned hotly.
The Holy Light Squad drank four bottles of expensive Sequence Potions. After Lu Li applied a revealing potion, Kiruet unwrapped the blanket containing the contamination.
The notebook they were treating with such caution lay quietly on the alchemical cloth, looking like an ordinary journal.
“The key is in its contents,” Yeger whispered, as a reminder.
Nasi stepped closer and released a "Wooden Dull-Rat," directing the anomaly, whose eyeball took up a quarter of its body, toward the notebook.
But just as Kiruet was about to open the notebook, it suddenly flipped a page on its own with a rustle.
Kiruet gripped her hand-shield tightly, its rose-like thorns cutting into her palm. Blood trickled out and was absorbed by the shield, causing a protective, blood-red radiance to emanate from the edges of the diamond-shaped shield, its limited radius almost completely enveloping her body.
Yeger and Nasi also lowered their heads, using the body of the "Wooden Dull-Rat" to obscure their forms while still observing the notebook.
“The contamination hasn’t changed. It’s still surrounding the notebook.”
Lu Li’s calm voice sounded. Nasi, relaxing, opened his eyes. Keeping his head down, he took a stimulator from his bag and injected it into the "Wooden Dull-Rat’s" head.The dull-rat suddenly let out a shrill squeak and thrashed in Nasi’s hands.
“The dull-rat is fine, too.”
Nasi withdrew the stimulator, and the dull-rat once again became a "Wooden Dull-Rat."
They could conclude that observing the notebook wouldn’t cause any problems.
The Holy Light Squad gradually shifted their gazes to the open notebook, where a line of text was slowly appearing on its blank page.
[The Academy of Giant Trees... a familiar place. I didn’t think I’d return here, and brought by a group of little ones, no less...]
The unexpected content was not the only surprise for the Holy Light Squad; more text continued to appear.
[I feel your presence... Kiruet, Nasi, Yeger...]
To the surprise of Kiruet and the others, the notebook seemed to have "discovered" Lu Li.
[...Oh? An interesting hero, Lu Li. I suppose that’s why you acquired me.]
“You know me?”
[Of course. Everyone... who doesn’t know the hero of humanity? The Book of Covenant welcomes you.]
“The Book of Covenant?”
Nasi searched his memory for the various types of Covenant Books he knew, but none matched the notebook before them.
[Yes. Make a covenant with me, and you will receive everything you desire, be it power or wealth... or a way to destroy an anomaly.]
“What’s the price?” Lu Li asked.
No one was captivated by the beautiful promises described by the "Book of Covenant." Yeger said sarcastically:
“The life of the one who makes the covenant?”
[The one named Lannar... an idiot? He is merely a weak fool with insignificant power and desires far too great. A covenant can bring anything, but an ant cannot bear the weight of a stone.]
It sounded reasonable. But more importantly, the notebook calling itself the "Book of Covenant" knew of the Academy of Giant Trees, it knew them, and it knew Lu Li.
“We have nothing to offer you in a covenant.”
[Oh? Are you sure?... I can bring you anything: the power to solve anomalies, the resurrection of dead relatives and friends, even the reversal of time itself, if you have enough weight to place on the other side of the scales.]
Kiruet and the others were wary of the notebook and were in no hurry to believe it. Just then, Lu Li suddenly approached the "Book of Covenant."
But before Lu Li could say anything, the Book of Covenant refused him: [...Your request, I cannot fulfill.]
“Even you can’t do it?”
Lu Li frowned.
[The Book of Covenant is omnipotent... but the price is one you cannot pay.]
“Should we believe it?” Kiruet asked Lu Li.
“Not yet.”
Lu Li needed to confirm something else. He walked over to the round table, his long arm reaching for the left side of the open Book of Covenant.
[The Book of Covenant must not be touched!]
A new line of text appeared. Lu Li paused for a moment, returned to the fireplace, picked up a log, and stoked the fire with it.
[Turn to the previous page and you will be cursed forever and fall into the abyss!]
Before their very eyes, amidst the tense lines of text, the page was flipped backward.
[What’s happening... I... I’m in the book? How... he tricked me! He tricked me! I’m the scapegoat! I’m stuck in this book instead of him!]
[I have to get out of here... Lannar... quick, use your brain, think of something... I’ve got it!]
[The Academy of Giant Trees?! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it! Why them, why did they get here so fast! Are those my screams? Lannar, you’re such an idiot... Should I beg for mercy? But I’ve already become an anomaly. They’ll kill me, right?]
[Lu Li... My god, why is it Mr. Lu Li? So many people... It’s fine, as long as Lu Li doesn’t replace me! If that doesn’t work, when I get out, I’ll find another scapegoat to replace one of his teammates.]
[And another thing, they can’t see this page!]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
Lu Li continued to flip forward through the pages. The power of the "Book of Covenant" tried to stop him, but it was as weak as pages being lifted by the wind.
[My name is the Book of Covenant]
[Food, water, wealth, or power. Write your name, and the covenant will be sealed.]
[Yes, I will bring you everything...]
He kept flipping.
[Where am I... the book is tricking me! Please, let me out, please... I don’t want to die, my children are waiting for me...]
[I want to get out... Yes, quickly, take me... take me... Will he see my thoughts? I need to turn to the next page...]
The "identity" of the Book of Covenant had been passed down seven times by victims who were simultaneously tormentors.
Apparently, Lannar wasn’t clever enough, or perhaps the text that appeared in the notebook sent him into such ecstasy that he ignored the Book of Covenant's previous pages.
While Kiruet and the others read in astonishment, Lu Li flipped back to the last page, where Lannar’s weeping thoughts materialized.
[Oh no, I’m finished... I’ve been exposed... I’m going to die... I don’t want to die... they’ll take me away with the notebook...]
New content slowly manifested: [Please, don’t kill me, I don’t want to die...]
“There’s no point in saving him.”
Kiruet felt nothing but disgust for Lannar because of his deception.
“If he’s still alive, that is,” Lu Li said calmly.
“Life itself is precious.”
At least, judging by Lannar’s thoughts, he wasn’t a completely bad person—not when it came to Lu Li, anyway.
“Then I’ll listen to you. What should we do?”
“Replace Lannar with an anomaly.”
Kiruet didn’t object, using 10 team points to exchange for one "Tempted Dream-Eater." Amidst weeping "woooooo" sounds mixed with gratitude, the Tempted Dream-Eater left its signature in the notebook.
The Tempted Dream-Eater instantly came to its senses, let out a piercing, short shriek, and its distorted figure melted as it was pulled into the notebook.
Lannar’s thoughts cut off abruptly; the gruesome sounds of chewing and screaming vanished in an instant.
New words appeared on the page. It was the anomalous text of the "Dream-Eater" race—chaotic, disordered, and incomprehensible.
It was only then that the Holy Light Squad realized. The anomaly had never been Lannar, but the notebook itself.