Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 607: A ocean of knowledge

Chapter 607: A ocean of knowledge

"Before you get too excited," Vlad began, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous library hall, "we’ll need to feed the runic formation a substantial amount of energy. Thanks to the passage of time—and the lack of proper maintenance—there isn’t nearly enough residual power left in the system to trigger multiple combat trials."

Those words caused mild annoyance to flicker across the faces of the team. They were all exceptionally wealthy in terms of cultivation resources, but expending large quantities of energy cores on a centuries-old mechanism could hardly be called a trivial matter. Still, nobody voiced any strong objection.

With resigned nods, each member of the group began rummaging through their storage rings or spatial pouches, producing luminous crystals, compressed energy stones, and other exotic power sources. They passed these items to Vlad, who arranged them around the circular platform.

Under his direction, they placed the energy cores at specific intervals, forming a rough hexagonal shape that complemented the runes inscribed upon the ground. Then Vlad released small threads of his own energy to guide the power from the crystals into the formation.

For fifteen long minutes, the group waited while the runic inscriptions siphoned the contents of the crystals. Finally, the runic formation blazed to life with a bright flash.

Everyone could sense the sudden warp in spatial energy around the platform. Pockets of subspace appeared and disappeared randomly.

All eyes turned back to Vlad. He alone understood the intricate details of the runic configuration—how stable it was, how it functioned, and how safe it might be to enter. Sensing the unspoken question in their gazes, Vlad exhaled and cleared his throat.

"Alright," he said, his tone more serious now. "Here’s what happens next: as soon as you step onto the platform, you’ll be transported into the combat trial. If you fail, the formation will expel you at the entrance. You won’t die or be permanently harmed—at least, not according to the formation’s safeguards—but if you fail once, you won’t be permitted a second attempt until at least a week has passed."

Scowls appeared across several faces at this piece of news. They had fewer than forty hours left to remain in the city, so waiting an entire week for a second chance was impossible.

"Well, no point complaining," Agamenon said quietly, rolling his shoulders and loosening his neck muscles. "We’ll just have to do our best and succeed on the first try."

A collective mood of determination settled over them. Vlad saw that everyone understood the risks and the limitations. He gave a slight nod, then stepped onto the platform. Instantly, the runic inscriptions responded to his presence, flaring with renewed brightness.

A mechanical-sounding voice echoed in his mind, but it did not belong to the A.I. Chip embedded in his consciousness. Rather, it was the automated consciousness governing the formation.

[Cultivation Base detected at Guardian Tier. Choose the level you wish to access.

– Champion Level: Champion-Tier Combat Trial

– Guardian Level: Guardian-Tier Combat Trial

– Sage Level: Peak Guardian-Tier Combat Trial

– Peak Sage Level: Sage-Tier Combat Trial

– Legendary Level: Peak Sage-Tier Combat Trial]

A wide grin spread across Vlad’s face as he read the options. He felt a surge of excitement at the realization that, because his cultivation was only at the Guardian Tier, the difficulty of these higher levels was adjusted.

"Lucky me," Vlad murmured under his breath. Without wasting time, he sent a mental command to the formation. "Access to Champion Level."

When he confirmed his choice, a brilliant flash of light enveloped him. From the outside, those watching saw Vlad vanish abruptly as if he had been yanked into a portal. Agamenon’s eyes narrowed in surprise, then returned to calm acceptance. He, too, stepped forward, preparing to make his selection. One by one, the others followed suit.

—

Vlad reappeared within a massive white dome, a space several kilometers wide and easily a thousand meters high. Everything was a stark, uniform white. However, his gaze quickly shifted focus as streams of white energy converged a few hundred meters ahead. Within seconds, the energy condensed into the shape of a towering Dino Warrior, sporting large horns on its head and wielding a massive battle ax.

[Begin!]

The same robotic voice that had spoken in his mind now boomed throughout the dome. The Dino Warrior shot forward, and the ax rose to strike.

Vlad only gave it a cursory glance, summoning a fraction of his power. He thrust out his fist in a casual punch, releasing a shockwave that tore through the air and obliterated the energy construct on impact.

It was over almost before it began, which made sense. He had chosen the Champion Level trial, effectively putting himself against a lower-tiered foe.

A second later, the whiteness of the dome vanished as though someone had flipped a switch. Vlad found himself standing on a new floor lined with tall shelves radiating a soft, magical glow. Though fewer in number than those on the library’s ground floor, these shelves were clearly different. He approached them carefully, noting runic arrays woven into the edges of each shelf, generating a field around the books inside.

"This could be invaluable," Vlad muttered. Though he and Overlord had managed to create cultivation techniques up to the Sage Tier using the knowledge stolen from angels and demons, their foundation was still shallow, so these books could be of immense help.

[You have passed the Champion Combat Trial. You may choose three books. Any attempt to bypass these restrictions by magical or other means will lead to immediate expulsion.]

However, before Vlad could get too excited, the robotic voice echoed, and a glowing number 3 appeared in the air above his right hand, branding him with the limitation.

Three books might be enough for an individual, but it certainly wouldn’t be enough for an entire kingdom. The city’s masters had apparently been quite strict about preserving their secrets.

Still, Vlad wasn’t one to back down in the face of an obstacle. Carefully, he reached out to touch the runic barrier that surrounded one of the shelves. The intangible film parted around his fingertips, allowing him to make contact with a thick tome bound in dark leather. The glowing "3" did not change. He withdrew his hand, a sly grin forming on his lips.

"It seems that as long as I don’t physically remove the books from the shelves, the counter doesn’t go down." With a spark of mischief, he pressed his hand to the shelf again and let the scanning function of his A.I. Chip seep through the barrier.