The Azure City Armory Library was located in the most heavily guarded district of the city.
It was a massive spire made of obsidian, emanating a terrifying magical suppression.
"Mr. Lucas, please show your key," the guard said respectfully.
Lucas handed over the golden key he received from the Principal.
The heavy magic doors creaked open slowly. A wave of ancient, dusty air rushed out.
Inside, millions of books were floating on shelves that spiraled up to the ceiling.
It was breathtaking.
An old man with a hunchback appeared from behind a desk. He wore a simple gray robe, but Lucas's [Conqueror's Aura] warned him that this old man was dangerous.
[Analysis Eye]
[Name: ??? (Guardian of the Library)]
[Level: ??? (Fatal Danger)]
"Young Champion," the old man rasped. "You have 1 hour. You can choose ONE skill book from the 1st to the 5th floor. Do not go to the 6th floor. That is the Forbidden Section. The books there... bite."
"Understood," Lucas nodded.
He walked past the 1st floor (Common Skills) and 2nd floor (Uncommon Skills) without looking.
His target was higher.
On the 4th floor, the collection thinned out. Only glowing books remained.
[Scan Activated]
Lucas's eyes glowed blue as he walked past the shelves.
[Skill: Flame Burst (Rare)] -> System Evaluation: Trash. Efficiency is too low.
[Skill: Stone Skin (Rare)] -> System Evaluation: Trash. Makes you slow.
[Skill: Lightning Speed (Unique)] -> System Evaluation: Decent, but conflicts with Shadow attribute.
Lucas frowned. "Is this the best the city has to offer?"
He spent 40 minutes scanning hundreds of books. To others, these were priceless treasures worth millions. But to a System user, they were flawed.
"I only have 20 minutes left."
Lucas gritted his teeth and looked up.
Above him was the 6th Floor—The Forbidden Section. The stairs were blocked by red magical tape.
"The books there bite... huh?"
Lucas's curiosity was piqued. The System was practically vibrating, urging him to go up.
Risk means reward.
He glanced down. The old man was seemingly asleep at his desk.
[Shadow Cloak Activated]
Lucas dissolved into the shadows and slipped past the barrier effortlessly.
The air on the 6th floor was freezing. There were only three black pedestals here.
Two were empty.
Only one book remained on the central pedestal.
It was a black, tattered book bound in what looked like human skin. It pulsated like a heart.
Lucas reached out.
[Warning! Dangerous Item Detected!]
[Item: Grimoire of the Undead Monarch]
[Rank: Ancient (Damaged)]
[Description: A passive aura skill. When activated, all summoned undead receive a 200% stat buff. However, the mana cost is replaced by the user's Lifespan. It drains 1 year of life per minute.]
Lucas gasped.
1 year of life per minute?
No wonder it was forbidden! Use this for an hour, and you'd die of old age!
But then, the System voice rang out—arrogant and domineering as always.
[Ding! Defect Detected: "Life Drain"]
[Solution: The System can rewrite the Mana Circuit.]
[Do you wish to purify this skill?]
"Rewrite it?" Lucas smirked. "Of course!"
He grabbed the black book.
Dark tendrils shot out of the book, trying to drill into his skin to suck his life.
"Behave," Lucas ordered.
[System Purification... 100% Complete.]
[Skill Learned: Monarch's Domain (Passive - Perfect Ver.)]
[New Effect: All summoned units within 500 meters gain +200% Stats. No side effects. Mana cost: 0 (Always Active).]
"Zero cost... Always active... Double stats?"
Lucas felt dizzy. This was even more broken than Seraphina's breath attack. This was a strategic weapon!
Just as the book dissolved into light and entered his body, the old man's voice echoed directly in his ear.
"You possess a greedy soul, boy."
Lucas froze. He turned around.
The hunchback old man was standing right behind him, his eyes sharp as eagle's.
"You touched the Cursed Book. Are you tired of living?" the old man asked.
Lucas composed himself. He knew he couldn't fight this monster.
"I didn't feel any curse," Lucas played dumb. "It felt warm."
The old man stared at him for a long ten seconds. Then, surprisingly, he chuckled.
"Warm? Hah... It seems the book chose you. Interesting. A Necromancer recognized by the Darkness."
The old man waved his hand. "Go. Take it and leave. But don't tell anyone you got it from here. I don't want the paperwork."
Lucas bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior."
He walked out of the library, his heart pounding.
He checked the time. Exactly 59 minutes.
"Perfect," Lucas grinned.
With this new Passive Skill, Seraphina's Strength would jump from 500 to 1,500!
She could practically wrestle a dragon with her bare hands now.