Moon stared at the notification for a long mont. He read it again. Then a third ti.
This wasn't a teleportation array. It was sothing far more valuable! The book could control the island itself. Its height. Its movent. The very thing that kept this massive chunk of rock suspended above the clouds could be directed by whoever understood the language within its pages and had the mana to power it.
Moon looked at the book on the pedestal. Then at the two branch-like levers embedded in the wall behind it.
The levers were likely the manual controls, the physical chanism for adjusting the island's position. The book contained the knowledge needed to use them properly.
A floating island that could be moved. That could be lowered to the ground, or raised higher into the sky, or directed to a completely different location.
This was why the pavilion spirit had never left. This was what she had been protecting, locking behind such powerful chains that only she could break. Moon's hand hovered over the cover.
'I can't read the language. Not yet.'
"Now, the real question. How do I bind this thing to myself." Moon muttered, running through the various binding thods he knew.
He started simple. A small portion of mana, injected into the book through his fingertips. The energy sank into the cover and dissipated. Nothing of importance happened.
Moon tried spiritual energy next, channeling it from his acupoints into the book's surface. The energy was absorbed, but the book remained inert, offering no response.
Moon pulled back and considered his options. Then he reached for the most common thod.
"Blood binding."
He summoned a blade from his ring and drew it across his fingertip, cutting just deep enough to break the dermis layer. Blood welled up and dripped onto the book's dark cover.
The droplets sank into the material instantly, as if the surface was drinking them.
A smile crossed Moon's face as notifications flashed across his retina.
[You have ford a bond with Floating Island.]
[You can store or use the Floating Island Book from now on.]
Moon was pleased. He still couldn't understand the language inside the book, which ant full control of the island was beyond his reach for now. But the bond was established. The book was his. Whenever he unlocked the language, the island would respond to him.
He stored the book in his ring and turned to leave. The room behind him remained open, but Moon wasn't concerned. The chamber was built from materials far more durable than anything his attacks could scratch. Random beasts wandering into the pavilion wouldn't even leave a mark on it.
Moon climbed back through the pavilion and out into the open air. Surprisingly, Moon no longer felt the wind's usual greeting of power. Rather it was gentle, as if caressing his skin, and parting around him, causing him no trouble.
His eyes glinted, finally understanding why the wind was not as furious when it ca to the spirit. "She was bound to the book…with her dead, I had no issues binding to it myself." Moon muttered, "But, I wonder why she never bothered in moving the island. Maybe she didn't understand the language? Or is there so other reason behind it?"
Unfortunately, Moon didn't have ti to waste on finding answers for these questions, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't. Dead people cannot speak. He had spent hours cultivating and searching the pavilion. The tournant wouldn't wait for him.
Moon mounted Mirage and rode down the mountain, heading toward the hideout where Layla's throne room had stood. Where the portal lay.
It was ti to go back to Earth.
Moon arrived at the hideout and descended through the narrow passage. Several of his subordinates were still there. Rowan sat near the entrance cleaning his bow. The tank was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. A few others were scattered around the main chamber, talking quietly amongst themselves.
They stood when they saw Moon.
"Boss." Rowan nodded.
Moon looked around at them, a frown forming on his face.
"Why are you guys still here? You should've been done with everything by now. Go et your families. Relax back on Earth."
Rowan exchanged a glance with the tank before answering. "We've been away for so long. A few more hours wouldn't hurt." He shrugged. "We didn't want to leave the base completely unprotected."
The others nodded in agreent.
Moon shook his head. "Don't worry about the base. The spirits are gone. Nothing on this island is going to co knocking anyti soon."
He looked at each of them.
"Just go. Relax. Take a break. Enjoy so ti off. At least take a day before you co back."
The room went quiet.
"What do you an the spirits are gone?" Rowan asked slowly, as if trying to dismiss a ridiculous thought that erged in his mind.
"I dealt with them." Moon said simply.
"Dealt with them." The tank repeated, pushing off the wall. "You an you killed a few more spirits that were patrolling around?"
"No. I an the pavilion is empty."
Nobody moved or spoke. "The pavilion spirit?" Rowan's voice was careful, as if asking too loudly might change the answer.
"Dead."
"The ones inside the castle?"
"All of them."
"…" Nobody spoke, silence dominating the chamber.
The brute, who had been sitting on a stone bench sharpening his weapon, stopped mid-stroke. He looked at Moon the way soone looks at a person who just told them the sky was green.
"Boss. You're telling us that you cleared a C-Rank spirit pavilion. By yourself."
"Yes, with the help of this big boy." Moon said, caressing Mirage's mane, as if that made it a reasonable statent.
Nobody knew what to say. Moon didn't elaborate further. He turned toward the corridor leading to the portal room. "I have so matters to deal with on Earth. Take the day off. All of you. That's an order."
He walked away without looking back. His footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing fainter, until the sound of the portal activating reached the main chamber.
Then he was gone.
The group stood in silence for a long mont.
"Wasn't boss soone who just arrived as an Evolver?" One of the mages said quietly. "Less than a month ago?"
The others nodded slowly.
"And he cleared a C-Rank pavilion." The brute said. He put down his weapon and stared at the floor. "Solo."
Rowan shook his head with a wry smile. "Less than a month."
"He killed the pavilion spirit…hey, wouldn't that spirit be at least a second star spirit?" The tank muttered, as if saying it aloud would help him believe it.
Rowan shook his head, "Second star? No, it would be third-star."
The brute leaned back on the bench, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"He's a monster. Catching up to boss is nothing but wishful thinking."
Nobody disagreed.
"Stars aren't ant to be touched, they are only ant to be gazed upon. Just enjoy the ride, and thank your lord for the opportunity of working under this monster of a human." Rowan said before sighing, "Anyways, you heard the boss. It's better that we return back to earth."
Everyone nodded.
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