(Deep Space, Enroute To The Time Stilled World, Leo’s POV)
It wasn’t until Leo was back inside the craft that he opened the [Emperor Suppression Manual] again, wanting to see what the gloomy book had to say about him completing yet another milestone.
*Shine*
The pages lit with their signature purple ink again, reverting from the red hue used during the killing-intent mission, as though the manual had finally gone back to its original temperament.
[Congratulations for completing 2 Billion kills. Your killing intent has finally sharpened enough for you to progress to the next stage.]
The manual wrote, as Leo stared at the text without a flicker of emotion crossing his face.
Having been burned by the book’s dramatics more times than he could count, he knew better than to accept its congratulations at face value, which was why he kept a stoic expression and flipped to the next section.
[All conditions to proceed to Monarch-hood have been met. You may finally proceed to attempt the breakthrough.]
The manual encouraged, as Leo’s face remained perfectly unchanged.
[I will now automatically unbind myself from your soul.
However, before I do so, as per my creator’s wish, I have two important messages to pass on to you....]
The page wrote, as Leo blinked in faint confusion at those words.
It was normal for manuals to unbind once their completion reached one hundred percent.
But a creator’s message at the end of the journey?
That was something he had never heard of before.
[Esteemed Warrior,
If you are reading this, that means you have completed the Emperor Suppression Manual in its entirety.....]
The text began, as Leo raised one eyebrow with mild curiosity.
[Since I am the one who created this method, I know very well just how difficult it must be for someone to master it to its conclusion.
Which is why I must applaud your efforts.....]
The manual wrote, as Leo’s expression flattened immediately.
"Yeah, no. Not falling for your pretty words."
"Nope. Timeless Assassin, I don’t trust you one bit."
He said, keeping his voice monotone as he read on, refusing to let even a grain of praise seep into his head.
[My first request will be that you pass down this manual to someone worthy.
Another warrior who will see it to its conclusion someday.....
For nothing would pain me more than not seeing my knowledge that I compiled with so much effort, not being passed down to brilliant young minds.]
The manual requested, as Leo’s left eye twitched in annoyance.
"Narcissistic prick. Who do you think I am? Your servant?"
He muttered, baffled at how bossy the Timeless Assassin was even after being dead for over two millennia.
[Secondly, since you have shown potential by completing this manual, honorable warrior, please allow me to invite you onto the project I started during my lifetime but could never finish, as I lacked the necessary vision to unlock its secrets.
A meditation technique far superior to the Emperor Suppression Manual... which I call the Supreme Suppression Manual.]
The next lines revealed themselves, as Leo continued reading with tired suspicion.
[During my lifetime, I felt as though I never truly understood the laws of the universe to their absolute limits.... And that if someone did decode their secrets, they could potentially become a warrior even greater than myself.
However, this was easier said than done, as after spending centuries researching the perfect method to study the laws, I could only construct an imperfect and incomplete technique that needs to be finished by someone younger and more talented.
At first, I tried to pass this mantle to my children, but having grown under my care, those two knew better than to pick up a project I could not finish myself.....
HAHAHAHAHA!]
The text glowed, as Leo felt both his eyes flicker in annoyance at the same time.
"The hell? How is this guy considered the greatest warrior of all time?"
He muttered, unable to believe how ridiculous the Timeless Assassin sounded.
[Regardless, although those two lack the spine to take up this challenge...
I hope you, honorable warrior, will finish what I started.
So to you, I leave the location of my half-completed research, in standard universal coordinates:
012.344.555.777.992.423.876.654.990
Warm Regards,
J.E.]
The final lines displayed, as Leo scrambled to note everything down before the text faded from the book.
*Scribble*
*Scribble*
*Selfie Shutter*
*Selfie Shutter*
He quickly snapped pictures of the page onto the data slate on his seat, only relaxing once the information was securely recorded.
"Idiotic prick, why would you ever write such long coordinates on a manual whose text faded away literally 10 seconds after it appears?"
Leo cursed, as he closed the Emperor Suppression Manual for the last and final time in his hands.
*Thud*
"Bloody hell... There is no way I am ever passing this manual to anyone I care about.
This is a gift reserved strictly for my worst enemy.
What kind of sadistic torture manual is this?"
He complained under his breath.
And yet, despite all his curses,
Despite all the annoyance,
Despite all the suffering the manual had put him through...
He could not deny the truth forming quietly in his chest.
That despite the difficulty, he was immensely grateful for the technique in the end.
For as cruel as it was, the Emperor Suppression Manual had been the perfect weapon to forge him into the warrior he needed to become.
"Well alright, I guess I’ll hang on to you until I find someone worthy enough to pass it down to...."
Leo muttered, as he stored the book away in his storage ring and looked out of the craft’s window.
"So I can finally break through to Monarch, eh?"
He mused, as he leaned back in his seat with a faint, steady breath, allowing the thought to settle warmly in his chest, as for the first time in days, he let himself relax ever so slightly before the next storm arrived.