Chapter 67: Binding grimoire
Everyone stood on a platform surrounded by railings, with two staircases leading to the floor beneath.
The dark room was just as humongous as the ones before, but the being that slept at the centre was something else. It’s very presence was making the room heavy.
It was a humanoid being with two hands and two legs, its body was broad and tall similar to that of a truck. Its head was flat, and it had a maw similar to that of an alligator; it was as tall as the room itself, and its body was covered with a tattered robe; seven cuffs were placed all around its body. Two at the hands and feet, one at the neck, chest and back.
Seven dark pillars, each with a different glowing emblem, circled the humongous being. The emblems were of the sun, the moon, the tree, the cloud, the chain, the crown and a silhouette hinting at shadows.
Each emblem hinted at the seven sparks or the seven gods that once ruled over all of the mortals.
"Is it what I think it is?" Jamie questioned with furrowed brows and a deep frown.
Navin nodded at him and answered darkly.
"It is. That’s a C rank."
Jaden raised an eyebrow at his words and questioned.
"How are you so sure?"
Navin looked at him with a puzzled look before his eyes gleamed in understanding.
"Oh, you still don’t know huh... lemme explain it for you then. Each mark also provided us with a passive blessing.
The mark of sun makes one’s soul pure, mark of moon makes one’s mind calm, mark of storm makes one’s movements much fluid, mark of war increases one’s pain resistance, mark of nature allows one to read the rank of others, mark of dream increases one’s spiritual defense and mark of shadow allows one to see much clearly in dark."
Jaden blinked a few times as he mumbled.
"So... I didn’t even know about it until now?"
"How do you think you were able to see everything within those dark areas?" Selina questioned playfully.
Jaden looked at her and questioned.
"How were you all able to do the same?"
"We enhanced our eyes with mana," Arden answered while puffing out his chest in pride.
"I see," Jaden mumbled as he channelled his mana into his eyes and looked at the back of the nearest pillar—the pillar had the emblem of the sun and a recess for a hand.
"What did you see?" Jamie, who stood beside him, questioned.
"A recess for a hand... I think those seven pillars are supposed to tie down that being."
Jamie nodded at his words and added sombrely.
"Makes sense but... we are only six."
Jaden nodded at his words as he thought of something he had been putting off till now. He turned and spoke in a serious tone.
"Everyone, I know that what I have done till now may make you lose trust in me, but I have to be shameless for one last time and ask you to believe me."
Selina, Arden and Navin frowned at his words while Shelly and Jamie raised an eyebrow as Shelly questioned.
"What?"
Jaden blinked a few times because he wasn’t expecting Shelly to be the one to question him.
"There are many things I don’t remember and understand, but Jamie..." he paused and turned towards Jamie before continuing, "he once told me that I have always done things which others may think of as miracles... at first I didn’t understand him, but later on I found out something."
Jaden called out to his grimoire and flipped it as he showed its back to the others.
All of them raised an eyebrow upon seeing the unusual slots at the back of his grimoire.
"What is this?" Arden questioned, frowning, and everyone lifted their heads to look at Jaden’s face.
"I can bind with seven other grimoires... I don’t know what happens once I am bound to them, but I do know that it will give us some boost in our combat prowess."
"You can bind with other grimoires?" Jamie questioned as he stepped closer, his face painted with disbelief.
Jaden nodded at his question to which Jamie asked again, "Would it also increase our growth rate?"
"I don’t know... I am just as clueless as you all." Jaden replied solemnly.
Jamie nodded at him and questioned.
"How are we supposed to do it then?"
A surprised expression appeared on Jaden’s face as he muttered.
"Why are you agreeing to it so easily?"
"What else can we fucking do? And if doing that increases our chances of surviving this, then why not?"
’He is right, there’s no need to be so worked up.’ He thought before mumbling.
"Let us start with yours then."
’Binding Codex.’
Just as he thought, a blue screen appeared before him.
[Please touch the grimoire host wants to be bound with.]
[Bound: 0/7]
He stepped closer to Jamie and lifted his hand as he said.
"Call out to your grimoire."
Bronze sparks appeared on Jamie’s palm as he summoned his grimoire.
Jaden placed his hand on the grimoire and another screen appeared before him.
[Binding with a bronze grimoire of war.]
[Ask the grimoire holder for confirmation.]
"Do you confirm that you are binding your grimoire to me?"
Jamie looked into his eyes before answering.
"I do."
[Binding...]
Black sparks came out of Jaden’s grimoire and covered Jamie’s before they seeped into it.
[Congratulations! You have been bound with a bronze grimoire of war.]
Just as that message appeared before him, Jamie staggered a little, and pain stuck Jaden, centered just inches from his aether core.
"Blasted hell..."
He cursed before closing his eyes to check what was going on, and the reason behind the pain in his lower chest left him in shock because a new aether core was forming within his body; this one, however, was as if it was made up of flowing gold.
On the other hand, Jamie felt his mind sharpen and broaden noticeably as he chuckled loudly.