I Guard The Book That Slays Gods

[The marks on your body aren't random, Papa,] Ash's voice drifted through Raiden's consciousness as she demonstrated how to bend darkness into weaponized forms.

Raiden glanced at her with a puzzled expression as this felt more complex than the usual rituals he knew. He stood in the darkness on the green grass, adjusting his stance as he visualized an odachi sword.

"The lines are there to fill your entire body with darkness, Papa." Ash transformed as she spoke. Dark lines spread across his hands, neck and forehead, while her white hair became smoking white and fluffy.

"This is the first moon dragon form," she shrugged her shoulders as her pale skin began to glow more like the moon while she gestured her hand and a cup entirely made of darkness appeared.

"The darkness becomes yours once you're in it, and with enough mana you can shape it into whatever you want."

Raiden glanced at her, his cloudy white hair drifting in the darkness, wondering how she made it appear so effortless.

He closed his eyes and began to visualize it again.

[Don't just visualize it, Papa.] Ash's voice echoed in his mind. [Make it appear… command it.]

Raiden nodded firmly and eased his mind, then chose to use words, commanding the darkness to recreate his previous odachi sword.

At that very moment, Ash's voice brightened. "You did it, Papa!"

Relief surged through Raiden's heart as he felt the familiar weight of the hilt in his hand. Smiling, he opened his eyes to find an exact replica of his previous sword, smoking with darkness as it rested in his palm.

Raiden raised his hand and began swinging the sword around, his curious mind wondering what properties this weapon might have.

To his left was the renovated massive fountain, standing in its exact position. Raiden charged toward it instinctively, a smile on his face. Once within reach, he leaped into the air and struck at it with his sword.

And that was all it took. The fountain split into two pieces, water rushing everywhere. Raiden stared at the clean cut, then back at the sword in his hand. Amazed, he reached out to touch the blade.

His smile deepened when it dawned on him that the whole sword was wrought of pure darkness, beyond his direct touch.

He turned to Ash, who lingered at a distance with a proud smile painted on her lips. "The cut was effortless and clean, but I can feel a solid blade. How?"

Ash began to approach him, tugging at her oversized shirt. She'd chosen to wear Raiden's shirt today, though she couldn't say why.

"I don't know… maybe I've never questioned it because it all came naturally to me."

"But I think it solidifies in the moments just before striking the target," she added.

"It comes naturally to you, huh?" he muttered as it dawned on him why conjuring was so effortless for her, yet so difficult for him.

As they lingered there, however, a voice drifted from behind them. "Come and eat, Ash."

They both turned in that direction and found Noelle. As soon as Ash caught sight of her, she dragged her feet hurriedly in her oversized shirt and slipped behind Raiden.

Raiden's expression fell, confused. He hadn't seen Ash hide from Noelle like this before. Not once. So what made eating so terrifying?

[She'll force me to eat until I'm sick, Papa,] her telepathic voice quavered with anxiety.

Raiden found their dynamic oddly endearing. Maybe it wasn't his own amusement but Ash's bleeding through, but at that moment he simply chuckled with quiet joy.

The grim expression etched across Noelle's face showed she wasn't joking—she really would stuff Ash until she couldn't take another bite. She flicked her fingers, and shards of golden aura shot toward them.

The attack came too fast and without warning, leaving Raiden and Ash stunned as they were locked into perfect stillness. Neither could budge even slightly.

"Quit being so difficult and eat," Noelle said, stepping forward while Ash strained to break free. Yet Raiden found the entire ordeal strangely delightful.

Please don't let her drag me away, Papa. I'll explode from eating too much… I'm never even hungry,] she begged telepathically, yet this only intensified Raiden's amusement.

You're by yourself on this one, Ash—he responded, watching as Noelle seized Ash by the collar and started pulling her toward the house.

Ash's expression crumpled with hurt as she gazed at Raiden, her moon dragon form fading back to her human appearance.

[What kind of Papa are you?]

Noelle's hold on Raiden finally released, and he started waving at Ash with an amused smile.

I'm the kind of Papa who's got you,—he responded, his grin widening as he closed his eyes in satisfaction while Ash scowled.

But once they were gone, Raiden's face grew somber. It had been two days now, with the third night falling soon, and he still hadn't encountered the mysterious girl pursuing him or received any word from Klein el Seer.

Everyone else had been training harder than usual, particularly Noelle, who was obviously trying to perfect using her Rule ability independently of her domain activation.

While the rest of the group's dedication was admirable, MK and Noelle's resolve was on an entirely different level, fueled by motivations that went far beyond duty alone.

During those days, Raiden observed Leo drilling his trio of new techniques: wind, water, and earth slash. Recalling that those basic moves had actually injured him, he found himself compelled to master them too, but with his own approach.

During Raiden's past life, his position as a Grim family member and potential clan heir meant he was trained in three deadly sword techniques that belonged exclusively to their lineage—lessons that started when he was merely four, shared with his twin brother.

Those techniques, however, were painless and swift—ideal for their assassin bloodline. But as someone who relished talking to the dying, such rapid methods clashed with his preferences. He remained convinced he needed to forge something new while maintaining the same lethality.

Leo's words about the mechanics of the slashes came back to him, and he quickly began implementing those teachings.

"Wind is about precision," he whispered.

He started channeling mana into his shadow sword, applying the same method he used to manipulate mana through his body for increased agility. Now he focused on mastering the projection of blade energy from the sword, mimicking Leo's wind slash.

In no time, he became entirely focused on his training. Maintaining a consistent rhythm, he saw results forming instantly.

Each moment of training mattered. He had to become stronger to face the FIRMO, because he refused to let Ash sacrifice herself to make him more powerful simply because he wasn't strong enough.

Hours into his training, perspiration covered his body despite the frigid midnight temperature. The feeling was unmistakable—though his shadow blade had no physical edge to slice his hands, he understood he'd trained long enough.

Before he could cease his training and recover, something emerged behind him. His heart lurched as he turned toward it. When he glimpsed what awaited him, everything clicked into place.

There stood a teleportation portal unlike the familiar ones he'd seen, yet he knew without doubt who had conjured it.

"The devil of the moment."

[ALERT]

[MANA SOLIDIFICATION SUCCESSFUL: +5]

[CURRENT STATUS: NUMBER 6: LEVEL- 85 /100 XP.

MANA CONTROL: 210

DRAGON MANA POOL: 1150/ 5000

PHYSICAL STRENGTH: 430

STAMINA: 420

DRAGON AURA: 210

SKILL PROFICIENCY: ACTIVE 2

—Swordsmanship: 100%

—Euphoria: 100%

FAMILIAR TRUST: 120%

—Linked Familiar: WHITE DRAGON

CONTRACTS: ACTIVE 5.

—Name: [ASH]

—Bond Type: Sealed Pact.

—Name: [LEVI]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [FREYA]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SPEED]

—Bond Type: Binding Oath.

—Name: [SOUL]

—Bond Type: Devotion Pact.

NEW ABILITIES:

—Soul of Dragon: 75%

—Heart of Dragon: 75%

—Moon Dragon's Veins: 70%

—Invisibility

—Gaze Beyond

—Soul Condemn

—Others Locked.]