Chapter 136: Forbidden Catalog 013 Zenith Sword (Two-in-One)
Listening to Principal Agatha’s words.
Rast’s gaze could not help but turn towards the operation platform not far away, which was slowly rising.
On the surface of the silver crystal, which was as transparent as water and refracted a metallic sheen, was a line of tiny numbers engraved by laser—
“0-13”
Rast’s expression grew serious.
This small mechanical crystal was the main outcome of his collaboration with Principal Agatha over the past month at the Ashen Academy—the core component of the “prototype of the Zenith Sword.”
However, what Principal Agatha had previously mentioned about the “Forbidden Catalog”…
And the number “0-13” engraved on this crystal, what did it refer to?
As such doubts just arose in his heart.
In the next moment, he heard Principal Agatha’s gentle voice once again in his ears.
“The ‘Forbidden Catalog’ is a highly classified list stored in the Tower of Secrets.”
“According to the confidentiality permissions of the Tower of Secrets, only the branch heads of Starry University and ministers of various departments of the Granwill Empire, as well as noble members of the Covenant Council, are qualified to view it.”
“Moreover, even we, who have permission to view it, can only see a small part of the Forbidden Catalog that relates to the fields we are responsible for; for instance, the list I can view only pertains to the mechanical field.”
“The complete ‘Forbidden Catalog’ is likely only accessible to a few individuals, such as the old principal, His Majesty Aaron, and the heads of the Ruins Institute.”
Principal Agatha’s words now carried a hint of seriousness.
“As for the meaning of the ‘Forbidden Catalog,’ it’s actually quite simple…”
“Only things deemed ‘forbidden’ by the Tower of Secrets qualify for inclusion.”
“As for the criteria for classifying something as ‘forbidden,’ I believe you have heard some mention of it before.”
She looked at Rast, a hint of smile appearing on her aged face.
“The specific evaluation process is complex; it requires repeated checks and determinations across different dimensions and fields. There is even a specialized verification team within the Tower of Secrets that certifies the forbidden level.”
“However, to put it simply—”
Principal Agatha paused briefly.
“Anything that qualifies and could potentially threaten the existence of legendary beings…”
“Is classified as ‘forbidden.'”
…
Rast’s eyes involuntarily narrowed slightly.
He had indeed heard the term “forbidden” before.
If he remembered correctly, Principal Silver had given him two tags when introducing Akshia’s Night Blade ‘Death’s Messenger’: “Ultra-high-risk Night Blade” and “Forbidden.”
Additionally, in the Echoes of the Era during the Sixth Epoch, when Leader Ciser and the Legendary Noah of the Gravekeepers mentioned the existence lurking in the depths of the ocean, they also used the term “forbidden beings.”
Those entities lurking in the deep sea were not standard legendary strongmen who, like humans, ascend step by step to the seventh step of the legendary domain through a sequence…
But they certainly possessed destructive power equivalent to that of legend, with the potential to threaten the lives of legendary strongmen, thus being classified as “forbidden beings.”
“Your familiar Hiltina and Akshia, their Night Blades ‘Infinite Sword’ and ‘Death’s Messenger,’ are also listed in the Forbidden Catalog.”
“Of course, at this moment, their levels are still lacking.”
“According to the estimations of the Tower of Secrets, even Hiltina and Akshia… would only truly pose a threat to a legendary strongman’s life if they reach the peak of the sixth tier, combined with their extraordinary Night Blades, and unleash their full power.”
“Thus, like them, one can only say they have the potential to threaten legends, but this potential and possibility have not yet been fully realized.”
“So, their Night Blades are also relatively low on the Forbidden Catalog; the starting number is 1, classified under the ‘1’ tier of the Forbidden Catalog.”
Principal Agatha glanced at Rast, her calm voice suddenly tinged with a bit of amusement.
“By the way, because of your performance in the Night World Echoes,”
“The verification team of the Tower of Secrets has already proposed to list you in the ‘1’ tier of the Forbidden Catalog, although this proposal has not yet been formally submitted. Even if it is submitted, it will need to go through secondary verification and approval.”
“If everything goes smoothly, then according to the sequence, you should be ‘Forbidden Catalog 1-97.'”
Rast: ???
“Principal Agatha, I think the verification team of the Tower of Secrets may have a slight misunderstanding about me.”
He coughed lightly.
If it were an evaluation of his true Night Blade—’Library of Fools’—then he believed getting a spot in the Forbidden Catalog shouldn’t be a problem.
After all, the power of the ‘Library of Fools’ was evident, and even Akshia and Hiltina, with their extraordinary Night Blades, could completely replicate its effects if the bond levels were sufficient.
Moreover, the Library of Fools could simulate not only Night Blades but also sequence abilities themselves.
If one day he could unlock all twenty-one levels of ascension within that tower library to the maximum tier…
Then he, embodying everything and holding all sequence levels and extraordinary abilities, would not be exaggerating in calling himself “Omnipotent.”
However, Rast did not forget.
The Night Blade he presented to the outside world was not the ‘Library of Fools,’ but the ‘Copy Eye.’
What had “Omnipotent,” what had “Cosmic Library,” what had “the original scripture that stands shoulder to shoulder with the deities”…
What does it have to do with me, Copy Ninja Rast?
During this Night World expedition, due to a feeling of being watched in the Echoes of the Era, he had been particularly cautious.
Although it seemed he had fought quite a bit, Rast had spent the entire time either backstabbing or bullying Grey, leaving the main stage to the later-arriving Ciser and Noah; he had not truly fought at full strength.
So, in theory, he shouldn’t have revealed the true potential of the ‘Library of Fools’ to the outside world.
“Principal Agatha, my Night Blade is just a poor imitation, and if I try to imitate too much, I easily run out of mana. It’s just a Copy Eye…”
“How could I compare with the rule-breaking Night Blades like Hiltina’s ‘Infinite Sword’ and Akshia’s ‘Death’s Messenger’?”
However, in response to Rast’s defense, Agatha only chuckled and shook her head.
“No, it is not your Night Blade being proposed for listing in the Forbidden Catalog.”
“But you.”
Principal Agatha stared at Rast, a smile growing at the corners of her mouth.
“I heard that little Ophelia mentioned your past.”
“Cooperating with Hiltina to clear the Calamity Echo…”
“With a position that had not yet broken through the fourth tier, maneuvering among several sixth-tier and legendary strongmen, even joining a forbidden organization like the Gravekeepers to execute an insider plan.”
“Such tasks are not something an ordinary person could accomplish.”
“Indeed, compared to Akshia and Hiltina, you do not possess an exceptional tier and level, let alone the… sheer power brought by a Night Blade.”
“But it is precisely because of this that what you managed to do is even more worthy of attention.”
Agatha’s gaze lingered on Rast’s face, imbued with a peculiar meaning: “To endure hundreds of years and yet remain true to one’s intentions, unwavering…”
“People like that are terrifying… far more so than those who decay and corrupt in a prolonged moment.”
“Even if you did not receive my assistance this time, I believe… facing the hostile legendary beings in the Echoes of the Era, you certainly won’t sit idly by.”
“Listing you in the Forbidden Catalog is not an injustice.”
She smiled lightly: “But don’t worry…”
“Being listed in the Forbidden Catalog does mean you will receive attention from the outside world.”
“I am also a member of the verification team of the Tower of Secrets. In order to protect academy students, I will find a way to get you removed.”
“Thank you, Principal Agatha.”
“You’re welcome.” Although Agatha appeared elderly, she now exhibited a rather youthful mischievousness, winking at Rast: “That little girl Ophelia cares for very few things, but once she takes a liking to something, she will not share it with anyone else.”
“If I let you get listed in the Forbidden Catalog and caught the attention of a bunch of nobles, that little girl would surely come after me.”
Rast: …
He felt that the image of the Ophelia he had never met was getting more and more skewed, with her originally perfect princess image now gone.
Moreover, Rast noticed some differences between Principal Agatha and his previous impression.
He had thought this elderly lady was an elegant, aloof scholar, unfocused on worldly affairs, dedicated to research in the mechanical field.
But now it seemed that gossiping and small talk was indeed a woman’s nature, and even this highly respected head of the Ashen Academy, one of the strongest mechanics on the continent, was no exception.
“Ahem, I’ve gotten a bit off track…”
Principal Agatha seemed to have realized her topic had strayed, and she lightly coughed.
“The ‘1’ tier of the Forbidden Catalog represents things that possess the potential and capability to threaten legends.”
“Then, the ‘0’ tier forbidden items represent…”
Her voice paused slightly: “Naturally, they are existences that can directly threaten legendary lives.”
“Whether it be mechanical weapons, forbidden beasts, or certain extraordinary Night Blades, one-time extraordinary items… all fall within this scope.”
“‘Forbidden Catalog 0-07: Orbital Cannon,’ for example, is a colossal mechanical armament aimed at mythical beings and legends as hypothetical enemies.”
“Currently, its prototype is suspended in a synchronous orbit two thousand kilometers above the Tower of Secrets, and if there are disturbances in the End of the Night World within the Tower of Secrets that lead to the arrival of the calamities that caused the end of the era, the orbital cannon will be directly fired… obliterating any source of calamity descending from the Night World into the present world.”
“And ‘Forbidden Catalog 0-13: Zenith Sword,’ is a product that has undergone lightweight and portability modifications of the orbital cannon.”
“The effective range of the ‘Zenith Sword’ has been reduced from the orbital cannon’s ‘against armies’ to ‘against individuals,’ with its wide-area destructive power significantly diminished.”
“However, in exchange for reduced power, it gains extreme portability.”
“By utilizing a combination of ‘dimension folding’ and ‘spatial compression’ technologies, all mechanical components of the ‘Zenith Sword’ are folded into a small sub-dimension, allowing even an individual to deploy it.”
Agatha gazed at the silvery crystal on the operation platform not far away.
“Originally, even if it was for the purpose of Night Travelers attacking the Night World, 0-tier forbidden items would not be lent out for use by students of Starry University.”
“However, the lightweight and miniaturization of the ‘Zenith Sword,’ including the patent for the ‘dimension folding’ spatial technology, was solely accomplished by Ophelia… she holds over seventy percent ownership of the prototype blueprints for this mythical weapon.”
“Thus, it can be lent out for your use.”
“Now, let’s begin the final procedure.”
As these words were spoken, a pure white light suddenly lit up in Principal Agatha’s eyes.
That white light spread out, forming a small domain around her, encompassing the crystal and the operation platform within.
At the same time, accompanied by a gust of wind, all dust and debris within the domain, including many microscopic particles invisible to the naked eye, were expelled from the pure white area.
Night Blade “Washing of Sins”
This was Principal Agatha’s Night Blade, and one of its effects was to create an absolutely dust-free area around oneself.
This effect had no substantial combat significance, but for a mechanic who often needed to conduct precision mechanical processing and high-precision rune engraving in a dust-free environment, it was an excellent aid.
At the same time, with Principal Agatha’s manipulation.
On the mechanical crystal engraved with the sequence number “0-13,” a gorgeous, dream-like glowing rune was slowly inscribed.
Rast recognized the function of this rune; it was for the analysis and detection of soul aura.
Only through authentication of the soul aura could one gain permission to use this forbidden armament.
“Rast, come and input your permissions.”
At Agatha’s urging, Rast stepped forward and entered the pure white dust-free domain.
Then, he activated his spirit, allowing his unique soul aura to permeate the white-paper-like mechanical crystal.
(End of Chapter)
