Chapter 109: Rumours

Chapter 109: RumoursApollo carefully examined the human chimera he had revived and couldn’t help but smile, despite its dangerous and somewhat repulsive appearance.

Now, he had an incredibly powerful subordinate under his control. However, its sheer size and hideous form made it difficult to bring out in broad daylight where people could see it.

He didn’t want people to think he was a dark mage or necromancer and hunt him down, so the Chimera could only be used as a trump card in situations where there would be no witnesses.

The problem now was where to hide a twenty-foot giant with a gruesome expression, covered in a dark aura of death and blood. This wasn’t something easy to conceal.

But just as he thought of this problem, the Book of Death seemed to sense his trouble. It glowed with a black light, and instantly the human chimera in front of him disappeared.

And the second page of the Book of Death, which he hadn’t been able to open before, suddenly revealed itself.

Apollo’s curiosity piqued as he flipped to the newly revealed second page of the Book of Death. The intricate runes and ancient symbols glowed with a dark, otherworldly light. Words in the same ancient language began to form, their meaning seeping into his mind.

"Death’s Sanctuary: A domain within the Book where the wielder can store and summon their creations at will."

Apollo’s eyes widened with realization and relief. This ability solved his problem perfectly. He could now summon the human chimera whenever needed and keep it hidden away when not in use. The Book of Death provided a perfect solution to his dilemma, offering both power and discretion.

He decided to test this new ability. Focusing his thoughts, he envisioned the human Chimera, and with a simple command, he felt the presence of the Chimera reappear before him. Its grotesque form materialized in an instant, still radiating that dark, fearsome aura.

With another thought, he sent the Chimera back into the Book. The creature vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving no trace of its presence.

Satisfied with his newfound control, Apollo closed the Book of Death, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment. He now possessed an incredible tool—both a weapon and a secret subordinate—that could tip the scales in any battle.

He returned to his villa, still alone, as Master Aaron and the others were regrouping and having discussions in City Hall. Apollo knew he had to keep the Book of Death concealed, even from his master, as it was his ultimate ace in the hole and too risky to reveal.

He was certain that powerful warriors, dark mages, or those who majored in the law of death would come running towards the city once news about the Book of Death spread to the outside world.

No matter what, the Book of Death was a divine treasure, and he had to be as careful as possible. If it became known that he possessed the Book of Death, he didn’t know how many would come for his life to get their hands on it.

For now, the city was safe, and Apollo could take a moment to breathe. But he would remain vigilant, always ready for the next threat that might emerge from the shadows. The massive amount of creation points he had collected during the beast tide made him feel more secure; they had now crossed the ten thousand mark.

[Creation points- 12,895]

Two days passed, and the city almost returned to its original state. Apollo had to admit that the work progressing here was incredibly fast. In just two days, most of the destroyed mansions, houses, and roads were either fixed or rebuilt. This kind of rapid restoration was impossible even on Earth, despite advanced machinery and numerous workers.

Here, magical items and tools made such miraculous feats possible, accomplishing in days what would take weeks or months.

As the city returned to its bustling routine, Apollo remained cautious. He spent his days training in swordsmanship, delving deeper into the Book of Death, and enhancing his understanding of the law of death.

He had also taken extra precautions to keep his newfound power a secret. The Human Chimera remained hidden within the Book of Death, ready to be summoned at a moment’s notice.

One evening, as Apollo was practising his swordsmanship in the courtyard of his villa, Master Aaron approached him. "You’ve been working hard, Apollo. It’s good to see your dedication."

Apollo paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thank you, Master. I just want to be ready for anything that might come our way in the future."

Master Aaron placed a hand on Apollo’s shoulder. "I have faith in you. But be careful when you stroll the city. Many noble and powerful forces have sent people to investigate the rumours about the treasure, and they are all coming one after another to the city. It seems word has spread far about the Book of Death."

"Those guys from noble families or ancient forces can be proud and cocky, so don’t interact with them unless it’s necessary. And even our kingdom, Rroiweth, seems to be sending some people, including young warriors."

"They know about my presence here, so they’ll be coming to meet me. And those young kids from royal and noble families will likely want to challenge you as my first apprentice. So I won’t say anything; with your strength, it should be child’s play. Just don’t beat them too terribly—be a bit easy on them."

Apollo nodded, understanding the need for restraint. "I understand, Master. I’ll handle them with care."

With his strength, fighting those young warriors who had either just become limit-breakers or reached the peak of first-rank limit-breakers was like a cat trying to beat a tiger; it wasn’t a competition at all.

Despite this, he kept a humble demeanour and prepared himself for the inevitable encounters.

At the same time, in the city lord’s mansion, a group of high-ranking officials, including the city lord and the Hunter Guild branch president, were discussing. The atmosphere was tense, with everyone aware of the potential threat the rumours posed.

The city lord, a stern-looking man with a commanding presence, addressed the group. "We have received reports of interest in the Book of Death. We must ensure the city’s safety and protect our people from any potential threats."

The Hunter Guild branch president, a seasoned warrior with a keen eye, added, "We need to identify the source of these rumours and take action before they escalate. Our priority is to maintain order and prevent any outside forces from creating any chaos in the city."

The City Lord and Hunter Guild held extensive discussions to plan and implement measures for the city’s newfound liveliness.

With the arrival of numerous powerful warriors from both famous and infamous forces, the once-quiet Hunter City was bustling with activity. They even anticipated a visit from the Beast King, considering the substantial losses in the Beast ranks—countless beasts and most of the Beast generals had perished with the Lich’s death.

As the lich controlled most of the beast generals by corroding their minds and souls, the majority did not survive, leading to over ninety per cent of their deaths. Such a significant loss will naturally attract the attention of the Beast Kings and the ruler who sent the Beast Generals outside.

As the days passed, more people arrived in the city. Apollo could sense the tension in the air as various mighty individuals and groups began their investigations. The rumours about the Book of Death had indeed spread far and wide, drawing attention from every corner.

In the meantime, Apollo continued his training and preparation. He knew that the coming days would be filled with challenges.

On the fifth day, the white cat, Pussy King, which had disappeared during the battle, returned and resumed its usual routine of following him around and enjoying quality food.

He attempted to ask, but the cat remained tight-lipped and didn’t utter a word. Seeing this, he decided not to inquire further.

One day later, finally, people from the Kingdom of Rrioweth arrived to meet with his Master Aaron, and they brought three young geniuses from the royal clan and two noble clans.

Apollo observed from a distance as Master Aaron welcomed another famous expert of Rrioweth, known as the Fist King, accompanied by the three young geniuses from royal and noble clans.

The Fist King was renowned throughout the kingdom for his prowess in dominating fists and combat strategy.

"He’s a formidable figure," Apollo thought to himself, watching the Fist King exchange pleasantries with Master Aaron. The Fist King’s demeanour was calm yet commanding, his movements deliberate and precise.

Apollo’s attention then turned to the three young geniuses who accompanied the Fist King. They exuded an air of confidence and intelligence, despite their youthful appearances.

The oldest among them appeared to be in their early twenties, displaying a maturity that belied their age. The youngest looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, their expression serious and focused.

"These are no ordinary youths," Apollo mused, recognizing their potential from the subtle but unmistakable aura of competence that surrounded them.