Chương 112: Chapter 110: The Forgotten Root

A deafening silence settled over the Library of Origins. The memory of the Crimson Author had vanished, but its final words still echoed through the endless halls. > "When the World Tree reaches its final leaf... seek its forgotten root." The sentence lingered in everyone's mind like an unbreakable promise. Rayan stood motionless, his hand resting on the ancient journal. It had grown strangely quiet, as though it had fulfilled the purpose for which it had waited thousands of years.

Around him, millions of books floated peacefully through the endless shelves. For a brief moment... The Library seemed at peace. Then the floor trembled. BOOM... A low vibration spread beneath their feet. One shelf shook violently. Then another. Within seconds, the entire Library began to quake. Ancient books fell from towering shelves, their pages fluttering wildly through the air. Golden letters escaped from the open pages, swirling like countless fireflies. Aster looked around in alarm.

"The Library..."

"It's afraid." The Librarian's calm expression disappeared.

"No..."

"It remembers." Another shockwave erupted. BOOOOOM!! The marble floor split open from one end of the Library to the other. A brilliant crimson light burst through the widening crack. Warm. Ancient. Alive. The light carried memories older than the heavens themselves. Rayan instinctively stepped closer. As he looked into the crimson glow, brief visions flashed before his eyes. An empire rising beneath seven moons. The birth of the first dragon. Children laughing in a city erased from history.

A lonely figure planting the very first World Tree. The visions disappeared as quickly as they had come.

"What was that?" Kael asked. The Librarian answered in a whisper.

"Memories."

"Not yours."

"The world's." The crack widened until an enormous root emerged from the abyss. It was unlike any tree root they had ever seen. Its bark shimmered like crimson crystal, while rivers of golden light flowed beneath its surface like living veins. Ancient runes glowed across it, changing every second into symbols from forgotten civilizations. The root continued rising until it towered above the endless bookshelves. The Library itself seemed to bow before it. Atlas slowly removed his helmet.

His normally unwavering eyes were filled with awe.

"I never believed it truly existed." Rayan looked toward him.

"What is it?" Atlas took a deep breath. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"The Forgotten Root."

"The foundation beneath the World Tree."

"The place where every memory born in creation eventually returns." Aster stared at the colossal root.

"So the World Tree connects every future..."

"The Root preserves every past." Atlas nodded.

"Without the Tree..."

"Life cannot grow."

"Without the Root..."

"Life cannot remember." Suddenly, the four Origin Keys began glowing. Rayan's golden key floated into the air. Kael's black key followed. Then Caelum's icy-blue key. Finally, Aster's silver key. The four relics circled the World Root before releasing pillars of light that intertwined above it. The World System materialized once again. Its voice echoed throughout the Library.

WORLD SYSTEM Hidden Origin Located The Forgotten Root Status: Dormant Classification: Origin of Memory Access Requirement: Four Chosen Kings Objective Updated: Awaken the Heart of the World Root Before anyone could react... The temperature dropped. Silver threads spread across the ceiling like cracks in glass. Aster's face turned pale.

"They're here..." A tear in reality opened above the Library. The Prime Editor descended silently, followed by countless lesser Editors whose masks reflected the crimson glow of the World Root. The faceless leader slowly raised its silver-thread blade. Its emotionless voice echoed across the endless hall. > "Memory Core located." > "Initiating permanent erasure." The blade pointed directly at the World Root. Rayan immediately drew the Dharma Dragonblade. Golden flames erupted across the ancient steel.

Kael unsheathed his black blade without hesitation. Caelum stepped forward, frost gathering around Fimbul. Aster raised his glowing silver threads. For the first time... The four kings stood shoulder to shoulder, not to protect a kingdom... But to protect the memories of every civilization that had ever existed. Outside the circle of heroes, the Seven Authors watched in complete silence. None of them moved. None offered aid. Their expressions revealed nothing. The final test... Had begun.

The endless Library trembled. The crimson World Root continued rising from the abyss beneath the marble floor, illuminating the shattered halls with an ancient light that seemed older than time itself. Every pulse from its golden veins echoed through the Library like a heartbeat. It wasn't merely alive. It was remembering. Visions erupted across the air. Kingdoms long erased from history. Dragons soaring beneath three suns. Children laughing in cities that no longer existed.

Heroes whose names had never been recorded. Every memory humanity had forgotten was hidden inside the World Root. The Prime Editor ignored them all. Its silver blade remained pressed against the Librarian's barrier, carving deeper with every passing second. Golden pages burst apart like burning leaves. The Librarian staggered backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Rayan rushed to support him.

"You've protected this place long enough." The old man smiled weakly.

"And now..."

"... it is your turn." CRACK! A section of the barrier shattered. The Prime Editor stepped forward. Silver threads spread across the Root like venom. Immediately, the glowing memories trapped within it began fading. Entire civilizations vanished before Rayan's eyes. A little girl embracing her father... Gone. An ancient king placing his crown upon his daughter's head... Gone. A dragon sacrificing itself to save a village... Gone. The memories weren't dying. They were being erased.

"No!" Aster raised both hands. Thousands of silver threads burst from his fingertips. Unlike the Prime Editor's threads... His carried warmth. Possibility. Hope. The two powers collided in midair. For the first time... The Prime Editor failed to advance. The faceless being tilted its head.

"Weaver..."

"You continue to resist your designated function." Aster stood firm.

"I was never created to erase stories."

"I was created..."

"... to protect them." Golden light erupted from his Origin Key. The silver threads surrounding him transformed into brilliant crimson strands identical to those once wielded by the Crimson Author. The Seven Authors watched silently. Even the Golden Author's expression changed. Kael stepped beside Aster. Black flames ignited across his sword.

"If the Editors want this Root..."

"They'll have to get through us." Caelum calmly lifted Fimbul. The freezing aura surrounding the blade spread across the Library floor.

"I don't fight for an empire."

"I fight for history." Rayan smiled.

"And I fight..."

"... for everyone's future." The four Origin Keys floated into the air. They began orbiting the World Root. Gold. Black. Blue. Silver. Their light merged into a single pillar reaching the unseen ceiling of the Library. The World System suddenly appeared before everyone. Unlike before, its voice carried emotion.

WORLD SYSTEM Emergency Synchronization Complete Memory Core Recognized The Four Kings have fulfilled the First Condition. Second Condition Available Awaken the Heart of the World Root Reward: Path to the Final Eclipse Atlas looked upward in disbelief.

"The Heart..."

"I thought it was only a legend." The Librarian slowly nodded.

"So did I." Suddenly... The crimson World Root split apart. A narrow staircase formed inside its glowing trunk. It spiraled downward into complete darkness. Warm air drifted upward. Along with... A heartbeat. Slow. Powerful. Ancient. THUMP... THUMP... THUMP... Every pulse resonated with Rayan's own heart. As if something deep below... Was calling his name. The Violet Author closed its eyes.

"So..."

"It has chosen." The Golden Author remained silent. For the first time in countless ages... Even the creators of reality no longer knew what would happen next. Rayan tightened his grip on the Dharma Dragonblade and looked toward his companions.

"Whatever is waiting below..."

"We face it together." Kael grinned.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Caelum rested Fimbul on his shoulder.

"I've come too far to turn back." Aster smiled, his fear replaced by determination.

"This time..."

"We'll write our own ending." Without another word... The four descended into the glowing staircase hidden within the World Root, leaving behind the Library, the Seven Authors, and the Prime Editor. Far below... In the darkness where no story had ever reached... A pair of colossal crimson eyes slowly opened. A deep, ancient voice echoed through the Root.

"At last..."

"The Last Dharma King has come home." To Be Continue....