Chapter 376: Rank

In an instant, Atlas’s eyes widened.

’What?! Destroy the Galaxy?!’ He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He had only heard Oriendar mention that Seraphiel possessed something capable of destroying the Galaxy if nurtured properly, but the thought of an individual possessing such power was beyond his comprehension.

’He himself is capable of destroying the Galaxy? The Galaxy is so massive... How can a single person destroy something on that scale?’ The sheer absurdity of an individual possessing such immense power left Atlas momentarily frozen.

Noticing his reaction, Dravia spoke again, her usually gentle voice turning serious. "It’s unbelievable, right? But the fact remains that all three of them possess the capability to destroy the Galaxy, even though they have no intention of doing so."

"They have been trying to protect it with their lives for countless eons." She paused, taking in Atlas’s still-shocked expression before continuing, "The other factions possess comparable power, as their leaders or Kings stand on the same level as these three. It’s only because these three exist that the others dare not make a move to destroy the Galaxy."

Having finished her explanation, she turned toward the door and let out a long breath.

Atlas followed her gaze and muttered, "I see..." His expression gradually returned to normal, though his thoughts continued to churn. ’I need to become that strong. Strong enough to keep Sera and myself safe from any enemies.’

His gaze settled on the door as Dravia began speaking again. "Anyway, you should go inside now. This is the entrance to the Primartia Library."

Atlas frowned at the strange door, which stood without any visible room or structure behind it, but he chose not to question it and listened to her explanation. "Once you enter, you’ll meet a man known as Trethren. Show him the small token you received from the Grand Regents, and he’ll allow you to access the Entry-level books, or perhaps even more, depending on your rank in the Conclave."

Atlas nodded before immediately asking a question that had just occurred to him. "How can I check my rank? Is it similar to your Vice-General rank in the Conclave?" Dravia shook her head and explained, "Vice-General is the position granted to me by the Grand Regents."

"The ranks, however, are determined by your contributions to the Conclave. The more you contribute, the lower your rank number becomes." After a brief pause, she reached toward the space beside her and tore it open, taking out a small, button-like device.

Dravia tapped the device once, and a hologram immediately appeared in front of them, displaying her name, role, rank, and other details, "As you can see, you can use your token to check your rank. Mine is currently 143." Atlas raised an eyebrow, wondering whether the device worked similarly to the one used by receptionists to create Guild cards back in Eliomor.

Without wasting any time, Atlas took out his own token and tapped it against the device. Another hologram materialized before them, displaying his information in the same manner. However, the moment they saw his rank, both of them reacted differently.

Dravia’s eyes widened, while Atlas frowned at the number displayed before him. "Y-Your rank is already 98?! But you just joined—" Dravia stopped midway as she remembered that Atlas’s circumstances were entirely different from those of an ordinary member.

’...I almost forgot he was invited by the Third Pillar himself. It’s no surprise his contributions are already enough to place him at rank 98.’ She glanced at Atlas, wondering if his very presence was being counted as a contribution, before shaking her head and letting out a long sigh.

"Well, you should go inside now. I’ll take my leave since my job ends here." Atlas shifted his gaze toward Dravia as she calmly walked past him. He nodded in acknowledgment before turning toward the massive door. After switching off his token in the same manner she had demonstrated, he tossed it into the separate space where the World Core was stored.

’On that note, I should do what that voice in the test told me...’

As Atlas approached the door, it opened automatically, revealing nothing but darkness on the other side. He narrowed his eyes and paused for a moment, studying the unusual entrance, but he didn’t hesitate for long before stepping forward.

He had already encountered enough strange things since arriving in the Conclave that another mysterious spatial passage wasn’t going to stop him.

The moment he passed through the darkness, his surroundings changed completely, and he found himself standing on a vast circular platform made of smooth, dark stone, its surface engraved with intricate silver patterns that extended toward the edges.

The transition was so sudden that Atlas couldn’t immediately determine how the space around him had changed, but he quickly focused on his new surroundings.

Beyond the platform stretched an enormous chamber, far larger than the space that could possibly exist behind the door. Countless floating platforms and suspended galleries filled the air, each lined with shelves containing books, crystal tablets, and strange objects that carried traces of energy.

Above him, the ceiling resembled a boundless night sky scattered with countless points of light, while several circular sections extended outward from the central platform, forming distinct areas filled with different kinds of knowledge.

The entire place seemed carefully organized, although Atlas couldn’t yet determine how its different sections were connected or what kinds of information each contained.

For a moment, Atlas simply observed the surroundings, trying to take in the sheer scale of the library. He had expected an extensive collection of books, but this place seemed to contain far more than ordinary written knowledge.

The floating platforms and strange objects suggested that the library preserved information in various forms, and he couldn’t help wondering what kinds of secrets were hidden among its countless shelves.

Just as Atlas was turning toward the other sections, he heard a voice from behind him. "Are you new here? What’s your name?" Atlas immediately turned toward the speaker, his expression shifting slightly.

He hadn’t sensed the slightest trace of the man’s presence until the voice reached his ears, which meant the person had approached without him noticing at all.

Standing a few steps behind him was an elderly man with long, pointed ears and two horns rising from his head. His aged face carried a relaxed expression, and he wore simple robes that gave no indication of any particular authority. Despite his unusual appearance, the old man seemed perfectly at ease, as though encountering someone new in the library was an ordinary occurrence.

The old man stared at Atlas with mild curiosity, seemingly unaware of the surprise his sudden appearance had caused.

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[A/N: Honestly, I’m starting to wonder whether any of you are still enjoying Bloodbound Codex. The support has been discouraging lately, and I’m not sure how to feel about continuing at this rate.]