Chapter 193: Curse or Boon
As the intoxicating feeling went away, Ash opened his eyes slowly, and the eyes that came out were not the dead eyes, but bright, full of life... yet still calm, like a lake that can’t be disturbed.
It was a profound change for him, something that he couldn’t put into words.
I was successful...
Ash thought with a wide smile, which appeared on his face after a long time. Although it had only been a few months, it felt like centuries to him.
The silence, the numbness, the endless spiral of thoughts and memories, the weight of everything he couldn’t forget... all of it had finally vanished.
Without wasting another moment, Ash hurriedly summoned the description of the skill.
**
Skill Name: Soul Library
Skill Rank: EX
Description: A skill profound enough that it creates a library in the soul of the person, in which whatever the person has seen, learnt, or read will be stored, along with all the lifetime memories. There is no limit to how much the library can hold. It adapts and expands with the soul, forming perfect records of everything the user comes across.
- It removes the burden of eternal memories, lifting the weight that accumulates over time.
- It makes the mind clear, completely free of clutter, but as long as one tries to think or remember, all the knowledge stored in the library will be at the user’s disposal, instantly accessible without confusion or delay.
Remark: A true treasure for immortals.
**
The skill was exactly what he had hoped for, and Ash was very satisfied with it.
But... due to the unnatural calmness in his mind, Ash felt as if his insight had suddenly deepened—like the fog around his thoughts had quietly cleared, revealing a landscape he had never noticed before. His perception became sharper, more lucid, and within that sharpened clarity... he noticed something.
There was a strange similarity threading through the runes engraved upon his soul—something he had not paid close attention to before.
He now felt that the runes were both a blessing and a curse. A double-edged sword hidden behind the veil of power.
A boon... because of the incredible abilities they granted. And yet, at the same time... a curse, because of the subtle, creeping side effects that came with those gifts.
Pushing aside the Rune of Balance, Space, and Concealment for the time being.
Instead, his focusing on to the more prominent runes—Knowledge, Life, Death, and Stability. On the surface, they looked like powerful assets. But if one dug deeper, the truth began to reveal itself.
The Rune of Knowledge, for instance, held the promise of understanding and clarity. But knowledge was not always a blessing. Too much knowledge, poured into a mind with finite capacity, could become a suffocating weight. A mind too small to bear such immense truth might collapse under its own awareness. Thoughts would pile up, memories would crowd each other, and clarity would distort into confusion.
Then there was the Rune of Life. A gift that allowed unnatural healing. But what if the body refused to die, even when it should? What if pain kept returning because wounds healed too quickly to bring rest? Healing could become endless suffering. Immortality could become a prison.
Resurrection, tied with the Rune of Death, was perhaps the cruelest irony. The idea of returning from death seemed like a miracle, but with every revival came more pain. More memories. More dissonance between the soul and the body. The very essence of a person might shatter, unable to carry the weight of endless returns.
As for the Rune of Stability, it remained in a grey area. So far, although it almost became a curse for him, as it trapped Dark Ash, due to which there were too many influx of emotions and memories, but if not for that, he did not see any other side effect for now.
Even though the other three runes—Space, Concealment, and Stability—had not revealed their side effects yet, Ash was certain they existed. One hundred percent. There was no such thing as pure power without consequence. He simply hadn’t discovered them yet.
But in spite of all this, there was a reason he wasn’t panicking. A reason he could remain grounded.
I’m still glad , Ash thought, With this Soul Library, most of these problems can be solved.
The Soul Library could store the overwhelming information, the flood of knowledge, the chaotic memories. It could compartmentalize what his mind alone could not carry.
There was, however, one more thing he noticed—something that wasn’t mentioned in the skill’s description but was undeniably real.
He felt no emotional turbulence in his heart. It was beating calmly, rhythmically... like a soft drum echoing in a quiet cave.
It was as if his emotions had been neutralized. Still present, but no longer storming within him.
Most of our emotions are shaped by the memories we carry. Joy, sorrow, fear, anger—all these feelings are rooted in our experiences. But if one doesn’t recall what pain feels like, or forgets the weight of fear, then those sensations lose their meaning.
Ash could still recall everything if he consciously tried. All his memories, feelings, and thoughts were still accessible, but if he didn’t focus on them, they remained dormant. Silent. His mind wouldn’t be disturbed by them.
Even without using Omni Thought, he remained composed.
One could say he had reached a state of true calm. A mind free of unnecessary noise. A heart untouched by turmoil.
Nothing could surprise him anymore. Nothing could catch him off-guard, unless he willingly allowed memories to rise and stir his stillness.
As long as he stayed in the present moment—his thoughts empty, focused only on what was right in front of him—no emotion could penetrate that tranquility.
Especially in battle, this would be invaluable. If all he cared about was the fight, if his only purpose at that moment was to kill and survive, then this emotionless state would be a gift.
A predator with a clear mind, untethered by fear, free from hesitation.
And that... was terrifyingly efficient.
Then, with a calm stride, he walked toward the door of the library. It was identical to the door of the vault—the same deep-colored structure adorned with intricate Runic symbols etched across its surface.
Without hesitation, he passed through the door.
***
The scenery inside the Soul Library was nothing short of astonishing—so surreal that it completely shattered his expectations. The first thing he noticed was the ground beneath his feet.
It was made of onyx—gleaming black, smooth like glass, perfectly reflecting his image with eerie clarity. Runic symbols pulsed faintly across the surface.
The library was vast. No... it was colossal. So wide and endless in length that even when he tilted his head back, the ceiling was nowhere in sight.
The entire space was circular, built in perfect symmetry. Surrounding him were massive black bookshelves, crafted from the trunks of his Soul Tree with glowing runic lines gently crawling along the edges like living veins.
Floating lamps hung mid-air in scattered formation, providing a warm, soft glow. They weren’t ordinary lamps either. Each one seemed to be made from the luminous leaves of his own Soul Tree, flickering like stardust in a bottle.
The bookshelves were arranged in a spiraling, circular pattern and after the ground floor, there were no physical upper levels.
The bookshelves simply floated mid-air, suspended in space, each shelf towering endlessly with no visible end.
Every single shelf was filled. Countless books with simple brown covers lined the space, each carrying an aura of quiet dignity.
And at the center of it all—perfectly placed in the heart of the circular maze—was a large study table made of dark wood. A single chair rested before it, beside a beautifully crafted pen and a study lamp glowing softly, as if awaiting his arrival.
Damn!!
Ash stood frozen, his eyes wide with wonder. The sheer magnificence of the scene stunned him into silence.
It was the kind of place he had only ever imagined in fantasies.
Oh, right. I’m in a fantasy world now... no, even then, this is something else entirely... this is on another level...
Even though he didn’t quite understand why there were no stairs to reach the upper shelves, or why there was a study table sitting neatly in the center like some scholar’s sanctum, a part of him felt it made sense in an oddly poetic way.
There was no need for stairs here.
In fact, there was no need to manually read anything at all. All the knowledge stored in this space could be accessed with a simple thought. And yet, the room still offered the chance to read things by hand—books could be summoned at will, placed right before him if he ever desired to study the old-fashioned way.
I get the feeling that I can summon any book, no matter where it’s stored... I feel like I can even rearrange the shelves according to my needs... how convenient... how thoughtful...
With a blissful smile spreading across his face, Ash finally sat at the study table. It felt more comfortable than he expected. He looked around slowly, soaking in every detail, every glowing lamp.
Exploring everything... just sitting there... it filled his heart with a strange warmth. His mood lifted, almost childlike with wonder. And once he felt satisfied, truly content, he stood up with a bright smile and stepped out of the library.
Then, without looking back, he left his Soul Space.
***