Chapter 333  333 Reciprocity


    Finally, they arrived at a step in the center of the passage. Abby stopped moving, and Nexus followed suit.


    "We are here," Drac said, motioning to Nexus.


    Nexus looked around the room. It resembled a very long passage with no end. The walls were made of rocks, and the only source of light came from fires that seemed to be constantly burning.


    Nexus''s eyes then rested on the top of the steps; just at the peaky a colossal boulder in the shape of a book. It was like a giant book made from rock. "I have never seen a thing like this," Nexus thought to himself, enchanted by everything.


    "This is my book of stone that I have acquired recently through some endeavor," Drac exined, noticing the confusion on Nexus''s face. "What I want to do is destroy it," Drac continued. "I have tried several spells and magic to destroy it, yet it always fails, as if there is no effect."


    "Okay," Nexus responded, still bewildered about how he was expected to help.


    Drac, with a smile, looked at Nexus. "I know you will be able to help me destroy the stone," he asserted confidently. "I''ve tried everything, but nothing seems to work."


    "I''m not sure..." Nexus began to express his reservations, but Drac was resolute and cut him of


    "I have seen your mes, I know what they can do," Drac said. "Just give it a try."


    Deciding to give it a shot, Nexus, aware of the power of his heavenly mes, couldn''t help but doubt their effectiveness against such an imposing boulder.


    "Can you move, Master Drac, to the other side?" Nexus requested Abby, who was still watching the scene. She acquiesced, rolling Drac to a corner, and both watched Nexus conjure the mes once more.


    This time, Nexus delved deep into his qi, feeling every part of it in his system. He began to conjure the heavenly mes, which glowed like a hot furnace in the enclosed passage.


    Unleashing his heavenly me, Nexus focused on cauterizing the stone book, holding the fire over it while using up more of his energy. Drac watched with excitement; this was the most potent me he had ever seen.


    Nexus persisted, torching the stone book, hoping to see a crack. Beads of sweat fell from his face as the mes heated him up. Holding it for longer and longer, Nexus reached his breaking point. "I cannot continue," he dered, dropping his hands and extinguishing the mes. His body trembled from the exertion.


    As the smoke dissipated from the passage, Drac and Abby drew closer to Nexus to see the result. Slowly, they could make out the stone book, which still stood firm and strong, seemingly untouched. The only effect Nexus''s me had on it was a ck mark left on the surface.


    "I knew it would not work," Nexus said with frustration. "I don''t think I can help, Master Drac," he added, bowing his head in sadness.


    Drac, however, was ted. He saw the mark on the stone book and did not understand why Nexus was apologizing.


    "What are you saying, Nexus?" Drac eximed with excitement. "You are my lucky star! I knew you could do it," Drac said.


    Nexus was confused because he was not able to destroy the stone book, yet Drac praised him. "But... I was not able to destroy it," Nexus said.


    "Oh, Nexus," Drac continued, "you don''t understand the magnitude of what you have done." Attempting to rify, Drac said, "Your me has caused a slight, irreversible damage to the seal on the surface of the stone book." Drac pointed to the stone book. Nexus''s gaze shifted to the book as he examined it.


    Drac elucidated, "Do you know how long I have tried to break through the seal? I have been attempting to destroy the stone book''s seal with much higher and different magic many times before, and none seemed to work."


    "You know why?" Drac asked Nexus.


    Nexus shook his head, indicating a ''no.''


    Drac continued to exin, "The seal on this book is so powerful as it contains a self-repairing function, so the more I damage it, the more it repairs itself." Drac said, pointing at the stone book. "But look at it," Drac said excitedly.


    "Just one time, and you have damaged the seal slightly with your special me, and this cannot be reversed," he said with so much amazement.


    Nexus, beginning to grasp the significance of Drac''s tion, pondered the resilience of the stone. "The stones must be so powerful to withstand such power," he mused internally. "I think the reason the me worked is because I used my Qi to unleash it, and Drac''s magic couldn''t work because it was based on Mana," Nexus surmised.


    Drac, still brimming with excitement over the oue of Nexus''s mes, believed that they could break through the stone in no time. "Oh, I am so happy," Drac eximed to Nexus. "I have been waiting for this for so long," he added.


    "I am really d I was able to help," Nexus said, adopting a more rxed posture. He smiled, feeling the tension dissipate. "But it would still take a long time before my me can finally destroy the stone book," he cautioned.


    Drac, understanding the challenge ahead, nodded in acknowledgment. "Sustaining your me for such a long time must have taken its toll on you," he empathized.


    "Yes, it has. I will need more time to be able to destroy this boulder," Nexus admitted.


    "How much time do you think it would take?" Abby, who had been observing the exchange, interjected.


    "At least 2 to 3 weeks, and that is just to break the seal of the stone book," Nexus replied.


    "Isn''t that too long, Papa?" Abby expressed concern for her grandfather.


    "Oh no, Nexus," Drac reassured, noticing Nexus''s worry about the time constraint. "Time is not the issue here. You can take as much as you need. I am just happy I have found a solution," he said, smiling appreciatively.


    "If that is not a problem, then I will be happy to assist you," Nexus responded, returning Drac''s smile.


    "Thank you, dear," Drac expressed his gratitude, happiness evident in his expression. However, he couldn''t shake off the sense of indebtedness. "However," Drac continued, shifting the conversation, "how do I repay your favor? I need to repay this kind gesture, or I will have a hard time finding peace of mind."


    Nexus, initially taken aback by the notion of repayment, contemted Drac''s offer. "Master Drac, you don''t need to repay me," he began. "I came here seeking your guidance, and if my abilities can be of help to you, then that''s all I ask for."


    Drac, still insistent on expressing his gratitude, persisted. "No, Nexus, I cannot let such a favor go unrewarded. I insist. Is there anything you desire, anything at all?"


    "Oh, Drac, this is unnecessary, really," Nexus argued, his tone firm. "I do not need to bepensated. I will also be taking the stones for the alchemy furnace I came here for after breaking the seal of the stone book." Nexus insisted, crossing his arms. "I don''t think any morepensation is needed. We will both be taking what we need and do not owe each other anything else," he concluded.