"The important thing now… enough talking."
"The most important thing now… stop talking."
The book's voice this time sounded slightly different—less chaotic than usual, as if something inside it had finally decided to stop playing around for a moment and take the next step with calculated seriousness. Its sarcastic tone didn't disappear completely, but it retreated into the background, leaving room for something deeper… something closer to an actual beginning.
"If you want to read my pages…" the book continued slowly, as if carefully choosing its words, "staring won't help you, and flipping through them won't give you anything, because what's inside me cannot be seen with the eyes… it must be extracted."
It paused briefly, then added with a light tone that brought back a trace of its sarcasm:
"And here comes the slightly embarrassing part… for you, not for me of course. I've been used to embarrassment for centuries."
Faiser narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't interrupt, just kept staring at it.
"You…" the book said slowly, "must inject your Qi… into my pages."
Silence.
Two seconds.
Then Faiser said flatly:
"Repeat that."
"Oh, with pleasure." the book replied instantly, as if it had been waiting for that, "Place your hand on me… and start pouring Qi… into me. Don't worry, I won't bite—probably."
Faiser blinked once, then said calmly:
"So I was right to call you annoying."
"And I was right…" the book replied lightly, "that you're slow at accepting simple truths. But that's not my problem."
Faiser lowered his gaze to the book, then exhaled slowly, as if quickly organizing his thoughts before making a decision.
"Fine…" he said calmly, "I'll try."
He placed his hand on the cover. His fingers settled firmly this time—not like someone touching something strange, but like someone handling a tool… or an opponent.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then—he began.
Qi flowed inside him, that energy unlike anything this world knew, moving slowly through his pathways—unstable, unbalanced… but powerful.
Then he pushed it into the book.
At first—nothing happened. One second. Two seconds.
Then—
"…"
The atmosphere changed suddenly. A black aura emerged.
Not just energy… but something heavier, deeper, as if darkness itself had become tangible.
It wrapped around his hand.
Then—
"Oh…"
the book suddenly said, sounding… strangely surprised.
"I think you're in trouble."
Faiser's breath stopped for a moment.
Then he opened his eyes immediately, his tone sarcastic despite the tension:
"Huh? What?!"
"What do you mean 'in trouble'?! Don't say that now!"
But—before any response came—
The energy exploded, tightening violently around his hand, clinging to him, then—
pulling hard.
"—!!"
Faiser tried to pull his arm back.
But—it didn't move.
"…"
"Oh… right." the book said calmly, as if watching a show, "I forgot to tell you… Shadow Qi doesn't like guests."
"Are you joking right now?!" Faiser shouted, pulling with all his strength, but the energy felt like it was swallowing him.
"No, no, I'm completely serious…" the book replied, then added lightly, "Try not to die. That would be embarrassing for me."
"You—!"
But—
his voice cut off as the pressure increased terrifyingly.
"Faiser!" the book's voice suddenly changed—serious, real.
"Don't resist by pulling… resist by pushing!"
Faiser paused.
"What?!"
"Push more!" the book said quickly, "Force your Qi into it! Don't run—overwhelm it!"
His teeth clenched. His eyes narrowed.
Then—
"SSSS—!!"
Energy erupted from him.
But this time… it wasn't black.
It was purple.
A massive aura exploded around him, erupting from his body in unstable, chaotic waves—but incredibly powerful.
"Aaaaaah!!"
Faiser screamed, pushing everything he had. Every drop of his inverted Qi surged toward the book, colliding with the Shadow Qi, breaking it, forcing it back.
The clash was brutal.
His veins bulged, his skin tightened, even his eyes began to darken.
Inside the book—there was no silence.
Only shock.
"This… impossible…"
A thought surfaced within it, heavy, unavoidable.
"All this Qi?!"
"What the hell is this?!"
A pause.
"Is he… even human?"
It stopped, then laughed—but differently this time.
"Hahaha… I shouldn't be surprised… his vessel is already broken. That alone is a crime against logic."
But its tone changed.
"This is interesting… if he survives, this person will be… a catastrophe."
Outside—Faiser couldn't hear anything. He was only screaming, pushing, forcing.
His body shook, energies clashing—purple and black fighting like beasts in a single point.
Then—suddenly.
"…"
Silence.
Everything stopped.
The energy vanished. The aura disappeared.
Faiser collapsed onto his knees.
His breathing was broken. His body trembling. His eyes barely open.
"…"
"Oh…"
the book said, its sarcastic tone returning.
"Good job."
Pause.
"…You didn't die. That's… slightly annoying."
Faiser slowly raised his head, looking at it with exhausted eyes, then said in a broken but angry voice:
"After… all that… this… is your comment?"
He struggled to breathe, then added:
"If you were… a normal book… I would've torn you apart."
"Oh…" the book immediately replied, "Scary."
Then added lightly:
"I like this side of you… violent, but slow."
But—
it paused, then said differently:
"But… you succeeded."
A faint silence.
"You've controlled Shadow Qi… which means…"
Pause.
"…you've synchronized with me."
Silence.
"…"
"…"
"Faiser?"
No answer.
"…"
"Don't tell me…"
It paused.
Then said sarcastically:
"Did you take a nap?"
Silence.
"…"
"Great. The first person to survive… and then sleep."
Minutes passed.
Then—Faiser suddenly moved.
He opened his eyes, took a deep breath, then stood up quickly:
"What… did I lose consciousness?"
"No." the book replied instantly, "We were playing chess."
Pause.
"…and you lost, by the way."
Faiser closed his eyes briefly.
"Annoying."
"Late." the book replied.
Then added:
"Now get up… and open me—no wait, read me!!"
Faiser stepped forward, took the book, and opened it slowly.
On the first page—words appeared.
For the first time, his eyes widened slightly. Then he turned the page… empty. The next one—also empty.
He closed it slightly, then said:
"Why… only one page?"
The book laughed.
"Oh… I forgot to tell you."
Pause.
"Even though you're annoyingly strong… you're still weak."
Silence.
"…still at Seed Stage."
Faiser exhaled slowly.
"After all this…"
"Yes." the book said, "Don't be sad. I'm disappointed too."
Then added:
"The stronger you become… the more pages will appear."
Silence.
"…"
"Then read."
it said, its tone slightly lighter, curious:
"Read… what is written for you. Hurry up!!"
Faiser looked at the page.
He read.
Then said:
"It says here… Martial Art—Level One…"
Pause.
"…Moonlit Penguin Sword Dance."
Silence.
"…"
"…"
Then Faiser said:
"…"
"What the hell is that stupid name?!"
"Oh!" the book said excitedly, "Strong technique! You're starting with that?"
"But don't get excited…" it added, "this is only the beginning."
"How do I use this art?!" Faiser asked.
The book laughed.
"I won't tell you. You'll learn later."
Minutes of silence passed.
Breathing.
Recovery.
Then Faiser said:
"So… will you accompany me outside this world?"
"Of course." the book replied immediately, "Is that even a question?"
Faiser responded:
"And how do we get out of here?!"
Pause.
"…I think."
"What do you mean 'I think'?!"
"Don't shout." the book replied, "I'm thinking!"
"That's not reassuring."
"I know hahaha."
Faiser sighed.
"Do I have to carry you or what?"
"Oh don't worry…"
Suddenly—the book emitted a faint glow.
Then it vanished.
In its place—a simple ring appeared.
But…
it carried the same presence.
"Now…" its voice said, "you can carry me without looking like an idiot holding a talking book."
Faiser looked at the ring.
Then put it on.
"…"
Then he said calmly:
"So… are you ready?"
"Of course."
Instant reply.
"Then… let's leave this inverted world."