Albion was getting ready, his breakfast for the day was soup with bread. Simple but it reminded him of home, this time Albion was going to head through to 2nd path, where Ryn was waiting for him.

"Ready?" Albion nodded as the 2nd path's walls and floor changed into the insides of a creature. A spine stretched above, along with the walls that had veins inside of it. Ahead of Albion was three creatures. The Heart of Aspiration which was a human sized heart, with legs and a small arm while the other arm was essentially a large blue vein. The other two creatures were Lungs of Craving. A human sized trachea with two lungs by the arms. The trachea hole had blood dripping from it. The Heart of Aspiration's chest had a gaping mouth.

The Heart of Aspiration began to pulse, beating loudly. Even wearing the Rabbit Helmet, Albion could feel the affects of it bit by bit, it was an effect to strengthen its defenses. The Lungs of Craving went to chase after Albion, where Ryn fired her guns that struck them back for a moment.

"Go!" Albion went on ahead as the Lungs of Craving ignored him, going after Ryn instead. When they swung the lungs at her, she dodged it. Firing a few shots to their arms. Puncturing the lungs which caused them to spray out the blood, deflating the lungs. Ryn leaped back, seeing her sleeves burn up from it.

"Acid blood? Now that's new." Albion punched the Heart of Aspiration, breaking through its beats. Then it swung its arms to attack Albion, only to find itself being kicked back. The Heart looked at Albion who walked on over with a knife.

"I've always hoped I'd die one day so I can be released, but turns out here I am. Killing things again." Albion said as he stabbed the Heart of Aspiration, gutting it open. Ripping its muscles off while the Lungs of Craving charged over at Albion, only to be struck by his ability of Quick Suppression. Albion unleashed the rest of his rifle into the Heart of Aspiration, where the walls exploded.

Heart of Aspiration Suppressed.

Record Time.

You didn't die this time.

Skills granted.

Pulsation(Passive) Increases damage by 25% Chance of self stagger at 5% per strike. Fervent Beats(Active) Increases damage by 200% in a span of 5 minutes. When 5 minutes are up, you will be staggered for 10 minutes. Urging(Passive) Craving for blood, the more blood lust you have stacked. The more powerful your strikes can be. Self stagger can be negated with blood lust stacks. Maxes out at 999. Attacking enemies increases bloodlust by 5, a kill increases by 10.

"Wow. I never seen someone disarm Heart of Aspiration that fast, but you know that before you can continue onwards. You'll need to face the phantoms too right?" Albion nodded but the first thing he needed to look at was the golden light. A unique reception has been unlocked.

Unique Reception.

Hana Association Fixer.

Gaze Office Fixer

Liu Association Fixer

Coloured Fixer

Grade 1 Fixer.

Smiling Faces.

Carnival.

Fragmented Arbiter.

Ensemble member.

Albion looked at his weapon slots. He had Yun's Gloves, Rabbit's rifle, Rabbit's dagger, equipping Taein's bionic scythes that had appeared to his right shoulders. Sticking out and moving them with just his thoughts. He still had one slot open, grabbing Mo's Chainsaw sword.

"You know, if you were graded by a Fixer. We might consider you Grade 1 Material. You've got the tenacity and that bloodlust of yours. Sure is intense. Just what kind of fighter were you?"

"Most of the Hunters in my world use magic to increase their powers, and raw strength is all that's needed to increase. Ironic when I've been on dungeon portals with high casualty rates and I'd survive by the skin of my teeth. They don't look into strategy or anything else. It seems that in the Library I can fight how I want without worrying. I spend too much time trying to save people and yet, here I am. Fighting alone but I am enjoying myself at least." Albion said as he chuckled.

"You had to hold back?"

"Yeah. Anyway, I'm going for a unique reception. Fragmented Arbiter or Ensemble Member or Coloured Fixer?"

"With how reckless you are. Any of those three choices are nuts. Fragmented Arbiter might be a good start. You can get something very interesting if you win... But... It's going to be difficult."

"Then I'll take it. See ya in a bit." Albion said as he stepped into the light with the page in hand. Finding himself in a barren field, seeing a woman in a black fur coat with golden highlights. She was sipping tea as she had rings. Gold trims in hexagonal shapes and patterns all over her coat. Putting her cup down as she grinned at Albion with her glowing eyes.

NOTICE.

Fragmented Arbiter has been changed to Realized Arbiter.

DANGER LEVEL IS HIGH.

ABORT

ABORT

ABORT.

The woman swung her hand to Albion's direction as pillars came flying from nowhere, Albion dodged most of them but they were coming infinitely, there was no way out. The next best thing? Albion could only dodge it as when he aimed a shot. Firing a shot at the Arbiter where a pillar appeared to stop it.

"Damn." Albion said as he looked at all directions. Infusing mana to his body, putting all the 50 into it as he dashed over to strike at the Arbiter who continued to sip her cup of tea. Albion managed to dodge the incoming pillars, and when he got close. She clenched her hands to a fist. Where Albion found himself chained down.

Clicking his tongue as the pillars pummeled his body from all sides. Jack hammers breaking the Rabbit armor and helmet, Albion felt his entire body be put under the strength of a hydraulic press. Slowly crushing his body as Albion felt the pillars slowly grind him into a pile of meat. The arbiter continued sipping her tea, not bothered by what she had seen. Smiling menacingly at Albion's remains, through his eye. He could see all of this, where she walked on over and stepped on his eye.

Albion found himself on the floor, feeling his loss. Staring at the empty ceiling of books that were piled all above him.

"Ho? Back already? Did you lose?" Ryn spoke as she sorted out books at the side.

"Fragmented Arbiter turned into a Realized Arbiter. i never knew that the strength gap was this huge." Albion said as he smacked his head.

The Library is reacting to your skill level.

It seems that the Realized Arbiter had been powered up due to your high speed suppression of an abnormality.

Time moves differently here. Every day you spend in the Library. It will be a month in your world.

The Unique Reception was lost.

All other pages from this point onwards have been empowered to match your skill level.

"Ryn."

"Yeah?"

"Stay here. I need to see how much changes have occurred." Albion said as he went into Pierre's Bistro first, where Pierre and Jack made their appearance. Pierre a white haired woman wearing a chef's uniform wielding a knife while Jack was wearing a butcher's apron and wielded a large cleaver. They went after him with glowing eyes, Pierre was the first to close the gap. Thrusting strikes to Albion's armor, then stepping to the side where Jack swung his clear at Albion. The bionic scythes manage to divert it away, but Albion still had to worry about Pierre appearing from the left. Stabbing the gap in the armor, Albion pushed them back with the chainsaw sword. Revving it loudly as he went ahead to charge at them. Pierre was the faster one among the two but the coordination between them was akin to a pincer. Only that one was faster and one was stronger.

Albion had to get used to this, the bionic scythes were able to match with his combat instinct, parrying both blades at the same time, a kick to Pierre and then focusing on slashing Jack down. Staggering Jack, then going in for the kill. Pierre came to stop the blow from behind, the scythes struck her three times. Followed by a kick to send her back. Albion swung the chainsaw sword to hack Jack's head off. Then his eyes glowed crimson as he darted off to Pierre, driving the blade into Pierre's chest. Grinning as he slashed Pierre down in two.

"If It wasn't for this suit. I'd be dead. Damn. It looks like I've gotten weaker."

Due to the changes.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Unique Receptions are available.

Do you want to challenge the Arbiter?

"Yes."

Albion was back to where he was when he first met the Arbiter.

"Fervent Beats." Albion said as he first leaped straight to the Arbiter using the Graze the Grass ability to close in the gap. The Arbiter kept on smiling as the two bionic scythes slashed her, followed by the chainsaw sword to slash her head right off.

"So Arbiter's main weakness is that they can't fight in close quarters if they can't keep track of their targets." Albion said as he stepped out to see Ryn smiling at him.

"Whoa. You defeated a Realized Arbiter. That's a page that exclusively belonged to Binah. The Patron Librarian of Philosophy." Albion swapped the Rabbit Uniform for the the Realized Arbiter. Seeing himself wear a black coat with the fur by the collar, looking at the rings that were fitted for his fingers.

"So I can use pillars, I can lock enemies. I can break their attacks by using it repeatedly." Albion said, he still kept the Rabbit helmet because it was useful.

New Skills obtained.

Fairy Attacking enemies with Arbiter skills will increase damage by a multiplier of 5. Chain Binds enemies for 30 seconds. Single lock. Pillars Unleash black pillars to attack enemies, upon hit, send them flying.

Pillars may also be used to craft cover. Lock Locks enemy's skills for a certain period.

Increases magic cost for enemies. Shockwave AOE attack. Gesture needed : Snapping fingers.

MP cost 10.

"System. Is there possible ways to upgrade my inventory?"

Yes.

It is possible to upgrade equipment.

Your current inventory and stats can be upgraded in the equipment selection at the lobby.

Cost will be pages.

Albion already had a lot of those since the repeated fights from earlier. The pages he would keep are the enhanced pages.

"Ryn. I'm headed back to the lobby. Going to need to get stronger."

"Alrighty. Toodle loo." She gestured as she went back to sleep on the couch, Albion returned to the lobby. Finding a crafting bench for him to use.

Crafting initiated.

Increase HP cost 5 pages.

Increase by 10.

Increase MP cost 5 pages

Increase by 10.

Increase ATK cost 10 pages.

Increase by 10 Add Special ability cost 100 pages.

Add unique function

Cost 100 pages.

Increase DEF costs 10 pages.

Increase by 10.

Albion had 100 pages of the First path. 100 pages of each. 15 enemies, so he had 1500 pages in total.

250 for HP.

250 for MP.

250 ATK.

250 DEF.

That leaves him with 500 to spare.

Albion 'Lynx' Herrington.

HP 700 MP 550 ATK 285 DEF 320

"That should increase survivability at least." The other 500 pages? Albion wasn't sure of what to do with it.

"Add Special Function."

Confirmed. Special Function list generated.

Speed III

Increases speed of movements. Block Breaker.

13 hits from you will break a block. Distorted Presence.

Makes user harder to target at random intervals. Arms master.

Increases critical hit chances with weapons. True Lynx.

???????? Unchained Lynx.

?????? Predator

Attacking enemies in predator state increases offence by 75% but lowers defense by 75%. Speed is increased. Charge Capacity 3.

Stacks charges after combat until reaches max.

After max, excess charge is used to power up attacks.

"True Lynx, Unchained Lynx, Predator, Distorted Presence and Charge Capacity 3." Albion said as the special function was now added to his skills.

"What's the two Lynxes for?"

The Library resonated with your desire to become stronger. True Lynx and Unchained Lynx are the result of that.

They are two paths you may make.

More answers will be revealed when you break through the Keter floor.

Why do you want to get stronger?

"Hunters in my world used regular people as bait. My younger sister died because of a particular Hunter who had big connections in the world allowed a dungeon to appear in the school and let them be bait. I knew the truth but no one would listen. The rules of the world are the strong has power over everyone. How strong can this library make me?"

Strong enough that only a select few can beat you.

Albion grinned, the excitement he had felt. The powers he had and the idea that he was going to be fighting more of powerful opponents had excited him. It felt invigorating, to hear that. Power must come at a price? The price will be his struggle. Albion went over to fight the Streetlight Office. Seeing one of them wielding a great sword, a black baton and a striped black and yellow bat. Another 6 people with a mix of shorts swords and spears.

Ryn was present but Albion asked her to stand down, letting him go after the group by himself. Mars, Lulu and San. The three of them had great coordination. Mars swung his great sword first, forcing Albion to dodge it. Followed by San with the black baton, fast thrusting attacks like a fencer to push him to where Lulu was. She held her striped bat that was set ablaze, a swing that was aimed at the shoulder. Albion blocked it with the back of his hand, slapping the bat away as he readied his chainsaw blade. Lulu managed to dodge that, jumping a few steps back as her friends joined in with their spears and short swords.

Coordinated attacks, Albion used the pillars. Sending Lulu's friends flying into the air. Followed by using fairy to strike at the others repeatedly. A snap of his fingers, creating a shockwave that injured the phantoms. Then drawing out the chainsaw blade to carve his way to victory. The pillars were natural to use, Albion didn't even need to use any of his guns, the shockwave was a great tool to use.

Weapons wise, there wasn't anything interesting here for him to use but he's going to have more repeated battles. Until he has their power.

"Again." The reception occurred, constantly going into that fight as Albion repeated the combat another 99 times. Just to get their pages, so he can increase his power later. After that was done, Albion headed to the next floor. Seeing a figure in a white cloak,eyes closed with white hair tied into a pony tail. Standing as he rested his palms over a great sword that had been adorned with a lock.

"Hello. My name is Yan."

"Weren't you booked like me?" Ryn was the first to ask where Yan gave a nod.

"I was... It seems that.. I have been reborn as the 2nd in command of the Keter floor." Yan spoke as he placed his right hand to the chest and bowing to them.

"You fought the library before?"

"Yes. As an Index. To ensure that the library would not cause problems for the city as per the Will of the Prescripts... It seems that by the Prescript's will that I've been reborn. Ironic, to be the assistant librarian on the floor that had turned me into a book." Yan said with a sigh.

Yan

Assistant Librarian, 2nd in command of the Keter Librarians.

Former Index Messenger.

He has been brought back to life by the power of the library.

An Index Messenger who once wished to change the world.

Yet, he had later turned into a distortion.

His current reincarnation boasts the power of his distorted self.

Robbed of his free will and faith lost in the Prescripts he had duly given to many.

Creating fake prescripts and was later found into a truth that had him lose everything to his mind.

Further distorting.

"I am the 3rd Path. Is there anything that you wish to ask?"

"I'm sorry about your story."

"It is not an issue. I do wonder if I am free from the Prescripts?" Yan spoke as he turned his head to the side, perhaps to ponder or rather out of shame.

"If you truly believe you are free, then you must be free. You're not bound by the rules of your old world right? Then I doubt that helps thinking about it." Yan gave a nod with a smile, still keeping his eyes closed.

"Then what about you?"

"Might makes right. Anyone who's got strength is the one who leads everyone else. So the strong trample the weak and unpowered as much as they like." Albion answered as he looked at the next Abnormality. Pinocchio. Turning to Yan and Ryn who gave him a nod.

Stepping into the light, now seeing the abnormality before him. Three puppets on strings, Pinocchio the Liar, Pinocchio the Curious, Pinocchio the Copy Cat.

A pop up appeared.

'Pinocchios has copied the pages of your use." The three Pinocchios transformed into them but with wooden surfaces,

"Pinocchio was a boy that wanted to be human. Made of wood. How interesting. To think such a fairy tale was presenting itself before me. It's what I used to tell the kids in my orphanage! Let's go!" Albion, Yan and Ryn went to charge at the Pinocchios that were before them.