Pallez interrupted Leonard's silent shouts, then said no more.
Leonard vigilantly looked around, and the next moment, he saw the ancient and simple "City of Miracles" deeper in the spiritual world beneath his feet, which resembled both a temple and a palace.
On the tallest grey-white stone pillar of Liveseyd, a giant grey-white dragon was coiled.
He had a pair of light golden vertical pupils, and two misty, leathery wings spread out behind him, with complex and three-dimensional mysterious symbols engraved on his grey-white scales.
Just by looking at the symbols on those scales, Leonard felt dizzy and disoriented, with various thoughts constantly emerging in his mind, making him want to tear his body apart.
The next moment, all the negative emotions on his body suddenly vanished.
Only Pallez's voice echoed in his mind: "Don't look at what you shouldn't look at."
Leonard quickly recovered, and when he looked again, the giant floating city had reached a level even with him and was rapidly ascending, as if to return to the sky above.
Directly above them, illusory seawater, shimmering with figures, swept and gathered, quickly engulfing Liveseyd until not even a trace of its shadow could be seen.
"I have retrieved Liveseyd. This book will be left to you. It is an item I made using the Visionary's ability. Even though I am no longer the Dragon of Imagination, items that have already been materialized will not disappear because of that."
"You can keep the book world here and let those who come in from the outside continue to live here, or you can forge it into a Mystical Item. You should also be very skilled at making Mystical Items."
Ankewelt's voice echoed in Leyton's mind like rolling Thunder God, as if he was whispering in his ear while maintaining his dragon form. It gradually faded after a long while.
What does he mean, I should also be very skilled at making Mystical Items? Did he guess something?
While pondering, Leyton looked at the people behind him, curled the corners of his mouth, and chuckled:
"Alright, the Honest Hall sightseeing tour ends here. I will notify you all if there are similar opportunities in the future."
"No need, I don't want there to be such a future."
Klein responded with a cold, expressionless voice.
Mr. World doesn't seem as gloomy as before. It seems this journey had a significant impact on him. However, this should be a positive impact. Being too gloomy is not good for mental health. Audrey was already exercising her Spectator instincts, carefully observing everyone around her.
Leyton didn't care about Klein's answer and continued to speak to himself:
"It's a pity I didn't see the things sealed by Ankewelt. He might have arrived at Liveseyd even earlier than us."
"Things sealed?" Klein asked curiously.
Leyton pondered and replied:
"Corruption from the Chaos Sea underground. That should also include part of his power from when he was the Dragon of Imagination."
Leonard, beside him, narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze had been fixed on Klein, but he still couldn't recall ever knowing such a person.
Old Man, do you think his current appearance might be a disguise? I remember there's a Sequence called Faceless. They have the ability to disguise themselves as others at will, to the point where even their closest friends can't recognize them.
"Don't ask me everything. Can't you think for yourself?"
Pallez mumbled discontentedly, sounding as if he was disappointed.
With their own thoughts, everyone returned in the direction they came from. Without much time, they left the spiritual world and returned to the place where the Northern King Ulyssan was killed.
As soon as Leonard left the spiritual world, he saw the Old Man's descendant looking at him with some apprehension. Before he could react, his body was taken over by Pallez.
"You don't plan to leave this book world anymore?"
Pallez's aged voice made this statement sound particularly certain, as if he was stating Mobet's True inner thoughts.
"Anyway, so many years have passed outside now. All those friends from before, and relatives other than you, they're all gone."
"And, with your current state, I can't help you much..."
Mobet's voice, like his head, sank lower and lower.
Everyone fell silent. Although they didn't quite understand Mobet's choice, no one spoke, all quietly waiting for the King of Angels on Leonard's body to answer.
After a moment of silence, Pallez continued to control Leonard's body and spoke again:
"Alright, perhaps you can live better in this book world."
"The outside world is not many years away from the apocalypse. Those old things, dead and not dead, have started to become active. At least in this book world, it's safe enough."
Apocalypse? What's going on? How did it suddenly come to the apocalypse? Fors looked at Leonard with a bewildered expression, trying to discern the King of Angels' expression from his face.
Not many years left until the apocalypse? But I haven't seen any signs... No, there are some. Recently, almost every Tarot Club, Mr. Hanged Man shares some major events at sea, each of which can be considered a major event.
Moreover, the former Dragon of Imagination has returned, Mr. Fool should also be in a state of recovery, plus this King of Angels, and those King of Angels mentioned at the Tarot Club... I have, without realizing it, directly or indirectly come into contact with such great beings who can be called great existences!
Audrey's thoughts surged in her mind. She had subconsciously accepted the talk of the apocalypse... Next time at the Tarot Club, I'll find an opportunity to ask Mr. Fool.
Leyton looked at Mobet and the few people behind him, and spoke in a calm voice:
"So, is there anyone among you willing to leave this book world?"
"If you want to stay, you can tell me the life you want to live. The Dragon of Imagination gave me this book. I will try to modify the content of this book later."
Frunziar, Snowman, and the others all looked at Mobet. If they wanted to leave the book world alive, they would need Pallez's help, but the other party was Mobet's elder, not theirs, so there was no reason for him to expend effort to help them.
Mobet's gaze drifted towards Leonard, and he said with some apprehension:
"Old Man, can you take these two friends of mine out?"
"Frunziar has been in here for the shortest time, only a few hundred years. It shouldn't be a problem for you. Snowman... he came in a bit earlier than me, probably about..."
Pallez directly interrupted Mobet, saying calmly:
"Since this book won't be taken back by Ankewelt, you can leave whenever you want."
"If you all want to leave, then send someone out to collect enough lifespan, after all, I am just an old man being hunted, and it's not suitable for me to move around frequently."
Mobet and his companions behind him exchanged glances for a moment. He suddenly felt that Pallez's suggestion made a lot of sense. Looking around, he tentatively asked:
"Who should we send out to collect lifespan?"
The elf Siatas swept a wisp of dark, shiny hair from her forehead and said with some impatience:
"Who else could it be but you?"
"Groselle and I have been in this book for too long, at least two or three thousand years of lifespan are needed. Frunziar only became a Beyonder after entering here, so even if he goes out, he will instantly become an ordinary person."
Mobet mumbled softly: "Isn't there still Snowman?"
Siatas glanced at Snowman, and said without lowering her voice at all:
"He is completely sealed in his world of faith, even less reliable than you."
Snowman did not refute Siatas's words and calmly looked at Mobet, saying:
"Your ability is sufficiently strange and covert, more suitable than mine."
Mobet looked at Siatas, the emotions in his eyes unclear. He was silent for a moment before saying:
"Before advancing to Demigod, I don't have very strong combat ability, and exchanging for others' lifespan will inevitably lead to combat."