On Earth, besides being a fangirl of his novel, she was also a close friend of his. They shared a friendship of five years, ever since he started writing his masterpiece.
Leaving that aside, the reason for his shock was something else entirely.
After hearing their secret of enslaving Earthlings' potential, his mind was blown away.
It meant reality had somehow merged with his own imagination, creating a universe that was entirely new and unknown.
How had he written the future of this complex universe? He didn't know. But just how was this possible? In his novel, there was never a mention of Earth.
Everything seemed shrouded by a layer of mystery. He couldn't get his head around it no matter what.
Nevertheless, he calmed his racing mind, focusing on the urgent situation.
Nina had somehow regained her will. She immediately panicked after seeing the giant angelic figures.
"Hey, who are you all? Where is my Grimoire? Are you the ones who give away the Grimoires?" she asked naively.
'Foolish girl,' Egon muttered inwardly, heavy with disappointment.
As a trial reader of The Akashic Record of Supreme Magus, she should have known the plot and setting clearly. She should have known these people were the major villains.
So why was she making such a foolish move? Doesn't she realize how much danger she was in with her black hair?
Egon's mind raced, struggling to accept the fact that the sharp-witted Nina was showing such disappointing performance.
'Or could it be she doesn't remember the novel at all?' he realized with a jolt of chilling clarity. 'Maybe she doesn't even remember Earth as well. The process of caging the soul on Earth, or the transfer to this broken realm, must have wiped her memories of the grand conspiracy, leaving only her core personality intact.'
This meant he couldn't rely on her to escape the current predicament.
He had to be the mastermind, not just the author.
The golden-armored Angels, however, were closing in on Nina, their giant hands ready to crush her potential.
"Silence, slave!" Zadkiel rumbled, his voice shaking the entire broken realm. "You have no right to question your fate. Confiscate her soul power immediately! Begin the process of stripping!"
The archangel reached out his massive hand immediately.
"Come on, little human. Let's flush out your very existence."
At that critical moment, Egon acted.
Using his overwhelming soul power, he grabbed Nina's hand and ran toward the Library of Eternity, which was just behind the throne.
Egon knew once they went inside the Library of Eternity, no one would be able to use their powers. Everyone's mana would turn null. And that's exactly what Egon wanted.
Everything happened so fast that, for a moment, Zadkiel couldn't react. But the moment he understood, his voice echoed like an absolute decree.
"T'kaar (Stop)!"
Of course, Zadkiel had the power of time. Something Egon forgot to consider in the haste of the moment.
Zadkiel froze the whole timeline in this broken realm just to stop these two unknown disturbances. In this state no one can move, not even his followers.
He then rose from his throne, revealing his perfectly sculpted, god-like physique. Long shimmering golden hair, 12 golden feathery wings, and a flawless face made him a vision of an Immortal God.
His sapphire gaze locked onto Egon and Nina's unmoving figures with contempt.
"You thought this little trick could work on me? You humans can be so naive sometimes," he uttered with a sneer.
"First, let me absorb your Soul Power for your transgression. Then, I shall lock you two in frozen hell to interrogate how you puny humans managed to break from my shackles," he added, moving his hand closer.
Snap!
With just a snap of his finger, the extraction began.
Egon and Nina's soul power was being drained away at a visible speed. If this continued, they both would be crippled for life. With a lack of Soul Power, they would never be able to wield the magical powers of Grimoires. Even their lifespan would be greatly reduced.
But just then, something even more ridiculous happened.
Whoosh!
From the Library of Eternity, a small object hurtled toward Egon at an impossible speed, ignoring Zadkiel's restraints on the Timeline.
"NO!" Zadkiel roared and tried to stop it, but he was too late.
The small object (a mystical feathery quill) drilled inside Egon's body as if it's the place it always rightfully belonged.
Egon broke free from the time freeze almost immediately. He was momentarily confused, looking into Zadkiel's giant, mortified face.
Zadkiel himself couldn't move at this moment. He was frozen in his own time domain. Something more powerful had locked him in place.
Not wasting this chance, Egon quickly grabbed Nina's hand and went inside the library at once.
And just after a moment of his escape, Zadkiel broke free, the space before him shattering like glass. He released an enraged primal roar that shook the realm itself.
"You Senile Old Fool! How dare You Interfere in my business. I will kill you! I will kill everyone you care about!"
His followers broke free and heard his roars. They were instantly scared senseless upon seeing the dark face of their Lord.
Very soon, Zadkiel calmed down, his face showing a cold, calculating expression. Those who knew him understood this terrifying calmness was far more dangerous than his wild rage.
He quickly addressed the thousands of golden warriors before him in a calm tone.
"Go, bring me that old man's head, along with those two human souls. I want them alive."
Instantly, every Angelic Warrior in shining golden armor and weapon, who had been guarding the human souls until now, moved inside the Library of Eternity in a uniform rhythm.
Thud, Thud, Thud!
Clang, Clang, Clang!
They moved with an eerie, mechanical grace; their lord's command was the only thing ringing inside their minds.
Zadkiel knew that inside the Library, magical powers wouldn't work; that's why he sent his Elite Golden Warriors who would do their work with pinpoint efficiency in that Infinite Library.
The chance of Egon and Nina's survival reduced dramatically.
The Library of Eternity was no small place, but a nigh-infinite library with countless floors, each containing an uncountable amount of shelves containing Soul Books.
Wherever Egon's eyes landed, all he saw were those mystical tomes.
Egon was amazed, as was Nina, who had just regained control of her body.
Her gaze then turned to the black-haired boy beside her, who felt somewhat familiar.
"So, where are we? Who were those angels? Why did you save me?"