LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 5: Bourkesso who can't leave
"Mage, we have never truly named my world, but we call it Diablo," said Bourkesso, taking another sip of spirits from the medicine bottle. He spoke with a hint of melancholy while exchanging words with Gu Yi.
"That world, the one you call Diablo, can you tell me more about it?" Gu Yi asked, sitting directly in the snow on the Holy Mountain of Harrogath. Her demeanor was straightforward, without pretension.
"Ha! Mage, you've earned my favor. That Li Min always upholds the 'nobility' of mages. I could never get along with her. Your spells may not be as powerful as hers, but you're better—more approachable, more human," Bourkesso said with a faint smirk, his spirits lifted slightly.
"If you want to know about my world, come with me." He stood up slowly, heading toward the only intact building on the Holy Mountain of Harrogath.
The structure was known as the Temple of the Elders. Inside was the vision of the first Immortal King and the miracle of the dark world—Kanai's Cube.
Bourkesso suspected that the lingering presence of Malthael on the Holy Mountain was tied to this miracle.
Reluctantly, Gu Yi stood up again, humbled by Bourkesso's invitation. Her earlier pride softened after witnessing his power and realizing the sheer strength of this enigmatic barbarian.
They walked through Harrogath, Bourkesso leading the way. The paths were wide and open, the architecture rough and utilitarian, embodying the straightforward nature of the Barbarians. Aside from a few hardy trees, the landscape was dotted with incomplete, rugged buildings.
To Gu Yi, the scene was alien and fascinating.
"This is it," Bourkesso declared, stopping before the Immortal King's Throne. Before them stood the bright, mysterious Kanai's Cube, radiating an enigmatic power.
Bourkesso gazed at the illusion of the first Immortal King, Burkessore—the ancestor of the Nephalem—which appeared before him like a pre-recorded vision. This ancestral illusion recounted tales of the Barbarians and Kanai's Cube, but only appeared to those visiting the mountain for the first time.
However, Bourkesso's interest lay not in the illusion, but in the Cube itself.
The Kanai's Cube was no ordinary artifact. It could transform mundane materials into legendary items, alter the properties of resources, enchant gear, or extract powers from legendary equipment to imbue them in people. In essence, it could accomplish the impossible—though it could not create life.
Yet it could preserve and seal memories in gems, providing instant and vivid understanding of its contents.
Gu Yi observed the illusion of the Immortal King but felt no power emanating from it—it was purely symbolic. The Cube, however, exuded a force comparable to the Time Stone, momentarily stirring a sense of greed within her. She quickly quelled the feeling, regaining her composure.
"Your will impresses me, Mage," said Bourkesso, noticing her restraint. "When Li Min saw Kanai's Cube for the first time, she wasn't nearly as composed."
Bourkesso took a gem—an octagonal ruby, half the size of his fist—and placed it into Kanai's Cube. He began to pour his memories of the world into it.
Gu Yi, watching intently, sensed the powerful energy from the gem. While it wouldn't transform her abilities, it would amplify her destructive potential. For the first time, she fully acknowledged Bourkesso's strength—not just his raw power, but the wealth and knowledge of his world.
The nonchalant way he handled the gem spoke volumes, arousing her curiosity even further.
In the Cube, Bourkesso sealed key memories: the fortress of Sescheron, the Holy Mountain of Harrogath, and his battles against the Hell Lords alongside other Nephalems. He omitted the majority of his demon-slaying history but included his knowledge of forging and combat skills—treasures of immense value.
The gem, now infused with memories, leapt from the Cube and landed in Bourkesso's palm.
"Mage, touch it with your spirit, and you'll find what you seek," he said, tossing the gem to Gu yi