Drift Of The Multiverse

"A book?"

What Merlin placed before Ethan was a thick tome with a leather cover that felt both strange and unsettling to the touch. Ethan couldn't determine what kind of material the cover was made from, but it exuded an unusual sensation, something flowing beneath its solid surface, almost alive.

Embedded in the center of the cover was a white magic stone, seamlessly fused into the book. It protruded slightly, though its presence defied logic. The cover was too thin to accommodate the full depth of the magic stone. Curious, Ethan tried to open the book, only to find that no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't budge.

"You can't open it yet," Merlin explained. "You won't be able to use it until you've successfully imprinted your mental power into the core of the book."

Ethan immediately understood. It was a process to recognize an owner.

"How do I do that?"

"Concentrate your mental power and transfer it into the magic stone, the core of the book. Once that's done, the book will guide you on what to do next."

Following Merlin's instructions, Ethan channeled his mental power into the stone. The process went smoothly, and moments later, the book responded to his imprint. For the first time, it allowed him to open it.

When he did, Ethan noticed that the pages on either side of the thick tome were perfectly symmetrical, as though he had turned directly to the middle of the book. However, to his dismay, the two pages presented to him were entirely blank.

Frowning, he flipped forward through the pages—still blank.

He flipped backward—also blank.

Confused, Ethan noticed something odd. No matter how many pages he turned, the thickness of the pages on each side of the book never seemed to change. It was as though the book defied the normal rules of space.

"What's going on?" he asked, his confusion turning to frustration.

Merlin, clearly pleased with his work, refused to spoil the mystery outright. With a knowing smile, he offered a hint: "Try using your mental power to read it."

Ethan followed the advice, and to his amazement, text began to appear on the previously blank pages. He quickly realized that the book didn't just require mental power to open, it also required it to read.

Even more fascinating, the content of the book wasn't fixed. Instead, it seemed to respond to his thoughts, presenting information based on his mental queries.

"A magical encyclopedia?" Ethan murmured, astonished.

Curiosity piqued, he tried asking the book a question unrelated to magic. However, the pages remained blank, confirming that its purpose was exclusively tied to magic-related knowledge.

Seeing that Ethan had figured out the basic usage, Merlin began explaining the book's other functions.

"I modeled this magic book after the wristband you gave me, combining its features with the properties of the white magic stone. I also took the liberty of copying my magical knowledge into it, so you'll have a reliable reference whenever you face magical problems in the future."

Ethan looked up, startled. He hadn't expected Merlin to go that far. The idea that Merlin had transferred his entire repository of magical knowledge into the book left him momentarily speechless. It was an extraordinary gesture, the equivalent of passing down his full inheritance, something usually reserved for only the closest of disciples.

"This… this is too much," Ethan said, his voice heavy with gratitude.

Merlin waved off the concern with a smile, placing a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder. "I'm curious to see how far you'll go. If you manage to rise to the top with the help of this magic book, it'll make for a fine tale, one that might even bring me some recognition across the multiverse."

Ethan chuckled awkwardly, still overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift.

"Alright," Merlin continued, "let me explain how to use this magic book properly. After all, you don't have much time left in this world."

Time was indeed running out. Ethan still needed to learn how to control space-time energy from Merlin, as he had no grasp of that power yet. Unfortunately, the creation of the magic book had consumed several days, leaving only a short window before Ethan would have to leave. To make up for this, Merlin had recorded all the relevant knowledge about space-time energy in the magic book, organizing it into a dedicated chapter for Ethan to study later.

As Merlin walked him through the book's features, Ethan realized just how remarkable it truly was.

Not only did it contain all of Merlin's magical knowledge, but it also structured the recommended cultivation methods in a systematic way. The book became a critical tool for assisting Ethan in his magical training.

Every interaction with the book required mental power—opening it, reading it, and even progressing through the training exercises recorded within. The book included numerous minor spells designed to strengthen mental power. These spells were structured like a game, requiring Ethan to complete certain tasks or meet specific requirements before unlocking the next stage of training. This design prevented him from skipping ahead recklessly and harming his foundations.

Additionally, the magic book had the ability to scan and absorb the contents of other books. Once absorbed, their information would be stored within its pages, allowing Ethan to access them freely. This feature alone was a lifesaver, sparing him the burden of lugging around stacks of heavy tomes.

With this ability, Ethan could transfer the contents of all the books on his ship into the magic book, turning it into a portable library. Any books he acquired in the future could also be stored in the same way.

But what truly astonished Ethan was that these were just the basic functions of the magic book.

Of course, someone as powerful as Merlin wouldn't have spent days crafting a simple magical tool. The time and effort he had poured into this creation hinted at far greater capabilities yet to be revealed.

"This book is far more than a simple tool for learning magic," Merlin began. "It's made from rare and durable materials, rendering it nearly indestructible. Neither physical force nor magical attacks can leave a mark on it."

"To ensure its preservation, I've also inscribed restorative magic circles into the book. Even if someone somehow manages to damage it, the book will automatically repair itself."

Ethan stared at the tome in awe. It wasn't just a learning tool, it was a top-tier defensive artifact.

He had clearly underestimated Merlin.

"Of course, I didn't stop at durability and self-repair," Merlin continued, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "The book also has a built-in magic shield, which you can activate using your mental power to defend yourself."

Ethan blinked in disbelief.

"The shield can operate as a single-user barrier, but if you channel more mental power into it, it can expand to protect multiple people."

Ethan didn't know what to say. Internally, he gave Merlin a silent thumbs-up.

The shield's energy came from the magic stone embedded in the book's cover. Merlin had ingeniously designed an array to recharge the stone's energy continuously, ensuring the shield wouldn't run out of power mid-battle.

"And that's not all," Merlin added. "The book enhances offensive magic as well, allowing you to cast spells faster and with greater power."

Ethan's excitement grew, but Merlin quickly tempered it with a caveat.

"To encourage you to work harder, I've made one adjustment," Merlin said. "The offensive boost isn't tied to the magic stone's energy. If you want to use the book to amplify your magic, you'll have to rely on your own power."

"...You've really thought of everything," Ethan muttered, feeling equal parts impressed and overwhelmed.

By the time Merlin finished explaining, Ethan realized this "magic book" wasn't just a tool or artifact—it was a masterpiece.

"If I had a stat screen," Ethan thought, "my luck stat would definitely be maxed out. Probably S-rank with three plus signs." He glanced down at the tome in his hands, unable to suppress a grin. "At least!"

Ethan was already reluctant to let the book out of his grasp. He wanted to hold onto it even while sleeping.

"So," Ethan asked, "does this book have a name yet?"

Merlin shook his head with a smile. "It's your book. You should be the one to name it."

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then stared intently at the tome in his hands. Finally, he made up his mind.

"Merlin's Book of Inheritance! How does that sound?"

He looked up at Merlin, as if seeking approval—or perhaps something more.

Merlin didn't give a direct response. Instead, he said, "As I said, it's your magic book. The name is yours to decide."

Ethan sighed, thinking Merlin had rejected the name. But then the great mage added:

"That said, I do think it's a good name. I look forward to the day when your name and this book's name spread across countless worlds."

"I'll make sure it happens!" Ethan declared, his resolve hardening.

With treasures like the time-space orb and Merlin's magic book in his possession, Ethan knew he had been given opportunities most people couldn't even dream of. To squander them would be unthinkable.

"As a traveler between worlds, I've already been granted a powerful start. If I can't make something of myself with all this, it just means I'm not working hard enough. This kind of opportunity… It couldn't be better."

Ethan's mind was set. He would practice, grow stronger, and rise to the top.

For the next few days, Ethan threw himself into intense study and training. Even the time-space energy manipulation he had planned to learn gradually began to show signs of progress, much to his surprise.

It helped that Ethan's stay in this world had been extended by an additional week, giving him more time to absorb Merlin's teachings. Despite Merlin's insistence that he wasn't Ethan's official teacher, Ethan had already come to see him as a mentor.

In Ethan's view, the benefits he had received from Merlin far exceeded the scope of their original agreement. Gratitude alone compelled him to treat the legendary mage as his teacher, regardless of Merlin's own perspective.