NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: The Book of Qaz
In the beginning, the detective was a promising young man endowed with a sharp intellect and an insatiable passion for solving puzzles. He grew up in a modest neighborhood where wealth was not measured by riches but by determination and perseverance. From an early age, he saw every problem as an opportunity to challenge himself, and over the years, he honed his skills in analysis and observation until he became regarded as one of the brightest minds in his field.
Yet beneath his achievements lay a hidden scar—a silent wound that slowly eroded his self-confidence. This was not physical pain but a deep-seated emotional mark that made every accomplishment seem dim in the shadow of an inner sense of inadequacy.
As the years passed, the detective forged his way through complex, intricate cases, relentlessly striving to prove himself in a world dominated by darkness and crime. Then came one particular case, long deemed unsolvable—a case so enshrouded in enigmas that its clues wove themselves into an inescapable web. He remembered that night as if it were etched in stone, where all the witnesses and evidence converged, yet the solution remained elusive.
Then, Arin appeared.
Without warning, Arin solved the case before everyone's eyes as if its secret had been destined for a soul born for such moments. The way he unraveled the evidence, composing the clues as if they were a simple mathematical equation, struck the detective to his core. In that moment, his self-confidence shattered; it was as if the needle had pulled the thread rather than securing it, breaking down the fortress of pride he had once considered inviolable.
That event marked a decisive turning point. Instead of succumbing to sorrow and defeat, the detective resolved to learn from this genius and to make Arin the ultimate exemplar he must emulate—even though that decision wounded his pride deeply. Now, at the age of thirty-three, despite having only observed Arin from afar, he began to boast falsely that he had been a disciple of Arin, even though Arin himself remained unaware of any such relationship. This pretense served as a feeble salve for the inner wound that had long tormented him, granting him a perverse motivation to continue his pursuit of perfection.
Thus, his past became a complex mirror—a blend of the pain of deficiency and the relentless drive for excellence, of a fragile spirit clashing with a determined mind. He still bears that scar—a constant reminder that true strength lies not in pride, but in the willingness to learn from others, even if that means admitting that you were once merely a shadow following the brilliance of a genius who can never be reached.
Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. Karsu prepared himself, donning his dark attire, and adopted a striking look with the Ashfank mask that transformed his features into a stern, rugged visage. He then set off directly for the party. As expected, one of the guards stopped him and demanded his invitation card; Karsu handed it over calmly and confidently, passing through without the slightest hesitation. Upon entering, he beheld a vast hall whose end was nowhere in sight, illuminated by the most lavish lights, while the enticing aromas of delectable food filled the air, and the event was guarded by no fewer than twenty sentinels.
Karsu moved forward with slow, deliberate steps, his eyes fixed on everyone around him with a cold, deadly resolve. The guards were alert, encircling the City Lord from every side, yet this posed no obstacle to him. In the blink of an eye, Karsu lunged toward the City Lord!
His assault was swift, lightning-fast, and lethal… However, contrary to Karsu's expectations, the City Lord parried the attack himself with his sword. A sneer curled on his lips as he mocked,
"It seems the dog loves its bone so much that it bites the hand of its master."
Before Karsu could recover, the City Lord swung his sword with overwhelming force, sending Karsu hurtling through the air for tens of meters!
But as Karsu reached the apex of his flight, he executed a mid-air twist with astonishing skill, as if the blow had never touched him. Yet his foes would not let him catch his breath: five of the guard commanders leapt at him simultaneously, unleashing their full might in an attempt to end him on the spot.
Suspended in mid-air amid this deadly barrage, Karsu spoke in a calm, confident tone:
"A catastrophic strategic error, City Lord."
The City Lord raised an eyebrow in surprise but said nothing more than to signal his guards coolly,
"Do not kill him—break a few of his ribs only."
But Karsu needed no permission from anyone…
At the very moment the guards closed in, he swiftly turned his body, using his hand to deflect a crushing stone blow, absorbing part of its force before rocketing toward the ground. The moment he landed, he sprang back up, evading the burst of flames aimed at him! Yet another commander seized the opportunity, lunging with his sword and slicing off part of his flesh.
Finally, Karsu fell to one knee, blood cascading onto the earth. Despite the wounds, he did not appear weak or defeated; he raised his head with a cold, unwavering smile, his eyes still blazing with calculating fire.
The City Lord then advanced calmly, his gaze filled with disdain, and asked:
"What did you mean when you said it was a strategic error?"
Karsu spat out blood, wiped his mouth with a stained hand, and met the City Lord's eyes directly:
"You should have restrained me instead of hurling me away. You gave me just enough time to think… and if it weren't for your guards, I would already be the victor."
The City Lord laughed derisively and replied:
"So be it… Farewell then."
Suddenly, Karsu raised his hand and flung a spray of blood at the City Lord, his voice seething with feigned anger as his eyes shone with cunning:
"Had you been a man, you would have fought me one-on-one."
The City Lord laughed mockingly:
"Weren't you the one who betrayed me?"
In a flash, Karsu sprang to his feet, backing up four paces before raising his head with a deadly, quiet finality:
"The game is over, City Lord."
Before the City Lord could fully grasp his words, a massive, viscous black substance erupted seemingly from nowhere, rapidly engulfing his body!
The guards scrambled to intervene and rescue him, but Karsu raised his hand with chilling calm:
"Do not think that injuring me will save your master."
One of the commanders advanced angrily, brandishing a chunk of rock, and bellowed:
"Do you take us for fools?"
He hurled sharp stones that sliced through part of the sticky substance—but suddenly, the very material he had severed began to regenerate and grow even more than before!
The guards' expressions gradually turned to alarm, as worry crept into their faces. One of them threatened,
"If you don't free him, we'll tear you limb from limb."
Karsu chuckled lightly and responded in a cold, lethal tone:
"In fact, you will decide whether he lives or dies… Hand over the book, and I'll remove this substance from your master."
Inside, Karsu calculated the precious seconds:
"There are less than two minutes left until the elixir's effect wears off… I must pressure them."
He then raised his voice:
"Hurry, or you'll see your master become nothing but a corpse."
No further debate ensued—sensing the real danger to their master, the guards finally handed over the book.
Karsu grasped the book firmly and began to murmur cryptic words as he strode slowly toward the exit. The guards were not fools; one of them cautiously placed his sword against Karsu's neck until the blade grazed his skin… Yet still, Karsu continued his incantation without a hint of fear.
At length, he raised the book high, declaring in a clear, steady voice:
"The Book of Qaz… The Five Qaz of Light."
In an instant, his entire body transformed into a radiant beam of light, and he vanished in a flash!
The guards stood in stunned silence until, from behind them, the City Lord's furious voice thundered:
"You fools! This is an elixir—it does me no harm! You've been deceived! Go at once and search every corner of the city!"
Elsewhere, under the shelter of a lone tree, Karsu lay battered but far from broken—his body scarred yet his spirit unbowed. Calm as ever, he retrieved a container of honey from his bag, opened a particular page in the book where the Qaz of Healing appeared, and poured the honey over it. Immediately, the healing Qaz began to glow, as if life were once again pulsing through Karsu's veins.
He smiled as his bleeding subsided gradually, murmuring softly:
"I have gotten exactly what I wanted…"