Cursed Immortality

Jacob walked into the long, narrow tunnel lit with magic torches. Actually, the tunnel was quite spacious, but not for a giant, so he was having some difficulty walking. 

Nonetheless, Jacob didn't mind the minor details as his focus was entirely on this meticulously built place. He had to admit if not for the AI's direction, he would've been lost in this underground maze. 

After walking and following directions for over twenty minutes, Jacob finally reached another staircase, and a door was opening just like the one he had entered through this place. 

Walking out, Jacob found himself standing in the center of a spacious library. It was filled with bookshelves, and his eyes shone, 'This is all the knowledge Margret had accumulated in the epic plains.' 

He longed for this kind of place and knew just how fortunate he was to found it. Since Margret had been so powerful, her collection wouldn't be any less impressive either. 

"We are in the Western Wing of the Witch Palace. Palace Master is currently in the Library. In this place, there are four separate knowledge sections. 

"Section A stored all the previous palace master research. Section B stored all the magic-related knowledge for the Sorcery. Section C is for the Combat. Section D is for alchemy. 

"The treasury is located in the hidden section. Would you like to head in the treasury?" 

Jacob's lips rose as all the knowledge he wanted was here, and he said, "Let's head there." 

Although he wanted to be submerged in that knowledge right away, he couldn't help but wonder just how many treasures the Witch Queen had left here. He was pretty sure those treasures wouldn't fall short of the wealth of the three leaders of the three hegemonies. 

The moment he gave his command, he heard some large cogwheels suddenly move, and the next moment, the right wall of the library filled with bookshelves suddenly split and opened like a door!

Behind that wall was a silvery door that started to shift left while making deep sounds, and behind that door appeared a huge glittering space. 

Without hesitation, Jacob moved toward the treasury with ecstasy. As he stepped inside, he was rooted in his place when he saw the dazzling sight of treasures stored in that place. 

There were weapons, pills, magic scrolls, space rings, and talismans. Hills of magic gems, magic cores, raw materials, herbs, and ores. They were all neatly arranged and encased in a special corporeal barrier to make sure they wouldn't wilt or lose their essentials no matter how many years they were stored there. 

However, what truly stuck out from all those treasures were three glass columns in the center and three items hovering above them; a black book, a black robe, and a faceless white mask.

"Why are these three items stored separately from others?" Jacob tried asking the AI as he moved toward them. 

The AI replied, "They are the most precious items in the whole treasury. The black book is a Unique Rank Universal Scripture called the Dusk of Black Magic. It is also the universal scripture the previous palace master cultivates, and it's suitable for any curse-related magic core. As her successor, you should also cultivate this, for it is the most precious treasure of the Witch Queen. 

"The Black Robe is a Basic Unique Rank Armor, handcrafted by the previous palace master for her successor. Its size can be adjusted according to the wearer's size, and it has a clearing, fire, dust, and water resistance magic runes engraved in it. 

"The Gluttony Mask is something she found by chance in a no-retune zone. Its exact rank is unknown, for it is a mysterious treasure. 

"The previous Palace Master was only able to find two functions of this mask. As long as you feed the Gluttony Mask a complete corpse of a living being, it can change your facial features, and body composition into that exact corpse that it devoured. Once it feeds again, the previous disguise will be overwritten by the new one. 

"The second function is related to the first feature. The Gluttony Mask seemed to have the ability to become stronger as it ate corpses like a living being. In a sense, this mask is alive, and it could also affect the wearer's mind because it would absorb all the resentments of the dead person it devours. 

"The Witch Queen only left this behind because she didn't want her successor to die. But she also left a word of caution: don't feed it too much unless you have strong mental strength, or it might devour the wearer's mind. Right now, the Gluttony Mask is around the intermediate epic rank, and a female goblin's disguise is its current disguise.

"Lastly, this mask required Mystic Signature to control. Without it, it's just an ordinary skin mask." 

Jacob was astounded by the first two items since they were both welcoming. But the strange Gluttony Mask was simply an unexpected surprise. 

'Not only this mask can change facial but body composition after eating a corpse, which should be impossible. But it won't even come closer to the fact that this thing is alive and can grow by devouring corpses. Not to mention it can affect the mind!' Jacob thought with a grave expression as he looked at the white mask, which seemed extremely ordinary, but it was the most sinister thing in this entire treasury. 

Furthermore, he was sure the Witch Queen hadn't left it behind out of the kindness of her heart. Or who in their right mind would leave behind a treasure that can virtually grow endlessly? 

Although he had to admit Margret was quite generous and even kind enough to leave behind all these treasures for her successor. But that mask was too out of place, and this gave Jacob all sorts of reasons not to get involved in it. 

The Witch Queen was too mysterious, and that mask was even more. Besides, he needed a mystic signature to operate that mask, which he didn't have at that moment. 

So even if he was suicidal enough and tempted by its ability to change faces on a whim, which Jacob really needed right now, he couldn't use it. 

Furthermore, he wanted to ask Immortika's opinion on that mask first after its summoning time refreshed before deciding, how to deal with it. 

Nonetheless, since he got all those treasures, it was time for him to make his report to Captain Free Sword before his body forced him to. Only then would he be free to study to his heart's content until, of course, the trial plain descended!