After passing through the stone gate, Tom found himself inside a house—a Japanese-style dwelling. He looked around and realized he was in a vast, elongated room that seemed to stretch on infinitely.
"Where exactly am I?"
There was a hint of surprise in Tom's voice; he had assumed the test was over, but it appeared it had only just begun.
After standing still for a few seconds, scanning for any potential threats, he ventured deeper into the seemingly endless room. Yet, he sensed that it must have an end—for everything that has a beginning must also have an end.
As Tom moved through the space, searching for its boundary, he sensed movement behind him. He glanced back, but there was no one there. The room was nearly empty, yet he chose to ignore the feeling and continued on his way. A few steps later, the sensation returned—as if something were trailing him with light, nearly silent footsteps.
"What in the name of the Creator of Hell is going on? Someone is following me!"
Tom's voice remained calm, though his eyes narrowed as he scanned his surroundings.
"Show yourself!"
His tone stayed steady, and as he looked around, a dark energy erupted from his body, flickering like a blazing fire.
A soft laugh rang out in response to Tom's display of hostility.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Tom's expression shifted into a look of mild shock. The voice was familiar—not that of an acquaintance, but something far more intimate—a voice closer to him than any relative. It was the sound of his own voice—the voice he had when he was Jiao Yao Li.
The laughter sounded exactly like his own, yet he found it baffling; he *was* Jiao Yao Li, so how could he be hearing his own laughter?
Tom cast a sharp glance behind him before unleashing a pitch-black energy sphere with lightning speed.
*BOOM!*
A deafening explosion erupted fifty paces from where Tom stood.
Tom's eyes narrowed as he stared toward the site of the blast.
"Who are you?"
Tom's tone was calm—less of a question, and more of a threat.
Moments later, a figure emerged from the blast zone, walking with steady, deliberate strides that radiated immense power and absolute authority. With every step taken, the world around them reshaped itself, over and over again.
"Tom Fragelsen—or perhaps, Tom Ferselkin? Two names that sound quite alike, don't they?"
The figure—a perfect replica of Jiao Yao Li—spoke in a calm, measured tone. He looked toward Tom, who appeared momentarily stunned before his expression returned to a state of composure.
"So, you aren't Jiao Yao Li, are you? You're merely a memento left behind—a remnant from before I was betrayed, correct?"
Tom's voice remained steady, brimming with absolute confidence.
"Indeed—you are quite right, O creator of Jiao Yao Li."
The replica spoke with the same calm, then snapped his fingers, instantly transforming the surroundings into a guest chamber. Tom and Jiao Yao Li sat on a mat, with a small table between them holding tea and some delicious sweets.
"So, what would you like to know? I will answer as much as I can. How about it? Do we have an agreement?"
Jiao Yao Li's tone was calm as he looked toward Tom, whose face showed signs of relief.
"Very well, I agree..."
"First, is my past life real, or is it just a lie?"
Tom's voice was as cold as frost.
Jiao Yao Li studied Tom for several minutes before replying:
"Both yes and no. It is distorted, but you did live your past life—up until the moment you were betrayed. Afterward, your memories were tampered with. However, you did not live for a thousand years. As for the experience you possess, those are memories acquired from one of the lifetimes of Zhao Li and Alessandra—a lifetime that spanned a thousand years."
"Alright, second question. During the final battle of Ragnarök, Alessandra said: 'Zhao Li, today is the day we put an end to this farce that began over 700 trillion years ago. We shall bring this entire charade to a complete end...'"
"In other words, we were meant to die permanently—yet here we are, still alive. How did that happen?"
Jiao Yao Li let out a deep sigh as he looked at Tom, and after a few moments, he decided to answer the question. "In truth, neither Chao Li nor Alessandra died in the original timeline. Instead, they were intercepted by someone who struck a deal with them—promising to alter their inevitable fate and ensure that Jiao Yao Li would return to the world once more."
Jiao Yao Li's tone remained calm as he looked toward Tom, whose expression shifted to one of bewilderment regarding the identity of this mysterious individual.
After a few seconds, Tom composed himself and continued his questioning.
"Who is this person?"
"I don't know."
"What? You've got to be kidding me, right? How could you not know?"
Tom's tone betrayed his utter disbelief, yet his counterpart, Jiao Yao Li, showed no surprise—it was, after all, to be expected.
"I'm not lying. Now, what's your next question?"
Tom let out a faint, annoyed sigh before pressing on.
"Why are Armin, Yoruichi, Gray, Lucy, Jian—the Demon King's son—Son Goku, and Beatrice absent from the fourth trial? Were my memories tampered with to make me believe they were there?"
"That's correct. Armin, Yoruichi, Gray, Lucy, Jian—the Demon King's son—Son Goku, and Beatrice did not exist in the original timeline. However, that individual manipulated the world's destiny to bring them into existence, which triggered a series of other changes. You'll discover them for yourself."
Tom clutched his forehead, struck by a sudden, mild headache. He knew something was amiss, until a moment of realization struck him: he had forgotten someone.
"Yuta Kasiral... who is Yuta Kasiral? Why do I have no memories of him? And does he have anything to do with what is happening?"
There was a faint note of concern in Tom's voice.
"I apologize, but I cannot answer that question. I am not at liberty to disclose Yuta's identity at this time."
The tone of Jiao Yao Li's replica was calm and left no room for debate. Tom gave up on trying to press for an answer, but Yuta's identity now loomed like a mountain shrouded in thick fog—a mountain he had not even begun to climb.
"What were the conditions for succeeding in the first three tests? And did what transpired within them have any impact on reality?"
"The conditions for success in the first three tests involved completing specific tasks. As for the nature of those tasks—or whether or not they influenced reality So, discover that for yourself. Next question, please."
Jiao Yao Li's tone remained as calm as ever as he sipped his cup of hot tea.
Tom's expression betrayed a hint of frustration at the vagueness of Jiao Yao Li's answers; nevertheless, he decided to press on, knowing he might not get another chance.
"In what body has that girl—Beatrice, or Xiao Yoshiko—been reincarnated this time around?"
Tom's voice was steady, yet tinged with an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
"I cannot answer that, either. Something is preventing me from discerning her whereabouts."
Tom's face darkened with anger, and he slammed his hand against the table. It did not shatter, however, as Jiao Yao Li's manifestation had shielded it with his energy.
"Are you playing games with me? How could you possibly not know?"
Tom's tone was sharp with indignation, frustrated by the manifestation's persistent refusal to provide clear answers.
"I apologize, but I truly do not know."
Tom let out a deep, heavy sigh before continuing his line of questioning.
"Who created those tunnels and set up those trials?"
A faint smile appeared on the face of Jiao Yao Li's manifestation—a reaction that caught Tom off guard.
"The one who created those tunnels and devised those trials is someone dear to you. They asked the 'Trial Master' to organize them on their behalf."
There was a note of longing in the manifestation's voice—the very same emotion that Tom himself was feeling. A look of surprise crossed his face as he recalled what Zhao Li had said during the fifth trial.
"I know, but I won't die. I have no intention of doing so—you know what I mean. If we don't want to live for ourselves, then let us live for *her*. She has been waiting for us ever since that betrayal by the wretched Zhao Li Yong. I took the very same name as that scoundrel, just to keep the memory of that vile wretch alive. As long as I exist, she shall exist, too—do you understand?"
"So, who was it that Zhao Li was referring to back then? Could it be the same person who built all of this? Hahaha—what a fascinating world this is."
Tom muttered to himself, his thoughts laced with clear, cynical mockery toward the world he inhabited.
"This is your final question. Tell me, what would you like to ask?"
Tom's expression remained calm; no particular question came to mind at that moment.
He took a full sip of his tea, gazing blankly at the manifestation of Jiao Yao Li.
"Did the lives of Zhao Li and Alessandra continue after the first three trials concluded?"
A beautiful smile graced Jiao Yao Li's face. He looked up toward the ceiling for a few seconds before turning his gaze back to Tom.
"Yes—the lives of Zhao Li and Alessandra continued after the first three trials ended. They lived out their days until they eventually passed away at a certain age."
The tone of Jiao Yao Li's manifestation carried a blend of happiness, serenity, and a faint trace of sadness. "The time for questions has come to an end. Congratulations, once again, on completing the five tests required to earn your power. However, you will not receive it all at once; rather, it will be granted to you gradually. Remember my words well."
The world began to fade away, bit by bit—much like an old television set losing its picture. Yet, a faint smile appeared on Tom's face as he continued to sip his tea, as if what was happening were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes—I will remember your words well."