At 8:30 PM, outside the walls of Euspecers City, Tom wandered through a forest, trying to recall his memories.
His calm expression masked a sharp headache as he looked around, searching for something he hadn't yet found.
During his three-hour search, from 5:30 PM until the present time, he noticed that the monsters, or rather entities, that had been present in the forest had completely disappeared.
Not a single monster had attacked him. On the surface, he seemed lucky, but logically, monsters wouldn't let an easy meal slip away unchained.
Luck in such matters is not a sign of greater danger, and Tom knew this from his previous lives when Zhao Li and Alessandra were separated from him.
Although he didn't fully remember his memories and couldn't use his power because it was sealed, his overwhelming presence made him feel... Only other absolute entities granted him a certain freedom to speak and think as he wished.
After all, the Master of the Guardians of the Tree of Existence had been sacred for over 700 trillion years, and his overwhelming presence, acquired over countless years, could not be easily suppressed or sealed.
A slight frown crossed his face as he searched for that thing for the fourteenth time, but found nothing.
"This is so annoying! Where is that damn thing?" Tom muttered, clutching his head, which was aching terribly for some unknown reason.
"Ugh! What the hell is going on?"
While wandering through the woods surrounding the city of Euspeakers, Tom collapsed to the ground, warm crimson blood gushing from his mouth.
Severe spasms coursed through his entire body. Tom's mind couldn't comprehend what was happening; everything was unfolding too quickly, leaving no chance for him to react. Position
........….....…
...…...…
Tom, who was heading towards the middle of the tunnels at great speed to arrive as quickly as possible,
stopped at the gate he had passed through before to begin the five tests. This time, however, it was more luxurious. He looked towards it with steady steps, full of strength, confidence, and great determination. He placed his hand on the gate's surface, which was so cold it seemed to freeze, yet it opened with complete ease.
The stone gate's runes glowed with a mixture of bright gold and deep purple, revealing inscriptions in the form of a saint praying to the east, emanating a sacred aura. To the west, a powerful warrior emanated an overwhelming dark aura, and to the west, a young man, blending sacred gold energy with overwhelming dark energy, stood with open arms as if welcoming, his serene smile a mixture of mercy and coldness.
A powerful light emanated and gradually faded, revealing a passage leading to the base located in the middle The Secret Tunnels
He crossed them with steady steps, filled with confidence and a touch of awe with each stride.
After several minutes, Tom reached the end to find two figures seated on thrones.
A girl with long white hair and light violet eyes sat on a white throne, emanating a complex golden aura and an overwhelming presence full of power and authority. After a few seconds of looking at her, Tom recognized her as Alessandra, or the Holy Yang.
The second was a man with dark hair and eyes, seated on a throne opposite Alessandra's. His throne was charcoal black, emanating a complex, dark purple aura. An overwhelming presence full of power and authority emanated from this throne, and he immediately recognized him as Zao Li, the Holy Yang.
Their voices were calm as they looked towards him. Before the three of them could face the third throne, which was beginning to take shape, their gazes turned to the throne. The throne was a blend of charcoal black and white, and its aura was a mixture of gold and A complex, dark purple-black hue emanated an overwhelming presence, brimming with power and authority.
Without either of them uttering a word, Tom approached him with steady steps and eyes that held a cold glow.
Step...step...step
After more than twenty steps, Tom sat upon his throne, his face serene. This final encounter at the base marked the beginning of Zao Li and Alessandra's rebirth, after they had been mere consciousnesses adrift in a vast sea of nothingness. This place, which had been the spark that ignited, would become the spark that would ignite the end of something and the beginning of something greater.
"You've succeeded, Tom, or Ji Yao Li. Congratulations!" Alessandra's voice broke the oppressive silence, her tone filled with a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Well done, Tom. You've completed five tests and earned your power. Congratulations." A faint smile touched Zao Li's face as he looked at Tom, whose expression remained unseen.
"Don't worry, we'll stay with you to help you." You think you can use our power while you're at your weak HIGH O1-A level? You're still too weak to control the power of two entities at ORR-05 level. It will be the end of you. Even though your spirit is strong, the world won't withstand the explosion of an entity of that power." Zao Li's voice was sharp as he looked at Tom, who seemed somewhat relieved, knowing he would need Zao Li and Alessandra's help to control and understand himself and his power.
Tom didn't have any memories of his life, unlike Zao Li and Alessandra, who each possessed 10%. Although it was a very small amount, it was crucial, as it would allow him to regain all his memories and power.
Tom leaned back on his throne, staring blankly at the ceiling for several seconds before turning his gaze back to Zao Li and Alessandra.
"The world is rather strange. I didn't understand how we succeeded, but I'm sure we will in the future. How can I not know who caused this? It will be the same person who caused all of this. And who that person is, I don't know, but I'm certain." "That you both... and I also know that no matter how hard I try, I won't know anything from you about that, right?" Tom's voice was calm, with a slight sense of relief as he realized that ease isn't always the ideal solution. If an entity uses its abilities to solve any problem, yes, it will be powerful because it will never evolve. And knowing everything isn't always a winning card; it can be a tool of obfuscation. There is no complete knowledge; there is always something hidden by the more powerful entities, and this applies to Tom if he knows the answer to every question.It's easy, he'll never evolve. Every question is a gateway to evolution, and he wants to open every single one.
Zhao Li, Alessandra, and Tom all sighed deeply as their bodies began to transform completely into immaterial, spiritual forms. Zao Li was gripped by dark energy, or pure annihilation, while Alessandra was gripped by sacred golden energy, or pure creation. Tom was a blend of both.
Creation and annihilation are two opposing sides of the same coin. There is no creation without annihilation, and no annihilation without creation. Each complements the other. No matter how beautiful a life may be, its end is death, and its essence is a terrifying death. Its beginning is life itself. With that death, death is as beautiful as a beautiful life, and life is as ugly as an ugly death. It's simply how you perceive something. A life is beautiful from one perspective and ugly from another, and death is ugly from one perspective and beautiful from another. It depends on how you view the world to determine whether a life and death are ugly or beautiful.
Zhao Li and Alessandra placed their hands on Tom's shoulders before embracing him. They murmured softly,
"Don't worry, we'll always be with you. Creation and annihilation without a soul, like a machine measured, and we without control." Their voices were calm as they whispered in Tom's ear, a faint smile appearing on his face, a mass of dark and golden energy.
"Yes, thank you both. We'll stay together forever." Tom's voice was calm and filled with comfort as a sacred golden and dark light began to shine, a ball of energy the size of a large chariot, blazing in the center of the base.
........….....
......…........…
Tom opened his eyes wide, staring at the ground. He didn't understand why he'd done this, but he felt a bit of shock.
"Didn't they say they'd help me? But I haven't heard a single word since that day, yet I remember everything."
"Didn't Zao tell me not to worry, that we'd stay with you to help you until you could use our power?"
"Didn't they tell me not to worry?" We will always be with you, creation and annihilation, soulless, like a machine measured, and we are without, without control.
Tom's emotions were in turmoil as an overwhelming, dark aura enveloped him, amplifying his constantly negative feelings.
Tom stood up, looking around blankly. "What should I do now? Everyone I've met is a liar, a hypocrite—not a bunch of hypocrites, but to be a hypocrite yourself, to let yourself be, or rather, to be led to ruin—that's cruel."
"I don't care what others say about me—foolish, worthless, superficial. Let them say what they want. In the end, no one feels what I feel. Every being has its own perspective on things."
A deep sigh escaped Tom's lips as he looked at the man whose eyes were swept by black veins and sharp claws.
Tom's face bore a heavy burden of sadness, helplessness, and regret. He had lived a long life, only to lose so much, each time death took what was most precious to him. "Why am I alive? What is the reason that makes me continue to exist in this miserable world? I don't know why." "
"The world and my affairs don't let me sound ridiculous when I speak like this, viewed from another person's perspective."
A faint smile appeared on Tom's lips as he looked towards a tree several meters away. "Maybe I know."
Tom closed his eyes, gathering his scattered memories, a faint smile lingering on his face.
........….....…
...…...….....…...
On a battlefield, several people lay with severe physical injuries and evident exhaustion, which they concealed with looks of anger and wariness towards the person before them.
"Zao Li, today is the day we will end this farce that began over 700 trillion years ago. We will end this farce completely." Alessandra's voice was sharp, yet filled with hatred and a longing for relief from this hell of death and life that seemed destined to never end.
Over and over again... over and over again... Over and over again, this cycle of death and life was exhausting for her. They hadn't even lived their lives, and it was time to end it all once and for all, by ending their lives altogether.
Zhao Li remained silent for several minutes after Alessandra's words, even though they were true. They had to end the cycle of death and life they were trapped in once and for all.
"I know, but I won't die. I don't want to. You know what I mean. If you don't want to live for ourselves, then let's live for her. She's been waiting for us since that betrayal by that damned Zao Li Yong. I named myself after that bastard to remind her of that vile scoundrel. As long as I live, do you understand?" Zao Li's voice was as cold as ice, devoid of any anger or emotion, simply telling her about their goals and their purpose.
Despite this, Alessandra pointed her sword at Zao Li without showing any intention of backing down from her objective.
........….....
...…........…
Tom opened his eyes as the aura A pervasive gloom began to fade around him, returning him to his original form.
A faint smile appeared on Tom's face as he headed somewhere. "In this world, sometimes things are right in front of us, but we always ignore them. Annoyance, anger, sadness, despair, comparing ourselves to others blinds us to everything, rendering us powerless."
As Tom wandered, he sensed a powerful energy emanating from one of the trees, specifically the tree he had spotted earlier.
"How are you, Seung-hoon? It seems you managed to negate my power over you. Truly impressive."
Tom looked up at the tree to find a girl with short black hair and dark eyes, dressed in business attire of the same color, looking at him with undisguised sarcasm.
"You were pathetic a moment ago, Seung-hoon. It would be great if the others saw you in that state. Hahahaha!"
Tom kicked the tree with such force that Myung-hee fell to the ground, glaring at him with annoyance and resentment. Intense
Tom looked at her with obvious annoyance. "How are you, Myung-hee? You seem very excited to see me."
Myung-hee's expression was strange. "You're excited to see me? You seem to have lost your mind or something. You're truly pathetic."
Tom's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at him for several seconds before he put his hand to his face in obvious annoyance. "Well, what's the reason for your coming? You only have 15 seconds before you disappear for being an intruder in a world that isn't yours."
"I know that, by the way...""My time is limited. The reason I came is to ask about your life's purpose, Ji Yao. I wanted to deliver this to you as you requested."
Shock registered on Tom's face as he looked at him, but Myung Hee continued their conversation.
"Secondly, come back to us quickly. It's been a long time since you left, and everyone misses seeing your ugly face."
Myung Hee disappeared immediately afterward, as their time was up. Tom stared at the spot where she had been for several seconds. "I have many people I will visit when the time is right. Besides, my face isn't ugly."
Tom then picked up a piece of paper that was on the ground where Myung Hee had fallen.
[And Seung Hoon, your face is ugly, whether you like it or not.]
Annoyance appeared on Tom's face as he looked at the message, then it softened into a faint smile. "And I miss you, you fool."
Tom jumped to the top of a tree, looking towards the moon, which illuminated the entire world with its light, revealing its face. "My purpose From a life I don't know, but I'm certain of one thing: someone is still waiting for me despite all these years. It seems love truly transcends time.
"Zhihuaming Hua, wait! I'm coming for you, just as I promised you over 700 trillion years ago."
"It was a truly miserable day. Life is harsh on everyone, no matter who you are."
While Tom was lost in thought, a system appeared on the screen before his eyes.
[System Evolution Loading]
[Please allow 3 minutes for loading to complete]
A faint smile appeared on Tom's face as he looked at the system screen. She spoke in a calm tone, "It seems Zhao Li, Alessandra, and Fu have finally kept their promise."
........….....…
...…...…........…
700 trillion years ago, in the garden of the North Pavilion of the Palace, or Zihuaming Hua's private pavilion,
Zhihuaming Hua was watering the flowers in her garden. As she hummed the same tune,
a sudden feeling of unease gripped her heart as she gazed towards the sky, a smile distorted by worry.
"I hope you're well so I can tell you I'm pregnant with your daughter," Zihuaming Hua's voice was a mixture of worry for some unknown reason and relief at the prospect of becoming a mother after all these long years. Yet, the world held a different perspective.
A look of surprise crossed Zihuaming Hua's face as the smell of blood suddenly filled the air. She turned to find Ji Yao Li covered in severe injuries.
Shocked, Zihuaming Hua threw her legs to the ground and rushed to his side in a split second, helping him to his feet.
Tears streamed down her face as she tended to Ji Yao Li's injuries, but she was unable to do so completely, leaving her feeling utterly hopeless.
Ji Yao Li sat up, resting his head on Zihuaming Hua's lap, raising his hand, which revealed His bones, a mixture of pale gold and dark purple, gently wiped away the tears from Zihuaming Hua's face, his voice weary.
It was as if he were drawing his last breath.
"My dear Zihuaming Hua, don't worry. We will meet again, but not soon."
Ji Yao Li took a piece of paper from his pocket, stained with dried blood, and gave it to Zihuaming Hua.
"Do as written on this paper, and I promise I will return and we will reunite our family. You, me, and our daughter. I will name her... *cough cough cough* Okay, fine. Her name is written on the paper. And our daughter won't be ordinary. She will be as strong as I was from birth, and she will suffer greatly in her life..."
Zihuaming Hua closed Ji Yao Li's mouth with a faint smile that concealed a deep pain. He wanted to surprise him, but he knew even so. He couldn't bear to see his daughter grow up, and this tormented her greatly. She had lived with him since she was twenty. Given her age, and considering she was countless years old, how could she possibly live without him? Yet, after reading the paper, a faint smile appeared on his face as she closed Ji Yao Li's eyes, which had lost their light, revealing his death.
"Take care of yourself, my dear. Don't worry, we'll meet again. I promise you that."