Alex stood still.
The darkness no longer felt empty.
A presence had awakened.
Cold.
Ancient.
Overwhelming.
He slowly turned back.
The air grew heavy.
Then—
A figure emerged from the darkness.
Long white hair flowed behind him.
A beard that carried the weight of time.
Yet his face…
Looked young.
His eyes shone with absolute superiority.
As if everything in this world… was beneath him.
He looked at Alex.
Silent.
Observing.
Then—
"You… are slightly more interesting than I expected."
A pause.
"To survive in this place for years…"
"…you are not completely worthless."
Alex remained calm.
His gaze steady.
"Who are you?"
Yi Zhau's lips curved slightly.
"No fear…"
"…good."
A step forward.
The space itself felt pressured.
"Listen carefully."
"I do not repeat myself."
A brief silence.
"Remember this name…"
"I am Yi Zhau…"
"…the Ghasten Ghost Emperor."
The cave trembled faintly.
"A being this world was never worthy of."
Alex's eyes sharpened slightly.
But he remained composed.
"What do you want from me… Master?"
Yi Zhau smiled faintly.
"At least you understand your position."
A pause.
"I have decided…"
"You will serve as my disciple."
His tone carried no room for refusal.
"This is not a request."
"It is your fortune."
Alex lowered his head slightly.
A gesture of respect.
"Understood… Master."
Yi Zhau nodded faintly.
"Good."
"Now… look within yourself."
A small wave of energy moved.
Suddenly—
Alex's vision shifted.
His consciousness was pulled inward.
A vast white space appeared.
Endless.
Silent.
Limitless.
"What is this…?"
"This… is your Soul Sea."
"Empty… crude…"
"…but usable."
A pause.
"I will reside here."
"Consider it your greatest fortune."
Alex remained calm.
"Yes, Master."
Yi Zhau continued—
"Look down."
Alex lowered his gaze.
A ring lay on the ground.
Old.
Simple.
Yet filled with presence.
"Pick it up."
"Do not make me repeat myself, boy."
Alex picked it up without hesitation.
It felt heavy…
Not in weight—
but in power.
"What you see now…"
"…is not even a fraction of my true self."
"Remember that."
"Drop your blood on it."
Alex followed the command.
A drop of blood fell on the ring.
It vibrated.
Energy surged.
The ring attached to his finger.
A connection formed instantly.
"It is a storage ring."
"Inside lies power far beyond your current worth."
"And my book."
"A record of knowledge you cannot yet comprehend."
Alex nodded slightly.
"Understood."
A brief silence.
Then Alex spoke—
"We should leave this cave."
Yi Zhau's expression changed slightly.
Then—
He smiled.
A cold smile.
"Leave…?"
"…how ignorant."
"The real power lies deeper."
A pause.
"In the depths of this cave…"
"…remains the energy of a battle long forgotten."
His eyes turned sharp.
"Hundreds of years ago…"
"I fought a Level 10 Dark Beast here."
"And I killed it."
A faint arrogance filled his voice.
"Even in death…"
"…it dared to resist me."
Silence.
Then—
"Now…"
"We will take back what belongs to me."
A slight smirk appeared.
"Try to keep up… boy."
"A master who looks down on the world…"
"And a disciple chosen by destiny…"
"Step into the depths of power."