The bustling city of Vurce was a surging sea of humanity. Overlapping sounds—the hawkers' cries, the rumble of vehicles, the laughter of children at play—created a chaotic symphony that enveloped Lixs and his group. Amidst the clamor, they moved like ghosts, immersed in their own world, a world filled with the worn pages of an ancient book they carried. The book, a mysterious artifact filled with indecipherable script, had become their obsession, a riddle they had to solve before time ran out.
Zuxsin, his eyes glued to the fragile pages, flinched as his body collided with something hard. The book slipped from his grasp, floating momentarily in the air before falling to the ground with a sharp thud. He looked up, his heart pounding like a war drum, and found himself facing two cold-faced men, standing like marble statues amidst the crowd. One of them, with a swift, precise movement, picked up the book and returned it to Zuxsin. However, their gaze—sharp, assessing, and filled with hidden meaning—created a chilling aura that pierced to the bone. They were no ordinary men.
"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to," Zuxsin said.
The men's gaze shifted as they saw the worn, time-etched cover of the book. One glanced at his companion, and then they began whispering to each other, as if recognizing something familiar.
The taller man, standing behind, stepped closer to Lixs. His gaze was sharp yet flat as he asked, "Where did you find this book?"
Lixs only shook his head, gesturing towards Zuxsin. A sudden urge to learn more compelled him to step forward.
But Zuxsin simply stared back, refusing to speak. The book's origins were not to be shared with just anyone. Seeing his refusal, the man took a slow breath, then gestured for his companion to return the book. They didn't want to force the issue.
Without another word, the two turned and left. Their steps were quick, but not hurried. Their departure left an odd silence that enveloped the three. They could only look at each other.
Tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating like morning fog. Lixs, Zuxsin, and Zaresha exchanged glances, their minds racing, trying to decipher the enigma they had just encountered. Suddenly, a shimmering light pierced the darkness, like a shooting star dancing in the night sky. From within Lixs's sword, Virellia emerged, her body floating gracefully like a feather on the wind, her beautiful yet serious face radiating an irresistible, mysterious aura.
"That… the book you mentioned?" she asked softly, yet clearly. Her voice was laced with surprise.
Without hesitation, Lixs looked at his companions firmly. "We need to leave here. Now."
It was as if the sky itself held its breath. Amidst the oblivious city's ceaseless bustle, a new chapter of the world's mystery unfolded. They had left Vurce behind. Lixs stared intently into Virellia's eyes, a sharp look that caused her to sigh. He then summoned Zensh Lixs to temporarily assume human form.
Mutan, a derelict place near Vurce, wasn't so much abandoned as it was forgotten by time. Virellia transformed, and they were startled to see the woman standing beside Lixs. Both now questioned her true identity. A confused Lixs began to offer excuses to avoid the question.
Lixs quickly claimed she was his cousin. However, a suspicious and incredulous Zaresha approached Virellia, questioning her true identity.
The atmosphere grew tense. Virellia responded with a small smile. "Why would I tell you who I am if I don't know you?" Zaresha didn't understand. Briefly, Virellia explained she had touched her yesterday. Zaresha fell silent, pondering the meaning.
Zaresha, ever perceptive, remembered touching a strange yet captivating plant the day before. She asked Virellia about the beautiful plant, inquiring about any connection.
Virellia confirmed there was, saying she'd just been freed from a seal bound to the plant she'd touched. "It was actually Lixs who freed me."
Silence fell. Virellia turned to Zuxsin, who stood before her. She wanted to hold the book, so she asked Zuxsin to lend it to her. Zuxsin handed it over with a surprised expression.
Lixs questioned him, "What is it, Zuxsin? What are you thinking?"
Zuxsin approached Lixs, whispering in his ear. Zaresha and Virellia noticed something was amiss. They were discussing something important, something Virellia shouldn't hear.
The whispering ended. Lixs, having heard the conversation, suddenly laughed. "So you were worried about that? She can't do anything from now on."
Virellia, sensing the conversation, frowned, then adopted a neutral expression.
Smiling at her, he said, "That's right. You can only exist within my sword—what remains of you is still sealed."
"Sealed?" Lixs's words echoed in Zuxsin's mind. He urged the others to gather, as this was crucial. He began to talk about the floating landmass. This floating landmass held a sealing mystery previously unknown to them. Zuxsin guessed that another part of Virellia might be located there.
Zaresha asked Zuxsin about the place, as she had never heard of it. "Just a moment," he said, opening the book. The pages turned to page one hundred and eleven. There, he found readable text, above which was a picture of a floating landmass: Caelum.
"I see it! There really is a floating landmass. So, are we going there, Zuxsin?" Lixs asked.
"It's not that simple," Zuxsin replied. "Caelum's location is unknown. If you all agree to search for it, I'll help," he murmured.
Lixs asked Virellia if she knew about Caelum. "No," she replied. She'd never heard of a floating landmass, despite having lived for a long time. Having heard this, Lixs asked where they should go to search.
Zuxsin thought for a moment, rereading page one hundred and eleven to find Caelum's location. There it was written: "A white as soft as snow, moonlight shining upon it." He asked Lixs and Zaresha, "What do you think 'white as soft as snow, with moonlight shining upon it' means?" Lixs paused, pondering the meaning of the inscription.
Explanation of the Power System:
Zensh is the fundamental energy of the world, sourced from the "Core of Reality," and forms everything – from matter, emotions, time, to will. However, only a fraction of humanity can directly touch Zensh, through abilities, inheritance, or agreements with mysterious beings.
-Levels of Zensh Mastery-
-Root-
The foundation of Zensh mastery.
Able to manipulate only one aspect.
Example: creating illusory shadows, strengthening the body, or moving small stones.
-Mirage-
Able to combine two aspects or develop personal techniques.
Example: Araka begins to create complex illusions and move within them.
-Ryou (Illusion)-
Can influence local reality.
Can rewrite perception, movement, even create "effect zones."
Example: Virellia locks someone in a time illusion that feels real.
-Zenth (Pure Manifestation)-
No longer manipulates Zensh – they are Zensh itself.
Their existence alters the structure of nature.
Types of Zensh:
-Illusion- Creates reality, manipulates mind/perception. Araka, Virellia.
-Pioneer- Manipulation of solid matter: earth, stone, metal. Claude, Franz (possibly).
-Lumea- Light, time, spiritual perception. or controller. Lylia.
-NineTime- Control over space, trajectory, and existence. Zenerith, Zuxsin.
-Animora- Power of the soul, will, and spiritual connection. Often appears as mysterious beings like Virellia.
And some secret techniques that can be used by certain individuals.