At exactly 8:30 PM, outside the walls of the city of Yuspekers, Tom wandered through a forest, attempting to piece together his scattered memories.
His expression remained calm, despite the sharp headache throbbing in his head. He scanned his surroundings as if searching for something—something he had yet to find.
Throughout his three-hour search—from 5:30 PM until now—he noticed that the monsters, or rather the entities that once inhabited the forest, had vanished entirely.
In all those hours of wandering, not a single creature had attacked him.
On the surface, this might seem like a stroke of luck; logically, however, monsters would not simply let an easy meal slip away without a compelling reason.
Luck does not always favor one in such situations; in fact, this could well be a sign of a far greater danger. Tom was keenly aware of this, drawing on knowledge from his past lives—back when he existed as Zhao Li and Alessandra.
Although his memories remained incomplete and his powers stayed sealed, his overwhelming presence—perceptible only to other absolute entities—granted him a degree of freedom to think and speak as he pleased.
After all, more than 700 trillion years ago, he had been the Master of the Guardians of the Sacred Tree of Existence. A presence forged over countless eons is not easily suppressed or contained.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face as he searched for that elusive object for the fourteenth time—still to no avail.
"How incredibly irritating! Where the hell is that damn thing?!" Tom spoke with irritation, clutching his head, which throbbed with an intense, inexplicable pain.
"Argh! What the hell is going on?!"
As he wandered through the forest surrounding the city of Yusbikers, Tom collapsed to the ground, and warm, crimson blood began to gush from his mouth.
Sharp spasms racked his body. His mind struggled to process the unfolding events; everything was happening too fast, leaving him no chance to grasp the situation.
---
Tom was moving rapidly toward the center of the tunnels, intent on reaching his destination as quickly as possible.
He came to a halt before the same gate he had passed through when he first began the five trials—though this time, it appeared far more grand.
He approached with steady, purposeful strides, radiating strength, confidence, and determination. He placed his hand against the stone surface, which was so cold it felt frozen.
Yet, the gate swung open with complete ease.
The runes carved into the stone began to glow in a blend of brilliant gold and deep violet, revealing depictions of three figures.
On the eastern side, a saintess appeared in prayer, emanating a sacred aura.
On the western side, a formidable warrior stood, exuding an overwhelming, dark aura.
In the center stood a young man, a figure who harmonized both the sacred golden energy and the oppressive dark energy. His arms were spread wide, as if welcoming visitors, and his face bore a calm smile that blended both compassion and cold detachment. A brilliant light erupted from the gateway, then gradually began to fade, revealing a passageway that led to a base situated deep within the secret tunnels.
Tom traversed the passage with steady strides—each step carrying a blend of confidence and a faint sense of awe.
Step... step... step...
After a few minutes, Tom reached the end of the corridor, where he found two individuals seated upon thrones.
The first was a young woman with long, white hair and light violet eyes. She sat upon a white throne, from which an intricate golden aura flowed, radiating an overwhelming presence of immense power and authority.
After gazing at her for a few seconds, Tom realized who she was.
Alessandra—the Sacred Yin.
The second was a man with black hair and dark, obsidian eyes, seated on a throne opposite Alessandra's. His throne was coal-black, emanating a complex, violet-tinged black aura, and exuding an overwhelming presence of immense power and authority.
Tom recognized him instantly.
Zhao Li—the Sacred Yang.
Their expressions remained calm as they looked toward Tom, before all three turned their gaze toward a third throne that had begun to take shape.
The throne was a fusion of coal-black and white, radiating a complex aura that blended golden energy with the violet-tinged black energy—all while projecting an overwhelming presence of immense power and authority. Without a word, Tom moved toward the throne with steady strides, his eyes gleaming with a cold, sharp light.
Step... step... step...
After taking more than twenty steps, Tom sat upon his throne, his expression calm.
This was the final meeting at the very base where everything had begun—the place where both Zhao Li and Alessandra had first come into existence, emerging from what were once mere consciousnesses drifting through an abyss of nothingness.
This moment served as the spark that would signal the end of one thing, and the beginning of something far greater.
"You've finally succeeded, Tom... or rather, Ji Yao Li. Congratulations."
Alessandra's voice broke the profound silence that had gripped the space; it carried a sense of relief, as if an immense burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Well done, Tom! You have passed the five trials and earned your power. Congratulations."
A faint smile appeared on Zhao Li's face as he looked toward Tom, whose features remained obscured.
"Do not worry—we will remain by your side to assist you. You shouldn't imagine that you can wield our power while stuck at your current, feeble level—HIGH 1-A. You are still far too weak to control the strength of two entities at the ORR-05 tier. Even with your resilient soul, attempting to do so would be your end; the world itself could not withstand the cataclysmic release of such immense power."
Zhao Li's tone was sharp as he gazed at Tom, who, in turn, appeared to find a measure of relief. He was well aware that he would need the help of both Zhao Li and Alessandra to gain control over his power and come to an understanding of his own self.
After all, unlike Zhao Li and Alessandra—each of whom had retained 10% of their memories—Tom possessed no recollections of his true life.
Though this percentage was minuscule, it was nonetheless significant; it held the key to him recovering all of his memories and his full power.
Tom leaned back against his throne, staring blankly at the ceiling for several seconds, before shifting his gaze back toward Zhao Li and Alessandra.
"In truth, this world is rather strange. I don't quite understand how we succeeded, but I am certain that, in time, the reason will become clear. I do not know who is responsible for all of this—though I am quite sure that both of you do."
"And while I may not know who this individual is, I am equally certain that—no matter how hard I try—I will never be able to learn anything about them from either of you. Am I right?"
Tom's tone was calm, carrying a faint sense of relief; he had come to realize that having everything come easily is not always the ideal solution.
If an entity were to use its own powers to resolve every challenge it faced, it might grow strong, but it would never truly evolve.
Furthermore, possessing total knowledge is not always an advantage; it can, in fact, become a barrier that prevents one from learning and growing.
There is no such thing as complete knowledge—there will always be something kept hidden by more powerful entities.
This held true for Tom as well. Had he been able to easily obtain the answers to all his questions, he would never have been able to evolve.
Every question was a gateway to growth, and Tom intended to open them all.
Zhao Li, Alessandra, and Tom each let out a deep sigh as their physical forms began to undergo a total transformation, shifting into intangible, spiritual states.
Zhao Li was composed of a dark, somber energy—the essence of pure annihilation.
Alessandra was formed from a sacred, golden energy—the essence of pure creation.
As for Tom, he was a synthesis of both.
Creation and annihilation are two sides of the same coin; there can be no creation without annihilation, and no annihilation without creation. The two complement each other, regardless of the circumstances.
No matter how beautiful life may be, it ends in death; and no matter how terrifying death may be, it begins with life.
Yet, death can be as beautiful as life, just as life can be as ugly as death.
It all depends on how one perceives the world; what one person sees as a beautiful life, another might see as an ugly one—and what some perceive as an ugly death, others might view as a beautiful one.
It all comes down to one's perspective.
Zao Li and Alessandra both placed a hand on Tom's shoulder before embracing him, then whispered in low voices:
"Do not worry; we shall always remain with you. We are creation and destruction—devoid of a soul, much like a measuring instrument; and without us, there is no calibration."
Their voices were calm as they whispered into Tom's ear. A faint smile appeared on his face, even though he was nothing more than a mass of somber, dark energy intertwined with golden light.
"Yes, thank you both. We shall stay together forever."
Tom's tone was serene and filled with a sense of relief.
Then, a sacred golden light and a deep, somber darkness began to glow, coalescing into a massive sphere of energy—roughly the size of a carriage—that shimmered in the center of the base.
---
Tom's eyes snapped wide open as he stared at the ground.
He did not understand why this had happened, but he was struck by a profound sense of shock.
"Didn't they say they would help me?" "Yet, I haven't heard a single word from them since that day—even though I remember everything that happened, down to the very last detail!"
"Didn't Zao-Li say, 'Don't worry; we will stay by your side to help you harness our power'?"
"Didn't they say, 'Do not worry—we shall always remain with you. We are the forces of creation and destruction, devoid of a soul—much like a measuring instrument that, without a guiding hand, loses all calibration'?"
Tom's emotions were in complete disarray, while an overwhelming, dark aura coiled around his body, constantly amplifying his negative feelings.
He rose from his seat, gazing around with a vacant, hollow expression.
"What am I supposed to do now? Everyone I've ever met has been a liar or a hypocrite. No—it's not just a matter of encountering hypocrites; it's that trying to be one's true self only leads to isolation—or worse, it pushes one toward the abyss. It's all so cruel."
"I don't care what others say about me. A fool, a triviality, someone shallow—let them say whatever they please. In the end, no one else can truly feel what I feel; no two beings ever perceive things in exactly the same way."
A deep, heavy sigh escaped Tom's lips as he stared at his own hand—now traced with black veins, from which sharp, claw-like appendages had begun to emerge.
His features were etched with profound sorrow, helplessness, and regret.
He had lived a long life, yet he had lost so much along the way; time and again, death had torn away everything he held most dear.
"Why am I still alive? What reason is there for me to keep existing in this wretched world? I truly do not know." "This world never leaves me alone. My words sound ridiculous when I look at myself from someone else's perspective."
A faint, cool smile touched Tom's lips as he gazed toward a tree a few meters away.
"Perhaps I know why."
Tom closed his eyes, trying to gather his scattered memories, while a faint smile—tinged with a hint of warmth—lingered on his face.
---
On a battlefield, several individuals lay, suffering from grave physical injuries. Though exhaustion was etched across their features, they tried to mask it with expressions of rage and wariness directed at the person standing before them.
"Zhao Li! Today, we put an end to this farce that began over 700 trillion years ago. We are going to finish this charade once and for all!"
Alessandra's voice was sharp, yet it carried a profound hatred—a desperate longing to break free from a hellish cycle of life and death that refused to come to an end.
Again... and again...
Again... and again...
Again... and again...
It was a cycle of life and death from which they could not escape, and it had become an unbearable burden.
They had never lived their lives as they truly wished; it was time to root out the cause—even if it meant ending their own existence entirely.
Zhao Li remained silent for several minutes after hearing Alessandra's words.
Though he knew she was right—that they had to bring an end to the cycle of life and death in which they were trapped, once and for all—he replied:
"I know that. But I will not die. I have no desire to, in any case." "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 at the hands of the accursed Zao Li Yong."
"I took on the very same name as that wretch, so that as long as I exist, I shall never forget that despicable scoundrel. Do you understand?"Zhao Li's tone was as cold as frost, devoid of any anger or other emotions; he was simply stating their objectives and the nature of their mission.
Nevertheless, Alessandra pointed her sword toward Zhao Li, showing no intention of abandoning her goal.
---
Tom opened his eyes as the overwhelming, somber aura surrounding him began to dissipate, and he returned to his original form.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he headed toward a specific location.
"In this world, things are sometimes right before our eyes, yet we consistently overlook them. Annoyance, anger, sadness, despair, and the habit of comparing ourselves to others—these things render us blind, deaf, and mute, leaving us incapable of doing anything at all."
As he wandered, Tom sensed a powerful energy emanating from one of the trees—the very same tree he had spotted moments earlier.
"How are you, Seong-hun? It seems you managed to nullify my ability. That's truly impressive."
Tom looked up toward the top of the tree and saw a girl with short black hair and black eyes, dressed in practical, dark-colored attire. She was looking down at him with clear mockery.
"You looked pathetic a moment ago, Seong-hun! It would have been hilarious if your comrades had seen you like that! Hahahaha!"
Tom kicked the tree with great force, causing Myeong-hui to tumble to the ground, while he glared at her with intense annoyance and irritation.
Myeong-hui looked back at him with a peculiar expression.
"How are you, Myeong-hui?" "You seem quite excited to see me."
Myeong-hee looked at him, bewildered, and replied:
"Excited to see you? You must have lost your mind or something. What a pathetic person you truly are!"
Tom narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at her for a few seconds before covering his face with his hand, clearly annoyed.
"Fine—what brings you here? You've only got fifteen seconds left before you vanish, seeing as you're intruding in a world you don't belong to."
"I know. And since my time is short, I'll get straight to the point. What is your goal in life, Ji Yao-li? I was asked to deliver this message to you."
Tom looked at her, visibly shocked, but she continued:
"Secondly, come back to us soon. It's been a long time since you left, and everyone misses seeing your hideous face."
Myeong-hee vanished the moment her allotted time ran out.
Tom stared at the spot where she had been standing for a few seconds, then muttered:
"I have plenty of people to visit once the time is right. Besides, my face isn't hideous!"
He picked up a piece of paper from the ground, right where Myeong-hee had been standing.
[Seong-hun, your face is ugly—like it or not!]
Tom's expression showed annoyance as he read the note, but then his features softened into a faint smile.
"I missed you all too, you fools!" Tom leaped until he reached the treetop, then gazed toward the moon, which illuminated the entire world, revealing its face.
"My purpose in life? I don't know it, but I am certain of one thing: someone is still waiting for me, even after all these years. It seems that love truly transcends time."
"Zihuaming Hua, wait for me. I am coming for you—just as I promised over 700 trillion years ago."
"It has been such a miserable day. Life is harsh on everyone, regardless of their status."
As Tom drifted through his scattered thoughts, a system interface appeared before his eyes.
[Loading Evolution System...]
[Host, please wait three minutes for the loading to complete.]
A faint smile crossed Tom's face as he looked at the system interface.
"It seems Zhao Li and Alessandra kept their promise after all."
---
700 trillion years ago, in the garden of the palace's North Pavilion—the private quarters of Zihuaming Hua...
Zihuaming Hua was watering the flowers in her garden, humming a familiar melody.
Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over her. She looked up at the sky, her expression a mix of worry and a faint, troubled smile.
"I hope you are safe—so that I may tell you that I am carrying your daughter."
Her voice held a blend of inexplicable anxiety and relief; after all these long years, she was finally going to be a mother.
Yet, the world had other plans. A look of bewilderment crossed Zhihuaming Hua's face as the scent of blood suddenly permeated the air.
Turning toward the source, she discovered Ji Yao Li, his body covered in grave injuries.
Shock washed over Zhihuaming Hua; the water vessel slipped from her grasp as she darted toward him with lightning speed.
In a split second, she was by his side, helping him settle onto the ground.
Tears streamed down her face as she desperately tried to tend to his wounds—but to no avail—leaving her consumed by a profound sense of despair.
Ji Yao Li rested his head upon Zhihuaming Hua's lap, then raised a hand—its bones exposed, shimmering in a hue that blended off-white gold with a deep, bruised violet.
He gently wiped away her tears, his voice weary, as if he were drawing his final breaths.
"My dear Zhihuaming Hua, do not worry. We shall meet again—though not for a long time."
Reaching into his pocket, Ji Yao Li pulled out a piece of paper, stained with patches of dried blood, and handed it to her.
"Follow what is written here, and I promise you I will return. We will reunite our family—you, me, and our daughter."
"I shall name her... *cough*... *cough*... *cough*... well, never mind. Her name is written on the paper. And know this: our daughter will be no ordinary child; she will possess my own power from the moment of her birth. Yet, she is destined to endure great suffering throughout her life..." Zihouming Hua placed her hand over Ji Yaoli's mouth, sealing his lips with a faint smile—a smile that masked a profound, aching pain.
She had intended to surprise him with the news of her pregnancy, but he already knew.
Yet, the fact that he would never see their daughter grow up caused her unbearable anguish.
She had been with him since she was twenty, remaining by his side through countless, uncounted years. How, then, was she to go on living without him?
And yet, after reading the note, a gentle smile graced her face.
Ji Yaoli's eyes—now devoid of their light—closed, signaling his passing.
"Take care of yourself, my dear. Do not worry; we shall meet again."