The breaks were never long. Fifteen minutes at most, stolen moments between the endless waves of punishment and trial. But those fifteen minutes were mine, and I made them count.
I never touched the food they offered. My body screamed for it, my muscles begged for it, but I couldn't. Eating felt wrong when the only thing that kept me standing wasn't food, but the memory of them. Instead, I pulled out the photo. My hands were always shaking, stained with blood or dirt, but I held that photo like it was glass. Their smiles. Their eyes. The warmth frozen on paper that I could almost feel in my chest.
I whispered, half to myself, half to them. "I miss you guys… so much."
The corners of my lips tugged upward, though my eyes burned. "When I get back… I'll propose to both of you properly. Nilou. Lumine. You deserve the world… and I'll give it to you. On a silver platter, if I have to carve it out myself. And Paimon… I'll buy you all the snacks you can eat, I promise. So you better wait for me too."
Greg, perched on a nearby rock, tilted his head at me. His little tail flicked as if scolding me for sounding so soft. I chuckled faintly. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I sound like a broken record, huh? But it keeps me sane. You get it, don't you, buddy?"
Greg tapped his claws twice against the stone, almost like a nod. My chest loosened just a little.
A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. I wiped it away quickly, ashamed of how easily I broke. But Zhongli had seen. He always saw. His hand rested on my shoulder, steady and grounding. His faint smile carried something I hadn't seen in years—pride.
"Break is over," he said softly.
I nodded without complaint, sliding the photo back into my chest pocket. "I know." And I stood.
I had changed. Completely. Years had passed. I was supposed to stay only two, but I lost count long ago. Trial after trial, beating after beating, I never once spoke a word of complaint. Only willpower. Only resolve. Every step, every scar carved into me was proof of what I chose to become.
When I looked at Mountain Shaper now, I saw his eyes soften. He never said it aloud, but I could feel it—the pride of a master looking at his disciple. I bowed to him, quietly, with a smile that wasn't forced.
"Your spirit has not broken," Mountain Shaper rumbled. "For that alone, you are worthy of praise."
Cloud Retainer tilted her head, feathers rustling. "Though lacking in elegance and refinement, you have proven… resilient. That is no small feat, mortal."
Moon Carver's gaze was calm, but I caught the faintest curve of his lips. "You endure with purpose. That is strength beyond muscle."
Xiao stood apart, arms folded, but his amber eyes flickered with something like respect. "You've stopped running. That's more than most could ever claim."
Madam Ping's voice was soft, almost motherly. "Child… you bear so much, and yet you stand tall. Do not forget to be kind to yourself as well."
Their words struck deeper than any blow. I clenched my fists, swallowing hard. "…Thank you."
Right now, I stood in the middle of their relentless assault. Three adepti striking me at once, blades, illusions, constructs. But I was different. My movements flowed where they had once staggered. My breathing was steady where it had once broken. I deflected every strike, every storm, not perfectly—but with control. Discipline. Strength. A far cry from the reckless man who first staggered into this domain.
I had grown. Stronger than I ever imagined.
But the training never stopped. More days. More weeks. More years. My hair grew longer, untamed. White strands wove themselves into the black, streaks of hardship that spoke louder than any words. I looked older than I was. But when I walked back to my stone bench during each break, I still smiled.
"See, Greg? Still alive," I muttered once, collapsing onto the bench. He crawled onto my shoulder, flicking his tongue against my ear. I grimaced. "Gross. But thanks."
One day, during one of those small breaks, Zhongli approached again. The other adepti stood nearby, silent, watchful. His hand touched my shoulder, firm. His voice was calm, but carried weight.
"It is time."
I froze, my heart slowing. "Time…?"
Zhongli's gaze was unwavering. "To face your final trial."
I set the photo down beside me, stood, and nodded once. "Alright."
My legs carried me to the center of the domain, as though they already knew the way. The adepti formed a circle around me. The atmosphere thickened, heavier than ever before. Even my breathing felt loud.
Zhongli took a deep breath. His eyes locked onto mine. "For your final trial, and perhaps the hardest you will ever face…" He paused.
My chest tightened. Hardest trial? Harder than being crushed under mountains? Harder than endless storms? Harder than facing them all at once?
"What is it?" I asked, my throat dry.
Zhongli's words fell like stone. "Your trial is to face yourself."
I blinked, stunned. "Face… myself?" I let out a broken laugh. "What does that even mean?"
"It is time," he said steadily, "to let go of the burden. And to face yourself with confidence."
I shook my head, almost amused. "Zhongli… I made peace with myself already. This is me. What you see is who I am."
But his gaze never wavered. "Acceptance and dealing with yourself are not the same as embracing it." His voice grew heavier. "You have been hiding. From them. From us. From yourself. Allen… you are you. And so is Shigeru. You do not need to bury one to prove that the other has changed. The chaotic, warm Shigeru. The calm, logical Allen. They are both you. And now, it is time you embraced your true self."
The name struck me harder than any weapon. Allen. My knees buckled, hitting the stone floor. My chest heaved, my breath shattered. Tears welled up before I could stop them, spilling down my cheeks in silence.
I clutched at Zhongli's sleeve like a child, shaking, my forehead pressing against his arm. Words tumbled out of me in broken sobs. "I'm scared. I'm so damn scared. I try, I try so hard—but I'm terrified of failing. Terrified of letting them down. Terrified of knowing the truth and making the wrong choice. What if I destroy more than I protect? What if all I do brings more pain than peace?"
I couldn't stop. The flood broke, and everything I had buried for years spilled out. "It's too heavy. It's too much. I don't know if I can carry it anymore—but I have to. I have to try. I can't stop. I can't fail them. I can't."
Zhongli's hand remained steady on my back as my body shook. The adepti said nothing, watching as I fell apart at last.
Greg crawled down from the rock where he had been sunning, pausing at my side. He didn't speak, he never could, but his tiny claws rested against my arm. A silent reminder. A silent comfort. I glanced at him through blurry eyes and laughed weakly. "Even you think I'm pathetic, huh? …Thanks for sticking around."
Mountain Shaper's deep voice rumbled. "The strength of a man is not in never breaking. It is in rising after the break."
Cloud Retainer's feathers shook faintly. "At last, you reveal the truth of yourself. This… is progress most profound."
Moon Carver inclined his head. "No blade is strong without first enduring the hammer."
Xiao spoke, his tone low. "Fear never goes away. You just choose to walk with it. That's all strength ever is."
Madam Ping's cane tapped softly against the stone. "Child, your tears do not make you weaker. They make you real. And real is what the world needs."
Zhongli's voice cut through, calm and unyielding. "Allen. Shigeru. You are both. And when you stand, you will not stand as half a man, but whole. That is your true final trial."
And I wept. For Allen. For Shigeru. For the masks I had worn and the burdens I had carried. For the fear I couldn't admit and the strength I forced myself to hold.
For the first time, I embraced who I truly was.
***
The air outside the domain tasted different. Cold, clean, and impossibly real after what felt like years of nothing but stone walls and endless trials. My legs trembled as they carried me forward, the light nearly burning my eyes. I brushed the wetness from my face with the back of my hand and let out a shaky breath.
"Finally… I can see them again."
The words slipped out, heavy and quiet, but they echoed louder in my chest than any shout. Every scar, every scream, every drop of blood—it all led me here. My heart pounded, not from exhaustion this time, but from the sheer weight of relief.
Greg shifted on my shoulder, puffing his throat out proudly. I gave him a weak grin. "Yeah, buddy. We made it. Can you believe it? After everything… we actually made it."
A hand landed firmly on my shoulder. I turned to see Zhongli, his gaze steady as always, though softer now.
"You are a changed man," he said. "It is time to show the world what you can do… Hero."
For a second, I couldn't answer. My throat tightened, but I forced a smile and gave a small nod. "Hero, huh? I'll try not to disappoint. Though, knowing me, I'll probably trip on my first step outside."
Greg tapped my cheek with his tail, as if to scold me for joking. I chuckled. "Alright, alright, fine. I'll try to act the part."
Zhongli leaned down toward the little lizard. His eyes narrowed, studying him as though he saw more than scales and a twitching tail.
"Little one," Zhongli murmured. "It seems you are a smart lizard indeed."
From his sleeve, he produced a small shard of something—crystal, but alive, pulsing faintly with energy. Without hesitation, he let Greg swallow it. My eyes widened.
"Hey—wait, what did you just feed him?"
Zhongli's lips curved slightly. "A shard of old power. Be wise to use it well, little one, to protect your comrades."
Greg blinked, his throat bulging for a moment as he swallowed. Then, in an act that stunned me, he hopped down, turned toward Zhongli, and bowed. My mouth fell open.
"…Did my lizard just bow? Greg, you never do that."
Greg only flicked his tail and climbed back onto my arm, but the gesture said enough. Even I knew this was no small thing.
I turned then, my chest tight, to face Mountain Shaper. The sight of him almost undid me. All the pain, all the lessons, every ounce of his merciless guidance—it came rushing back. Without thinking, I stepped forward and hugged him, clinging tight like the fool I was.
"Master… thank you. Thank you so much. If not for you, I wouldn't have grown this strong. I wouldn't have grown at all."
The words spilled out without end, messy and broken. Gratitude, relief, sorrow—everything I'd bottled up burst out here. I couldn't stop thanking him.
Mountain Shaper chuckled softly, a sound I never thought I'd hear from him. His great hand settled on my head, heavy and warm.
"Disciple," he said, voice firm but filled with pride. "You have made this one proud. Now… go and show the world who you truly are. Show them the strength of Mountain Shaper's one and only disciple!"
I pulled back, blinking fast, and gave him the biggest smile I could manage. "I will, Master. I promise. I'll make you proud wherever I go."
Cloud Retainer in her human form shifted, her voice sharp yet tinged with warmth. "Though your methods lacked grace, you have endured where many would falter. Such persistence is… admirable Foolish one- no... Shigeru."
Moon Carver inclined his head, the faintest smile flickering across his face. "Your path has been steep, but you did not fall. That is worth more than perfection."
Xiao's arms were folded as always, but his gaze was steady. "Do not forget what you've learned here. Strength without resolve is nothing. You carry both now. Use them well."
Madam Ping's eyes shone with tenderness. "My child, you've walked through darkness and come back with light. That is no small feat. Remember, you are never alone. We will always watch over you."
Their words struck deep. I bit my lip, fighting the heat in my eyes. "…I'll remember. I'll remember all of this. Every one of you."
Greg tapped his claws against my chest pocket, where the photo rested. I lowered my gaze to him, smiling faintly. "Yeah, them too. Especially them."
I turned last to Zhongli. My grin returned, weary but certain. "Hey, buddy. Let's bring Guizhong back soon, yeah?"
His eyes widened for a brief moment. Then, slowly, he smiled, almost wistfully. He nodded once, the faintest whisper escaping him. "Yes. I'll hold you to that promise."
I looked at each of them again, burning the moment into my mind. Their faces. Their pride. Their trust. It was more than I ever thought I'd earn.
Then I reached out, my hand hovering over the teleport waypoint. My chest swelled with every heartbeat. My heart roared with anticipation, fear, and hope tangled all at once.
"It's time," I whispered.
Greg perched proudly on my shoulder, puffing himself up like he was ready to conquer the world. I smirked at him. "You ready, partner?" He flicked his tail once, firm.
With that, I activated the waypoint. Light consumed us, the world folding and shifting in a blink.
The trials were over.
The real journey was about to begin.
________________
End of Chapter 145
Quests Completed:
*Years of storms, stones, and illusions tested body and soul, but every scar became proof of chosen resolve.
*Refused food during breaks, drawing strength instead from a photo and whispered promises to Nilou, Lumine, and Paimon.
*Faced the truth that both are real you, not halves to bury, but a whole self to embrace.
*Let fear and doubt spill out at last, only to rise again stronger, steadier, and more human.
*Earned words of respect from Mountain Shaper, Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Xiao, Madam Ping, and even Zhongli himself.
*Saw the tiny lizard show reverence after swallowing Zhongli's shard, proof of loyalty and shared growth.
*Vowed to carry the Adepti's lessons, their pride, and their teachings back to the world outside.
*Stepped out of the Adepti's realm no longer as just Shigeru, but as their one and only disciple, ready to begin the real journey.
Rewards:
*+1 Adepti Title: "Disciple of Mountain Shaper"
*+1 Unique Passive: "Wholeness of Self" (Allen + Shigeru integrated; inner conflict reduced, inner strength amplified)
*Greg's Evolution: +1 Shard of Old Power (unlocks latent potential — ???)
*+1 Symbolic Scar ("Scar of the Self") — cosmetic, permanent reminder of endurance
*+1 Adepti's Collective Respect — intangible, priceless
*Zhongli's Promise Shared (renewed): "We'll bring Guizhong back together"
*Mountain Shaper's Blessing: Defense and willpower slightly strengthened in future ordeals
*+1 Bag of Mora (earned by sheer suffering, but will somehow disappear fast)
Achievement Unlocked:
"The Whole Fool"
-Faced both Allen and Shigeru, accepted every flaw, embraced both sides, and emerged not as half, but whole. Recognized as a true disciple of the Adepti and entrusted with their pride.