Under the golden glow, a sea of fog hugged an island in the middle of a black lake.
This lake was quiet and calm. The water was undisturbed, and deeper still, there lies an abyss. When staring at this lake for a brief moment, something seems to stare back.
On top of this eerie lake is a small island. This island was like a pebble sticking out the surface.
The island were filled with ruined buildings, most notable were the giant crimson castle and high spires which littered the land. It was like a spiked ant colony.
Occasionally, the wave crashes onto the shore of the island, producing howling wind and chilling breeze.
This breeze would pick up the rotten stench from the black lake, then deliver it across the ruined island.
This foul land was lonely, one can even say its existence was forgotten.
At the center of this forgotten island is a giant tree which illuminate the land. This tree was incomprehensibly large yet ethereal, its branches piercing the clouds and reached for the black veil above.
The golden brilliance meld with the crimson fog to create a reddish-brown luminance, and this luminance illuminated this forgotten island.
There was a large spire below this projection of the golden tree. On top, one could see a small dotted figure.
The sky was black. No stars. No moon. Only the golden hue of the tree bathed the rotten island below, where Yin San stood alone, preparing to ascend toward godhood or die trying.
His eyes socket were empty and dark, bearing striking semblance with the black water of the loch. Perhaps it is due to this emptiness which reflects the darkness of the black loch.
Yet in that abyss, was a faint light. This faint light burned like a remnant embers contained within a spark, illuminating his pale figure.
At the same time, his vision were dotted with deep shade of light, as though he sees the world through a crack mirror.
This lone figure turned toward an abandoned cathedral and let out a slight smile. In that cathedral, there is a barely noticeable outline.
It was a female figure, her form was like an illusionary shadow, sometimes corporeal, other times intangible. They seemed to exist in two state at once, almost like a ghost.
"Madam Arianna, please keep my body safe as I undergo the advancement ritual." He said, offering her a bow. His white hair flutter in the wind as the air became increasingly cold.
The ghost-like shadow flicker a moment, as though to acknowledge his gesture.
After seeing this, he felt more reassure as the stomping beneath his feet became stronger.
There was a sea of crimson light gathered below, they moved in a chaotic fashion. With a closer look, they resemble humanoid figures. Their face were disfigured, half skin and half flesh.
Among these humanoid figures, were other creatures bearing similarities with lizards, fishs, and birds. Their appearance was strange and peculiar, birds with gills, fish having four legs, and lizards with bone-like wings.
These creatures are like a concoction of a nightmarish dream. But they are the true inhabitant of this forgotten island.
When he looked at them, they also look up toward the high spire.
Yin San's black robe contrast with his long, flowing white hair attracted their attention. It was like an ember burning amidst the dark forest.
All these creatures together formed an army, their gaze all fixed on Yin San's who looked like a white spark against the black sky.
Suddenly, a calling deep in their soul echoed, resembling a murmuring that was irresistible from the land beneath them.
"Devour him! Devour him! Devour him!"
Their teeth rattled as the saliva continuously fall from their opened-flesh mouth.
At this moment, Yin San let out a slight smile. Combine with his emptied eyes socket, it was frightening.
The moment he smile, the dust was picked up by a breeze. With a wave of his hand, a white-ish gray fog blanketed the area, covering the entire area in white.
He murmured a foreign string of vows and consonants, all of which translates to the following.
"I came, I saw, and I dream!"
Instantly, his empty eye socket let out a white beam of light, followed by a stream of tears of golden liquid.
Time seemingly stop, the wind halt in midair, even the dust dare not move. The island, for just a moment, entered a state of limbo, as though all things on this land fell asleep.
With a chant, he put the entire ancient city to sleep.
The mysterious figure above the cathedral blurred for a before becoming corporeal, forming a female silhouette.
She watches as the tears continue to flow through his eyes. Her face were puppet-like, it was impossible to read her thought.
"Light…" She murmured under her breath.
Just as Yin San were about to enter the dreams in order to undergo the advancement ritual toward godhood, a light slowly emerged.
This light formed a figure which appear not far on top of another building. It was a man draped in all white. His neck had a notable cross, what more dazzling is his golden hair that resembles the sun.
This golden hair seemingly blends with the branches of the golden tree, forming an overlapping imagery.
The moment this figure appear, the crimson fog retreated around him.
At the same time, the golden tree shook for the first time in history, causing countless gold petals to fall to the ground, as though to welcome this person.
The appearance of this figure as well as the movement of the golden tree startled Yin San.
Who is he? He wondered, his head moved toward that white figure. The moment their face meet, his vision was set ablaze!
It was as though he was staring straight into the sun, but how was that possible? He's a blind man!
This strange and bizarre event startled Yin San, and before he could speak, the sun-like figure voice traveled to his ears.
"You are here… Brother—No, you are not him, interesting…. You have his aura— but you're not him, I mean, how?" This figure looked at Yin San's with a slight head tilt, his brows was raised, treating the former like an unsolved puzzle.
Facing this figure's confusion and puzzled questions, he couldn't answer.
Brother? Is he referring to my transmigrations? Yin San thought ran wild. Even though the army of foul creatures was frozen, he didn't feel safe when facing this lone figure.
To him, each second was an eternity. This moment was too crucial for him!
He was currently undergoing an advancement ritual toward godhood, it was important that he was not interrupted in the process. Because the failure of this advancement meant death!
"May I inquire your excellency name?" Yin San offer him a bow and asked respectfully, he didn't dare to agitate this mysterious figure.
As he tilt his body, the golden liquid pour heavier out his eye socket. Strangely, they did not stain his black robe.
Tick. Tack.
Time ticked in his head like an old fashioned grandfather clock, each second wasted meant one moment closer to all the creatures waking up.
Hearing this question, the golden haired man let out a slight chuckled," You are not worthy…"
Yin San expression grew dimmed upon hearing his response. The tension in the air continues to grow.
He didn't care about Yin San's reaction and turn his gaze toward an abandoned cathedral. This cathedral happens to be where the ghost-like figure stand.
Seeing her appearance, he paused for a moment, as though to think of the meaning of her appearance. Then, he raised his head to stare at the black sky, followed by a question.
"She sent you?"
The female figure remained silent for a couple of second, then answered.
"Yes."
"Is this her arrangement?"
It was unknown what he meant by this, but she continued to reply in a lifeless manner.
"Partially."
Yin San witness their interaction, trying to grasp the truth behind this cryptic conversation. He didn't dare to interrupt.
Before he could listened further, a wave of drowsiness assaulted him. Their voice became incoherent murmurs.
The rituals!
At this moment, the golden haired man showed no hostility as he turned his head toward the high spire. There was a hint of amusement in his gaze.
Yin San consciousness descend into darkness. This was due to the effect of the advancement ritual, which forced him into a state of slumber.
"Brother! Brother! Wake up!"
Yin San was startled awake from someone calling out to him. He woke up and look around in confusion. The sound of tick tock rang in his head.
This was his office, the voice came from his handheld phone. He turn his head toward the phone and picked it up.
"L-Lei Mei?" His voice was shaking, as though a hidden memory has been dug up from his heart.
"Did you fell asleep again?" She grumbled, then reprimanded him," I keep telling you to stop staying up late! You never listen. You are always sleep talking!"
"I won't believe it if you said you haven't been reading those novels again behind my back again!"
At the same time, Yin San mind shake, it was like his entire soul has been pricked.
Yin San immediately sense a moment of clarity in his mind. There was countless regrets, resentment, and madness howling in the back of his mind.
These voices and howls seemingly came from another world, scratching at his ears, and for that one instant, they became the only anchor that kept him lucid.
How is this possible? I am no longer on earth! This must be a dream! I have to wake up! That's right— There is no way that my transmigration was a dream— I was undergoing the advancement ritual. Yes—this must be a dream!
Then, the voices slowly quiet down, it muffled, as though a bag was placed on top of them.
Gradually, his eyes dazed.
An unknown amount of time passed before his eyes focused. And in the back of his head, that familiar tick tack sound bounce back and forth in his mind.
When his vision cleared, the first thing that he saw was the flickering lamp light which reveals his messy office.
The sound of rain smashes against his window, scratching at his ears as the wet scent of earth permeate the room.
Where was I… He murmured, his nose twitches at the cigarettes smell on his desk. As he stare at the bookshelf, he rubbed his eyes in confusion.
For some reason, his eyes felt itchy to the touch.
…
Yin San body continue to sleep just like all the creatures in this ruined city.
The golden hair figure shook his head as he stare at the slumbering figure on the golden spire.
"He failed." He said in a low voice, breaking the silence on this land. His gaze seemed to penetrate past a veil and peer into Yin San's dream.
In that dream, Yin San live the life of a civilian, a life of a historian, a life of a brother, and a life before this life.
At this moment, Yin San was pulled back into modern day. The time before his transmigration, the time before he walked on the path of extraordinary. And the time before he arrived on this crimson land.
Within the dream, time passes.
Gradually, the dream gained one more inhabitants — Its owner became the guest.
In the outside world, among the dense crimson fog, all the creatures slowly woke up, their eyes immediately glued onto Yin San's vulnerable body.
It was as though the female and golden hair figure did not exist in their eyes.
The golden figure shook his head, disappointed, then disappeared from his spot, leaving behind a golden petal in his place.
Meanwhile, she watches as those creatures climb the spire, then lunges at Yin San's body. Their numbers drowned his frail lone body.
With the creatures awake, Yin San had no way of keeping himself lucid inside the dream.
Their teeth were sharp, easily piercing his flesh. As they chew on his flesh, there were no movement from his body, it was as though they were chewing on a carcass of an animal.
The female figure didn't moved to save him. There was no use. This body was no different from a lifeless corpse when he failed his advancement ritual.
They howl in joy as his flesh was devoured from arm down to the torso and then to the leg. Eventually, saving the head for last.
The golden hue from the tree illuminate his face once more, revealing his expression against the dimmed wet floor.
Even at this moment, the golden liquid continues to pour from his eye socket, as though it is the only sign of his flickering life.
Before his face was eaten completely, a lingering smile formed.
The female figure eyes flashes for a brief moment.
Her gaze penetrate into his dream, there, she saw the scene of a young man with a younger woman. They both occupied an ordinary yet strange life.
She shook her head and disappeared, leaving only behind a soft whisper.
"Success and failure depends on one's self, if only you retained your humanity as an anchor rather than using these creatures… You would have succeeded."
This whisper was followed by a voice of regret.
"After all, the voice of human is clearer than the howls of beasts…"