The moment my foot crossed the threshold of the shimmer, my System flared violently:
[!!! ALERT !!!]
[Boundary Breach Detected: Outer Veil Entry]
[Source: Hall Residual Influence]
[Immediate Threat Level: HIGH]
I stumbled, nearly falling, but Xian Yu's grip on my wrist kept me upright. The energy here was alive—alive and watching. Every blade of ghost-grass, every ripple of mist, every shadow of ruin seemed to pulse in tune with me. My mark burned bright on my hand, thrumming like a heartbeat of its own.
Shuang hovered slightly behind, her talismans spinning faster, creating a protective barrier that buzzed faintly with energy. "It's assessing us," she murmured. "The Outer Veil senses you… more than it should."
I swallowed hard. More than it should? The words made my stomach twist. This wasn't just a world. It was a living entity, aware, conscious, testing me. I could almost feel the land's thoughts crawling across my skin, pressing against my mind.
Xian Yu's eyes scanned the horizon, sharp and calculating. "Keep moving," she said, voice low. "The Warden will follow, but the Veil itself won't wait."
I nodded, stepping forward. The pulse in my hand synchronized with the rhythm of the Outer Veil. The first step onto the silver grass felt like stepping into a heartbeat. The ground beneath me vibrated subtly, responding to the mark. I realized suddenly—the Hall hadn't just left me a fragment of memory. It had left me a map, a guide, a key to survive this world.
Ahead, the Boundary Warden crouched atop a ridge, its golden eye fixed on me. Its gaze didn't threaten—it measured, it judged, it waited. The sheer size of it made my heart hammer. The ground trembled under its first movements, tiny fissures spreading where its claws brushed.
My System buzzed again:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[Warden Identified: Boundary Entity]
[Engagement: Observation Mode]
[Recommended Action: Proceed with caution]
The Warden wasn't aggressive—not yet. But the energy radiating from it made my pulse spike. I felt the air tighten around my chest, and instinctively, I clenched my fists. The mark responded, burning hotter, sending pulses of guidance through my veins.
Shuang murmured, almost to herself, "It's not just a test of strength… it's a test of identity."
Identity. The word struck me harder than the tremor under my feet. The Hall had called me by name. The erased one had called me brother. And now, the Outer Veil itself seemed to demand I remember who I was, who I could be.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Every instinct screamed fear, but I forced myself forward. One step. Two steps. The Warden's gaze followed, unblinking.
Then, as I moved, the environment responded. Ghost-grass bent away, ruins shifted subtly, forming a path forward. Not guidance—it was recognition. Acceptance. A rhythm I could follow.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Outer Veil Interaction: Partial Synchronization]
[Inner Eye Influence: ACTIVE]
[Skill Unlock Pending: Undefined]
My vision blurred as the Inner Eye flared, showing patterns of energy across the land, invisible lines connecting me, the Warden, and the ruins. The Veil itself was alive, and it was teaching me, shaping me.
Xian Yu glanced at me sharply. "Control it. The Veil reacts to your energy more than anything else."
I nodded, forcing my breath into calm, rhythmic waves. Focus. Synchronize. Respond, don't act blindly.
The Warden shifted, its massive claws scraping against the stone ruins, sending echoes like rolling thunder across the Outer Veil. Each tremor made the ghost-grass quiver, each ripple in the mist seemed to react to my heartbeat. I could feel it—every inch of this land was aware.
"Li Wei," Xian Yu said sharply, gripping my arm. "The further we go, the more it will probe. Stay in sync with your mark."
I forced my focus inward, feeling the pulsing warmth beneath my skin. The mark's rhythm had stabilized now, like a conductor guiding a symphony of energy. The ruins around us seemed to recognize it, shifting subtly to form clear paths through the jagged landscape.
Shuang's talismans hovered around her like sentient guardians, faint runes spinning along their edges. "These ruins… they're echoes of the Hall," she whispered. "The Outer Veil is using them to test you. But you… you're interacting with them. Changing them."
I clenched my jaw. Change them? Was I… controlling this world? No. Not controlling. Influencing. The energy was flowing through me, responding to my presence, shaping the land. The realization made my chest tighten. This was more than survival. This was awakening.
The Warden crouched higher now, golden eye gleaming like molten metal. Its gaze pierced me, and for a moment, I thought it could see everything—the Hall, the whispers, the erased one, even the fragment of memory hidden deep in my mind. I swallowed hard.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Warden Focus: Target Acquired]
[Immediate Threat: Observation Mode]
Its massive form shifted with unnatural fluidity. I sensed a challenge—not of combat, but of understanding. The Veil, the Warden, the Hall—they were all connected. And somehow, they expected me to answer.
The path ahead narrowed, the ruins forming a jagged corridor. Every step I took made the ground hum with faint energy, the mark on my hand flaring with each pulse.
"Li Wei," Xian Yu warned, voice low. "The Veil reacts not only to power… but to intent. Your hesitation will cost you."
Intent. I nodded. My hand burned with focus, guiding me forward. The Warden followed, not threatening, not attacking—just waiting. The air itself seemed to lean toward me, brushing my skin, carrying whispers from the Hall, faint memories of erased voices, and the pulse of this strange, living world.
Then the mist thickened, coiling around our legs like serpents. Shadowy figures appeared within it, half-formed shapes of explorers long gone, echoes of the Hall's memory. Their faces twisted in silent screams, hands reaching for me, but I ignored them. Focus. Forward. I forced my pulse to sync with the land, each step echoing like a heartbeat.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Boundary Synchronization: IN PROGRESS]
[Inner Eye Link: ACTIVE]
[Skill Potential: UNLOCK CONDITION MET]
The Outer Veil vibrated, almost approvingly. I could feel the energy flowing around me, harmonizing with my own. It was as if the land itself whispered, guiding me forward, testing me, and shaping me for what lay beyond.
At the end of the corridor, a faint shimmer appeared—a floating fragment of light, pulsing in rhythm with the mark on my hand. I realized instinctively: this was the next checkpoint. A fragment of the Hall's influence lingering in the Outer Veil, waiting to judge me.
Xian Yu's hand rested lightly on my shoulder. "Step through. Don't hesitate."
I inhaled sharply, feeling every nerve flare as I approached. The moment I touched the light, the world responded. A wave of energy rolled out, lifting me slightly, and I heard a whisper—not from the Hall, not from the Warden, but from deep within me.
"Li Wei… remember."
The words hit me like a hammer. The Hall, the Outer Veil, the Warden—they weren't just tests. They were memories, fragments of my own forgotten past, waiting to be reclaimed. My chest ached as flashes of shadowed corridors, whispered names, and fragments of a life I didn't fully remember flooded my mind.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Memory Imprint Detected: Partial Recovery]
[Inner Eye Enhancement: ACTIVE]
[Skill Acquired: Undefined]
I staggered forward, energy thrumming through me. The Warden's golden eye followed, unblinking. It didn't move. It didn't threaten. It was waiting, testing, judging. And somehow, I knew that passing this trial meant more than survival—it meant understanding who I truly was.
Shuang's voice pulled me back slightly. "Keep focus. Don't let the memories distract you. The Outer Veil will punish hesitation."
I nodded, forcing the images to settle into clarity instead of chaos. The mark on my hand flared, stronger now, guiding me, linking me to the land, to the Warden, to something far deeper I didn't yet understand.
And then I saw it—a shimmer at the horizon, faint but undeniable. A structure, ancient, like the remnants of a hall, but larger, more imposing, pulsating with energy that dwarfed even the Warden. I realized immediately: this was the origin point. The heart of everything the Hall, the Outer Veil, and the Warden were connected to.
Xian Yu's eyes narrowed. "That's where we need to go. But be ready. The closer we get, the more the Veil tests you—and the Warden will act differently."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of everything in the Outer Veil pressing on me. The path ahead was wide open, but every inch was alive, every step a challenge, every shadow a potential threat. I clenched my fists, feeling the mark burn, the pulse guiding me, the Inner Eye flaring in rhythm with the land.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Main Quest Updated]
[Navigate to the Origin Point of Outer Veil]
[Threat Level: EXTREME]
I took the first step toward the horizon. The ruins shifted around me, opening a path like water flowing around a stone. The ghost-grass bent, mist parted, and the Warden followed, silent and deliberate. Its golden eye never left me.
With each step, I felt the Outer Veil breathe, sense, test, and accept me. The whispers of the Hall had faded, replaced by the living rhythm of this strange, alien world. But somewhere in the back of my mind, the voice of the erased one lingered—a reminder that even beyond the Hall, my past, my identity, and my origin were intertwined with everything around me.
And I realized, finally, that the Outer Veil wasn't just a challenge. It was a key. A test. A revelation.
Every step forward pulsed with energy. Every heartbeat of the mark synchronized with the land. And somewhere beyond the horizon, I knew, the answers waited.
The plateau stretched endlessly, silver mist rolling across the ruins like restless waves. Every step I took seemed heavier, yet the mark on my hand pulsed stronger, almost guiding me forward, whispering rhythms I couldn't fully understand. My lungs burned, my legs screamed, but I forced myself onward. I couldn't stop—not now.
Xian Yu stayed close, eyes scanning the horizon constantly, every movement precise, every breath measured. Shuang's talismans glimmered softly, spinning like protective satellites. "Li Wei," she murmured, voice low, "the Outer Veil responds to everything—your fear, your hesitation, even your doubt. Control it, or it will control you."
I clenched my teeth, forcing the energy within me to align with the land. The ghost-grass bent under my influence, the ruins shifted, revealing a narrow path between jagged stones. I realized the Outer Veil wasn't just alive—it was intelligent. It understood me, and it was waiting for me to prove myself.
A sudden gust of wind tore across the plateau. I stumbled, barely catching my balance, and froze. Through the violet haze, I saw movement: shadows rising from the mist, swirling into forms that resembled warriors. They weren't real, I knew that instinctively—they were echoes of the Hall, or perhaps of explorers who had failed. Their faces twisted in silent agony, their hollow eyes fixed on me.
"Ignore them," Xian Yu shouted, her voice snapping me back. "They're illusions, nothing more. Focus."
The illusions surged closer, but I felt the mark's warmth flaring, synchronizing with the energy around me. The Inner Eye flickered, revealing hidden threads of power weaving through the land. With a concentrated effort, I extended my senses, directing the energy outward. The illusions dissipated, evaporating like smoke in sunlight.
Shuang's eyes widened. "Incredible… You're interacting with the Veil itself, Li Wei. Not many can."
I swallowed, feeling the weight of her words. I wasn't just surviving; I was changing this world, shaping it with every thought, every pulse. The Warden behind us shifted slightly, its golden eye glowing brighter, as if approving my control, acknowledging my presence.
The path narrowed further, rising toward a jagged ridge. The air thickened, charged with an almost oppressive energy. Every step I took sent tremors through the land, echoes that seemed to respond to my heartbeat. I realized with a jolt: the Outer Veil was not just a test. It was a mirror—reflecting not only the Hall, but me. My fears, my doubts, my hidden potential.
"Synchronized," Xian Yu whispered, stepping beside me. "Your pulse, the mark, the Veil… keep it aligned. One misstep, and the Warden won't just watch—it will act."
I nodded, forcing my focus inward. The mark burned hotter now, its rhythm pounding in tandem with the Outer Veil itself. I felt my senses expand—every blade of ghost-grass, every fragment of ruined stone, every curl of mist became part of my awareness. The world and I were no longer separate.
Then, I saw it—a faint shimmer in the distance, rising like a beacon beyond the ridge. I knew instinctively: the origin point. The center of the Outer Veil's power. Beyond it lay answers I had been chasing since the Hall first called my name.
The Warden shifted again, moving closer—not threatening, but guiding, positioning itself to observe and test. Its golden eye met mine, unblinking, unwavering. It was a challenge, a promise, and a warning all at once.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Boundary Warden Status: Observation Mode]
[Skill Potential: UNLOCK CONDITION PROGRESSING]
[Inner Eye Integration: ACTIVE]
Every nerve in my body screamed. I could feel the Outer Veil responding, the ridge ahead forming paths only I could perceive. I stepped forward. The ground beneath me pulsed, trembled, but held. The Warden mirrored my movement, a silent sentinel, a reminder that I was being watched and judged.
Ghostly whispers swirled around me, faint echoes of the Hall calling my name, fragments of memory and forgotten voices. My chest tightened. I clenched my fists, forcing the energy of the mark to flare, stabilizing my perception, cutting through the cacophony of sound and emotion.
Xian Yu glanced at me, voice steady. "You're doing it, Li Wei. Keep control. Lead the way."
I exhaled, pushing every ounce of doubt aside. With each step, the Outer Veil responded more willingly, revealing a narrow corridor of ghost-grass leading toward the glowing shimmer. The ruins shifted subtly, almost as if bowing to my presence, acknowledging me.
The wind howled suddenly, whipping around the plateau, carrying distant echoes of something immense. I froze, feeling the pulse in my hand spike violently. The Warden crouched, ready, golden eye flaring.
A voice, low and resonant, whispered through the mist—not from Shuang or Xian Yu, not even from the Hall. It came from somewhere deep, ancient, within the Outer Veil itself:
"Li Wei… you are the key."
My heart skipped. The mark burned brighter than ever, and for a moment, I felt as if the entire Veil was holding its breath, waiting for me to act. I swallowed, taking a deep breath. The ridge ahead was near. Beyond it… the origin point awaited.
Every step forward felt heavier, the wind stronger, the pulse in my hand relentless. The Outer Veil tested me at every turn, but I no longer flinched. I had to keep moving. I had to reach the center.
As I stepped onto the final rise, the plateau stretched before me like a vast ocean of silver mist and shattered ruins. And there, at the horizon, the source glimmered—an immense structure of stone and light, pulsating with energy that seemed to resonate with my very soul.
The Warden halted beside me, golden eye fixed forward, then slowly bowed its massive head. Its stance was no longer threatening—it was acknowledging, awaiting.
I could feel the Outer Veil thrumming, alive in response to me. Every fragment of the Hall's memory, every echo of the erased one, every pulse of the mark in my hand—it all converged on this moment.
The shimmer ahead grew stronger, a brilliant core of energy rising into the violet sky. I realized, with a mix of awe and terror, that this was no ordinary trial. This was the source of everything—the Hall, the Warden, the Outer Veil, and… me.
I stepped forward, feeling the energy swell around me, the mark on my hand blazing like a living sun. And in that instant, I understood: my origin was tied to this place. The Hall, the whispers, the erased one—all were fragments of a story I was meant to reclaim.
The wind swirled violently, ghost-grass bending in waves, the ruins shifting to form a path directly to the shining structure. The Warden moved ahead, guiding, never touching, never threatening. Its golden eye glimmered with expectation, and I felt the weight of history pressing on me.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Main Quest Updated]
[Reach the Origin Point]
[Skill Unlock: Undefined – Condition Active]
[Threat Level: MAXIMUM]
With one final breath, I stepped onto the path leading to the glowing structure. The Outer Veil seemed to lean toward me, responding to my presence, acknowledging my claim.
And in that moment, I knew: whatever awaited at the origin point would change everything. Not just the Hall, not just the Outer Veil, but me.
I wasn't just a trespasser. I was the key.
And the Veil was ready to see if I was worthy.
I stepped closer to the glowing structure, each step sending vibrations through my bones. The silver mist swirled violently around me, carrying whispers that were neither hostile nor kind—just… knowing. The mark on my hand flared bright, scorching warmth that spread up my arm, grounding me. I felt my heartbeat sync with the rhythm of the Outer Veil. It was alive. It wasn't just testing me. It was waiting for me to awaken.
Xian Yu's hand tightened on my shoulder. "Stay focused. The closer you get, the stronger the Veil reacts." Her eyes scanned the horizon, alert for any unexpected movements. Shuang's talismans hummed, spinning faster, radiating protective energy, their symbols glowing brighter. "You are resonating with it," she murmured. "This isn't just interaction—Li Wei, you're shaping the world around you."
I swallowed, forcing my mind clear. Fear and doubt had no place here. Only forward. Step after step, my feet found the path as ruins shifted and bent around me, almost parting to create a trail. Every pulse of the mark seemed to map the path, guiding me instinctively. I wasn't walking alone—I was leading, shaping, becoming part of the Outer Veil itself.
Then I heard it—the low rumble, deep and resonant, vibrating through the land, through my bones. The Warden shifted, its golden eye glowing brighter, scanning, probing. Its massive form loomed, but it didn't advance. I realized with a jolt: the Warden wasn't here to attack. It was here to judge, to see if I could command the energies that had long remained dormant within me.
The ground trembled beneath my feet, forcing me to brace myself. Ghost-grass whipped against my legs, bending violently as if resisting my passage. The distant whispers of the Hall's memories grew louder, echoing through my mind, fragments of erased faces, stolen names, hollow screams—all converging on me. The mark burned, pulse syncing with the rhythm of the Veil. I clenched my teeth, focusing. One misstep and this place could crush me. One hesitation and the Warden's judgment could fall.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Boundary Warden Status: Observation Mode]
[Skill Potential: UNLOCK CONDITION PROGRESSING]
[Inner Eye Integration: ACTIVE]
A wave of energy shot from the glowing structure ahead. My knees buckled for a moment as it washed over me, but the mark flared, absorbing, harmonizing. My vision blurred, and for a heartbeat, I glimpsed images not my own—memories, visions, fragments of a story I had yet to understand. I saw a boy, alone in the Hall, reaching for a sealed door, light blinding, shadows curling like living hands. The images shifted to a landscape of ruins, of the Outer Veil as it had once been—alive, raw, untamed.
I staggered but didn't fall. Xian Yu's grip on my arm steadied me. "Focus, Li Wei. Don't let it overwhelm you."
I took a deep breath, letting the pulse of the mark guide me. My Inner Eye flared open fully, the world around me sharpening, revealing hidden threads of energy connecting everything—the ruins, the grass, the mist, even the Warden. I realized then: the Outer Veil didn't just respond to me. It existed in me. Every movement I made, every thought I had, reshaped it.
The glowing structure loomed larger, towering over the ruins like a monument of light and stone. It pulsed with a heartbeat, slow and deliberate, resonating with the mark. The whispers from the Hall faded, replaced by a singular voice—a deep, echoing tone that vibrated through the land, through my soul:
"Li Wei… you have come."
My chest tightened. My hand burned, the mark's pulse racing faster than my heartbeat. The Outer Veil itself seemed to hold its breath. I took a cautious step forward, and the wind shifted, forming a pathway of silver mist that led directly to the structure. The Warden followed silently, golden eye fixed on me. Its presence was both comforting and terrifying—a reminder that the world watched, and I was expected to act.
I forced myself to move. Step by step, I advanced, and as I did, the ground beneath me hummed. Ruins shifted, bending to my influence. Ghost-grass parted, and faint symbols glowed along the path, ancient language that pulsed in rhythm with the mark. I realized that every instinct, every pulse, every flicker of the Inner Eye was part of the puzzle. I wasn't just walking toward the origin—I was unlocking it.
The wind howled sharply, carrying voices that weren't voices, whispers that weren't words. My mind struggled to remain clear. The Outer Veil tested me at every moment, not with attacks, but with sensation—overwhelming, infinite, intimate. It wanted to see if I could control myself, if I could integrate with its energy without succumbing.
Then, a shadow moved across the plateau—not the Warden, not an illusion, something different. A figure rose from the mist, humanoid but indistinct, its outline shimmering with the same violet light as the origin structure. It didn't speak, didn't move toward me aggressively. It simply watched.
Xian Yu whispered, "Li Wei… do you see that?"
I nodded, feeling the pulse of the mark flare violently. Recognition surged through me like a lightning strike. This was connected to the Hall, to the erased one, to me. This… was part of my origin.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[Main Quest Updated]
[Reach the Origin Point]
[Skill Unlock: Undefined – Condition Active]
[Threat Level: MAXIMUM]
The figure raised a hand slowly, deliberately. The wind shifted, carrying a resonance that vibrated with my core. I understood—this was a test, not of strength, but of intent. Of control. Of alignment.
I took a step forward, feeling the Outer Veil itself guiding me. The mark burned brighter, energy surging through my veins. I was no longer merely surviving. I was commanding, shaping, becoming part of the world.
Xian Yu and Shuang flanked me, their expressions tense but trusting. I could feel their reliance, their faith in me—and I could not fail. Not now.
The figure stepped aside, revealing the full origin structure. Light streamed from within, pulsing in perfect synchronization with the mark. The Outer Veil's energy converged here, flowing like molten silver, and I felt the connection—intimate, overwhelming, undeniable.
I raised my hand, letting the mark's energy flare outward, merging with the pulse of the structure. A wave of power surged through the plateau. The mist whipped violently, ruins shifted, and the Warden stepped forward, head bowed in acknowledgment. The Outer Veil itself seemed to breathe, waiting, testing, judging.
Then, a whisper, deeper than any before, resonated directly in my mind:
"Li Wei… claim yourself."
The words echoed through my soul. Fear, doubt, hesitation—they all melted away, replaced by clarity, purpose, and power. I understood now: this wasn't about escaping the Hall, or surviving the Outer Veil. It was about becoming what I was always meant to be.
With a deep breath, I stepped into the light of the origin structure. The mark flared violently, my Inner Eye opening fully. Energy flowed through me, merging, harmonizing, until I felt a pulse—not just mine, but shared with the Veil, with the Warden, with the structure itself.
A presence filled my mind—ancient, patient, powerful. It wasn't hostile. It wasn't benevolent. It simply… existed, waiting for me to awaken.
I exhaled slowly. "I am ready."
The structure's pulse synced with the mark. The Outer Veil rippled in response, as if acknowledging my claim. The Warden bowed, golden eye glinting, a silent promise of guidance, not restraint.
And then, the whispers, the wind, the energy—all focused into one singular moment. I felt a connection spanning the Hall, the Outer Veil, the erased one, and myself. The pieces aligned. The questions I had been chasing—the Hall's memory, the Warden, the mark, the whispers—everything pointed to this.
I was no longer a trespasser. I was the key.
And the Outer Veil… had finally awakened with me.