In the northern regions of Shan Country, in the Kachin Mountain Area, a sky that had been clear and boundless was covered by dark clouds in a matter of minutes.
Moisture rapidly rising from the forest sea and rivers howled, kicking up gales that formed into tornado-like pillars of wind, faintly visible in mid-air.
RUMBLE— Winding bolts of thunder light could be seen flashing within the suddenly gathered, pitch-black rain clouds. With a clap of thunder, rain began to patter down, descending upon the earth along with a strong wind.
The quiet forest, the chaotic scenic area, and the unprepared tourist town were filled with the violent thrashing of leaves and the bewildered cries and curses of the crowd, but it was all drowned out by the roar of thunder.
Between the mountains, where the river flowed, surging waves suddenly roiled and crashed against the banks. If a Master had been present, they would have been able to faintly see something luminous flying up from these dragon-like mountains and serpent-like rivers. They transformed into light-like particles, sinking deep beneath a certain ancient peak.
RUMBLE—
Another clap of thunder. Something was brewing in the dark clouds, where countless lightning serpents crisscrossed. A rare thunderstorm was clearly about to form. And at the center of all the lightning, a Dragon Serpent-shaped bolt of thunder light streaked across the sky, stirring the heavens and the earth. Its cyan glow was as lustrous and holy as jade, as if it had come from beyond the firmament.
「Shan Country.」
In the Binman City Center, in front of a painting shop, the expression of a white-haired old man, who had been smiling while offering fresh water to a thirsty tourist, shifted slightly. He looked up in confusion toward the north, the long beard under his chin trembling faintly.
"...Has the time of Dharma arrived?"
Before the words had even faded, he shook his head slightly, as if sighing. "No. It's early. Too early. It's late. Too late."
「Zhengguo.」
On the outskirts of Dianzhou Spring City, in the courtyard of a countryside home, a middle-aged man painting with splashed ink paused, his hand slowing for a fraction of a second. By the time he reacted, the once-flawless flow of his ink wash painting had been muddied, but he paid it no mind. His eyes, in which traces of Spiritual Light flickered, looked to the west.
"Opening the Heavens and Earth? Why so early, and why there?"
"No, that's not it. But this aura..."
「Zhu Country.」
"The Kali Yuga is coming to an end."
In the mountains of Manipur, the 'Jewel of the Serpent'¹, a gaunt old man cultivating in meditation under a waterfall slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at the Spiritual Light shining in the north and recited a short phrase under his breath. Then he closed his eyes again to continue his meditation, leaving only his low muttering to drift on the sound of the rushing water.
"The end of the kalpa is near."
「Kachin Mountain Area. Within the ancient sacrificial cave.」
The Leader of the Holy Snake Spirit Prayer Association, who came from the Bedouin people, stared blankly, his aged face filled with confusion as he struggled to maintain his clarity. He looked up at the black rock ceiling, watching the phantom of the giant, tail-biting serpent shatter. The violent blast of Spiritual Qi, like the shockwave from a bomb, knocked him and everyone else unconscious in an instant.
At the same time, a sacred voice that ordinary people could not hear rang out.
[No... This is the last chance of this Era!]
The voice, filled with determination and fury, echoed throughout the hall.
[...I will never give up!]
And in that instant.
The heavens shattered.
With a thunderclap so loud it was nearly deafening, the thick, dark clouds that had blanketed the sky in mere minutes shattered. The twisting mass of Dragon Serpent thunderclouds, visible from hundreds of kilometers away, also burst apart. The sky-spanning lightning serpents and scattering clouds intertwined, transforming into ethereal Spiritual Light that rapidly faded away in all directions, restoring the original clear sky.
Within a short hour, the celestial phenomena had shifted, and the clouds and rain had come and gone.
However slowly the Shan Country government reacted, they were now shaken and aware that something was wrong. The nearest military units had already begun to mobilize, preparing to seal off the border. Zhengguo did the same; the Dianzhou Military District began deploying attack helicopters and ground forces toward the western frontier.
No matter who it was—be it the ruling party or the opposition in Shan Country, or even interested parties from friendly nations—everyone knew:
Something major had happened in this place!
At this very moment, in the deepest part of the Ancient Shann Seven-headed Snake God Sacrificial Cave, next to the Prayer Hall, was the 'offering placement area'.
The dozens of 'offerings' who were still in a deep sleep hadn't awakened, even after enduring continuous explosions, the blast of Spiritual Qi, and even the collapse of that Qi. In fact, they had fallen into an even deeper slumber.
In this lightless cave, there was only pure, pitch-black darkness—just like the terrifying nightmare all the sleepers now found themselves in.
But now, a voice suddenly appeared in the purely silent, dark dream.
[Awaken.]
In the dark dreamscape, Shao Qiming heard a voice.
[Awaken.]
A deep, holy voice came from a distant place. It carried a hint of guidance, allowing the young man's mind to gradually clear and break free from the dream.
Shao Qiming slowly emerged from the nightmare of his life—a life plagued by illness since childhood, where he was a burden to his family, friends, and everyone around him, finding no relief even in death—and regained his ability to think.
[Someone needs you.]
'Who? Who would need me?'
Hearing this voice, the first thing that rose in Shao Qiming's heart was not doubt, but pure bewilderment.
'Needed? Haven't I always just been a burden? A burden to my parents and family, a burden to my friends and teachers... Even when the whole class went on a field trip as kids, Su Zhou had to carry my bag for me. Otherwise, I'd probably be out of breath and unable to go on after just a hundred meters.'
'Someone as weak as me... All I could do was study hard, striving in areas that had nothing to do with physical strength, using my top grades to bring a small smile to my worried parents' faces.'
'Who would ever need me?'
[Your friend.]
Su Zhou.
Upon hearing the voice, that was the first name that popped into Shao Qiming's mind. But along with it came a deep-seated sense of inferiority, as well as profound envy.
'What could he possibly need my help with...'
Though he thought this, the feeling quickly dissipated as his mind grew clearer. He even found himself joking to console himself. 'At least he still needs to copy my homework—though I'm sure he could do it himself if he just put in a little effort.'
'And how am I supposed to help him?'
[Only a friend can help him, and only a friend can save him.]
The holy, deep voice resounded, its words seemingly holding a deeper meaning.
[Awaken.]
And so, Shao Qiming awoke.
Leaving the nightmare behind, he instinctively got up from the ground and looked around. Although the cave was pitch-black, scattered fragments of Spiritual Objects on the floor emitted a faint glow. By this light, Shao Qiming could see clearly that he was in a rock cave, surrounded by the other bus tourists, all fast asleep.
All of these people, settled here in their slumber, now wore pained and uneasy expressions, as if trapped in nightmares... 'If it weren't for that mysterious voice, I'd be one of them, wouldn't I? But never mind that for now. Where is this place?'
'And why can't I see Su Zhou?'
'Wait... Right! Su Zhou! Su Zhou needs my help!'
Memorizing the general layout of the cave, the number of people, and each person's features in a matter of seconds, Shao Qiming stood up. He had received a mysterious guidance, telling him that Su Zhou was not here.
And the guiding voice spoke at the same time.
[Forward.]
[To the left.]
[Forward, until you reach the great door.]
Ordinarily, Shao Qiming was not the type to obey a mysterious voice, but since it concerned the missing Su Zhou, he had no choice but to patiently follow its directions. He navigated a series of narrow cave corridors and arrived before an ancient, but now twisted, great door.
At this moment, Shao Qiming could smell the distinct scent of burnt wood and roasting meat, along with a nauseatingly strange miasma of blood that was somehow both foul and cloyingly sweet. He could hear the guiding voice calling for him to open the door and enter, telling him his friend was inside.
So, he pushed the great door open with all his might.
And then, he froze in astonishment.
¹Manipur, Zhu Country's easternmost state, borders Shan Country. Its name means 'jewel' or 'pearl'. The name originates from a story where a serpent was watching Shiva and Parvati dance. The serpent spat out many pearls from its mouth, making the entire region dazzling and brilliant. This is recorded in both the Mahabharata and the Puranas.