At the border of all worlds, an entity that had barely formed consciousness was visited.
"So much work for nothing."
The voice seemed to resonate with endless exhaustion.
"The end, the Black Lotus Dragon, my entire plan to give the best servant to my host."
The entity resonated metaphysically, as if moving between the nothingness that was beginning to rise into something and pausing in nothing.
"The only thing I can give you now is to fix the missing energy point of the dragons. Whether you rise to true sanctity now will depend solely on you."
Immediately, a wave of primordial chaos rose like a tidal wave against the barely formed consciousness.
There, at its center, its eyes formed.
In the middle of an infinite white sea, its pupils were reflected. In its cornea, multiple formations gathered, forming lotus flowers so dark they concealed its split pupil.
"We will meet again, and I am sure the host will like you."
The visiting entity formed a hat and tipped it slightly as it departed.
At the farm...
A sealed, hermetic capsule filled with a rainbow-colored liquid slightly levitated a man wearing a poncho.
Fragments of missing skin regenerated rapidly, while outside, a multitude of bear-shaped stickers and healing bandages were placed.
At the top of the station, a teddy bear wearing a nurse outfit stood with its eyes closed.
A girl looked at the capsule at the center of the farm with doubt as she rose from the rocking chair.
Stretching her arm while focusing her spiritual energy, she noticed once again the improvement of her meridians compared to her body's original state.
Letting out a sigh, she stood up as the system spoke in her mind.
"Main guest, your daily mission is ready."
"Plant 10 sage-flower orchids 0/10."
"Complete the physical training field mission, mid-level bandit boss 0/1."
"Craft 10 acacia planks."
Hui Cao snorted as she stood up and walked toward the cultivation fields, glancing back slightly at the capsule after two days in this place.
After she disappeared from sight, the cowboy's consciousness finally returned to itself from the damage to his internal organs and spirit.
—Am I really still alive, huh?—
In his mind, only two faces appeared.
Both as identical as drops of water, yet to him they were different—one in a hospital gown and the other in a cook's outfit.
—A gift or a curse?—
Looking inward, he cast the question into the void.
—System, why does Janet look like that woman?—The Man Without a name said calmly.
"Host, I do not have control over the Old West world, but I can add small things such as the guest's new mineral."
The system seemed to speak, but to The Man Without a name's ears, it all sounded like mockery.
—What was her name, System?—he asked, calming his voice into a cold expression.
"Host, I do not know. Although we linked when you died, I could only access the memories you allowed me. The person you know as Janet is merely the closest genetic coincidence to the one in your memories."
The Man Without a name looked into the confines of his mind with an irritated expression and said:
—I don't want more secrets, no more nonsense. I want the truth. What were you looking for at the beginning of this thing you called a mission?—
As he spoke, his body in the rainbow liquid clenched its fist.
"Host, you gradually forgot your memories during the first months. I do not know why—perhaps some damage to your soul during transport. But that was not the case, otherwise you would not be here. I regret to say I have no more information to give you."
The system's voice, without inflection, seemed to waver for a fraction of a second. However, The Man Without a name paid it no mind, holding his hand as he thought of that woman.
"I must inform you of the guest's decisions. A hidden event has been activated thanks to her—one that required the dock. The Black Lotus Dragon will emerge in five years, or now if you use mythical weapon tickets."
—Fine, System. I have no choice but to trust you. I hope you don't disappoint me—The Man Without a name opened his eyes sharply within the rainbow liquid that suspended him.
He burst out with a strike, causing the capsule to open completely as the liquid drained.
The bear atop the device opened its eyes and jumped down, appearing as a normal teddy bear, though a faint conscious glint shone within them.
The Man Without a name looked at the capsule dissolving into a flower-like effect with interest as he sat on the ground.
"Host, I will be honest with you. The Black Lotus Dragon was supposed to be added after the discovery of the pet field, but right now it will be a companion."
The system seemed hesitant, but the option screen still appeared before his eyes.
"Do you wish to accelerate the growth process of the Black Lotus Dragon?"
"Yes (5 Mythical Tickets)." "No (Waiting time: 4 years and 348 days)."
The Man Without a name looked at his hand with doubt once more. Standing up, he tapped the screen and said:
—I'm going out later to New Amster. I don't want anything bothering me, understood—
His tone was calm, his expression dim.
"Understood, host."
In an instant, the light from the screen split into three pieces, forming a triangle where countless lotus flowers began to draw themselves.
A drop of symbols as ancient as time and as dark as nothing fell into the center of the mass of lotus flowers.
They turned dark, surrounding a small black sphere that began to form.
A gentle breeze passed through the formation, making the cowboy's poncho sway.
Dark lightning struck around it, converging at the center until it exploded with a loud, resounding blast.
A human figure appeared, bearing only two black horns on its forehead.
Fine and elegant, covered entirely in scales, they seemed like the coronation of nothingness itself.
Its height was no more than that of a five-year-old child.
Its skin was white as snow, and its hair as dark as space.
Its black eyes barely revealed lotus patterns within their reflection under the light.
Its formed scales acted as clothing, shaping a monarch's attire beyond imagination.
The Man Without a name approached the child and looked at him with curiosity.
—Is this the dragon? He's just a cute kid—
In a second, he patted his head while examining the supposed dragon more closely.
The dragon, slightly offended, threw a punch at The Man Without a name, who received it as if it were nothing.
—I think you'll need a name. Black Lotus, dragon… what about Xuán Lián?—he asked, lifting the child calmly in his arms.
The dragon, doubtful, looked at the man as he was placed on his shoulders, taking the hat from his head and examining it with interest.
—Well, it seems he likes Xuán Lián—he said calmly, speaking within his consciousness with the system.
"The Black Lotus Dragon has received the name Xuán Lián. Companions of the host are now permitted to enter peaceful zones such as the center of New Amster."
Xuán Lián glanced at the bear watching him curiously, but without concern, he jumped down from The Man Without a name's shoulders.
In an instant, his mouth opened, but in the Old West world, nothing existed but silence.
—Well, it's normal he can't speak. Should I take him to New Amster's preschool?—he said, extending his hand toward the child.
Xuán Lián took The Man Without a name's hand cautiously while looking at the generator in the distance.
Looking at Xuán Lián's horns, he touched them curiously—they felt unlike anything he had ever experienced.
They were soft yet firm, their dark scales as flexible as rubber.
Xuán Lián glanced at him and pouted, moving his hand toward the man.
With all his strength, The Man Without a name's hand was slightly pushed away from his horns.
The Man Without a name let out a soft laugh as he walked toward the cabin.
In the distance, a girl returning from the fields saw the firm representation of a true dragon—but her blood felt powerless before the level of that being.
And that being now simply allowed itself to be guided by what in the Xian Dao world would be called a useless farmer.
At last, The Man Without a name reached the cabin entrance, holding the hand of that dragon as they sat together on the steps of his home.
Xuán Lián looked inside the cabin, his eyes shining with curiosity beyond anything.
In his mind, only basic senses had begun to connect with his nature since birth.
His reasoning was complex, like a wise man who knows nothing—an idealist without ideas.
There, his gaze met the girl watching from afar—the dragon sitting on the porch.
Hui Cao gathered all her courage and took a step toward Xuán Lián.
The dragon looked at her attentively but was distracted as The Man Without a name entered the cabin.
—Hello, my name is Hui Cao—
She introduced herself, her body trembling slightly.
The dragon looked at the girl calmly; his mouth opened, trying to form words.
But nothing came out but silence.
Pouting, he looked away from Hui Cao, who, despite wanting to laugh at the child, was overwhelmed by fear.
In an instant, The Man Without a name returned with a melted cheese sandwich in his hand.
He fed the dragon while Hui Cao looked at him with a slight smile.
Xuán Lián took the first bite with curiosity—then his dark eyes lit up.
In just a few bites, the sandwich disappeared, his teeth white and pristine.
The cowboy ruffled the child's hair as he thought:
—This is going to get more complicated now—
He let out a soft laugh while looking toward the morning horizon.