Everyone sat around the table with tense faces as a charged silence dominated the room Their eyes were all fixed on Arius while he explained everything that had happened and displayed the disturbing photos before them Photos of all of them placed on the table like a declaration of war
Arius lowered his head slightly drifting into deep thought while placing his fingers on the table and tapping on it quietly Then he whispered to himself summoning the system
> Do you know anything about this Who is pursuing us
The voice of the system came into his head in an unfamiliar tone quiet and mysterious
> I cannot answer this question even if I knew
Arius raised his eyebrows in surprise That was the first time the system admitted helplessness A cold sensation washed over him for a moment but his facial expression remained stoic before the others
He turned to the group and said in a low firm voice
We must prepare for the worst I do not know the identity of whoever is pursuing us but I am certain of one thing he is watching us right now
Silence prevailed for seconds until Arleen raised her gaze toward him with anxiety while Arisa interlocked her hands behind her head in annoyance
Then Arius raised his gaze to the sky staring at it intently something was shining on the horizon Suddenly that flash disappeared And in a fleeting moment Arius moved with a speed that surpassed their comprehension extending his hand into the void as if he caught the air
He descended to the ground slowly and when he opened his palm he was holding a small object shimmering with a blue glow a floating sapphire eye pulsating with a strange energy
He cast a cold glance at it then raised his head as if addressing an invisible person
Whoever you are I know you can hear me now I swear I will find you and when I do I will show no mercy wherever you may be
On the other side in a place drowned in darkness that strange shadow sat on his throne watching through glowing screens A slanted smile appeared on his lips as he whispered to himself
Damn he really is amazing just as he was described to me
Arius clenched his fist tightly until the sapphire eye shattered into energy shards that evaporated into the air Then he raised his other hand suddenly and with it the entire place shook
In an instant dozens of energy halos appeared around him and rows of his energy soldiers lined up before him He looked at them with sharp eyes and issued his order
Scatter Destroy every eye similar to this one everywhere you find it
The soldiers replied in one voice like a wall of an energy echo before disappearing one after another in flashes of light setting off to execute the orders without hesitation
Arius sat down again silent while his mind was racing Who could this be that is watching them And what is his true objective
While everyone was sitting Wang began examining the captured sapphire eye He placed it on the table before him and started stretching his fingers over it as if reading its energy He tried repeatedly to sense its origin or link it to any of the Ten Worlds but what he felt increased his bewilderment
He raised his head with a frown and said
Strange the source of this piece is not from any of the Ten Worlds at all It is as if it comes from an unknown place outside of everything we know
Silence prevailed and Lina felt a shiver run through her body then she whispered in fear
Maybe it is just a new threat like any other we will overcome it just as we overcame the previous ones right
But Raymos who was watching the eye with anticipation shook his head slowly and said in a serious voice
No this time is different We do not know who he is We do not know where he came from or what he actually wants from us He is an unknown enemy and that is the most dangerous part of the matter
Arius stood up quietly and his voice came out with clear strictness
Enough bewilderment I will find a solution to this myself But until that time comes it is best that we all stay together No one wanders away from the other and no one disappears from sight Clear
Everyone exchanged glances then nodded their heads in agreement The atmosphere became heavier and the sense of danger was no longer just a possibility but a reality hanging over their heads
Long hours passed after that with the atmosphere charged with tension In the end Wang decided to contact his father the Grandmaster He raised the communication device and the deep voice of his father came through it
> What is the matter Wang
He answered him seriously
I found a strange piece an energy eye that does not resemble anything I know I want you to send me an immediate analysis of it
A short silence prevailed on the other side then the voice of the Grandmaster came heavily
Send it to me right now
Wang extended his hand and opened a small portal through his energy for the eye to transfer instantly to his father The portal closed and everyone remained silent as if they were waiting for a reply that would not arrive soon
Outside the house the weather changed suddenly Clouds accumulated in the sky with terrifying speed and lightning tore the sky like swords before the rain began to pour heavily
Everyone went inside while the raindrops struck the ground violently creating a heavy symphony that paralleled the weight of what was happening in their hearts
While silence loomed over the room after the call ended the sounds of the rain crashing against the glass kept adding a suffocating weight to the atmosphere Suddenly Arius glimpsed from the window a strange shadow standing far away in the rain moving with agility as if his body did not touch the ground His eyes narrowed sharply then he opened the window without hesitation and leaped outside with lightning speed
Everyone was confused by his sudden reaction Arleen stood up immediately and followed him and Arisa followed her while Wang carried his staff and rushed out in turn As for Raymos he remained tense inside placing his hand on Lina shoulder protecting Lina and Yuna who were trembling with anxiety
Outside Arius was running through the wet streets following the shadow that moved as if he knew his way perfectly Every step of his was intentional calculated as if his goal was not to escape but to lure Arius sensed that so he heightened his caution further and the faint spark of the Raizo began to dance around his body preparing for any confrontation
As time passed the rain grew heavier and the sound of thunder filled the sky The shadow leaped from one rooftop to another with a strange agility and Arius was behind him at a insane speed until they all went beyond the city limits The rest were trying to catch up with them but they felt as if the steps of the stranger were forcing them to drift toward him as if an unseen force was pushing them to follow him despite their will
Finally the stranger led them to a high mountain peak where the winds were stormy and the rain fell like arrows There the stranger stopped and stood on the edge in silence his body shadowed his features blurred but a strange smile was drawn on his face as if he was expecting their arrival
Arleen shouted in an angry voice
You are trapped stranger You will pay the price for luring us here no one messes with us and survives
But the stranger did not reply He raised his hand quietly and in a moment a dark rift opened on the mountain wall behind him as if the wall turned into a black mirror rippling with darkness
A single step from him was enough to cross through it his body disappeared inside it easily leaving behind a strange echo resonating in the air
Everyone froze from the shock but before they could exchange words the rift began to widen suddenly a massive force emanated from it and pulled the air around them The ground moved and the wind broke then the rift began to draw them into it like a merciless dark vortex
Arisa shouted trying to steady herself
It is a pulling force I cannot resist
Arius tried to steady his feet but the darkness swallowed them all one after another Their voices disappeared into nothingness until nothing remained except the sound of the rain and thunder then the rift closed suddenly as if nothing had happened
Everyone opened their eyes to find themselves in a completely strange place different from anything they had ever known before The ground beneath them was not solid but was composed of dense and glowing clouds and the sky was moving beneath them as if the ground had flipped with the sky Arius was confused for a moment as he contemplated this unnatural scene feeling something he had never felt before
The rest stood up cautiously and Arleen looked around in shock and amazement then whispered
What is this place
Wang answered her trying to analyze the situation
It seems to be a different world it does not follow any rules of our world Here physics space and time everything is different
Arius looked at the system screen to check their location but he was surprised when the system refused to give any information Not only that but it even refused to appear before him as if this world rejects interacting with any system or external power
Arius swallowed a brief flash of anger and surprise then said to everyone calmly
There is no need to panic I will get us out of here
Arius summoned Dark saying
Come on Dark open a rift for us to exit to our own world
Dark moved immediately and created a rift in space before them but upon their attempt to enter they came out from the other side inside the same strange place without transferring to any actual location
Arius felt anxious and decided to try exploiting the body of Dark itself as a means to transfer to one of the miniature worlds But even this attempt failed upon his entry he came out again from the other side without any progress
Arius stood in his place his eyes directed toward the strange horizon then he said in a low voice full of firmness
There is something in this world that prevents us from transferring something extremely powerful that cannot be bypassed by ordinary force
The levels of tension rose among everyone and the atmosphere became laden with mystery and dread as if they were trapped in a cosmic snare with no one knowing who stands behind it or what the purpose of their presence here is
The four decided to advance and walk in this strange place with caution
Arisa said Why do we not just fly
Arius answered her calmly If we do that we might waste our time or someone might detect us It is better to conceal our energy and remain in a state of alertness
Arleen sighed angrily Ah if only I catch that person I swear I will erase him from existence
Wang smiled slightly and said The strange thing is that I do not feel the energy of any person or anything near or far as if there is no one here but us
Arius looked around searchingly then said I noticed something the further we advance the terrain changes according to the place of our movement There are two possibilities the first is that we are circling in a hollow loop and the second is that we are walking on a path designed specifically for us
Wang nodded his head Yes I felt something similar as if everything is centered on us only
Arius said firmly I will go alone in a specific direction and you stay here If I return then the first possibility is correct But if I do not return then most likely the second possibility is closer to reality
Everyone agreed and Arius set off at an immense speed in a certain direction disappearing from their sight
Minutes passed then they looked behind them to find Arius returning from the opposite direction Upon his arrival he said smiling As I expected we are indeed trapped in a circular loop
Arisa trembled with anger What shall we do then
Arius looked at the ground beneath them then with one powerful strike he shattered the surface of the clouds to reveal a place they could descend into
Quietly everyone descended to the discovered place with a shared feeling that they had just begun to understand the secrets of this strange world and that the danger surrounding them was not far away
When they descended below they found themselves in a closed room centered by three facing doors
Arleen raised her eyebrows and said in a cautious tone
What is this place
Wang approached closer and read what was written above each door
The First Door Truth
The Second Door Memories
The Third Door Destiny
Arisa took a step back in retreat while contemplating the mysterious words and said in confusion
What is the meaning of these doors
Arius remained silent his eyes scrutinizing the words as if he was trying to decipher a secret code but he did not arrive at any clear answer After a moment he stepped toward the door of truth extended his hand and grabbed the handle then opened it without hesitation The rest followed him immediately not wanting to leave him to face the unknown alone
Upon their entry they found themselves in a dark damp and cold cave Its walls narrowed upon them the further they advanced and the air was thick with an old smell as if it were dust from another time
Arisa whispered in disgust
This place is repulsive I even feel that the walls are sticking to me
They kept walking through the narrow passage until they reached a dead end completely covered with mirrors
They all stood in bewilderment
Arleen furrowed her eyebrows and said sarcastically
Really Who is the idiot that decided to put mirrors in a gloomy place like this
She approached one of the mirrors and stared at her reflection then gasped suddenly
Have I become an old woman to this extent
On the other side Arisa stood before another mirror She stared for a bit then opened her mouth in astonishment her reflection did not look exactly like her It appeared darker as if something different was staring back at her from the inside But she remained silent preferring not to tell the rest what she saw
As for Wang he stood before a third mirror He froze in his place when he saw his head severed in his reflection blood pouring profusely from his neck
Arleen asked him anxiously
What did you see
He smiled a faint smile and said Nothing
Arleen approached closer to her mirror but she noticed suddenly that her reflection was full of blood stains splattered across her body then in a terrifying moment her reflection split into two halves before her eyes
She gasped and retreated slowly backward her hands trembling
As for Arius he remained stationary before his own mirror He was staring deeply into his reflection a reflection that looked exactly like him but at the same time it was not him
Wang asked him cautiously
What do you see
Arius answered in a low mysterious voice
I see myself yes I see myself But it is not me
A heavy silence prevailed among them and anxiety began to permeate their hearts Each reflection seemed like a mysterious thing
In the end they decided to retreat They all exited the room their hearts burdened with suspicion and fear as if the place was testing their depths one by one
After their return to the mysterious room Arius stood before another door written above it Memories
He extended his hand slowly and opened it but no sooner had he entered than the door closed suddenly behind him
Arleen shouted
Arius
And she rushed to open the door to follow him but no sooner had she stepped inside than she found herself in a completely different place
At the same time Wang stood before the door turned toward Arisa and said
It is better that we stay together
Arisa laughed mockingly and answered him
Haha I am not in need of an escort
Then she entered the door alone to disappear from sight
Wang sighed softly and said
Then there is no other choice
And he entered as well to disappear
Each one of them became in a completely separate world
---
Inside the World of Memories Arleen
Arleen opened her eyes to find herself standing in an empty space without boundaries or walls only absolute stillness
She sighed and said
What is this madness
She raised her hand and launched a small energy ball toward the distance but it disappeared without any trace there was no echo no explosion not even a rebound
She felt a shiver in her body
This place is very massive or perhaps without an end
She began to walk without direction and with the passage of time the scene changed gradually
The void disappeared and the place transformed into a dense forest engulfed by gentle rays of sunlight
Arleen stopped suddenly her eyes widening as she muttered
Wait I have seen this place before
And before she could complete her thought she heard childish laughter coming from the bank of a nearby river
She approached cautiously and no sooner had she arrived than she froze in her place
She was seeing herself a small version of her at the age of childhood sitting by the river washing clothes smiling with innocent happiness
The adult Arleen took a step backward and whispered to herself
What what is happening Is this the past
While she was drowned in her shock she heard a familiar voice calling
Arleen Where are you my daughter
The little one turned quickly and ran in the direction of the voice while the adult Arleen followed her hiding among the trees
And when she approached closer tears froze in her eyes
Her grandmother was standing there
The grandmother placed her hand on Arleen shoulder and said in a tender tone
Where were you
The little one answered with a sad smile
I was by the river grandmother
The grandmother took a deep breath then leaned down to her saying
My daughter please do not wander far from the house much If the men of the planet see you they will try to harm you
The little one lowered her head with tearful eyes and said
I no longer want to be like this I am tired
The grandmother patted her head with tenderness and smiled despite the sadness in her eyes
Be patient my little one a day will come and you will obtain something that none of these people possess
The adult Arleen was hiding among the trees hearing the words of her grandmother and tears were streaming down her cheeks for the first time in a long time
Grandmother those words I have never forgotten them
Days passed inside this world and the adult Arleen was watching her small self and her grandmother from afar seeing details she had never paid attention to one day
Until a day came when one of the men knocked on the grandmother door his voice angry his face stern
I have lost a sack of flour I think the little girl is the one who stole it
The adult Arleen gasped from afar while the grandmother replied with solid calmness
And what will a child benefit from stealing your flour
The man stammered not finding what to say so he settled for grumbling then departed
Arleen the adult stood astonished by what she saw her heart beating strongly
Is this a test Or is the place forcing me to face what I forgot .