Erza stared solemnly at that mysterious symbol and trying to find more clues about it. Standing further at back, there was no movement coming from Ling Tian. He seemed to be asleep, but Erza knew that he was still trapped in that illusion world.
"What should we do next?" Erza walked closer to the wall and asked quietly.
"Don't touch that symbol! I feel a faint space power coming from it. If I'm not mistaken, once you touch it, you will be sent into an independent world where you would undertake the next test."
Ash stared at Erza, before his eyes suddenly turned solemn as he said: "If you can really obtain the power of Hope, then your future potential will be limitless. However, let me warn you first, the benefit will always be equal to the risk… The test will be extremely dangerous… If you fail, I'm afraid that you will perish here."
Erza silently nodded her head as she acknowledged what he said was true. Every opportunity indeed came with a danger.
Her eyes focused at that mysterious symbol. Moments later, she suddenly sucked in a deep breath, before she softly said: "Even though it is difficult, now is not the time to give up. In order to obtain this chance, I had already put in much effort. Now that I have finally obtained the chance… as long as there is still a glimmer of hope, I will not give up!"
Ash silently nodded his head, before his small claws pointed at that symbol and said: "If you truly not fearful of it, then put your mind into it. If you can pass the test, then you will be able to safely leave. Of course, if you fail, then… your mind will be scattered across the world…"
"I don't want to be alone. I wish to live happily with my loved ones. I want to be able to protect my closest kin. Therefore, I need strength. In order to obtain it, I am willing to pay any price!"
Erza's calm voice slowly echoed from within her mouth. A determined look was plastered on her youthful face.
"Child, use your heart to find your way. Stay true to yourself and don't get distracted. Remember that all the various illusions are all fake."
When Erza's hand touched that symbol, an elderly voice resounded in Erza's mind. Just as the words fell, Erza found the space around her was distorted and her mind entered a mysterious world.
"Girl, you must return safely…" Ash slowly muttered.
......................
Erza found herself in a world of darkness. The darkness was extremely pure, not only did it disable one's sight, it even disabled one's touch. As someone who hated to be alone, Erza was never fond of dark places. It increased her feeling of loneliness.
However, no matter what she did, she was unable to produce a light in this place. This was the world of darkness without a trace of light or a trace of noise. The entire world was just like before creation occurred!
One could not describe with mere words the torment that a person experienced in this type of environment. In this darkness, one did not even know if one existed.
In the darkness, after panicking initially, Erza began to gradually calm down. This environment was enough to drive any ordinary person insane.
However, she clearly understood that at this juncture, it was more crucial for her to remain calm. Else, she would be stuck in this darkness forever and she would never be able to escape. That torment she would experience then would be even more terrifying than death!
If one could obtain the power of Hope, one would have the potential to become a powerful legendary character. However, before that, one would have to undergo trials and tribulations that most ordinary individuals could not endure!
'What am I supposed to do here?'
Erza silently walked through the darkness tirelessly, step by step. In the darkness, she must endure the darkness and endure the silence...
...........
In the dark world, time seemed like it was endless. A figure walked aimlessly in the darkness, just like a wandered spirit and it seemed like she would never stop...
A long time seemed to have passed, one year, two years… seven years...
Erza had lost all concept of time. Being in this endless darkness, she had panicked before and she had despaired as well. After all, this place was the most terrifying prison in the world!
However, after panicking and despairing countless times, Erza's mind began to turn increasingly resilient. Eventually, she even forgot her own existence. In the darkness, a figure slowly walked on.
...
In this darkness, time slowly passed; Almost a hundred years.
A figure slowly walked in the darkness. Her footsteps was always the same, without a millimetre in difference. She seemed to have forgot about herself, forgot about the darkness, forgot about everything.
"As I walk in the darkness, I have learnt the truth about hope. Hope is the reason why a person still live! There is no life without hope!"
"Hope can be found everywhere, even in the darkest place."
In the darkness, this thought stealthily spread out. That figure, which had walked on endlessly, actually began to slow down.
The instant that figure slowed down, suddenly, amidst that never-ending darkness, a glow suddenly extended from behind that figure before it finally reached her feet. Based on this sight, it seemed like as long as she turned around and stepped onto that light, she could finally break free of this never-ending darkness.
That light stopped on that figure's feet, before she lowered her head and stared at that light, which she had not seen for a while. Light suddenly flowed into her hollow eyes. Then, a calm gentle smile suddenly appeared on her beautiful face.
"The way is in your heart. All of the various illusion are all fake. Chasiel, I might be alone, I might be homeless, but I would never be hopeless."
"As long as there is one person in this world who love me, who wait for my return, who wish for my happiness, then there is no reason for me to give up."
Contained within the tone of her voice, was actually an aura of great change. However, she did not turn around and walk towards the light, instead she courageously headed towards the darkness.
Just as she took a step forward, the light behind her instantly crumbled. Then, the darkness began to distort, before it exploded with a loud crack just like broken glass.
When that darkness exploded, a warm glowing sensation emerged. Darkness transformed into a beautiful starry night sky. Then, that figure stepped into that star-studded night sky.
In front of her, an ancient symbol silently hovered in mid-air. It looked like a shining sun with a star in the middle of it.
And on top of that symbol, one could faintly see a blurry character.
'HOPE'