Jin stood before the tower, unimpressed. He had seen things far more mesmerizing than this; such sights no longer held any wonder for him.
But the Nameless Domain was different. It surprised him—not because it was remarkable in appearance, but because it was brimming with life. This was something Jin had never truly experienced. His memories were filled with death and destruction, empty landscapes devoid of life and hope. All he could recall was despair.
Perhaps that was why the Nameless Domain struck him so deeply.
'So, what is this?'
Jin tried to speak, but no sound came out. He realized he could only think, his body nonexistent. Looking down at himself, he found he was formless.
'Just like when I was in the Unseen Realm.'
He willed his psyche to move, and it floated forward.
'Hey, Cube. Are you there?'
He attempted to summon Cube, but there was no response. Trying to channel his spiritual energy, he failed once more. Even his skills wouldn't activate.
'Damn it, I hope no one can see me like this.'
Jin entered the tower through the massive front gate. The gate loomed at least twenty times larger than his original form—though, without a body, there was nothing to compare. Two serpentine dragons were intricately carved into the gate, their forms entangled to create its shape. The gate itself, seemingly made of Abyssal stone, was shut tight, covered in ancient inscriptions that gave it an imposing air.
He drifted toward the gate and passed through effortlessly.
Inside the tower, Jin wandered around the first floor, which resembled a town. He tried to move toward a corridor leading to the second floor but was stopped by an invisible barrier.
'What?! I can't pass through. Is this some kind of barrier? Maybe not...'
Jin looked around the first floor, noticing how blurry everything was, like a cheap animated show he'd recently watched where backgrounds were vague to save on budget. Thinking of it, he realized he'd gotten a bit too immersed in those shows, but he set that thought aside.
'Now that I think about it, the description said it's a fragment of my memories.'
He came to a conclusion. This was his forgotten memory. He couldn't move to other areas, and the surroundings were blurred because he hadn't truly remembered them; they hadn't been fully saved in his memory.
'Is this how he plans to return my memories to me?'
Jin was deep in thought when the tower doors creaked open slowly. A man cloaked in shadows entered, holding the hand of a young boy.
The boy had black hair and dark eyes, just like the man beside him. Jin recognized the child immediately-it was him, from a memory long buried. This was a fragment from his past, just a year after his mother had died and his sister had disappeared.
The shadowed man led young Jin toward a hazy hall in the center of the room, one that hadn't even been there moments before. Jin couldn't tell if it was a true hall or if it merely appeared that way; the tower itself seemed fragmented, shifting in shape and size.
Inside the so-called hall, several figures with blurred faces stood cloaked in raven-black hoods. The man and young Jin approached a throne that materialized as they neared it. The man sat, setting Jin on his lap and gently placing a hand on the boy's head.
"Look at them, child. What do you think they are?"
The man asked, his voice both alluring and filled with something sinister.
"I... I don't know."
Young Jin stammered, frightened.
"They are our loyal dogs. Though they are weak now."
Young Jin looked into the eyes of these figures. In that instant, their faces became clear to Jin. He saw that their eyes were devoid of life, empty of any emotion, as if they were already dead.
"What do you think? Do you think they're truly loyal to me?"
"Are you sure?" Jin replied warily.
"Yes. We took them from the slums,"
The man replied, rising from his throne. Holding young Jin, he walked toward the people standing before him.
"After countless experiments and memory manipulation, we have created perfect, loyal dogs. They live only to follow my commands. They would bit their own throat if I ordered it."
Young Jin looked at his face, then Jin finally caught a glimpse of the man's face. He realized, with a surge of anger, that this was his father-a figure he loathed from the depths of his being.
"With you, my son, we will give these dogs power beyond that of any mortal. Together, we' Il build the greatest army that ever existed."
The man leaned close, whispering,
"You will help me, won't you? You want to help your father, don't you? You want your mother and sister back, don't you?"
Hearing those words, tears welled in young Jin's eyes.
"Y-yes... I want my mother back. I want to play with my sister again."
'You fool, never show weakness to your enemies.'
Watching this memory unfold, Jin felt a surge of rage. He tried to lunge at his father, to strike him, but his formless psyche prevented him from interfering. He knew he was powerless; this was just a replay of his past, beyond his control. All he could do was watch, grinding his nonexistent teeth in frustration.
Young Jin, wiping his tears, whispered.
"I... I'll do it. For Mother and Sister."
With a pleased smile, the man gripped young Jin's hand.
"Yes. I promise to bring them back soon, very soon."
He raised young Jin's hand toward the hooded figures and whispered in his ear.
"Now, use your innate ability to elevate their Harmony cultivation to the highest level."
[Mathematician: Harmony cultivation +100%]
Instantly, hundreds of the hooded figures broke through to perfect Harmony complications.
In that moment, an army of Sovereigns was born-the strongest in the human realm, known as The Black Numbers.
The man laughed with a terrible glee.
"Now I have the greatest army ever assembled."
The young Jin, drained and breathing heavily, began to bleed from the corner of his eyes. Moments later, he fell unconscious. The man signaled to an attendant standing nearby, who quickly stepped forward and took young Jin from his arms.
"Take him back to the top of the tower and lock him up."
With a swift nod, the servant obeyed, hurrying off with young Jin in his arms.
"Lunara, I will bring you back. This boy will help me conquer everything."
The man said with a twisted satisfaction. Then, after a brief pause, he turned to another servant.
"What's his name again?"
Jin watched it all in silence, a single thought echoing endlessly in his mind:
'I will come to kill you.'
The servant carrying young Jin hurriedly left the floor. At that moment, Jin felt an invisible force compelling him to follow his younger self.
The servant ran swiftly, and Jin's formless psyche trailed closely behind.
Soon, he realized that the servant wasn't heading to the top of the tower as instructed, but toward a window.
Once she reached her destination, the servant called out softly.
"Lady Rose, Lady Rose. I have brought the young Lord."
In front of them, the space near the window cracked, forming a portal into another domain. Through this portal stepped a female knight clad in golden armor, her face concealed by a gleaming helmet. In her hand, she held a magnificent sword, forged from stardust, radiating a soft golden glow.
'A spirit blade? So that's how she cut through to this domain.'
Jin thought, wondering who this mysterious knight was. Wielding a spirit blade suggested she came from a powerful lineage.
"Lady Rose, please take the young Lord from my hands," the servant said, handing over the unconscious young Jin.
Jin wondered how he could witness this scene when his younger self was unconscious. But before he could think further, the memory resumed unfolding.
The knight, Lady Rose, gently took young Jin, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Yes, I'll take him away. It was my oath to the late lady—her last wish was for her children to find happiness."
Her expression darkened.
"I've already failed to protect the young lady. I won't fail again."
"Yes, please, take him far from here."
The servant whispered, tears glistening in her eyes as she placed a trembling hand on young Jin's forehead.
"May you never have to cry again, young master. May you always find happiness."
Lady Rose nodded. "I need to leave quickly."
The servant stepped back, her face resolute.
"Yes, you must go. I still have the final phase of my mission to complete."
Lady Rose raised her sword, her gaze filled with solemn respect.
"I will never forget the sacrifice you've made here."
"Please don't, my lady. I would do anything for her."
With a swift motion, Lady Rose swung her sword, striking the servant's chest.
"Rest in peace, brave warrior."
In that instant, the memory shattered into fragments, forcefully ejecting Jin from it.
He opened his eyes, finding himself back on the training ground. But to his surprise, not a single moment had passed.