As Aerum and the disciples approached the towering entrance of the Tower of Nightmare, the faintest whisper of a dragon's roar rippled through the air. It was low, primal, and almost intangible, but it sent a chill down Aerum's spine. She froze, her sharp instincts immediately alert.
She turned her head back toward Xenos, seeking reassurance. His face wore its usual faint smile, a mask of calm and confidence she had come to rely on. Yet, there was something different today—something unsettling hidden beneath the surface. His eyes, while gentle, carried a weight, as if he bore a burden too great to speak of.
Aerum's brows furrowed. "Why does it feel like you're hiding something?" she thought but kept the question to herself. Instead, she gave her head a small shake, banishing the thought. If it were important, Xenos would tell her—or so she believed.
"Focus," she whispered to herself and stepped into the tower, the disciples falling into line behind her. The massive doors groaned shut, sealing them inside.
Outside, Xenos stood motionless, watching the entrance. The faint smile on his lips vanished the moment the doors closed. His demeanor transformed as if the weight he had kept hidden finally surfaced.
His violet-gold eyes began to glow, their hue shifting to a brilliant, piercing silver-white. His black hair shimmered as the color drained from it, leaving behind strands of pure silver that cascaded down like liquid moonlight. His aura exploded outward—dense, heavy, and ancient. The very air around him seemed to tremble under the oppressive power radiating from his being.
Xenos exhaled, his expression darkening. A single thought echoed through his mind: Danger.
Since his return to the past, he had carefully restrained his abilities, blending into the flow of time while subtly guiding events. But now, the sense of danger that had been stalking him for months had sharpened into something undeniable, a looming shadow that grew darker with every step he took.
"Why now?" he muttered, his voice low and edged with frustration. He closed his eyes, tracing his thoughts backward.
First, he had awakened Aerum's bloodline and set her on the path to her destiny. Then, he had trained his disciples, guiding their growth and fortifying their resolve. The Merit Fate Dragon of Humanity had been born through his efforts, bind the scattered hopes of the human race into one unified force. And now, the Thirteenth Constellation was inheriting its rightful power, the key to tipping the scales of fate.
Each action had been calculated, precise, and essential. Yet, with each step forward, the feeling of impending doom had intensified.
"Am I the cause?" Xenos thought, his silver eyes narrowing as he turned his gaze upward toward the heavens. He unleashed his power, piercing through the veils of reality to gaze upon the threads of fate.
What he saw made his breath catch. Chaos. Pure, unbridled chaos. The natural order of the heavens and earth was unraveling, their once-perfect harmony replaced by disorder.
"Why?" he whispered, his mind racing. He pushed deeper into the vision, peeling back the layers of chaos. The truth revealed itself piece by piece, like a puzzle coming together.
Two timelines. The new, forged by his interference, was vying to overwrite the old, which resisted with all its might. Their collision birthed a chaotic storm, one that was growing with every passing moment.
"The new timeline seeks my support," Xenos realized, his voice barely audible. "But the old one sees me as a threat... an anomaly to be erased."
The clash was subtle now, restrained by the fragility of humanity's survival. But Xenos knew it wouldn't stay that way. When humanity broke free of its mortal chains and ascended to the spiritual realm, the storm would erupt into a cataclysm.
"The end," he murmured, his fists clenching at his sides. "If it's not handled carefully, this will be the end of everything."
His thoughts spiraled deeper, memories of his past flooding back. The destruction of his home universe. The desperate gamble of using the Tear of Time to defy the natural flow of space and time.
"I could only return to January 3038," he reflected. "The density of humanity's destiny was strongest here. The other significant time was in the 1990s, but that was before my birth. I couldn't risk the consequences of going back that far."
Every step he had taken since then had been with caution. Yet caution wasn't enough.
he thought grimly. "I tried to minimize my interference, but I've become deeply entangled in everything. The Empress. My disciples. The Thirteenth Constellation. The Four Pavilions. The Merit Fate Dragon. Even the souls I will save from the Negative Plane... Each step I take ripples outward, creating larger consequences."
He exhaled slowly, his mind settling. The answer was clear.
"I can't avoid this," he thought, the realization sinking in like stone. "I've tried to minimize my interference, but it's already too late. Every move I make reshapes the future. The only way forward is to embrace it, to face the chaos head-on."
Xenos straightened, his silver eyes gleaming with renewed resolve. His heart, once heavy with doubt, now burned with determination.
"If the heavens want to test me, then so be it," he declared, his voice cutting through the still air like a blade. "I will see this through to the end. If death awaits me, I will face it. If fate seeks to erase me, I will defy it. Let the chaos come—I will carve a path through it."
With a final glance toward the heavens, Xenos turned, his aura simmering with boundless power. The time for hesitation had passed. Whatever destiny awaited him, he was ready.
--------------------------------------------------
As Aerum, Vladir, Misaki, Maximo, and Kori stepped into the Tower of Nightmare, they found themselves atop a vast mountain. The terrain was peculiar—no trees, no jagged rocks, only a narrow road cutting through the middle. On either side of the path lay rolling fields of ankle-length green grass, swaying gently in a breeze that seemed to come from nowhere.
The group exchanged confused glances. Normally, the tower tested individuals in separate dimensions, isolating them completely. But now, they all stood together in the same space.
Aerum frowned, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Something felt off. "Let's follow the road," she said, her tone steady but cautious.
The others nodded in agreement. Vladir adjusted the grip on his spear, Misaki flexed his gauntlet-covered fists , Maximo gripped his sword , and Kori ran her fingers over the hilt of her sword. They descended the mountain together, their senses on high alert.
As they reached the base of the mountain, a small village came into view. Its presence was jarring, an unexpected anomaly within the tower's usual trials. The village appeared ancient, with stone walls and weathered rooftops, the kind of settlement that time itself seemed to have forgotten.
The group stopped instinctively, the sight putting them on edge. Aerum narrowed her eyes at the cluster of buildings. "It's strange," she murmured. "Why would there be a village inside the Tower of Nightmare? Let's go and see what we can learn."
The others nodded silently, their weapons at the ready as they approached the village's entrance. Standing at the gate was a lone figure, their silhouette still against the backdrop of the settlement. As they drew closer, the figure came into focus—a man who appeared human, though his clothing seemed ancient, like something out of a forgotten epoch.
The man stepped forward, his expression calm and welcoming. "Greetings, travelers. I am the head of Nuwa Village," he said, bowing slightly.
Kori tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Nuwa Village?" she asked.
The man smiled gently. "Yes, named after the great Nuwa, the creator of humanity." His gaze shifted to Aerum, his eyes seemingly piercing through her. "Lady, you must already feel it, don't you?"
Aerum's brow tightened, but she nodded slowly. "Yes... ever since I stepped near the village, I've felt an unusual sense of peace. It's... comforting, like a warmth in my heart."
The village head nodded approvingly. "Of course. This is one of the ancient planets created by Nuwa herself. It resonates with humanity's very essence."
Misaki frowned. "What do you mean? We're supposed to be in the Tower of Nightmare. How is any of this connected?"
The village head. "Ah, you are correct. This is indeed the Tower of Nightmare. However, Messiah Xenos has transferred planets, such as this one, into its dimensions to serve as trial."
The group exchanged glances, the weight of his words sinking in. Misaki opened her mouth to ask another question, but the village head raised a hand gently. "I know you have many questions. Come inside. All will become clear in time."
Reluctantly, the group followed him into the village. As they walked through its narrow streets, they were struck by the sight of early civilization. The houses were simple yet sturdy, made from carved stone and wood. Villagers moved about their daily tasks, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the newcomers with open curiosity.
Aerum and the others felt the weight of their stares but remained quiet, their curiosity mirroring the villagers'. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions, but something about the village's aura kept them restrained, as if speaking too soon would disturb the delicate balance of the space.
Aerum glanced back at the others, her voice low. "Stay on guard. This place may feel peaceful, but we're still inside the Tower of Nightmare. Nothing is ever what it seems here."
The others nodded in agreement, their hands never straying far from their weapons. The village may have seemed calm, but they were ready for anything.
As they arrived at the village head's house, the group stepped inside cautiously, their weapons still within reach. The interior was simple yet sturdy, with chairs arranged around a wooden table. They took their seats, but their body language betrayed their unease—eyes darting, postures stiff, every muscle ready to react to danger.
The village head observed their tense demeanor with a calm smile and began to speak. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Sumanth, the head of Nuwa Village."
Noticing their guarded expressions, Sumanth raised a hand in reassurance. "You need not be so vigilant. The messiah Xenos himself once walked among us and learned the cultivation of 'Will' from our teachings."
His words struck like thunder. The disciples' eyes widened in collective disbelief. Aerum leaned forward, her voice sharp with curiosity. "What do you mean by that? Xenos... learned 'Will' from you?"
Sumanth nodded solemnly, his gaze distant as though recalling an ancient memory. "Yes, the meeting between Xenos and us was unexpected, even fated. After our creator, Nuwa, left us billions upon billions of years ago, we were left alone in this fragment of existence. Our isolation stretched into eternity, until one day, a stranger arrived—a man unlike any we had ever seen. He was gravely injured, yet his presence was unlike anything we had ever encountered."
Sumanth paused, his voice softening as he continued. "When we brought him into our care, we noticed his humanity, but also how different he was. His clothes, his aura—they spoke of a world far removed from our own. We healed him, and when he recovered, he introduced himself as Xenos."
"Over time, we formed a bond with him," Sumanth went on, his voice carrying a tinge of reverence. "He protected us, shared his wisdom, and in return, we taught him how to cultivate 'Will.' It became a bridge between us, an eternal bond forged in trust and understanding."
Aerum's expression tightened, emotions warring in her eyes. She wanted to believe, yet skepticism lingered. "If what you say is true... why has Xenos never spoken of this?"
Sumanth smiled knowingly. "Men's usually never share the scars they faced. Regardless, you do not need to be on edge here. I can sense you have come seeking to cultivate 'Will.' Am I wrong?"
Aerum hesitated before answering, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "We... yes, we came to understand and cultivate 'Will.' But we never expected this."
The tension in the room softened slightly, though not entirely. While Sumanth's story was compelling, the group's trust would not be so easily won.
Sumanth leaned forward, his gaze piercing yet calm. "Tell me," he asked, "what do you know about 'Will'?".
From the Author:
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to ReadMyBook2023 for voting with a power stone. I also want to express my gratitude to all my readers for your continued support. If you enjoy the story, please don't forget to share, comment, bookmark, and vote—it truly means the world to me!
Next chapter will be published on 8-1-2025