Celestia
The Grand Hall
In a grand hall bathed in silvery light, five thrones stood in a semicircle. Each radiated an aura of power, but the central throne, crafted from gleaming obsidian and etched with ancient symbols, was the most imposing. A man with long white hair and closed eyes sat upon it, his presence exuding an overwhelming authority that seemed to warp the air around him.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, a faint, bright light flickered, trembling as though uncertain of its place.
"Where am I?" the light asked, its voice quivering with fear.
"You are in my Sea of Consciousness," a deep, resonant voice replied.
The small light recoiled as it turned toward the speaker. Before it was a vast, marbled light, swirling with dark patterns that pulsated ominously.
"Who are you? Why am I here?" the smaller light stammered, flashes of fragmented memories—being struck by a truck, dying—surfacing like shards of broken glass.
The marbled light loomed closer, its tone cold and commanding. "I am the owner of this body. You are an intruder, and I will dispose of you."
The larger light surged forward, energy crackling ominously.
"W-Wait! No! Please—!"
But before the smaller light could finish, it was snuffed out, erased without a trace.
The marbled light withdrew, its tone laced with frustration. "How could something so weak reach me? Have I truly fallen so low?" A brief silence followed, then he sighed. "No, self-pity serves no purpose. I must rest until I am whole again."
As he drifted back into slumber, he felt a ripple, faint but persistent, like a flicker between realities. Intrigued, he waved his hand, pulling the anomaly toward him. Before he could examine it, the presence slipped through his defenses and lodged itself deep within his mind.
Suddenly, a voice echoed.
"Welcome to the Chat Group System."
Phanes opened his eyes, a faint frown on his otherwise stoic face. In his mind, an unfamiliar blue interface appeared, displaying lines of text.
System: Phanes has entered the chat.
March 7th: "Welcome, newcomer!! I'm so excited to meet you! Let's have some fun!"
Welt Yang: "Greetings. I look forward to our discussions."
Bronya: "Welcome, newcomer."
Elysia: "Ooh, a new friend! Welcome to our little gathering! I hope you can keep up with the chaos!"
Phanes scowled. "What is this? A trick from the Abyss?"
March 7th: "A trick?"
Welt Yang: "March, the newcomer seems to think this is an enemy ploy."
The words hung in the air as Phanes scrutinized the strange presence. It felt nothing like the Abyss, which he had battled for over a hundred thousand years. His thoughts were interrupted by the chat's cheerful tone.
Elysia: "I wanna explain it! Let me!"
Phanes hesitated. This "Elysia" radiated an overwhelming enthusiasm that was... distracting.
Elysia: "So, this is a group chat! We all come from different worlds, and this is where we can talk, share ideas, and help each other grow stronger. No tricks, promise!"
Bronya: "Think of it as a cooperative platform to strategize and assist against mutual threats."
March 7th: "Yeah! And we can totally share thoughts and powers! It's super fun!"
Welt Yang: "Simply think of what you wish to say, and it will appear as text."
Phanes paused, processing the information. Slowly, he thought: Hello. I am Phanes.
The text appeared on the interface.
March 7th: "Hello!! Nice to meet you, Phanes!"
Welt Yang: "Welcome to the group. You may call me Welt."
Bronya: "I am Bronya. Pleased to meet you."
Elysia: "And I'm Elysia! Let's be great friends!"
March 7th: "Phanes, try clicking the 'Sign' button. It's like a daily reward thing!"
Phanes glanced at the interface and spotted a glowing button marked with an S. He clicked it.
System: Phanes signed in for today and gained 21 points.
Welt Yang: "Remarkable. A strong first roll."
Phanes: "What are these points used for?"
Elysia: "The shop! You can buy all sorts of amazing stuff!"
Phanes examined the shop, his attention quickly drawn to one item.
Description: Restores any state of damage to its original condition. Usable once per month; effectiveness diminishes with repeated use.
Price: 20 points
Phanes stared at the description, his thoughts racing. Such an item was unheard of in his world—something capable of reversing even the most grievous injuries.
March 7th: "Most stuff is super expensive, though, so that potion is kinda a steal!"
Phanes considered the implications. If this "chat group" was genuine, it could be more than a mere curiosity. It could be a powerful tool—perhaps even the key to regaining his lost strength and preparing for the Abyss.
Phanes: "Interesting. I will observe for now."
Elysia: "Ooh, mysterious and cool! I like you already!"
For the first time in centuries, Phanes felt a spark of intrigue. Perhaps this system was not entirely a curse.
Phanes clicked the buy button. A bottle filled with glowing blue liquid materialized in his hand. He studied it carefully, murmuring, "Strange..." He tried to analyze its composition, but the potion resisted his every attempt to dissect its properties. After several failed tries, he sighed in frustration.
"Useless," he muttered, and drank it in one swift motion.
Immediately, he felt changes coursing through his body and soul. Energy surged, and black smoke began to rise from him, accompanied by faint, agonized screams. It was the corruption of the Abyss, purged from his being.
As the last traces of the potion's power faded, Phanes sighed, inspecting himself. Though he was stronger, some remnants of the Abyss still lingered. "What a pity," he murmured.
Returning his attention to the chat, he typed:
Phanes: "Thank you for pointing out the potion. It was very helpful."
March 7th: "Yay! See, Dan Heng? I can be useful!"
March 7th looked up from her device to the man sitting across from her on the train couch. "See, Dan Heng? I can be useful!"
Dan Heng raised a brow, confusion evident. "?"
Elysia: "I'm glad it worked! What was wrong, if you don't mind me asking?"
Welt Yang: "Alice, you're doing it again... But yes, we're glad it helped."
Elysia: "Oops! Sorry, Phanes. I get carried away. But hey, we're friends now, right?"
Bronya: "As Welt said, we're happy to assist."
[Continue in the next chapter]