FORGOTTEN BY THE WORLD

He blinked awake, his body stiff and unresponsive as he lay flat on his back, gazing up at a sky that couldn't possibly be real. Three moons—one deep purple, another teal, and the third a brilliant gold—hung low over the horizon, casting their strange overlapping hues across the sky and painting the landscape in an otherworldly glow. He blinked again, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Three moons?A sharp, metallic scent filled the air, mingling with the sweetness of the flowers that seemed to glow faintly around him. The ground beneath him was soft, but damp, and as he shifted slightly, he realized that the earth was sticking to his back and robes in a way that made it clear he'd been lying there for quite some time. He groaned, pushing himself into a sitting position, his oversized robes hanging awkwardly from his thin frame.Why are my clothes so big? he wondered, glancing down at the billowing sleeves that draped over his hands. The fabric seemed ancient, worn in places, as though it had once belonged to someone far larger than him. But that wasn't what bothered him the most—his mind was a complete blank. He had no memory of where he was, how he got here, or even who he was beyond his name.Who am I? he thought, rubbing his temples as if the action might somehow unlock his missing memories. But nothing came. Just a hollow void where there should have been answers.He took a deep breath and looked around, trying to get his bearings. The meadow stretched endlessly in every direction, filled with tall, vibrant flowers in colors that didn't seem natural—blues, pinks, greens, all glowing softly under the light of the three moons. Strange creatures roamed lazily nearby, their massive bodies grazing on the shimmering grass.They were huge—some easily hundreds of meters tall, with skin that glittered like gemstones. One looked like a cross between a deer and a dragon, its long, elegant neck curving as it chewed methodically on the glowing plants beneath it. Another, farther away, was even larger, its massive body towering like a living mountain as it moved with a grace that defied its size.What… what are those? he wondered, his heart skipping a beat. Despite their size and power, the creatures exuded an aura of calm, peaceful energy. They didn't seem dangerous, but they were so unlike anything he'd ever seen—or, at least, that he could remember seeing.As he stood, his legs wobbled slightly beneath him, and he had to take a moment to steady himself. His body felt foreign, as though it had forgotten how to move properly. Everything around him was so strange, so unfamiliar, yet there was something about it all that tugged at the edges of his mind—like a memory long forgotten, just out of reach.Why does this place feel familiar? his thoughts spiraled as he wandered through the meadow, weaving between the towering flowers. Each step felt both wondrous and unsettling, his senses overwhelmed by the beauty and strangeness of the world around him.As he walked, something in the distance caught his attention—a massive creature, far larger than the others, standing like a colossus at the edge of the horizon. Its presence was overwhelming, and even from this distance, Wu Meng could feel the power radiating off it. It wasn't just big—it was ancient, powerful, and terrifying in a way that made his stomach twist with unease.What kind of monster is that? He stared at the creature, and without thinking, reached out with his mind. A glowing window of text appeared before his eyes, floating in the air like an ethereal screen.[Ferocious Twilight Beast - Nascent Soul Realm (Late)]Mental Resistance: 95%Body Fortification: 88%Danger Level: Continent ShattererNotes: Ancient guardian of forgotten realms, not to be provoked.His eyes widened as he scanned the text. Nascent Soul Realm? What does that even mean? The mental resistance, the body fortification—everything about the stats made no sense, but at the same time, something in him understood. This was a being of unimaginable strength, something he wouldn't survive if it decided to attack. Yet it remained passive, content with grazing in the distance.How can I see its stats? he wondered, frowning as the glowing window hovered in front of him. He tried to make sense of what he was seeing, but the numbers and terms felt foreign—yet eerily familiar. He had no idea why he had the ability to gauge the power of the creatures around him, but it seemed as natural to him as breathing.Shaking his head, he turned away from the creature, trying to focus on his next steps. Where do I go from here? What is this place?Just as he was about to take another step, he felt a shift in the air—a pressure, heavy and oppressive, that made his skin crawl. He looked up, and his heart nearly stopped.Standing a few meters away was a towering figure, clad in dark, gleaming armor that seemed to drink in the light from the moons. The warrior's presence screamed "final boss", his aura so intense that Wu Meng could feel the weight of it pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.[Unknown Armored Figure - ??? (Fragment)(Sealed)]Mental Resistance: ???Body Fortification: ???Danger Level: Realm EraserNotes: A towering figure clad in ancient armor, radiating an overwhelming presence. It's only a shelf of what it was in the past , but its mere existence still distorts the surrounding reality.Before Wu Meng could open his mouth to ask where he was or how much trouble he was in, the figure spoke, his voice a low, rumbling boom that shook the very air around them."You are weak Wu Meng."Wu Meng's body seized up, and suddenly, he was on his knees, the force of the warrior's presence crushing him. It felt like gravity itself had turned against him, pressing him into the ground with an intensity that was crushing his organs and bones."You don't know anything about the world or your enemy."The warrior's voice was like the strike of a hammer, each word pounding into Wu Meng's skull. His heart slowed, his limbs trembling as the crushing pressure bore down on him."You don't know who you are anymore."Wu Meng's vision blurred as his thoughts spiraled into panic. He could barely hear his own heartbeat now, the world fading into darkness. Why is this happening?He was dying, plain and simple"You have erased any trace of yourself from this world. Life had left his body so that only a cold corpse was left behind."So, what keeps you alive?"Somehow, against all odds, Wu Meng's dead body jerked—just enough for his hollow eyes to meet the warrior's.The figure chuckled, the sound deep and ominous. "We are the same person, so I should've expected this answer."With that, the towering figure began to disintegrate, golden light spilling from the cracks in his armor as his body dissolved into shimmering particles. The glowing ash drifted toward Wu Meng, swirling around him before merging with his body, filling him with warmth and energy that left him breathless."Remember two things, little one," the warrior's voice echoed, growing fainter with each passing second. "I came, I saw, I endured. And… don't mess with the salamanders."The last of the golden light vanished, and Wu Meng was left standing alone in the meadow, his body miraculously healed. He gasped, his mind racing. What just happened?Before he could make sense of it, he heard a cold harrumph behind him. He turned and saw a woman floating toward him, her long dark robes billowing behind her as she hovered just above the ground. Strapped to her back was a gigantic greatsword, so large it seemed impossible for her slender frame to wield it. Yet, she carried it as if it weighed nothing.Who is she? Wu Meng wondered, staring at the woman in awe. And how is she flying like that?The woman landed gracefully, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. Wu Meng instinctively thought about it, and once again, glowing text appeared before him.[Lian Hua - Foundation Establishment Realm (Mid)]Qi Intensity: StrongMental Resistance: 65%Body Fortification: 50%Danger Level: City ShakerAffiliation: Half-Phoenix Sect (Outer Disciple)Notes: Possesses a rare Flameborn Body, allowing her to regenerate quickly and endure high levels of heat and damage. This body enhances her natural fire affinity, making her deadly with fire arts and difficult to defeat in prolonged battles.Wu Meng barely had time to process what he was seeing before Lian Hua's expression hardened. She flicked her wrist, and golden light erupted from her hand, wrapping around Wu Meng's body like a rope, binding his arms tightly to his sides."You've trespassed on sacred ground," Lian Hua said coldly, her voice sharp and authoritative. "This is the entrance to the Half-Phoenix Sect's secret realm. Outsiders are not welcome here."Wu Meng opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, she tightened the restraints. His body lifted off the ground, and he was helplessly pulled toward her."You're coming with me," Lian Hua said, her voice cold and devoid of sympathy. Wu Meng felt the golden energy ropes tighten around him as his body was lifted off the ground, hovering helplessly in mid-air.Wait, what? Wu Meng's mind raced as panic bubbled in his chest. Coming where? He had no idea what was going on, but he didn't like the sound of it. "Hey, hold on a second—" he tried to protest, but Lian Hua wasn't listening."Quiet," she snapped, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she scanned the horizon. "You've wandered too close to the Half-Phoenix Sect's secret realm. No outsiders are allowed here." She glanced back at him, her hand gripping the hilt of her gigantic greatsword. "I'll bring you to the elders. They'll decide what to do with you."Elders? Secret realm? Wu Meng's mind spiraled with questions as he hung in the air, completely at her mercy. What kind of place is this? He wanted to ask her a hundred different things, but the icy look in her eyes told him this wasn't the time for small talk.As they floated higher above the meadow, Wu Meng cast a quick glance back toward the distant creature he had seen earlier—the Ferocious Twilight Beast. Its colossal form was still grazing far away, seemingly indifferent to the chaos unfolding below. He stared at it for a moment longer, wondering how such a beast could exist. But as the meadow disappeared from view and the moons glowed brighter above them, Wu Meng's thoughts shifted. I can't stay clueless forever, he realized. I need answers. About this place and more importantly, about myself.