''TAAK'' ...[you have slain a ****, wandering soul]
[you have received a memory]
.
*glass shatter sound
[you have slain a****, karma of souls]
[you have received a memory]
[congratulations, aspirant, on clearing the trial of soul]
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Fang Yuan stood calm and focused, reflecting on the countless lives he had lived and the experiences he had endured during this challenging trial. Despite the confusion surrounding him, one truth stood out: his soul felt clearer and more authentic than ever before.
From the moment he arrived in this unfamiliar world, he sensed that the body he inhabited, though responsive to his will, did not truly belong to him.
It felt like wearing a patched shawl made from pieces of his own fabric mixed with those of another. Initially, he sought to uncover the identity of the true owner of this body, driven by curiosity. However, he found nothing—no traces, no memories, no explanation about his past.
It felt as if he had appeared out of nowhere. The data system in NQSC was disorganized due to the constant opening of the gates, but the complete absence of evidence about his past made him increasingly suspicious.
Now, as he approached the end of this trial, the mystery that had long troubled him began to reveal itself. His final step make him understood why there was no record of his existence and why he had faced trials of mind, soul, and heart. Just as he started to process this revelation, his surroundings shattered and changed dramatically.
The serene landscape transformed into a beautiful scene—a small hill surrounded by vibrant flowers and lush greenery. Instead of being captivated by this beauty, Fang Yuan's attention was drawn to a solitary figure at the edge of a cliff, her back to him.
He recognized her immediately; she was the one he had known would represent his trial of heart. Memories, long buried and deemed unimportant in his quest for eternal life, surged back into his mind.
The familiar silhouette of Xie Han Mo appeared before him, ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful. Her presence enveloped him like a bittersweet memory, bringing both comfort and realization. As she turned to face him, a soft smile graced her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes, leaving a lingering sadness.
"It took you long enough, Yuan," she said, her voice carrying a soft, melancholic tone.
"The trials took me longer than I expected," he replied, maintaining his calm despite the emotional weight of the moment.
As day turned to twilight, Xie Han Mo remained seated at the cliff's edge, her hair dancing in the evening breeze. The sunset painted the horizon in vibrant hues of orange and pink, yet Fang Yuan couldn't shake the profound sadness in her eyes—an emotion he recognized all too well. He approached her quietly, enveloped in silence.
"Fang Yuan," she said, her voice steady but tinged with sorrow. "Is eternal life truly all you desire now?"
He stood beside her, the turbulent sea crashing against the rocks below mirroring her inner turmoil.
"Yes," he replied firmly.
Xie Han Mo's gaze remained fixed on the horizon as if seeking answers in the fading light. "I've seen the consequences of your ambition. You desire eternal life, and I understand your motivations. But you're missing something important."
Curiosity piqued; Fang Yuan turned to look at the horizon as well. "What do you mean?" he asked, wanting to hear her thoughts.
She turned to him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Ambitions are necessary to guide humanity, but when they overshadow our humanity, they become obsessions. Obsession leads to the death of what makes us human."
He shook his head slowly, rejecting her perspective. "I do not care about the consequences or the price I must pay. Eternal life is my goal, and I am willing to sacrifice anything that stands in my way. This is the path I have chosen."
A sad smile crossed her lips, tinged with resignation, as if she had accepted the inevitability of his choice. "I see. Then I sincerely hope you achieve it," she said softly.
"You must end my existence. Only then will you be free to pursue your dreams without the burden of my presence."
"Fang Yuan, I wish to be a cherished memory that reminds you of what you once had, not a shadow that holds you back from your true potential."
"Very well," he replied, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.
"I will do it." He said
Xie Han Mo's eyes softened, gratitude shining through her sadness. "Thank you," she said, her voice a mere echo of the weight of their exchange.
Without another word, he drew an arc with his hand, its edge glinting ominously in the dimming light. As he stood before her, a profound sense of loss washed over him, accompanied by a strange clarity. This was the path he had chosen, and it was time to accept the consequences.
In that fleeting moment, the world around him began to fade—the cliff, the sunset, the gentle breeze—leaving only the stark finality of his choice, a choice that would forever alter the course of his existence.
And as if stating that he cannot turn around from his path now the spell suddenly spoke.
[you have slain a ****, Xie han mo ]
[you have received a memory]
[You have slain a****, guilt of past.]
[you have received a memory]
[Wake up, Fang Yuan! Your nightmare is over.]
[Prepare for appraisal…]
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Fang yuan found himself in a space between dream and reality. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellations. It was truly breathtaking.
Somehow, Fang yuan understood that he was seeing the inner workings of the Nightmare Spell. He also couldn't help but think that it looked a lot like the celestial equivalent of a neural network. If so… was the Spell alive?
'This was a question that countless people had been asking themselves for the past few decades. The best answer they had come up with was that there was no way to know. The Spell was neither alive nor dead; neither sentient nor mindless.'
It was more of a function than a creature.
As Fang Yuan pondered over these philosophical questions.
The Spell spoke up.
[You have received a Memory: mind weave]
[You have received a memory: bone weave]
[You have received a memory: blood weave]
[You have received a Memory: flesh weave]
[You have received a Memory: soul weave]
[You have received a Memory: spirit weave]
[you have received a memory: sword of parting]
[you have received a memory : mergence]
before even fang yuan had time to register what he was seeing the speel again spoke up.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]