The moon hung low over a world far from Edhas.
Joe staggered from the edge of the woods, his once-blue robes now soaked crimson from the wounds he had endured. His steps were heavy, but his eyes—those deep ocean-blue eyes—remained calm. Each movement was deliberate, as though pain was nothing more than a passing inconvenience.
Waiting ahead was a small figure: a silver-eyed girl no older than eleven. Her long black hair spilled down her back like a waterfall of ink, and her skin was pale, like fallen snow under moonlight. She looked fragile—almost too delicate for this world.
Joe approached and gently patted her head. Despite the frigid night, his voice was soft. "What's your name?"
The girl stared at him with those eerie, lifeless silver eyes. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, almost automatically, she whispered, "Eira."
Joe gave a faint smile. He had made up his mind.
He nodded. "Eira... Would you like to learn how to fight? Become my disciple, and I'll teach you everything I know."
She blinked, surprised. Then, without warning, her expression changed.
"You're too soft for your own good, Joe," she said coldly.
His breath caught. Something was off.
"This place…" Joe took a step back, scanning his surroundings. "Where am I?"
Eira's body suddenly shattered into violet mist, evaporating into the air.
A disembodied voice echoed, feminine yet sharp. "Joe… You've been resisting me for some time now. But even in your subconscious, you're impressive. A mortal soul defying me—how curious."
Joe's brows furrowed. "What is this place? How long have I been here?"
The fog curled around him like a predator. "You may call me... Purple, for now. I've tried to enter Travis' body multiple times, but your soul always held me back."
Joe's stance hardened. "So this is a trap."
"Not quite. A test, perhaps. An opportunity."
A pulse of magic rippled through the mist, and it suddenly took the form of Leviathan—Joe's once-shy disciple, now wearing a sly smirk. Joe raised a brow.
"Wrong disguise, Purple."
The illusion changed again, this time to a shapeless, floating form. "Fine. Let's not waste time."
In the blink of an eye, the scenery shifted. Joe now stood in a colorless realm of pale light and drifting wind. At its center loomed an ancient city—its buildings tall, jagged, and glowing faintly purple. An aura of power radiated from the stone walls, vibrating in Joe's bones.
Purple spoke again, this time with gravity. "This is the City of Immortality. Legend says that those who master its secrets can rival the heavens."
Joe chuckled dryly. "Not exactly welcoming. Someone really liked the color purple."
"Focus," Purple snapped. "You'll remain here for six months of inner-world time—no time will pass in Edhas. In this period, study the Nine Bodhik Cycles. Comprehend even one, and your power will shift beyond mortal understanding."
A beam of golden light struck Joe's forehead, and instantly, esoteric symbols and incantations swirled in his mind.
He steadied himself. "Ancient script… This one I know."
Purple hovered above, fading in and out of view. "This technique governs space. If you master it, you'll understand movement, travel, concealment—and even fate."
Joe didn't respond. He had already taken a seat near the entrance of the city, closing his eyes to begin.
Days passed in silence.
Joe immersed himself in the ancient glyphs, deciphering their logic and channeling energy through formations older than memory itself. His understanding deepened. On the final day, he broke through a barrier—light erupted from his palms, forming a golden ring in midair.
He had reached Tier 2 in array mastery.
Purple was speechless. "...You weren't supposed to learn that much."
"Oops," Joe said with a grin.
Suddenly, everything turned black.
Joe scowled into the darkness. "Again? Can't I get a warning before these transitions? What if I was in the middle of something—like meditating... or worse?"
From the shadows, a voice older than time whispered his name.
"Joe…"
His heart froze.
No one had called him by his full name in years.
"The chosen are the cursed," the voice said. "And you, Joe, have chosen to defy fate. That choice brings consequence… and opportunity."
A symbol flared to life on his left wrist—etched like a scar. Then the voice spoke again.
"You now possess the right to travel… the Infinitus."
Joe's eyes shot open. He was back in his room in the Sean estate.
Drenched in sweat, he sat up and looked at his wrist. The same symbol glowed faintly.
"So it wasn't a dream…" he muttered. "Six months of training—condensed into a single night."
He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Before I came to this world, I was poisoned. Now I've got a seal, an ancient city in my head, and a moody cloud named Purple. Fate really knows how to throw a party."
He stood and looked at himself in the mirror. A sharp glint in his eyes reflected something new—not just strength, but purpose.
"The chosen are the cursed, huh?"
He smirked.
"Fine. Then I'll curse fate right back."
He looked at the glowing mark on his wrist.
"So… this is Infinitus."
[A/N: Well damnnn, This chapter has almost 1k words, it is one of my most edited and time consuming ones. But it was one of the most important chapters for the whole novel.Good news guys, five days ago the novel was featured in