Lian Yu walked through the desolate land, his every step feeling both foreign and familiar. The wind carried whispers—not from the world, but from within his own mind. Fragments of a life stolen from him.
"You should not exist."
The words echoed again, but this time, they triggered something deep within. A memory.
A grand hall, filled with celestial figures draped in flowing robes, their eyes cold and merciless. He stood at the center, bound by golden chains that burned into his flesh.
"Lian Yu, your existence is a mistake."
"For the crime of defying Heaven's natural order, we erase you."
He had not begged. He had not knelt. He had simply stared into their eyes, unafraid.
Then—pain. Darkness. The unraveling of his very soul.
Lian Yu's eyes snapped open. His hands trembled slightly, but he clenched them into fists. He had not forgotten.
He turned his gaze toward the sky. The same sky that had once watched over him, now treating him as if he no longer belonged.
"Heaven tried to erase me."
A smirk formed on his lips. And yet, he was still here.
A sudden shift in the air pulled him from his thoughts. A presence.
His muscles tensed as his sharp gaze locked onto the distance. A figure stood at the edge of the barren land—a robed man, his face hidden beneath a hood. Unlike the celestial beings from before, this one was different. He did not exude divine power, nor did he radiate killing intent.
Yet, the way he stood… it was as if he had been waiting.
Lian Yu was not alone.
He took a slow step forward, his newfound power flickering beneath his skin. The figure did not move.
"Who are you?" Lian Yu asked, his voice steady.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, the man finally spoke.
"You survived."
Lian Yu's eyes narrowed.
"Then that means the game has truly begun."