On the towering Lunar Ark, Quinn Shepherd spread his six arms wide, gripping the massive pillars at the center—like a punished giant—staring at the other world now appearing before him.
Behind him, the broken moon drifted high in the sky. Occasionally, fiery meteors fell, crashing around the Lunar Ark and lighting up the pitch-black darkness.
Beyond the light, chaotic demons and monsters bustled about, making for a lively scene.
But in front of him lay a sanctuary untouched by darkness—a pure land, isolated from the world, tranquil, mysterious, and full of the unknown.
It was hard to imagine that such a peaceful place could exist within the Great Ruins.
Ahead stretched vast forests and endless mountains, and farther still, the earth suddenly broke off—as if hollowed out—separated by clouds and mist. There, a city stood suspended in midair, like a domain fit for immortals.
Golden clouds surrounded the area, a sun shone in the sky, palaces soared up into the heavens, and on the clouds, floating mountains revealed their brilliant golden peaks.
Deep within the clouds, towering divine statues stood as if emperors were guarding their own domain.
Enormous machines floated in the sky, thousands of feet above the ground, operating in silence. Countless formations were etched into dark iron and gold, forming a complex network of gigantic mechanical devices. Their power became tangible, turning into flowing streams of light that linked city to sky and earth.
But...
All of this has already been destroyed.
Quinn stood in shock. What lay before him was the shattered Carefree Haven. The once resplendent sky-city had collapsed and split apart, the cloud-reaching palaces were riddled with wounds, and the floating mountains were broken into pieces—fragments of rock drifting in the clouds, colliding and scattering. The towering divine statues had also been struck by immense force, left crooked and missing limbs.
In the sky, the sun’s center was a huge black spot, having swallowed most of the sun—only a golden halo remained around the edges, like a ring of gold.
The city above the clouds was now nothing but ruins, and the giant machines standing among the clouds were damaged as well—shattered parts floated silently around them.
A few massive machines still ran, maintaining the barrier of Carefree Haven.
Not far ahead of the Lunar Ark, a colossal plaque was slanted in the forest like a toppled monument. On it, two characters read: 'Xiaobao.'
The plaque was broken.
A sudden wave of grief welled up in Quinn’s heart. That sorrow grew rapidly, filling him in an instant.
In this world, Carefree Haven no longer existed.
There was no longer anywhere to be truly carefree.
The giant standing atop the Lunar Ark, clutching the pillars, seemed powerless beneath Heaven’s punishment, his head bowed low.
He knelt down, tears falling one by one onto the hard deck.
The hometown that haunted his dreams had already been shattered, gone forever.
After so long searching, fantasizing about his home—the faces of family, neighbors, and friends—all those dreams were suddenly broken and vanished with the world before him, like pictures drawn in sand, swept away by the wind into dust.
Now, he had no home—no mother waiting for her son’s return, no stern father from his imagination...
The dream was over. He was still just an orphan, adopted by a group of old, sick, and crippled villagers.
His hometown had been destroyed.
The Nethervault Demon King looked up, peering through the window lattice at the kneeling giant between the pillars. Bathed in hazy moonlight, the giant bowed deeply—only his trembling shoulders could be seen.
In that moment, the Nethervault Demon King felt the same pain.
When his Nethervault Realm was destroyed, he too grieved, devastated and unable to suppress his emotions. He wept, cursed Heaven and Earth, burned with rage, and even fought the Underworld’s wardens in hopes of saving his people!
He was struck down countless times, his body broken, his soul shattered.
In the end, he surrendered—to fate itself.
Looking at Quinn, he saw his younger self—about to be struck down, about to yield to destiny.
In this world, the weak lose themselves, coming and going like madmen.
Playing with mud in the dirt, they fail to recognize the true pearl shining in the night. So many storms, so many trials, yet who would ever pause in fear?
Where is my hometown?①
Where is my home?
Quinn slowly lifted his head, his gaze distant and indifferent. His eyes shone with a cold, moon-like radiance; when he closed them, the light faded, but when he opened them again, they glowed like twin full moons.
He stood atop the Lunar Ark, emotions surging, thoughts racing, unable to calm himself for a long time.
"I didn’t come here to find Carefree Haven. I came looking for Village Chief and Granny Sue—for them are my true family. Oldridge Village is my home, my very own Carefree Haven!"