I jolted awake from my sleep, my hand raised and my forehead drenched in sweat. Everything I just saw was real. I sat up, panting, and stared at the moon sinking in the west. Dawn was approaching.
John Chou had told me things that defied belief. The most powerful Forsaken come from the modern era, meaning they're still alive somewhere in the Living World. He asked me to relay a message to the Four Guardians, to tell Lan Yin to return to the Living World.
Immediately, I spread my wings and floated up, heading straight for the massive nest at the center of the Vermilion Bird Realm. On the way, I noticed I didn't see a single Saint, nor could I sense any presence. The place was utterly deserted.
The emptiness reminded me of the Forsaken. At night, they always had to find a place to sleep, and always alone—never in groups. I had thought this wouldn't apply to the Saints, but now the entire Four Sacred Realm seemed to be asleep. Not a single Saint in sight.
I could only wait for daylight. Thinking back, Entity 016 once told me that he was born from the collapse of faith inside a dancer named Winter. But he also said Winter had already committed suicide, yet Entity 016 still existed. That detail was confusing.
Thinking further about the Saints—especially the Four Guardians—they must have lived for countless years, from ancient times to now. And the powerful Forsaken, like Entity 004 whom I encountered, possessed strength that couldn't be gained in a short span. It was truly unfathomable.
The sky gradually brightened, and the moon had completely disappeared behind the mountains. Suddenly, I felt a burst of heat. I turned my head, and the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit was standing right behind me.
"Is something wrong, Ethan Zhang?"
I nodded and recounted to the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit what John Chou had told me in the dream. She gazed thoughtfully into the distance, then shook her head after a long pause.
"What John Chou said isn't impossible, but to gain such immense power in a short time is extremely difficult for a human. If those Forsaken numbered before 004 are still alive in the Living World, they must be several centuries old. Only the Immortality Society and the Arcane Society have people who could live that long—and those in the Arcane Society all have deeply rooted faith, so their beliefs can't be destroyed."
"Vermilion Phoenix Spirit, do you not believe what John Chou said?"
I asked, and the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit nodded.
"Maybe Lan Yin should contact Hugh Thompson and have them investigate properly, especially Entity 016. I already know his name and some of his history."
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit thought for a moment but didn't answer me right away. Instead, she floated upward.
"I'll go discuss it with the others."
I began to doubt the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit's attitude, feeling she was hiding something from me. This was the most palpable feeling I'd had these past few days. I'd already asked Lan Yin before, and he told me to trust the Four Guardians.
Suddenly, I sensed a shadow behind me. I spun around and stared wide-eyed at a girl whose presence sent chills down my spine. Her whole body radiated an eerie aura.
She wore a black pleated skirt, black patterned stockings, and black high heels. Her short hair reached her shoulders, and she wore a black eye patch over her right eye. The purple patterns on her skirt were strange.
"Found you. What a fun little toy, hehe."
"You are..."
Suddenly, flames erupted from my body, but before I could react, my vision shifted. I was floating above a vast desert, and the temperature around me was rising rapidly.
With a mischievous giggle, I turned my head. The girl stuck out her tongue playfully—on it, the numbers 001 were clearly visible.
"Don't struggle. You're no match for me. By now, we're at least two hundred kilometers away from the Four Sacred Realm, and you can't go back."
Only then did I realize the girl was gripping the back of my collar with two fingers. She looked sweet and cute, but her outfit was bizarre.
"What are you doing?"
I spoke up. The Violet Heart Pendant on my chest had been taken by Entity 001. She held it in her hand, studying it for a while before speaking thoughtfully.
"Oh, I see... So this is your weakness."
With a crash, my head was driven into the sand. I couldn't feel or even perceive anything for a moment. I scrambled to my feet, coughing and spitting out the hot sand from my mouth.
"Give it back."
Flames erupted all over me, crimson tinged with purple. With a roar, I charged at Entity 001. She casually waved her hand, her nails painted glossy black, and in an instant, the flames I unleashed were drawn toward her palm. With another flick, the flames exploded with a boom to her left.
Immediately, yellow sand whipped through the air, powerful winds tearing across the desert. Sand grains stung my face, and my strength was almost completely drained in an instant. I had poured everything into that last attack, only for it to be effortlessly neutralized.
"I'll be holding onto this for now. Listen closely: if you try to run, I'll destroy this pendant—and everything inside it. I assume that's important to you."
I nodded slowly, my mind in chaos. I was no match for this beautiful, delicate-looking girl. She kept smiling, and I didn't resist further. Without emotion, I couldn't act on impulse or anger.
With a click, the girl put the pendant around her neck, then held it up to the sunlight, examining it.
"It's pretty—especially with the soul sealed inside."
To be able to silently pull me from the Four Sacred Realm to this desert in an instant reminded me of the battle that erupted in the distance last night.
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"Were you the one who caused all that chaos last night?"
I asked, and Entity 001 giggled, turning her head and nodding.
"Entity 003 really is something. If he hadn't provoked me, I wouldn't have lost my temper. He's got a glass heart, can't take a hit."