A towering gate stretched so high its top was lost from view, and its sides faded into infinity. At the entrance to Emperor Huang's Domain, we stood on the left, while the members of the Dark Banquet and the Immortality Society stood on the right.
"Open the gate, John Chou."
Xu Fu turned his head and shouted toward us; John Chou smiled.
"Let us confirm first—each person returning needs a Light Orb. You must provide enough Light Orbs for everyone."
"Rest assured, John Chou. The number of Light Orbs we possess is far from ordinary—enough for all your people to return. There's no need for suspicion."
The Undertaker spoke, and John Chou walked up to the gate, raising a hand.
"Brother, I need your help over here."
I walked over slowly.
"My help is limited to opening the gate. As for everything else, you’re on your own."
Xu Fu stared at us coldly, his lips curling into a bizarre smile.
"The day after tomorrow is the soonest chance to return. If you want to go back, don’t miss it, Ethan Zhang."
I glanced back at Xu Fu, smiling as I shook my head.
"What do I need to do?"
"Release your Instinct. I’ll help you understand the true words hidden in the dark."
Everyone stared wide-eyed at John Chou.
"You can perceive the true words? How is that..."
"No need to speculate further. Just wait for the gate to open and for us to be sent back to our world the day after tomorrow."
Following John Chou’s instructions, I placed both hands on the gate. He put one hand on my shoulder, and suddenly I felt a strange power enter my body. I glanced back at John Chou behind me.
"Brother, are you planning to stay?"
I responded with a soft grunt, John Chou’s words echoing in my mind.
"Since you’ve chosen, we’ll meet again in ten years. Take care, brother. In this darkness, no one can save anyone else—no one can be saved. Only you can save yourself."
I stared wide-eyed at John Chou, sensing the deeper meaning in his words. But I quickly understood.
There was a hint of a smile in John Chou’s eyes.
"Alright, brother. Release your Instinct."
I nodded, closed my eyes, and quietly felt the state of my body.
"Instinct... release..."
With a whoosh, a stream of black and white energy surged out of my body, instantly blending together. Gradually, a massive gray humanoid form appeared on my back. Under my will, the giant gray figure placed its hands on the gate.
"Focus your mind. Feel everything in the dark, brother."
John Chou reminded me again. I nodded, concentrating my gaze. Gradually, I could sense the power of the dark swirling around me, constantly invading my body. I didn’t resist—instead, I merged with the dark power all around.
Slowly, I felt as if John Chou was controlling me, my mind beginning to operate differently. Everything before me became crystal clear—even the structure of the gate. What I saw through my eyes was completely transformed.
This gate was made of Dark Power—the Fourth Darkness, the most extreme layer. That was my clearest sensation: it could block everything, absorb some things, or even contain all things. This feeling surged through my body, and my mind clearly understood the structure of the gate, how it was built layer upon layer.
Layer upon layer of Dark Power accumulated and stacked, constructing itself again and again. Gradually, the buildup triggered a change in quality. And within this Fourth Darkness, a breath was mixed in—the breath of Ancestor Emperor Huang.
"Think carefully about what to do next, brother. Over the past year, your temperament has grown much steadier. Now it’s time to build your own house—by your own hand. There’s nothing more I can teach you. Go, brother, and carve out your own future. Let them witness the true power of Coexistence."
John Chou’s words echoed in my mind again. My eyes widened, and in an instant, everything before me turned black. My consciousness plunged into a space of utter darkness.
Gradually, color appeared around me, forming images—an ancient era. Men wore nothing but pants; women covered themselves with simple animal skins. Everything was primitive. It reminded me of the round houses that first appeared in Rachel's Instinctive Space.
I saw the Founding Emperors, Emperor Yan and Ancestor Emperor Huang, discussing something together. The scene sped by, and the tribe grew stronger, developing various technologies. Each day, the Founding Emperors taught the tribe’s wise ones new things, and then those spread to the rest of the tribe.
Suddenly, my eyes widened—it was the Founding Emperors, standing on freshly cleared land, the ground charred and blackened by a recent fire.
Emperor Yan squatted, digging a pit. Ancestor Emperor Huang quietly knelt down beside him, opening his right hand—a seed lay in his palm.
"The beginning of all things—this tiny seed will lead humanity into an age where we never go hungry again."
"Ah, we’ve finally succeeded. When autumn comes, this seed will yield a harvest."
The seed was buried in the pitch-black soil. The Founding Emperors clasped their hands together. Joy shone in their eyes.
"Every age needs its prophets. Our mission is complete."
"It’s hard to let go, but that place is calling us. The future belongs to those who hold the key to the present."
Suddenly, the Founding Emperors turned and walked toward me. Each extended a hand, and a key appeared in their palms.
"The key to the future is yours, Ethan Zhang."
Ancestor Emperor Huang spoke. My eyes widened; Emperor Yan nodded.
"After much deliberation, our conclusion is that the future is yours."
Before I could speak, the key had already sunk into my body. I felt a strange sensation. The Founding Emperors smiled as they gradually faded into the distance, and darkness returned all around.
"What does it mean? The future? What..."
A gentle warmth touched my spine. I turned my head, and a soft, white glow brushed lightly against my jaw, as if someone was caressing my face with their hand.
"If only..."
The white radiance seeped into my body, and I felt a power I'd never known before. My body became incredibly light, and I swallowed hard.
"You need rebirth, purification..."
Suddenly, I snapped awake. For a moment, a massive gray figure on my spine began to transform, its body gradually taking on substance. Its pair of bizarre eyes stared at me.
With a roar, the gray figure with substance on my spine bellowed. The great gate of the Yellow Emperor's Domain slowly opened, revealing a crack. In an instant, members of the Dark Banquet and Immortality Society rushed inside.
I was stunned. Gradually, the massive gray figure covering my body shrank bit by bit, returning to within me. We followed it inside as well.
It was just as I had seen before: outside a giant city stood two tall towers, each topped with two pillar-like structures, and above them, two translucent spheres.
"Your demands have already been satisfied."