Years passed as Nu’s journey to the inner universe continued.


    Upon leaving the outer belt of the universe, Nu''s travel speed increased dramatically, causing his vision to warp and reducing everything around him to a bright, fading blur of light.


    After two years, Nu arrived at the ninth layer of the universe, where his speed gradually slowed. As the universe returned to focus, Nu''s gaze sharpened with vigilance, carefully navigating the dangerous solar systems.


    These solar systems were extraordinarily active. From their centers, unimaginable creatures and colossal celestial objects were locked in a cosmic struggle to increase their mass in this cold and dead universe.


    In one solar system, a colossal centipede, the size of a planet, guided dead celestial bodies into the surface of a star. It feasted on the solar flares erupting from the collisions. After digesting the energy, it grasped another lifeless planet, clamping it with its numerous hook-like limbs, and began curling it like a dumbbell.


    In another system, tiny, black, insect-like creatures swarmed around a star, dimming its surface as they absorbed radiation into their bodies. When the time came to reproduce, they left the star in search of the nearest lifeless planet to lay their eggs. The radiation stored within their bodies superheated the planet’s surface to unimaginable temperatures. Once the eggs hatched, the young devoured the planet entirely, digesting it as they performed kettlebell-like swings with their discarded eggshells.


    These creatures were known as star protectors.


    The immense energy and mass generated by these colossal cosmic exchanges made Nu’s mouths drool with hunger and desire.


    It had been far too long since Nu''s last meal, and each passing day felt like a dagger in his heart. The humiliation of his circumstances weighed heavily on him. His grand ambition of using all the mass in the universe as his body had shrunk into the desperate quest for a single meal.


    He felt the cruelty of the universe first hand.


    His eyes lingered heavy on the cosmic events unfolding before him, filled with both fear and trepidation. Yet, despite his unease, the gnawing hunger and his unyielding determination pushed him to abandon the safety of the asteroid highway and take his chances.


    Even at the vast scale on which these creatures operated, crumbs of opportunity inevitably slipped through. Nu knew the creatures dominated the centers of these solar systems, yet even the smallest remnants of heat and mass were treasures to him, a precious meal worth the risk.


    However, these solar systems had existed for eons. In their early days, when they were still forming, gaps in their systems might have provided opportunities for nomadic scavengers like Nu. But now, they operated like well-oiled machines, where every drop of excess energy was used, leaving nothing to waste.


    Dotted with planets, these orbiting sentinels acted like protectors. Surrounding them were enslaved beings much like the one''s found around the yellow planet. Whenever Nu went by, a representative several times more massive than him would approach and tell to get lost. Forcing him to stay on the outside looking in.


    "Bastards! Can''t they see I''m starving? Do they have no heart?" Nu cursed the territorial planets as he orbited the surrounding solar system, searching for openings. Holding pebbles in his mouth, he moved along the outskirts, hoping for a lucky opportunity to heat them up.


    Nu watched as part of the solar flare missed the mouth of the giant centipede, tumbling outward in a beacon of light.


    "Opportunity!" Nu exclaimed, and, using every technique he knew, he rushed toward the escaping solar flare.


    With a giddy expression, he awaited the rush of heat.


    But it never came.


    It was stopped just before it could reach him.


    For even when any heat managed to slip through the greedy planets and the star protector, there was one final failsafe.


    Nu stared at the missing solar flare, confused. But when he saw the flickering light ahead of him, he realized he was staring at an unfathomable creature.


    Hidden deep within the void on the outskirts of these systems were enormous, flat reptilian creatures. Their bodies were large, thin, and so transparent that they appeared almost see-through as they drifted like ghostly sails at the edges of the solar system. Just beneath their flat bodies was a terrifying jaw, capable of tearing apart small planets.


    "Weak!"


    "It''s all because of my weakness that I don''t have any opportunities."


    "But without opportunities, I can''t grow stronger. What kind of unfair trick is this?"


    Stuck in what felt like an endless loop of despair, Nu frantically searched through his ancestral teachings, hoping to find an answer for how to move forward.


    But all he could do was curse his luck, for the solar systems in his ancestors'' memories were full of vagrants who could find opportunities no matter the odds.


    "Fuck this!" Nu wailed, his voice echoing through the void. Hunger and biting cold had left cracks across all six of his faces.


    “These solar systems are strange. They must be some kind of exception. Maybe the road I’ve been taking is too well-trodden. I can’t imagine myself finding anything worthwhile down this path,” Nu muttered, shaking his head.


    His eyes burned with determination. "I need to shift my focus. If there are no opportunities here, perhaps I''ll find what I’m seeking in the universe''s forgotten corners, in the less-traveled solar systems."


    Finding a bleak, slow-moving asteroid belt, he gazed at it with renewed expectation.


    With heightened spirits, Nu entered the asteroid’s backroad, traveling through a desolate stretch of space-time, devoid of celestial life. In the distance, the faint light of a tiny solar system shimmered, far removed from the bustling action of the main belt. Nu pinned all his hopes on that dim, distant location.


    His speed was sluggish, far slower than when he navigated the main pathways.


    The asteroid backroad was a desolate expanse, with stars reduced to distant pinpricks. Nu trudged forward, the barren void around him making his journey feel like an endless treadmill. The only thing propelling him forward was the faint hope that his destination might hold what he desperately sought.


    Fifty slow and miserable years had passed since his encounter with the yellow planet.


    The journey dragged on with no end in sight.


    Nu’s condition worsened as the bitter cold deepened the cracks across his body, threatening to tear him apart. His demise loomed ever closer, but his determination remained unwavering, driving him forward.


    As Nu drifted through the void, the space above him shimmered and warped, as though reality itself were on the verge of tearing apart. Suddenly, the fabric of the sky split open entirely, revealing an obsidian-black spaceship. Silent and imposing, its vast length stretched across an entire solar system, blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness.


    A mechanical hatch opened on its surface. From within emerged a figure dressed entirely in white, starkly contrasting the ship’s shadowy presence.


    Everything about him was bone-white, from his robe to his skin, even his flowing hair. He appeared as though sculpted from ivory, his entire form almost statuesque. Yet, amidst all that pale perfection, his deep blue eyes stood out like torchlights in a blizzard, giving him the aura of a divine being.


    He stood in the open hatch, arms crossed over his chest, watching the dying Nu with a mysterious expression.


    Nu’s eyelids turned heavy, unable to completely process the strange happenings that began to occur around him.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    In the blink of an eye, Nu found himself inside the mouth of a strange creature. Within it, a powerful gravitational pull forced him into a seat at a table made of ivory. Above the table hung two massive fangs, once prized and fearsome weapons of the creature now were transformed into lamps that illuminated the scene.


    Upon closer inspection, Nu realized that the chairs and table were carved from the creature''s lower teeth, creating a surreal setting. One end offered an open view of the empty universe beyond the creature''s gaping jaws, while the other end revealed a horrifyingly large, curled tongue. The creature seemed to struggle to maintain this position, its entire body trembling as it held its mouth open as wide as possible, yet it did not dare relax its jaw.


    From deep within the creature''s throat, the statuesque man ascended. He walked casually across the floor of the mouth, approaching the table before finally taking the seat across from Nu. He smiled warmly, his piercing blue eyes seeming to awaken Nu from his bewildered stupor.


    “Who... are you? What is going on?” Nu asked weakly.


    The man’s smile deepened, and a calming warmth radiated from him, allowing Nu to regain some of his strength.


    “I am but a passerby,” the man said softly. “You seemed lost, so I decided to offer my help.”


    He took a blue flower from within his robe. It appeared to be made entirely of ice, yet it radiated an intense heat, as if it had been born within magma.


    “This is known as a Melting Lily. It is incredibly effective against the cold,” the man continued, his voice still gentle. He released the flower, and it floated across the table toward Nu. "Eat it. It will help you regain your warmth."


    Nu, ravenous with hunger, didn''t hesitate. Without considering the consequences, he opened his mouth and took a bite.


    A rush of warmth flowed through his body, filling the cracks that were strewn all over his body, and reigniting his core with heat.


    Feeling the changes and experiencing the effects of his first meal in fifty years, Nu was overwhelmed with gratitude.


    “Thank you, sir, for this kindness... I have nothing with which to repay you, but in the future, I will surely return this favor,” Nu said earnestly.


    "Repay me?" The man shook his head.


    "Our meeting was one of chance, nothing more. If you would like to do something for me... why not listen to my story?" the man replied slowly.


    Nu felt that such a thing was too small for a repayment for his life, but replied sturdily.


    "I will listen."


    The man let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair, blinking slowly he reminisced about his past.


    "I don''t remember my age. I never kept track of the years as they passed."


    "All my life was spent searching, and because of that, I never had time for anything else.”


    "My story is one of an adventurer, my life devoted to traveling."


    "I have been to every single corner of the universe. Climbing many mountains without ever reaching their peaks, and diving into the deepest parts of many oceans without ever finding their depths."


    "But I never found joy in my adventures."


    "Caught in a constant state of desperation, I was always searching but never finding."


    "To this day, I dream of the stillness of completion, the end to my journeys. A place where I no longer have to worry about where I am going."


    He smiled at the thought, then continued, his voice as soft as a whisper.


    "I feel that you and I are the sames. Our goals may differ, but the nature of our endless journeys is the same."


    He looked warmly at Nu.


    "Though our paths may exist without an end, it does not mean we cannot reach it."


    "There are ways to travel beyond the line drawn between life and death, ways to move without moving."


    He leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing.


    "If you could end your journey right now would you do it?"


    The man asked Nu.


    "If such a wonderful path existed, would you be willing to discard your life and legacy to walk it?"


    The table fell silent.


    Nu pondered the man’s words. "Discard my life and legacy for what? The end of my journey?" The idea gnawed at him, his heart tightening as the baffling question echoed in his mind.


    "How could I possibly do that? What would I have left?"


    The man''s question was like asking someone to murder their family and kill themselves to become president. It didn''t really make sense.


    The questions rattled his very being. "I would have nothing but my desires, that''s nonsense! Why would anyone do that?"


    The man''s words felt like a disrespectful slap in the face to the entirety of his existence.


    And yet, years of hunger and wandering had sown seeds of doubt. Despite the questions absurdity he did give it some real consideration.


    "What do I have right now?" Nu pondered seriously to himself. "What can I even hope to gain in the future? Will I even be able to eat another meal?"


    Just the thought of ending it all was a tantalizing prospect.


    Nu''s hopeless doubts clashed with his pride and familial ties, creating a mental battlefield that left him unable to answer.


    Noticing Nu''s hesitation, the man spoke softly, offering reassurance.


    “You don’t need to answer immediately."


    He smiled gently. "Here, why not have a cup of tea? It is known to calm the mind." With a simple whisk of his hand, an air current stirred within the creature’s mouth, brushing against its tongue.


    The massive tongue uncurled into several prongs, each one delicately handling the items required to prepare a hot drink.


    A porcelain teacup, neatly set on a plate, was carefully lowered by one of the prongs. The creature struggled to keep the plate steady, causing the teacup to rattle and shake as it descended.


    Once the cup was on the table, another prong attempted to pour the tea. More often than not, the liquid missed its mark, spilling over the table and saucer, with only a portion landing in the cup.


    Nu stared into the brown teacup as memories of his past flooded his mind.


    He remembered his ancestors raising him from a tiny seedling, teaching him how to sprout and how to gather food for himself.


    He felt the warmth of their knowledge, their continued presence in his life at every step. Despite their limited understanding of the current universe, he knew their guidance was not to blame for his miserable life.


    The tea warmed his soul, causing him to smile as he gazed at the brown liquid.


    The man cleared his throat, interrupting Nu''s thoughts. He spoke just a little louder than a whisper:


    “When receiving a cup of tea, even if you do not intend to drink it, it is customary to say, ‘Nice tea.’”


    Nu felt embarrassed for dozing off so recently. “Nice tea,” he murmured.


    Hearing the response, the man returned to silence, giving Nu ample time to reflect on what he had just experienced.


    “Thank you for everything, but I must decline,” Nu said after a moment. “Maybe I could give up my life, since it hasn''t served me well, but to give up my familial ties…”


    He paused, the weight of the words settling over him.


    “That is something I am not yet ready to discard.”


    The man’s expression remained unchanged.


    “It is your life to live. I cannot force you if you are unwilling.” He closed his eyes and nodded warmly, feeling satisfied with Nu''s answer.


    He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a secretive whisper. “Look directly at the water in your tea, and do not look up. I will give you one final parting gift.”


    Nu focused on the brown liquid in his cup, steam still rising from its surface. The man extended his hand above the cup, pointing a finger. A blue droplet formed at the tip, shimmering before it fell into the tea.


    The sound of the droplet hitting the water echoed loudly in Nu’s ears, amplified a hundredfold. The sight of the blue drop merging with the brown liquid, sending ripples across its surface, etched itself deeply into his soul, as though he could recreate the moment with a single thought.


    As Nu watched, his body grew numb, his blood freezing in his veins. Something deep within him stirred.


    Before Nu could fully comprehend what had just happened, the creature''s mouth began to retract slowly, leaving him floating in space and watching the scene fade into the distance. The man stood at the edge of its jaw, arms crossed, silently observing as Nu drifted farther away.


    "If you ever find yourself trapped between an unacceptable future and a past you are ready to abandon, recall the image of the dripping water in your mind. The scene I just shared marks the first step toward shedding your mortal shell and embarking on the pathway of ‘demortality.’"


    Nu gazed at the retreating white figure, his expression heavy with thought. The creature closed its mouth and began to accelerate, nursing its sore jaw as it moved away. As its full form came into view, Nu realized that its body was that of a large green snake.


    Both the man and the creature disappeared into the hatch of the obsidian spaceship as the sound of engines and mechanical whirring filled the air, signaling the ship stirring to life once more. Slowly, it vanished back through the tear in space from which it had emerged, leaving Nu alone once again.


    It wasn’t until the ship had completely vanished that Nu stirred.


    “Demortality?” he murmured, repeating the man’s strange phrase. Unease flickered in his eyes as he grappled with its meaning. The memory of the profound and powerful droplet of water lingered vividly in his mind.


    Still, he pushed these thoughts aside, choosing to focus on the journey ahead. Taking a deep breath, he recentered himself.


    In the distance, the once-dim solar system seemed to glow brighter, its light offering a faint glimmer of hope.


    A soft blue glow surrounded him, emanating from the mysterious man’s Melting Lily. The warmth coursed through him, making his travels along the backroads far more bearable.


    Time passed quickly. Before long, thirty years had slipped away.


    At last, the end of his journey came into view. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but his eyes flashed with a glimmer of relief.


    The solar system was now within reach.


    Several sentient asteroids hovered around the perimeter, their expressions tense with anticipation. At the system’s center, a bright orange-red sun pulsed weakly, teetering on the brink of collapse.