《Zero percent oxygen》 Chapter 1: Death in the Embrace of Loneliness Chapter 1: Death in the Embrace of Loneliness At the funeral, many of the attendees glared at me with accusing eyes. No words were needed¡ªI could tell what they were thinking. Even though I knew I wasn¡¯t to blame for what happened, I still cursed myself. I cursed myself because, in that moment, I had acted like a fool. Why had I ignored him? Why, despite sensing something was wrong, had I turned a blind eye? Loneliness, regret, guilt, despair¡­ My spirit shattered under the weight of it all. Yes, I am tired. Tired of my own hopes. Tired of the world¡¯s empty promises. Tired of going on¡­ What¡¯s the point of moving forward when the world has turned its back on you? Hoping is foolish when you know your wishes will never come true. They laughed at my desperate struggles, toyed with me like a puppet¡­ I hate living in this wretched world. I hate everyone who destroyed my life!... We, the wretched, are nothing but prey to those wolves in human skin¡­ Tears streamed down my face as the wind tangled my hair. I stared down at the river below¡ªits surface dark and fathomless under the night sky, like a black hole swallowing everything whole. "That¡¯s right¡­ I remember everything." I screamed into the void, cursing this world and its people. Then, like a madman, I laughed through my tears. No one was there to listen. Only a few cars passed over the bridge, their headlights flickering like indifferent stars. We¡¯ve all become fools, numb and oblivious¡ªjust like I was that day. Oblivious to the people around me¡­ oblivious to the shifting shadows in the light and dark¡­ I only realized the truth when I saw the flames. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. By then, it was too late. There were no choices left. The loneliness returns. Not that it matters anymore¡­ Loneliness¡­ What a familiar feeling. The bridge wasn¡¯t high¡ªjust two meters above the water¡ªbut the river ran deep, over five meters down. I wanted to jump. To free myself from this pain in an instant. But I¡¯m still human. Like all living things, I cling to survival¡­ Yes, I fear death, just like anyone else. Yet my greatest terror isn¡¯t death itself¡ªit¡¯s the eternal loneliness that comes after. My life will never be the same. They will never come back. Mom¡­ Dad¡­ Little brother¡­ Can I join you now? Is there even a place for a wretched outcast like me? It doesn¡¯t matter. I have no place left in this world. I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer. This suffocating, agonizing loneliness¡­ Every night, I relive that day in my nightmares. Every day, memories flood my eyes with tears. They all call me a psychotic killer. They say I did it on purpose! Why does no one remember I was just a seventeen-year-old boy?! I¡¯m innocent! Why would I ever want to destroy my own family?! Why would I want to destroy anyone else¡¯s?! I told them about the man I saw¡ªthe one responsible! The mysterious man in the black suit, the brown hat, the gray suitcase in his hand! I told them everything! I revealed the whole truth! But they didn¡¯t listen¡­ No one listened. They judged me with blind eyes and ruined what little life I had left. They said I had a history of mental illness. They said the evidence was against me. They said witnesses had testified against me. What witnesses?! Were there even any witnesses to begin with?! It was all a conspiracy. To bury the truth, they wove lies and made me the scapegoat for their filthy schemes. I have no hope left. No one loves me anymore. What if I could have controlled everything? What if I had known? If only I could have stopped it¡­ Maybe things would have been different. But it¡¯s too late now. There¡¯s no going back. I took a slow step forward. My foot met empty air. And like a bird with broken wings, I fell. In those fleeting seconds, my little brother¡¯s face flashed before me¡ªhis bright, excited voice echoing in my ears one last time¡­ My mother¡¯s voice as she told us stories¡­ My father¡¯s murmurs as he watched the news¡­ Memories surfaced, then faded. Then came the impact¡ªthe cold, dark water swallowing me whole. The more I struggled, the deeper I sank. My vision darkened. My lungs burned. The water choked me. In that hazy void, I heard whispers¡ªwords I couldn¡¯t decipher before consciousness slipped away. And then¡­ only darkness remained. Only darkness. Only loneliness. Chapter 2: Where is Hell? Right here! Chapter 2: Where is Hell? Right Here! My eyes fluttered open, and I stared around in terror and confusion. At first, I thought¡ªjust maybe¡ªI had somehow survived the river. But what greeted me could only be described as hell itself. A landscape of molten rock, glowing crimson under unbearable heat. Rivers of lava snaked across blackened earth like the spilled blood of a fallen god. Jagged obsidian mountains jutted from the ground like the fangs of some primordial beast. The sight was horrifying. Yet, impossibly, I felt no pain. No searing heat. As if this were all just an illusion. Had I miraculously survived, only to slip into a coma? Was this a dream? Or had I died¡­ and now found myself damned? I scanned the hellscape in panic, but there was nothing¡ªjust the burning earth and a monstrous sun devouring the sky. I wanted to scream, to curse my wretched fate¡ªwhen suddenly, I noticed the impossible state of my own body. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Why were my hands bone-white?! Why was there a third eye in the middle of my forehead?! Why did I have no mouth?! How was I even breathing¡ªlet alone thinking?! What the hell had I become?! Naked, I examined myself. Three eyes. No ears. No nose. No mouth. My skin was marble-white, unnaturally smooth. Long, colorless hair¡ªpale as my flesh¡ªcascaded down my back. No navel. No breasts. No sex. I had no reference for my height, but my limbs were slender and rigid, like carved driftwood. My body was neither male nor female, but something¡­ other. This is terrifying¡­ Have I become a monster? But if this is a dream, logic doesn¡¯t apply. Yet this was too vivid. Too real. I touched my body, then the scorched earth¡ªand realized the horrifying truth: "This isn¡¯t a dream! What the hell is happening?! Why am I in this situation?" Darkness swallowed me. Consciousness flickered¡ªjust for a heartbeat¡ªand then¡­ I opened my eyes again. Now, I stood upon an endless sea. The water was perfectly still, so clear it mirrored the golden sky above. In the distance, nothing but white mist, swallowing the horizon. Dazed, I took a step. The surface was solid as glass, rippling faintly underfoot before smoothing back into perfection. Then, words bloomed across the water¡ªcrimson script bleeding into existence: Name: Primer Age: 0 Core Level: 1 Mana Capacity: 0/10 "What¡­ what is this?! Mana? Core Level?! Is this some kind of joke?! When did my name change?! My name¡­ my name is¡­" Nothing came. I couldn¡¯t remember. The world trembled. The golden sky shattered like glass, revealing a yawning void beneath¡ªand then, it swallowed me whole. Chapter 3: The Illusion Called "System" Chapter 3: The Illusion Called "System" Consciousness returned, and I found myself back in that molten hellscape. I shuddered in terror. What the actual hell was that?! For hours, I lost myself in thought, trying to make sense of my situation. Clearly, entering that mystical space was triggered by me uttering the word "situation" or "status". Like some kind of video game interface¡ªbut far more terrifying and real. Yet, it proved one thing: that strange dimension existed within my mind. Could it be dangerous? I sighed silently and reassessed my circumstances. Alright. Let¡¯s recap. I drowned, got dumped into hell, and was reborn as some quasi-human entity with a bizarre system. What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of twisted reincarnation? Bullshit. Nothing good comes from rebirth or being transported to a fantasy world. Real life isn¡¯t a game. And this? This isn¡¯t the afterlife. This is just¡­ loneliness and oblivion. Though I lack a mouth, I¡¯ve realized that by focusing on a sentence and willing it to be spoken, I can produce sound. Thankfully, the same applies to my other senses. I could choose to feel the heat if I wanted¡ªthough I¡¯d rather not test that. The consequences are unpredictable. This world is strange. Beautiful, yet horrifying. For a former human like me, that contradiction is terrifying. Why do I exist here? I don¡¯t know. And that ignorance terrifies me. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Fear of the unknown is humanity¡¯s oldest terror. It¡¯s universal. Humans dread the vastness of space because they don¡¯t understand it¡ªjust as children fear the dark, imagining monsters lurking where they can¡¯t see. We inflate those shadows in our minds, making them larger, more grotesque. It¡¯s in our nature to fear what we don¡¯t comprehend. And yet, when those children grow up, they laugh at their old fears. Because the truth is revealed. Because they realize the monsters were never real. But I¡¯m still afraid. I know nothing. There¡¯s no guide. No living thing in this hell. As I drowned in my thoughts, I turned my gaze to the gargantuan sun dominating half the sky. Enormous doesn¡¯t even begin to describe it. It¡¯s beyond enormous. Hotter than anything I¡¯ve ever known. Why would a planet orbit this close to its star? This world lies far outside the habitable zone. No wonder nothing lives here. I¡¯m powerless. The colossal sun slowly shrank. Three hours later, it set completely¡ªthough I¡¯d bet my nonexistent life it¡¯ll be back in another three. Time itself has warped here. By my estimates, a full "day" lasts only about nine hours. Then, something unexpected happened. The temperature plummeted. The rivers of lava cooled and hardened in minutes. The air hit -30¡ãC¡ªyet I still felt nothing. I was only aware of the cold. Darkness. Silence. Cold. The only beauty left was the star-studded sky, streaked with glowing nebulae. Crimson and emerald clouds swirled among constellations more vibrant than any painting. Breathtaking. Any human would be awestruck. Words can¡¯t do it justice. Wait! Something¡¯s wrong... There¡¯s no moon! Not that I could summon one. But its absence feels like a flaw in this masterpiece¡ªat least to my former human sensibilities. Hours passed. I kept talking to myself. What else do you do when there¡¯s no one else? Most people would call it madness. But in truth, it¡¯s survival. A way to preserve sanity when isolation threatens to crush you. What is loneliness, really? The absence of others? Being forgotten? Or something worse¡ªlosing your place in existence itself? What am I even saying? Have I gone insane? Or was I always insane? Right on schedule, three hours after sunset, the sun rose again. And so began another day on this forsaken planet. Chapter 4: Power and Madness – Two Sides of the Same Coin. Can You Pay This Price? Chapter 4: Power and Madness ¨C Two Sides of the Same Coin. Can You Pay This Price? I settled onto a charred black boulder as the rivers of molten rock began flowing once more, filling the landscape with scorching heat. It was strange¡ªneither the unbearable heat nor the lack of oxygen affected me. Just a short while ago, I could never have imagined such a fate. Now, a question arose: Are these changes good or bad? It was hard to predict. My understanding of my current state was still in its infancy. Thirty minutes later, something unusual stirred in my chest. A wave of pleasurable warmth spread through my body. How could I describe it? It was euphoric¡ªcomparable to the rush of hard drugs, perhaps? Like a monk reaching enlightenment, I closed my eyes and instinctively tried to inhale¡ªonly to be struck by the brutal reality: I had no mouth, no lungs. What a cosmic joke. Hours passed, and I remained motionless. I felt no hunger, no thirst, not even the need for sleep. Then, finally, I hit a wall. What just happened? Had I reached the current limit of my core¡¯s capacity? Should I push forward or surrender? No. Now that I was one step closer to the truth, I couldn¡¯t give up. With renewed determination, I pressed against the invisible barrier. It felt like being crushed under the weight of a mountain. After an hour of grueling effort, I finally broke through. A surge of lightness followed¡ªso intoxicating, so addictive¡ªthat I wondered if this was what drug addicts chased. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I opened my eyes and stood, gazing once more at the starry night sky. Three eyes staring at the cosmos¡­ Who would¡¯ve thought? Suddenly, Primer¡¯s entire body began glowing with a sacred golden light, radiating warmth. In the oppressive darkness, he shone like a beacon¡ªuntil, at last, consciousness faded, and darkness reclaimed him. Hours passed. Then days. Then weeks. When Primer finally awoke, disoriented, he had no idea how long he had slept¡ªonly that it couldn¡¯t have been brief. There was only one way to check. "Status!" Darkness swallowed his vision, and then¡ªhe was back on the still, golden water. No turbulence, no shattered sky. With both anticipation and unease, he looked down. Just as expected, crimson words materialized: Name: Primer Age: 1 Core Level: 2 Mana Capacity: 11/100 I¡­ I leveled up?! So ,this was progression. Another step toward understanding the system. Does this mean all I have to do is sit around and gather energy? Simple, yes¡ªbut agonizingly tedious, especially when breaking through the barrier. Wait¡­ I¡¯m one year old? Did I sleep for a whole year after evolving?! Why? I don¡¯t feel any different¡­ Frustrated by the lack of answers, he exited the mental space. At least entering and exiting "Status" was instantaneous. Minutes later, he noticed a subtle but crucial change. So this is what evolution does¡ªit increases production efficiency! According to the system, Mana was energy, and by the laws of physics, energy was neither created nor destroyed¡ªonly transformed. Thus, to generate Mana, he relied on external energy sources¡ªlike the radiation from the sun. After leveling up, not only did his Mana capacity increase, but so did his ability to convert energy. The rate of accumulation improved. But there¡¯s a catch. With each core upgrade, his Mana capacity multiplied tenfold. That meant longer intervals between evolutions. An acceptable trade-off, he thought. After all, time was the one thing he had in near-infinite supply. Yet, he never imagined that accepting this seemingly simple condition would render the very concept of time¡­ meaningless. Chapter 5: A Celestial Cataclysm of Fire and Stone Chapter 5: A Celestial Cataclysm of Fire and Stone Fascinating... Leveling up doesn¡¯t consume my accumulated mana. Instead, after breaking through, I retain all the energy I¡¯d gathered¡ªplus an additional unit. This explains why capacity shatters only to reform, larger than before. Imagine a small container nested inside a larger one, which itself sits inside an even greater vessel. This pattern might stretch into infinity¡ªwho knows? When the smallest vessel fills to the brim, pressure builds until it fractures, spilling its contents into the next. That¡¯s the cycle of core evolution. Days passed as I absorbed energy, converting it into mana. By the third week in this world, I¡¯d reached capacity again and felt the familiar, invisible barrier. At first, I assumed higher levels would make the wall harder to break. But to my surprise, its resistance hadn¡¯t changed. My theory? The container grows, but its walls don¡¯t thicken. After hours of exertion, I shattered it once more. Ah¡­ Ecstasy. I¡¯m addicted to this feeling. More. I need more¡ª Wait. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Is this how the system controls me? But¡­ this sensation¡ªI crave it. Not that I have anything better to do, right? Fine. This round goes to the system. Golden light engulfed me, that divine warmth returning. If I still had lips, I¡¯d have grinned wide enough to blind the sun. Then¡ªdarkness. Sleep took me again. --- Eons later, I stirred awake. I would¡¯ve yawned, stretched¡ªhad a shadow not loomed overhead, expanding rapidly. Bleary-eyed, I glanced up¡ªand froze. What fresh hell is this?! A meteor¡ªcolossal, furious¡ªplummeted like the warhammer of an angry god. I sprinted, but too late. Impact obliterated the ground where I¡¯d lain moments prior. The shockwave shattered the earth like glass. Hurricane-force winds hurled me hundreds of meters. Cursing my rotten luck, I crashed into molten rock. A human body would¡¯ve splintered into six hundred uneven pieces. Thankfully, my current form endured¡ªthough I doubt even this body could survive a direct meteor strike. If I had a mouth, I¡¯d cough and groan. But the universe seemed to laugh at my struggle¡ªbecause when I looked up, the sky was falling. Am I still dreaming? No. Pain confirmed this was real. A rain of fire and stone baptized the scorched earth, turning hell into Armageddon. The ground quaked; volcanoes shrieked. Lava bled from the planet¡¯s wounds as if the world itself howled in agony. A sight to steal the breath I didn¡¯t have. I ran, dodging celestial artillery. After an hour, the barrage ceased. What kind of catastrophe was that?! No atmosphere¡ªthat¡¯s why meteors this size strike unimpeded! Exhausted, I surveyed the ruins. If this place was desolate before, now it was apocalyptic. Hell had leveled up. How absurd. Does it matter? No one cares what this planet looks like¡­ Chapter 6: The Path of Knowledge Consists of Two Things—Experiment and Experience! Chapter 6: The Path of Knowledge Consists of Two Things¡ªExperiment and Experience! After resting a little longer, I focused on the changes brought about by the increase in my core level. Now, I could clearly sense the warm, steady flow of mana within my core. I could direct it through my will to any part of my body, granting me strength beyond that of ordinary humans. However, this process likely consumed mana, so I would have to use it sparingly. Still, this time, I would test it¡ªjust to see. I drew mana from my core and spread it throughout my body. Suddenly, I felt power¡ªdivine power¡ªcoursing through me. With it, I could shatter boulders many times my size. How incredible! How intoxicating! This was the power of a god! With slow, deliberate steps, I approached a massive crimson boulder. If I had a mouth, I would have smirked at its arrogance, at its pride in its own immensity¡ªbefore smashing it to pieces like glass. I gripped the stone tightly with my slender hands. Yet, the moment I lifted it even an inch off the ground, my strength faltered. The colossal rock mocked me silently, laughing at my weakness. I was baffled. Why had my power vanished so suddenly? My mana¡­ Wait, what happened to my mana reserves? Why was I completely drained?! Had that simple technique really consumed so much mana? "Status!" In an instant, everything went dark. Then, I found myself standing on the surface of water. My eyes were drawn to the crimson letters floating before me. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Name: Primer Age: 12 Core Level: 3 Mana Capacity: 0/1000 Just as I¡¯d suspected, using that technique had completely depleted my mana¡­ I was twelve now? The effects of my evolutionary sleep¡ªand its duration¡ªhad increased dramatically. Next time, I might sleep for twenty years? That was far too dangerous. From now on, I¡¯d have to find a safe place to evolve. Was it possible my mana capacity was much lower than I¡¯d initially thought? Ah¡­ All I could do was keep moving forward and strive for progress. Who knew? Maybe in my next breakthrough, I¡¯d achieve something even greater. With a single thought, I returned to the real world. Now, my resolve was stronger than ever. I knew I had to grow my power and push myself harder than before. After all, who knew when I might face another catastrophe like the meteor shower? I had no means to defend myself¡ªI had to prepare! --- Days passed one after another until, once again, I hit a bottleneck. Through relentless effort, I broke through it, then slipped back into evolutionary sleep. When I awoke, my body thrummed with renewed energy and strength. How exhilarating¡­ Yet, I wasn¡¯t satisfied. I wanted more. I repeated the cycle again and again, each time relishing that familiar, comforting warmth. My achievements grew alongside my progress. Now, I could project mana outside my body, shaping it into different forms. Based on my observations, mana was a unique energy¡ªone with incredible adaptability. It was unlike any other energy I¡¯d encountered, existing in its own distinct form. Of course, there might be other energies out there that functioned similarly¡­ but who knew? I certainly didn¡¯t. --- Once more, I gathered energy, preparing to break through another bottleneck. I repeated this arduous yet thrilling cycle over and over until exhaustion finally set in. I conducted countless experiments with magic, mastering various spells and inventing many techniques of my own. Gradually, I developed a habit of recording important events on the mountain cliffs¡ªlike a diary, etched not with ink, but with mana-burned markings into the stone. Chapter 7: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountains Stones (1) Chapter 7: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountain''s Stones (1) "Year 134: I finally did it! I broke through the first major capacity barrier! My core is now Level 10! But I¡¯ve realized that with each breakthrough, the duration of my evolutionary sleep grows longer. The early stages were quick and easy, but in the future, everything might change..." "Year 162: I¡¯ve been searching for my innate abilities for a long time. A few days ago, for the first time, I managed to give magic a specific form and nature¡ªmy first spell: Fire Magic. Yet, something strange happened. When I conjured those first sparks and set my pale hands ablaze, my body and soul trembled uncontrollably. An indescribable fear seized me, paralyzing me with terror. It was just simple fire magic! The flames couldn¡¯t harm me¡ªso why was I afraid? Was there even a reason? Perhaps, deep down, I¡¯m still human, and some primal instinct recoils from it. I should rest¡­ Maybe that will help." "Year 228: I¡¯ve mastered Water Magic! This truly made me happy and rekindled hope in my heart. Loneliness after all this time is agonizing¡­ so agonizing¡­ Now, even these small progressions bring me joy. Mana-created water isn¡¯t comparable to real water¡ªjust like my fire. There¡¯s no oxygen here to sustain combustion, yet Fire Magic still works. Magic can mimic the nature, state, or reactions of phenomena, embodying their traits¡­ but it can never replicate the stability or efficiency of the real thing." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Year 265: I¡¯ve acquired Ice Magic..." "Year 296: I¡¯ve discovered Light Magic..." "Year 358: I¡¯ve finally reached Level 15. The time between breakthroughs has grown drastically¡ªeach evolutionary sleep now lasts around forty years..." "Year 479: I¡¯ve created Dark Magic..." "Year 643: Molten Magic..." "Year 843: I¡¯ve obtained Explosion Magic! Yet, oddly, I felt fear and stress¡­ This sensation is too familiar¡ªexactly like when I first wielded Fire Magic. What is this dread? It¡¯s not normal! Could it be tied to my forgotten past? I don¡¯t know¡­ I know nothing..." "Year 1023: I¡¯ve reached Level 20¡­ But during my evolutionary sleep, I saw blurred faces and heard whispers. A hospital¡­ a burning bed¡­ smoke and the stench of charred flesh¡­ Why did I forget this? It¡¯s all so hazy¡ªI can¡¯t even recall their voices. What does it mean? My past? Or just a nightmare? I hate these unanswered questions¡­ Why do I always forget?" "Year 1243: Another meteor shower occurred. This time, thanks to my magical knowledge, I understood the nature of the meteors and celestial bodies. By expanding my awareness, I developed a new spell¡ªMeteor Magic!" "Year 1455: Today, several volcanoes erupted, followed by massive earthquakes. Inspired by these phenomena, I experimented and succeeded! I¡¯ve acquired Earth and Quake Magic!" "Year 2023: I¡¯ve reached Level 27..." "Year 2308: A few days ago, I found a lake! But it wasn¡¯t water¡ªit was acid¡­ Drawing inspiration from it, I created Acid Magic! And if I can wield acid, shouldn¡¯t I also devise its counter?" "Year 2345: I¡¯ve developed Alkali Magic¡­ Though I¡¯m not sure what use it has..." "Year 2708: I¡¯m so tired¡­ Tired of solitude¡­ I can only talk to myself¡­ No one else¡­ Just loneliness..." "Year 3067: I¡¯ve created Wind Magic¡­ What¡¯s even the point of writing these? I¡¯m still alone! I¡¯m losing my mind!..." "Year 3709: I fear if I stop writing these simple words, I¡¯ll go completely insane..." Time eroded Primer¡¯s human mind. Unnoticed, his psyche began to shift and evolve. Though he¡¯d lost his human body, it seemed his inner essence wouldn¡¯t remain unchanged either... Chapter 8: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountains Stones (2) Chapter 8: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountain''s Stones (2) "Year 4287: Acquired Steam Magic..." "Year 5694: Will anyone ever read these words? Will anyone know I existed? I''m truly alone..." "Year 6589: Reached Level 30... and saw another strange dream. A courtroom. Accusatory fingers pointed at me... Faces twisted in rage, eyes burning with hatred... Who am I?" "Year 7363: Shadow Magic..." "Year 7932: Heat Magic..." "Year 7959: Cold Magic..." "Year 8643: Lightning Magic..." "Year 10379: Gravity Magic..." "Year 12657: Decay Magic..." "Year 15078: Mystery layers upon mystery, and like a fool, I keep chasing the truth. Where did my core originate? What happened in my past life? What became of my family? No answers... unless I glean more from these evolutionary dreams! This is the only path to the truth..." "Year 23609: Reached Level 33... and dreamed again. I sat on a chair beside a white hospital bed where a small boy smiled at me, chattering about childish adventures. Though I smiled back, my mind wandered¡ªuntil he suddenly asked: ''Nai, are you even listening? What¡¯s on your mind? If you¡¯re just gonna stare, why visit at all?'' This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I laughed. ''Sorry, I was distracted.'' The boy raised an eyebrow. ''By what? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve got a crush?'' ''Don¡¯t be ridiculous! Heh... I brought my one and only little brother a special gift! Behold, esteemed audience!'' I opened my bag with a flourish. ''The latest edition of your favorite game¡ªMagic Throne!'' His eyes lit up as he clutched the box. I pretended to hold a microphone: ''Mr. Nova, care to share your thoughts on this tenth-birthday gift with our loyal viewers?'' After a playful pause, he grinned. ''I thank God for giving me the world¡¯s best brother. Thanks, Nai¡ªI¡¯ll treasure this! Wanna play now?'' ''Gladly! But... I don¡¯t know the rules.'' ''No problem! Look¡ªit¡¯s set on a map of a magical world called Farlance, and¡ª'' ''Farlance? "Land of Secrets"?'' ''Yes! Now let me explain, or will you keep interrupting?'' I hugged him, kissing his soft cheek¡ªthen woke abruptly. But I¡¯d reclaimed our names: Nai and Nova. Perhaps my greatest breakthrough yet..." "Year 38698: Constant hallucinations now... whispers, distorted visions... My mind fractures. My eyes see horrors. I¡¯m terrified of spiraling into madness... So utterly alone..." "Year 45908: These delusions inspired new magic: Illusion Magic, Dream Magic, Fantasy Magic, Memory Magic... Brother... perhaps these can save me from insanity..." "Year 57063: I¡¯ve uncovered a profound secret¡ªone that could revolutionize magic itself. Magic is born of imagination, so I¡¯ve begun crafting abstract spells... Maybe I can transmute memories into reality... Maybe..." "Year 69403: Spatial Magic..." "Year 87950: Time Magic..." "Year 96078: Reached Level 40... and dreamed again. I left Nova¡¯s hospital room and encountered a man in a black suit, a brown hat atop his curled hair, gripping a gray suitcase. He smiled: ''Boy, where¡¯s the ICU? Care to guide me?'' Though unnerved by his odd attire, I pointed the way. ''Why dress like that? Visitors usually wear simpler clothes...'' He chuckled. ''Visit? Oh, I¡¯m not here for that.'' ''Then why?!'' Adjusting his hat, he smirked. ''Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m here for work.'' ''Work? Are you a doctor?'' ''No. My job is... quite the opposite.'' A cold sweat drenched me. I swallowed hard and showed him the path¡ªthen woke, haunted by unanswered questions..." Chapter 9: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountains Stones (3) Chapter 9: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountain''s Stones (3) "Year 130,456: Mastered mind magic and mirage magic..." "Year 158,098: Discovered magnetism magic and current magic..." "Year 187,809: Reached Level 48. Had another dream. Saw my father watching the afternoon news... Reporter: "...Six fatalities confirmed so far. Firefighters and rescue teams are doing everything they can, but the situation remains critical..." Anchor: "Ms. Azola, could you update us on the fire''s spread? How much ground has it covered, and what''s the containment status?" Reporter: "Yes, unfortunately the blaze has expanded rapidly due to wind conditions, already consuming three small towns and several villages in the northern forest region. More emergency crews are being deployed, and winds are expected to die down by sunset, which should help slow the progression..." Anchor: "Thank you, Ms. Azola from Lairn Province. Beyond the tragic loss of life, many uninsured homes have been destroyed, leaving survivors in limbo. We now go to Governor Freemoor for..." My father sighed deeply, his eyes distant. He''d been a firefighter once¡ªbefore PTSD forced him out. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "Dad, why do you keep watching this? It only upsets you!" He gave me that tired smile, the one that never reached his eyes. "Sometimes I think fire''s the only escape from pain... But you wouldn''t understand, Nai. I hope you never do." Even broken, he still tried to protect me with dark humor. I never grasped his meaning... Maybe I never will... The dream faded." --- "Year 210,784: Developed sound magic..." "Year 245,042: Mastered wave magic..." "Year 287,456: Unlocked metal magic..." "Year 309,886: Reached Level 56. Dreamed of Mother reading to Nova... Every night, she''d tell my little brother stories¡ªscience-fiction tales woven with magic. Her gentle voice belied the exhaustion of her hospital shifts. What kept her going? Our family was a catalog of wounds: Father''s PTSD, Nova''s rare blood disease requiring weekly transfusions, my crippling social anxiety... "There are worlds where pain is just a story... Maybe you''ll build your own someday." Nova''s eyes widened. "Like video games?" Mother''s mysterious smile. "Not quite. You''d get to make the rules. Now¡ªwhere was I? Ah yes. The dark god boasted that he''d forged all creation, that dominion was his right. The hero, enraged, challenged him..." "What happened next? Did the hero win?" Nova bounced impatiently. "With the Sunblade, he struck down the god and restored light to mankind," Mother concluded, "then ruled as a wise king..." Nova clapped. "Awesome! But I wish he hadn''t killed the mountain dragon!" "Why?" Mother blinked. "Because dragons are cool!" he declared. I scoffed. "Cool? A glorified lizard with no fire breath?" Nova grinned. "But its will to survive was epic! Even with all his powers, the hero barely won!" Mother watched us banter, then kissed our foreheads. The dream ended¡ªtoo soon, as always. A shallow tale with flat characters... yet Nova''s joy was real. Not from the story, but from sharing it with us. Are shared joys the only true ones? ...I still don''t know." Chapter 10: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountains Stone (4) Chapter 10: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountain''s Stone (4) "Year 345,278: What truly is self-awareness? Is it merely knowing one''s name, age, location, desires and aspirations? No¡ªthat''s but a fraction of it... For centuries I''ve pondered this simple concept in my solitude. What is consciousness? Do you know what conclusion I''ve reached? Nothing... I know nothing... It''s difficult to explain. Have you ever wondered why we can recognize ourselves? Why when we look in a mirror, we can say ''These are my thoughts''? It''s all because of self-awareness... To be self-aware is to comprehend both the internal and external. But what does that mean? That we simultaneously inhabit two distinct worlds¡ªone within us, and one outside our vessel. How well do I truly know myself?..." --- "Year 378,904: Reached Level 63. Another dream of my past surfaced¡ªthis time of an explosion at the hospital where my mother worked as a nurse... where my brother was being treated... After giving directions to that strange man, I''d run outside to avoid further involvement. Then¡ªthe deafening blast. Screams erupted as people fled or froze in horror. Some simply stared wide-eyed at the inferno. "What happened?!" "Mom¡ªno! My mother''s in there!" "Someone call the fire department!" Their voices barely registered. I stood transfixed, watching flames consume the building. "Mother... Brother... What have I done?!" Frantic footsteps approached from behind. Before I could react¡ª "Nai! Are you hurt? Where''s your mother and¡ª" My father''s panicked eyes scanned the crowd. When he found no trace of them, he clenched his jaw, staring at the fire with grim understanding. Though no longer a firefighter (his PTSD had seen to that), he knew charging in unprepared wasn''t bravery¡ªit was suicide. Yet as the fire spread, hope dwindled... Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Then¡ªagainst all reason¡ªhe ran toward the blaze. My outstretched hand grasped only air as I cursed my own cowardice. People leapt from windows, bones snapping on impact¡ªthe lucky ones. When firefighters arrived five minutes later, I prayed desperately... but my worst nightmare came true. They never emerged... Waking, I found tear tracks on my cheeks. I wept until no tears remained..." --- "Year 460,983: Reached Level 70. Dreamed again¡ª The gavel''s strike silenced the courtroom. The aged judge sighed: "This tribunal concerning the Arnia Central Hospital incident is now in session. Defendant Nai Ergon stands accused of negligent complicity. Jury, hear his testimony." The prosecutor''s voice was flint: "Eighty-seven innocents perished. Does no responsibility fall to the one who guided the killer? Security footage shows the defendant fleeing upon realizing the terrorist''s intent¡ªproof enough of guilty knowledge!" Head bowed, I whispered: "You''re right... I failed. Fear paralyzed me. If I could turn back time¡ª" A bereaved widower interrupted, shaking: "My wife burned alive because of you! Will your regret bring her back? Damn you and that devil you helped!" The judge slammed his gavel. "Order! Justice will be served¡ª" "Justice?!" The man''s eyes bulged. "My wife''s dead and this bastard plays victim? To hell with your court!" As guards dragged him out, my lawyer appealed: "Condemning this traumatized seventeen-year-old helps no one. He couldn''t have known¡ª" The judge fixed me with piercing eyes: "For the last time¡ªdo you confess?" I stared at my shock-collar restraints before meeting his gaze. "Confess? To showing a killer the way? Yes. But I never¡ª" The prosecutor smashed his fists on the table: "You were the only one who saw him! The only one who could''ve stopped him!" Trembling with rage, I shouted: "And what would you have done? I was just a socially anxious teen¡ªnot some hero!" "Silence!" The gavel cracked like gunshot. My lawyer intervened: "Your Honor, my client suffered severe shock. Punishing a victim helps no¡ª" A juror¡ªa grieving mother¡ªhissed: "Victim? My daughter was a nurse! Now she''s ashes in an urn!" Tears streamed down my face as I roared: "I didn''t want this! Blame that man, not me! I just¡ª" The prosecutor''s icy words cut deeper than any blade: "You just watched. You just survived." Something in me shattered. Screaming, I bashed my forehead against the defendant''s table¡ªonce, twice¡ªas the courtroom erupted. Blood splattered the wood as guards restrained me. Through manic laughter and sobs, I wheezed: "Yes... I''m guilty... Not of what you think... My sin is breathing... while they don''t... Heh...heh..." Darkness took me. Now, after millennia, those memories have sharpened¡ªyet crucial pieces remain missing. I don''t blame those people for their rage. When tragedy strikes, the masses always need someone to burn..." Chapter 11: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountains Stones (5) Chapter 11: Memories Carved into the Heart of the Mountain''s Stones (5) "Year 563,219: Sleep... a gateway to past memories and future anxieties... Inspired by my dreams, I''ve created a new magic¡ªNightmare Magic. Until now, all the magic I developed was foundational, not true sorcery. There exist advanced magics formed by combining basic spells¡ªI call these ''High Magic.''" "Year 598,402: I was right, yet I uncovered a bitter truth. By fusing compatible spells, I learned to reshape magic into new forms of enchantment. Progress seemed flawless¡ªuntil I cast them. These High Magics demand terrible costs beyond mana: - Memory loss - Physical decay - Emotional numbness - Mental instability - Even lifespan reduction How do I know? I feel them gnawing at my being. This revelation forced caution. Further research showed even basic magic carries such risks¡ªmilder, yes, but ever-present with overuse. My view of magic has changed forever. Magic is no toy. It''s a double-edged sword, blind to friend or foe, and its price can be ruinous..." --- "Year 637,217: Reached Level 79. After ages, another dream... My psychiatrist, Dr. Arn, sat across from me reviewing notes. After three minutes, he looked up with weary eyes. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ''Take these pills. They''ll ease the pain. Our next¡ª'' ''I won''t be coming back.'' The room turned leaden as his piercing gaze held mine. ''Nai, don''t make rash¡ª'' ''Rash?'' My voice cracked. ''I decided long ago. What''s the point? These... these are just numbing lies! Tell me, Doctor¡ªwhy does the net paint me as some mastermind? As if... as if shadows conspire to frame me! Why won''t anyone see the truth?! I lost my family too! Who do I blame?!'' Dr. Arn removed his glasses, rubbing his temples. ''I know you''re innocent. But public minds feast on conspiracy. In weeks, they''ll forget. There''s still¡ª'' ''No.'' I whispered. ''I''m no hero chasing villains in the dark. My life... it only mattered because of them. Without them... I shouldn''t exist.'' The dream dissolved. I''m so tired... so alone..." --- "Year 676,084: I''ve devised a new magical system to mitigate High Magic''s toll. Research revealed language shapes magic profoundly. Naming spells and vocalizing incantations reduces backlash by 30%. Thus, I created a new tongue¡ª''Ilhari''¡ªits grammar mirroring my native language. The name means nothing; it''s borrowed from Magic Throne, that game Nova loved... I still dwell on the past. The mountain slopes now glitter with my enchanted carvings. Ordinary etchings would''ve eroded eons ago, but these glow at night and regenerate when I channel magic into them. Yet nothing lasts forever... One day, this mountain too shall crumble." "Year 692,084: The northern face of this damned mountain has become my parchment. Over centuries, I''ve covered every inch of its obsidian surface with glowing Ilhari runes - each character painstakingly burned into the stone with concentrated mana. The runes pulse faintly at night, casting eerie blue shadows across the sulfur plains below. During meteor showers, their light intensifies as if responding to the celestial violence. The mountain itself rebels against my work. Toxic rains eat at the stone, and quakes regularly shake loose entire sections of carvings. I''ve reinforced key passages with preservation spells, creating a lattice of protective energy that hums when touched. The oldest carvings - those from my first millennia - now require constant maintenance. Their glow has dimmed to near invisibility, like dying embers. Yesterday, an entire panel sheared off during a particularly violent tremor. Three centuries of observations about stellar magic patterns - gone in an instant. I stood there for hours, watching the rubble tumble down the mountainside, each broken fragment winking out as it fell. This planet is determined to erase me..." --- "Year 742,793: Reached Level 85. The final memory surfaced... I remembered throwing myself into the river. And at last... I understood the whispers..." Chapter 12: The River of Time – A Gateway to Past, Present, and Future Chapter 12: The River of Time ¨C A Gateway to Past, Present, and Future "Come to me... Come to me... Come to me..." A terrifying whisper echoed through my mind, shaking my very soul. The voice was feminine, reverberating like an echo through mountains¡ªstrangely familiar yet inexplicable. When I awoke, my mind cleared as vast knowledge flooded into me¡ªunderstanding of time''s true nature. Indescribable in words, beyond mortal comprehension. "She''s calling me... to the past... But how?" For years I studied this knowledge, debating whether to accept the mysterious summons. Finally, despite the risks, I answered. With my newfound understanding, I crafted a new High Magic. Kneeling on the scorched earth, I began carving with mana-soaked hands¡ªa massive circle first, then twelve equidistant lines, each marked with a number. In Ilhari script, I sang praises to time itself: "O thou whose nature transcends mortal grasp, O unseen truth of this world, O that which tongues cannot utter, O eternal and everlasting existence¡ª Hear my plea, obey my command! I seek to walk the path of time. I offer my mana, I pay its price. I shall not err, nor alter the world''s lifespan..." The more reverent the incantation, the lesser the backlash. Primer stood at the center of his glowing clockwork array, closed his eyes, and uttered the spell''s true name: The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "Zhisai Atraim (Guest of Time)." As the final mana surged into the formation, earth and sky trembled. The fabric of reality tore as darkness swallowed everything¡ªincluding me. For a terrifying moment, I thought the spell had failed, that the cost would be my annihilation. But then¡ª I was plunged into an endless river. Its waters were not water, but liquid time itself¡ªgolden as honey yet fluid as air. Unholdable. Unstoppable. It carried me forward relentlessly, permitting no resistance against its flow. Then¡ªa rock. A single protrusion breaking the current. A one-in-a-thousand chance. I fought with all my strength, clawing through the temporal tides until¡ª "At last... progress." I clung to the stone, gasping. --- Meanwhile: The Heavenly Court''s Downfall "Li Yuanhao! Today marks your end!" An elder with flowing white beard shouted. "Surrender, and we''ll grant you a merciful death!" To everyone''s shock, Li Yuanhao laughed like a demon, baring razor-sharp teeth. "Old fool, you think I''d waver? I, the Supreme Devil of this era? Your ''righteous'' court is full of backstabbing vermin! Don''t speak of mercy¡ªyou don''t even know what death truly is!" Twenty kilometers away, a crimson-robed Taoist drew his steel bow. The arrow¡ªperfected over centuries¡ªignited as he pulled the string to its limit. Whoosh! The projectile streaked like a bloody meteor toward Li Yuanhao. A strike that would cripple even peak masters. Yet Li Yuanhao''s grin widened. His right hand flashed¡ªa celestial blade of qi slashing outward. The gathered masters paled as they felt it¡ªthe aura of an Immortal. The arrow vaporized instantly. The blade continued toward the archer. Shu Xuan, the Southern Border''s guardian, barely activated his defenses in time. Crimson shields materialized in layers¡ªyet all shattered. His reforged steel bow cracked under the impact, sending him plummeting like a broken bird. Gasps erupted: "Shu Xuan... defeated in one strike?!" "An Immortal?! Since when?!" Li Yuanhao''s mad laughter shook the heavens. "This is just the beginning of this cursed world''s reckoning!" His sword left its sheath¡ªplunging the world into darkness. The elder, Huan Ming, barely reacted in time. His treasure¡ªthe Golden Bell of Time¡ªopened a rift to the River of Time, swallowing part of the attack before collapsing. Blood dripped from Huan Ming''s teeth as he snarled: "You monster..." Li Yuanhao licked his lips. "Your despair tastes exquisite." --- Back in the River of Time As Primer rested on the rock, he peered into the temporal waters¡ªwitnessing countless lives, histories, and worlds unfolding simultaneously. This place is astonishing... Entire universes visible in its flow. Different realms. Different laws. Different¡ª "Huh?!" A blinding white blade erupted from the river, hurtling toward him. Are you kidding me?! I just found this rock! "BOOM!" The stone shattered. Damn whoever caused this misfortune¡ª Primer was swallowed by the currents once more. Chapter 13: Can a Rooster Be Insane? Of Course It Can! Chapter 13: Can a Rooster Be Insane? Of Course It Can! At first, I was utterly confused. There had been no negative backlash from the time spell¡ªor so I''d thought until being plunged into the river. Now I understood the price I''d paid. I''d lost my luck! Hopefully temporarily, but who could predict such things? Luck was notoriously fickle... I swam desperately when suddenly¡ªsomething yanked me under. A fish. A massive crimson fish with jaws like a demon''s maw. "What kind of creature is this?! Fish or shark?! Get that disgusting gaze away from me, devil! I didn''t come all this way to become fish breakfast!" I kicked its head with my free leg, sending it spinning away¡ªonly for it to return with vengeance. "In this state, time travel is impossible unless... Wait! Heh, I can use this fish." As it lunged, I pressed my palm to its scaly forehead: "Be mine, O mindless fool! O wretched beast! Your body mine, your soul mine, your mind mine! Become my unquestioning slave, O miserable creature!" "Mind Slave!" The fish shuddered violently. Its predatory glare transformed into dopey devotion. Where it once saw prey, it now saw its rightful master. The mana cost varied¡ªthe Time Guest spell consumed 1% of my reserves, while simpler spells like Mind Veil were negligible. But Mind Slave was High Magic, and all High Magic carried risks. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Fortunately, the backlash was minimal when enslaving simple creatures. There was just one problem... My stolen luck had exacted its toll. The minor backlash erased my purpose for entering the river. "I... why am I here? I came to the River of Time... but why? Why can''t I remember?" The fish happily embraced me, offering itself as a mount. As we dove deeper, I scanned the temporal currents desperately. "Damn these spell side effects! Of all times to forget something so crucial! I never expected bad luck to be this potent..." Luck was a terrifying force that bowed only to those with true Destiny. Unpredictable where Destiny was absolute. Perhaps... I could use this opportunity to develop new High Magic based on Luck and Destiny? My musings were interrupted by a thunderous crowing. Before me loomed a rooster. Not just any rooster¡ªa monstrous, rainbow-plumed fiend with a blood-red comb, talons the size of human arms, and a gleaming golden beak. "You''ve got to be joking... A giant rooster in a time river?!" The beast''s murderous gaze locked onto me. Its beak snapped ominously as it charged¡ªon foot. Unlike me, native creatures could move freely here. "Swim! Opposite direction! NOW!" I commanded my fish. Though smaller, my mount was thankfully swift. Yet the rooster''s speed turned my already pale complexion ghostly white. This bastard means to kill me! Damn it all¡ª Gritting nonexistent teeth, I incanted: "May no peer catch my ally in these waters, May my foes never match his speed, May the waves embrace him as their beloved." "Ocean''s Darling!" The speed-boosting High Magic consumed 100,000 mana units. Through experimentation, I''d learned that mastering spells reduced their backlash¡ªbut my current luck had other plans. My left arm went numb from the backlash. Damn this cursed misfortune! The enhanced fish shot forward, leaving the rooster behind¡ªuntil an enraged crow echoed through the temporal flow. The insane bird had doubled its speed! "You stubborn bastard! I''ll carve you into pieces and feed you to my fish!" Just as the rooster closed in, a colossal white serpent materialized from nowhere. It coiled around the shrieking bird, dragging it into the abyss. My fish and I stared at where it vanished. This place is a madhouse! I need to leave¡ª Then I saw it through the currents: an explosion. The memory I''d sought. "I... I found it! I''m going home!"