"Papa—get behind me."
From the dust and debris, a figure flashed forward.
Crimson light ignited.
A hand shot out—
BAM!
Palm met chitin.
The sun's crimson rays refracted across the hardened surface, scattering like blood-red glass.
"Die."
"Disgusting worm."
Light flared.
Strike after strike—
Each one shaking the void.
The air recoiled.
The wind howled.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
At last—
A crack formed.
A guttural roar tore through the battlefield.
Rrrrr—
A massive tail swept outward as a ten-meter centipede launched forward.
"EXTERMINATE!"
Li Mu stood amidst the chaos.
His racing heart slowly calmed.
His gaze shifted—
Li Chen.
Li Qian.
Both lay unconscious.
Caught in the aftermath.
He inhaled deeply… then exhaled.
Steady.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Ahead, the battle continued, tearing apart what remained of the palace.
Bathed in crimson light, Li Mu turned his gaze outward—
Toward the sea of clouds.
"Who knew my life would take such a turn…"
"Twenty miles from home… and yet—no melancholy."
His eyes drifted downward.
To the figures scattered across the ground.
The people who tormented his childhood.
Broken.
Silent.
A faint hiss.
Light struck his eyes—
A shattered blade reflecting the suns crimson rays.
"Sometimes… our worst mistakes are made in the quiet of our own hearts."
He stepped forward.
The sun cast a long shadow behind him.
Dust fell—
Turning gold in the light.
Behind him—
A purple-haired woman and a monstrous centipede clashed for dominance.
Before him—
His siblings.
His tormentors.
And yet—
Blood was thicker than water.
His hand fell.
Crack.
Reality fractured.
Lines spread across his vision—
AlmostLike.....
Error.
Erro—ror.
SHUT DOWN.
SEQUENCE INTER—
Override… complete.
A blue screen flashed.
Darkness swallowed everything.
The world dissolved into digital fragments.
"Welcome back… Seventh Young Master."
Beep.
Beep.
Beeeeeeep—
Flash.
.....
DISTRICT SECTOR A24
A luxurious room.
At its center—
A futuristic pod rested within a pool of violet liquid.
Swoosh—
The pod opened.
Inside—
A young man.
Crimson-red hair. Pale skin. Cherry lips.
Unclothed.
Perfectly still.
Click.
The door opened.
A maid entered, carrying folded robes.
"The young master has completed his trial."
"The clan truly spared no expense this year…"
She hummed softly.
Time passed.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
Within them—
Crystallized blood-like gems flickered.
Li Mu stared ahead.
Confusion filled his face.
He turned—
Meeting a pair of bright, mischievous eyes.
"Young Master, you're finally awake."
"I am Serene. I will answer any questions you have."
Li Mu blinked slowly.
Trying to process—
Anything.
"What… happened to the palace… the Li Clan…"
"My siblings… what… what changed?"
He stepped out—
And immediately collapsed.
His body trembled.
Weak.
Serene rushed forward, catching him gently and guiding him onto a nearby sofa.
Two hours later.
"So… you're saying…"
"I'm in a place called the Main World."
"I belong to the prestigious Li Clan… and I just completed a talent awakening ceremony."
Serene nodded enthusiastically.
Li Mu exhaled slowly.
So this was real.
"…my siblings?"
The most important question.
The one he couldn't ignore.
Because if they were real—
Then he would finish what he started.
Serene hesitated briefly.
"Yes. They're alive."
"They're currently resting in their rooms, attended by other maids."
A flicker passed through Li Mu's eyes.
Sharp.
Gone in an instant.
"You should rest, Young Master," Serene said gently. "The elders will summon you soon."
She helped him onto a massive bed.
Bowed.
And left.
Click.
Silence.
"Main World…"
He sighed.
"I hope I'm not hallucinating."
He turned toward the wall-sized window.
Outside—
A sprawling futuristic city stretched into the horizon.
Ships carved through the sky.
A colossal citadel pierced the heavens—
As if holding the world together.
A neon billboard flickered.
Each word burned into his mind.
"Man cries to God… God ignores."
"Man builds to God… God ignores."
"Man slaughters…"
A pause.
"Judgment descends.