Liu Ming looked at Kael with a faint smile. "So, you finally killed that creature," he said, his voice calm yet carrying a trace of approval.
Kael nodded, exhaling deeply. "Yeah… but it felt different. Like I wasn't in control." He shook his head, trying to shake off the memory. Then, his eyes caught the breathtaking expanse of the mountain range before them. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder. "I've never seen anything like this before!"
Liu Ming chuckled softly. "You really don't know much about the world, do you?"
Kael glanced at him, his curiosity piqued. "Guess not. What's out there?"
Liu Ming moved to the edge of the cliff and sat down, motioning for Kael to join him. As they both gazed at the endless peaks, Liu Ming began.
"Listen carefully. The world is divided into seven domains. Each domain represents a different class, known as the Annacar Class." He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Seven domains? What's the difference between them?" Kael asked, leaning forward.
"The first domain is the weakest," Liu Ming explained, "where the most powerless individuals reside. As you climb higher, the power and strength of its people increase. The higher the domain, the more dangerous it becomes."
Kael nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So, what domain are we in?"
"The first," Liu Ming replied, his tone neutral.
"Can we travel to the upper domains?" Kael asked, intrigued.
"There are ways," Liu Ming said. "The portals we've been using are basic—just tools for traveling between planets. But there are special portals that lead to the upper domains. Of course, there are other means too, though not all of them are safe."
Kael frowned. "And how strong are the beings in the upper domains?"
Liu Ming's expression turned serious. "A normal citizen in the second domain is a thousand times stronger than one in the first. Survival up there isn't easy."
Kael's eyes widened. "So, if we went to the second domain now…"
"We'd be dead within hours," Liu Ming said bluntly.
Kael sighed. "That's… not comforting."
"Don't misunderstand," Liu Ming continued. "Everyone in these domains possesses a power known as Chakar. It's a manifestation of their inner self. The people of the upper domains might have an easier time mastering it, but that doesn't mean they're unbeatable."
Kael was silent for a moment, then asked, "What's your goal, Liu Ming?"
Liu Ming gazed at the horizon, his voice soft but resolute. "I want to achieve immortality. To gain ultimate wisdom and surpass all boundaries."
Kael smiled faintly. "Immortality, huh? Well, looks like it's going to be a long journey following you."
The two sat in silence, the wind whispering around them. Just as Kael was about to speak again, a faint shimmer caught his eye—a strange, golden aura flickering far below in the valley.
"Did you see that?" Kael asked, pointing toward the valley floor.
Liu Ming's eyes narrowed. "Yes. That's not normal." Without hesitation, he grabbed Kael by the arm and leapt off the cliff, descending rapidly toward the valley.
The descent was exhilarating, the wind roaring past them. The valley seemed endless, its depth cloaked in shadows. As they neared the bottom, the air grew colder, and the aura became more pronounced, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Finally, they landed on the valley floor, surrounded by jagged rocks and a strange, eerie silence. In the center of the clearing stood a massive cocoon, its surface pulsating with a faint golden glow.
Kael stared in awe. "What… is that?"
Before Liu Ming could answer, a voice echoed through the valley, faint but desperate.
"Help me…"