{Where should I look for an exit? The forest is so vast that searching it could take months. And what exactly is meant by an "exit"?}
Delia pondered, staring at the waterfall. Then she remembered one of her colleagues telling a story, complaining that behind the waterfall, there had been neither a treasure chest nor a secret passage.
{It can't be, right? But what's stopping me from checking?}
Diving into the lake and swimming behind the waterfall, she discovered a passage where the water from the lake flowed.
{…}
Some time later…
{In the end, I must encounter a powerful enemy, right? It can't be that simple…}
Walking through the tunnel, Delia thought to herself until she reached a door. As she reached out, the door opened on its own. Beyond it was the familiar white room with a red throne, and a man dressed in white sitting upon it.
{…}
«Clap, clap»
Clapping his hands with a smile, he said:
— Congratulations on successfully completing the trial!
— Of course, thanks. But what about the hostages? Will you release them? — Delia demanded.
— Look, — he pointed to a screen that had appeared, — they're already home. Don't worry about Viktor; he's just sleeping.
On the screen, she saw four children surrounded by family members, and Viktor lying on a bed in his apartment.
— Fine, I'll trust you this time, — she said to herself.
{As if I really had a choice.}
— Excellent. Now, back to the trial. Do you have any opinions about it? — he asked, resting his face in his hand.
Seeing how comfortably he was seated on the throne, prepared for conversation, and noticing there were no other seats, she simply sat on the floor. He continued watching her expectantly.
— I'll say this: I truly enjoyed the fight, and now I feel like this was the hidden reason I became a police officer. But perhaps that's not the point right now. The trial, yes—the encounter with a living corpse scared me a bit, and those "fairies" shattered all my preconceptions about them. As for the final battle, honestly, it was disappointing—it was too easy. Before finding the exit, I expected to face something dangerous and powerful, but nothing happened, — she shared her thoughts, though her words ended in disappointment.
— Ha-ha, you're right; it is indeed disappointing. I didn't expect you to become so strong. This battle should have been incredibly difficult for you. But as it turned out… the combination of my technique and a Supreme Human works wonders, and that's wonderful, — the sage said, his voice full of joy.
— Your technique? You created it? — the girl asked in surprise.
— Yes, and I also refined myself using this method. But it turns out my body, that of an Indestructible Saint, wasn't so indestructible, and I couldn't become a deity. My body simply couldn't handle that much power and collapsed. Even my soul nearly vanished, leaving only this fragment, which I used to create this trial. Millennia passed until someone finally appeared who could cultivate my technique and achieve what I could not—to become a deity.
Though Xianzhe spoke of his failure, a smile never left his face; he was genuinely happy.
Placing her axe on the ground and pushing it away, she calmly and emotionlessly asked:— So you gave me a technique that theoretically could kill me at some point?
— Explaining why that won't happen will take some time. It's hard to imagine, but for hundreds of millions, perhaps even billions of years, the Supreme Human was considered a myth, a legend. While other races had Supremes, we humans did not. Our legends of them were a joke. Many years ago, I managed to find a record—just a fragment—mentioning their power, unmatched by any divine physique or lineage. And it included a name: Renmin Huangdi, the Human Emperor.
After my failure, I resolved to find the Supreme Human, or fade into nothingness. And then you ask: "How did you know I am a Supreme Human if no one has ever seen one?" I'll answer: The text mentioning the Human Emperor was inscribed on a special crystal. The moment you came into contact with it, it reacted. Previously, no matter how many humans I tested it on, nothing happened. My trial only confirmed my confidence that you truly are a Supreme Human. Now, understanding your uniqueness, do you still doubt you can master this technique? — he concluded his story with a question.
Stunned by the enormity of the information, Delia didn't immediately answer. Her head spun; it all seemed so unreal she half-thought she was dreaming. But she knew it was not a dream. Her instincts told her the Sage was truthful. Regarding the danger of the technique, deep down, she felt capable. These feelings were difficult to explain, but they were real.
Taking a deep breath, she said:— I think I can handle it. But I still have questions.
— Fine, ask, — he said approvingly.
— From your story, I understand you're over a thousand years old. How is that possible? — she asked.
— Perfecting oneself increases lifespan, — he replied.
— Uh-huh. Second question: these visions and heightened intuition, what are they?
— I mentioned divine bodies and special lineages. Being a Supreme Human doesn't mean you lack them. Understand?
— So I have a divine body?
— Yes. It ranks 98th among the top 100 physiques and lineages, called the Physique of Divine Truth.
— 98th? How many are there in total, and which is first?
— Isn't it more interesting to discover that yourself? Any more questions?
— Okay, last question. What now?
— And now! — his voice filled with solemnity as he rose from the throne — it's time to wake up.
Immediately after his words, her eyes blurred, the sounds disappeared, and everything slowly wrapped in darkness.
Aisi Continent, Northern Region
In the Twelve Wings Alliance, in the city of Forest Gates, a fifteen-year-old girl awoke from a strange dream in a small inn room.
Sitting on the bed, she felt a slight dissonance. Old memories, once erased, began to overlay new ones. The boundary between dream and reality seemed blurred, throwing her mind into chaos.
Closing her eyes, she began to breathe deeply, trying to calm herself. After ten minutes, her thoughts settled. Opening her eyes, she looked at her hands and saw the black crystal she had found the day before in the forest.
— So this is the crystal he was talking about… Now I understand why it's called the Path of Death. Delia Hatfield's life has ended. Now I am simply Delia again.
Before she could fully process this, a familiar voice echoed in her mind:
— Some things have become clear, haven't they?
— You could say that… But now I have new questions, — she replied into the emptiness.
— Naturally. I wish I had time to answer them.
— Why not? What's happening?
— My remaining soul, sealed within this crystal, will soon disperse. It cannot be stopped.
— It lasted thousands of years, and now, upon finding me, it vanishes immediately?
— My obsession allowed me to reach this moment. But now, having fulfilled my mission, I can finally rest. I believe a great future awaits you. I hope you will remember the name XueXin Xianzhe.
The voice faded, giving Delia no chance to reply. She felt the crystal in her hand crumble into dust and dissolve into the air.
She sat silently for a while, processing what had happened. She did not feel grief at his "death." Delia wondered if he had ever truly been alive. They had barely met, yet even so, she felt respect for him.
— His actions will change my life, — she thought gratefully.
Rising from the bed, Delia washed at a basin of water. Feeling refreshed, she looked into the mirror.
In the reflection was a fifteen-year-old girl. Her face still looked haggard: slightly sunken cheeks, cracked lips. Yet her eyes, bright and expressive, blue as the sky, captivated attention like celestial jewels. Perfectly shaped eyebrows highlighted her delicate features, and her proportional nose added grace.
Her short hair, though unevenly cut, accentuated the elegant line of her neck. She was tall for her age but extremely thin from constant undernourishment. Despite this, her face radiated a mysterious, almost captivating beauty, veiled by fatigue and deprivation.
— Strange… I seem to look better. And taller. Although my mind is still a mess. Maybe I'm imagining things. Let's see.
She focused, letting her inner energy circulate, feeling her power reach the second Mortal level.
— Perfect.
Smiling, Delia began preparing to leave.
Fifteen minutes later, she was ready. She wore her work attire: a worn gray tunic, patched pants, and sturdy leather boots. Over her tunic was a leather jacket with a hood—a recent successful purchase. The jacket was far better than her old clothes and gave her a bit of confidence.
Checking her backpack, she opened her room door with ease and descended the creaky stairs to the tavern on the first floor. In the spacious, slightly dilapidated hall were dozens of tables, only a few occupied. Behind the bar, Maria, the twenty-year-old daughter of the owner, busied herself. She spotted Delia and waved cheerfully.
— Hey, sleepyhead! It's noon, and you just got up, — Maria smiled.
— Hi, — Delia yawned, sitting at the counter. — I must have been exhausted yesterday; barely managed to wake up.
— You need more rest! Always working.
— You and Mister Dero gave me food and shelter. I'm not going to freeload.
— But you can allow yourself a break sometimes, right?
— Fine, — Delia nodded, unwilling to argue.
— Great! Since you're obedient, you deserve a reward, — Maria said with a mysterious smile and vanished into the kitchen.
Minutes later, she returned with a plate of soup, steam tickling Delia's nose.
— Here you go! It's made from the fish you caught yesterday. Hot and delicious. Enjoy!
— Thanks, — Delia accepted gratefully, eating slowly, savoring the warmth. Noticing the empty tables, she asked Maria:
— It's noon, yet no customers. How come?
— Forgot? Today is the first day of the city tournament for martial arts. The whole city will be there. I'd go too, but someone has to watch the inn. Are you going?
— No, — Delia shook her head. — I dislike crowds. I'll probably go to the forest to gather my thoughts.
— Something wrong? — Maria asked, concerned.
— No, just want some quiet.
— Alright, but be careful, okay?
— Of course, — Delia nodded.
Finishing her soup, she thanked her friend, pulled up her hood, and left the tavern, waving goodbye.
Delia noticed commotion at the city gates. People were gathered, loudly discussing something. Listening carefully, she realized it was about a kidnapping. This did not interest her much, and soon she left the city.
The city of Forest Gates was not named for nothing: just a ten-minute walk from it lay the vast Shensi Forest. This forest was an important resource hub, but it also hid countless dangers. Magical beasts and bloodthirsty bandits—everyone knew that stepping too far into the forest could be fatal. To protect trade routes and citizens, a mercenary guild had been established, also taking on various missions.
One such mission recently brought Delia luck. She had managed to catch a rare carp for a wealthy noble, delivering it alive and receiving ten gold coins. She immediately gave half to Mister Dero as payment for three and a half years of shelter. The remaining money went toward a new jacket, a dagger, and other small needs.
Ensuring her dagger was secure in an inner pocket, Delia ventured deeper into the forest, navigating by the markers she had left on the trees. After forty minutes, she reached her favorite spot—a wide riverbank splitting the forest in two.
Today, she planned to spend some time relaxing there. She set up two fishing rods, attaching small bells to them, and sat on the soft grass. Her gaze drifted along the river's current, her thoughts wandering through memories.
The morning "dream" troubled her. It left a strange aftertaste. Delia tried to recall the years she had lived within it, but everything was hazy, like a fog. Only the last few months of the "dream" remained clear. Faces she had considered family and friends began fading from memory. She could no longer recall their names or even describe exactly who they were.
{They existed… but who exactly?} she wondered, feeling a slight unease.
Memories of life in this strange world slipped away like sand through her fingers. Delia stared at the rippling reflection of the sky in the water. The wind lightly stirred her hair, and the faint jingling of the fishing bells brought her back to reality.
{Perhaps it's for the best. After all, it was only a dream, right?} she thought, though the uneasy feeling lingered.
After sitting a while, her enhanced hearing picked up sounds deeper in the forest. Moving as silently as possible, Delia headed toward them. They led her to a clearing, where hiding behind a bush, she observed the following scene.
Two men, looking like typical bandits, were leading a bound girl deeper into the forest. She appeared around sixteen, dressed as a noble. Her snow-white hair stood out strikingly. Immediately, Delia remembered the commotion at the city gates about the kidnapping.
{So it was them… What…}
Her thoughts were interrupted by a quarrel between the bandits. Stopping, the first man said to the second:
— Maybe we should…
— No, don't even start. This is a gift for the boss; you want to stay in his good graces.
— Yes, I do. But I've only seen such beautiful ones as objects, and that only a few times. Let's do it carefully; the boss won't even notice.
— And if he does?
— Even if he notices, we'll say we caught her like this. She's still beautiful. The boss will be pleased.
— I guess you're right. Then who goes first?
— I'll let you go first since you agreed.
— Great. Ha-ha-ha.
Having reached mutual agreement, the second bandit approached the girl, forced her to the ground, and began slowly and carefully removing her clothes. The girl's resistance was useless; she was too weak against an adult man.
{Damn, they're going to rape her. They're not very bright — doing this in an open clearing, not far from the city, thinking the boss won't know. As if the girl won't fight back or tell anyone.
Well, whatever, I need to help her. My instincts tell me they're no threat. Ha-ha-ha, now they'll learn what pain really is.}
But Delia had barely taken a few steps toward them when she witnessed an incredible sight.