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“I had heard about the [Mask of Coexistence] through Subori in the past training world.”

“Specifically, there are three conditions that occur: dominance, destruction, and coexistence.”

“What is coexistence?”

“It’s a rare phenomenon where the mask and its counterpart agree to share power while maintaining their individual selves. In this case, their strength becomes exponentially amplified and significantly stronger.”

“Ananda. As far as I know, he possesses the only mask of Nirvana in the entire universe.”

Subori only mentioned Ananda when he was explaining the types of masks, and it was clear he found the topic uncomfortable. I didn’t pry further back then, but now it made sense.

‘I never expected it to be this strong…’

Subori, who had trained himself to the point of being an expert who could stand against the Jade Emperor, was still a measly owner of power compared to the Nirvana mask and Ananda. It was clear that Subori had surpassed Ananda at one point, but now felt inferior, making Ananda a touchy subject for him.

Yet, for this reason, I didn’t want to lose this power struggle. I don’t know where this monster emerged from, but I was equally proud to be a reborn person.

I glared at Ananda and said, “Are you crazy? Why are you asking me blasphemous questions about the Blessed One?”

Before Ananda could reply, I shouted, “Subori said the Blessed One is not a god! The law and the cycle of emptiness make up the Buddha, hence he’s a being comparable to an Outer God. How is invading such a relic blasphemous to the Blessed One? Are you saying the [Great Cycle] is that insignificant?!!”

“…”

At my shout, Ananda’s eyes burned eerily from within the mask, filled with hostility but initially softened by a hint of tranquility. After a brief silence, he replied.

“Subori really didn’t explain the important part.”

“What?”

“The human form of the Blessed One and that which transcended him, the [Cycle], are distinctly different. I will not punish you for blasphemy against the [Great Cycle], but against the Blessed One.”

“…?!

This guy is really twisting things!!

I was about to retort, but Ananda continued.

“Everything in this world is a fake god, a fake spirit, a fake construct. The most blasphemous existence is you, who keeps churning out lies. Accept your end here.”

Clack!

From Ananda’s hand came a strange sound, surely indicating a powerful technique preparing to unleash a fatal blow.

“Damn it!! Who are you to judge me? You are just a mere [Mask]!!”

I cursed while pointing at Ananda.

“You’re a damn fool! If Nyarlathotep finds out about you, your body will get consumed and absorbed by the mask, yet you dare discuss blasphemy!!”

“…”

As soon as I spoke, Ananda hesitated. His gaze turned heavier as he spoke.

“Reborn one. If you say that, then I will show you… that I am worthy to judge you!!”

Suddenly, Ananda summoned twin prayer beads and clasped his hands together. Moments later, he uttered a surprising command.

“O [Coming Chaos]… appear before me!!”

…?!

What… what?! No way?!

I couldn’t think of stopping this nonsensical act and stood dumbfounded. A part of me thought it was just an empty threat to scare me.

And shortly after, the black and white prayer beads began to glow. The light flowing from them formed a massive summoning circle in the air and, moments later, something began to emerge from it.

Swish!

A chilling scream echoed through the darkness, merging into a mass of shadows adorned with countless masks, dangling alongside an angel’s shimmering wings, and a gigantic eye at its core — something straight out of a nightmare began to seep through the summoning circle. This was only a fraction of what I could describe; the true horror of the being was beyond comprehension.

Swish…

Then, as the creature eased its emergence from the summoning circle, one of the masks stretched out, accompanied by a tentacle-like black mass. Before me, that mask opened as if to speak.

“Long time no see, Reborn One. You remember the request I made last time, right?”

“…”

Upon hearing those words, I mumbled in a daze.

“Nyarlathotep….”

There was no mistaking it. I couldn’t confuse this presence. It didn’t look the same, but the Nyarlathotep I encountered in the Heavenly Secret world was undoubtedly the same being.

No need to wonder how he recognized me after his body changed; it was because this Nyarlathotep was an absolute existence. I was stunned before I managed to retort.

“That guy over there… the Mask of Coexistence. Aren’t you going to capture it?”

“…”

At my words, Nyarlathotep turned his mask around, seemingly looking for something. But finding nothing, he laughed delightfully, as though enjoying the situation.

“Hahaha. I can’t see nor comprehend ‘it’. What a disappointing situation; it’s a shame I can’t join in the fun…”

“What?”

“I’ll stop here. Next time, let’s see an even more amusing situation…”

Wham!

In the next moment, the summoning circle along with Nyarlathotep vanished without a trace. He had chosen to return on his own.

Not comprehending the sudden turn of events, I stood rooted; Ananda spoke.

“A mask that has reached the nirvana of coexistence is no longer under his dominion. As you’ve seen, it fails to recognize me because the source of power lies within the [Great Cycle] itself.”

“…!!”

“Even now, it is visible, and it’s clear that you are a being that goes against the [Great Cycle]. The only entity that fits that description in this world is the Reborn One… so there’s no reason to question one’s qualifications anymore!!”

With a loud roar, he suddenly lunged at me, launching a palm strike.

The Shakyamuni’s Divine Palm.

Bam!

“Grrr!!”

I barely managed to defend myself by gathering all my internal power, yet in that instant, I felt my body being catapulted miles above the surface as if I was being expelled from the underground by an overwhelming force.

Woosh!

As I continued to be propelled backwards, I couldn’t help but marvel at the staggering might of a palm feeling like something with thousands of pounds of force!

This power was unimaginable, stronger than anything I’d faced before. Even the Thunder Shadow Palm I used when flying across islands seemed inferior in comparison. It felt as if I was thrown miles beyond the cap of martial arts of an ordinary person.

Crack!

“Ugh… damn it… I’m still in the game!”

I exerted every effort to reduce the power of his strike and after a moment, felt the pressure diminish.

“Huh, it’s over… oh.”

I let out a sigh of relief, but at that moment, I realized the surrounding scenery was oddly surreal. Below me was a vast Earth, surrounded by a dark sea of stars! I quickly realized that I had shot up completely beyond the stratosphere!

“No way, what kind of martial art is this…”

Whoosh!

At that moment, Ananda materialized out of nowhere.

The Thousand Hand Kuan Yin Fist!

Ananda wouldn’t let up, launching dozens of precise and rapid kicks at me with flawless execution. I didn’t find his speed to be remarkable at first, but each attack didn’t feel random; they were filled with the art of combat, and I was caught off guard while being hit multiple times.

Smack! Smack!!

As my steel body bent and twisted under the relentless barrage, it felt like I might crumble into a heap of scrap metal if it continued much longer. I was momentarily stunned by the thought of fighting in such a weightless environment.

‘I have been pushed back, but it’s not over yet.’

I focused on feeling the [flow].

The best move I could make to win is…?

‘This is it!’

Just as Ananda’s fist lunged straight for my throat, I evaded it and countered with my elbow, brushing past his stance. It was only after connecting that I realized I had performed a move from the Thunder Shadow Palm’s secrets known as the “Dance of the Dragon and Cloud.” Instinctively, the sequences naturally flowed into each other before I could even consider it mentally.

Rising abruptly with a knee strike, I tore through his balance, then surged forward, striking toward his sternum for a spine-crushing blow!

As I executed the three strikes with fluid ease, Ananda was caught off guard and barely managed to evade my barrage, as I narrowly avoided hitting his vital points. The final knee aimed perfectly at his spine right before Ananda, with a swift reaction, twisted away from the threat and countered with a kick to my temple.

Thud!

I managed to block his strike with my arm; while overwhelmingly powerful, his balance was noticeably off. It showcased that the nuances of martial arts were far more lethal than flashy techniques.

Wham!

But blocking that kick sent a jolt through me, redirecting my momentum downwards rapidly. I recognized Ananda following closely behind as he clasped his hands together and trailed along with me. At ground level, he was closing in on me like an arrow being shot!

Lotus Separation Fist!

After several interruptions to distract me, Ananda unleashed a powerful series of strikes targeting my vitals! Seeing the parallels between this technique and the White Lotus Sect’s fist styles, I read its weaknesses too late and interrupted it just before it commenced.

Ananda spun in mid-air, launching dozens of intimidating kicks in a relentless tidal wave.

Great Spinning Dragon Leg Technique!

The relentless assault became overwhelming.

Ugh!

It seemed that no matter how I dodged, there was a limit to how much I could handle, even as I felt each blow hit me squarely. I could withstand a lot, but the flow of strikes seemed incessantly overwhelming at this point!

Heaven King’s Leg!

Boom!

At last, I was struck mid-air by the final blow, sending me crashing fiercely to the ground. The impact reverberated throughout the entire terrain as I dove into the earth.

“…….”

Defiance was futile.

Even if I tried to exploit Ananda’s weak points, he would counter with more precision and then demolish me subsequently. With both internal power and intent lagging far behind his capabilities, Ananda could exploit any openings I had!

But I refused to throw in the towel. I had persevered through worse before and had fought formidable opponents during previous lives.

‘Even to the last breath, I will fight back.’

As I mustered my determination, Ananda finally spoke.

“Are you deceiving me?”

I looked at him in bewilderment as he charged with a ferocious glint in his eyes.

“If you are truly at the threshold of the Divine Realm, you should be able to channel qi effortlessly, yet you refuse to!”

Rebirth Sword God Chapter 1593

… what?

Why is that I can’t channel qi?

I was stunned by the accusation.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to channel it, it’s that I can’t!!’

I wasn’t neglecting to channel it; I literally didn’t possess the Dantian or meridians necessary to gather qi and had no ability to cultivate intents or internal powers that resonated with the world like I’d done before in the world of Dharma! There had been no semblance of inner focus from my internal existence. I thought channeling qi was impossible in my current status, yet he chose to press me on that point!

But just as I was about to rebut, something he said struck me as unsettling.

‘The threshold of the Divine Realm…?’

His words implied that anyone who had reached the Divine Realm could access qi regardless of conditions!?

At that moment, I urgently asked him.

[… Teach me how to channel qi.]

“…”

Ananda looked stunned by my request. I figured it was best to be straightforward about it rather than faking bravado.

[I’m not mocking or tricking you; I genuinely don’t know how. What does it mean to use qi in the Divine Realm?]

“… Is it then so? You can’t grasp it because it’s not your own body?”

[Somewhat so.]

I was prepared for him to ridicule or ignore me completely, bracing myself for any possible attack. If that was the outcome, then I’d just continue cultivating martial arts!

But unexpectedly, Ananda calmly responded.

“Divine Skills can be executed even without qi. Does that then mean that the innermost and the idea itself aren’t necessary in the Divine Realm?”

I felt a piercing insight form in my mind. It was a seemingly simple question, yet something all adept masters pondered when they finally reached the threshold of Divine Realm! I ruminated over Ananda’s query.

[No.]

“Why is that so? Provide a clear response.”

[The Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique embodies lightning itself in spirit; that spirit naturally ripens in the Upper Dantian, and its essence flows from the Middle Dantian. The Soul of the Four Gods, which is based on the Nine Chambers, cannot be devoid of internal power, thus Divine Realm wouldn’t exempt it from these principles.]

“The Nine Chambers of Thunder… Soul of the Four Gods… I haven’t heard of the former but am familiar with the latter’s martial arts technique,” Ananda interjected. “Then do you believe the Soul of the Four Gods is a technique of the Divine Realm?”

[Absolutely.]

The early stage of Soul of the Four Gods that Shim Su-ryeok trained in was surely not at the level of the Divine Realm, but the “Divine Vessel” advanced to that stage as envisioned. Otherwise, the overwhelming power would contradict that fusion.

As if stuck in a question about martial arts, Ananda briefly contemplated and asked, “Why haven’t you utilized the Soul of the Four Gods against me?”

[As I said before, it’s based on the Nine Chambers of Thunder, using the Middle Dantian as its source of power, yet I have no Dantian at all… ]

“The Nine Chambers of Thunder is said to embody lightning itself. Does it require qi to become spirit?”

[…?!]

Wait, what? What does that mean?

This was a concept I had never thought of, like an epiphany struck me.

‘It may require internal power to mold the Thunder Spirit, but is it essential to have awareness or intent for that spirit to exist?’

This profound question had never even crossed my mind during my training over all those years. I had always relied on the dominance of my intent, but now I was faced with the idea that something beyond just internal power was at play.

That’s right…

I had already learned of the Soul of the Four Gods being the “Divine Vessel.”

This was the foundation of the martial arts system that could harbor tremendous force, making it impossible to be invalidated even if my body was damaged, something I had learned clearly through my battles with Roland.

[…….]

It felt like I might be grasping something important.

I tried to rise slowly from the ground as Ananda lifted his arm and declared dramatically.

“Once this fight resumes, I won’t spare you. Are you prepared?”

[Sure…? Then there’s one request I’d like to make.]

“What would that be?”

I looked Ananda straight in the eye, suddenly glancing at my right arm. Though the Oreycalcos arm was twisted, its form was still intact.

‘Isn’t this also a foreign object?’

While I was caught in a moment pondering the value of the Oreycalcos itself, I lifted my left arm, bracing it.

Crack…!

With a pop, I tore the Oreycalcos from my body and threw it towards Ananda. As he caught it and stared blankly at me, I calmly voiced my terms.

[Today, I accept defeat. But I cannot die just yet. I want to use this arm as collateral to delay my death!]

“Are you begging for your life, Reborn One?”

[That’s right. There’s no winning percentage in this battle at all.]

I sincerely believed that against Ananda, even if I brought forth all my former powers, there was no chance of winning.

“There’s no reason for me to grant that request. Explain why you wish to postpone your demise.”

It was clear that he implied what followed was a matter of life and death. Should my reasoning not please him, I’d face the end here.

Strangely enough, I felt no fear; rather, I spoke clearly and calmly.

[I… can use the Soul of the Four Gods once again. If I can use it again, I can defeat you.]

“Is that why you’re hell-bent on survival?”

[That’s right.]

“Your current choice could lead to the end of this world.”

Even I had trouble believing what I just said.

[If I can cultivate martial arts again, then that will suffice.]

What might happen to the world was of no importance to me at that moment.

Unexpectedly, a chance provided by Ananda!

I wished to cultivate again and reach an ultimate level. Losing myself over a triviality was no longer relevant!

After a moment of silence, Ananda gripped the Oreycalcos with newfound strength and crushed it in one motion.

Smack!

As he shattered my arm completely and looked down at me, he said, “Reborn One… you are a truly contradictory existence. Despite being an insignificant Mara, you claim to walk the path of Martial Arts? And yet, having entered the Divine Realm, I cannot dismiss you…”

[…….]

“Listen closely… I have no reason to spare your life….”

Wham!

In that moment, Ananda surged forward with extraordinary speed and struck my solar plexus with a powerful palm.

An imprint etched sharply as I felt my steel body buckle under the force. If I had a human form, my insides would have ruptured, bones shattered, and I would be coughing up blood by now, but as I expected, the steel body didn’t falter.

Jolt!

[……?!]

But in an instant, I felt an unfamiliar sensation of ‘pain’ that had eluded me during our duel. With experience with the unknown pain building within, I twisted my body in response; Ananda pulled his hand back, speaking coldly.

“If the Eight Consciousnesses are in play, do you still have no idea of your own condition? Don’t you know where that [heart] giving you pain comes from?”

…?!

The Eight?

Suddenly, I recalled that Raoun had used his consciousness-raising ability to induce pain during our last fight, and here Ananda seemed to possess similar capability!

‘But wait… the source of my pain being the heart?!’

How could that even be possible?

I pondered the implications since physical reactions typically stemmed from one’s nervous system, but how could [mind] become the source of pain?

‘Wait… I’ve heard something like this before…’

My memory surfaced, recalling the conversation with the Asura.

[Asura! Did you really feel killing intent? I felt nothing!]

[You still have not immersed yourself wholly in the Eight Consciousnesses. It’s not exactly killing intent, more like a primal ‘sensation’. Something is undoubtedly threatening us, and it originates from the sun itself.]

When we reached a certain juncture between the realms of the Sun and Moon and the Law of Non-Birth, I had stood with Asura and Cheon Woo-jin feeling the shadowy feelings surrounding me, while Asura felt an ominous presence, feeling the murderous intent that I could not.

Asura named this system of recognition, but beyond that, I never truly grasped how more fundamental beings sensed danger. Which links back to my own realization.

[The ‘Consciousness’ exists beyond the division between living and non-living entities?]

“….”

Upon my utterance, Ananda positioned his hand into a half-palm stance.

Buddad’s Divine Palm!

He then initiated a strike towards my heart at blinding speeds. The technique reminded me of Musashi’s swift blade strikes, yet I hesitated.

But instead of decimating me with his Buddad’s Divine Palm, Ananda halted his strike, retracting instead.

He then coldly remarked, “How is it that you reacted to Buddad’s Divine Palm, having claimed you couldn’t channel any internal power or intent?”

[…….]

“Truly, you don’t lack power. You have bound yourself to the limitations of the body and disregarded the conscious “+!+'”

After a few moments, he added, “Did you refer to [mask] as a soulless entity as well? Do you truly consider yourself unworthy of realizing the Eight Consciousnesses?”

[…….]

“That may be so… but can I tell you of this? The Blessed One said I too possess the nature of the Buddha. I cannot forget that judgment and thus whip myself in anger.”

Step…

It appeared as if Ananda was starting to drift away gradually. It didn’t seem like a mere illusion; shortly, he completely vanished without a trace from the arena, leaving behind the Six Harmonies Assembly murmuring within my heart.

[Mara… come back in three years! I shall grant you a loss beyond explanation then.]

The surroundings fell into silence. In a desolate place where I couldn’t quite place myself, I stumbled forward aimlessly.

‘A loss beyond explanation…’

Even I knew that my pleading was nothing more than an excuse. There were no guarantees I could use the Soul of the Four Gods again, nor was I eager to survive in this way. And yet, Ananda let me go, which implied deep-rooted confidence in his own strength.

If I could use the Soul of the Four Gods, he still held firm confidence in defeating me!

That confidence drove me into a state of despair rather than joy as I registered that my life was spared. I clenched my fist once more.

[Damn it.]

In truth, after so long in the training world, I felt confident against any elite from this mortal realm to fight effectively. I managed to prove that to be true through victories over Roland and Raoun, and that applying the insights of the Divine Realm effectively didn’t require internal power against lesser foes.

But could I truly hold my own against someone equally matched or stronger without internal power and intent?

No, Ananda had just taught me otherwise.

‘Ananda… surely he’s a master of the Divine Realm!’

He might not have used any Divine techniques against me, but I could feel his strength within the ebb and flow, avoiding and countering my every move. I sensed that Ananda could execute the same techniques I had previously.

A fire ignited within.

It felt like I finally met someone who could be my worthy opponent in this life!

[Just wait, Ananda. I will prove I can defeat you with the power of the Soul of the Four Gods.]

In this moment, I discovered what I absolutely needed to do before I closed my 30th chapter!

Time slipped away as I aimlessly wandered for a while, but after about two moments passed, I noticed someone walking towards me across the lonely horizon.

“Hey there, one-armed buddy! Why the long face?”

As I observed the figure approaching me, I soon recognized their identity, causing my expression to contort.

[Tai Gong-mang…?]

Indeed, standing before me was Tai Gong-mang! The direct disciple of the Primordial Heaven Master, one of the few ancient celestial beings remaining on this earth.

Why on earth was Tai Gong-mang here?

I instantly thought I must have misread the situation.

As confusion raged within me, Tai Gong-mang laughed heartily upon recognizing me.

“So Baek Woong is indeed the legendary genius of Nanjing Castle!? Better than they said!”

[… I heard you were building your influence with Xiang Yu in Jiangdong, why are you here?]

“I’ve always been monitoring the world through subterfuge; I sensed a massive surge of power in the air. I came to scout, but I never imagined it would be under such dramatic circumstances.”

[That’s true.]

Indeed, after the chaos in the Cappela ruins transpired, with Ananda’s Soul Dissolution Technique surfacing and Vishnu’s real body joining, it stirred up quite the storm. Tai Gong-mang seemed to have come out of genuine concern for the commotion taking place around here. I was slightly bewildered by the mere fact of running into Tai Gong-mang in such a place.

[Then will you be on your way? This seems like a long road; I should manage just fine alone.]

“Sadly, I cannot allow that.”

[…?]

Suddenly, Tai Gong-mang raised the Ta Shin-pyeon, pointing it towards me, making me flinch. I could sense the sacred aura emanating from it, solidifying the realization that the energy surrounding his too was different from that of a human.

‘This must be the energy of the Constellations… so these twelve are the yangshan warriors.’

Apparently, the ancient humans from the Sealing Blood of the Divine had also blossomed their celestial talents under Tai Gong-mang’s guidance. This meant the twelve surrounding me were all born innate capable beings in the Upper Dantian, which indicated that I was in a dire situation if I didn’t tread carefully.

More so, I now realized Tai Gong-mang wasn’t just donning the Ta Shin-pyeon; he had a Spirit Beast alternate riding atop him as well! To my amazement, I saw Tai Gong-mang fully armed, something I hadn’t witnessed in all my lifetime.

As I stared at Tai Gong-mang, I declared, [I haven’t even spoken much with Jiangdong, and yet you barge in like this; it’s hard to view you positively.]

“Who has said anything of that? I merely wish to come in peace and talk. I assure you, I will not harm you as long as you cooperate.”

[You have a tasteful way of saying you plan to kidnap me!]

“With the end of the world looming before us? There’s no time for ethics! I didn’t hold back during the time of the Divine Conflict!”

The demeanor of Tai Gong-mang was far flippant compared to the dignified aura he usually radiated. He was thoroughly resolute in his mission to capture me, as I now understood that he deemed me vital to determining the fate of the world.

[You will regret this.]

“Prove your worth and make me regret it.”

Tai Gong-mang’s confident response was backed by the swiftness of his actions as he produced a rope to bind me.

“Bind him, the Kun Immortal Rope!”

Clatter!

The Kun Immortal Rope of the Twelve Great Immortal Masters! Able to easily bind beings that are even half-divine; should I act carelessly, there was a risk I could get subdued instantly. I stayed alert, watching the inexplicably elegant Kun Rope advance toward me like a flying serpent.

At once, a firm intuition kicked in.

Woosh!

As the Kun Rope began wrapping around my arms, it suddenly came to a halt as I executed my own technique rapidly.

Technique of All Things!

As the Kun Rope strained to entangle me, I swiftly redirected the flow of my power and seized it with both hands to throw the rope back towards Tai Gong-mang. He hadn’t anticipated such a counter and was caught off guard.

“No way?! ”

In a flash, the Kun Rope bound both Tai Gong-mang and the Spirit Beast simultaneously! Tai Gong-mang stumbled in surprise, and the Spirit Beast that was riding him yelled furiously,

“Tai Gong-mang! You stupid fool! I’ve been warning you about that tin can since we began; I knew this would happen. I told you to take him out with the Ta Shin-pyeon from the start!”

“You damn spirit! What if I kill him, then what? It’s not that easy controlling the strength!”

“Just seal it away with the Tai Chi technique!”

“How many times do I have to tell you that my Divine Art is already sealed?!”

…Wait! Did he just say that the Primordial Heavenly Master had his techniques sealed!?

My instincts kicked in as I assessed my surroundings, realizing a dozen shadows were barreling toward me!

‘This won’t do!!’

Thinking I couldn’t evade their attacks, I blushed with frustration. With no power nor intent available, my legs were basically bound without any assistance. I did not wish to be defeated here!

Bam!

At that moment, a figure zipped suddenly into the arena, swooping me up at an incredible speed. The sheer velocity was unexpected, making the attackers momentarily freeze in place.

Whoosh!

And that figure spun elegantly twice in the air before darting off even faster. Behind us, fiery explosions and trails of lightning as well as other ethereal arrows were shot from behind, but the masked figure bypassed these an exceedingly accomplished maneuver!

I sensed this martial prowess was far from ordinary; it was unbelievable the way this fighter operated.

‘This person truly is skilled!’

Though many could use those skills, few could combine them perfectly, spinning mid-air while mastering the complexity that strung out desperation into artistry. Surprise propelled my next words.

“Are you truly the Baek Woong? In such a pathetic state without an arm, they say you can call yourself the chief of Soeul Village?”

Who… was this?!

That voice was hauntingly familiar, drawing my subconscious back to life. The masked figure could not be recognized due to their head covering, but their voice—how could I forget? This was the one who had killed me.

“What… No way this can be happening?!”

Before I could even put my thoughts together, a massive shockwave hit them, pending them down. From behind, dazzling light crackled as a voice encapsulated the air with triumph.

“No matter how advanced your flight techniques are, you’ll never overcome auto-tracking!”

A blade glinted as the figure pounced at me.

Tydaht!

The question become a throaty cry as I saw the figure rear back for a strike. In a moment later, flames seared through the air.

The thick clouds rumbled ominously and thunder roared as the skies rumbled with darkness, foreshadowing the imminent storm.

“Show no mercy!”

That lethal intent only meant one thing: an execution was imminent.

Yet there was no escaping! I couldn’t flee; I had no angle to escape the attention brought on by this new cultivation technique. Even if my internal power and intent were re-established, the ground level was practically outside my control.

With the next strike destined to arrive without hesitation, I spotted the sudden spiraled flash of lightning aimed directly for my heart. I caught that glimpse released amid the descent out of conscious space and found myself lured into the fray once again.

Clawing at life’ prospects seemed to churn ahead on the cosmic horizon. Ground unity in collision met my senses as despair settled across the dim-lit horizon, illuminating my fate with the foreboding dark sky above!

Sounds of gusting winds filled my senses, taking me further and encouraging me to confront my approach with grace.

BAM!

Our world, an enormous fluttering of a dream turning inside out, surged forward!

 

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