Chapter 29: Only I Level Up (2)
The ground trembled beneath a bruised sky, with jagged remnants of the Third Gate battle scattered across the horizon.
In the muted atmosphere, Ning Que staggered on the remnants of the torn battlefield, his body aching, every breath stinging in his lungs.
The Guild’s forces, once a united front, were now a fragmented echo of chaos, retreating from the power surge that had fought their ranks.
He ran a hand over his shoulder, where the golden mark pulsed rhythmically, its warmth battling the chill creeping into his bones.
Fresh memories of the battle flared in his mind: the blinding light of Mireya’s transformation, the despair in the faces of the Guild soldiers as they stumbled into disarray, the dark sense of something monumental shifting in the depths of their existence.
"Where the hell is Tao Cheng?" he muttered under his breath, his gaze darting around for any sign of the man.
Ning’s heart pounded as his thoughts raced. What have we done? The question lingered like a bitter taste, entwined with fragments of the First Pattern’s cryptic warnings.
He was unsure if the shadows left behind were tangible threats or fragments of fate waiting to unfold. He had fought so hard at the frontlines, yet here he remained, teetering on the edge of his capabilities.
And then, to his shock, certainty flooded through him. The familiar interface began to glitch in front of his eyes, shaking and flickering before transforming into something entirely different. A voice, devoid of warmth, echoed within his mind.
"Reclaimer Path Terminated. New Path Available: Eternal Ascent. Initializing Solo Protocol."
"What the ?" He stumbled backward as a new window opened, the details displaying the enigma of his next journey. The words were foreign, yet thrilling. Level 1. Unsure yet determined, he felt an instinct as sharp as steel tighten in his gut. He read the two options below: [Begin Awakening Challenge? Y/N]