Chapter 2: The Cave of The Great Sage
Alex woke up in a dark cave, with only a faint beam of light coming from a slit in the roof. As his eyes adjusted, he realized the cave was large enough for a grown man to stand upright. The cold, stony floor and jagged walls gave the place a rugged, eerie feel.
Where am I? he wondered. Then the memories came flooding back—and he began to cry. His little sister ,only three years old, had died. He sobbed uncontrollably until exhaustion overcame him and he drifted into sleep.
Hours later, hunger and thirst overtook him. He searched the cave for food and water and found a small puddle of water at the far end. He drank from it, then looked for anything edible. Nearby, he found some strange plants growing close to the puddle—green leaves laced with golden veins. Despite the survival training his father had given him since the age of three, Alex didn't recognize the plant.
Cautiously, he took a small bite of a leaf and waited. After five minutes, when nothing happened, he began to eat more, eventually consuming all the plants near the puddle. He then drank more of the clear, blue water. But when he stood up, pain surged through his body—it felt like something was tearing him apart from the inside.
He thrashed and stumbled, falling against the wall beside the puddle. The wall collapsed, and Alex lost consciousness atop the rubble. Even in his unconscious state, he writhed in pain like a fish out of water.
Eventually, he woke with a groan. Every part of his body ached—it felt like he'd been crushed. Sitting up with difficulty, he waited for the pain to subside. His body was covered in black blood and a sticky, stinking black tar.
Looking toward the collapsed wall, he was stunned. In front of him was a vast chamber, illuminated by a shimmering waterfall that flowed into a small lake, golden fish visible in its waters. A majestic tree stood nearby, bearing red and golden fruits. Lush plants grew all around the lake. In the cave wall behind the tree, there was what looked like a door.
Alex gasped when he saw the tree. It resembled the mythical *Golden Fruit Tree*—a legendary plant from children's stories. It was said that whoever ate its fruit would become the strongest in the world.
Drawn by curiosity, he approached the mysterious door. What he saw inside shocked him even more: a bed, bookshelves, and a study table bathed in sunlight streaming from a crack in the jagged ceiling. A skeleton sat in the chair before the table, a book open in front of it.