A white world stretched before him, shrouded in mist. Su Li stood at the threshold of his consciousness space, struck by how different it was. No shadow of darkness lingered here—only rising fog that coiled endlessly. Extending his hand, he grasped the vapor. Moisture clung to his skin, cool and heavy, and his throat went dry.
"Eggy… are you a Zanpakutō of water?" The thought stirred a flicker of excitement, but such a fragment of information was far from enough to judge Eggy's true nature. Su Li stilled his mind and began flying slowly toward the direction etched in memory.
The mist struck his face, dampening his skin, each wisp carrying a pulse of vitality that made his chest thrum with exhilaration. He could hardly wait to see what form Eggy had taken. After years of nurturing, the harvest was finally here. His joy welled with every beat of his heart as he pressed forward.
Yet the closer he drew, the denser the fog became. Visibility shrank until he could hardly see his own form. Resistance rose, heavy as water, thickening with every step. It was as if he waded through a swamp of air turned to liquid. His speed faltered. His body strained, but his eyes shone brighter still, for resistance meant power. The stronger the obstacle, the more formidable the Zanpakutō.
"Hallucination? Or… could this be gravity?" he muttered, forcing one sluggish step after another. Silence pressed against him, only his own voice echoing in the haze.
Then—puff. He tore through. The fog split, and his sight cleared.
What unfolded made his breath catch. A world crystalline and pure, centered by a massive white jade platform suspended in emptiness. At its heart stood a carved white screen. Behind it, a petite black silhouette lingered—delicate, yet sharp against the vast expanse.
Su Li's heartbeat hammered. The figure's hands moved, and an ancient sound spilled forth—the voice of a qin. Notes wound gently, straight and unbroken, piercing into his soul. This was not a Japanese mode nor modern scale, but the most neutral, primal major key—the music of his own nation, a sound engraved into his blood long before he crossed into this world. Goosebumps ran down his arms.
Suddenly the music shifted, sharp and hurried. Serenity gave way to iron and fire, murderous intent pouring out with the gallop of warhorses and clash of steel. The mist convulsed, driven back, the world expanding outward in a vast explosion of space. Around the white jade platform, the fog recoiled into a great void. The platform itself seemed smaller now, yet at the same time more sacred, towering, undeniable.
And then it came.
In the distance, within the boundless haze, a colossal shadow emerged. It blotted out sky and earth, its body vast, head unseen, tail without end. It cruised slowly through the fog, each undulation echoing with the rhythm of the music. A dragon—no other form could compare. Its presence swallowed everything, and Su Li forgot to breathe, forgot even why he had come. His mind was consumed by the roarless majesty before him.
The qin's song thundered, fierce and boundless, then gradually waned, softening until only scattered notes lingered, like a battlefield fallen silent, its carnage replaced by the weight of aftermath. The dragon's immense silhouette faded, dissolving into mist. The heavens cleared, the silence absolute.
Su Li exhaled slowly, chest trembling. Never since stepping into the world of Shinigami had his heart been so shaken. He had always met crises with composure, but here, before this vision, calm abandoned him.
His gaze turned to the screen. He descended onto the jade floor, the faint sound of the qin echoing at intervals. Each step rang softly—da, da, da—betraying his nervousness. The platform was vast, and time stretched as he approached.
His throat tightened, mouth dry. "Eggy…?" The word slipped out, uncertain.
The petite shadow froze. The qin's voice fell silent. The world became still.
Su Li swallowed. Even in his past life, on his most awkward blind dates, he had never felt so nervous.
At last, a voice floated from behind the screen. Immature, faint, utterly indifferent.
"Who's Eggy?"
{ Enjoying the chapters? Please Support me on Patreon and unlock 100+ advanced chapters, with 3 new chapters released every two days!
The fanfic is also available for one-time purchase on Patreon – unlock lifetime access to the full collection, no membership needed! Don't miss out –support and own it forever!
patreon.com/Oreski}