There is a moment when the world feels like it's holding its breath.
Hana stood still in that void an emptiness that wasn't even sure it wanted to exist. Her body felt light, but her chest heavy. The Elder Ancestor's words still drifted around her like smoke refusing to fade.
"You are the reason that light exists."
Not human. Not logical. Not in the script.
And just as Hana's mind began to scatter in every direction…
Something lit up.
Not light from the space. Not a memory.
But from within Hana herself.
[SYSTEM REBOOT INITIATED]
The text appeared in the air. Sharp. Cold. Like a program too old to be considered safe.
Hana staggered back. "Bro?! Why is the system turning on by itself?! I didn't press anything!"
The Elder Ancestor jolted. "This is bad… The system cannot activate in a place like"
The next line flashed so fast it looked afraid to be late:
[WARNING]
Host identity mismatch detected.
Source of 'Light-Origin' uncovered.
Recalibrating classification…
ERROR.
ERROR.
ERROR.
The text shattered as if the letters were panicking.
Hana squeaked. "Bro! Why does the system look like it's having a stress-test?!"
Instability
The entire space began to tremble.
Not an earthquake.
Not debris falling.
More like… reality adjusting itself.
The Elder Ancestor pulled Hana away from the fragments of space.
"Hana, don't get too close. That system… it doesn't belong to Wudang. Nor to Shaolin."
"Then who does it belong to?!"
The Elder Ancestor looked at Hana with a terror he'd never shown.
"To Him."
Hana turned pale. "Bro… I wanna go home."
"We're not done."
The System That Begins to Remember
The next text appeared more slowly… as if unlocking ancient memories frozen for centuries:
[DATA RESTORED: 0.4%]
Host Identity:
• Name: Hana (Rewritten)
• Status: Vessel of Light-Origin
• Prior Function: PROTECTED TARGET
• Current Risk Level: CRITICAL
Host proximity to 'His Remnants' detected.
Awakening Protocol: Pending.
Hana read each word with the urge to throw up.
"Bro. 'Vessel'? 'Protected Target'? 'Awakening Protocol'?! This sounds like a movie I absolutely do NOT want to star in."
The Elder Ancestor closed his eyes, as if the line confirmed a fear he refused to accept.
The Memory the World Rejected
The space suddenly stretched like fabric pulled from both sides.
New fragments appeared bigger, brighter, painful to look at.
A baby's face.
Glowing eyes.
A woman's scream.
A massive shadow approaching.
The world beginning to crack.
And then total black.
The fragment vanished before Hana could interpret anything.
"The system shouldn't be able to show that," the Elder Ancestor muttered. "That is a memory from the world before the world."
Hana stood frozen. "Bro… if the world had a 'before', that means…"
"Yes."
"…That means I…"
"You were not born by mistake, Hana."
The Elder Ancestor looked at her, eyes as deep as history.
"You were hidden."
The Panicking System
The system appeared again, its letters shifting as if being chased by something.
[ERROR: Host awakening ahead of schedule]
[ERROR: Forbidden Memory accessed]
[ERROR: 'His Gaze' detected nearby]
Initiating countermeasure
FAILED.
Initiating second protocol
FAILED.
Host is advised to RUN.
Hana froze.
"…Bro. The system is literally telling me to run."
The Elder Ancestor gripped her arm tightly.
"If the system is saying that…"
The space shook, light condensed, and the air crumpled as if something was pulling it from behind.
"…it means He has seen you."
"Y–YOU MEAN 'seen' as in literally SEEN??? OR"
"Hana. Focus."
"BUT BRO"
"Shut your mouth and listen."
The Elder Ancestor's tone became a command she couldn't refuse.
"We must leave before He forces this door open."
The Space Begins to Make Sound
For the first time since they entered, the space made a noise.
Not natural. Not metal. Not human.
More like… the world groaning.
Something behind the formless walls knocked slow, rhythmic, too aware.
Tok.. Tok..Tok..
Cold sweat ran down Hana's back.
"Bro… he's looking for me, isn't he?"
The Elder Ancestor gripped his sword.
"Not just looking for you."
He stared into the trembling darkness.
"He's making sure what was lost finally returns."
The space shattered like glass thrown from the heavens.
Light exploded.
That voice poured in
"You… finally"
And just before the next word could emerge
THE SYSTEM MUTED ALL SOUND.
[FINAL WARNING]
Host exposure level exceeded.
For your survival:
LEAVE.
NOW.