“Oh, not again!” Sun Tie shouted to the skies, yet he saw nothing— not even his own body. The stark white room surrounded him once more, reminiscent of the day he first arrived in this nightmarish realm.
“What’s next? Another planet? What on the hells does 'Internal Integration' mean?” Sun Tie murmured, surveying his environment. All he saw was an endless expanse of white, with no messages or indicators before him.
The young master glanced down and found nothing beneath him. Then he looked straight ahead— again, nothing. But when he peered down once more, a forest came into view below, appearing small and innocuous.
The immediate concern was the apparent absence of anything separating him from the vast open-air below. This stark realization sent Sun Tie's heart racing, but he soon calmed himself when he noticed that something was supporting his feet.
It felt like he was standing on an invisible floor, similar to thin, non-reflective glass. Being careful not to shift his stance even slightly, Sun Tie turned his gaze to find Cole nearby. Cole's arms were outstretched as if trying to maintain his balance.
“Okay… okay…” Cole murmured, sweat evident on his brow beneath his cloak. The bow he usually carried was absent, and his appearance was more discernible than usual, even beneath the fabric of his cloak.
“Are you alright?” Sun Tie inquired, attempting to catch Cole's gaze. However, the man seemed fixated on the ground below. “Hold on, are you scared of heights?” Sun Tie remarked, a grin forming on his face. “I can't believe it.” He began to chuckle. How could a man, who was clearly a formidable warrior in his homeland, be afraid of heights? Such a notion was inconceivable in Eternal Wind.
“Shut up!” Cole hissed, his eyes fixed on the woods below. Sun Tie had to bite back a laugh.
“Just breathe… breathe and look at me, Cole.” Slowly, Cole did just that, taking one deliberate breath at a time until he mustered the courage to lift his gaze, albeit as slowly as the world's lazy snail.
“Okay…” Cole exhaled deeply, “It’s okay… I’m just standing on nothing. Everything's fine.”
“Yes, old man. Just relax,” Sun Tie teased, a stifled chuckle escaping his lips.
Turning his attention away from Cole, Sun Tie saw familiar faces nearby. A similar anxiety gripped each one. As he looked around, more individuals appeared, as though the environment was populating itself with each turn of his head. Among the crowd were James, Sofia, the young boy and his mother, Leigh, the twins, and the freckled girl from before. There were other students from Portway High and a mix of unfamiliar faces, too.
Many were dressed in Earthly attire, but Sun Tie also spotted a number of servants and commoners from Eternal Wind. There were humans in tattered clothes and others with distinctive pointed ears.
By his estimate, there were nearly a hundred people in his immediate vicinity. Raising his gaze, he spotted another group a short distance away, then another, and yet another. They were scattered throughout the air, seemingly suspended by some magical force.
Suddenly, a woman near Sun Tie took a careless step forward. A scream escaped her lips, but instead of plummeting down, she ended up lying suspended in mid-air.
Testing his boundaries, Sun Tie tentatively shifted his sandals first to one side, then the other, gauging the space around him. He estimated a safe span of about three feet in each direction. Given the five to six feet separating each person, he surmised they were all atop a vast, invisible platform.
“We’re safe, Cole,” Sun Tie comforted the older man.
“Yes… we’re safe. Everything’s fine,” Cole responded, though it sounded more like he was reassuring himself. Before the moment could grow more taxing for Sun Tie, the voice of the system rang out, this time audibly instead of just in their minds.
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Congratulations, humans!
Your species has reached the first threshold sooner than predicted. The average human level is now 10. The bonus incentive greatly improved your chances of survival.
A mere 10% of all humans perished during the recent system recovery phase. Your survival rate is commendable! We have high expectations for all of you.
Sun Tie stole a glance at Cole. The older man's expression had shifted from pure dread to a combination of shock and anger. The system's voice, though monotonous, carried an unmistakably condescending undertone, treating them like children.
An anomaly during the initial integration was detected. Three beings capable of natural mana manipulation were merged with the humans.
They were neutralized by two among you in a valiant effort.
As the message resonated, an image materialized before the massive Umbraheim moon. It depicted Sun Tie and Cole battling the two vampires. Sun Tie's unkempt robe did him no favors, but the fiery glow of his sword was undeniably impressive. Off to the side of the footage, James could be seen lying motionless on the ground.
The visual culminated with the duo vanquishing the final vampire. The frame froze, fixating on the triumphant figures of Cole and Sun Tie. Almost immediately, Sun Tie sensed countless eyes shifting towards them.
“We’re famous now, Cole,” Sun Tie declared, grinning. However, upon catching the grim look on Cole's face, his demeanor changed. “We're... famous,” he repeated, his voice now laced with trepidation. It dawned on him that their newfound notoriety might mark them as threats—or, at the very least, figures to be wary of.
“Damn it…” Cole grumbled as the image faded away.
Regrettably, rewards for such a remarkable achievement cannot be given directly as the integration must remain an impartial process. However, for all of you humans who've exceeded expectations, a treat awaits.
From above, food began to descend. Banquet tables appeared, making eyes sparkle with desire. Sun Tie felt a pang of hunger more intense than he'd experienced since awakening in the forest.
On the tables were odd foods Sun Tie couldn't recognize. Breads stuffed with meats and colorful fillings that seemed both tempting and strange. Chickens and pigs, perfectly roasted, were next to vegetables that shined from being baked and fried. Rice and some grains Sun Tie couldn’t pinpoint were spread out, and there were various drinks in jars, too.
The massive table was a sight, and Sun Tie wanted to dive in. He saw that same hunger in everyone else's eyes.
During this feast, your stats and skills will be unavailable. Acts of violence are both prohibited and impossible. Please refrain. Set aside any conflicts. Embrace the integration process and the vista before you. Communication will be established again later.
As the voice faded, chairs popped up around the tables. Sun Tie noticed similar setups appearing around the other groups in the sky.
“I think it's time to dine,” Sun Tie remarked, advancing towards the spread.
“Sounds like a plan,” Cole responded, cautiously taking his steps. The careful way Cole approached made Sun Tie chuckle.
Once he sat down and looked below, Sun Tie noticed the shifts in the landscape. The jungle below was retracting in on itself like everything was being pulled to a central spot. It was as if the earth was swallowing itself.