Zhen Hu had traveled far, and Vael'Torr stretched before him like a forgotten relic from another age. The city, once full of life and vigor, now lay in ruin, its once majestic towers crumbling into dust. The air here felt dense, almost oppressive, like something ancient and dangerous lurked beneath the surface.
Zhen Hu walked through the city's gates, his eyes scanning every corner, every alley. There was something strange about this place. He could feel it in the air, the faint stirrings of energy that didn't belong—dormant, dark, and twisted. The pulse of Zen was weak here, even for him. His Nytherion energy resonated with the decay, yet it felt restrained, as if the very city itself was suppressing his power.
As he walked deeper into the city, the silence grew louder, the absence of sound unnerving. No one walked the streets. Not a single voice echoed from the buildings, and the normal sounds of a city—the clang of blacksmiths, the chatter of merchants, the distant sounds of children playing—were gone. The only sound was his own footsteps against the cracked stone.
Zhen Hu paused at the center of the city, his senses alert. His cultivation level had grown since the days he was at the Dawnyu Sect. He could feel the faintest traces of Zen in the air, though it was stunted, suffocated by something malevolent. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his senses stretch out, searching for the presence of others.
There, he thought, sensing faint ripples of Zen energy emanating from nearby.
Opening his eyes, he scanned the crowd—or what remained of it. A few people moved through the streets, their presence almost ghostly. Zhen Hu's eyes narrowed as he studied them. They were cultivators, but their energy was weak—flickering like dying embers. Their levels were low, barely reaching the Kyrekh Realm, and most were stuck at the early stages. He could tell their power was suffocated by something far more powerful.
He continued down the street, his curiosity growing. The deeper he went, the more oppressive the feeling became. It was as if the very atmosphere of the city had been tainted, not by natural decay, but by something that twisted the essence of Zen itself. Zhen Hu knew better than to ignore the sensation—it was the mark of something far more ancient and dangerous than what he had encountered before.
That's when he saw her.
A young woman, no older than seventeen, stood at the end of the street. Her appearance was striking—pale skin that seemed to glow in the dim light, long, flowing black hair, and eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories. She was standing motionless, as if waiting for something—or someone.
Zhen Hu's instincts flared. He could sense a faint pulse of energy around her, but it was controlled, restrained, hidden beneath layers of something darker. It reminded him of the influence that Nytherion had on him—a subtle yet deadly force. But this… this felt different.
Before he could approach, the girl's gaze met his. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Zhen Hu felt an inexplicable tug in his chest. There was something familiar about her, yet nothing at all.
"Are you lost?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with an underlying tension.
Zhen Hu took a step forward, his senses still alert. "I could ask you the same question," he replied. "This city—there's something wrong with it."
Her eyes flickered with a strange mix of fear and sadness. She nodded slowly. "You can say that again. This place is… not what it once was. It's under the control of the Humanios."
Zhen Hu's eyes narrowed. The Humanios. The name sent a ripple of unease through his body. He had heard whispers of them—ancient spirits that once roamed freely across the realms, but were now imprisoned in this city, controlling the hearts and minds of the people.
"The Humanios?" Zhen Hu repeated. "What do they want here?"
The girl hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as though checking for anyone watching. "They've taken control of this city's very essence. Its energy. The people here—they're all bound to them, their wills suppressed. If you're not careful, you'll end up like them."
Zhen Hu's mind raced. He could feel the oppressive weight of the city now, the dark influence of the Humanios pressing down on him. His Nytherion energy pulsed within him, eager to break free, to devour the decay and replenish itself. But he knew better than to act rashly. This place, this city—it was a trap, and he had to tread carefully.
"You don't look like one of them," he said, his gaze sharpening as he studied the girl. "Are you... immune?"
Her expression darkened. "I was born here," she replied quietly. "But I'm not like the others. I'm not bound by them." She paused, her voice faltering. "At least... not completely."
Zhen Hu's curiosity deepened. He could sense that she was not just any ordinary person. The faint pulse of her energy, though stifled, had a certain resonance that reminded him of his own Nytherion. It was as if the city itself was fighting to suppress her, just as it was suppressing him.
"Do you know where I can find the source of their power?" he asked. "I need to get stronger. I've come to challenge whatever is keeping this city in its grip."
The girl's eyes flickered with a brief flash of hope, before she quickly masked it. "You're brave," she said softly, almost as if to herself. "But be careful. The Humanios—they don't just control the mind. They control the soul."
Zhen Hu felt the weight of her words. His spirit guide, Aelira, whispered in his mind, her voice laced with concern. "The Humanios are more than just a power— they are a force that devours. They take the very essence of those who fall under their sway. You must be cautious. If you challenge them, there's no telling what it might cost."
Zhen Hu clenched his fists. He had come too far to turn back now. His need for power, for the strength to reach the Ascendant Realm, pushed him forward. "I'll be careful. But I won't turn away from this. Not now."
The girl studied him for a long moment, as if weighing his resolve. Finally, she nodded slowly. "I'll help you, but you must promise me one thing."
Zhen Hu raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Promise me you won't fall under their control," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Promise me you won't let the darkness take you like it has taken so many others."
Zhen Hu's eyes softened, though his resolve remained unchanged. "I promise. Now, tell me what I need to do."
With a final, uncertain glance, the girl turned and began walking deeper into the heart of the city. Zhen Hu followed, his mind already calculating the risks, knowing that his path would lead him deeper into the shadow of the Humanios—and perhaps into a battle unlike any he had faced before.
The journey to strength was never simple, but Zhen Hu was prepared to face whatever lay ahead, his Nytherion energy buzzing in anticipation, and his eyes fixed on the goal before him: to reach the Ascendant Realm, no matter the cost.