Chapter no.1 Prologue

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This City stood nestled deep within the protective embrace of the St. Ancestral Mountain range, the last stronghold of humanity. More than just a city, it was a sprawling kingdom with over a million people, stretching across miles. The city was a patchwork of tightly packed houses, sloped roofs, and intricate wooden buildings, surrounded by towering mountains and encircled by a massive wall that had seen countless battles.

Long ago, legends spoke of a time when humans thrived, building vast empires and ruled by powerful Demon Spiritualists and even gods. Those empires had long since crumbled, leaving behind only faint memories of their greatness. Yet, Glory City endured, standing strong even through the darkest eras that wiped out the rest of the world.

Life here wasn't easy. Demon Beasts prowled the nearby mountains, constantly threatening the city, but the people refused to give in. Even after countless attacks, Glory City always rebuilt, its walls patched over and over again. For the people, it was more than a place to live—it was hope, the last light of humanity shining in a world filled with darkness.

And so, they called it Glory City, a fitting name for the legacy it carried.

The first snowflakes began to drift from the gray sky, Nie Li couldn't help but lose himself in their quiet beauty. Each flake seemed to hang in the air, delicate, fleeting. He watched as they fell on the Holy Orchid Institute, softening its harsh lines. The snow was peaceful, almost serene, and for a brief moment, the world felt still. His thoughts stilled with it, as if he was trying to capture every single snowflake in his mind, memorizing the way they floated down.

A tap on his shoulder yanked him from his quiet reflection. Nie Li turned around and found Lu Piao, his grin as wide as ever.

"Hey," Lu Piao said, unable to resist cracking a joke. "Maybe after we graduate, you can finally stop dreaming about getting a girlfriend."

Nie Li laughed, rolling his eyes but playing along. "Lu Piao, with the way you're going, I'm shocked you're not teaching a class on how to stay single forever."

They both laughed, the kind of laugh that came from years of friendship, of shared struggles. But as always, peace never lasted long here. A sharp voice cut through their banter, dripping with scorn.

"Shut up, you two losers."

Nie Li felt the irritation rise, even though he should've been used to it by now. He glanced over, and there she was, glaring at them like they were the dirt under her shoes. The insults were nothing new, but every time they still stung, a reminder of where they stood in the eyes of others. Just another pair of nobodies in a world that only cared about power and talent.

It was graduation day—or at least, that's what they called it. But for people like Nie Li and Lu Piao, it didn't feel like they were graduating from anything. It felt like they were here to watch the 'real' students get all the praise. The talented ones. The ones who mattered.

Nie Li was a 3-star Bronze rank. Lu Piao, a 5-star. Five years, and that's what they'd managed. Barely enough to earn a polite clap, let alone respect. The others? They were already rising stars, bathed in the admiration of everyone around them. For them, the spotlight was never going to shine in their direction.

But, of course, Lu Piao never cared much about that. He grinned at the girl, always ready with a comeback. "Oh, your highness, since you're sitting here with us, doesn't that make you just as 'worthless' as we are?"

The girl's face twisted in irritation, and she stormed off. Nie Li chuckled. That was just like Lu Piao—never afraid to speak his mind, even when it would get him into trouble. That boldness was something Nie Li admired about him, even if it often made their lives harder.

As her footsteps faded, Nie Li's eyes wandered, and his thoughts drifted again. Glory City. This place had a way of making sure you never forgot your place. One rule echoed through his mind: To be strong was to be everything. That was the harsh reality. Talent and strength decided your fate, and those without either were left to scrape by, watching from the sidelines.

The commoners—like Nie Li—were the backbone of Glory City, but they were overlooked, undervalued. The nobility, on the other hand, were born into privilege, their lives so far removed from his it was like they existed in different worlds. And above them all were the three great families: the Snow Wind Family, unrivaled in power; the Sacred Family, with their vast army; and the Divine Family, whose wealth seemed limitless.

Nie Li knew his place. He knew that the world didn't care about people like him. But still, deep down, a fire burned. He didn't want to accept this fate. He couldn't. One day, he'd break these chains. He'd rise. He'd be more than just a bystander in this world.

"Imagine that, Lu Piao," Nie Li said suddenly, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "One day, we'll be up there. Then we'll see who calls us losers."

Lu Piao shot Nie Li a grin, always quick to join in. "Yeah, and when that day comes, I'll be teaching a course on 'How to climb the social ladder - the Lu Piao way.'"

Nie Li laughed, the sound light, but his heart heavy with ambition. "Just make sure your first lesson isn't 'How to get ignored by every girl in Glory City.'"

Their banter was cut off by a wave of cheers. Du Zhe, a commoner who had somehow clawed his way to the Gold Rank, was stepping onto the stage. Nie Li stood, watching him, feeling a strange mix of admiration and frustration. Lu Piao stayed seated, slouching as if he couldn't care less.

"There goes Mr. Perfect," Lu Piao muttered, dripping with sarcasm.

Nie Li kept his eyes on Du Zhe, despite himself. "He's done well. He's joining the nobles after this, you know. Thanks to the Snow Wind Family."

Lu Piao yawned, as if this was all too dull for him. "Great. Another hero. As thrilling as watching grass grow."

Nie Li shook his head, amused. "Jealous much? Maybe if you spent more time practicing and less time sleeping, you'd be up there too."

Lu Piao waved him off, grinning. "Please, who needs to work hard when you've got natural charm like mine?"

Nie Li chuckled, shaking his head, but his gaze drifted back to Du Zhe. He couldn't help but wonder… what would it be like to stand there, to be recognized, to not feel like he was always in the shadows?

Before Nie Li could think further, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A low rumble that sent a jolt through his body.

Lu Piao's voice cut through his shock, laughing even in the chaos. "Looks like even the heavens have had enough of his show-off."

Nie Li was about to scold him when the deep, resonating toll of a bell filled the air. His heart sank. That bell… it only rang for one reason.

A horde of demon beasts. Glory City was under attack.

The principal's voice thundered across the assembly, it felt like the words were hanging in the air, wrapping around the students, echoing over and over again. "Warriors of tomorrow, heed my call! This is not just a test of your strength; it's a testament to our resolve. Our homes, our families, the very legacy of our ancestors stand threatened. Today, you must rise—not as students, but as defenders of Glory City. Let your courage be the beacon that guides us through this darkness. To arms, for Glory City, for our future!"

Nie Li's heart pounded faster with every word the principal spoke. Was that fear? Courage? He couldn't tell the difference anymore. The principal made it sound so grand, like they were heroes born for this moment, like their whole lives had led to this one fight. But all Nie Li could feel was a pit in his stomach—a cold, twisting fear that gripped him tighter than any battle stance. What if they weren't enough? What if all the training, all the years of dreaming about being powerful, didn't mean a damn thing when faced with reality?

Suddenly, a massive explosion shattered the sky to the south, and Nie Li felt his breath hitch. Smoke billowed into the air, black and thick, turning the horizon into a nightmare. His chest tightened as the words left his lips in a trembling whisper, "That's the Sacred Family's territory."

Beside him, Lu Piao's face was pale, his usual bravado stripped away, leaving nothing but raw worry. "Think they just ran off? Or worse... got wiped out already?" His voice was small, almost lost, and for the first time, Nie Li saw real fear in his friend's eyes—the kind that makes you feel like a kid again, powerless and scared.

Before Nie Li could answer, the principal's voice cut through the rising panic like a blade through flesh. "Students—no, warriors! Glory City needs your valor! Your families need your protection! This is the moment you've trained for! To battle!"

Nie Li watched as the stronger students transformed, their bodies merging with their demon spirits, energy crackling around them like a storm ready to burst. They looked like gods among men, charging forward with a sense of purpose he could only dream of. A part of Nie Li wanted to run with them, to throw himself into the fight and prove he was worthy. But another voice—quieter, more insidious—whispered that he wasn't ready, that he was just pretending to be brave while really wanting to hide.

"My dad's out there fighting," Lu Piao said, his voice cracking slightly as he forced a shaky smile. He looked at Nie Li, searching for some kind of reassurance. "And your family's probably safe in the shelters, right?"

Nie Li nodded, but even as he did, the lie tasted bitter on his tongue. "Yeah," he said, and he knew Lu Piao could hear the doubt in his voice, the same doubt that was eating him alive. Nie Li wanted to believe they were safe, but how could he? How could anyone, when the world was crumbling around them?

"Let's head to the shelters, then," Lu Piao said, his voice laced with something close to desperation. "No point dying like heroes today if we don't have to."

He was right. There was no point in throwing their lives away. They weren't ready for the front lines. "Yeah," Nie Li agreed, swallowing his pride. "Living to fight another day sounds a lot better than dying for nothing."

They took off running, their feet pounding against the ground, aiming for the statue of Lord Ye Mo—the beacon that marked the entrance to the underground shelters. But as they reached it, what they found was chaos. Pure, raw chaos. People were everywhere, pushing and shoving, shouting in panic as they tried to force their way into the shelter.

"Move aside! My family's more important than yours!" a nobleman screamed, his face twisted with desperation as he shoved a commoner aside like they were nothing. The sight of it made Nie Li's blood boil, made his hands clench into fists. How could they act like this? How could they be so blind to the fact that they were all in this mess together?

"How can they be so selfish at a time like this?" Lu Piao muttered, his voice shaking with anger and disbelief. "Don't they get that we're all in the same boat here?"

Nie Li opened his mouth to answer, to spit out his own rage, but the words froze in his throat. A sudden blast of icy air shot through the crowd, freezing everything it touched. His whole body locked up as the cold slammed into him, knocking him to his knees. He gasped, his eyes widening as he saw it—a massive Snow Devil Yeti, its eyes glinting with a cruel, malevolent intelligence. Its breath came out in puffs of icy mist, turning the very air into a weapon.

Nie Li's mind screamed at him to move, to do something, but he was rooted in place, terror flooding his veins. "This… this is bad," he whispered, his voice cracking, barely audible over the chaos. They couldn't fight this thing. They didn't stand a chance. He wasn't ready. They weren't ready.

Then, like a flash of lightning, the principal charged at the beast, his body glowing with power. For a split second, hope flared in Nie Li's chest. Maybe, just maybe, the principal could take it down. But the yeti's massive arm swung out, swatting him aside like he was nothing, sending him crashing into the ground. Nie Li watched in horror as the principal lay there, broken, unmoving. His stomach twisted into a tight knot, and he could taste the bile rising in his throat.

"Nie Li, we have to move!" Lu Piao's voice broke through his paralysis. He grabbed Nie Li's arm, yanking him back to reality. They scrambled toward the statue, desperate to get to the shelter, but a thick wall of ice blocked their way. They started pounding on it, their fists hitting the unyielding ice, frustration and fear boiling over.

Just when Nie Li thought they were out of options, Lu Piao turned to him with a strange look on his face—a mix of mischief and something else, something Nie Li couldn't quite place. "Hey, Nie Li," Lu Piao said, forcing a grin. "Check it out. Isn't that a pretty girl over there?"

"What? Are you serious?" Nie Li snapped, turning to glare at him, his disbelief boiling over. "Now's not the—"

Before Nie Li could finish, Lu Piao's fist came out of nowhere, slamming into his jaw with a force that sent him reeling. Pain exploded through Nie Li's skull, and everything went blurry. He staggered, struggling to stay conscious. What the hell was Lu Piao doing?

As the world around Nie Li faded to a blur, he saw Lu Piao's face, that stupid grin still plastered there, but his eyes—they were filled with something Nie Li had never seen before. Determination. Sacrifice. Sadness. Lu Piao shoved Nie Li through a gap in the ice, forcing him into the shelter.

"Get out of here, loser," Lu Piao said, his voice breaking into that familiar lopsided grin. And then, before Nie Li could even comprehend what was happening, Lu Piao turned his back to him and ran straight at the yeti, drawing it away from where Nie Li was trapped.

"No… no, Lu Piao…" Nie Li tried to shout, but the words were lost in the chaos, swallowed by the darkness closing in on him. His vision blurred completely, and his last thought was a scream inside his head—a scream of pure, unfiltered agony.

No. No! LU PIAO! NO!

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Nie Li struggled to his feet, his jaw throbbing with pain so intense it felt like his whole face was on fire. He glanced around, blinking through the haze, and realized he was standing in a frozen, crumbling hallway. The walls around him were jagged, as if they'd been ripped apart, and the ceiling sagged dangerously under the weight of ice, with icicles hanging like nature's daggers, waiting to fall. Each step he took sent a crunching echo through the silent corridor, and the chill bit through his skin, seeping into his bones.

Then, it hit him like a punch to the gut—the memory of Lu Piao's last moments. The image of Lu Piao sacrificing himself so Nie Li could escape burned itself into his mind. He felt like someone had ripped his heart out of his chest. His legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, a scream of anguish building in his throat that he couldn't even let out. Instead, a hoarse whisper slipped through his lips. "Lu Piao..."

His voice cracked, broken beyond repair. Nie Li could hardly breathe, and before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face. He wasn't the kind of guy who cried easily. Hell, he didn't even know he still had tears left in him. But right now, he was sobbing like a child—nose running, gasping for air, his whole body trembling with the force of it. He didn't care about revenge or getting back up to fight. All he could think about was that his best friend was gone. Lu Piao, the one who always had his back, was gone forever.

"Please... someone, anyone, save us," Nie Li begged, knowing full well that no one was coming. "Please save Lu Piao," he choked out, even though he knew it was too late. The words tasted like ashes on his tongue, hollow and desperate.

The roars of the monsters outside were getting louder, almost like they were mocking him, laughing at how pathetic he was. Nie Li covered his ears, trying to block it all out, but the noise was inescapable, ringing through his skull, driving nails into his sanity. Fear clung to him, sinking its claws in deeper with every second. He felt so alone, so useless, so utterly powerless. Why couldn't he save Lu Piao? Why was he the one left behind?

Nie Li kept replaying that moment over and over in his head, that split-second when Lu Piao made his choice. Maybe if he'd been stronger, smarter, faster—Lu Piao wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself. Maybe Nie Li could've done something—anything—to change what happened. But he didn't. He failed him. He failed his best friend.

"I'm sorry, Lu Piao. I'm so, so sorry," he whispered, his words swallowed by the emptiness around him. The apology felt meaningless, just another lie to comfort his broken soul. What was the point of saying sorry when Lu Piao wasn't there to hear it?

Staggering to his feet, Nie Li started to limp through the ruined hall, his gaze locked on the devastation left behind by those monsters. The shelter, the place that was supposed to be their safe haven, was nothing but a pile of rubble now. He kept moving, one shaky step at a time, his mind clinging to the hope that maybe these tunnels would lead him out of Glory City. His body screamed at him to stop, to rest, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. Survival wasn't a choice; it was a compulsion.

With every step he took, Nie Li could feel the wet warmth of his own blood pooling around his ankles, but he forced himself to ignore it. The commoners—they had believed in this shelter, in the idea that it would protect them. And now, they were dead. Just like that. Their lives ended in a heartbeat, without mercy, without meaning. It felt like the city had led them into a trap—a slaughterhouse masquerading as a sanctuary.

Nie Li's thoughts twisted into something dark, something bitter. Did the nobles even bother to lift a finger to save Glory City? He clenched his fists so hard his nails bit into his palms, drawing blood. What good was their power if they couldn't even defend the city that looked to them for protection? No, it wasn't that they couldn't—it was that they wouldn't. They used their power to save themselves, abandoning everyone else to their fate.

Was everything they believed about Glory City just a joke? Were they all just pawns, sacrifices in some sick game played by the powerful?

Nie Li thought of Lu Piao again. All his bravery, all his sacrifice—was it all for nothing? Was that the reward for risking his life, for putting his trust in a system that was rotten to its core? His chest felt like it was about to cave in from the anger, the helplessness. How many more lives had to be thrown away before someone up there decided they were worth saving?

Nie Li kept trudging through the darkness, each step heavier than the last. Was there even such a thing as heroes in this world, or was it all just a lie they told themselves to sleep at night? Maybe survival wasn't about courage or honor—it was just luck, pure and simple. A game for the privileged few who could afford to play.

He didn't know how long he walked. Hours, days—it all blurred together into an endless haze of pain and despair. Then, finally, he saw it—a thin ray of light piercing through the darkness. His legs moved on their own, dragging his battered body forward until he stumbled out into the open air. The cold wind slapped his face, sharp and real, like a slap to wake him from a nightmare.

Nie Li turned around, and his heart stopped. Glory City—what was left of it—lay in ruins. The proud buildings that had once stood like giants were now nothing more than shattered bones scattered across the ground. The streets where he had once walked, where he had laughed and dreamed, were dead silent, filled only with the echoes of what used to be.

And then he saw them—the bodies of the demon beasts, lying lifeless amidst the wreckage. It looked like some had fought to their last breath to defend this place, to protect what they loved. Nie Li wanted to believe that there had been courage here, that people hadn't just rolled over and died. That maybe, just maybe, someone had stood their ground and said, "Not today."

But as he stood there, staring at the ruins of everything he once knew, Nie Li couldn't shake the feeling that they'd all been fighting a losing battle. That all their hopes, their dreams, their lives—they'd been just another casualty in a world that didn't care.

And he wondered, was there ever really any hope for Glory City? Or had they all been fools from the very start?

The ground shook violently beneath Nie Li, the tremors making it impossible for him to stay on his feet. Instinct took over before he could even think—he darted behind a tree, his heart pounding in his chest. But deep down, he knew what was coming. He could feel it, the familiar, gut-wrenching presence of something far worse than any tremor.

He barely had time to process what was happening before the tree he was hiding behind was ripped from the ground like it was nothing. He saw it then—the Snow Devil Yeti. The very monster that had killed Lu Piao. The image of his best friend's sacrifice flashed before his eyes, and he was helpless to stop it from playing out all over again.

Time slowed as the Yeti's massive clawed hand slammed into the tree, sending Nie Li flying through the air like a ragdoll. His body twisted and turned, the world around him spinning out of control, and all he could think was not again. Not this monster, not this same nightmare.

When he hit the ground, pain exploded through his body like fire. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the rage that surged through him. A silent scream tore from his throat, tears burning hot tracks down his face. The Yeti's grin—a cruel, twisted thing—burned itself into his mind, and all he could think about was making it suffer. He needed to kill it, to destroy it, to end the nightmare.

But as he forced himself to run, each step sent that undeniable truth crashing back down on him. He wasn't strong enough. He was too weak. Pathetically weak. With every step, that reality echoed louder in his mind, tearing at whatever courage he had left. This wasn't about vengeance. This was about survival. If he didn't keep moving, Lu Piao's sacrifice would mean nothing. He couldn't let that happen.

The Yeti didn't care about any of that. With a single, monstrous motion, it uprooted the tree and hurled it toward Nie Li. He barely had time to react before the impact sent him flying again, deeper into the forest. He hit the ground with a sickening thud, and that's when he knew—something was terribly wrong.

Numbness crept through his body, spreading like a poison. He couldn't move. His legs wouldn't respond. My spine, he thought, the cold realization hitting him like a blow. His spine was shattered. He was paralyzed.

And there, in the treeline, the Yeti grinned at him, that horrible, sick grin, as if it was feeding off his agony. It was enjoying this—his suffering. He could see it. The pleasure it took in his despair.

Through the haze of pain and shock, Nie Li saw it launch an ice spike, massive and deadly, aimed directly at him. He watched it sail through the air in slow motion, knowing full well that this was it. His end. The spike buried itself in his stomach, but oddly, he felt no pain. Just cold. So cold.

Is this it? Is this how he dies? In the middle of a forgotten forest, at the hands of a monster, like some insignificant bug? Lu Piao's sacrifice, everything he had fought for—was it all meaningless? A cruel joke?

Nie Li thought he'd be filled with anger, but as he lay there, staring into the icy blue sky, all he felt was emptiness. In the end, he was nothing more than prey. Something to be squashed underfoot by a creature that wouldn't even remember him tomorrow.

As he braced for the end, something strange began to happen. Mist. Thick and disorienting, it swirled around him, like a blanket wrapping him up in its cold embrace. The Snow Devil Yeti vanished into the fog, as if it had never been there at all. Confusion clouded his thoughts, and then, like a punch to the gut, realization hit him.

The Devil's Forest.

Nie Li chuckled weakly, the sound turning into a cough that sent blood spilling from his mouth. The irony wasn't lost on him—the forbidden forest saved him, not the great walls of Glory City.

He tried to move, but the ice spike impaled through his body made sure he wouldn't be going anywhere. He stared at it, despair settling in his heart like a stone.

Kill yourself.

The thought was there, sharp and clear. If he had to die, at least it would be on his own terms, right? Better than waiting for some monster to finish him off. With what little strength he had left, Nie Li grabbed the ice spike and tried to thrust it into his throat.

The pain wasn't sharp—it was dull, distant, almost like a bad dream. But the worst part wasn't the pain. It was the failure. He couldn't even do this right. He hadn't pierced deep enough. Blood filled his lungs, and all he could hear was the horrible, wet gurgling sound of his own breaths.

Nie Li was suffocating, drowning in his own blood. The darkness crept closer, and his mind began to shut down, bit by bit. There was nothing left. No strength. No hope. He was going to die here, in the cold, all alone.

Funny. He always thought death would be more terrifying. But it wasn't. It was just... silence. A quiet, empty silence. He was too tired to be angry. Too tired to fight anymore. This was it. The end.

Maybe he'd see his family again. Maybe they had survived, and they'd meet in the afterlife. Or maybe they hadn't. Maybe it was better that way. The world outside Glory City was too harsh, too unforgiving. The thought of them suffering in it was worse than death.

Nie Li felt his consciousness slipping away, like water through his fingers. His soul force rushed through him, dying down with each passing second. One last ride, he thought. One last taste of what it felt like to be alive.

If only he had a second chance... maybe he could have done better. Maybe he could have saved Lu Piao. Saved Glory City.

But it was too late now.

With a faint smile on his blood-soaked lips, Nie Li let the darkness take him.

If only...

[ Activation Detected: The System of Simulation Engaged ]

[ Process Initiated: Fusing with Vessel Nie Li ]

[ Input Recognized: Nie Li desires power to save Glory City ]

[ Commencing: Optimal Action Simulation for Desire ]

[ Simulation Progress: 1% ]

[ Simulation Progress: 2% ]

[ Simulation Progress: 10% ]

[ Simulation Progress: 100% ]

[ Status: Simulation Complete ]

[ Operation Initiated: Simulation System Guide Framework ]

[ Command: Begin... ]

He felt a peculiar sensation, as if he was floating in an endless void. He blinked, confused.

[ Notification: Simulation System Activation ]

[ Player Selected: Nie Li ]

[ Options on the Screen: ]

- [ Continue ]

- [ Load from a Saved Point ]

- [ Start Over ]

Was this some kind of twisted dream?

He tried to reach out, to touch the text, but his hands wouldn't respond.

His entire body felt weightless, and a chilling numbness had set in. Was this a second chance?

[ Options on the Screen: ]

- [ Continue ]

- [ Load from a Saved Point ]

- [ Start Over ]

What if he could change it all?

Start over?

The characters seemed to pulse, as if reacting to his inner turmoil.

Maybe this was a hallucination, a product of his dying mind, but he couldn't shake off the hope it inspired.

He mentally reached out to the option that read Start Over.

[ You have selected Start Over ]