Dark

In the stygian depths, where shadows swirled in a vortex of obscurity, a solitary soul traversed an aimless trajectory amidst the darkest of dark, guided by an unseen force.

After meandering for mere moments, it beheld scenes of desolation and decay that lay in its path.

Continuing its odyssey, it stumbled upon an oasis of resplendent brilliance, a realm untouched by darkness, where colors painted a tranquil tableau.

Yet, as it ventured further, the soul encountered the ruins once more, caught in an inexorable cycle, eternally repeating.

Each iteration cast before the soul a kaleidoscope of experiences: from the grim spectacles of eldritch horrors and cosmic annihilation to the radiant vistas of pure bliss adorned with vivid hues.

Initially, the soul quivered under the weight of these visions, gripped by awe and terror. But as they replayed ceaselessly, a determination took hold, and it sought to comprehend the enigmatic cycle, yearning to break free from its unending grip.

Alas, in its endeavor, the soul discovered its grasp too feeble, its hands falling frustratingly short in the pursuit of a resolution.

"Do you wish to change it?" A profound voice reverberated through the dark, echoing into the depths of darkness.

Startled by the abrupt utterance, the soul flinched and cast wary glances in every direction.

Gradually, an imposing throne materialized within the shadows. Seated upon it was a mysterious, humanoid form draped in darkness, with eyes ablaze in a haunting crimson hue, causing the very essence of the dim realm to quiver with trepidation.

The soul gazed in awe at this enigmatic figure, sensing an inexplicable connection, and instinctively extended its hand in a feeble attempt to reach out.

In the next fleeting moment, everything dissolved, and the darkness resumed its immutable stillness, as though untouched by the transient encounter.

—

As dawn broke, the crimson sun cast its radiant light over the town, signalling a new day and creating an incredible sight for those who were still in the starships.

"An unusual dream," Luo Yin thought.

Early in the morning, Luo Yin made his way through the hotel's corridors towards the lounge. "Last night was quite troublesome," He reflected, "A battle outside the Battlefield surely is not so favorable to say the least."

After traversing the hotel's corridors for a while, Luo Yin finally arrived at the lounge. The room was spacious, with shimmering golden walls, and a plethora of chairs and tables arranged in an orderly manner.

As he entered, Luo Yin surveyed the area, noting several familiar and unfamiliar faces. He made his way through the cluster of tables and chairs and settled down on the table on which Chang Jianhong and Zhao Fengge were seated.

"Good morning."

Zhao Fengge and Chang Jianhong greeted Luo Yin as he settled down on his seat.

"Good morning." Luo Yin replied in kind as well.

Soon, Mu Kongdong appeared and sat on the same table as well.

"Good morning," Mu Kongdong cordially greeted everyone, as he took his seat. His welcoming demeanor was reflected in the smile he wore, which served as a polite gesture.

"Good morning, Kiddo," Zhao Fengge greeted him.

"Good morning," And so did Chang Jianhong.

"Haha, Why must you call him a Kiddo, Old Man Zhao?" Chang Jianhong asked as he chuckled a little.

"Just because he is one, I suppose?" Zhao Fengge replied with a smile hovering on his complexion, "But I must tell you that I'm still not beyond the century mark in terms of age and as such I am no Old Man, Femboy Chang."

"Haha, you must be joking!" Chang Jianhong said as he maintained a calm smile although nerves formed on his forehead slowly but steadily.

And they sort of got into a little conflict.

In response to My Kongdong, Luo Yin simply greeted him as well, acknowledging his presence with a small nod.

Mu Kongdong, curious to know more about Luo Yin's recent activities, playfully inquired, "So, what have you been up to with that Mei Ling?"

Maintaining his composure, Luo Yin casually responded, "Nothing."

"Unwilling to speak," Mu Kongdong mused quietly.

Soon, two hotel staff appeared, each holding a tray of tea cups which they served to everyone. Everyone took a sip of the tea, including Luo Yin.

"This isn't the same as before, but it's definitely not bad," Luo Yin mused as he savored the tea's flavor.

"This tea is different. Why is that?" Chang Jianhong inquired, his expression quizzical as he enjoyed the beverage.

"I'm curious as well," Luo Yin concurred, glancing towards Chang Jianhong.

"Right," remarked Chang Jianhong, "The herbs cultivated on this Globe World should be of superior quality. The fact that they are grown by harnessing an immense amount of pure world energy is a testament to that. However, I must confess that this tea does not match the standards of the one we savored yesterday in the Grand Pavilion."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Although this tea is not bad, it is not exceptional either. One can procure similar ones in the Alliance, but they come with a hefty price tag and are only accessible to those who have gained fame, such as Admirals."

Luo Yin nodded in agreement and added, "I concur with your assessment. The one we relished yesterday was brewed using herbs from a realm far above the average herbs."

Chang Jianhong nodded his head in approval, "Indeed, Indeed! It appears that I have finally found someone who can appreciate the nuances of tea," he remarked with a grin on his face.

With a small chuckle, Luo Yin replied, "It seems like you have indeed found someone who can appreciate the subtleties of tea."

To Luo Yin, appreciating the nuances of tea was second nature, as he held the title of Tea Sipping Young Master, which testified to his exceptional palate.

"Aren't they a bit too much into the Tea Complex?" Mu Kongdong thought as he observed Luo Yin and Chang Jianhong.

Observing their conversation, a few others joined in, expressing their appreciation for the tea. Even some of the natives of this Globe World tagged along with them.

"More…? Is the Tea Complex that big a thing nowadays?" Mu Kongdong couldn't help but wonder as he continued to observe them.

As they chatted, Mu Kongdong turned his attention towards the entrance of the Lounge, anticipating someone's arrival.

Before long, Senior Li Mingze strode into the room, and everyone turned to face him.

"It appears that my arrival didn't go unnoticed," remarked Senior Li Mingze with a smile on his face, acknowledging the group of Admirals.

Zhang Yu responded, "We couldn't have missed the arrival of a Senior like you."

Li Mingze chuckled in response, "I'm sure that you people have plenty of questions for me."

Mu Kongdong injected, "That's certainly true."

Li Mingze looked at each Admiral present for a moment before continuing, "Well, it was a test to gauge the extent of your abilities."

He then took a seat on a nearby chair, and not too long after, a hotel staff appeared and served him a cup of tea.

They noted Senior Li Mingze's reluctance to speak up and share details, and realized that the Senior was unwilling to divulge more information. As such they chose not to press the issue further.

Luo Yin took a sip of his tea and asked, "What about the person we captured last night? Does Senior Li Mingze have any information about that?"

Senior Li Mingze responded promptly, "Yes. It wasn't an easy task, but he has spoken up."

Mu Kongdong interjected, "So, who is behind him?"

Li Mingze's expression turned furious, and he replied, "Who else could it be but the old bag of bones of the ill-mannered, useless existences which only knows how to spread chaos, destroying the lives of innumerable innocent people."

Mu Kongdong was taken aback by Senior Li Mingze's sudden outburst and stuttered, "O-Oh, I see."

The group fell silent and chose not to speak any further. They sat quietly in the Lounge, enjoying their tea.

The Lounge exuded elegance and grandeur with its spacious layout and exquisite design, yet it remained sparsely populated save for the few groups of the native people present.

Only a handful of individuals passed through the Lounge, possibly owing to the early hour.

As time ticked by, Senior Li Mingze suddenly remembered something. "Ah, I almost forgot. We have an important guest arriving soon."

"Who might they be?" Mu Kongdong inquired.

"He is an individual of great significance and will undoubtedly have a pivotal role to play in the future," Li Mingze replied. "As for his identity, that will reveal itself in due course."

Not long after, a striking figure in a black garment resembling that of a prince appeared at the Lounge entrance.

With black hair, reddish-brown eyes, pale skin, and jet-black nails, he stood tall and exuded an air of sophistication.

Scanning the Lounge with a keen eye, he strode purposefully towards the group of tables occupied by the Admirals.

"He has arrived," Li Mingze declared with a smile as the other Admirals turned their attention to the newcomer.

With a few strides, the man arrived before them, bowing respectfully as he addressed them. "The name's Asmodeus. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance."

He slowly lifted his head to share gazes with them with a grin visible on his pale complexion as his eyes shone brilliantly.