Chapter 54: Stepping Into the Rift

The air rippled like reflections on a disturbed lake. Reality was breaking apart. The cracks widened, swallowing everything around them.

Lin Han could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet, as if the very foundation of the world was collapsing.

His instincts screamed—time was running out.

P01 stood at the edge of the rift, his expression calm, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"One last time—will you stay, or will you follow me?"

His voice was quiet, but carried a weight that left no room for hesitation.

Noya's grip on Lin Han's arm tightened, her fingertips ice-cold, breath unsteady.

Ah Rong's teeth clenched. "Tiu leh! This isn't a choice—it's between dying here or dying somewhere else!"

Lin Han exhaled sharply, his gaze turning resolute.

"Take us to the real Genting."

P01's lips curved slightly as he nodded. "Good."

Then—he stepped backward into the rift and vanished.

Lin Han didn't hesitate. He grabbed Noya's hand and jumped in. Ah Rong swore loudly before forcing himself to leap after them.

Instantly, the world flipped upside down.

A force yanked them through endless darkness.

Distant voices whispered in their ears, as if unseen beings were speaking just out of reach. The sound was both haunting and familiar, like echoes of a world they had long forgotten.

Lin Han's vision blurred, his body dissolving and reassembling at the same time.

Then—

Silence.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar city.

Neon lights flickered, casting reflections onto wet pavement. The air smelled of burning incense and overheated electronics. The entire city was a contradiction—ancient yet futuristic, blending the past and the present into something unnatural.

Ah Rong blinked rapidly, his mouth slightly open. "Walau eh… where the hell are we?"

Noya turned in a slow circle, taking in their surroundings. "This… doesn't feel like the real world."

Lin Han felt it too.

Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, but their architecture resembled ancient temples. Carvings of forgotten gods and celestial symbols lined their exteriors. Golden charms and talismans floated in midair, shifting like holographic projections, yet radiating an undeniable sense of power.

But the most unsettling thing was—

None of the people walking past them had shadows.

This was not Kuala Lumpur.

P01 stood beside them, hands in his pockets, an amused look on his face. "Welcome to the real Genting."

Lin Han's throat felt dry. "Where are we?"

P01 gazed at the distant skyline. "You're standing outside reality."

"What you know as Genting is merely a reflection—this place, however, is its source."

Ah Rong swallowed. "You're talking nonsense, bro."

Noya inhaled sharply, steadying herself. "Then… where exactly are we?"

P01 smirked and raised a finger, pointing toward something in the distance.

Lin Han followed his gaze and—his breath caught in his throat.

Beyond the towering cityscape stood a familiar structure—Genting Casino.

But unlike the one they knew, this version of the casino had a colossal golden serpent coiled around its roof.

"That's…" Noya's voice trailed off in disbelief.

P01's voice was calm. "That is the 'Original Genting.'"

"A world built on faith, fate, deals, and sacrifices."

Lin Han's hands curled into fists. "What the hell is going on?"

P01 let out a quiet chuckle. "Did you really think G.T.G was just a corporate entity?"

Noya's expression darkened.

Lin Han's mind raced, piecing together scattered clues.

Finally, he spoke the words aloud: "G.T.G… They're not just a company, are they? They control reality itself."

P01 looked pleased. "You're finally catching up."

"You assumed G.T.G was just a powerful corporation—managing casinos, finance, and global trade. But that's only its surface."

"Its true purpose is to govern how reality functions."

Lin Han's spine went rigid.

P01's tone remained light, almost playful. "You stepping into this world means you've already broken free from the rules of your own."

Then he turned to Lin Han, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"But the real question is—can you survive outside the system?"

A deep, resounding chime echoed across the city.

Pedestrians froze in place, their heads slowly turning in unison.

Lin Han's stomach dropped.

Their faces were expressionless, their gazes empty—yet all of them wore the same unsettling, thin-lipped smile.

Ah Rong took a slow step back. "Walau eh… they're all looking at us."

P01 sighed. "Of course they are."

"You don't belong here. And the system is already trying to correct that."

Noya's fingers clenched. "What do you mean by 'correct'?"

P01 shrugged casually. "Simple. If you don't do something… this world will erase you."

Lin Han's breath quickened.

The real fight had only just begun.