Chapter 77 – Breaking the Eternal Bond

Rin stepped into the True Underworld, and the world he once knew faded behind him. The realm was a void—a vast, unending expanse of blackness where not a single sound could be heard, not even the faintest whisper of wind. There were no stars, no sky, no ground. Only an empty, infinite expanse that stretched beyond the limits of perception, leaving nothing but a cold, palpable silence. The air was thick with a profound stillness, an unbroken and suffocating silence that seemed to seep into his very soul.

The True Underworld was the final frontier, the end of all things. Here, there were no emotions, no memories, no desires. It was a place where souls no longer clung to the past or the future. Time, as it had once existed, did not reach here. The realm was untouched by the laws of the mortal world, immune to the power of the immortals. It was a place beyond life, beyond death, and beyond the reach of anything that could be called power. Only pure existence remained, stripped of all meaning.

As Rin ventured deeper into the void, he felt a strange weight pressing against him. It was not physical, but it was there—a sensation that permeated his very being. It was as though the True Underworld was pressing into his mind, challenging him to let go of everything he had ever known. Every step he took felt like he was shedding a layer of himself, each breath pulling him further away from the familiar, and closer to something incomprehensible.

In the distance, something moved—a figure, a silhouette standing at the center of the endless expanse. Its presence was both unsettling and serene, like the calm before a storm. The figure was tall, its form indistinct, shrouded in an aura of pure death. The air around it seemed to warp and twist as if reality itself recoiled at its proximity. Rin's instincts screamed at him, urging him to turn back, but he pressed forward, his gaze fixed on the being.

The figure did not move as Rin approached. It simply stood there, waiting, as though it had always been there and always would be. As Rin drew closer, the figure's shape began to solidify, revealing a being that was both terrifying and majestic. Its skin was like the surface of a dead star—dark and cracked, its body wrapped in a cloak of shadow that seemed to consume the very light around it. Its face was featureless, save for two piercing eyes that glowed with an eerie, ethereal light, like the cold light of distant stars.

"You have arrived," the being said, its voice resonating in Rin's mind, not through the air but directly within his thoughts. The sound was deep, vast, and infinite, carrying with it the weight of countless eons.

Rin's heart quickened. The presence of this being was overwhelming. It was not simply a creature of death; it was the essence of death itself—a force that transcended all understanding. This was no mere illusion or projection. This was the True Underworld, and this being was its embodiment.

"I have come to break the cycle," Rin said, his voice steady despite the unease that twisted in his gut. He had faced countless horrors, but this place—this being—was something entirely different. It was as though death itself was watching him, waiting for him to make his choice.

The being regarded him with its glowing eyes, and a slow, deliberate smile stretched across its face. "You seek to escape the cycle, but what will you become if you sever your bond to the mortal realm? You, who have lived in its shadow, clinging to its emotions, its desires. You are bound by the very nature of life and death, just as all mortals are."

Rin stood tall, though his mind swirled with doubts. He had long wondered if immortality was truly a blessing or a curse, if living forever was worth the price of unending suffering. The immortals were trapped in their own endless struggle, pursuing power that only led to more conflict, more death. Was it any different for him? Was this cycle that he had been trying to escape—this endless dance of life and death—merely an illusion, a trap created by his own mind?

"I refuse," Rin said, his voice sharp as a sword. "I refuse to be a prisoner of immortality. Death is not a prison. It is freedom. It is a choice."

The being's expression did not change, but Rin could feel the weight of its gaze deepen, as though it were peering into his very soul. "You would forsake eternity itself? You would refuse the chance to become one with the flow of existence, to transcend the cycle and wield power beyond measure?"

Rin clenched his fists, feeling the cold, oppressive atmosphere of the Underworld pressing against him, trying to suffocate him. The being's words struck at the core of his being—what if immortality was the true path to power? What if death was simply an illusion, a false freedom created by weak beings too afraid to truly embrace existence?

But Rin had learned long ago that power born of fear, of running from death, was hollow. Immortality was not the answer. He had seen what it did to those who sought it—how it corrupted them, twisted them into something unrecognizable. He had no desire to be trapped in an endless cycle of life, driven by ambition and fear. What he sought was something far more profound. He sought the ability to control death, to shape it, to wield it as his own.

"I will not become what you offer," Rin said, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "I am not afraid to die. I am not afraid to embrace death on my own terms. True power lies not in eternal life, but in the ability to choose death when the time is right."

The being's eyes glowed brighter, its form pulsing with an unsettling energy. The air grew colder, and the ground beneath Rin's feet seemed to tremble. "You seek to transcend death itself? To become its master? You are a fool, mortal. To break free from the cycle of life and death is to sever yourself from the very essence of existence. You will be nothing. A hollow shell, lost in the void."

Rin's heart steadied, and he felt a strange sense of clarity wash over him. "If that is what it takes, then I will embrace nothingness. But I will not be consumed by it. I will master it. I will break the eternal bond and reshape the very nature of death."

The being's gaze hardened, its expression unreadable. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, a profound stillness that filled the void. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, the being raised its hand, and Rin felt a surge of power—pure, unadulterated death—rush through him.

The force was overwhelming, unlike anything he had ever felt. It was not the cold, hollow death of the mortal world, nor the death of battle or loss. It was the death of all things—the end of time itself, the cessation of existence. It was a death that did not fear, did not mourn, but simply was.

For a moment, Rin thought he would be consumed, swallowed whole by the power. But he resisted, clinging to the understanding he had gained through his long journey. Death was not an end. It was a beginning. It was a force that could be shaped, a power to be wielded.

As the death energy surged through him, Rin's mind expanded. He could see beyond the veil of mortality, beyond the cycle of reincarnation. He understood now, with perfect clarity, that death was not a punishment. It was not a curse. It was a gift—a choice. To embrace death on his own terms was to transcend all limitations. It was to become something greater than the immortals who feared it.

With a roar, Rin shattered the energy that sought to bind him, and the true Dao of Death unfolded before him, like a vast, infinite expanse. He could feel its power coursing through him, reshaping his very being. He was no longer bound by the cycle. He was free.

The being in front of him stood in stunned silence as Rin's aura flared, a dark, ethereal light that seemed to consume the very fabric of the True Underworld itself.

"You have done it," the being whispered, its voice filled with something akin to awe.

Rin's gaze was unwavering as he looked at the entity. "I have broken the eternal bond. I am no longer bound by the cycle of death and life. I am the master of death. And I choose when it ends."

The True Underworld began to tremble, as though it could no longer contain the power that had been unleashed. But Rin stood tall, unshaken, his heart filled with a new sense of purpose. Death was no longer something to fear. It was something to wield. And in that moment, Rin understood that he had transcended not just life and death—but existence itself.

And with that realization, he knew that his journey had only just begun.

To be continued…