2 The Golden Symbol

Xinyue thought things were going well. She left the military after being stuck there for four years. They paid for her college and she was on her way to become a mathematician. The military benefits would last until she died of old age while she followed her dream job.

She was born poor in the year 2025, and could not afford college. At the age of five, she watched the remaining oil reserves deplete, causing worldwide tensions. But no war happened due to advancing technology and national efforts to prevent a war. In the year 2043, she joined the military for the sake of her dream. She used her efforts to become a field grade officer which heavily relied on mathematics. But the military wasn't her interest, so she left in the year 2047 at the age of 22 to enter a good college.

But her luck seemed to run out. Just as she about to earn her Bachelor's degree in mathematics, the remaining fossil reserves dried out. Despite every country's efforts to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, they didn't make it in time. Tensions rose even more and the 3rd World War broke out.

Her country wasn't at all a superpower and was invaded. All the men were drafted, but suffered heavy casualties under enemy fire. She was recalled back to active duty because her eight-year obligation hadn't expired despite being let out. If she had been given a week, she would've escaped the obligation.

Her usefulness in mathematics paid off and earned great contributions to her country. It was unfortunate that they were surrounded by enemies on all sides. They lost the war gradually and she perished after being assassinated by her junior officer in a sneak attack.

As of right now, her pure white soul continues to wander the boundless void of purgatory with a clear mind contrary to the countless impure souls that were neither accepted by heaven or hell. She hears the occasional impure dark souls of the dead howling, screaming, weeping, crying, and begging with unclear minds. She had long got used to those sounds after an unknown amount of time and had long passed her depression.

Xinyue was an atheist and never religious, so it makes sense to be banished into purgatory.

She suddenly noticed a faint light in the void, something she hadn't seen in what felt like eternity. Xinyue floated towards it and the light gradually grew brighter and more golden. She accelerated and got closer and closer. Is this the entrance to heaven? She wondered. Even though I never accomplished my dream, maybe they'll be in need of mathematics in heaven.

It continued to grow brighter and brighter, like a beacon in the darkness. It's brightness illuminated the dark souls that floated in the void. The souls screeched and pounced towards it like hungry banshees. She got close enough to recognize that it wasn't a path to heaven but a large object. It was a huge golden wheel with ancient patterns all across its surface. It released a constant ancient aura that seemed as if it existed from the beginning. Numerous icons were on each section of the wheel. What the heck is this? Some type of wheel spinning game? She wondered.

A vibrant golden barrier surrounded the wheel and seemed to protect it. The black souls that touched it sizzled like boiling water. But the souls continued to pounce on it like they had gone insane. Their black souls released black steam as their bodies became more pure upon contact. But the barrier seemed unfazed.

Xinyue's soul itself was never black but a milky white. But she felt an instinctual temptation. She eased closer towards it and found a small spot that hadn't been occupied yet as the souls piled up.

She entered the gap and touched the golden barrier. Shockingly, she passed through it with no resistance, while the others roared and screeched. I guess that my soul must be pure, hence it's milky appearance, which is why I was allowed through. She guessed.

The golden wheel reacted to her presence as the ancient patterns on it lit up with a bright red demonic glow. A blue light appeared at the top and condensed into the shape of an arrowhead. The wheel began to spin and rapidly accelerated. After reaching a high speed, it slowed down by itself and she felt nervous for some reason, like it was determining her fate. It came to a crawl and landed on an icon representing the brain. The icon faded away and revealed a symbol that she somehow recognized instinctively.

[Telekinesis]

Xinyue was stunned, and couldn't help but be confused at the same time. Before she could question, the symbol floated off the wheel and rapidly entered her soul. It felt like an explosion happened inside as everything was broken down. Even though she had a tough will, it felt like a creature was gnawing on her very existence. She struggled to stay conscious as the pain destroyed her ability to think. But it was too much, and she was destined to succumb to it sooner or later. She lost conscious and entered darkness.