Ch 25: The Anomaly
The system notification floated ominously in the blood-red sky, casting its faint glow on the world below.
To most, this surreal proclamation would have been incomprehensible... a sign of chaos and fear.
But to Ye Tian, it was nothing but a fleeting annoyance.
He crossed his arms, his dark eyes fixated on the glowing text.
"A system notification?" he muttered to himself.
"Really? How cliché."
It was almost amusing.
After all, he had witnessed the birth and death of countless universes, the rise and fall of beings far more terrifying than this contrived spectacle.
Still, a faint flicker of intrigue sparked within him. His thoughts drifted to a memory... distant, hazy, but familiar.
'A tower...' he mused, narrowing his eyes.
'Trials. Mortals forced into games of survival and power. Where have I seen this before?'
It clicked.
Back on Earth, he had read stories of such things.
Beings of minor authority appearing, forcing entire civilizations into deadly trials, and selecting the strongest to ascend to a mythical Tower.
As the pieces aligned, the system screen flickered and updated...
---
[Connection has been established between Planet 044 and the Tower.]
---
A smirk tugged at Ye Tian's lips.
"Bingo."
Above him, the angel's expression shifted slightly.
Her serene, holier-than-thou demeanor wavered, her cerulean eyes scanning the world below with newfound intensity.
"Now, now..." she murmured, her voice dripping with icy amusement.
"What do we have here? An anomaly? Or... a remnant of the past?"
Her gaze swept across the landscape, and to Ye Tian's surprise, it landed directly on him.
For the first time in eons, Ye Tian felt a flicker of unease.
'She noticed me?' he thought, his brows furrowing.
'No. That's impossible. Her divinity is too weak. There's no way she could detect me... unless someone else is involved.'
Her gaze lingered, and before he could react, her figure flickered and vanished.
"Now..."
Her voice echoed from behind him, cold and commanding.
"Would you like to explain yourself?" she asked, her tone deceptively calm.
"Or shall I use my methods to make you talk?"
Ye Tian turned slowly, his expression unreadable. But to his surprise, the angel wasn't looking at him.
Her piercing gaze was fixed on Li Na, who stood frozen in fear.
Shock rippled through Ye Tian's mind.
'Li Na?' he thought, his fists clenching.
'What does she have to do with this?'
The angel's voice sharpened.
"How long are you going to keep up this pathetic act, human?" she demanded, her tone laced with disdain.
"Or should I call you by what you truly are?"
A cold chill ran down Ye Tian's spine.
His instincts screamed at him... something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Before he could process further, Li Na broke into a run.
Her fear seemed to melt away as she darted toward Ye Tian, her movements swift and deliberate.
She reached him in moments, clutching tightly to his arm and hiding behind him.
"Y-Ye Tian..." she whimpered, her voice trembling.
"Save me... please!"
Tears streamed down her face, soaking the back of his tattered shirt.
For a moment, Ye Tian remained still, his expression unreadable.
But as the seconds passed, realization dawned upon him. Piece by piece, the puzzle began to come together.
'This isn't fear...' he thought, his sharp gaze falling on her trembling frame.
'This is *acting*.'
Her calculated movements. Her sudden shift from terror to helplessness.
The subtle flicker of something unnatural beneath her tear-streaked face.
And then, the memory he had buried deep within his mind resurfaced with brutal clarity.
The earthquake.
That day, three years ago.
They had been walking together, laughing, blissfully unaware of the disaster about to strike.
When the ground split open, he had tried... desperately... to shield her. But he had failed.
He could still see it... her blood pooling around his hands, her lifeless form cradled in his arms.
Her head... crushed beyond recognition by a fallen boulder.
"No..." he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with quiet rage.
"Li Na is dead. She's been dead for three years."
His dark eyes locked onto the girl clinging to him, her trembling frame now nothing more than an illusion.
His expression softened, his lips curling into a kind, almost gentle smile.
"Li Na..." he said softly, reaching out to touch her cheek.
His hand brushed away a tear, his touch light and tender.
She looked up at him, hope flickering in her wide, tearful eyes.
"Y-Ye Tian..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
His hand glided down her face, his fingers tracing her jawline.
Then, with a sudden motion, his hand locked around her throat.
Her eyes widened in shock, her hands clawing at his arm as she struggled to breathe.
"W-Why..." she choked out, her voice weak and raspy.
Ye Tian's smile faded, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Because..." he said, his voice low and venomous...
"the real Li Na died beside me. I watched her die. Felt her blood on my hands. And you... you're nothing but a fraud."
His grip tightened, the sickening sound of bones cracking echoing in the air.
The being pretending to be Li Na thrashed wildly, her body radiating an unnatural energy.
But Ye Tian's grip was unyielding.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Let me show you what happens to those who dare to play with me."
With a sickening crunch, her neck snapped.
Her body convulsed violently, blood gushing from her mouth as her life slipped away.
He didn't stop there.
His fingers dug into her throat, crushing the fragile bones with ruthless precision.
Blood splattered across the room, painting the walls, the floor, and Ye Tian himself.
Finally, with a brutal motion, he clenched his fist.
Her neck gave way entirely, and her severed head fell to the ground with a wet thud.
The headless body dangled for a moment before collapsing, spraying blood everywhere.
Ye Tian stood over the lifeless corpse, his expression cold and unfeeling.
Blood dripped from his fingertips, pooling at his feet.
A system window materialized before him, its dark aura matching the intensity of the moment.
---
[Hidden Quest Cleared]
---
*****
• Author Note:-
Howz it going y'all?
Well well... I'm back with an announcement!
This chapter marks the last free chapter!
Time for me to start taking crazy amount of money from y'all kek.
With that news, I'm here to convey the message and some hints about future events so you'll buy em chapters.
As u might've noticed the system trope... Then yes a new... Completely unique system will be introduced for ye tian.
And yes he'll be a villain through and through...!
Anyways, I'll be back with a mass release in a few hours!
Ciao!