Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past

The moon cast its silver light over the land of Sol III, illuminating patches of the foggy earth, while atop a mountain, a dimly lit cave flickered with the soft glow of a crackling fire. Outside, the rhythmic patter of rain added a soothing melody to the night.

Inside the cave, Kyorin sat cross-legged, deep in meditation. His breathing was slow and steady, his body unmoving, as if lost in a world beyond the quiet cave.

Nearby, DEVA hovered, her faint crimson glow barely illuminating the space. She observed Kyorin intently, her singular lens focused on every subtle movement.

'He has been meditating for 13 hours now,' she noted, her tone analytical yet laced with mild curiosity. Though she kept her distance, DEVA had meticulously tracked each shift, recording every minor change in his posture and breath, trying to understand the deeper workings of his mind.

Kyorin's hands rested on his knees, his fingers shifting through symbolic gestures—mudras—as time passed. He began by pressing his palms together, then interlaced his pinky and ring fingers within his palms.

His middle fingers extended to touch at the tips, while his thumbs and index fingers formed interlocking rings. Flipping the mudra upside down, he lowered it to his pelvic region—the Muladhara Mudra.

After several hours, Kyorin's hands shifted. He brought his palms to his chest, pressing the tips of his pinky and ring fingers together.

His thumbs folded into his palms beneath the index and middle fingers, and he brought the knuckles of these fingers close, leaving a small gap of 0.3 cm. Lowering his hands just below his navel, he formed the Shakti Mudra.

Gradually, Kyorin placed his palms face-up on his thighs. He touched the tips of his thumbs, index, and ring fingers together while straightening his pinky and middle fingers, forming the Rudra Mudra.

And finally, Kyorin brought his palms to his heart, touching the outer edges of his pinky fingers and thumbs together. He pressed the heels of his hands together, allowing his fingers to blossom open, extending through all ten fingertips—The Padma Mudra.

As Kyorin's palms rested in the Padma Mudra, a wave of tranquillity overwhelmed him. Tears of ecstasy trickled down his face, transforming his once expressionless features into a mask of intoxication and bliss.

His breathing became so rhythmic that it seemed almost nonexistent, perfectly attuned to the natural frequency of the universe around him.

DEVA noticed this shift. Earlier, he had instructed her not to disturb him, but now uncertainty clouded her thoughts.

Was he truly meditating, or had his mind drifted elsewhere? The steady, deliberate shifts in his hand positions indicated focus, yet the tear glistening in the firelight hinted at something deeper.

Hovering closer, DEVA examined the droplet with a mix of intrigue and concern.

'Is he recalling a bad memory? ' she pondered, her synthetic mind cycling through possibilities. Yet, as she scanned his face, her confusion deepened. His expression, though streaked with tears, was not contorted in pain or sorrow; instead, it radiated calm and serenity—almost... ecstasy.

'Why is his expression so peaceful? ' she mused, struggling to reconcile the tear with the contentment emanating from him.

For DEVA, the complexity of human emotion remained an enigma. She could analyze data, predict outcomes, and manipulate time, but understanding Kyorin's inner state—this strange blend of emotion and meditation—eluded her grasp.

Kyorin was enveloped in calm as a single tear cascaded down to his blooming lotus palm—*drip*.

The tear fell silently, unnoticed until it hit his hand. At first, it seemed inconsequential, just a drop of water, but then...

*Shrriiiipp*

A subtle, dissonant frequency emerged, reverberating through the air. Kyorin's acute senses detected it immediately, the disturbance interrupting his harmonious breathing.

"!!!" His eyes flew open, narrowing at the fallen tear. Instinctively, he realized that the tear wasn't the source of the resonance; it was the world itself, responding to his joyous emotions as if in agony.

"DEVA," Kyorin called out, and she glided closer. "Yes, Boss? "

Kyorin's eyes remained fixated on the tear. "This world... Why is it crying? " he telepathically asked, prompting DEVA to tilt her head, "Crying?" she asked.

"Something must have happened, causing the world to cry in agony," Kyorin explained. DEVA's lens widened, and small wires protruded from her back, digging deep into the earth as if connecting her to the world.

After a moment, DEVA's sensors buzzed in alarm. Her lens displayed a projection of twin moons aligning. "DANGER! A Thernodian has awakened in the far east, in the civilization of Haungloong!"

Kyorin narrowed his eyes, humming thoughtfully. "Hmm." 

"Boss, I think we should move out," DEVA urged.

Kyorin nodded, rising and heading toward the cave entrance. As he gazed at the sky, he spotted a twin blood moon hanging low, where countless soldiers led by a man with silver hair and black robes wielding a giant blade battled massive hordes of TDs below the crescent.

"Boss, we must assist them," DEVA suggested.

"Can you tell me something? " Kyorin telepathically asked.

"Yes, boss," DEVA responded

"What is a Thernodian exactly? " He questioned via their mental link.

DEVA almost tripped midair, taken aback by his question. She had expected him to ask 'how to help'. But still... This was a good opportunity to explain the world's evils to him.

"Before telling you that, I believe I should explain a bit about the world's past, Boss." Kyorin glanced at her and nodded, granting her permission.

DEVA began, "60,000 years ago, during the Great War..."

She recounted how a foolish individual named Luceria sought world domination but ended up destroying it instead. The Crimson Shepherd had saved the world by sealing away the fallen souls of vengeful soldiers.

However, their anger remained, eventually leading to the first lament. Now, one of the Thernodians—a manifestation of the collective human will, born from darkness—had awakened. These creatures could destroy the human spirit and feed off collapsed wills.

As DEVA's explanation concluded, Kyorin mentally remarked, "I see, no wonder the TDs from earlier have also retreated from this island."

"Right, Boss," DEVA replied, floating up to scan the island below. "No anomalies detected."

"Great!" Kyorin exclaimed mentally before suggesting. "Let's head to Yáng Niú village."

"Pardon?" DEVA was puzzled about their destination, but then it dawned on her that many had perished there, their bodies left unburied.

She surmised that Kyorin might wish to give them a proper burial before tackling the larger threats. Internally, she commended her new master's compassionate act. Nevertheless, she inquired, "Why are we headed there, Boss?"

Kyorin responded matter-of-factly, "Isn't it obvious..." DEVA felt a swell of pride until he added, "To loot."

"(O_O)" DEVA was left flabbergasted as Kyorin ventured into the thick forest.

He moved in silence as the moonlight filtered through the dense canopy. DEVA, regaining her composure, floated closer to Kyorin and asked, "I-is that all, Boss?" 

Kyorin smiled he telepathically responded, "You're smart, DEVA. Indeed, there's more. Those who died there..."

DEVA's hopes rose as she asked, "What is it, Boss?" expecting him to mention burying the dead. Instead, he replied, "... We must see if they had treasure in their clothes as well."

DEVA: ( l|l⚆ᗝ⚆)

Internally, she questioned, 'Boss, are you some kind of villain or something?'

For the second time, DEVA stood still, the cool night air brushing against her metallic form as she observed Kyorin's figure moving steadily along the damp earth.

*Whoosh*—The wind whispered through the trees, carrying faint echoes of forgotten times.

She stood there, bewildered, her gaze following the path Kyorin took towards Yáng Niú village, a trail weaving through the shadows, resembling a distant memory fading in her sight.

.

.

.

.

.

*Tap-Tap*

Kyorin's footsteps were steady, his tattered cloak fluttering in the breeze, revealing the bandages that crisscrossed his battered form.

When he reached Yáng Niú village, the air was thick with the stench of death. Corpses lay strewn across the ground, their lifeless forms scattered like remnants of a forgotten slaughter.

Yet, Kyorin's expression remained cold, impassive. He raised a hand to cover his nose from the overwhelming odour, his gaze impassive, focused solely on the task ahead—to obtain useful items left behind.

Efficiently, Kyorin scavenged the village, plundering anything remotely useful—tools, garments, provisions. His actions were methodical, and unfeeling, as the dead were not spared either; he sifted through their belongings, though most yielded nothing.

During one such inspection, something unusual caught his eye—a small, black box concealed beneath the folds of an old villager's tattered cloak. Its surface was smooth and unmarked, nondescript at first glance. But as Kyorin opened it, the contents surprised him.

'A pill? ' Kyorin thought, his brows furrowing.

Before he could investigate further, DEVA's voice echoed behind him, her ethereal presence floating closer. "It's a Radiant Tide, Boss," she intoned, her tone calm but informative.

Kyorin glanced at her, still holding the box. "What's it for?" he asked, his voice a low rumble as he stared down at the small pill in his palm.

"The Radiant Tide is designed for Resonators seeking ascension," DEVA explained, her crimson lens glowing faintly as she processed the pill's origin.

"It pushes them to the next awakening—though the chances are only 50%. Additionally, the amount required increases with the number of stars they possess." She elucidated its function.

Kyorin's grip tightened slightly around the box. "So how many would it take for me?" he muttered, half to himself, half to DEVA.

"Boss, since you don't possess any stars according to my observation, it might only take one. But still, it would be a fifty-fifty chance," DEVA replied, her voice neutral, devoid of any emotion.

Kyorin stared at the Radiant Tide, considering its potential—and the possibility of failure. "Is there any backlash to it?"

"No," DEVA answered.

A smirk tugged at Kyorin's lips. "Great. Let's head back."

As Kyorin turned and began walking away, DEVA floated silently beside him. After a few steps, she tugged lightly on the edge of his cloak. Kyorin stopped and glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. "What? "

"Boss... there are many dead here," DEVA said quietly.

"So? " Kyorin responded, his telepathic tone blunt, almost bored.

"Shouldn't we give them a burial?" DEVA asked, her voice lacking its usual sharpness. There was a hint of something else in her tone—almost human, though barely.

Kyorin frowned. "Why would I waste my energy on something that doesn't relate to me?" He mentally asked her.

"But, Boss... it's a good virtue," DEVA insisted, her voice softening, as if pleading.

Kyorin scoffed, dismissing her entirely. "Their bodies will rot away eventually. It's just a matter of time." He telepathically stated.

"But Boss..." DEVA's tone grew a bit more insistent, like she wasn't quite finished.

Kyorin's gaze darkened as he glared at her. "Are you going to defy me?"

Silence fell between them. DEVA's glowing crimson lens dimmed slightly as she processed the situation. "No, Boss," she said finally, though there was a strange stillness in her voice.

Kyorin turned, muttering telepathically. "Honestly, don't waste your time thinking about such trivial matters."

"Trivial?" DEVA muttered under her breath, barely audible, but the word lingered in the air. There was something new in her tone, something Kyorin hadn't heard before.

He stopped, eyes narrowing slightly as he caught the subtle change in her demeanour. His gaze flicked back to her. "If you're so concerned, why don't you bury them yourself?" Kyorin's telepathic voice was laced with irritation as he retreated into the shadowy forest without waiting for an answer.

DEVA remained motionless, gazing at the corpses strewn across the ground. Her crimson eye lingered there for a long moment, before slowly shifting to the retreating figure of Kyorin as he disappeared into the darkness...

Three days later...

"Haah."

A soft sigh escaped from Kyorin's lips as his eyes slowly opened, gazing toward the distant opening of the cave. The faint morning light filtered in, casting long shadows along the stone walls. He muttered to himself, "A failure, it seems."

Beside him, the black box that once held the Radiant Tide lay still. Kyorin had taken the pill, attempting to ascend, yet fate had not favoured him. No new surge of power, no awakening. "Guess I'll have to do it the old way," he thought, recalling the methods only he knew—methods that didn't rely on luck.

His eyes scanned the cave for a sign of DEVA. When he didn't see her familiar form hovering nearby, Kyorin thought with a smirk, 'She must've fled, now that she knows how greedy I am.' A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Well, good for me. No one to bother me now."

But even as he said it, a lingering sense of something missing gnawed at him. Was this what he wanted? True solitude? He shook the thought away and focused his mind, ready to return to his cultivation.

Just as Kyorin settled into position—*bzzt*

A faint, familiar buzzing sound echoed through the cave, causing him to tense. 'It can't be...' he thought, his gaze snapping toward the entrance.

There, hovering in the opening, was DEVA—muddied, filthy, and covered in a dark, almost black-red liquid that looked like dried blood. Her metallic body was stained with mud and grime, her once-crimson lens now dim and flickering.

Kyorin's eyes narrowed. 'Wait... did she—? ' His gaze traveled past her toward the direction of the village. Beyond the tree line, a makeshift graveyard now dotted the landscape, the bodies buried neatly. In the distance, there was even a small tombstone surrounded by a pond, though he didn't think much of it.

DEVA hovered closer, her light flickering weakly. "Apologies, Boss. I took a bit longer than expected, but I must thank you."

Kyorin blinked, taken aback. 'Thank... me? ' He didn't expect gratitude from her, especially not after such an ordeal.

DEVA continued, her voice softer than usual. "You allowed me to bury those people. You didn't come to stop me. Thank you for being... understanding."

'Understanding? ' The word echoed in Kyorin's mind. He hadn't cared what she did, so long as she didn't get in his way. But now, as he looked at her, filthy and exhausted from her task, something stirred uncomfortably within him.

"You..." He was about to say something more, but DEVA's light flickered again. Her voice was faint now. "Apologies, Boss. It seems I am in a low-power state. I will be out of commission for a while... please, grant me some time to rest."

Kyorin opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, DEVA's light went out completely. She started to fall toward the cold, hard ground—but instinctively, Kyorin reached out, catching her before she hit the stone floor.

For a moment, he just stood there, holding her small, battered form in his hands. Confusion flickered across his face. 'Wait... why do I care about this junk? ' He looked down at DEVA, scorn slowly twisting his features.

'I should just smash her into the ground,' he thought, his grip tightening. But... he hesitated.

For the first time, hesitation crept into his thoughts, an unfamiliar feeling that unsettled him deeply. His hand hovered over her frame, ready to toss her aside, but it never happened.

With a quiet grumble, he carried DEVA to the small patch of straw where he usually rested. As he moved to set her down, he paused again. 'She'll ruin my bed.' He scowled, his irritation growing.

Reluctantly, Kyorin grabbed a clean cloth from a pile of supplies and started wiping away the grime from DEVA's body. Each swipe of the cloth left him more covered in the decaying filth she had brought back from the village. 'Why am I even doing this? ' he wondered, frustration building as he worked.

Finally, after cleaning DEVA as best he could, Kyorin stood and looked at her small, still form. He shook his head, feeling a strange, unfamiliar mix of annoyance and something he couldn't quite place.

With a final grunt, he headed toward the nearby lake to clean himself, muttering soundlessly under his breath, "Why do I even care? "

Outside the cave, midnight blanketed the landscape, the moon casting a silvery shimmer across the nearby lake. Kyorin knelt by the lake's edge, cupping the cool, clear water in his hands and splashing it onto his face.

The cold stung against the grime from earlier cleanup, but he welcomed the sensation. As the water trickled down his hands, rippling the lake's surface, he watched his reflection shimmer in the moonlit depths.

The chill bit into his skin, grounding him in the moment. He sighed, murmuring soundlessly, "Maybe I should just jump in..."

Without hesitation, Kyorin stood, shedding his cloak before leaping into the lake. The water engulfed him in an instant, its cold shock jolting his senses and sending a shiver down his spine. Yet, after the grime-filled task of cleaning DEVA, it was a welcome refreshment.

He submerged himself completely, feeling the cool depths pull away the weight of the dirt and decay that had clung to him.

For those fleeting moments, it felt as if the failures of the past few days—his struggle to ascend to the next awakening—were fading away.

As he emerged from the water, the night air caressed his face while he swept the water from his skin and pushed back his damp hair.

Kyorin floated in the lake, gazing up at the endless sky, the stars twinkling like distant memories, his mind momentarily adrift in peaceful stillness. His gaze settled on his reflection, distorted by gentle ripples.

The face staring back looked almost alien—older, weathered. "I look nothing like I used to..." he soundlessly muttered, studying the hardened image before him.

The longer he looked, the more memories tugged at him, pulling him back through the years. He recalled a time when his face wasn't marked by battle or scarred by experience. The faintest outline of a boy's features flickered in the water.

Suddenly, the reflection shifted. The lake darkened, transforming from its clear hue to a deep, foreboding red. Kyorin blinked, startled, as the water morphed into a pool of blood. His youthful visage was replaced by wide, innocent eyes staring back at him.

His breath caught in his throat.

Beside the boy in the reflection stood another figure—tall, imposing, and cold. It was the figure of his first master, the one who had shaped him in his earliest days.

Kyorin felt his chest tighten, his breathing shallow as memories flooded back. He could still see the man's face—the one who had taught him everything: sportsmanship, survival, the ways of the world, and the ultimate martial arts technique, Echoes of the Chasm.

But that same man had coveted something within Kyorin from the start: the Deluge Seed, a rare and powerful essence he possessed unknowingly.

His teacher had tried to kill him.

Anger swelled within Kyorin as the lake rippled, its surface reflecting the deep, blood-red hue of his rage. He remembered the betrayal—the moment the man he had trusted most revealed his true intentions.

It had become a fight for survival, forcing Kyorin to confront the one figure of authority he had ever known. His hand had trembled back then, gripping the spear as blood soaked into the earth beneath them, sealing the fate of their twisted bond.

He could still hear his teacher's voice in his final moments, as he lay dying at Kyorin's feet. "Good kid," the man had said, his tone weak yet full of pride. "You didn't let your emotions cloud your judgment. Fighting for one's survival is not a sin. Remember that."

Kyorin's grip on the water's edge tightened, his knuckles turning white.

"Run away from the sect. Don't bother looking back or mourning for my death—it's just a trivial matter." His teacher's bloodshot eyes had locked onto Kyorin's, unwavering even in his last breaths. "Always remember, put yourself first, before anyone else."

Kyorin's heart pounded in his chest as the memory replayed in vivid detail, the weight of those words pressing down on him. He had done just that. He had survived, no matter the cost, no matter who he had to leave behind.

"Put yourself first..." Soundless words slipped his lips, the mantra echoing hollowly in the stillness of the night.

The boy in the water—his younger self—slowly faded away, replaced by the man he had become. Kyorin's hardened expression returned, his face set in a scowl as he broke free from the memory's grasp. He was no longer that boy, nor was he tethered to that past.

The water around him stilled, the red fading back into its natural, reflective sheen. Kyorin ran a hand through his soaked hair, brushing it away from his face as he swam back to shore, his thoughts lingering on the past but refusing to dwell there.

He pulled himself out of the lake, the night air biting at his wet skin. As he dressed, he couldn't shake the last words of his dying teacher. "Always put yourself first."

"Tch," Kyorin soundlessly scoffed to himself, wiping the water from his face. "I've done nothing but that."

But a small part of him—the part that had paused when he caught DEVA—wondered if that would always be the case.

Kyorin returned to the cave, the damp air clinging to him as he stepped inside. His gaze fell upon DEVA, who lay motionless where he had set her down.

The dim light flickered, casting elongated shadows that danced across the stone walls. Normally, he would have slipped into cultivation without a second thought, but the thought of her waking and interrupting him nagged at his mind.

So he waited, pacing restlessly as the minutes turned into hours. Each sound from the cave—water dripping, the soft rustle of leaves outside—felt amplified in the silence.

Finally, a flicker of crimson light broke through the stillness. DEVA's lens blinked back to life, and she groggily lifted her head, her systems rebooting with a series of soft beeps.

"Boss?" she intoned, her voice still laced with weariness.

Kyorin crossed his arms, watching her with a mix of annoyance and expectation. "I need you to listen carefully," He began giving instructions telepathically, his tone firm. "I'm going into seclusion to reach the second awakening. You cannot disturb me."

DEVA nodded, her crimson glow stabilizing as she processed his words. "Understood. I will remain outside the cave and monitor the surroundings."

"Good," he replied, a hint of relief washing over him. "Make sure nothing gets in. I don't want any distractions."

For three long years, Kyorin immersed himself in seclusion, cultivating with relentless determination. Days melted together in a haze of rigorous meditation, internal battles, and the quest for knowledge. DEVA kept her vow, silently observing him, her presence a constant reminder of his aspirations.

Finally, on the day of his ascension, Kyorin sat motionless in the cave, a veil of dust settling over him. As he slowly opened his eyes, dim light revealed his features, illuminating the shadows. Outside, thunder rumbled ominously, dark clouds swirling above, crackling with electric tension.

"Bring it, Dao," Kyorin challenged, his voice steady and resolute.

Energy surged around him, the air thick with anticipation. The storm outside mirrored his inner turmoil, each flash of lightning reflected in his determined gaze. He felt the weight of his past years—failures and burdens—but today, he would rise above them.

As the first bolt of lightning struck nearby, Kyorin's heart raced. Power beckoned him, calling forth the strength that lay dormant within. The storm heralded change, and he was ready to embrace it.

"Let's see what you've got," he murmured silently, a fierce grin spreading across his face, poised to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.

*Du-Du-Du-Du-Du*

Lightning struck relentlessly, illuminating the dark sky as thunderous roars echoed. DEVA hovered at a distance from the cave's entrance, her crimson lens scanning the tempest.

"Boss!" Worry trembled in her voice as she watched the cave enveloped by the blinding plasmic chaos, the storm's fury preventing her from following. All she could do was hope for his safety.

When the storm finally subsided, a vast, smouldering crater lay where the cave had been. "Boss, where are you?" DEVA called, her voice echoing in the eerie silence.

No response came, igniting panic within her circuits as she felt her connection to Kyorin weakening. With frantic urgency, she approached the scorched ground, anxiety tightening her.

Suddenly, from the swirling flames, Kyorin emerged, cloaked in black smoke. He exhaled, a puff of ash swirling into the air, and soundlessly declared with triumph, "Success."

"Congratulations, Boss!" DEVA exclaimed, relief washing over her. "What's next?"

Kyorin, his expression aloof, replied mentally, "Let's move out of this island."

DEVA proposed heading to the Western continent of Haungloong, the nearest destination. Kyorin nodded and headed toward the ocean's shore. "We need to build a raft to cross the water," DEVA advised, but Kyorin pointed toward the horizon, where strange energy flickered like a mirage.

"What is that?" DEVA asked, intrigued.

"Just a precatory illusion," Kyorin replied. "So no one will see this path."

Before DEVA could inquire further, Kyorin stepped forward, muttering under his breath, "Guixu." With that word, he unleashed the Echoes of the Chasm's ultimate intent: Guixu's Decree.

As if in response to his command, the ocean roared, parting dramatically to reveal a path of dry ground. Waves crashed against invisible walls, creating a corridor through the water, reminiscent of a miracle from ancient tales.

Kyorin stepped confidently onto the newly formed path, the ocean curling around him like a living creature, its depths momentarily stilled by his power. The sight was nothing short of awe-inspiring—an open passage that shimmered under the sun, reflecting the brilliance of the sky above.

DEVA watched, mesmerized by the unfolding scene. "Boss, this... this is incredible!" she stammered, her voice filled with wonder.

"Let's go," Kyroin said as he moved forward, his stride confident as he walked across the ocean floor, the water held at bay on either side. DEVA hovered close behind, her light flickering with admiration and awe.

Together, they ventured across the open ocean, their next destination being Haunagloong, But then...

"Hmm." Kyorin paused, squinting up at the sky.

"What's the matter, Boss?" DEVA asked, her voice still weak but laced with curiosity.

Kyorin pointed toward the heavens, where a small dot was plummeting through the clouds. "Someone is falling from the sky."

To be continued...

****

A/N: There was a very long blackout in my area so I couldn't write or post but here is the new chapter.