Another Persona

Tatsuya sighed, "I really didn't want to do this, because of the uncertainty of what might happen."

He mentally prepared himself, as he grasped Xia Qingyue's hand.

[Heart of Snow Glazed Glass has been detected.]

[Initiating connection, establ319sf.]

[Error.]

Light suddenly sparked within Tatsuya's vision, making him hopeless. It seemed that it really wasn't a good idea to touch her hand.

The light gradually blinded Tatsuya entirely, as he could feel himself getting pulled into an unknown dimension.

He gradually lost his consciousness, as his body dropped beside Xia Qingyue.

…

"Where is this place?"

Tatsuya muttered, as he turned around. It was an empty space without anything inside it. He was alone inside this world.

He took a step forward, as his eyes widened in surprise.

The empty space suddenly turned into the land of snow. He couldn't see the end of this land. Even his Elemental Sight seemed useless.

"Quintessential Dimension…?"

"No, that's not it. This space seemed to be made of Quasi-Quintessential Essence. This should be the reason why I couldn't extract any information from the dimension."

Quasi-Quintessential Essences are on the verge of being part of the true Quintessential Dimension. It was only a one step away from being a part of it. However, that single step is not as easy as it seems. This difference is like heaven and earth.

Tatsuya felt intrigued, as he continued walking forward. He didn't have a specific direction, because he knew that he would arrive at his direction as long as he kept walking.

He tried to fly, but he soon discovered that he was as powerful as a mortal inside this space. He couldn't do anything aside from walking.

"Is this the realm inside the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass?"

Tatsuya asked himself, as he soon shook his head. Only time will tell, whether his assumptions are correct.

He had already spent half an hour walking without any general direction. However, he was confident that he would soon arrive to his destination.

The snowfall gradually become stronger, slowly turning into a storm.

Tatsuya wasn't sure of what is waiting for him inside this realm. Even then, he wasn't afraid of any attack towards his soul. He had the Mirror of Samsara, a heavenly profound treasure, protecting his soul from any harmful entities.

He then finally conquered the snowfall, as he arrived in a frozen lake. In front of him, was a region where the sky didn't have any snow falling from it. Behind him, a raging snow storm was brewing. The sky seemed to be split into two.

"Amazing…"

Tatsuya stared at the halved sky in interest, indulging with its heavenly beauty. It was one of the few things that really amazed Tatsuya.

He soon thought that it wasn't that bad inside this space. He could enjoy the wonders of travel while also making progress towards his goal. It felt great and Tatsuya enjoyed this feeling.

He took a step forward, as he instantly noticed that the snow region behind him vanish into nothingness. The space seemed to be adjusting according to his position.

He sensed that even though he could feel the flow of profound energy, he didn't possess control over it. He concluded that it must be because he's currently tackling this world using his soul.

He didn't have any control over the Quasi-Quintessential Essence. It was indeed one of his weakness. The Quintessential Dimension seemed near, but it was actually far from him. He didn't know when he would be able to access that dimension again.

Tatsuya continued walking while also enjoying the great scenery around him. He could feel his soul reaching a very calm state. This feeling spread throughout his body, making him feel refreshed.

He gradually reached the end of the frozen lake, as the scenery around him changed again.

He continued walking and walking, as he inwardly took notice of the time he spent inside this dimension. He had already been walking for almost a whole day but Tatsuya didn't mind.

Along the way, he noticed that his control over his profound energy seemed to reach a whole another level. After all, he's been non-stop trying to manipulate the profound energy of his physical body. He didn't achieve any remarkable success, but there has been some progress.

He didn't know how far he had walked, but he still possessed a great clarity and clear mind.

Soon, he found that he could now access the Information Dimension. He could also feel his physical body easily, allowing him to perceive the time he's been inside this unknown dimension.

It seemed that only a few hours have passed in the outside world, even though he had already spent more than a single day walking.

Actually, he could already forcefully leave this special dimension but he chose otherwise.

"Xia Qingyue…?"

He saw the beautiful maiden from afar, as he couldn't help but call out her name.

The beautiful maiden seemed to have heard someone calling her name, as she slowly turned her head around.

"What?..."

Tatsuya gasped in shock, as he noticed the blankness within the maiden's eyes. He immediately walked towards her.

"Who… are you?"

Xia Qingyue asked the approaching Tatsuya. He halted his steps, as he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He already retrieved his control over his prowess, so he's sure that the woman before him is Xia Qingyue.

The reason why he lost control over his powers is because when he tried to access the Quintessential Realm through Xia Qingyue's Heart of Snow Glazed Glass, the connection stopped half-way. Because of this, his soul was thrown in the edge of Quintessential Realm, which explains why the essence around him was Quasi-Quintessential Essences.

Xia Qingyue hated Tatsuya so much that the latter doubt whether Xia Qingyue would even forget about him in her entire lifetime.

Tatsuya resumed his footsteps, as he decided to take another approach, "My name is Shiba Tatsuya."

"How did you know my name?"

Xia Qingyue blankly asked Tatsuya, as she still stared at the approaching figure. She emotionlessly inspected Tatsuya with her clear-eyes.

She emotionlessly asked Tatsuya, "Are you not afraid of me?"

Tatsuya gradually arrived before Xia Qingyue, as he wondered why she even asked that question. He surely is not afraid of Xia Qingyue.

"I am not afraid of you"

Tatsuya answered her, as he tried to decipher the mysteries around him. He could tell that the space around him is truly the realm of Heart of Snow Glazed Glass because of Xia Qingyue's presence.

"Liar."

Xia Qingyue coldly refuted, as the blankness in her eyes turned into wrath. She tried to slap Tatsuya's face, but Tatsuya easily stopped her.

"What are you doing?"

Xia Qingyue's body trembled, as she stared at Tatsuya. Soon, tears came out of her eyes, "Liar! You are afraid of me!"

"Why would I be afraid of you?"

Tatsuya answered Xia Qingyue, as he slowly but surely deciphered the mysteries of the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass. He could tell that the snow storm, frozen lake, ice mountain, etc. were all because of Xia Qingyue.

"A-are you really not afraid of me?"

Xia Qingyue tilted down her head, as she slowly asked Tatsuya. The latter could feel that the stability of Xia Qingyue's emotion wasn't good.

"I'm not afraid of you. Do you really think that you have become a monster because of the Frozen Cloud Arts? Just because you slowly lost control over your emotions didn't mean that you became an emotionless monster."

"B-but, I'm afraid of my own powers… It feels like I might just lost control of myself someday."

"Then, if that time even came, I'll forcefully drag you out of your craziness."

Xia Qingyue widened her eyes, as she stared at the young man before her. She wasn't sure but she felt familiarity while staring at Tatsuya.

"Is that true…?", she hopefully confirmed.

"Yeah. It seems that I might really need you too."

It was true. Tatsuya really needed Xia Qingyue, because of her special talent. Currently, she's the only person that could actually help Tatsuya access the Quintessential Realm. Although, it didn't guarantee a hundred percent success, it was still more than enough for Tatsuya.

"Also, your control over ice is a good thing."

Xia Qingyue's eyes brightened, as she looked at Tatsuya, asking for explanation.

"I know a very dear person who specialized in ice. Whenever she uses her powers, I could only stare at her in amazement and awe. She made me realize that ice is a very beautiful thing, even though I couldn't feel it myself."

Xia Qingyue's eyes completely lost the blankness it once possesses, as her eyes gained hope and courage. It seemed that Tatsuya's statement affected her in a positive way.

"Thank you."

Xia Qingyue looked at Tatsuya with gratefulness, as she gripped both of her fists. Tatsuya could feel her emotion gradually becoming stable. He now knew that the Xia Qingyue before him, is the Xia Qingyue who still didn't lose her emotion.

It was a good thing that she met Tatsuya, because if she hadn't, it would be very chaotic. Imagine a persona trapped within an enclosed space alone for a few dozens of years, or even a century, that person would surely become crazy and insane.

"You're welcome."

Tatsuya nodded, as he accepted Xia Qingyue's thankfulness. Since, he didn't have anything to do here anymore, he might as well leave.

"Xia Qingyue, I will leave now."

Tatsuya didn't wait for Xia Qingyue's answer, as he instantly vanished before her eyes.

Xia Qingyue was caught off-guard, as she tried to grasp Tatsuya's figure. She felt lonely again, and couldn't help but stare at the sky. Even then, she somehow felt that the sky wasn't so bad to stare at.

…

"Finally, I'm out."

Tatsuya said to himself, as he instantly stood from the bed. His Elemental Sight established connection to the material world, as Tatsuya regained his absolute control.

His face turned serious, as he sensed Mo Yan'er being surrounded by the upper echelons of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. It seemed that he has been away for too long that her façade already broke down into pieces.

Tatsuya took a step forward, but soon halted his steps. He looked at Xia Qingyue who was sleeping in her bed, as he soon shook his head.

He knew that the persona he met inside that realm is the Xia Qingyue who will replace the current Xia Qingyue if ever her Heart of Snow Glazed Glass fully activated. Two personas inside a single body seemed particularly troublesome, but he knew that they are the same in the end of the day.

He then took a step forward, as he vanished inside Xia Qingyue's room. It was time for him and Mo Yan'er to get out of this cold place.

…

"You made a mistake, Fairy Mo. You fooled us in the beginning, but your story gradually revealed its flaws…"

Murong Qianxue coldly looked at Mo Yan'er, as she relentlessly pressured the latter into her knees. The killint inteng she's oozing solidified the air, as Mo Yan'er still stared at the people before her with courage. She wasn't afraid at all.

"For you to have tried to trick us means that you bring us ill-intent. You can die now!"

Murong Qianxue tapped the ground, as the temperature around Mo Yan'er instantly dropped. This technique seemed to aim to freeze Mo Yan'er, ultimately killing her.

The other individuals in the sealed room stared at Mo Yan'er with indifferent gaze. They all reached the same conclusion that the woman before them is not to be trusted.

They all knew that soon, Mo Yan'er would be frozen to death. They all stared at her, waiting for her demise.

Mo Yan'er slowly felt his consciousness fading away. Even then, she tried to hold on to her consciousness. Her willpower tried to defy the difference in strength, but it didn't work for too long. Her mind was on the verge of completely losing her consciousness, until she heard a whisper.

"Sorry for the wait."

*Boom!*

Murong Qianxue's technique was cancelled, as she was blasted away from Mo Yan'er. The upper echelons of the Frozen Cloud Asgard instantly put their guard up, as the cold fog blocked their vision of Mo Yan'er.

They waited for the cold fog to subside, as they all sucked a cold breath. They saw a masked man carrying Mo Yan'er within his arms. He had a golden hair and terrifying red eyes that seemed to suck away their soul.

Tatsuya had already used his innate ability, Regrowth, on Mo Yan'er. This innate ability instantly healed Mo Yan'er, as she fully regained her consciousness.

Although, Tatsuya changed his appearance, Mo Yan'er still knew that the person who's carring her is Tatsuya. She stared at Tatsuya with complicated emotions, as she recalled how she was brought back to life in a single instant. This convinced her that Tatsuya is already beyond the comprehension of Mortals.

Tatsuya didn't say a word, as the upper echelons of the Frozen Cloud Asgard stared back at him. He then suddenly vanished into thin-air.

It took a while before the Seven Fairies dropped down to the ground. Their face was filled with evident terror and fear.

"T-that man!"

Chu Yuechan tremblingly said, as she stared at the place where Tatsuya vanished. The incident in the New Moon Profound Palace is still new to her mind, as if it happened yesterday.

Although, Tatsuya didn't bring out his aura, his stare instantly made everyone in the sealed room immobile. They all knew that if Tatsuya wanted, they would all die. However, it seemed that he wasn't interested in such thing, and was only here to fetch Mo Yan'er.

The Asgard Mistress dropped down to her throne, as she could feel the cold sweat in her back. They were in the mercy of the masked man.

"…Thankfully, we are saved."

Murong Qianxue slowly stood up from the debris of cracked wall where she flew. She wasn't injured because she knew that she was blasted away by her own technique.

She looked at her comrades, as she felt relieved. She knew in herself that the masked man spared their lives. No matter what the reason why the masked man spared their lives, at least they managed to avoid a disaster.

"F-from now on, order every disciple to not offend and stay away from Mo Yan'er. I doubt that she's even a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Villa now."

The Asgard Mistress ordered the terrified Seven Fairies, as she knew that the Heavenly Sword Villa and the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region has been trying to catch a masked man with golden hair and red eyes.

She didn't imagine that they would actually be involved with him. She knew that today was the most terrifying day of her life. Those red eyes that instantly made them immobile was still fresh to her mind. She sighed, as she stared at the place where Tatsuya vanished.