Prologue: What the Hell Is This Place?

"My head hurts..."

Fang Zheng opened his eyes and stared blankly at the starry sky before him.

Where... was this?

He turned his head and looked to either side, but all he saw were broken wooden planks. He could also hear the creaking of wheels and the hurried clatter of horse hooves.

"Urgh..."

The stabbing pain in his head made Fang Zheng groan. He closed his eyes and began carefully recalling everything that had happened before. If he remembered correctly, he had been outside, and then...

"Young Master! Young Master, are you awake?"

Just as Fang Zheng was racking his brain, an old man suddenly appeared beside him. His hair and beard were completely white, and he wore battered Leather Armor with a longsword strapped to his back. The outfit was so strange that Fang Zheng froze for a moment. What was even stranger was that the man was speaking a language he had never heard before, yet for some reason, Fang Zheng seemed to understand every word he said.

Even so, the doubts in Fang Zheng's heart remained.

Who was he? Why was he calling me Young Master? And... who am I?

"Urgh... Aah!!"

Just as Fang Zheng was about to think more carefully, a needle-like pain suddenly pierced his brain. He clutched his head with both hands and cried out in agony. Seeing him like this, the old man panicked and hurried over, forcefully gripping his shoulders.

"Young Master, what's wrong?! Don't scare me!"

"I... I..."

Though he could hear the old man's anxious shouts, Fang Zheng could not say a thing. His head felt like it was splitting apart, and the scenery before his eyes began to twist. But soon, he saw a blue glow unfold before him, forming a familiar yet distinctive interface. Then, a gentle voice sounded by his ear.

"Interface activation complete... System booting... Soul wavelength detected... Beginning authentication..."

"Urgh... ah..."

At that moment, Fang Zheng felt pain not only in his head, but throughout his entire body, as though he had been thrown into a slaughterhouse and was being flayed alive. His blood seemed to flow backward, his breathing turned ragged, and his heart pounded wildly as if it were about to burst from his throat. The only thing Fang Zheng could do was clench his fists and grit his teeth, enduring everything that had suddenly descended upon him.

"Lord Carter! They've caught up with us!"

"Damn it! Take the Young Master and leave! We'll stay behind...!"

"Look out---!!"

"Boom!!"

He could faintly hear the chaos and screams outside, but before Fang Zheng could understand what was happening, a violent explosion erupted beside him. In the next instant, he lost his balance and was flung out of the carriage like an abandoned ball, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Pwah!!"

Fang Zheng felt his back slam hard into the earth. The violent impact even slightly drove away the pain that seemed capable of burning his body apart. Thanks to that, he barely regained control of himself and turned to look around.

As far as the eye could see, there was only dark wilderness. Beside him, a carriage was burning fiercely, while the horse that had pulled it had been charred into blackened remains. In the distance, Fang Zheng could vaguely make out several figures fighting. They looked like attendants, while their enemies wore silver-white armor, like Knights from a game.

What the hell was this place?

Although those warriors seemed to be fighting desperately, even Fang Zheng could tell that they were no match for their opponents. Within only a few exchanges, the warriors were mercilessly cut down by the Knights in silver armor, their bodies falling one after another.

"Young Master! Run! Get out of here!!"

The old man was the only one still swinging his sword and struggling to hold on as he shouted at Fang Zheng.

Run!

Even now, Fang Zheng had no idea what he had stumbled into, but one thing was clear—he needed to get out of here!

But... his body refused to move as he wished. For some reason, every muscle ached terribly, and he did not have a shred of strength left. Simply propping himself up had exhausted all his strength. Standing was nothing more than a fantasy.

"Soul wavelength authentication successful. Binding complete. Please activate the Codex, Executor."

The voice in his ear remained as calm and unhurried as ever. Along with it, a strange and intricate circle appeared in the center of the odd interface before him. It looked like a magic circle, but from Fang Zheng's experience, the interface itself seemed strangely familiar...

"Ah---!!"

Hearing the scream, Fang Zheng blankly raised his head. The old man had been pierced through the chest by a Knight in silver armor. He turned toward Fang Zheng in despair and reached out a hand.

"Young---!"

But before the old man could finish, a flash of silver light streaked past. Fang Zheng watched helplessly as the old man's head fell to the ground, followed by his body. Then the Knights turned and walked toward him.

I'm going to die!

Although the Knights wore helmets and Fang Zheng could not see their faces, he could feel the icy killing intent surrounding them. Just feeling their gazes made it seem as though his neck were about to be cut off. But... he had no way to resist.

Was this my only chance?

Fang Zheng gritted his teeth as he looked at the strange magic circle before him. Then he reached out, intending to tap the odd circle.

"Thud!!"

But before Fang Zheng could raise his hand, an iron boot came down and stomped hard on it.

"Urgh---!!"

The searing pain in his palm made Fang Zheng groan, but before he could react further, another Knight grabbed his hair and yanked his head up.

"Is this him?"

The Knight's voice was cold and indifferent, like an emotionless machine. In response to the question, a figure in a black robe standing some distance behind the Knight gave a slight nod.

"It's him. The Secret Treasure must be on him."

"Good."

After receiving the black-robed figure's answer, the lead Knight nodded, then abruptly swung his longsword and held it against Fang Zheng's neck.

"Hand over the Secret Treasure, and I'll give you a quick death."

Secret Treasure? What Secret Treasure?

Feeling the icy blade against his neck, Fang Zheng stared blankly at the Knight before him. His mind was a complete mess. He had no idea what was happening or what situation he was in. The only thing he understood was that these people seemed to be hunting him for some Secret Treasure... but what Secret Treasure could it possibly be?

How would I know?

I can only risk it!

With that thought, Fang Zheng gritted his teeth and lowered his head, staring at his right hand beneath the Knight's boot. Noticing Fang Zheng's gaze, the Knight looked down as well, then instinctively stepped back.

Now!

The instant the Knight retreated, Fang Zheng yanked back his right hand and quickly tapped the circle before him. At once, the circle began spinning rapidly. Light gathered and formed before him, transforming into a massive, heavy Holy Scripture that shone with magnificent radiance.

"What is that?"

The Knights saw the Holy Scripture materialize before Fang Zheng and retreated in shock, swords in hand, unsure what to do. The black-robed figure, on the other hand, became extremely excited. He practically leaped into the air and shouted.

"That must be the Secret Treasure! Don't let him activate it! Kill him!"

At the black-robed figure's command, the lead Knight immediately raised his sword and slashed down at Fang Zheng.

At the same time, as though summoned by some unseen force, Fang Zheng reached out and pressed his hand against the book.

The world before his eyes shattered like glass in an instant.

"My child, when you were born, the forests of Lordaron whispered your name..."

An aged voice echoed in Fang Zheng's mind. Before his eyes appeared towering mountains, prosperous and beautiful cities, towns, and wildernesses...

"My child, I watched proudly as you grew day by day, becoming the embodiment of justice..."

Raging flames devoured the entire city. The laughter and joy of the past had become nothing but ruins and wreckage. The endless blazing crimson reflected across the whole world like blood, bringing boundless destruction and hatred.

"Remember, we have always ruled this nation through wisdom and strength..."

Petals dancing through the sky became cold snowflakes, and his former followers fell one by one. Within a pitch-black, gloomy cavern, a longsword glowing with azure light stood quietly embedded in the ground, waiting for its wielder to arrive.

"I also believe that you will use your great power wisely..."

Howling blizzards swallowed everything. Trees withered, and the earth was covered in ice. The living fled from it all, leaving only the undead to crawl painfully out of flame and darkness with groans. They became an army, a terrifying force capable of making all things tremble and cower beneath the shadow of death. They surged forward, tearing apart every obstacle in their path, bringing nothing but blood and death.

Fang Zheng opened his eyes again.

The illusion had vanished. Before him, the Knight's blade was falling toward him. He could even see his own reflection in the silver-white edge.

But that voice still echoed in his mind.

"One day, my life will reach its end, and you... will be crowned king."

An icy power erupted completely at that moment.