Prologue: What the Hell Is This Place?

"My head hurts………."

Fang Zheng opened his eyes, staring blankly at the starry sky before him.

Where……… is this place?

He turned his head, looking to both sides, but all he saw were broken wooden planks. He could also hear the creaking of wheels and the rapid sound of horses' hooves.

"Ugh…………"

The stinging pain in his head made Fang Zheng groan involuntarily. He closed his eyes and began to carefully recall everything that had happened to him before. If Fang Zheng remembered correctly, he was outside, and then………

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

Just as Fang Zheng was pondering, suddenly, an old man appeared from the side. He was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a tattered leather armor and carrying a long sword on his back. This attire was so bizarre that Fang Zheng was a little stunned. But what made him even more strange was that the other party was speaking a language he had never heard before, but for some reason, Fang Zheng felt that he could completely understand what the old man was saying.

But even so, the doubts in Fang Zheng's heart had not been eliminated.

Who is he? Why is he calling me Young Master? And who……… am I?

"Ugh……… Ah!!"

Just as Fang Zheng was about to recall carefully, suddenly, he felt a needle-like pain in his brain, which made Fang Zheng hold his head in both hands and cry out in pain. Seeing Fang Zheng at this moment, the old man was even more panicked. He hurried to Fang Zheng's side and pressed his shoulders hard.

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

"I……… I…………"

Hearing the old man's anxious shouts, Fang Zheng couldn't say anything. At this moment, his head was splitting, and the scenery in front of him began to distort. But soon, Fang Zheng saw a blue light unfold in front of him, forming a familiar and unique interface. Then, a soft voice sounded in his ear.

"Interface activation complete……… System start……… Soul wavelength detected……… Start authentication………."

"Ugh……… Ah………"

At this moment, Fang Zheng felt that not only his head was hurting, but even his body seemed to be placed on a slaughterhouse, being skinned and cramped. Blood was flowing backward, his breathing became rapid, and his heart was beating so violently that it seemed to burst out of his throat. And the only thing Fang Zheng could do at this moment was to instinctively clench his fists and grit his teeth, enduring everything that had suddenly descended.

"Carter! They're catching up!"

"Damn it! You guys take the Young Master away quickly, we'll stay behind………!"

"Be careful———!!"

"Boom!!"

He could faintly hear the noisy and screaming sounds outside, but before Fang Zheng could react to what had happened, he heard a violent explosion nearby. The next moment, Fang Zheng felt himself lose his balance, flying out of the carriage like a discarded ball and falling heavily to the ground.

"Pfft!"

Fang Zheng could feel his back hitting the ground hard, and the violent impact slightly dispelled the pain that was enough to burn his body. Because of this, he barely regained control of his body, and Fang Zheng turned his head to look around.

At this moment, all he could see was a wilderness shrouded in darkness. Beside him, a carriage was burning in flames, and the horse pulling the carriage was also burned to charcoal. In the distance, Fang Zheng could faintly see several figures fighting. They looked like a group of servants, and their enemies were wearing silver armor, like knights in a game.

What the hell is this place?

Although those warriors looked very hard, even Fang Zheng could see that they were no match for their opponents at all. After only a few rounds, those warriors were mercilessly beheaded by the knights in silver armor, turning into corpses.

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

At this moment, only the old man was still waving his long sword, struggling to support himself, while shouting loudly at Fang Zheng.

Escape!

Even now, Fang Zheng didn't know what he had encountered, but he knew very well that he had better leave here now!

But……… his body could not act as Fang Zheng wished. For some reason, at this moment, he only felt his muscles aching and his whole body without a trace of strength. Just supporting his body was already exhausting all his strength, and even wanting to stand up had become a luxury.

"Soul wavelength authentication successful, binding complete, please executor activate the Codex."

The voice in his ear was still unhurried, and along with this voice, Fang Zheng saw a strange and complex circle appear in the middle of the strange interface in front of him. It looked like a magic circle, but according to Fang Zheng's experience, this interface seemed unusually familiar………

"Ah———!!"

Hearing this scream, Fang Zheng raised his head blankly, only to see that the old man had been pierced through the chest by a knight in silver armor. He turned his head in despair and looked at him, then stretched out his hand.

"Young———!"

However, before the old man could finish speaking, a silver light flashed, and the next moment, Fang Zheng watched as the old man's head fell to the ground, and his body fell down with it. Then, the knights turned around and walked towards him.

I'm going to die!

Although the knights were wearing helmets, Fang Zheng couldn't see their faces at all, but Fang Zheng could feel the cold killing intent surrounding them. Just feeling the gaze of these knights made Fang Zheng feel as if his neck was about to be cut off. But……… he had no way to resist.

Is this the only way?

Looking at the strange magic circle in front of him, Fang Zheng gritted his teeth, then reached out his hand, wanting to click on the strange circle.

"Thud!!"

But before Fang Zheng could raise his hand, an iron boot stepped down from above, heavily stepping on Fang Zheng's hand.

"Ugh———!!"

Feeling the piercing pain from his palm, Fang Zheng also groaned, but before he could react, he saw another knight grabbing his hair and lifting his head.

"Is this him?"

The knight's voice was indifferent and calm, like a completely emotionless machine. Hearing the knight's question, a figure in a black robe standing not far behind the knight nodded slightly.

"It's him, the secret treasure must be on him."

"Very good."

Receiving the black-robed figure's reply, the lead knight nodded, then abruptly swung his longsword, placing it against Fang Zheng's neck.

"Hand over the secret treasure, and I'll grant you a swift death."

Secret treasure? What secret treasure?

Feeling the cold touch of the 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 his current situation was. All he could understand was that he seemed to be hunted by these people, and the reason they were hunting him was to find some secret treasure… but what secret treasure?

How would I know?

I have to fight!

Thinking this, Fang Zheng gritted his teeth, then lowered his head, staring at his right hand, which was being held down by the knight's foot. Noticing Fang Zheng's gaze, the knight looked down at his own foot, then instinctively took a step back.

Now's the time!

The instant he felt the knight retreat, Fang Zheng immediately pulled back his right hand, quickly tapping the circle in front of him. Soon, with his movement, the circle began to spin rapidly, and light gradually gathered and emerged before Fang Zheng, transforming into a huge, heavy tome, radiating magnificent light.

"What is that?"

At this moment, the knights also saw the holy book appearing before Fang Zheng. They retreated in astonishment, holding their longswords, unsure of what to do. On the other hand, the black-robed figure seemed very excited, almost jumping up and shouting loudly.

"That must be the secret treasure! Don't let him activate it, kill him!"

Hearing the black-robed figure's order, the lead knight immediately raised his longsword and swung it down forcefully towards Fang Zheng.

At the same time, as if summoned from the depths of his being, Fang Zheng reached out and placed his hand on the book.

Then, the world before his eyes shattered like glass in an instant.

"Child, when you were born, the forests of Lordaron whispered your name…"

An old voice echoed in Fang Zheng's mind. Before him appeared towering mountains, rich and beautiful cities, towns, and wilderness…

"Child, I watched with pride as you grew, becoming the embodiment of justice…"

Burning flames engulfed the entire city, and the former laughter and joy were replaced by ruins and relics. The ceaseless, intense crimson reflected the entire world like blood, bringing endless destruction and hatred.

"You must remember, we have always ruled this nation with wisdom and strength…"

The sky filled with dancing petals turned into cold snowflakes, and former followers fell one by one. In the dark, gloomy cave, a longsword shining with azure light was quietly stuck in the ground, waiting for its wielder to arrive.

"I also trust that you will use your great power with caution…"

Howling blizzards enveloped everything, trees withered, and the earth was covered in ice. The living stayed away from it all, and only the undead groaned in pain as they emerged from the flames and darkness. They became an army, a terrifying force that could make all things tremble, shudder, and cower before the shadow of death. They roared forward, tearing apart everything in their path, bringing only blood and death.

Fang Zheng opened his eyes again.

The previous illusion had disappeared. Before his eyes, the knight's blade was descending towards him. He could even see his own reflection on the silver-white blade.

But the voice still echoed in his mind.

"One day, my life will come to an end, and you will be crowned king."

Icy power erupted completely at this moment.