Too High

Everything seemed shrouded in mist.

White.

Hazy.

Lost.

With nothing to hold on to.

Only that gentle voice seemed close at hand.

[Qiren, please, don't be afraid.]

How had this happened?

His heart was filled with inexplicable resentment and sorrow, with nowhere to vent it.

It was as if... he was losing something.

[I only... I only...]

The voice was so helpless.

So... desolate.

As if it were... drifting away from him.

[I only live... live in a world different from yours.]

When the voice faded, he suddenly felt empty and heartbroken.

He reached toward where the voice had come from.

Wanting to...

Touch her.

Hold her tight.

Keep her with him.

Just as he thought he was about to reach her, about to keep her with him—

A streak of Red Light suddenly pierced through the mist!

The white fog scattered, and the haze vanished.

In that instant, it was as if blood had fallen from the heavens and dyed the four walls red. Everything around him became viscous and vivid, scarlet and oppressive!

Everything had changed.

He inexplicably grew tense.

[Long time no see...]

Amid the scarlet blood, an unfamiliar, icy voice rang out from the unseen depths, its heavy tone filled with excitement.

[Long time no see...]

A terrifying heaviness arrived without warning, pressing down on him until he could hardly breathe.

No.

[Long time no see... long time no see... see...]

The echo was heavy, repeating without end.

Like a massive war drum, it reverberated back and forth against his heart.

No.

[My...]

The voice was excited.

But he was terrified.

No.

[My...]

The blood around him grew redder, darker, more oppressive, and increasingly... closer.

[Mine, mine, mine...]

Inevitably, the boundless blood climbed over his body and seeped into his senses.

He could neither break free