The True Form of Primordial Fear

"It had waited through endless epochs," Lin Ye said softly. "Waited for someone who could see it."

He stepped beyond the dome.

Behind him, Radiant Stilllight tried to follow, only to be forced back by an invisible power.

"Remain where you are."

Lin Ye did not look back, leaving behind only those four words.

He walked alone toward that darkness.

With every step he took, countless images appeared beneath his feet—histories that had never happened, civilizations that had never been born, possibilities that had never existed.

When Lin Ye stopped, those eyes had fully opened.

Their owner slowly emerged from the darkness.

It was an existence seventy percent similar to Lin Ye. The same cloak, the same posture of one who bore burdens on his back, yet there was nothing upon that cloak—no stars, no points of light, only pure darkness without a single mark.

He spoke.

His voice was ancient, as though it had come from before the birth of the universe.

"You have come."

Lin Ye looked at him. "You were waiting for me?"

"For thirty-seven billion epochs." The being raised a hand and pointed at his empty cloak. "I have been waiting ever since they vanished."

"They?"

"The civilizations of the Zero Era. The first beings at the dawn of the universe. Earlier than the First Epoch, older than three hundred and seventy million, closer to the 'source' than anything you have ever seen."

Lin Ye fell silent for three seconds.

"You are the Lord of Ashes."

The being nodded, then shook his head.

"I once was. Now—I am merely a failed bearer."

He took a step forward and stood face-to-face with Lin Ye. Two similar faces met for the first time across the passage of endless epochs.

"My name is Primordial Source. The last Lord of