Chapter 20: Everything Is for Energy!
Primer limped toward a boulder, collapsed on top of it, and drifted into sleep—a sleep deeper than any he had ever experienced.
A heavy, penetrating darkness fell over his eyelids and dragged him into the depths of dreams and nightmares.
He didn’t know how long he remained in that void, but time moved more mercilessly than ever—rushing forward without a moment’s pause.
In that pitch-black silence, beams of light suddenly emerged from nowhere and descended upon the imagined form of Primer, embracing him like a lover’s warm arms.
His three radiant eyes slowly opened, and awareness returned to him once again.
"Where am I...?"
The beams of light blinked in reply and then formed a path in the endless darkness, beckoning him toward a strange destination.
"Who are you?"
There was no answer to his question. So he simply stood there in silence, declining the light’s invitation.
When the beams saw that Primer refused to follow, they became enraged. Their once golden and soothing glow turned to crimson, oozing an aura of wrath and hatred.
Primer grew fearful and regretted his hesitation. He apologized and ran after them.
His fear was not unfounded. In that moment of dread and awe, he realized that his magic and powers were no longer with him in this place.
It was something he could have never predicted—and now, if he were to anger entities whose nature he couldn’t comprehend, the consequences could be dire. Maybe even fatal. Who could say?
He ran among the lights—now returned to their golden brilliance—and followed them toward an unknown destination.
He walked for hours until finally, he saw a massive figure lying peacefully on the dark ground.
The being appeared to be eternally asleep, its body stone-like and lifeless.
The beams of light gathered and shone upon the slumbering figure, warming it with their radiance.
Suddenly, its heavy eyelids opened, revealing two white, luminous eyes.
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When Primer gazed into them, he trembled and fell to his knees upon the unseen, black ground.
His eyes widened in terror. He who had never sweated before now found himself drenched in a cold sweat like the weakest of humans.
Bloody tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his ashen face like an endless river, leaving him more helpless and fragile than ever before.
In those eyes, Primer saw only one thing—truth.
They were devoid of any human feeling, brimming with emptiness and void.
It was as if within them were two bottomless, endless chasms with no destination and no end.
Then, a voice thundered—resonant and shattering—filling Primer's mindless ears and captivating him entirely.
“Tell me, young one—what is your name?”
Primer looked up with lifeless eyes and replied in a dull tone:
“My name is Primer, O noble and great one.”
The strange being nodded, clenched its shadowy hands, then opened them again.
Suddenly, colorful golden threads of light flowed from its hand toward Primer’s third eye, bathing him in their brilliance.
The being clenched its hand once more, and the stream of light ceased. Darkness returned, cloaking all things beneath its black veil.
Then, once again, the resonant voice rang out:
“Now go. What happened in this place never happened. Forget it. Farewell, young Primer...”
The voice faded, and Primer’s awareness returned.
He awoke in shock and terror, his eyes wide, finding himself standing atop the still waters of his inner realm.
“Was it just a dream...?”
He remembered nothing. As if it had never happened—or as if part of his memory had been erased.
Before he could think more about it—or why he had awoken in his inner realm instead of the real world—he noticed crimson letters slowly appearing on the water’s surface, pulling him out of his trance.
But this time, it wasn’t like before. Something was different.
“What is this...?”
Name: Primer
Age: 4,296,023
Core Level: 132
Mana Energy Capacity: 10132/10132
Domain: Nameless Planet (Dominion: 100%)
[You have acquired Forgotten Knowledge.]
“...What does this mean? I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything...”
Suddenly, Primer was struck by an unbearable headache—not a normal one, but as if the weight of the entire universe had dropped onto his head, crushing him like an insect beneath an elephant’s foot.
This crushing pressure was the result of an enormous influx of knowledge and wisdom.
In that moment, Primer became aware of truths no human could possibly comprehend:
Soul, existence, life, corporeal essence, spiritual form, faith...
There were no limits to knowledge.
The fabric of reality trembled and screamed.
The once-clear water surged like a feral beast.
The sky cried and split apart in sorrow, cracking like glass, shattering piece by piece.
Golden, sacred lights faded, replaced by nothing but blood and darkness.
Primer swiftly exited his inner realm and collapsed onto the dry, decayed earth, clawing at his chest and eyes.
For the first time, knowledge had filled him with dread.
Like a madman, he tore at himself, so lost in pain he didn’t even notice the crimson rivers flooding down his pale face and marble chest.
I can’t bear this much wisdom!
I’m unworthy of such truths!
My mortal mind is too small to grasp them!
This knowledge has burned away the eyes of my awareness!
Truly, I am the most ignorant of fools... it burns! It burns!
Suddenly, Primer’s third eye shone with the light of knowledge and wisdom.
All his eyes rolled back.
He raised his head and stared at the starry night sky—light erupted from his gaze, and his body glowed like a miniature sun.
It was as if he had become the embodiment of a god descended to earth.
“I see... I see... I can see the truth! Everything is for energy!”
