*Cloud Vein Treasure Grounds – Sacred Core*
The stone gate that had opened with ancient inscriptions slowly let out a long moan — as if it were **weeping** for what was about to be unleashed.
Chen Yuhao, Min Rou, Leng Ye, and Zeravon entered through the glowing arch.
The moment they stepped inside, the world *shifted*.
Gone were the overgrown ruins and cracked pillars.
In their place — a vast marble hall shimmered under a floating aurora of purple and gold light. The walls glowed faintly, covered in symbols no one could read. A massive floating crystal pulsed at the center.
> "This… this doesn't belong in the Lower Realm," Min Rou whispered.
Zeravon said nothing, but his steps slowed.
The **pulse** in his chest had returned.
---
**Outer Ring – Traps and Memories**
Suddenly, a spike shot from the floor — straight at Zeravon's foot.
Chen Yuhao moved fast, kicking Zeravon back just in time.
> "You alright?"
Zeravon nodded slowly. "…Thank you."
Leng Ye frowned. "This isn't a place meant to be touched lightly."
More traps appeared — not physical ones, but **emotional pulses**.
They walked through corridors that whispered in forgotten tongues.
Min Rou felt her knees buckle as a voice said, *"You will never be enough."*
Chen Yuhao gritted his teeth when he saw his dead brother's face flash on the walls.
And Zeravon… saw a throne.
Broken.
Empty.
Covered in chains.
He blinked — and it vanished.
---
**Center Chamber – Illusion Dome Activation**
As they reached the floating crystal, a circle lit up beneath their feet.
> "Formation!" Min Rou shouted. "It's activating something!"
Too late.
The floor glowed — and the world **shattered**.
---
**Zeravon's Illusion**
He stood in a black desert.
No stars.
No sun.
Just nothingness.
Then came the whispers:
> "Oblivis…"
> "Zeravon…"
> "Do you remember the void?"
> "You are not like them. You never were."
He looked around — unable to move.
A mirror appeared before him.
In it — **a different face**.
Him, but not him.
Golden eyes. Marked forehead. Wings behind his back.
Then the mirror cracked.
And a voice boomed:
> *"You must not awaken."*
---
**Illusion Breaks**
Zeravon raised his hand instinctively — not in fear, but in refusal.
> "This is not me."
As soon as he said that… the illusion **shattered**.
And the real world came rushing back.
But no one else had returned.
He looked around.
Min Rou was weeping in a corner, whispering apologies to her dead mother.
Chen Yuhao swung wildly at an invisible enemy.
Leng Ye was screaming into the floor.
Only Zeravon stood… silent.
---
**And Then… He Felt It**
A chill.
From behind the crystal.
An entity — long sealed.
Black-robed, faceless, floating just above the ground.
It had no form. No life.
And yet, it breathed.
It **recognized** him.
> "Zeravon… tu wapas aa gaya?"
Zeravon stared.
> "You know me?"
> "No," it said. "But the void remembers you. And so does the seal you carry."
The entity raised its arm.
All the light in the room bent toward it.
> "You should not be here yet… You were not supposed to wake."
Zeravon tried to move, but his limbs trembled.
Then — the black-robed figure collapsed to its knees.
> "Forgive me… I cannot stand in your presence."
It vanished — like smoke into the wind.
---
**The Crystal Dimmed**
The ancient treasure… no longer shined.
Whatever it once protected, it had now passed its message:
**Zeravon was not part of this world's script.**
---
**Outside – Watching from Afar**
Deep in the Elder Hall, one of the observing artifacts **cracked**.
Instructor Wei stared.
> "This wasn't a treasure trial…"
> "This was a test of existence."
---