'Who am I?'
The question echoed in Orion's mind, repeating endlessly like a loop of words.
Orion lay on his back, staring at the sky, his eyes and expression lost in confusion.
He couldn't comprehend how his mental state had weakened so abruptly, as if a dam within him had cracked, letting all the negativity he had suppressed rush in. Every day, he fought fiercely against the dark emotions birthed from the Curse Transformation, battling thoughts of despair, anger, and fear.
He refused to give in, convinced that as long as he held strong, nothing could bring him down. He believed he had fortified his mind through relentless effort, tempering his will with every mental struggle by practicing in the state of Curse Transformation.
The constant battles had made him feel invincible, as if no darkness could penetrate his defenses. He had faced so many challenges, always believing he'd come out stronger.
Despite all his efforts, the shadows seemed to close in, leaving him exposed, vulnerable, and confused. He had no idea how this weakness had slipped through the cracks in his once-unshakeable resolve.
And only now, he could see how wrong he had been.
All those efforts, all the endless hours of mental fortification, the grueling moments spent strengthening his will, had crumbled when it truly mattered. All the training, the discipline, the mental fortitude he'd built—none of it had prepared him for this overwhelming collapse. His mind had betrayed him when he needed it most.
Still, he knew he had to be stronger than this. After everything he'd endured, breaking now would make all those struggles meaningless—just because of an identity crisis, just because he couldn't understand who he truly was, just because he didn't know his real self.
No, he wouldn't allow himself to falter. He had overcome too much to let this be the moment of his downfall. But before he could move forward, he needed clarity. He had to understand how it all started—what had triggered this crisis?
'How did this happen?'
Orion was sure he had been fine—until he saw the life of Orion Stark. Everything went downhill after that.
Your next journey awaits at empire
'Why did I get affected by seeing his life?'
Orion knew it wasn't real. The real Orion Stark was him. Yet, he couldn't understand why those scenes affected him so much if they weren't real.
Orion narrowed his eyes. "So, it was you who told me to find those blank pages?"
He continued, "Who are you really? What do you want from me? I have so many questions about myself, about this world. Answer me!"
The old man's expression turned serious. "The blank pages hold a power no one can imagine. You must find them before they fall into the wrong hands. Otherwise, this world will be doomed—even the three heroes may not be able to save it."
"Blank pages? Three heroes?" Orion understood the first part but was completely lost on the second. "Old man, what are you talking about?"
At that moment, the old man's figure began to blur. "It seems I must go now," the old man said, turning to Orion. "Until next time." He smiled before disappearing.
"No! Answer me! Who are you? Please tell me!" Orion shouted, but the old man was gone, vanished into nothingness.
Just as the old man disappeared the world shattered like a broken mirror, and suddenly Orion found himself standing among the other participants in the hall.
[Participant Ray Wiser has passed the first test of the Trial of Heart—Test of Will. You may proceed with the second test.]
A notification appeared in his vision, but Orion wasn't in the mood to acknowledge it.
'Damn it! Who was that man? How did he know my real name? What does he want with me? Was he the one who transmigrated us?'
So many questions raced through his mind, but he had no answers. He felt like a blank canvas, filled only with doubt and uncertainty.
'He told me to find the blank pages and said they were dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands. Does that mean if I collect them all, I'll have a chance to meet him again?'
Orion wondered, desperate for answers. This was the only clue, the only way he could think of to meet that old man again.
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