A black hole tore open in the sky, and an aura of desolation, death, and decay stretching back through the ages began to creep out, ready to devour everything in the world.
An aged voice rang out between heaven and earth: “Young man, are you ready?”
Then silence returned...
An invisible pair of hands quietly seized the tail of time and space. The entire world sank into a thick, swirling vortex, unable to escape!
The air reeked of blood. The sunlight lost its purity, growing dim and warped, while the distant mountains, rivers, trees, and grass were swallowed by blood-red shadows.
An invisible force dragged him downward, pulling him toward the abyss. His five senses were smothered beneath an impenetrable darkness.
The aged voice sounded again in his heart: “Young man, are you ready?”
He tried to struggle, but the harder he fought, the farther he fell.
So he let himself fall. A beautiful, pale figure suddenly appeared in his mind. Her smile was like a spring flower, soothing to the soul.
But before he could linger in the sweetness of that memory, a giant sword pierced his chest, spraying blood into the air.
Blood blossoms painted the entire memory red. Ten years together, a hundred years apart. Their vows still stood, but no letter could bridge the distance.
“No!” he cried from the depths of his heart. His sealed senses were ripped open, and blood poured forth.
Suddenly, a graceful figure in blue pierced the darkness like a ray of daylight. In a cool voice, she said, “When Heaven no longer shows mercy, when the people become food for the bloodthirsty, I have only one sword with which to bring peace to all ages.”
A blue sword-light split the darkness. Sunlight surged into it along the sword's path.
