I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was rocks.
I stood up, recalling everything that had happened. I was in an underground cave, even deeper than the fifteenth level.
I could feel it by the amount of ather surrounding me. I looked at the black sword — it was truly impressive.
I summoned it into my hand. It was light and thin. I struck a rock.
It was cleanly sliced in two.
To think that this sword will evolve alongside me...
What will its power — and mine — be in nine hundred years?
But first, I must reach rank six.
I don't even know how much time has passed outside...
But I must grow stronger to face anything.
Before that, though, I need to test this...
The technique from the part of my soul that had been chained.
I summoned the sword of fire and lightning.
And said, "Black Fire."
My body was covered in intense black flames. My sword too was engulfed entirely in black fire.
Upon seeing my sword, I combined lightning and black fire.
The result was that the sword of black fire and lightning radiated a temperature of over five hundred thousand degrees. Around the black flames, bolts of lightning swirled, increasing my speed.
I wanted to test its power, but I gave up — it would make too much noise and reveal my presence.
I sat down and began to cultivate.
Four years later
I had finally reached rank six. All that time... just for two more ranks.
Now that I was rank six, my lifespan had increased by two hundred years, and I could read exactly how much time I had left to live.
My power and speed had greatly improved. I could now use aura — to create armor, cover my sword, or even launch it as a projectile attack. But the power depended on one's rank.
I had asked myself many times how to get out of here.
But now... I didn't care anymore.
I summoned the sword of black fire and lightning.
And, raising it toward the ceiling, I said:
"Black Decay."
The rocks touched by the attack evaporated, creating a passage upward. I ascended and reached the surface.
And... I was greeted by fifty people pointing their swords at me.
— Who are you? one of them asked.
— Uh... if I told you I was imprisoned underground, would you believe me? I said.
— Yeah, right. Stop lying. Chief, look at his clothes — they're the same we wore a hundred and fifty years ago, said one of them.
A hundred and fifty years?
So I've spent a hundred and fifty years trapped in that damn illusion? I thought.
Then I conclude you're a spy sent by the Chang Clan, the chief said.
The Chang Clan? Who's that? I asked, placing my hand on my head.
Capture him. We'll interrogate him at the sect, said the chief.
Twenty of the fifty rushed at me. As I was about to draw the black sword, I chose to surrender — I had no idea what was going on here.
You're rather obedient for a spy, said the chief.
Alright. Put the prisoner in the cage. We're heading back to the sect.