Bonds of Darkness: Swordmen's Redemption

Chapter Five: The Weight of Choices

A/N: All rights to the original content are reserved by the respective copyright owner.

Image Art Source: Pixiv Artist "void_0" / Pixiv Art Code "111426357"

Edit as of July 19, 2024: I am rereading my previous chapters and couldn't help but cringe at some aspects, particularly the repetition caused by my past self. Even the English is too complex for normal readers. So, I am editing some segments to use more natural vocabulary (screw you again, past self) and removing repetitions.

-Dan Feng's POV-

After his meeting with the mysterious entity, Dan Feng was caught in a spiral of doubt and uncertainty. The offer made by the entity deeply affected him, leaving him with the persistent worry that his choice would determine the fate of their universe.

From a young age, Dan Feng had been familiar with the lore of the Ambrosial Arbor, and his recent investigations had revealed its vast power and significance. It was more than a mere source of cosmic energy; it held the capability to alter the very structure of their universe. Within its branches was the power to modify the Transmutation Arcanum, the method through which the powers of the High Elder were transferred.

Dan Feng felt a profound sadness knowing that the Vidyadhara, his noble race, was nearing extinction. The Transmutation Arcanum, once a sacred ritual, had dwindled to a ceremony practiced by only a few survivors. This dwindling capability to sustain their population cast a dark pall over their future.

-Time skip-

Seated alone on the outskirts of Xianzhou Fanghu, the city ruled by the Vidyadhara and supported by the Six Charioteers and Six Commissions, Dan Feng faced an excruciating decision. The Pearlkeepers, who had taken over from the Cloud Knights, now played a critical role. Weighed down by the gravity of his choice, he felt the moral stakes hanging in the balance. On one hand, there was a chance for redemption—for Y/N, his closest friend, and for the survival of the Vidyadhara. On the other, he faced the potential for profound wrongdoing, with consequences he would have to bear alone.

His mind was tormented by these thoughts, each moment of consideration deepening the lines of worry on his face. He was acutely aware of the severe implications his decision held.

As Dan Feng weighed his options, whispers flitted through his mind like shadows flickering at the edge of his awareness.

"Meet at Stargazer Navalia," one whispered, its voice eerily unsettling.

Another voice, softer and barely audible, added, "Where destiny awaits."

And a third chimed in, cryptic as ever: "A brief encounter, a fateful choice."

These murmurs, wrapped in secrecy, left Dan Feng enveloped in a silence filled with both anticipation and apprehension.

-Xianzhou Luofu, Stargazer Navalia-

Caught in his internal conflict, Dan Feng arrived at Stargazer Navalia. This place was where the "seeds" of ships were planted into the Fallow Earth, initiating their growth and development. It also served as a haven where craftsmen from the Artisanship Commission could unwind.

In the tranquility of this setting, he encountered the mysterious entity again. Although he appeared composed, a hint of hesitation and desperation lingered in his gaze. The entity faced him, its featureless face seeming to peer into the soul of the High Elder.

"Can you truly help me?" Dan Feng asked, his voice tinged with a tremor.

The entity's form flickered like a mirage, then stabilized. Its features were veiled in otherworldliness, obscured yet compelling. It spoke with a voice that resonated as if from the depths of space: