Prologue: The Great Wasteland

The night was deep and pitch-black, rendering the landscape invisible. Yet the mountains were far from tranquil; wild beasts roared, shaking the mountains and rivers, while countless trees trembled and leaves fell in a rustling cascade.

Among the countless mountains and ravines, ancient feral beasts roamed, primordial species emerged, and terrifying sounds echoed in the darkness, threatening to tear apart the heavens and earth.

In the mountains, from a distance, a soft light appeared, like a flickering candle amidst the boundless darkness and myriad peaks, seemingly on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.

As one drew closer, a massive charred tree trunk became visible, with a diameter of several meters. Apart from the half of the trunk, only a slender, vibrant branch remained, adorned with jade-green leaves that emitted a gentle glow, casting a protective light over a village.

Specifically, this was a Thunderstruck Tree. Many years ago, it had been struck by a lightning bolt that reached the heavens, destroying the massive crown and vibrant life of the old willow. Today, only a stump a meter high remained, shockingly thick, with a single willow branch like a green celestial chain, its aura spreading and enveloping the entire village, rendering the settlement mysterious and ethereal, akin to a fairyland amidst the Great Wasteland.

The village was composed of stone houses, and at this late hour, it was serene and peaceful, seemingly cut off from the darkness and beastly roars outside.

A gust of wind howled, and a massive dark cloud obscured the night sky, blocking out the scant starlight, plunging the mountains into even deeper darkness.

A fierce bird cry came from high above, splitting the heavens and earth, originating from the dark cloud. Upon closer inspection, it was an enormous, almost inconceivably large bird, obscuring the sky and moon, its length unknown.

As it passed over the stone village, it cast a downward glance. Its eyes were like blood-red moons, filled with ferocity, fixating on the old willow tree for a moment before flying toward the deepest part of the mountains.

After a long period of calm, the earth began to tremble in the late night. A vague figure emerged from the distance, towering as high as the mountains.

An inexplicable aura emanated from it. The mountains fell into a deathly silence, with fierce birds and beasts lying in wait, too fearful to make a sound.

As it drew nearer, the being appeared to be a humanoid entity, standing upright and towering, its height rivaling the mountains. It was hairless, covered in golden scales that gleamed brightly. Its face was flat, with a single vertical eye that opened and closed like a streak of golden lightning, sharp and intimidating. Its overall presence was as overwhelming as an ocean of blood, resembling a divine demon.

It passed by, glanced at the old willow tree, and after a brief pause, seemed eager to continue on, quickly disappearing into the distance. Its footsteps caused many peaks to roar and the mountains to tremble violently.

At dawn, a ten-meter-long, barrel-thick silver centipede meandered through the mountains, its body gleaming like silver. Each segment was shiny and menacing, clanging against the rocks and sending sparks flying. Yet it avoided the stone village, leaving it undisturbed, with black mist swirling and beasts retreating in its wake.

A slender willow branch, radiating a soft green aura, swayed gently in the wind.