Four Split Personalities

At the same time

The Realm of Innocence

Game Time ▇▇▇▇

Location ▇▇▇▇

...

A massive ’platform’ swayed in a bizarre void, but to call it void isn’t exactly precise. Despite the dense darkness almost infinitely approaching the concept of ’nothingness’, there still existed countless splendid and colorful patterns — constellations, flora, fauna, geometrical figures, and many unimaginable outlines flickering endlessly, yet they lacked any substance, not even amounting to projections, as if they were merely a simplistic and meaningless backdrop, hollow and false.

In the next instant, it might have been just a second, or perhaps a whole ten thousand years had passed, nine distinct patches of colored light suddenly appeared on that ’backdrop,’ then quickly came to life, pausing briefly before swooping down towards the platform below with a series of slicing air sounds.

Thus, the intricately patterned wide platform now had nine colossal pillars towering over a hundred meters high, each differently colored, filled with a sense of ’presence’ that clashed with the surrounding environment. Upon being ’nailed’ into the platform, six of these pillars immediately burst into bursts of light, making the endless ’void’ around them even more pale and hollow.

"Although I’ve been here many times, I always feel, no matter how many times I repeat this, it’s hard to get used to..."

After an undefinable amount of time, a severely distorted voice that was indistinguishable in gender suddenly echoed.

Before the echo faded, one of the pillars, cloaked in dark green and adorned with numerous twisted reliefs, suddenly bore a chair at its peak, upon which lay a cloaked figure with an indistinct face. He chuckled softly, slowly straightening up: "Believe me, dear Fourth Pillar, it won’t be long before you stop being so overly surprised."

His voice wasn’t distorted like the former; instead, it sounded like a gentle, deep male voice, easily reminding one of a middle-aged Scholar leaning on a cane with graceful demeanor.

"This is a genuine place of miracles, and I do not believe time can erode my awe, Eighth Pillar."

The voice known as the Fourth Pillar sounded again, another pillar with a smooth azure surface now hosting a massive Crystal Ball atop it, shimmering with a Hazy mist, resembling an Eye of the Mage that got its scale wrong if viewed from a distance.

"No, no, no, my point is, when new members gradually increase, we, as the predecessors, ought to be a bit more restrained." The Eighth Pillar chuckled softly, shaking his head and speaking quietly: "Even if we are to marvel at the ’Domination’s divine craftsmanship, we mustn’t lose face, right?"

Representing the Fourth Pillar, the Crystal Ball swayed slightly, hummed noncommittally with a light snort.

At that moment, a diligent voice suddenly came from the slowest-to-light dark purple pillar: "Where... where is this? Where... where am I?"

"This is the world after death, we are judges, grand wills, you, the one being judged, are a humble spirit, and we are all preparing to discuss whether in your next life you should continue being a human or perhaps it’s better to simply become a Mudkaqiu."

The Eighth Pillar rattled off a long string cheerfully: "So, please offer your name respectfully, and the attitude you display will also become a reference for our verdict."

The voice from the purple pillar seemed to gasp, and after a long while, asked very despondently: "I... am I dead?"

"No, you’re not dead, I was kidding."

The Eighth Pillar suddenly burst into laughter, then exaggeratedly spread his arms: "Welcome, dear Third Pillar, I sincerely feel happy for our new partner’s joining, hope you don’t mind that little joke~"

"Third Pillar?"

That voice clearly paused, confusedly asking: "What is the Third Pillar?"

"You are the Third Pillar."

Another new voice intervened, coming from a pillar glimmering with dim yellow gentle light, intricately sculpted with realistic flora and landscapes, radiating a comforting vitality.

"I... I don’t understand..."

The one called the Third Pillar was obviously still baffled, responding blankly.

"You will understand soon."

The steady voice seemed to chuckle, and in the next instant, a unclear statue appeared atop the pillar adorned with flora and landscapes, continuing peaceably: "I am the Second Pillar, the one who just tried to trick you into revealing your true name is the Eighth Pillar, and the other one is the Fourth Pillar, we are all ’Angel Envoys’ of the great Domination, and you, will also become one of us in the future."

"Second Pillar... great Domination... tricking me to reveal my true name... becoming one of you... what in the world is... uh, perhaps because I drank too much last night... that’s why now..."

The so-called ’Third Pillar’ sounding even more confused, he started mumbling some inexplicable murmurs after the Second Pillar finished, seemingly suspecting he was having a bizarre, peculiar dream, and began to try some messy methods to ’wake himself up.’

"Hehe, it seems our new partner has developed some kind of... um, severe misunderstanding."

The severely distorted voice of the Fourth Pillar seemed to be laughing.