A sharp pain throbbed through Meng Hao's skull as consciousness slowly returned to him.
His head felt as though it had been struck by a heavenly tribulation bolt—numb yet heavy, like something was trying to pull his mind back into unconsciousness. But he resisted. Bit by bit, he forced his eyes open.
Only to find himself surrounded by complete darkness.
No light. No form. No sound. Just an endless void—deep, suffocating, and cold. The kind of darkness that felt ancient, like it had existed since before the stars were born.
His breath caught in his throat as he instinctively tried to scan his surroundings. But there was nothing. No walls. No floor. No sky. He wasn't even sure if he was standing or floating. The sensation of being disconnected from the physical world was utterly foreign to him.
