Deviant: No Longer Human

The landscape is lush, almost overwhelmingly vibrant.

An ancient cobblestone path winds through the heart of this enchanted forest, bordered by an explosion of colorful, luminescent flora.

The flowers and plants glow softly in hues of blue, pink, and green, casting a dreamlike radiance that lights up the underbrush and the moss-covered statues that stand sentinel along the path.

Towering trees with gnarled, twisting branches reach up into a misty canopy, their leaves dripping with moisture that reflects the mystical light, creating a shimmering effect that dances across the air.

Statues of forgotten deities, large and imposing, are scattered throughout the landscape, half-consumed by the verdant foliage, suggesting the ancient power and forgotten lore that still lingers in this sacred place.

The air here is filled with the scent of moist earth and exotic flowers, a heady aroma that enhances the surreal beauty of the place.

The gentle sound of a nearby waterfall adds to the ambiance, its waters sparkling as they catch the ethereal light, flowing into a small, clear pool that mirrors the vibrant colors of its surroundings.

This sacred grove, untouched by time, resonates with the whispers of the old gods, their stories imbued in every stone and every leaf, creating a sanctuary not just of natural beauty, but of profound, pulsing power.

It is a place of peace and reflection, yet also a repository of immense, untapped energies, as if the very air is charged with the potential for both creation and destruction.

"... Ummm ... Where is it ...?" Wang Xiao lay sprawled across the cobblestone path, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath.

His vision blurred and head spinning, he slowly pulled himself up to a sitting position, gazing around in bewildered awe.

"This... Is... Heaven?" he murmured to himself, the words tinged with disbelief.

Pushing himself to his feet, Wang Xiao took a moment to steady himself, his senses gradually adjusting to the otherworldly surroundings.

He drew a deep breath, the air filling his lungs not only felt purer but seemed imbued with a mystical quality—a feeling that went beyond the mere physical.

[I have never sensed such a dense aura in my entire existence...] The voice of Yin Yue, his spiritual companion, echoed in his mind, filled with the same wonder.

[It\'s Aether, and it\'s everywhere, so much... It\'s like an endless sea...] she continued, her tone reverent.

Wang Xiao acknowledged her observation with a small nod, his curiosity piqued.

He began to walk along the cobblestone path, each step taking him further into the enchanting environment.

After a few paces, the path abruptly ended, and he found himself at the edge of a cliff.

Peering over the edge, he saw that the cliff dropped off into a lush, vibrant abyss that stretched out into infinity.

The air here shimmered with the energy of Aether, making the entire scene appear as though it were a living, breathing painting.

Below, the canopies of enormous, ancient trees swayed gently, their leaves glinting with droplets of Aether that caught the light, sparkling like countless tiny stars.

The scene was breathtaking, not just in its beauty but also in its sheer magical power.

This was a place untouched by time, a sanctuary where the divine seemed to linger in every leaf and stone.

Wang Xiao stood there, at the edge of the unknown, his heart captivated by the mystic beauty of the Graveyard of Gods.

This was a realm of gods and spirits, and he, a mere mortal, had stumbled upon its secrets.

Standing at the cliff\'s edge, Wang Xiao gazed out across the valley, an expanse that defied all notions of natural order.

Above, the sky boasted three suns, each casting its own warm glow, painting the valley in shades of gold and amber.

To his right, what initially seemed like moons hung in the sky, but upon closer inspection, they were planets—vividly colored in shades of faint orange, blue, and more, numbering nine in total.

Each orb was distinctly visible to the naked eye, an awe-inspiring sight that drew his attention and stirred his curiosity.

Then, directing his gaze straight ahead towards the heart of the valley, he beheld a sight of monumental grandeur.

Towering trees, each hundreds of meters tall, stood as ancient sentinels guarding the mystical realm.

Farther in the distance, the sky appeared to be pierced by a colossal tornado, spiraling upwards into the heavens.

This tornado was unlike any natural phenomenon Wang Xiao had ever seen—it looked as though it was a crafted pathway, climbing toward a destination unknown.

At its peak, a small luminous white core glimmered, encircled by winds that shimmered with a faint bluish hue.

Suddenly, a sharp warning echoed in his mind. [DON\'T GO NEAR THAT THING, EVER!] It was Yin Yue, her voice tinged with unmistakable urgency and fear.

!?

Wang Xiao, taken aback by the intensity of her warning, responded, "What\'s that?"

Yin Yue\'s reply came tinged with dread. [It\'s a Soul Eater! I have seen those back in my world. It would tear your soul and body apart, and there is no way to save yourself. Even spirits are torn apart by it. That\'s used for giving capital punishment back in my world!]

Wang Xiao\'s eyes widened in surprise. "Your world... Is it advanced?"

Yin Yue\'s response came with a touch of nostalgia. [It\'s more ancient, to be precise.]

Wang Xiao nodded slowly, taking in the surrounding beauty with a deep breath. "Does it look like this?" he asked, his voice tinged with wonder.

[Nowhere close,] Yin Yue replied, her tone suggesting a clear difference between her world and the vibrant vista before them.

Wang Xiao offered a wry smile, his gaze sweeping over the lush valley.

Despite Aurora\'s description of it as a graveyard, he found it hard to view it as such. "It should be called Paradise instead," he muttered under his breath. "I can already feel my vision and body improved multiple times just by existing here..."

[It\'s the aether that\'s penetrating your body already; if nothing goes wrong, you are actually being poisoned,] Yin Yue interjected, her voice cutting through his reverie and snapping him back to reality.

"Poisoned?" Wang Xiao echoed, his brow furrowing in disbelief.

He continued to walk around the cliff\'s edge, exploring the perimeter carefully without touching anything.

His journey revealed that there was no way to descend except by jumping—the cliff was steep and seemingly insurmountable, like the remnants of a once-tall majestic mountain now crumbled away, leaving only this small plateau intact.

The plateau itself was dotted with cobblestones and statues that seemed artificially made, hinting at a once-thriving existence.

These statues, eroded by time yet still standing, symbolized life that once animated this mystical place.

As Wang Xiao absorbed these details, the realization that he was standing on a fragment of a lost world sank in.

This place, though brimming with life\'s vigor thanks to the pervasive aether, also whispered tales of ancient civilizations and cataclysms that might have once rocked this hidden corner of the universe.