Duality of Shadows-Chapter 987: Nothing Mattered

The first rays of summer sunlight illuminated an immense city on a radiant planet. The city was entirely white, with massive, pristine buildings. Towering statues pierced the clouds every few meters, each depicting a male figure clad in silver armor with a sword at his waist.

At the break of day, countless figures moved toward the city’s central region, known as the Monastery of the White Guardian God.

This was the gathering place for countless prodigies, bred to serve the god, where they would be trained to wage war across the universe and spread the deity’s words far and wide.

Inside the monastery, thousands of youths, aged between fifteen and twenty, gathered around a massive statue emanating a white aura.

The youths were humanoid, with an overwhelming majority being human. All were born in the capital, had passed numerous tests, and were recognized as candidates to become soldiers of the deity. It was an immense and coveted status, but to assume such a role, they had to pass the monastery’s entrance test.

Amidst the crowd, four figures stood out. These four hovered a few meters above the ground, surrounded by the masses below. The youths beneath them wore tense expressions.

The group consisted of three men and one woman, all carrying terrifyingly high status. Two were born in the capital, while the other two came from elsewhere. Yet, all shared the same prestige: they were candidates for Generals of the Deity.

Generals were selected from across the galaxy, trained in countless fields spread across nearly every planet. Every ten years, those capable of cultivating the sacred Dao were brought to the capital. This time, two generals emerged from the capital, while the other two hailed from other locations, but their status was equal.

Meanwhile, the soldier candidates had to be chosen by one of the generals to join their armies. To do so, they had to display or speak of their talents, offering themselves for recruitment.

Among the generals, the woman stood out. She was stunningly voluptuous, with long golden hair and a white dress that accentuated her curves. Nearly 90% of the men competed fiercely to join her army. Her beauty was impossible to ignore… not that she even tried—she flaunted it shamelessly.

Of the remaining three, the man born in the capital was well-known and somewhat popular compared to the others. However, the number of soldiers per army was limited, and all four generals needed to choose wisely. Eventually, the woman would fill her ranks, and the rest would have to turn to the other generals.

Two hours passed before a sudden commotion erupted among the men surrounding the woman.

A young woman had arrived. Her figure was agile and graceful. While she didn’t have curves as prominent as the first woman’s, she was slender and strikingly beautiful, with elegant proportions. But the most captivating feature was her eyes—anyone who met her gaze felt their heart race uncontrollably. In contrast, she exuded a coldness that froze the soul, yet everyone felt inexplicably drawn to approach her without hesitation.

"Huuya’s here," one of the youths exclaimed excitedly.

Everyone already knew the names of the five generals, and she was the last to appear. A third of the men surrounding the first woman immediately turned toward her. Her beauty and presence left no doubt as to why so many vied for her attention.

Huuya’s expression was as cold as a glacier, but everyone noticed her effort to force a faint smile. It was awkward and made it clear she didn’t want to, but even so, the young men’s hearts raced as they looked at her.

Looking around, she declared, "Anyone who wants to join me should take this chance. But I won’t accept anyone repulsive. If you seek a fair place, come talk to me."

The moment she spoke, countless people’s eyes lit up.

"Fairy Huuya, pick me! My combat skills are outstanding, and I’d risk my life for you!"

"Choose me! I’ll be your loyal servant—"

Before the person could finish, they were trampled by countless others. The scene was complete chaos. Though it was only a third of the men, their fervor was overwhelming.

Now that all five generals were gathered, the candidates had to give their all to be chosen. Otherwise, there was a chance they’d be eliminated without even taking the test.

Huuya carefully evaluated the candidates, looking for the best among them. As she had said before, those she deemed repulsive wouldn’t be chosen. After a brief assessment, she and the other generals could quickly gauge each candidate’s worth and select their members swiftly.

High above Huuya, two souls floated, completely invisible to everyone present.

Alm and Bruno observed the situation until Bruno made a decision and moved. It was his turn to help Ruri, but figuring out the best approach was a significant challenge.

After Almia’s death, the two had spent almost two years alongside Ruri in their previous location, closely observing her and discussing the best way to help her. Yet, they hadn’t reached a consensus.

Seeing her now—completely cold and somber, though not entirely evil—Bruno felt a pang in his heart.

Ruri now seemed entirely like Alm, his complete Yin. She lacked the flame of life and the joy of living. Since Almia’s death, it was as if she no longer cared about herself. Nothing seemed to make sense or be funny to her anymore.

In Ruri’s eyes, everything had turned gray and lifeless. It was an apathetic state Bruno knew all too well from his time on Earth. It wasn’t sadness—she didn’t feel anything at all. To her, living or dying made no difference because nothing mattered anymore.

Without saying a word, Alm watched as Bruno moved toward a man of average appearance standing silently amidst the crowd. The man hadn’t joined any general yet, just observing the five options, as if he didn’t care about being recruited.

Bruno quickly merged with the man’s figure, taking on his role in this illusion.

Taking a deep breath, he sensed through his connection with the young man that there was no name or past attached to him. After all, none of this had truly happened. The calamity had simply created random people and placed them in this illusion. Most likely, these figures came from Ruri’s memories, drawn from her past lives, with personalities that aligned with what she remembered.

However, these people could have lived in entirely different times and places. This meant that if Bruno invented a name or background and Ruri believed it, the illusion would adjust itself to fit that new "reality."

So the only requirement was to make Ruri believe the story. The young man closed his eyes and turned toward Huuya.

She was listening to the men around her, asking questions while lightly floating above them to observe everyone more clearly. Her eyes scanned the group, occasionally nodding toward someone as she made her choices.

Then, for a moment, something instinctively caught her attention. Her gaze searched through the crowd until it landed on a simple, forgettable figure standing still with his eyes closed in the distance.

And then, he opened his eyes—slowly.

In that instant, it was as if stars lit up in them. A faint, pure aura radiated from him, making the young woman swallow hard. Immediately, her heart raced.

The young man looked at her, letting out a soft huff, before turning away and walking off with steady, calm steps. As he moved, his eyes briefly met those of another woman further away.

This other woman had been closely watching Huuya and the people she recruited the entire time. Proud and arrogant, born in the capital, she had every intention of surpassing her rival and becoming the center of attention.

However, as her eyes locked with the young man’s, she involuntarily trembled, causing her ample curves to dangerously bounce in her low-cut dress.

Alm let out a soft sigh, understanding Bruno’s plan. Ruri, by nature, was competitive, jealous, and possessive. First, Bruno made a strong impression on her by using his celestial soul and their connection. Now, he was stoking her competitive spirit by using the other woman as a catalyst.

Bruno continued walking away, his steps light and steady, until a wave of silence suddenly spread around him. The once-loud crowd grew quiet as a seductive voice rang out.

"Would you like to join my army?"

That voice, clear and melodious, sounded like a succubus trying to enchant an unsuspecting victim. Yet everyone would’ve willingly succumbed to its owner.

Bruno turned to look at the woman. She had already approached him with swift, deliberate steps. The people around them were stunned—she had moved on her own to recruit him! Conversations died down as everyone watched closely.

"My name is Civae," she said with a gentle smile. "You seem undecided, brother. I have a spot for a vice-commander in my army, and I feel you’re someone reliable and capable enough for the position. What do you think?"

Her words fell like thunder. First came the shock, then an overwhelming wave of jealousy. The onlookers glared at the plain-looking young man with indignation. He didn’t seem special at all. Why him?

But, defying all expectations, the young man replied without any emotion: "My name is Brunon." Shaking his head, he added, "I appreciate your kindness, but I’m used to being alone. I only came here because my family insisted. I don’t mind not being chosen. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline."

For a moment, everyone thought they’d misheard. They stared at Brunon as if he were insane. Civae had invited him to be her vice-commander, and he refused? What kind of mental problem did he have?

Her expression, however, didn’t change—at least on the surface. Internally, her wounded pride and resentment boiled over. Nodding lightly, she turned and walked away.

"Perhaps you’d like to join my army?" Another soft voice suddenly spoke.

It was Huuya. She had also stepped closer.

Now, chaos erupted. What kind of absurd luck was this, for two beauties to personally try recruiting him?

The eyes of the other three generals narrowed, locking onto Brunon. Though they said nothing, their expressions carried clear irritation and indignation.

Alm and Bruno exchanged satisfied looks. In Ruri’s eyes, something had changed. It was as if a key had been turned. Her dormant competitive side had been awakened. She wanted to outshine the other woman. And beyond that, something new had sparked in her heart when her gaze met Brunon’s.

"My name is Huuya," she said. "But I won’t promise the role of vice-commander. In my army, everyone is equal, and only those who prove themselves capable will rise to such a position. Do you accept?" She puffed out her chest slightly, tilting her head. Her bright, intense gaze seemed to pierce through him, making hearts around them race.

Bruno stared at her. Now, Ruri radiated a special aura—one that was incredibly captivating. Her side closest to Bruno had emerged.

But in the end, he shook his head in refusal. Sighing, he was about to decline verbally when he felt the Heaven’s Will of the calamity press down on him.

His eyes met hers again, and he noticed a subtle glow, a power emanating from the Blade of Devotion within her. Alm and Bruno easily understood her thoughts: Ruri desperately wanted him to accept. Her Dao Heart was shining brightly, causing the blade to react positively.

"The sister seems fair. Alright, I accept," Brunon said calmly, sensing the surge of joy growing in Huuya’s chest.

She smiled—a genuine smile, filled with happiness. "Now we’re all on the same side. I promise I won’t treat you poorly. Understood?"

Her words seemed to carry a double meaning, and to everyone else, it was obvious she was flirting with Brunon. These were just young people who hadn’t seen much of the world, let alone had time to form deep relationships. Their jealousy led their minds to conjure up things that clearly weren’t real. Soon, many of the onlookers’ eyes turned red with envy.

This world wasn’t real, but everyone around acted entirely realistically and stayed true to their roles. The calamity had done an exceptional job, or else this wouldn’t truly be a test.

Brunon simply nodded and moved closer to her army. Then, he watched as she refocused on recruitment.

Huuya had only recruited half of her army from the men. For the other half, she personally approached the girls no one else wanted to choose. She went to the weakest ones, those with average looks—because if they had been beautiful, some of the other generals would have certainly brought them into their ranks, even if they were mediocre.

That was the reality of the world: you had to have something to offer—be it talent, beauty, or powerful connections.

But Huuya didn’t care about individual power, which surprised most people. Even so, she had a keen eye for her soldiers’ loyalty. Those women would be deeply grateful. As for the men, even if they had initially wanted to join her army because of her charm, as long as they were loyal and followed her orders, that was enough for her.

Quickly, 70% of the soldiers on-site had been chosen, and the five generals reached their member limits. At that moment, figures dressed in white appeared in the skies above.

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"The generals’ first test will now begin," a feminine voice announced. "It’s simple, and the results will determine your rankings in the monastery. The test will have two stages. In the first, you’ll be transported to a wilderness area and must locate spiritual crystals that will emerge on the surface."

"All participants will be transported randomly, but the area isn’t too large, so you may find each other within a few hours—though doing so may cost valuable time. You can act individually or as a group. At the end of the day, the more crystals your army collects, the more points you’ll earn. Begin!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the five armies felt their bodies being transported to a distant region of the planet.