The handsome youth laughed and spoke eloquently: "I am many things and had many names. Some contradicting even. My true identity is not yet relevant to you as you are. However, you may consider me your 'provider' for the eye that you used belonged to me"

Jin stood there. His mental state had been broken and broken many times already. He was unable to trust anything anymore. As for who this was and what he meant? He was not even able to trust the existence of that thing. He believed that this was no more than one more trick from the Fear.

The handsome youth sighed as he saw Jin's reaction. He stated: "Turns out that you were no longer sane...Well, it can't be helped...Still, I am slightly reluctant to part with a promising candidate like you...I know! We will let fate decides! Here is your hint: The greatest Fear appears once one starts to doubt"

Jin looked at the man puzzled. What was it trying to do?

The handsome youth laughed as he asked: "What are you doubting right now? You? Me? This place? Or...Maybe...Everything? Let me tell you, candidate! The greatest Fear is to fear that things are no longer real! Fearing that your existence is flawed!"

The young man disappeared after those words and reappeared behind Jin, surprising him and forcing him to take a few steps backwards.

The young man continued laughing as he told Jin: "From today on, from the moment you will awake, you will have to live in Fear, and alongside Fear. Unable to believe in anything and fearing that they are not real. This is the true embodiment of Fear!"

The young man disappeared again and reappeared at many different places all around Jin. Still laughing, he continued: "Is it real?! Is it not?! What will you do about it?! What can you do about it?! Live in Fear! Prosper through Fear! Use it! And again, we will meet, if fate allows and you do not succumb to Fear at the time of reality!"

Then, the many hazy figures of the young man all evaporated, as if absorbed by the darkness.

And Jin lost consciousness.

...

He woke up.

He sat up straight as cold sweat dripped down his back. Again, that moment and that location. He relived it so many times that he was used to it.

He checked his soul sea.

Tenth realm.

There was a hazy flow of darkness surrounding his core. It was the Fear element. He was quite used to it by now too.

With but a thought, this hazy darkness appeared and revolved around his right arm. He clenched his fist and it disappeared.

He looked outside the window.

Dawn.

He got up and walked unsteadily to the mirror. He looked at his reflection.

Was it reality?

Was it still the fake?

He was doubting.

And this was fortunate.

If not for that weird encounter with the freaky handsome youth, he would have not even entertained the possibility that this could be reality. He lived through the fake reality too many times that he would have been unable to even consider it. He would have probably continued to live aimlessly in this life too.

Then again, it could also be a trap to push him even further down towards the abyss of Fear.

Regardless, he understood something from this encounter. Something about Fear.

Since he dared to try to master Fear, he would have to live in Fear and with Fear from now on. Even if this was a fake life. Because the only way to truly dominate Fear was to acknowledge its existence and bear with it.

Or so was what the man meant.

Whether it was true, whether it was real, whether it was...He did not know.

But since it happened at this time, before this one life, then he would persevere in this life first. He would probably be unable to escape this Fear that was now instilled deep within his conscience. But he would try. He would do his best to deal with it.

He would live.

And pursue the Peak in this life.

Whatever happened would happen according to fate.

He took a deep breath and punched through the mirror, breaking it into many pieces that scattered on the floor.

Then, he put on his robes and left his mansion.

...

Far away, within a cavern, a very ancient existence laughed.

Steps were heard and a young handsome man wearing a robe seemingly made of eyes with red pupils exited it.

The cavern was within a giant rock within a giant forest. The man was surrounded on all sides by green and brown. From within the dense foliage, purple smoke was escaping.

After he took another step, steps were heard coming from within the forest.

Another handsome man exited the forest and stood in front of him.

This newcomer had fair skin and deep purple pupils. He had long hair mixing green and red strands. His battle robe was brown with etchings of purple smoke.

He had a long smoking pipe in his mouth. He breathed it in deeply before breathing out a long cloud of purple smoke. Then, he spoke in a melodious voice: "You're out, Brother Nightmare...What happened?"

The young man that just left the cavern, Brother Nightmare, smirked and spread his arms. Then, he stated excitedly: "I found a new candidate! Brother Fumes, get ready!"

The man in brown robe, Brother Fumes, smoked again before sighing and asking: "Will this one survive the madness though? I'm quite tired of doing this..."

Brother Nightmare frowned and, as if lecturing, stated: "We won't know until the end. You need to believe in it first for it to succeed!"

Brother Fumes sighed and stated: "Sure, sure, whatever... So, what should we do?"

Brother Nightmare excitedly stated: "We make our move! This world has been peaceful for long enough"

Brother Fumes stopped smoking and smirked. The purple smokes began to exit the forest at an extremely fast speed and being absorbed into him. At the same time, cries filled with despair resounded throughout the forest.