NTR: Choice Based System

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the dense foliage, illuminating the strange, ethereal formation within which Dan Ya found herself.

Memories of the previous night's illusory events, vivid and unsettling, lingered in her mind, casting a sobering pall over her awakening.

Emerging from the formation, Dan Ya sought out Barad, her gaze searching the surroundings. She spotted him quickly, his expression a mixture of concern and perplexity as he watched her approach.

He knew how powerful the illusion was, how it could force you to confront things you'd rather keep buried deep within yourself, things you might not even consciously be aware of.

He ran towards her and hugged her tightly, a protective instinct overriding his initial perplexity.

Seeing this, even Ye Yang was confused, his gaze shifting between Barad and the formation with a mixture of concern and curiosity. He knew it was his turn to face the illusion, but the sight of Dan Ya, bearing the weight of whatever she had just experienced, filled him with a strange apprehension.

He wondered what trials she had endured within the illusion, what horrors she had been forced to confront to emerge looking so… shaken.

Barad murmured, "It was a bad idea... I shouldn't have let you go through this."

In her mind, the scene of the vacant city, the chilling emptiness that had consumed everything, and then, the news of Barad's death, echoed with a haunting clarity.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The lines between reality and illusion had blurred, the fear and despair she had experienced within the illusion seeping into her present, leaving her shaken and disoriented.

Feeling a chilling premonition, a fear that she would lose Barad again, she clung to him tightly, her grip desperate and possessive.

She didn't want to lose him, not again. Barad, sensing her distress, spoke softly in her ear, "Don't worry, I'm here for you." His voice was a low rumble, a promise against the lingering tremors of her fear.

Suddenly, reality crashed back down on her, and she erupted in a torrent of sobs, her body wracked with uncontrollable tremors. Barad held her close, his heart aching as he witnessed her anguish.

He didn't know the specific horrors she had faced within the illusion, but one thing was certain: it had shattered her spirit, leaving behind deep, gaping wounds.

Ye Yang approached, his heart aching with concern. As always, his system suppressed his emotions, leaving him with a facade of calm composure. He simply stood close to the couple, his presence a silent offer of support.

Seeing Dan Ya's breakdown, a flicker of satisfaction crossed Training Head's face. He had anticipated this, knew the illusion would break her spirit.

However, this satisfaction was quickly tempered by a surge of frustration. Barad and Ye Yang's involvement complicated matters. Their presence, their obvious concern for Dan Ya, threatened to undermine the desired outcome.

In his plan, it would be him, Training Head, who would comfort Dan Ya, exploiting her vulnerability to gain her trust and obedience.

He intended to use this influence to manipulate her, to bend her to his will, to possess her completely. However, the arrival of Barad and Ye Yang had thrown a wrench in his carefully laid plans. Their presence, their genuine concern for Dan Ya, threatened to undermine his control.

"Now I have to wait," he muttered to himself, his gaze hardening. "And first, I must dispose of these two."

The thought of eliminating Barad and Ye Yang brought a chilling satisfaction to his eyes. He would remove these obstacles, clear the path for his ultimate goal: to possess Dan Ya completely.

As her sobs subsided, Training Head approached, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Seems like she has gone through her true fear," he observed, his voice a low, silken drawl.

"Stay away from her," Barad growled, his voice low and menacing.

Training Head merely smiled, a chilling, predatory smile. "Don't worry, Barad. I merely wish to offer my condolences. The illusion can be quite… unsettling." He turned his attention back to Dan Ya, his voice softening. "There's no need to fear, Dan Ya. I understand. It was a difficult ordeal."

Dan Ya, still reeling from the trauma, looked up at Training Head with a mixture of fear and confusion. His words, though seemingly comforting, sent a shiver down her spine. She instinctively reached for Barad, seeking refuge in his embrace.

Seeing her distress, Barad tightened his hold on her, his gaze fixed on Training Head with unwavering hostility. "She doesn't need your pity," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Leave her alone."

Barad felt a surge of anger, convinced that Training Head was somehow responsible for Dan Ya's distress. He didn't want Training Head anywhere near her, didn't want him meddling in their lives.

Seeing Dan Ya's distress and the escalating tension between Barad and Training Head, Ye Yang decided to intervene. He was acutely aware of Training Head's manipulative nature and his insidious schemes.

However, he knew he needed more time to gather evidence, to expose Training Head's true colours, and ultimately, eliminate the threat he posed once and for all.

Ye Yang declared, his voice firm, cutting through the charged atmosphere. "This is clearly affecting Aunt Ya. Perhaps a break would be beneficial for everyone."

He turned to Dan Ya, his expression softening. "Let's get you back to your quarters, Aunt Ya. You need some rest."

Barad, still seething with anger, reluctantly agreed. He helped Dan Ya to her feet, his gaze lingering on Training Head with a mixture of suspicion and hostility.

Training Head, though seemingly unfazed by Ye Yang's interruption, watched them go with a predatory glint in his eyes. He knew this was only a temporary setback.

He would bide his time, patiently weaving his web of influence around Dan Ya, until he had her completely under his control.

Ye Yang, meanwhile, kept a watchful eye on Training Head, his mind already calculating his next move.

He knew he had to act quickly, before Training Head could further manipulate Dan Ya and cause irreparable harm. The fate of Dan Ya, and perhaps even their entire group, now rested on his shoulders.

"I want to try," Ye Yang declared, his gaze fixed on the entrance of the formation.

Barad immediately voiced his concern. "No, nephew Yang, this will be a bad idea."

It was Hell's idea. He wanted Ye Yang to experience this, saying, "This will be good training for you, it will help you in rapid growth."

Even Training Head was confused by Ye Yang's sudden demand. He himself had been eager to see Ye Yang challenge all five levels of the puzzle formation without rest; a which he believed would definitely broke Ye Yang Mentally and physically.

However, after witnessing the profound impact of the illusion on Dan Ya, he had assumed it would take some time before Ye Yang would be ready to face the formation again.

This unexpected turn of events left Training Head momentarily speechless, his calculating mind scrambling to adjust to this new development.

Ye Yang, his resolve hardening, stepped towards the entrance. He could feel Barad's gaze on him, a mixture of worry and apprehension. He met his gaze, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, Uncle Barad. I need to do this."

With a deep breath, Ye Yang stepped into the formation. The swirling energies enveloped him, the familiar sensation of disorientation washing over him. He braced himself, his mind focused, his senses heightened.

The illusion manifested, not with the vacant city that had tormented Dan Ya, but with a different, equally terrifying scenario. He found himself in a desolate wasteland, a barren landscape of cracked earth and a sky perpetually shrouded in an eerie, blood-red hue.

The air was thick with the stench of decay, and a chilling wind howled incessantly, carrying with it the whispers of unseen horrors.

Alone in this desolate expanse, Ye Yang felt a creeping dread wash over him. The illusion, sensing his fear, began to play on his deepest insecurities. Memories of past failures, of moments of weakness, surfaced, magnified and distorted, haunting him with their relentless accusations.

He saw himself as others saw him – a cold, emotionless machine, incapable of cultivating. He saw the disappointment in his father's eyes, the pity in the eyes of his peers.

The illusion twisted these memories, amplifying the pain, the shame, until he was drowning in a sea of self-doubt.

Ye Yang felt a crushing weight of despair. He saw the flicker of disappointment in his father's eyes, the hopeless resignation in his mother's gaze. Even Ye Mu, his little sister who once idolized him, now looked at him with a mixture of pity and disdain.

And Ye Ling, his elder sister, who had always harboured a quiet disappointment in him, had now completely withdrawn her affection, turning her back on him as if he were a stranger.

The desolate place he was in now was the aftermath of his incapability, which had destroyed the Ye clan. Once the city filled with lives had now ended in desolate barren land, filled with devastations and devoid of life.

The whispers grew louder, accusing him of destroying his family, of being a cold, emotionless machine.

Images flashed before his eyes: the shattered remnants of the Ye clan, a testament to his failures. Despair threatened to consume him.

The smiling face of his mother, the cheerful laughter of his little sister, the confident grin of his martial artist elder sister, the proud gaze of his father – he remembered everyone's face.

But in front of his eyes, everything ended just within a second. Images flashed before him: the cruelty inflicted upon his family, the horror of it all. He was about to lose his mind, despair threatening to consume him, but just then...