Mysteries: Arcana Wars

Benson walked over, across the turbulent train, and pulled a lever.

"Klein, you're too close to us now! You're the one who shouldn't be standing here now.

“Rather than saying Melissa and I are outside of reality, it’s more accurate to say she and I are below the world.

“You are currently still unable to ascend to a higher level. With only your status as a Sequence 2, you are unable to resist the negative effects of the smoke and dust of nothingness. You will gradually leave your current reality and fall into the abyss of nothingness.

“It’s time to go find that old lunatic, and our children.

"It's come to this point, Klein. This is pretty much what you expected, but our enemies are biting harder than expected, and the impact on you is more serious than you expected. Unfortunately, we have to hurry up.

"Go find Antigonus. You have placed clues next to him. If you follow him, you will be able to find the old madman who was exiled from reality, and the erosion of the void dust on you can be controlled.

"The children are definitely worthy of your trust, but the old madman - I can't say that the old madman is not worthy of your trust, but you must always remember that he has long been hopelessly crazy. Don't try to awaken his rationality, and don't pay too much attention to every crazy word he says."

The tattered display screens outside the window piled up into a grotesque creature with no end in sight. The squirming screens flickered with light, casting bizarre colors on Benson's face, making Klein's wandering thoughts even more confused.

"Benson, you..."

"'What the hell are you', right?"

Benson interrupted Klein with an expression that said, "I knew you would ask that."

“This question depends on you, Klein.

"If it was a kid who asked this question, I would give him a long lecture on theoretical knowledge. But Klein, you are different from us. When this question falls on you, all those long lectures, history, and extraordinary things are meaningless.

“For you are God, the Old One, the Pillar, the Lord of Mysteries who transcends everything.

“What you think we are determines what we are.

"Is it your illusion and acting? Your thoughts and delusions? Your tricks and power? Your pollution and madness?

"Or... a self-deceiving lie?

"Are we real? Or are we nothing?"

Benson smiled.

"Klein, it doesn't really matter to you whether we are real or fake."

"Important! Of course it's important!"

Klein yelled.

“But these are really important to me!

"So Benson, tell me, what are you? Are you my invention, or a trap set by the enemy? Or... a ghost that has been wandering for more than 1,300 years since the Fifth Epoch?"

"Then I'll give you an answer now, will you really believe it?"

Klein fell silent.

Benson didn't blame or complain. This was all within his expectations. In this dangerous environment, Benson expected that Klein would not easily accept the truth from others.

"So, we are what you think we are."

Klein wanted to ask more questions, but was interrupted by a bright light.

Benson turned his head in the light. In front of the train was a huge and complete electronic screen, which was still playing a high-definition video. However, the waterfall of black and white noise directly eroded Klein's retina, making it impossible for Klein to see the screen in the light. He could only feel through a little bit of outline that the clip in front of him was very familiar.

"It's almost time."

As he spoke, Benson quickly stepped forward and stepped on the accelerator to the floor.

"Wait, Benson—"

The steam train immediately went into overload and rushed into the huge screen.

But Klein felt a strong resistance. The light was too dazzling, so he squinted.

"Because you haven't believed it yet, because you are still hesitating, so this is a rare opportunity. I decided to teach you. Just like before, just like last time-"

In a trance for a moment, Klein seemed to see Benson leaning forward, leaning out of the window, then waving his top hat and shouting loudly.

"Embrace your madness, my little Crane!"

Then Klein and the steam train crashed into the huge display screen. The strange light caused a huge explosion due to the collision, and the fragile electronic products were easily crushed by the huge and heavy train.

A fierce fire flashed by, and when Klein opened his eyes again, there was no trace of Benson, only shards of glass and metal left on the ground.

Now, there is no barrier between the scenery outside the car and Klein.

...No, run!

As soon as he ran to the next carriage, those things immediately rushed in through the broken window like a surging wave, mercilessly drowning Klein's soul.

Suddenly he felt his spirit lighten, and the last thread in his mind was finally broken by the huge waves.

Klein still couldn't escape from the carriage. He slumped in the train, dazed, and no longer reacted to anything in the illusion. The chaotic and twisted tide surged into his soul, overwhelmed all his consciousness, and then poured out from the other side without any hindrance, without stopping for a moment, and without a trace of nostalgia.

The white curtains in the carriage were blown around by the strong wind and tangled on Klein's clothes. As the carriage and the tide surged, the white curtains pulled the stiff Klein around.

Until a huge force suddenly came and broke through the iron box of the train, causing Klein to fall out from the broken part.

"Why are you like this?"

The driver of the sightseeing train was furious and yelled at the magician lying on the ground.

"You have to make it so ugly, don't you? I call you and you don't respond. I shake you and you don't respond. Are you going to be happy only if I pull you down?!"

He is so unlucky today!

First, the old train broke down halfway through its run. After repairing it for a long time and trying to restart it, we found that its operating time was about to end and it was only long enough for the last trip.

Then, on the last trip before getting off work, I encountered such an unlucky customer. He staggered onto the bus and lay motionless against the wall, and did not get off even when we reached the terminal.

Finally, the driver, who was eager to get off work, angrily dragged the annoying tourist out of the car and threw him to the ground.

"You can't even get up? Are you high? Bullshit!

"It's time to get off work. This car is no longer under my control. I have to work the night shift. You can fend for yourself.

"Shit... Is there something wrong with your brain..."

The driver didn't care and just kept cursing and mumbling.

Klein was half hanging upside down like an unwanted rag doll, with half of his legs still hanging in the carriage and half of his body having fallen to the concrete floor.

It was late at night, and the neon lights were brilliant. The colorful lights were shining on Klein, swimming and squirming.

As his thoughts gradually returned, Klein groped around in a daze and dug out an ancient pocket watch.

The pointer returns to zero.