Raphael delved deeper into Ilareth's belly, the odd city throbbing with a power that was at once alien and familiar. The roads curled and swiveled, contradicting the sensibility of the city grid he remembered, as if the city itself were alive and reshaping itself with every pace he made. The neon lights above him glowed with symbols that danced before his eyes, representing tongues he was unfamiliar with but was helplessly attracted to unscramble. Wuji, a fleeting flicker in his heart now, beat in harmony with his rhythm, infusing him with a peaceful comfort as he walked through this world of dreams. His white hair fell behind him like rivers, catching the glittering light, and his red eyes scanned the horizon with increasing resolve.
As he strode, a figure stepped out of the darkness—a thin, spindly figure with shining wires along their see-through skin. Its eyes shone with supernatural radiance, and it cocked its head as if examining Raphael. Before he could react, the figure said in an hollow voice, "You bear the light of an Edict seeker.". Be cautious, for the Ink group watches those like you." Raphael froze, his serious expression deepening, but the figure vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind a faint shimmer of static in the air. Wuji's voice echoed in his mind, *System Message: That was a warning. The Ink group may already be aware of your presence. Proceed with care.*
Having a purpose to seek out an Edict, Raphael went up to what appeared to be a rippling like molten glass sheet of a building. Its surface mirrored the twin suns overhead, light passing through it in prismatic colors onto the black metal streets. Within, he found a giant chamber filled with drifting pages, which shimmered with a light gold color. Wuji instructed him, *System Message: These are fragments of the Scripture of the World.*. In order to assert an Edict, you must demonstrate your worth by passing a test of will.* Raphael nodded, stepping forward as the pages around him spun, their ancient words pulsating with authority. He could feel power coursing through him, as if his questions in his past life were leading him to this moment.
The trial started with a vision—re-creation of his death, the smoke, the silence, but this time he confronted it head-on with clarity. The pages taunted him, giving him illusions of madness and temptation, addressing him with offers of power should he give up his pursuit. Raphael's mind never wavered, his profound thinking keeping him grounded like the brook where he enjoyed drawing parallels for himself. With a final burst of determination, he gripped a page, and it dissolved in his hand, becoming one with his being. Wuji's words echoed out, *System Message: Congratulations, Raphael. You have acquired your first Edict: The Law of Eternal Evolution.*
Stemming forth from the room, Raphael experienced a rush of bolstered strength coursing through him. Ilareth city hummed in recognition, its spires tilting just a fraction as if saluting his triumph. But he knew this was not the end. The Ink faction loomed darkly, and the 998 remaining Edicts trilled at him from the edges of the galaxy. With Wuji leading him, he looked out toward the horizon where towering mountains shone at him with their mysteries. His adventure had only started, and with every step he took he felt shedding the burden of his past, to be taken over by a new set of possibilities in this infinite world.