Tuo... tuo... tuo...

That was the sound of an axe chopping into a tree, the sound of it chopping into my "body."

Although it's a bit slow, it is indeed working. That... is enough.

When I was still a person, I would never have imagined that one day I would desperately crave death.

But now, death is the only thing I want...

A long time ago, I was a person who cherished life more than anything, because I once had everything.

My family was very wealthy and powerful. From a young age, I understood that I didn't need to work or make an effort; as long as I asked, my requests would be granted.

I spent my adolescence in public school. I think my family intentionally wanted me to experience the life of ordinary people.

I'm very grateful for that experience. It allowed me to see many things clearly, and it could even be said... it changed my life.

During those days, I often heard the parents of some classmates say to their children, "Don't lose at the starting line."

Looking back after many years... that was one of the saddest things I've ever heard.

If life really is a race, then the person who crosses the finish line first is simply the one who dies faster.

The truth is, there is no starting line at all, because this isn't a race. Only they are running. People like me are born sitting on the back of Pegasus... we don't need to run, and we can't be caught by them.

Later, I gradually understood that the starting line they talked about actually had nothing to do with me. They were hoping... that their children could be ahead of the other runners.

But... even on that point, I can't agree. Setting aside one's background, "talent" is also a factor that can't be forced. Intelligence, appearance, talent... these are also innate advantages that mediocrities can't catch up to even in their entire lives.

Their only asset is diligence. But they can't recognize that. They squander their time and energy, indulge in self-satisfying fantasies and meaningless cheap pleasures, and waste their youth.

They are pitiable, but also... not worthy of pity.

In my youth, I left that environment and went to the place that people of my status should go.

I saw another world... a hypocritical, cruel, and disgusting world. The people there had backgrounds similar to mine. They were wealthy, short-tempered, and self-centered.

They made me miss my days in public school. At least there, I could make real friends.

As the years passed, I grew up in the best environment my family could provide. Growing straight without being propped, like hemp growing among weeds... I finally achieved something, embarked on an official career, and gradually adapted to dealing with all kinds of people. I also learned to be unscrupulous and to eliminate roots...

Finally, at the age of forty-three, I became the prime minister of the kingdom.

I was the youngest prime minister in the kingdom's history. I had immense power, a large faction, wealth that rivaled the country, and I was handsome and dashing. Men yearned for my life, and women yearned to enter my life.

I had everything.

And what I would think about next, of course, was... how to preserve all of this for as long as possible.

I secretly controlled the kingdom's Academy of Sciences and the Magic Academy. Even the commander of the Royal Magician Corps was my confidant. The entire kingdom's resources were at my service, trying to find... a way to achieve immortality for me.

But... ten years passed, and my thinking began to slow down, and my physical strength began to decline. Even though I treated my body like a sacred temple, the demon of "aging" arrived as scheduled. And the research on immortality still hadn't made any substantial progress.

I began to take risks. I visited the Black Magic Guild, the Demon Clan, and even went to the wild lands outside the kingdom to search for otherworldly objects.

These were all absolute taboos, but I couldn't care less. Anyway, the act of researching immortality was itself strictly prohibited.

The fear of aging and death had made me stake everything.

Under such circumstances, I found them...

The "Huang Shi Brothers" (Desolate Executioner Brothers), a terrifying duo who existed only in rumors. It was said that both of them were of the Xing Clan (Executioner Clan), or that only one of them was... Of course, that wasn't important. What was important was that they were geniuses of alchemy. Even the governor of the Royal Magician Corps told me that if anyone could complete the art of immortality, it could only be those brothers.

I was overjoyed, and a triumphal song of hope played in my heart.

Looking back now... that was actually the prelude to despair.

I found the two brothers, Arthur and Andrew.

They took a large amount of precious treasure from my private vault as compensation, but I didn't feel any heartache. As long as I obtained eternal life, accumulating wealth would be an easy task.

On my fifty-fourth birthday, the alchemy I had long awaited began.

Everything that day was blurry and chaotic. I can no longer remember the details of that time. All that flashes in my memory are feelings of terror and pain.

When I regained consciousness, I came to this place—Chew Demon Island.

This was not my world. Those two hateful swindlers sent me to another world, to a wicked god.

Xing Shi (Executioner Master), the supreme god of the Xing Clan.

I was used as a sacrifice, teleported to the dimension where he was, kneeling at his feet...

Then, I learned a ridiculous, tragic, and extremely terrifying fact: Xing Shi was also just a prisoner on Chew Demon Island.

However, for this prisoner, subduing an opponent like me was still as easy as crushing an ant.

My magic was like juggling in front of him, disappearing in an instant.

I was "sewn" onto a giant mocking tree by him. Stitch by stitch... sewn with the tendons from my own body.

He placed a curse on me.

I... finally obtained immortality.

True immortality that even suicide couldn't end.

Time passed, I don't know how many years... and I merged with the tree behind me.

At first, I felt that the mocking tree's venomous remarks were a torment. But later... I got used to it.

Until one day, it died.

Mocking trees also have a lifespan; they also die. When their death comes, they stop speaking and turn into pure rotten wood.

That day, I cried, but no tears flowed.

From that day on, all that accompanied me was endless loneliness. Even a scolding became a luxury.

I remembered when I was a child, I had heard a down-and-out wandering poet sing such a ballad on the street: "Wine, women, wealth, and temper are all reflections in a mirror or the moon in the water. Fame and fortune will eventually become passing clouds."

A person's life is long enough. What can never be filled is people's desires.

People ignore what is truly important, but chase after those illusions, so when they die, they leave nothing but regret.

I paid the price for my greed, and thankfully... it's all over.

Ah... it's about to break; a few more chops will do.

These clear memories that I'm seeing now must be my life flashing before my eyes...

Eh? Are you the Grim Reaper? Great, I've been waiting for you for too long... too long...