I'm cold... it hurts everywhere... what's going on... why am I wet?
These thoughts drifted through Chike's semi-conscious mind as he struggled to understand his surroundings. He tried to move, but every part of his body protested—especially his chest, where the pain sharpened with each breath. Weakness washed over him, threatening to pull him back into unconsciousness, but he fought against the darkness.
Finally managing to open his heavy eyelids, he immediately regretted it as blinding light stung his vision. Everything remained blurry, but he could make out a patch of blue sky above. Gritting his teeth against the discomfort, he turned his head to the side. What he saw jolted him into full, terrified awareness.
A dead man lay beside him on the bank of a fast-flowing river, half his body still submerged in water that swirled with crimson.
Looking closer, Chike saw the man's eyes—or rather, his single visible eye—still open and vacant. The skin was missing from half his face, and the side facing Chike ended in a bloody stump where an arm should have been. Strangely, the corpse still emitted a powerful aura—one Chike remembered feeling before, though his foggy mind couldn't place where. He only knew it had been far stronger then.
Where am I? Who is this man? How did I get here?
The questions swirled as he tried to move again, only to be thrown back into agony as the adrenaline faded. Pain came in relentless waves, and weakness reclaimed his body as consciousness began to slip away.
As he faded, he heard footsteps—one set light and quick, the other heavier and slower. A child's voice shouted something he couldn't understand. In his blurring vision, he saw a young boy's face looking down at him, mouth moving soundlessly. Then another face appeared—an older boy. He too seemed to be speaking, but Chike's world was already darkening. "Help me," he whispered, before darkness consumed him.
***
It was a cold day in Silver Wolf Town. Winter approached, and the temperature leaned toward frigid, but the town remained as busy as ever. The marketplace teemed with people—ordinary folk purchasing food and clothing, fierce-looking warriors buying weapons and supplies for expeditions into the nearby Mist Mountains.
Though called a town, Silver Wolf functioned as a small city—a merchant hub on the far eastern edge of the Lumiel Kingdom. Positioned at the border, it served as a key trading spot with neighboring kingdoms. From the eastern mountains flowed the Silver River, named for the peculiar silver hue of the stones lining its bed.
In the market...
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" a man shouted as two children darted past, laughing as they chased a fluttering paper bird inscribed with strange markings.
The bird wove through the crowd with the children in pursuit until it swooped toward a midsized shop bearing a sign that read "Gor's Inscriptions." The creation zipped through an open window, and the children scrambled in after it.
Inside, the paper bird alighted on the hand of a middle-aged man with short black hair, a neat mustache, and a friendly face. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled warmly at the breathless children.
"Again! Do it again, Dad!" the boy and girl chorused, bouncing with excitement.
"It's getting late, children. That's enough for today," the man said.
"Please?! Please?!" they begged, clinging to his legs.
He chuckled. "Alright, one more time. But after this, you must go home. Your brother will take you—he wants to check his fish traps at the Silver River anyway." He lifted a finger tipped with azure light and tapped the paper bird. The inscriptions flared, and the bird sprang back to life.
The children squealed with delight and chased the bird outside. Another boy, around fourteen with black hair and pale green eyes, followed them. He idly flipped a small knife in his hand as he approached the door.
"Old man, you know I don't like babysitting," he said.
"I know, Haden," the man replied with a grin. "Just bring home some delicious fish." He waved as Haden departed.
Outside, Haden sighed and spotted his younger siblings running circles while waiting for him.
"Isda! Rian! Let's go," he called.
Hearing his voice, the two children ran to him, guiding the paper bird to fly ahead. Haden led them away from the marketplace toward the outskirts of town and the Silver River. He intended to bring home fish, but today, he would return with something far more unexpected.
***
Earth — Hill in Star City
Rakun watched the scene unfold. He felt his attack connect with Seth, the man's life force evaporating instantly. He saw Seth's lifeless body slam into the mortal boy, sending them both tumbling through the spatial portal. He would have liked to confirm the kill and loot the body, but more pressing concerns demanded his attention.
First, exhaustion and injuries from Seth's Scarlet Colossus Palm were taking their toll. Despite his breakthrough to the Berserk Emperor stage, his new power remained volatile and unstable.
Second, his left arm dangled by mere threads of flesh. Blood poured from numerous wounds. Attempting to staunch the flow with his raw Emperor energy was like trying to tame a wild beast—he lacked the control.
Third, he sensed several powerful auras closing in rapidly. The strongest felt like a Peak Berserk King.
The guardians of this plane have finally arrived, he thought grimly. I'd have loved a duel, but in this state, it would be suicide.
With no time to spare, he dismissed his halberd and summoned a turtle-shaped totem. He shot toward the ground, stopping before the dead tree. Pressing the totem against the bark, he watched it sink in. The tree glowed as a spatial portal swirled to life.
As he waited for it to stabilize, his eyes swept the area. A few meters away, two strange two-wheeled contraptions lay warped and broken—likely casualties of the immense auras released during the battle. Beside them, a young mortal boy lay motionless, blood trickling from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
A quick scan confirmed the boy's heart had stopped. Sad. Wrong place, wrong time. Rest well, young one.
The portal stabilized, revealing a mountain range on the other side. Just as Rakun stepped forward, he froze. His gaze snapped back to the boy. I thought he just died? His heart stopped... and yet, what is this energy I feel...? His eyes widened in surprise as he began to turn—but a powerful mental energy suddenly swept over the area.
"Tch! I guess I can't take you with me," he muttered. Without hesitation, he leapt into the portal. As it closed behind him, he cast one last glance at the unconscious boy. Good seed, he thought before vanishing.
***
Nyvoria — Silver Wolf Town
Isda and Rian chased the paper bird with gleeful shouts as it circled above. Haden trailed behind, carrying a half-full basket of lumpy purple apples in one hand and munching on another. Though he feigned disinterest in babysitting, his watchful eyes never left his siblings.
Soon, the sound of rushing water greeted them, and the crisp scent of the river filled the air. Haden closed his eyes, allowing a faint smile as he basked in the cool breeze. This was why he loved the river—a refuge from the town's constant noise. The hidden riverbank, shielded by trees and rocks, was his secret sanctuary.
His moment of peace shattered with a high-pitched scream. Before he could process it, his body was already moving, sprinting toward the sound.
He skidded to a halt before a trembling Isda. "What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes scanning the area as he drew his dagger.
"There," she whispered, pointing a shaky finger toward the riverbank.
Haden pushed the frightened Isda and the curiously unbothered Rian behind him. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. After a moment, sensing no immediate threat, his posture relaxed slightly, but a deep frown settled on his face.
Two bodies lay partly submerged in the river. Both were covered in blood. One was completely still; the other twitched faintly.
Haden knelt, placing his hands on Isda's shoulders. "It's okay. There's nothing to worry about, alright?" She nodded timidly. "Good girl. Now I need you to do something for me. Run home and get Dad. Tell him I said it's an emergency and he needs to come alone—quickly. Can you do that?" After a brief pause, she nodded and darted off toward town.
As Haden turned back, he saw Rian already edging curiously toward the bodies. "Rian!" Haden hissed, gripping his dagger and striding after him.
"Look, big brother, he's awake!" Rian pointed at the twitching figure. Haden's eyes fell on a boy about his own age, with dark skin like merchants from distant lands. The boy's clothes were strange and stained with blood.
The boy tried to move, but a spasm of pain contorted his features, and he collapsed again. Rian stood over him, fascinated. "He's dressed weird," he commented, seemingly unperturbed.
When Haden reached them, the boy muttered something in an unfamiliar language before his eyes rolled back and he passed out.
Haden studied him for a moment, then turned to the other body—a middle-aged man missing an arm, a gaping hole in his chest still oozing blood. Tattered remnants of a black robe clung to his frame, and though fading, a heavy aura still emanated from him.
He was a Whisperer, Haden realized. His eyes drifted to the man's remaining hand, where a plain silver ring gleamed dully. What killed him? he wondered, staring at the horrific wound.
"Haden!? What happened?" a familiar voice called. He turned, startled, to find his father standing behind him.
I didn't even feel him approach, Haden thought as he stepped aside.
Gor had rushed over the moment Isda relayed the message. Now, seeing the scene for himself, he understood the urgency.
With a grim expression, he knelt beside the unconscious boy, examined him briefly, then propped up his head and tipped a small bottle of bright green liquid into his mouth. The boy's chest glowed faintly, enveloped in a thin layer of luminous green energy. Gor nodded, satisfied.
He stood and approached the other body. His frown deepened as he inspected it. When his eyes fell on the gaping chest wound, he noticed a tattoo—a serpent-scaled necklace with a key pendant. His gaze hardened behind his glasses. He lifted the body, checking the back of the neck where the tattoo continued into the image of a serpent swallowing its own tail.
After a moment's hesitation, he worked the ring off the corpse's finger and pocketed it. Then, with a brief consideration, he pushed the body into the river and watched it drift away.
Returning to the unconscious boy, Gor's body began to glow with azure light. "Ra'Nol, Wind's Cradle," he whispered. The light enveloped the boy, lifting him gently on a cushion of air.
"Head home, Haden. Take Rian with you," Gor said with a faint smile. "I'll take a different route—don't want anyone thinking I kidnapped this boy, eh?" He winked playfully, then vanished into the bushes.
"Let's go home, Rian," Haden sighed, shepherding his little brother away.
***
A few hours later...
*Where am I?*
Chike's mind swam as he awoke to the sight of a wooden ceiling. He tried to move, but his body felt heavy and drained, though the sharpest pains had dulled to a deep ache.
He managed to push himself into a sitting position and looked around. He was in a large, simply furnished room. A wide wooden bed with soft white sheets lay beneath him. Bandages wrapped his chest, hands, and head. He was just about to attempt standing when the door creaked open.
A man entered—short black hair, glasses, and a kind face framed by a warm smile. He spoke softly, but the words were gibberish to Chike's ears.
"I can't understand what you're saying," Chike said weakly after a moment.
The man paused, replied in the same unfamiliar language, and smiled again.
Gor had returned home and decided to check on his unexpected guest. A whirlwind of questions filled his mind, but he resolved to proceed with caution.
He opened the door to find the boy attempting to rise.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said gently. "You broke quite a few bones, and they're not fully healed yet. I'm surprised you're even awake this soon." Seeing the boy's blank look, he added, "Why don't you rest a bit more? We'll talk when you're better."
When the boy responded in that foreign tongue, Gor blinked in surprise. "Well," he murmured to himself, "this is interesting."