Under the moonlight.
"Grrroooaaaarrr!!"
A massive monster surfaced from the water, its nine flat, snake-like heads each as tall as a person, writhing and thrashing wildly in midair as it charged toward the luxurious cruise ship below.
The ship was holding a banquet. The hall was filled with well-dressed young men and women, holding goblets, chatting and laughing.
Roy stood among them, his attire completely out of place compared to this crowd.
He looked around with a face full of disbelief.
"Not again, seriously?"
Rumble—!
Suddenly, the ship shook violently. The mingling crowd stumbled, screams of various kinds filled the air.
Roy steadied himself against a table and walked over to the window.
He caught sight of the massive beast thrashing recklessly in the sea. Just the part above water was over twenty meters tall. The nine snake heads had a total of eighteen eyes, glowing with chaotic, scarlet magical light. Several of the heads were coiled around the ship's hull like chains, seemingly trying to drag the entire cruise ship underwater.
Roy expertly traced a primitive rune—the Prime Rune—activating his Mystic Eyes, causing them to split and multiply.
The runes flew out and connected in midair, encircling the Hydra-like monster. Suddenly, a burst of red light flared up, and fierce flames surged like towering waves from the sky, engulfing the monster's heads.
The beast writhed in the blazing fire, its agonized screams piercing the night.
But it was not immediately burned to death. Large patches of flesh on the flame-covered parts writhed, seemingly regenerating.
Roy smirked slightly.
Whatever, doesn't matter—it's just a dream after all.
He found a chair and sat down, turning his gaze back to the hall, bored, scanning the crowd.
"It's really you…!"
At that moment, a voice filled with surprise and joy called out.
Roy turned his head and saw a girl with dazzling golden hair, lifting her skirt as she ran toward him with a bright smile.
This girl looked very familiar. Although her outfit was different from last night's, she was clearly the same girl he dreamt about, the one being chased.
Wait—is she a bit taller now?
Before Roy could think further,
The golden-haired girl was already in front of him and, without hesitation,
She threw herself into his arms.
Her two pale hands gripped the front of his shirt tightly, unwilling to let go, as if she had found a lifeline.
"Thank goodness, I thought I'd never see you again!"
"?"
Roy slowly raised a question.
No, wait—who are you? Why do you sound so familiar? Besides seeing each other in last night's dream, have we met anywhere else?
Crack!
At that moment, a pitch-black crack appeared beside them, rapidly spreading in all directions. The world before their eyes shattered like a broken mirror.
"Not again…!"
The girl panicked, looking around frantically. Then, as if realizing something, she hurriedly looked at Roy and opened her mouth.
But before she could say anything, the dream collapsed.
***
At the Aozaki Residence.
Roy woke up.
He lay in bed for a moment, not getting up immediately, lost in thought.
Something was off. Why did he dream of the same person twice in a row? Do normal dreams do that?
Unable to figure it out, Roy got up, changed clothes, and went outside.
The sun was slightly setting—it must be afternoon.
"What's going on?"
Roy stood in the yard, looking at no one in particular, but spoke to the air.
Though no one was there, he believed whoever it was knew he was talking to them.
Sure enough.
A leaf floated down from midair, swaying on the ground, forming a neat line of characters as if typed by a computer:
"A new world coordinate has extended from your dream."
World coordinate?
Roy frowned at the words on the ground.
From his dream, a world coordinate actually extended out? Could it be that these two dreams are connected to some character from another world? Or even linked together?
"Is this beyond your control?"
"Yes, it is your innate talent."
Roy was very surprised.
So, connecting with characters from other worlds is his own ability? His power isn't just to adapt or help others adapt to different world rules? How much potential does he have that even he doesn't know about?
"Can connections formed in dreams also create world coordinates?"
"Cognition itself is a form of connection."
"Prepare yourself. Departure will be within ten days at most. Your target is the world connected in your dreams."
After leaving this message on the ground, the leaf drifted away, resting silently.
Cognition itself is a connection?
So based on Roy's dreams, or his knowledge of other worlds, the Root can find coordinates for those worlds?
Turns out his ability is not only for exploring new worlds but also for locating them?
"No, wait!"
Roy suddenly slapped his forehead, his expression turning grim.
He realized something terrifying.
Cognition forms connection.
The refugees who crossed into this world—Utaha Kasumigaoka, the Nakano sisters, Hayasaka Ai—all people he knew well. Could it be... they were found by the Root because of his cognition of them? Did he dream about them before too?
"This must never be told to anyone, got it!"
Roy nodded seriously.
Right or wrong, this secret would stay buried inside him forever!
"No, this has nothing to do with me. Why should I care?"
Roy muttered to himself, nodding repeatedly to convince himself.
That's right, this has nothing to do with me! Such things can't be proven! They were caught purely by chance!
"Um, Lord Roy…"
At that moment, a timid voice suddenly reached his ear.
Roy was startled.
"Miku, what's the matter?"
He cleared his throat and turned to smile gently, as usual, at the girl beside him.
The girl looked exactly like Ichika, except for her hair, with almost no differences in face or body shape, but the blue-and-white headphones around her neck stood out.
This was the first time Miku spoke to Roy alone. She nervously twisted the corner of her clothes, avoiding his gaze.
"It's like this... Miss Okita Souji hasn't woken up yet... I'm worried, maybe... something's wrong..."
"Souji still hasn't woken?"
Roy turned around to ask more.
Then he suddenly realized.
"Wait, Miss Okita hasn't disappeared?"
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹