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Edward swung his sword, and the dimension around him shattered like glass under a hammer. Darkness tore open in jagged, screaming shards, reality twisting and folding in on itself. For a heartbeat, he was weightless, spiraling endlessly through chaos—no up, no down, only falling. Wind shredded at his hair, tugged at his clothes, and screamed in his ears.
Then—silence.
He landed softly on thick, vibrant moss. The world around him had transformed into a labyrinth of towering stone walls, twisting vines, and shadows that seemed alive. The air smelled of damp earth, wildflowers, and a faint trace of magic that made his skin prickle.
"So… I've done it," Edward whispered, a faint smile curling his lips. "I finally obtained my sword. But… the old man—what was his name again?"
He closed his eyes, reaching deep into the sword's spirit. A gentle glow emerged, forming the familiar figure of the old man.
"My lord," the spirit said, voice calm and echoing like wind through empty halls, "what do you wish to ask me? How may I serve you?"
Edward scratched the back of his head. "I… just wanted to know your name. That's all."
The old man's smile widened. "I have none. I am what my master calls me. But if you wish… give me a name."
Edward grinned. "Hmm… I've read too many comics, watched too many fantasy movies… Saber. You're Saber."
The spirit shimmered, clearly pleased. "Saber… honored. Shall we continue our journey?"
"Roger." Edward opened his eyes. The labyrinth was unnervingly still—not a leaf moved, not a droplet of water fell.
He stepped forward. Moss cushioned his boots, roots tangled underfoot, branches brushing his arms like gentle fingers.
He wandered, collecting fruits and berries to sate his hunger. Each bite was a revelation: juice bursting across his tongue, flavors that made him forget the chaos of the void.
"This… this feels incredible," he whispered. "But… revenge. I can't forget that. To get stronger, I need to survive first. Step one: stomach full."
He reached for another fruit. It vanished.
"Wait… what?" His eyes widened. Another disappeared. "No… maybe I'm just hallucinating. I haven't slept… yeah, that's it."
A third fruit, gone as well. Panic pricked at his chest. "No… this isn't hallucination," he muttered, scanning the forest, heart racing.
Then he turned—and froze.
A massive white wolf appeared, fur streaked with lightning-blue that shimmered as if alive. Its eyes crackled with raw energy, a storm contained within a gaze. Every muscle rippled beneath its radiant coat. The air itself seemed to hum around it.
Edward's breath caught.
It roared—a deep, echoing sound that rattled his bones. The wolf lunged.
Panic surged. "I… I can't outrun it!" He drew his sword, but it felt tiny, fragile against this raw force. In a heartbeat, it was upon him. Memories flashed: regrets, joys, sorrows. "Revenge… meaningless for someone like me… maybe dying is better…"
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them, the wolf was calmly munching the berries he had collected, tail wagging lazily.
Edward's heartbeat thundered. "I… I'm alive? But… why? Did it… respect my sword?"
The wolf sniffed his hand, then licked it. Trembling, Edward patted its head, awe and relief flooding through him.
And then he noticed it—the glowing message, floating in the air:
"You have obtained a key."
To be continued.....