The wind whipped around us as I sat at the edge of the canyon, my tail swishing lazily over the precipice. Below stretched an impossibly vast expanse of flat ocean, shimring like molten silver under the sun. A chain of floating islands hovered in the distance, tethered to the seabed by massive, ancient chains. Waterfalls cascaded from their edges, dissolving into mist before they reached the flat surface below.
I leaned back on my palms, letting out a long breath. Flat-earthers would have lost their minds here. I snorted at the thought. If anyone from my old world had seen this view, they'd have co up with a dozen conspiracy theories before taking a single picture.
The wind carried the faint scent of saltwater and wildflowers, a strange but pleasant combination. I closed my eyes for a mont, soaking it in. I'm really in another world. My third eye pulsed faintly, not from any use of power but from a dull ache that sotis accompanied it. Images flashed unbidden in my mind—skyscrapers, cars, the hum of a bustling city. Earth. That's where I ca from. Earth.
The mories ca faster, clearer. A street I used to walk on. The sll of fried chicken from a corner shop. A na—was it mine?—hovered on the edge of recollection before the pain behind my third eye flared sharply. I grimaced, shaking my head as if that could dislodge the thoughts.
"Arthur?" Jas's voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts, respectful but hesitant.
I turned slightly, catching him standing a few steps behind , looking awkward as ever. His sparrow perched on his shoulder, its chanical wings whirring faintly. "What is it?"
"Are we moving soon? To the Central Human Kingdom?" he asked, gesturing to the horizon as if the answer lay sowhere in the dry, red expanse.
I waved him off lazily. "Relax, Jas. Sit down. Enjoy the view."
Jas blinked, looking genuinely perplexed as he stepped forward and glanced over the canyon. "This is... normal to ," he admitted with a shrug.
"Of course, it is," I muttered, smirking to myself. Cultural differences. To him, this was just another day in a magical fantasy world. To , it was awe-inspiring, the kind of thing people back on Earth would pay thousands to experience.
We sat in silence for a while, the sparrow flitting between us like it was checking to see if we'd fallen asleep. I finally broke the quiet. "How'd you do it?"
Jas glanced at , confused. "Do what?"
I gestured vaguely to the endless ocean, the chain islands, the sky. "Get here. The sea's full of monsters—I've eaten a couple of them myself—and the weather's probably insane. How'd you manage all that alone just to gamble your life on agreeing to help?"
Jas chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't really think I had a choice. You're strong, Arthur. Right now, I'd say you're as strong as my master—a whole Avatar. A demi-god of the Middle Realm." He hesitated, then added, "And you did that in under a year. That's... unheard of."
I humd, watching the flat ocean far below us ripple faintly. So, this is the value of power here. It wasn't just about survival—it was currency, influence, everything. It made people like Jas take insane risks just to get a fraction of it on their side.
I stood and stretched, brushing imaginary dust off my hands. "Alright. Let's move."
Jas opened his mouth to respond, but the low rumble of growls cut him off. I turned my head, my molten pupils narrowing as I spotted movent at the edge of the canyon.
Wolves. No, not ordinary wolves—these things were massive, their bodies constructed from dark stone and streaked with glowing lines of energy. Their eyes burned with an unnatural light, and their movents were eerily fluid for creatures made of rock.
"Golem Wolves," Jas muttered, his voice tense. "They're Stage 2 monsters. They always hunt in packs, and they're... not easy to deal with."
I frowned. Stage 2, huh? They're still pretty weak. I let my aura flicker faintly, testing their reaction, but they didn't flinch. That's when I rembered—I'd turned off my Aura of Dread so Jas wouldn't piss himself during the flight.
I was about to turn it back on when Jas stepped forward, raising a hand. "No need for you to fight, Arthur. You're a guest, and it's my responsibility to handle this."
I raised a brow, crossing my arms. "You? Against them? You're outnumbered, outpowered, and—"
"I'll manage," Jas interrupted, his sparrow letting out a sharp chirp of what I could only assu was agreent.
Amusing. I smirked, stepping back and motioning for him to proceed. "Alright. Impress ."
Jas nodded, his posture stiff but determined. He pulled a series of gadgets from his belt, his gauntlets whirring to life with a faint blue glow. The wolves moved in a coordinated pattern, circling him like predators closing in on prey.
Jas struck first, hurling a small device that exploded in a burst of bright light. The wolves recoiled, their glowing eyes flickering as they snarled in confusion. Jas darted to the side, using the distraction to launch another device—a tallic net that crackled with electricity, ensnaring one of the wolves and sending it into violent convulsions.
Smart. I leaned against a rock, watching with mild interest. Jas wasn't strong, but he was clever. Every movent was calculated, every gadget used with precision. He wasn't trying to overpower the wolves—he was outmaneuvering them.
But cleverness only went so far. The pack adjusted quickly, splitting into smaller groups to flank him. Jas dodged and weaved, but he couldn't keep up with their relentless assault. A swipe of claws caught his arm, drawing blood. Another slamd into his side, sending him sprawling.
He panted, his movents slowing as the wolves closed in.
I sighed, standing and brushing imaginary dust from my hands. "Alright, I'm bored."
My tail swished once, the air crackling faintly as my three eyes glowed a deep crimson. I raised a hand lazily, and a tiny ball of concentrated destruction winked into existence, crackling with barely contained power.
With a casual breath, I blew it forward.
The ball tore through the air, moving faster than any of the wolves could react. It passed through their bodies like a knife through butter, ripping through stomachs, necks, and heads. The pack collapsed almost simultaneously, their bodies crumpling into heaps of blood and shattered stone.
Jas stood frozen, drenched in the blood of creatures that shouldn't have had any. He turned to , his face pale. "Man... demi-gods are way too strong."
He collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. I chuckled, my grin revealing jagged, glinting teeth. Too strong? He didn't know the half of it.
I turned my gaze forward, toward the canyons and red-lands stretching endlessly before us. In the far distance, I spotted it: a grand black wall, its massive gates bearing the banner of what could only be the Central Human Kingdom.
I could feel it—a shift in the air, in my own essence. My fate would change there. But more importantly, I was done with eating raw at.
I licked my lips, excitent bubbling beneath the surface. Let's see what this world has to offer.
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