The circular platform we were standing on emitted a low rumbling noise as it began its descent, carrying us into the unknown. The foggy surroundings made it difficult to see anything beyond the platform, but as we descended, the fog gradually dissipated, revealing the second realm below. The platform’s descent seemed never-ending, and my heart raced with anticipation as we approached the unknown.

Finally, with a clanging sound, the elevator jolted to a stop just a few feet above the ground, as if it were being controlled by an invisible force from another dimension. We all jumped off the platform, eager to explore the new world that had been revealed to us. As soon as we stepped off, the elevator began ascending back into the first realm, disappearing into the foggy horizon above.

As I gazed around me, my eyes widened in astonishment. It was a vast river. The river was enormous and extended as far as the eye could see, but I was not very interested in it. I was in awe of the enormous structure that could be seen in the distance beyond the river.

Its peak rose high into the clouds, seemingly reaching for the skies, and it was most likely known as "Kipduff Mountain," as the voice in my head advised. The mountain’s enormous magnitude dominated the surrounding area; it was visible from great distances and seemed to go on forever in its grandeur. It was an incredible sight that made me feel small in its presence.

I snapped back to my surroundings and noticed that Kei was already on the move, so I quickly caught up with him and followed his lead. We continued to walk for some time until we arrived at the bank of the river. Along its edge, there were various settlements and camps that had been established. As we progressed further down the path, I could see that most of the people around us were likely Venturers like ourselves.

Eventually, we arrived at one of the camps, and I couldn’t help but notice that we were attracting a fair amount of attention from those nearby. Soon, someone approached us.

"Who are you?" a tall man with brown skin and long hair asked me.

"We just arrived here from the first realm. We are venturers. Do you perhaps know the path to the passage to the 3rd realm?" I replied with a bitter smile.

He stood still for a little while, likely contemplating something, and then pointed his finger at the mountain’s peak, which was obscured by a mass of clouds and therefore impossible for us to see, let alone determine whether it was the peak or not.

"It’s right in our sight, but obviously unreachable," he said.

As I asked him about the trip to the 3rd realm, he answered, "The environment there grows harsher as we go closer to the top. A typical person cannot survive in that environment. The gusts are so fierce close to the summit that we must keep ourselves in our enhanced state even if we have to walk."

He went on to explain that they had set up camp by the river and were gathering food and water in order to prepare for the journey to the 3rd realm the next week. "There are others like us who have set up camp and formed teams," he said. "You two don’t seem to be on any team yet, and we are only three people. Do you want to join our team? The more, the merrier, especially for this realm."

Kei and I looked at each other, knowing that we had been hoping to find a team to join. "We would be happy to join you," I replied, grateful for the offer.

"My name is Reed. This is Clara, and this is Hannah," he said, motioning to the people standing behind him. I extended my hand to shake his. "We look forward to working with you".

***

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As we sat by the crackling campfire, Kei turned to me and asked, "Tomorrow is the big day. Are you ready to start our journey to the peak of Kipduff Mountain?"

I gazed up at the starry sky, mesmerized by the beauty of it all. "As ready as I’ll ever be," I replied, a hint of excitement and apprehension in my voice.

It had only been a few days since we had arrived. We completed our trip preparations today. We’d accumulated enough resources, and I’d improved my comprehension of Sol by meditating for an hour every day. It had become a habit by this point.

"It’s hard to believe we’re here, in this unearthly area," I murmured, looking about at the bizarre terrain. The sky we were staring at was most likely produced by the same person or individuals who built this labyrinth.

"I never asked, but why did you enter this place?" I asked Kei, curious.

Kei hesitated for a moment before replying, "I was living in a cemetery when I found an invitation to this place. I had no money or means to live a decent life, so I decided to take a chance and come here."

I was surprised at Kei’s revelation. "You were living in a cemetery?" I asked, incredulous. Kei nodded. "Yes, it was the only place I could find shelter. I had no family or anyone to turn to. I scavenged for food and sometimes relied on the kindness of strangers."

I felt a pang of sympathy for Kei. "That must have been difficult," I said. Kei shrugged. "I was used to it."

We had been given sleeping bags by Reed and his crew, so I got up and walked to the camp. They were kindhearted people. As the day’s tiredness set in, I closed my eyes.

*

A piercing sound jolted me awake from my slumber, disorienting me for a moment. I frantically surveyed my surroundings, attempting to clear the haze in my mind. Gradually, the ringing noise intensified, and it became apparent that it was originating from a metallic object nearby.

In a split second, Reed’s voice boomed, "We’re under attack!" The urgency in his tone was enough to make me snap out of my drowsy state immediately. Without a moment’s hesitation, I scrambled to my feet and fumbled towards the exit of my tent. As I emerged from my shelter, I was greeted with a ghastly sight.

One of Reed’s companions was lying motionless on the ground, her once vibrant skin now ashen and lifeless. Blood, which had seemingly seeped from every inch of her body, coated the ground beneath her. I was left reeling with shock and disbelief at the sight before me.

My attention was quickly diverted as I noticed Reed’s remaining companion fiercely swinging her sword at something in front of her. As I squinted to try and get a better look, I was taken aback by the otherworldly appearance of the creature she was battling. It was a grotesque, indescribable entity, unlike anything I had ever encountered before. Its appearance alone was enough to send shivers down my spine.

It was a strange creature with no hands or legs and no discernible facial features. All I could see were two glowing red dots surrounded by a constantly shifting blackish mass, which seemed to be able to change its shape at will. I thought it resembled slime, but it was more versatile and adaptable in its movements. The two red dots appeared to be its eyes, and I watched in horror as it overpowered the girl.

Not wasting any time, I activated Zen. Due to my meditation over the last week, I have been able to maintain my Zen state for 7 minutes now. I quickly rushed to the girl’s aid, hoping to intervene and stop the creature from harming her. As I approached the blackish mass, it shifted its attention to me, and I knew I had to act fast.

I punched the creature with all my might, aiming for its eyes. But to my surprise, the creature morphed and changed shape, becoming thinner and avoiding my attack. It then formed a dome-like shape, which enclosed me and blocked my view of the outside world. I grasped my weapon tightly and rotated it, trying to build momentum. I hurled it towards the roof of the dome, hoping to damage the creature.

However, the creature was able to anticipate my move and create an opening in the dome to allow my weapon to pass through harmlessly. It repeated the action when the weapon returned to me. It then transformed again, creating spikes on the inner surface of the dome and closing in on me. I knew I had to think quickly if I wanted to escape this predicament.

As the spikes were about to touch my skin, the creature suddenly stopped. I stared at the two red dots, which now seemed to be a part of the dome, and they appeared to look at me with fear. I was puzzled by this sudden change in behavior and wondered what was happening.

The shape-shifting entity retreated suddenly, morphing into a flat, carpet-like shape and lying defenceless on the ground. I was left wondering why it had decided to retreat in such a manner. But there was no time to ponder over it as I turned my attention to Kei and Reed, who were still struggling against another one of these mysterious entities.

"What are you going to do to get out of this?" I was perplexed.