Chapter 2: The Shattered Expanse

The air around Raven shimmered and twisted, warping reality itself. One moment, he was standing in his study, gripping the mysterious tome, and the next, he was falling—plunging into a chaotic vortex of light and darkness. His senses blurred as gravity bent and shifted in directions he couldn’t comprehend.

Then, with a violent jolt, he landed on solid ground.

Pain flared through his body, but he forced himself to his feet, his sharp instinct immediately kicking in. His surroundings were like nothing he had ever seen before. A fractured sky loomed overhead, shards of light cutting through a swirling mass of shadowy clouds. The ground beneath him was a mosaic of cracked stone and jagged cliffs, radiating an eerie energy that sent shivers down his spine.

This… is not my world.

A notification flashed in his mind, cold and mechanical.

[Location: Dimension 1 – The Shattered Expanse]

[Objective: Establish your foothold and conquer the Shattered Expanse.]

[Quest Updated: Claim Dominion over the First Dimension]

Raven clenched his fists. So this is how it begins…

His instincts urged him to move, and he obeyed without question. The air here felt oppressive, like it was weighing down on him with unseen force. He needed to understand this place quickly, or it would consume him.

The landscape stretched out endlessly, a desolate expanse littered with ancient ruins and twisted, skeletal trees. The ground was dry and lifeless, and yet strange symbols flickered beneath the cracks, pulsing faintly with an unknown energy.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the shadows.

Raven turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he spotted movement in the distance. A group of creatures emerged—twisted, hunched forms with glowing red eyes and jagged limbs. Their skin was blackened and cracked like charred stone, and they moved with a predatory grace.

Lesser Wraithbeasts.

Raven had no weapon, no armor—nothing but his wits and his instinct. But that was all he needed.

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The first Wraithbeast lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Raven sidestepped just in time, his movements precise and fluid. His instinct guided him, whispering the perfect response with every step. He grabbed a broken piece of stone from the ground and slammed it into the creature’s skull. It collapsed with a sickening crunch, its body dissolving into dark mist.

The other beasts hesitated, circling him cautiously now. They had recognized him as more than easy prey.

Good. You should fear me.

He darted forward before they could regroup, his body moving with an almost supernatural efficiency. Another beast fell, then another, until only one remained. It snarled, its eyes burning with hatred, but it made no move to attack. Instead, it backed away slowly, disappearing into the shadows.

Raven stood still, his breathing steady. He felt a surge of exhilaration—not just from survival, but from the clarity that came with relying purely on instinct.

A second notification appeared in his mind.

[Combat Analysis Complete. New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Step – Instinctively merge with the shadows to evade attacks and reposition.]

A faint smirk tugged at Raven’s lips. Useful.

He scanned the area, his mind racing. The Shattered Expanse wasn’t just a chaotic wasteland—it was a crucible, designed to test and forge him into something greater. Every instinct told him that the creatures he had just fought were only the beginning.

If I’m going to survive here, I need a base of operations.

He moved swiftly through the ruins, searching for anything that could serve as shelter. The winds howled around him, carrying whispers of forgotten voices. Strange symbols glowed faintly in the distance, marking ancient structures that seemed older than time itself.

Finally, he found what he was looking for—a ruined fortress half-buried in the rocky terrain. Its walls were crumbling, but it was defensible and, more importantly, infused with the same strange energy that pulsed beneath the ground.

As he stepped inside, the symbols on the walls flared to life, illuminating the interior with a soft, blue light. The air here felt different—calmer, more stable.

Perfect.

He set to work immediately, clearing debris and fortifying the structure as best he could. His instincts guided him with surprising precision, helping him identify weak points and hidden passages within the fortress. It wasn’t much yet, but it was a start.

Once the basic preparations were complete, Raven sat down to catch his breath. His mind drifted back to the notification he had received earlier.

108 dimensions… and I’m in the weakest one.

He knew what that meant. The Shattered Expanse was a proving ground—a place where only the strongest could rise. If he wanted to claim dominion over all 108 dimensions, he had to start here. He needed power, allies, and a clear strategy.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden surge of energy from the tome in his hands. Its symbols rearranged themselves, forming a new message.

[Initiating Tutorial Phase: The First Trial Awaits.]

The ground beneath him trembled, and a portal opened in the center of the room—a swirling vortex of shadow and light. Raven stood, his eyes gleaming with determination.

A trial, is it? Good. I’m ready.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the portal, the world twisting around him once more. He didn’t know what awaited him on the other side, but he didn’t care. Whatever challenge lay ahead, he would face it head-on.

He was no stranger to the unknown.

And this was only the beginning.