**Chapter 1: The magic cat  **

David Șovar was worn out. The day had drained him, and he longed for the quiet of his apartment. As he walked through the dim streets, he heard a faint cry from a nearby alley. He stopped, irritation sparking in his tired mind.

"What's next?" he muttered, glancing into the darkness.

A man was aggressively handling a woman. David sighed, feeling a familiar sense of duty despite his exhaustion. 

"Hey, what's an ugly guy like you doing in a place like this?" David called out, stepping into the alley with a smirk.

The man turned, eyes flashing with an eerie light. "Mind your own business," he growled.

"Come on, you're not her type," David replied, his tone cold and mocking. He grabbed the man’s arm, trying to pull him away. Before he could react, there was a blinding flash of light.

When the light faded, David was on the ground, dazed and aching. He groaned, pushing himself up. The alley was empty now, except for a cat with fur that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. It walked towards him, its eyes glowing.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Of course, a cat," David muttered, rubbing his temples.

"I am Lyra," the cat said, her voice gentle but firm. "I've come to guide you, David."

David stared. "This has to be a dream."

"You are not imagining this. You have been chosen for a journey to another realm."

"Why me?" he asked, frustration tinged with curiosity. "What realm?"

"You will understand in time," Lyra replied. With a flick of her tail, a small, leather rucksack appeared at David's feet. "This is your Spatial Satchel. It can carry any item, but the objects still retain a tenth of their original weight."

David picked up the bag, feeling its surprising lightness. "What's next?"

A sleek, futuristic-looking gun materialized in his hands. "This is a Solar Pulse Rifle. It charges with solar energy and will be your main defense."

Before David could ask more questions, a small, spherical robot floated up to him. It had a single large eye and tiny mechanical arms.

"This is Bob, your companion," Lyra explained. "It knows everything about this world and can protect itself."

Bob beeped, its tone smug. "Greetings, David. Ready for a real challenge?"

David frowned. "Just what I needed, a condescending robot."

"Condescension implies superiority, which in this case, may be accurate," Bob replied smoothly.

David couldn't help but smirk. At least it had a personality. "Let's get this over with."

The world around him began to shimmer and shift, the alleyway dissolving into a dense, dark forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and strange noises echoed through the trees.

"What now?" David muttered, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Stay alert," Lyra's voice echoed in his mind. "This world is full of dangers."

As if on cue, a grotesque, gelatinous creature emerged from the shadows, its many eyes glinting with hunger. David tightened his grip on the Solar Pulse Rifle, raising it instinctively.

"Here goes nothing," he murmured, bracing himself.

The creature lunged, and David fired, a brilliant beam of energy cutting through the air. The creature screeched and recoiled.