Rumi found herself suspended in a void of absolute blackness. Not the comforting darkness of a moonless night, but a suffocating emptiness that pressed against her from all sides. Panic clawed at her throat, a cold dread seeping into her bones. Where was she? What had happened? The memories of the accident, the blinding light, the disembodied voice… were they real? Or a fever dream conjured up by a dying mind?

Suddenly, a voice, mechanical and devoid of emotion, shattered the silence.

Player Level

1

Class

World Jumper

Current Skills

Portal

Rumi blinked, disoriented. "Class identified? World Jumper?" she muttered, feeling like she was in some bizarre, low-budget sci-fi movie.

Skill (Portal) Progress Pending

Before she could even process the information, a swirling vortex of colors erupted in front of her. It shimmered and pulsed, drawing her towards its mesmerizing depths. Fear battled with an exhilarating sense of possibility. Was this real? Was she actually… jumping worlds?

With a gasp, she willed herself forward, plunging into the swirling vortex. The colors exploded around her, a kaleidoscope of sensations assaulting her senses. Then, just as suddenly, it ceased.

Rumi opened her eyes, gasping for breath. She was no longer in the suffocating void. Instead, she was surrounded by a symphony of vibrant greens. Towering trees, draped in emerald vines, reached towards a sky painted with hues of turquoise and amethyst. The air was thick with the scent of exotic flowers and damp earth. A waterfall cascaded down a rocky cliff face, its roar echoing through the dense jungle.

Disbelief washed over her. This couldn't be real. It was too beautiful, too… otherworldly. But there it was, undeniable proof of her impossible reality: a vibrant, alien world unfolding before her eyes.

The mechanical voice, a constant hum in the background, chimed in again.

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Welcome, World Jumper, to your first destination: Atheria

Atheria. The name rolled off her tongue, strange and unfamiliar.

Rumi, still reeling from the shock of it all, took a hesitant step forward. This was it. Her new life had begun. And it was just the beginning of an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

The initial thrill of Atheria quickly faded as Rumi ventured deeper into the emerald jungle. The beauty, while breathtaking, was also unnerving. The air, heavy with humidity, hung thick and still. Sunlight, filtered through the canopy, cast long, eerie shadows that danced and writhed like grotesque puppets. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, sent a jolt of fear through her. She longed for the familiar comfort of her old life, the mundane routine, the predictable chaos of city living. Here, in this alien world, she was utterly alone, a fragile human adrift in a sea of the unknown.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the jungle in long, ominous shadows, Rumi stumbled upon a small clearing. Exhausted and disoriented, she decided to make camp for the night. Gathering fallen branches, she quickly constructed a small fire. The flickering flames offered a meager source of warmth and a flickering beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.

Suddenly, a guttural growl echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down her spine. Two figures emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming in the firelight. They were grotesque creatures, tall and gaunt, with skin like mottled bark and eyes that burned with an unnatural green fire. Their limbs were long and spindly, ending in sharp, clawed hands.

Panic seized Rumi. She scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her chest. The creatures let out a high-pitched shriek and lunged.

Rumi, fueled by adrenaline, reacted instinctively. She grabbed a burning branch from the fire and swung it wildly, the flames licking at the air. One of the creatures shrieked, recoiling from the burning wood. The other, however, was not so easily deterred. It lunged again, its claws raking across Rumi's arm.

Pain exploded through her, but she refused to give in. With a desperate heave, she hurled the burning branch. It struck the creature squarely in the face, sending it screeching back into the darkness.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Rumi turned and fled, her heart pounding in her chest. She ran blindly through the undergrowth, branches whipping at her face, thorns tearing at her clothes. She didn't stop until she was far from the clearing, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Collapsing onto the forest floor, she nursed her wounds, the fear of the encounter still fresh in her mind. But as she lay there, listening to the symphony of night sounds, a strange sense of calm descended upon her. The encounter, terrifying as it was, had awakened something within her – a raw, primal instinct for survival.

She had faced death and emerged victorious, however narrowly. And in that moment, she realized that this world, despite its dangers, held a profound beauty. The vibrant colors, the intoxicating scents, the raw power of nature – it was all breathtakingly awe-inspiring.

Atheria, she understood, was not just a place of danger, but also of wonder. It was a world that would test her limits, push her beyond her comfort zone, and ultimately, force her to grow. And she, Rumi, the reluctant World Jumper, was ready to embrace the challenge.

The mechanical voice, a constant hum in the background, chimed in,

Congratulations, World Jumper. You have successfully overcome your first challenge.

Rumi, despite her exhaustion and fear, couldn't help but smile. This was just the beginning.