" Master Balkar has fallen! "

" Avenge Master Balkar! "

"They've broken through!"

" Take Master Balkar's body! "

"Runnnn!"

"Aghhhk!"

Bleak shrieks of the weak continuously echoed as over a hundred militia ran chaotically.

Savage horsemen ravaged with great carnage. Wielding their bows and javelins, they hunted with pleasure.

Everywhere, bare despair became the main theme. Some shoved their companions to gain another fleeting moment of life, and some strived to bravely fight back --- but ultimately, they were still captured or slain.

Amidst the chaos, a peculiar tanned man ran at the forefront of the retreat. Unlike the other escaping men, he was eerily enthusiastic, even cracking a smile every once in a while.

' I'll be out of this damned land soon. Just wait until I get back to earth! ' Krei thought as he smiled from ear to ear.

While he ran, he noticed a team of dark-skinned men wearing padded garbs. They gestured in his direction. Surrounded by these men was a panting young man wearing scale armor.

" Krei! Come! Krei! Here! Help the young master! Or else!! "

They glared with bloodshot eyes, showing clear agitation. 

Sneering inwardly, Krei paid them no heed as he ran faster, aiming to get to the river first.

' If you bastards survive here, I will be the ones to kill you later… ' he thought while he took delight at their plight.

Before long, Krei reached the river. Although the river looked gentle on the surface, he didn't dare plunge right away.

With a deep breath, Krei extended his spear --- poking the river bottom. Slowly and carefully, he started traversing the slippery river. Every step he took, his feet deeply bore into the clay-rich riverbed.

Just as he started crossing, the huge blob of fear-stricken men neared the river.

" There! Cross the river! "

" Faster! "

" Cross before those beasts come!"

Seeing where Krei was crossing, the mob unwittingly followed suit.

' These assholes will foil my escape! ' Krei gritted his teeth.

" HEY! 'OY! CROSS THE RIVER ELSEWHERE, NOT HERE! DISPERSE! DISPERSE! I SAID DISPERSE!"

Visibly frustrated, Krei hurried his advance. Step by step, the path slowly led him to a downward slope. After just a couple of meters, the river water reached his neck.

For someone like Krei who doesn't know how to swim, every inch deeper bears a multitude of uncertainties. But despite his anxiety, he continued his cautious advance.

As if the river isn't enough of a headache already, the pursuing enemies arrived at the riverbank. Some of them cleaned up those that are unable to get into the water in time, while others dismounted and started slinging rocks at the people crossing the river.

Accompanying the rain of rocks were screams, massive ripples of water, and cries for help.

"Aaaaahhhk!"

"Stop! Don't!"

"Hee-l-P!"

"Haaghhk!"

" Move faster!"

A tumultuous period of dodging projectiles, avoiding being swept by the river, and intensive prayers for dear life ensued.

In this chaos, Krei did his best to plunge deep whenever projectiles rained down. But despite his best efforts, stones still managed to find their way to him.

It was as if the projectiles were locking onto him. Krei could swear those horsemen had some kind of supernatural talent in using projectiles.

Without armor, the damage caused by the stones was no laughing matter; apart from the substantial number of bruises, Krei's left shoulder was dislocated.

Jolted by the searing pain, Krei wasn't able to keep hold of his spear, and it was swept away by the river.

With his spear gone, Krei's battered body started swaying in the water. Being left with nothing to survey the riverbed, and hearing the woes of those around him, Krei panicked. 

' No No No No! Just hold on, it's just a couple more steps and I'll be out of this quagmire. '

' I've already waited for years! I just need to survive for a few more hours, and I will be back to earth… '

' I will buy guns and go back to this world! By then, who will dare enslave me? I will move unhindered! '

' Power, Riches, Women! All of these will be in my grasp! '

With the promising hope not far away, Krei boosted his faltering determination, convincing his battered body to move forward. 

Still, willpower alone isn't enough to save him. Just as Krei turned his head, a stone hit his jaw ---- effectively knocking him out.

Just like that, the rag-tag militia was decimated. Only a few handfuls of lucky people were able to escape.

------

Dusk, inside the camp of Sekle Tribe.

Laughter and joyful celebrations permeated as the warriors of Sekle ate, danced, and mingled.

Their loose tunics fluttered with their interweaving dance. Back and forth, twists and turns, they moved as if they are predators waiting to prey on each other. 

Some of the seating tribesmen were smiling sheepishly while looking at the demoralized prisoners they've gathered, and even the wounded tribesmen would often joke at how unfortunate they were to have bled.

" Momentous glory! Great Chief, we have finally found a place that will become ours! " 

" The late Chief was right! The realm past the Unforgiving Highlands is a place of abundance! "

" This area… It's so vibrant and fertile… The earth gods had blessed our tribe! We are here! We will become the rulers of this land! " 

" What would those dung-eating Gukjis' faces be if they learned that we are now in this kind of place?!"

" They would certainly die of jealousy! HAHAHAHAH! "

" Their women might even offer themselves to us if they knew we would get this kind of soil! "

" With how timid our enemies are, this place is as good as ours! "

" Such a pity that this paradise is inundated with flimsy men... "

" So weak… How dare they settle here? This is a blasphemy to the earth deities! "

The contemptuous remarks of the high-ranking men of the tribe received nods of approval, jeers, and laughter. 

" Yes! Yes! How could such a place be inhabited by these fragile sheep! Even our women would maim them in battle! "

A youthful warrior with striking cheekbones vigorously stood up and stared at the silently sitting Chief.

" Father, this is a divine intervention! This fertile land full of resources shall belong to its suitable owners --- US!"

" The earth deities had observed our sufferings… our valiance… and they had acknowledged our strength! We should continue marching forward and continue our holy expedition! "

Hopeful expectations can be seen pouring out of the young man's eyes as he looked pleadingly at his father.

However, the Chief contemplated amidst all the banter and festivities going around.

Seeing the Chief's silence, the men around him shot expectant gazes.

After a long moment of deliberation, the Chief stood up.

" We will stop here, expand and fortify the camp… For now, we will wait for the arrival of our kin! "

Expectations smashed, the Young man protested.

" But Father! We can still push forward, we will decimate-- "

Without even being able to complete his sentence, the young man flinched when he saw the disappointed eyes of his father.

" Yes father, I understand. " Quelling his vexation, the young man looked down.

Noticing the impetuousness of his son, Sumuje solemnly blurted.

" Everyone, don't be dazzled by the abundance in your front. The weaker the enemies are, the more prudent we should be. "

" Never will land so promising be occupied by pushovers. The wastes we fought earlier shouldn't be their fighters… "

" We will wait for now… Scout the area, there should be villages around that we can raid. "

Not wanting to further explain, the Chief's buff body turned and went towards his tent. 

" Sugude, come with me. "

Listening to his Father's Stern voice, Sugude meekly obeyed.

During the minor commotion, no one dared voice their opposition. On the contrary, the older and sensible people were relatively pleased when they heard the Chief's order.

Instead of headlessly hurrying further into unfamiliar territories, it would be better if they could consolidate their gains first.

And what else would be best to do other than raid the surrounding settlements? 

-----

Illuminated by warm flickering lights, crowded among the captives, Krei laid bare on the soil.

[ Path secured and established, you can now initiate the travel function. ]

A soft yet energizing voice rang inside Krei's unconscious mind. Even though he was out cold, the voice somehow managed to tap deep into his mind.

Krei twitched, and gradually opened his desolate eyes.

' I didn't drown? '

His lackluster eyes were wide open, but his lips were trembling continuously --- attempting to draw an arc of elation across his swollen face.

' I lived! I fuckin lived! '

' Even though I bailed out during the heat of the battle, I still ended up like this… '

' It shouldn't have gone like this… Weren't the enemies said to be only around fifty? How the fuck did they become hundreds of men... '

' Such luck… '

The state of his body left him with an abundance of sour sentiments. He couldn't even move an inch without groaning. 

His bruises had turned to different shades of purple. Every time the breeze blows, his body would feel icy needles piercing deep into his bones.

Fortunately, the moment he had all been waiting for had finally arrived.

All the years of anguish would soon be ending.

Krei closed his eyes, steadied his breath, and deliberately connected with his power. He could feel the once ambiguous connection between him and his previous world had now become apparent. 

Checking further, Krei summoned a manifestation of his power.

{ Travel now available }

{ Path Earth to Unnamed Universe now refined }

{ Earth to Unnamed Universe travel now secured }

{ Please name the newly found universe }

An unexplainable link was lingering in Krei's mind. It was as if an insurmountable length of imaginary thread anchored him to Earth.

Although he couldn't see exactly the other end of the line, a familiar feeling wafted throughout his mind.

' Back! Back! I'm going back! I'll kill all those who had wronged me! ' Krei excitedly muttered in his mind.

Opening his eyes once again, Krei looked around the wooden fence that confined him.

The fences are sectioned into ten, each section detained around ten men. Some had less, and some had more. 

Surveying his cell, Krei saw his fellow captives, they were in bad shape and dozing off. 

The guards on the other hand would occasionally glance at the prisoners while merrily chatting in their language that he couldn't understand.

Krei pondered for a moment, unsure if he should just leave right away. 

' Hope these guys are fast  asleep…  '

After a few more minutes of checking, Krei ultimately decided to leave. He could no longer handle the waves of pain coming from his untreated injuries.

As the flame of the torch flickered, Krei vanished.

=========================================

Krei:

- An interdimensional traveler from Earth.

- Has a tanned-skin.

- Doesn't know how to swim ( prologue )

Sumuje:

- The chieftain of the Sekle Tribe.

- Father of Sumuje.

- Has a buff body.

Sugude:

- Chief-to-be of the Sekle Tribe.

- Son of Sumuje.

- Has striking cheekbones.

=========================================