Two Days Later
Kiyoshi sat quietly, his mind racing. "We take quests every day, and I train my skills all night. I need to get stronger—for the treasure. We're stuck here two years until Monster Island—Legends Island—opens in the southwest. It's crawling with brutal monsters, and we'll need at least A-rank to survive. The island only unlocks every three years for adventurers to level up and chase the treasure. No one's claimed it yet. In two years, we could grow tenfold there, facing beasts that'd crush us now—but it's a long, hard road." The timeline gnawed at them both, a slow burn of frustration, though the game manual promised they'd return to Earth unchanged—same moment, same age—as when they'd left.
After Two Days
The sun sank below the horizon, stretching shadows across their path as they trudged back to the bar from a hunting session. A woman in a maid's outfit emerged from the dusk, her presence sudden and strange.
She spoke, her voice heavy with regret, "I'm so sorry for dragging you into this world. I had no choice. I'm here with a message: Sakura, your mother's safe. Your family's fine—I've reassured them. And you don't need to chase the treasure."
Kiyoshi's chest tightened as he snapped, "Then take us back!"
Sakura's voice trembled with longing, "I want to see my mom now."
The maid conjured a grand mirror, its surface rippling to reveal their families—safe, together. How?
She explained, "Earth's unraveling—monsters spilling from rifts, magic flooding in, adventurers rising. It's chaos, earlier than planned."
Sakura frowned, wary. "How can I trust you?"
The maid nodded to Kiyoshi. "Use your Eye of Wisdom on this mirror. I'll let you see."
His pulse quickened, a mix of doubt and hope surging as he focused, activating the skill. The air shimmered faintly, and words burned into his vision:
<<
[Rank: Legend]>
Kiyoshi's breath caught, his eyes widening at the sheer weight of it—Legend rank?
Are our families really okay?" he asked, voice tight with anxious need, clinging to the truth now staring him in the face.
"They won't be harmed—I give you my word," the maid said solemnly. "This isn't just a game anymore; the plan's shifted."
"Are they searching for us?" Kiyoshi pressed, a pang of homesickness hitting him.
"No," she replied. "I told them you were pulled through a gate to another dimension—showed them via my Mirror of Truth, with a touch of mind magic."
"Then send us back!" Kiyoshi demanded, his voice cracking with desperation.
"I can't," she said, her tone final. "Not until you're S-rank. You're Earth's last hope, but take your time—you have years. I'll guide you through dreams from now on." She vanished, leaving Kiyoshi dazed, his mind spinning.
Sakura's face brightened, a rare softness breaking through. "I remember her now—she gave me the wish card at Kok Mall."
Kiyoshi glanced at her, gently. "Your mom… if it's private, you don't have to say."
Her voice softened, relief washing over her. "The day we got here, she was in surgery—critical. I was terrified she wouldn't make it. Knowing she's okay… it's everything."
Kiyoshi nodded, understanding and settling in. That's why she's been so on edge.
"What now?" Sakura asked, her eyes searching his.
"I say we rest tonight," he replied, exhaustion tugging at him. "The hunting wore me out."
She smiled faintly, a flicker of warmth. "You're getting better with your skills, you know."
That night, they shared a bed in the bar's dim room. Two days earlier, Sakura had hesitated, her voice small. "Can you sleep here with me? I'm… scared of the dark, but stay on your side—and don't tell anyone." It wasn't a romance—just two people finding solace amid the unknown. She was a whirlwind against monsters, her sword dancing like a hunter's, but alone in the shadows, she shrank, the darkness unmasking her quiet fears. Kiyoshi, meanwhile, poured his nights into training, pushing to close the gap between them.
60 Days Later
They'd saved enough to upgrade: a D-rank sword for Kiyoshi, a C-rank katana, and two C-rank daggers for Sakura—100 small gold coins total. Now equipped, they were primed for tougher quests and better rewards. Both had levelled up.
Kiyoshi thought, All set. Just need to gear up and hunt.
Heading to the A.M.O. for quests, he glanced back, puzzled—Sakura was late. Then she leapt from the bar's first-floor window, landing lightly on the street. Her hair, once long, now hugged her shoulders, framing her sharp beauty.
"Why'd you cut it?" he asked, curious.
"Long hair's a hassle in a fight," she said simply.
They bickered sometimes, but a steady friendship was rooting deep between them.
At the A.M.O., they checked their profiles:
Name: Kiyoshi
Rank: D [Level 5]
HP: 100%
MP: 150
Skills: Luck (Rank B), Healing Kiss (Rank B), Eye of Wisdom (Rank A), Back Sword (Rank B)
Storage: 3
Title: Healing Sword
Type: All Type
His Healing Kiss had grown—he could heal small cuts with a touch, and deeper wounds with a kiss. Eye of Wisdom now pierced C-rank and below, and Luck held sway against B-rank foes.
Name: Sakura
Rank: B [Level 6]
HP: 100%
MP: 500
Skills: Hide (Rank B), Target (Rank B), Lightning Speed (Rank B)
Storage: 5
Title: Lightning Reaper
Type: Assassin
Kiyoshi, a mix of awe and envy stirring. "My levelling's ten times faster than most—don't know why—but it's getting harder. Hunting feels heavier, my stamina's fading, pain hits sharper, power slips. At least my MP's up." He sighed, then glanced at Sakura. "She's five times faster than average. Each level makes her lighter, and stronger—more energy, stamina, speed, magic. Less pain. She's thriving."
For him, it was a quiet struggle, but he'd keep pushing himself.