As Kai struggled to get his bearings, he realized that he had been transported back to the pocket dimension. He looked around, but there was no sign of the others. They must have been left behind in the real world.
Kai felt a sense of panic wash over him. He had no idea how to get out of this place on his own. He started to walk, hoping that he would stumble upon a way out.
As he walked, Kai noticed that the landscape was different than before. The sky was a sickly green color, and the trees were twisted and gnarled. It was as if the entire dimension had been warped by an evil presence.
Kai heard a faint rustling sound and spun around, but there was no one there. He shook his head, thinking that he was just imagining things. But the sound persisted, growing louder and more insistent.
Suddenly, a creature burst out of the bushes, its teeth bared in a snarl. It was unlike any monster Kai had ever seen before. Its body was a mass of writhing tentacles, and its eyes glowed with an unearthly light.
Kai knew that he was in trouble. He drew his sword, but he was no match for this creature. He dodged and weaved as it attacked, but he couldn't land a blow.
Just when it seemed like all was lost, there was a blinding flash of light. Kai shielded his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw that the creature had been disintegrated.
Standing before him was a woman with long, flowing hair and a regal bearing. She was dressed in armor that glittered in the strange light of the pocket dimension.
Kai stared at her in awe. He had never seen anyone like her before.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The woman smiled. "I am Lirien, a warrior from a distant realm. I have been sent here to help you."
Kai was skeptical. He had been burned before by people who claimed to be able to help him.
"How do I know I can trust you?" he asked.
Lirien shrugged. "You don't. But I can assure you that I have no intention of harming you. I only wish to help."
Kai considered her words for a moment, then nodded. He had no other choice.
"Okay," he said. "What do we do now?"
Lirien gestured for him to follow her. "We need to find the source of the evil in this dimension. Once we destroy it, we should be able to find a way out."
Kai fell into step beside her, feeling a sense of relief that he was no longer alone. He glanced over at her, taking in her strong, confident demeanor.
He couldn't help but feel a spark of attraction to her. But he pushed those thoughts aside. They had bigger things to worry about right now.
As they walked, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He looked around, but he couldn't see anyone. It was as if they were surrounded by invisible eyes.
Lirien must have noticed his unease, because she turned to him.
"Don't worry," she said. "We are protected by a spell of concealment. They cannot see us."
Kai nodded, feeling slightly reassured. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
They walked for what felt like hours, with no sign of the evil presence that Lirien had mentioned. Kai was starting to feel discouraged when they stumbled upon a clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a dark, twisted tree. It was the source of the evil that had been warping the pocket dimension.