The soft caress of sunrays against his pale visage stirred the thoughts that lay dormant in Jupi's drowsy mind. Reluctantly roused from his slumber, he reached out with languid movements, his fingers finding solace in the familiarity of the clock resting beside his bed. With a half-closed eye, he stole a glance, discovering the gift of time still in his possession—a full thirty minutes before his scheduled departure for school. Without a moment's hesitation, the allure of further repose beckoned him back into its comforting embrace.
An hour elapsed, and once again, Jupi's eyes blinked open. A furrow etched itself upon his brow, worry seeping into his expression. With sleepy digits, he rubbed his eyes, as if to dispel the lingering remnants of slumber, and his voice quivered with anxious curiosity, "What time is it?" His eyes opened once more, having completed their cleansing ritual, fixating upon the clock with unwavering focus. Alas, the cruelest of truths unfolded before him—thirty minutes had slipped away, leaving him tardy for school.
*PANIC*
"Damn it!" Jupi jolted awake, his mind clouded with fear and frustration. He was acutely aware of the dire consequences that awaited him if he were to arrive late to school. His mother, often indifferent to her surroundings, had become engrossed in her morning television drama, inadvertently neglecting to awaken her son. Despite her lackadaisical attitude, she did not wish to witness her son being expelled from school. With no father figure to provide for the family, Jupi had no alternative but to diligently pursue his studies.
"Mom, Mom, Mom, I'm late... Why didn't you wake me up?" Jupi exclaimed, rushing about as he hastily put on his clothes and nibbled on his morning bread.
His mother responded with an indifferent tone, her attention still fixated on the television show. Her words carried a hint of dismissiveness, indicating her desire to brush Jupi off. "Why didn't you wake up on your own? Are you still a child that I must rouse you from slumber?"
Jupi struggled to fasten the button of his pants as he retorted, "But at least wake me up when I'm late! And on top of that, who the hell would watch a drama in this early morning?"
His mother remained silent, offering no response. Jupi observed the disarray surrounding his mother, reminiscent of a young child's untidiness. Sighing with disappointment, he left the house, feeling a sense of resignation.
Jupi hurriedly dashed out of the house, completely oblivious to the unclosed backside door. His mind raced with a torrent of thoughts, leaving no room for trivial details. Every step he took was a hurried leap, skipping over multiple stairs as if propelled by a surge of adrenaline. The weight of his actions rested on his shoulders, for he had an indispensable exam awaiting him at school. Failing to attend would spell his downfall, a fate he couldn't afford.
Aware of the consequences that awaited him in the face of his lackadaisical mother, Jupi understood the grim reality all too well. She was an indolent figure, incapable of offering any support towards his future aspirations. Financially strained, she could hardly provide the means for him to establish his own business or pursue his chosen path. The burden of responsibility fell squarely on Jupi's shoulders, leaving him with no choice but to trudge the arduous path of education.
However, consumed by the urgency of the moment, Jupi cast aside all rationality. The need for caution and carefulness faded into the background, overshadowed by the pressing need to reach his destination swiftly. Ignoring the crucial importance of obeying traffic signals, he brazenly crossed the road when the traffic light displayed a vivid red warning. And in a cruel twist of fate, the inevitable unfolded before his startled eyes—a behemoth of metal hurtling towards him, propelled by a driver intoxicated by drugs.
In the grip of sheer panic, Jupi's eyes stretched to their utmost limits, mirroring his profound disbelief. Time seemed to elongate as he bore witness to the relentless approach of the colossal entity. This unforeseen predicament had caught him completely off guard, leaving him bewildered and questioning how the sequence of events had unfurled to this harrowing moment. How could a single misstep lead a person to such a fateful juncture? And what kind of destiny awaited him in the wake of this cataclysmic turn?
As the world around Jupi descended into a languid rhythm, every movement slowed to a crawl, intensifying the weight of the impending disaster. Amidst the surreal tableau, there was naught but a torrent of thoughts that flooded Jupi's mind. Amidst the chaos, one regret surged to the forefront—his failure to treat his mother with the kindness and understanding she deserved. The loss of Jupi's father had wrought significant changes within her, transforming her into a different person altogether. Now, in this dire moment, regret cloaked his soul, its tendrils seeping into every fiber of his being.
With a heavy heart, Jupi closed his eyes, surrendering to the inevitable. Questions of deserving this fate or not were drowned in the sea of acceptance. In this surreal interlude, the weight of his choices and actions bore down upon him, and in the face of imminent calamity, he could only embrace the path that lay ahead, whatever it may be.
He closed his eyes, surrendering to what he believed would be his final moments. Yet, as if defying the boundaries of reality, he swiftly snapped his eyes open once more, only to be confronted by a disorienting sight. Everything around him had undergone a remarkable transformation. Confusion and bewilderment enveloped Jupi's consciousness as he grappled to comprehend his new surroundings.
"A-ah? What has transpired? Where am I?" Jupi's voice trembled with a mix of astonishment and anxiety. His recollection remained fragmented, lingering on the moment he was crossing the road before... before... What had transpired thereafter? The memory eluded him, leaving him in a state of disarray.
In the span of a single second, a torrent of emotions surged through Jupi's being, rendering him momentarily unhinged. He couldn't contain his disbelief any longer and erupted into a wild cacophony of screams. "No way! Can it be that I am... dead? There is still so much left for me to do! And what about my mother? Who will care for her in my absence?" The weight of his unfinished responsibilities and the profound concern for his mother consumed his thoughts, intertwining with his newfound reality.
Suddenly, a voice resonated from somewhere nearby, its source obscured by the figure cloaked in a flowing black garment. The mysterious individual, whose face remained hidden beneath the dark shroud, took a deliberate step forward, as if compelled to offer Jupi a glimpse into the enigmatic circumstances surrounding him. A sense of age seemed to radiate from his stooped posture, his back curving into a perfect circle reminiscent of an elderly man weathered by time.
Intriguingly, the figure held a chain, its links intricately entwined with the immense creature standing obediently behind him. The monstrous being possessed two colossal, watchful eyes, their gaze unwavering, while four additional eyes remained tightly sealed shut, concealing untold mysteries. Despite the creature's imposing stature, there emanated from its form a palpable essence of youthfulness—an undeniable yearning to break free from its restraints and engage in playful escapades with Jupi. The anticipation gleamed within its eyes, a silent yet captivating invitation to partake in an adventure yet to be unveiled.
"You are not dead," replied the veiled figure, their words seeping through the heavy fabric that concealed their face. Jupi's heart skipped a beat, his mind struggling to comprehend the statement. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—had he misunderstood his own fate? How could he still be alive when everything seemed to indicate otherwise? The looming presence of the oncoming truck, the
imminent collision that should have spelled his demise—what had happened to that cruel twist of destiny?
"First of all, who the hell are you? And, where am I?" Jupi blurted out, his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and frustration. As the words escaped his lips, he became acutely aware of his surroundings. To his astonishment, he found himself standing upon a floor that defied conventional understanding—it was transparent, allowing a glimpse into the enigmatic realm beneath. Through its ethereal surface, Jupi caught sight of his own form, suspended in space above a world with unfamiliar contours. It was abundantly clear to him that this was no ordinary place; it bore no resemblance to the familiar realm he had known all his life.
The other party responded with a mocking laugh that reverberated through the air, as if savoring the amusement found in Jupi's bewildered state. "Ah, you possess an undeniable energy, a quality I find intriguing," the man remarked, his voice laced with a hint of admiration. His hand gently caressed the monstrous creature's head, as if to affirm their companionship.
Jupi's mind buzzed with questions, his brows furrowing in frustration. "But how? How did things transpire in such a way? And who exactly are you?" His voice wavered between curiosity and a tinge of frustration, longing for answers that seemed to dance just out of reach.
With a serious tone that resonated in the air, the mysterious figure began to offer an introduction. "Allow me to acquaint you with my identity. I am Noha, one of the Chuntus—a name that holds significance within this isolated realm. You have been summoned to this secluded world, a place veiled from the known realms that exist beyond. Your arrival here occurred prior to the fateful encounter with that object humans refer to as a truck. Thus, it becomes evident that you are indeed alive."
Jupi's mind swirled with a whirlwind of emotions as he absorbed the weight of Noha's words. A mix of confusion, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope intermingled within him. This revelation seemed to blur the boundaries between reality and the fantastical, leaving him grappling with the enormity of his newfound existence in this enigmatic domain.
Jupi's voice trembled with a mix of gratitude and apprehension as he sought clarification. "Wait a minute, are you telling me that you actually saved me from being struck by the truck?"
Noha's response rippled through the air, carrying a hint of amusement laced with a touch of foolishness. "Not really," he replied, his tone dripping with mockery. "You are still in danger."
Jupi's eyes widened in a mix of disbelief and confusion, his gaze fixed on Noha with a sense of urgency. "W-What do you mean?" he stammered, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
Noha, the enigmatic figure draped in his dark attire, met Jupi's bewildered gaze with a knowing look. His voice carried an air of gravity as he spoke, revealing the intricacies of this peculiar realm. "You have been temporarily summoned to this world, Jupi," he explained, his words carefully chosen. "The duration of your stay here is uncertain. It could be a mere month, a year, or even a decade. But here's what you must understand: when the time comes for you to return to your own world, you will be transported back to the exact moment you left it—the very instant when the looming truck threatened to shatter your existence."
Jupi's mind reeled with confusion, his thoughts cascading like a tumultuous storm. The enigmatic words spoken by the mysterious Noha had thrown him into a labyrinth of uncertainty. "Wait, wait," Jupi interjected, his voice laced with disbelief. "This is impossible! How can I possibly survive the moment I return to my world, the very moment I was about to be struck by the truck?"
Noha's lips curled into a sly smile, an unsettling glimmer dancing in his eyes. With an air of intrigue, he met Jupi's gaze and replied, "Who said you would emerge unscathed, young Jupi?" His words hung in the air, pregnant with both an unsettling truth and an unspoken riddle. The gravity of the situation became all too apparent, prompting Jupi's heart to skip a beat. "You will meet your demise the moment you step back into your world, for the clutches of death cannot be eluded so easily," Noha continued, his voice laced with a mysterious allure. "Unless...
"Unless?"
Noha's eyes flickered with a mischievous glint as he leaned closer to Jupi, his words laden with intrigue. "Only if you willingly partake in the purpose for which we have summoned you to this enigmatic realm," he whispered, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Jupi's brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to make sense of Noha's cryptic proposition. The term "summoned" echoed in his mind, evoking a sense of both curiosity and trepidation. "What are you talking about, old man?"
With a deft flick of his two fingers, the mysterious man conjured a remarkable display of visuals that enveloped Jupi, casting a mesmerizing array of images and scenes upon the surrounding space. Jupi found himself immersed in a surreal spectacle, as if he had been transported into a realm where the fabric of reality intertwined with the boundless possibilities of imagination.
As the ethereal display unfolded before him, Noha's voice resonated with a mixture of wisdom and urgency. "This isolated dimension, concealed from the awareness of other realms, has endured for countless millennia," he began, his words carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "Throughout our existence here, we have witnessed the ceaseless evolution of cosmic forces that surpass our own limitations. It has brought us to the precipice of our own extinction. Many of our kind have perished, and the remaining few are destined to meet the same fate in due time."
Noha's gaze locked with Jupi's, a profound determination gleaming within his eyes. "Therefore, in our final act, we have resolved to share the secrets and wonders of our dimension with others before we vanish into the annals of time. We possess an array of extraordinary magics: the elixir of mortality, the essence of life's augmentation, the embodiment of boundless power, and a multitude of enigmatic and rare enchantments, mysteries even to us, the Chuntus."
Pausing for a moment to let the weight of his words settle, Noha presented Jupi with a choice, his voice tinged with both caution and anticipation. "So, young man, the decision lies before you. I can return you to your world, at the exact moment when your life hangs in the balance, preserving the course of fate. Or, you may choose to embark upon the challenges we have designed. Should you triumph, you shall claim the magic you have amassed throughout your journey and carry it back to your own realm. The choice is yours to make."
Jupi's perplexed voice echoed through the air, carrying a mix of uncertainty and doubt. "But what's the point?" he questioned, his tone laden with confusion. "Even if I acquire this magic you speak of, it won't change the fact that I will meet my end in a matter of moments. There's hardly any time for me to react or evade the oncoming truck."
Noha's lips curled into a sly smile, his response laced with an enigmatic charm. "Who said you will die?" he countered, his words dripping with a mischievous allure. "You underestimate the depths of our magic. Here, within this hidden dimension, we possess an abundance of mystical arts that surpass the boundaries of imagination. We hold within our grasp a magic capable of defying fate itself, a magic that can save you from the clutches of certain demise and bestow its influence upon the world you call home. Imagine, Jupi, transforming the very fabric of the human realm into a tapestry of enchantment. Is that not a prospect that enthralls you?"
Noha's words hung in the air, his eyes gleaming with an infectious enthusiasm. The possibilities seemed to dance tantalizingly within his gaze, beckoning Jupi to consider a future unlike anything he had ever envisioned.
A brief silence enveloped the space, as Jupi's mind delved into a sea of contemplation. His brows furrowed, conveying the intensity of his internal struggle, while Noha patiently awaited his response. Seconds ticked by, each one pregnant with anticipation, until finally, Jupi's eyes snapped open, revealing a resolute determination.
With a seriousness etched into his voice, Jupi declared, "I don't really care about my life."
"Hmmm, I see!"
Jupi's words hung in the air, his voice steady and resolute as he conveyed his decision. With a determined gaze fixed on Noha, he spoke with unwavering conviction, "I don't care about my own life anymore. But for the sake of my mother, I choose to embrace every moment I have left. She has already suffered the loss of a loved one, and I cannot bear the thought of adding to her pain. I will return to my world, defying fate with the magic that can preserve my existence. I promise you, Mom, I will bring light into your life and ease your suffering. That is why, old man, I implore you to allow me to join these challenges."
The gravity of Jupi's words reflected his deep love and devotion for his mother. He had made up his mind, willing to face the unknown and overcome any obstacle that lay ahead. His unwavering determination emanated from every fiber of his being, a testament to his unyielding resolve.
A warm smile graced Noha's face, his eyes glimmering with a sense of satisfaction. "With great pleasure," he responded, his voice carrying a note of genuine delight. "It appears that our decision to summon you was indeed the right one. We have no regrets." His words held a touch of admiration and anticipation, for he sensed the extraordinary potential that lay within Jupi.
Turning his attention to the massive creature, Noha affectionately addressed it by the name of Gogrigo. The creature stirred, its eyes brimming with a mix of mischief and loyalty. It emitted a low rumble, a sound that resonated deep within the core of its being, affirming its agreement with Noha's sentiment.
Noha's hand gently made contact with the monster's head, causing an immediate response. The creature's four closed eyes sprang open, revealing a captivating sight. Each eye began to roll numbers, spinning with a mysterious energy until they eventually settled on a specific combination: 55689. It was a code, a key to unlock hidden knowledge.
With a knowing smile, Noha shared the purpose of this extraordinary creature named Gogrigo. It possessed the unique ability to scan participants, delving into their very essence. It could discern their level of awareness, measure their IQ, assess their physical prowess, and even determine their luck. Based on this comprehensive evaluation, Gogrigo would guide individuals to the appropriate region within their world, ensuring fairness and equality.
Now, standing on the precipice of a new reality, Noha posed a crucial question to Jupi. "Are you prepared to enter our world?"
Jupi's expression grew serious, his determination shining through his eyes. Without uttering a word, he nodded in affirmation, silently accepting the challenge that lay ahead.