... hands the spear over to Theodore.
"You've got guts, and I appreciate that. Consider my earlier actions as a test. I'm in search of individuals who can stand independently and be my companions on a mutual basis."
Theodore, still catching his breath, looks at Raymond with a mix of relief and gratitude. "Alright, you've got a deal. But let me make one thing clear, I won't be anyone's servant. We're companions, equals."
Raymond smirks, "Fair enough, Theodore. Let's head to Aplistía. I've got a lot to learn and prepare to survive in a crazy world."
As they start their journey towards Aplistía, Theodore begins explaining the basics of using energies, harnessing prana, and the different types of creatures and challenges they might encounter in THEOS DOMAIN. Raymond listens intently, absorbing the information like a sponge. The newfound companions venture through the mystical landscape, forging a bond that might just be strong enough to weather the challenges of the layers ahead.
"Hey, when I opened my eyes in this layer, the first thing I saw was a snake-like dragon. What is that? Is that a creature we need to fight, or does it hold a significant role in the layers?"
"Whoa... you saw the Void Dragon. That's... that's... I have no words. The Void Dragon is the most mysterious creature in the layers. There are only about ten Void Dragons in all the layers together. They are supposedly ancient creatures that arrived first in the layers. These dragons are gatekeepers who protect lower-layer beings from upper-layer beings, but even still, they are not the strongest beings in the layers."
Raymond absorbs this information, contemplating the vastness and complexity of the layers. Theodore, noticing the contemplative look on Raymond's face, decides to elaborate.
"You see, beyond the Void Dragons, there are beings of unimaginable strength. Each layer has its hierarchy, and the beings that govern these realms are known as Layer Lords. They are the true powerhouses, and ascending through the layers means confronting and surpassing these formidable entities."
Raymond nods, absorbing the gravity of the journey ahead. As they continue their journey towards Aplistía, the air is thick with anticipation and uncertainty. The layers reveal themselves as a multifaceted realm, not merely a battleground but a complex ecosystem of power dynamics and ancient entities.
This realization makes Raymond understand that the Void Dragon sighting is just the tip of the iceberg in this vast and enigmatic world.
After a few hours, Raymond notices some peculiar creatures in the near distance.
"What the heck are those bizarre-looking things?!" Raymond exclaims, pointing in the direction of the herd of creatures. Describing the creatures is challenging; they have a bluish-purple-colored egg-like body, with about twenty tentacles writhing in all directions. Additionally, they have a pair of bat-like wings and two duck-like webbed feet, aiding them in standing.
"They are just Plokámi; they are not even the most bizarre thing in this layer. They are domesticated and used as transport as they can fly at high speed and have good stamina."
"Oh wow, I still can't get used to seeing these things. How much longer until we get out of this forest, and is this the correct direction?"
"We still have to travel for another few days until we make it out of this forest. Even though this is a small forest compared to the layers, it is quite big. After we cross the forest, we have to cross Theos Koryfí, the city is on the opposite side of the mountain. They say that snow Fídi the size of humans live in the underground cave system of the mountain, so we have to be careful as we are taking the cave system to cross the mountain."
They continue their journey heading east towards the mountain, crossing the forest with trees the size of skyscrapers.
After what seems like an endless journey through the mystical landscape, they finally emerge from the dense forest. The sight of Theos Koryfí in the distance, nestled against the towering mountain, fills them with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
The journey to the city proves to be just as challenging as the forest itself. Along the way, they encounter various creatures, some bizarre and others outright hostile. Raymond and Theodore navigate through the dangers, their newfound camaraderie strengthening with each shared victory and near miss.
As they approach the base of Theos Koryfí, the air becomes colder, and the terrain more treacherous. The entrance to the cave system lies ahead, marking the beginning of their ascent up the formidable mountain.
Inside the cave, the air is damp, and the echoes of their footsteps reverberate against the cold, stone walls. Raymond can't help but marvel at the intricacies of the underground world, a stark contrast to the vibrant and chaotic layers outside.
But a while later, Raymond starts hearing slight hissing noises vibrating throughout the cave but chooses to ignore them. As Theodore and Raymond continue walking further into the intricate cave system, they come to a small fork with three different passages leading to different parts. As Raymond turns around to ask Theodore which passage to take, to his surprise, Theodore's face has gone white ...