Lin Xiao felt a flicker of familiarity in the boy's confidence—something he couldn't quite place. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "How? How can you get us out?"
The boy hesitated for a moment before replying, "I feel like I can summon a portal." His voice was calm, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
Lin Xiao was momentarily taken aback.
Summon a portal? In any other situation, he would've been skeptical, but given how strange everything had been lately—the time loops, the giants, the river of time—someone claiming to summon portals didn't seem that outlandish anymore.
"Well," Lin Xiao said, crossing his arms, "can you send me back to my world?"
The boy didn't hesitate. "Yes. I think I can."
A surge of hope flared in Lin Xiao's chest. His eyes widened, but a cautious voice in the back of his mind reminded him of the mystery surrounding this boy. How did he know Lin Xiao's nickname earlier? Could he really trust him?
Before Lin Xiao could voice his concerns, the boy raised his hand, and with a strange, quiet power, a glowing portal materialized before them. The swirling energy crackled with soft hums, casting an eerie, otherworldly glow across the cave walls.
Lin Xiao stared at it, his heart pounding. He was excited, but at the same time, something about this didn't feel right. "How does this kid know me? How does he know my name?"
He hesitated, glancing at the boy again. "Should I trust this?" he thought aloud, his cautious side getting the better of him. But before he could voice another doubt, the boy smirked slightly.
Without warning, the boy kicked Lin Xiao squarely in the back. Lin Xiao stumbled forward, eyes wide in shock as he was hurled into the portal.
"Hey, what the—!" Lin Xiao shouted, but it was too late. The portal swallowed him whole, and just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished behind him, sealing him off from the boy and the cave.
For a moment, Lin Xiao was weightless, spinning through a tunnel of swirling colors and chaotic energy. His mind raced. "Who the hell was that kid? And why did he kick me?!"
....
....
As the portal sealed shut, the boy stood alone in the cave, the soft echo of Lin Xiao's departure fading into the darkened walls. He stared at the spot where the portal had been, an odd mix of sorrow and determination etched into his features. His lips parted in a quiet sigh.
"Sorry, Xiao Xiao," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness. "You shouldn't have met me yet. But I've sent you back to your world... it's the least I can do."
For a moment, the boy's expression softened, the weight of his actions visible on his face. There was an unspoken regret lingering in his eyes, as though the encounter with Lin Xiao had disrupted something much larger than either of them could comprehend.
Then, suddenly, the boy's eyes flickered, regaining their sharp, vibrant luster. The weight lifted from his face, replaced with a spark of excitement. His tone shifted, more playful now, as he straightened his posture.
"Let's get out of this place," he said with renewed energy, glancing around the cave as if it had become too small for him.
A smirk crept across his lips, and he stretched his arms, his confidence returning in full. "The next Galaxy Games are starting soon."
His thoughts wandered, and his grin widened. "I should get my sister from the sun too,"
With a casual wave of his hand, another portal began to shimmer before him—this one brighter, pulsating with energy that seemed to resonate with the vastness of the universe.
Without another glance at the cave or the chains that once bound him, the boy stepped into the portal, leaving the cave behind as easily as stepping through a door.
The portal snapped shut, plunging the cave back into silence, the mystery of the boy's connection to Lin Xiao left unresolved—for now.
....
....
Lin Xiao tumbled through the portal, the world around him a swirling blur of colors and light. His stomach flipped as if he were falling endlessly through space, the sensation both thrilling and unsettling.
Just when he thought the fall would never end, he felt a jarring impact beneath his feet. He stumbled forward, catching himself as the swirling portal vanished, leaving him standing on solid ground once more.
He blinked, looking around, disoriented at first. Trees loomed overhead, the sunlight filtering through their leaves casting a warm, familiar glow.
The air smelled fresh, with a hint of pine and earth. Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat as he realized he was standing in the woods, but these weren't just any woods—he recognized them. He was back on Earth.
He took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs. For a moment, he just stood there, absorbing the scene around him. It seemed peaceful, normal. The strangeness of the otherworldly places he had just left behind felt distant now, like a half-forgotten dream.
Shaking his head, Lin Xiao decided not to dwell on it. He needed to get out of the woods and figure things out from there.
With purposeful strides, he moved through the underbrush, navigating the familiar path that led out of the forest. As he walked, the trees began to thin, and soon the forest gave way to the open cityscape.
Lin Xiao paused at the edge of the woods, blinking in the daylight. The sight before him was unmistakable—his city, sprawling in the distance.
The towering skyscrapers, the distant hum of traffic, the faint sounds of people going about their day. It all felt incredibly normal, almost eerily so, after everything he'd experienced.
For a moment, Lin Xiao just stood there, taking it all in. The city was bustling, completely unaware of the strange adventures he had been through. It was as if nothing had changed.
He quickly checked his phone—no missed calls or strange messages. The time seemed right, the day normal. Had all of that really happened? The river, the boy, the cave—it felt so real, yet now it seemed so far away.
"Guess I'm back," Lin Xiao muttered to himself, though part of him wasn't entirely convinced. Something still felt off, like there were pieces missing from the puzzle.
He decided not to waste any more time thinking about it. With a sense of relief, Lin Xiao started walking toward home.
The familiar streets passed by in a blur as he hurried, eager to check in on his family, especially after the bizarre things he'd seen and experienced. He could still feel the strange connection to that boy in the cave, the way he'd whispered his nickname.
Lin Xiao's steps quickened, the unease gnawing at him. Soon, the familiar sight of his apartment building came into view. He sighed in relief. Whatever mysteries still lingered, at least he was home.
Or was he?