After finishing his deep meditation and replenishing his energy, Kailen stood outside the cave, watching as the sun set behind the mountains, leaving thick shadows spilling through the trees. He felt a cool breeze beginning to flow, carrying with it a silent warning of the approaching night—a night when predatory creatures came alive. Despite his exhaustion from a long day of training, his heart beat with a rhythm that urged him to hurry back to the village before darkness fully descended.
Kailen knew well the dangers of staying in the forest after sundown, so he moved swiftly toward Elandar, avoiding the dense, dark areas where lurking creatures might await. As he walked, his mind wandered to memories of his life in that simple village, the entire world he had ever known. Elandar—a small, quiet village nestled between towering mountains and expansive forests. Its people embraced simplicity, living off farming and hunting small game, content with what they had, and relying on the nearby town of Huashan for whatever else they needed.
Huashan, though only a modest trading hub, held great significance for the villagers of Elandar. Strong ties connected the two communities, making visits and storytelling a cherished tradition. Every evening, villagers gathered to exchange news and recount tales of Xinghua's legendary past—of heroes and mages—stories that had shaped Kailen's own curiosity and restless spirit.
As he began to see the faint lights of the village houses, a sense of relief washed over him; he was close to safety. The walk from the cave had taken nearly an hour, and his feet were sore, but the warmth and welcome awaiting him quickened his steps. As he crossed the village's main square, he spotted old farmer Tiran sitting by his window, smoking his pipe and observing the village's movements. The old man smiled at Kailen and offered him a friendly greeting, "Back safe, Kailen. Don't let the darkness keep you too long; night brings unexpected adventures."
Kailen replied with a reassuring smile, raising his hand in a wave. "Thank you, Tiran. I'll be careful, always."
He continued toward his home—a simple house of wood and stone that reflected the nature of Elandar's people. When he entered, his mother, Lisa, greeted him with a gentle smile, her eyes reflecting warmth and maternal care. "Welcome home, my son. How was your day?"
He smiled back, answering in a tired tone, "It was a long day, but I'm fine. Thank you, Mother."
Just then, his father, Elandar, entered. A sturdy man, Elandar looked at Kailen with pride. It seemed as if he noticed something different about Kailen—a subtle aura of chi surrounding him after his training. Elandar chose not to question him directly and instead offered a warm smile, saying, "Kailen, I see a strong determination in your eyes. Have you been training secretly in the forest?"
Kailen's gaze lingered on his father for a moment, trying to mask his surprise. A wave of confidence mingled with caution within him, and he answered with a faint smile, "Yes, I was trying to improve a few things."
Elandar nodded approvingly and replied calmly, "Good. Keep it up, my son."
After a short, warm conversation with his parents, Kailen felt relaxed and reassured. He excused himself to his room to get some rest.
Once in his room, he quietly closed the door behind him and sat on his bed, bathed in the soft moonlight streaming through the window. He took a deep breath, reflecting on the day's journey and the readiness he felt to test his new ability. Excitement and apprehension coursed through him as he was about to embark on an experience that could open new worlds.
He closed his eyes slowly, cleared his mind, and focused on the energy flowing within his body. A calm gradually settled over him, and suddenly, he remembered he didn't know the exact method to activate the ability. Deciding to consult the system, he asked, "System, I don't fully understand the ability. How will I be able to activate it?"
A window appeared before him, with the system's gentle female voice providing an answer: "[The ability resides in your inner consciousness as a massive gate. By focusing your awareness on it, you'll be able to activate the ability.]"
Kailen felt a mix of surprise and excitement after hearing the answer, as if the gate had been there all along, just waiting for him to discover it. He sensed that this gate was more than just a portal; it was a symbol of new opportunities and hidden dangers. In his mind, he reached out toward this gate, feeling a profound energy inviting him forward while demanding steadiness and focus.
He paused, then asked the system again, inquiring about potential risks. "Are there any dangers in using this ability?"
"[No, there is no danger to the host, so don't worry.]"
The response reassured him further, as Kailen felt that his journey was somewhat safeguarded. Still, he knew that control and readiness were essential, so he took a deep, confident breath and asked once more, "Is there any additional information about it that I don't know?"
"[Yes, the world you travel to will be randomly selected from among many worlds. The distance between you and those worlds could stretch beyond boundaries, as you'll cross between universes and dimensions. But don't get too excited yet; you're still at the beginning. The passage of time will differ according to the world you enter. You may find that ten minutes here equates to a day there, or perhaps the reverse.]"
Kailen fell silent for a moment, considering the system's words and grasping the vastness of the unknown realms before him and his limited knowledge.
Kailen felt a mixture of excitement and unease after the system's answer. The thought of venturing into different worlds and dimensions stirred his mind, filling him with equal parts fear and curiosity. A world where time might fly by or crawl slowly, where ten minutes could mean years—or mere days—all of this made him realize that every step he took now could be a gateway to experiences and dangers beyond his imagination.
He took a deep breath to calm his eager mind, closed his eyes again, and focused his inner awareness as the system had instructed. He began to feel a faint vibration at the core of his consciousness, as though a powerful energy was waiting to open before him. With deep concentration, he visualized the massive gate the system had described. It was a large black gate, solid and adorned with intricate engravings resembling ancient letters glowing with faint lights.
With some hesitation, he extended his hand in his mind and touched the cold, hard surface of the gate. An unusual feeling washed over him—a mix of urgency and a desire for exploration that seemed to pull him forward. Yet within, something reminded him to be cautious; eagerness alone could be a flaw in a world full of secrets.
Then, gathering his courage, he focused his mind entirely on opening the gate. As a brilliant light burst forth from behind it, he felt his consciousness moving fluidly, as though it were being drawn out of place. Moments passed, and Kailen could barely feel his body, as if he had become a mere spirit gliding through a field of boundless, interwoven energies and colors.
The sensation was both enchanting and mysterious, akin to a strange dream yet real in a perplexing way. It felt as if he were crossing the very boundaries of reality, moving between the barriers that separated dimensions, heading toward something unknown.
Finally, the motion ceased, and he felt as if he had arrived. Kailen opened his eyes slowly, the dim moonlight filtering through towering branches and revealing a mysterious forest filled with massive trees whose thick leaves glowed a deep blue, swaying gently as if breathing. The air was cold and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of nature blended with the aroma of damp soil and fresh grass, as if the forest welcomed every newcomer with its silent, majestic spirit.
He leaned against a tree behind him, gripping the rough bark, searching for balance in this unfamiliar world. Everything around him felt both real and strange—the hum of insects in the silence, the shimmering starlight between the trees, forming luminous pathways tracing the night's contours. The sky was a transparent dark color, adorned with large stars that cast a magical glow, as if they weren't mere points of light but distant creatures watching in silence.
Kailen stared ahead without moving, captivated by his surroundings. Slowly, he reached out to touch his own body, his hand finding a faint scar on his abdomen where it seemed a deep wound had recently healed. The scar left a mysterious impression, almost as if it belonged to another body; a fine line hinting at what had once been a life-threatening injury.
Before he could fully comprehend this sudden transformation, Kailen felt a sharp pain pierce his head, as if thousands of needles or shards of glass were burrowing into his skull, wrapping around his cells, igniting every nerve in his brain. The pain was like a relentless blaze, crushing his consciousness without mercy. His tension rose as he clenched his eyes shut, trying to endure the pain, but memories began to flow uncontrollably, flooding his mind with intensity and speed, like overlapping images, events, and emotions.
He saw glimpses of another life, as if his soul were experiencing memories that weren't his; scenes of places and people he didn't know, moments of battle and conflict, fleeting joys, and profound sorrows. He saw himself running through battlefields, shouting with defiance, facing creatures he had never seen before. Rapid, intertwined images spiraled around his awareness, like currents from forgotten worlds.
Gradually, the pain began to subside, and his awareness slowly returned, but with a deep sense of unnatural change. He breathed slowly, his eyes shining with awe and trepidation. He wasn't in the body he knew; he realized that this body was foreign, and that the soul within it was merely a guest.
!