After days of discussing the mysterious phenomena called "Waves" and how to approach them, Al had a better understanding of these dimensional rifts. Each "Wave Area" acted as a beacon, marking the zones where monsters would breach reality, allowing anyone to confront them. These designated Wave Areas appeared in each city, enabling Boundless-born battlers like Al to gather experience, rare materials, and potentially useful items after defeating wave monsters. But for local civilians, it was a different story—Waves were chaotic and terrifying, requiring pros like Al to keep things in check, and also, the Waves and Wave Areas are always deactivated and disabled on weekends.
Al's first week in Japan had been a crash course in cultural nuances and Japan's social etiquette. He'd even landed a job interview for a manager position at a nearby restaurant. The day of his interview, Al rushed out of Seika's apartment, practically inhaling his toast as he darted down the street. Instead of the elevator, he vaulted off the seventh-floor balcony, landing with agility on the ground and using a burst of his Agyl' Boost to make up for lost time. By the time he reached the restaurant in Akihabara, he was only slightly winded—and completely ready for his first interview.
The restaurant owner, a sharp-eyed man named Tamakijo'o, greeted him.
"You must be here for the manager position?"
"Yes, sir! My name is Alexis Tilt. I'm a foreigner, but I've done my best to learn the language, customs, and expectations here," Al said, bowing slightly.
"Impressive dedication. Well, come on in and let's talk business," the owner replied.
Inside, Tamakijo'o looked him over, curiosity evident. "So what makes you interested in this job?"
Al handed over his carefully crafted resume, a product of Seika's research help. "I was a manager back home at a four-star restaurant, but… well, an unfortunate lightning strike burned it down. Afterward, I decided it was time to move somewhere new. Japan seemed the perfect place."
Tamakijo'o nodded, impressed by Al's adaptability. "It's a shame about that restaurant. But with experience at a four-star place, you should fit right in here." The owner turned to the other staff, waving Al over to introduce him.
"Everyone, this is your new manager, Alexis Tilt. Treat him well!"
A young, confident waiter with an easy grin stepped forward first. "Nice to meet you, sir. I'm Muzuhara Tobayashi, but you can call me Muzu."
A more reserved server, Midama Kizukuna, looked up from behind her bangs. "H-hello, sir. I'm Midama, but people call me Mida. I look forward to working with you," she murmured.
"Nice to meet you both," Al replied warmly, then glanced at a familiar-looking figure near the kitchen.
"Hello, sir," the figure greeted him, a slight smirk on her face. "I'm Carna Melforma. Head chef, and like you, a foreigner."
"Carna!" Al blurted, hiding his surprise. To the others, he quickly added, "Nice to meet you, Carna. Could I speak to you in private?"
Outside in the alley, Al crossed his arms with a smirk. "So.... you're the Demihuman Wolf Girl Archer I ran into a few days ago?"
Carna frowned, ears twitching under her hat. As she pouted, "How'd you figure that out?"
Al chuckled. "Your eyes, the scar, and the fact that you're pretty bad at hiding your identity."
Carna sighed. "Okay, fine. Yes, I'm from Boundless. I got flung through a Warp-Rift while in the middle of battle straight into this world."
"Interesting," Al replied. "And how did you manage to fit in here?"
She looked away, scratching her cheek. "I… may have 'borrowed' a pouch filled with this worlds currency from a rich drunk guy knocked out in an alley somewhere. Had to adapt, you know?"
Al raised an eyebrow but decided to let it slide. "Fair enough. Boundless-born have to survive somehow."
With their shared secret out, the two returned to the restaurant, just in time for the lunch rush. The steady rhythm of work became familiar, and Al noted with satisfaction the teamwork and efficiency of his small staff. But he couldn't shake a growing concern—the upcoming Wave. Glancing at his notepad, he scribbled a list of future staff needs: line cooks, and a few extra waiters.
Just as the restaurant began to quiet down, a loud alarm blasted through the air, signaling an incoming Wave.
"Everyone, hold service for a bit," Al instructed, keeping his tone steady. The nearby crowd in Akihabara grew anxious as they stared toward the street where the Wave Area was materializing.
Al nodded at Carna. "Ready?"
She smirked, readying her bow. "Lead the way."
Some of the customers and staff were a bit confused as they charged out, only to see the portal tearing into the fabric of reality itself, a dark maw spewing forth twisted creatures—goblins with jagged blades, wolves with eyes alight in unnatural red, and glistening spiders that skittered with chilling speed. Leading them was a towering Demon General, its fiery eyes locked onto the world beyond, a massive, spiked mace resting heavily in its ironclad grip. Al's heart raced, but he kept his calm, his gaze sharpening as he assessed the threats. Some of the staff and customers went outside to also see what is about to happen.
"Carna!" he called, raising his sword as it caught the glint of daylight. "I'll take the front. Cover me from above and keep the pests off my back!"
Carna nodded, already moving, her wolf-like agility taking her up to a nearby rooftop in seconds. Her bow was a blur as she pulled it back, arrows gleaming with energy, already loosed into the fray.
Al leaped forward, cutting down a goblin mid-scream, his sword finding its mark with swift precision. He dodged a wolf's snapping fangs and spun around to slice through its exposed side, never pausing as more creatures closed in. Carna's arrows rained down, perfectly timed, pinning wolves and spiders before they could even reach him, each shot a testament to her lethal accuracy.
The creatures poured forth endlessly, but Al and Carna moved in seamless rhythm, clearing them in droves. Finally, only the Demon General remained, its fiery eyes locked onto Al, mace raised high as it charged with a thunderous roar. The ground shook beneath its massive strides, and Al knew he'd need every ounce of his skill to dodge the brutal swings.
He dodged as the mace came crashing down, the shockwave of its impact rattling his bones. His mind raced, studying the beast's movements, looking for any openings. But the Demon General was no mindless brute—it adjusted with every feint, every step, slowly closing the gap.
Al's breath hitched as the Demon General's mace swung toward him with deadly precision, calculating his every dodge.
Suddenly, the ground erupted beneath the Demon General as a massive blade of stone speared upward, striking the monster and sending it flying back through the air. Al spun around, catching sight of a compact, broad-shouldered figure stepping from the dust and debris, her wild grin framed by braided hair and gleaming eyes.
"Ferni Valbon, at your service!" the dwarf bellowed, her hearty laugh cutting through the din as she tightened her grip on her greatsword—a weapon forged from pure stone, raw and imposing.
"Huh? Is that Alexis?!" She exclaimed.
"Ferni?!" Al gasped, a flash of recognition sparking in his eyes. "What're you doing here?"
"Aye! Mechanic and blacksmith on the clock, warrior when the job calls for it!" she shot back, already stomping forward, her eyes fixed on the Demon General. "Couldn't resist a good brawl!"
"Couldn't have better timing, Ferni!" Al called, falling in line beside her, the two readying themselves for the Demon General's next move.
"Strike its horns! That'll cripple its magic and even the odds!" Ferni yelled, planting her greatsword in the ground again, aiming at the Demon General again, creating a helpful makeshift ramp with its stone blade.
Al took off, running up the inclined surface as the Demon General recovered, shaking its head, red eyes blazing with fury. Carna, catching on, pulled her bowstring taut, her eyes narrowing as she lined up her shot.
With a sharp twang, Carna's arrow struck true, piercing one of the Demon General's horns with a powerful crack that echoed through the air. Al used the opening, lunging off the stone blade, activated his Precision Strike and drove his own weapon deep into the creature's second horn, slicing it clean off, a burst of dark energy ripping through the air. The Demon General let out a tortured roar, its body faltering, the once-imposing form crumbling in on itself as its magic unraveled.
It staggered forward, struggling to regain balance, but Al wasted no time, using his Agyl' Boost to strike at its legs, aiming to keep the beast grounded. Meanwhile, Ferni had repositioned, using her greatsword to bash the creature's knees, each blow shaking the earth. With one final strike, Carna released a powerful arrow that drove into the center of its forehead, the impact shattering the Demon General's last defenses.
With a thunderous crack, the Demon General's body began to dissolve, breaking down into dark mist that was swept away with the wind.
The onlookers—civilians and even soldiers alike—stood in stunned silence, then burst into relieved cheers, clapping and calling out as Al, Carna, and Ferni regrouped, catching their breaths.
"So," Al said, grinning at Ferni, "mechanic by trade, blacksmith on the side, and battlefield hero when duty calls?"
"Aye," she chuckled, wiping the sweat from her brow with a gloved hand. "Someone's got to keep you greenhorns from mucking it all up!"
Alexis laughed as they began to walk back, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Speaking of mucking it up, Ferni, what brought you here in the first place?"
"Ah, long tale for another day," Ferni replied with a wink. "Let's just say Boundless gave me an 'unplanned vacation,' and here I am."
As Al, Carna, and Ferni made their way back into the restaurant, they were greeted with a wave of applause and cheers from the patrons who had witnessed the fight from afar. Customers exchanged excited glances, murmuring about how impressive it was that their manager and head chef could step outside and fend off monsters like seasoned heroes. Some even cast glances at Ferni, marveling at her sturdy frame and the unique, stone-forged sword strapped to her back.
"Manager Alexis! That was incredible!" one of the patrons called out, raising a glass. "You took down that demon like it was nothing!"
Al smiled, giving a modest nod. "We just did what needed to be done. Thanks for your patience, everyone. Now, we'll get back to what we're really good at—serving you a good meal."
Carna offered a wink and a wave, heading straight back to the kitchen to start preparing orders. Ferni, meanwhile, looked around in amusement, visibly enjoying the positive attention.
"Ferni, why don't you take a seat by the bar?" Al suggested, gesturing toward a free stool. "You've done plenty today. Wait here until closing time, and then we'll catch up."
"Aye, sounds good," Ferni replied, sauntering over to the counter with a grin. She leaned her sword against the wall and settled in, watching the busy flow of the restaurant with an approving nod.
Al moved with a practiced efficiency, directing the staff, managing the floor, and ensuring everything went smoothly. Carna, now deep into her role as head chef, commanded the kitchen with ease, sending out dishes with remarkable speed and precision. Together, they made the restaurant hum with activity and professionalism, as if the earlier battle had simply been a quick detour.
Finally, closing time arrived. The last customers trickled out, still buzzing about the battle they had witnessed, and the staff began tidying up. Al, Carna, and Ferni gathered around the bar counter, exhausted but satisfied. Al set out three glasses, pouring some beer for them to share.
Ferni grinned as she glanced between Carna. "So, you're Boundless folk too. Small world—or worlds, I guess." She chuckled. "How'd you end up working here?"
Carna smiled, extending a hand. "Demi-Human Wolf, class: Archer. I'm the head chef here." She nodded over to the kitchen, her eyes bright with pride. "Never thought I'd be using my skills to cook food instead of fending off monsters, but turns out I love it."
"Head chef?" Ferni raised a brow in approval. "Now that's impressive. Glad to see you're putting those skills to good use, Carna."
Carna's eyes gleamed with interest. "Alexis told me a bit about you, but he didn't mention you two were close friends back in Boundless."
"Yeah, we go way back," Ferni replied, her voice warm with nostalgia. "Back in Boundless, Alexis and I were close pals. We tackled plenty of quests together when we arent hired—he's as sharp in a fight as he is in the kitchen, let me tell you. And stubborn as a dragon when he sets his mind to something."
"That sounds like him," Carna agreed, laughing. "He's the manager here, and he runs a tight ship. And on the battlefield, he's just as fearless."
"So," Al started, leaning back against the counter, "I think we all want to know—how did you end up here in Japan, Ferni?"
Ferni chuckled, taking a hearty sip of her tea. "Oh, it's a wild one, alright," she said, eyes twinkling with mischief. "One day, I was at the forge, working on a weapon for a friend—a fine blade with an obsidian edge. But I was running low on materials, so I decided to head out and do a bit of mining. Figured I'd grab my pickaxe and greatsword, head out into the mountains, and dig up what I needed myself."
Al and Carna leaned in, listening intently.
"So I opened the door," Ferni continued, her voice dropping as she recalled the strange sight, "and there it was. A weird looking Warp-Rift, just… floating right outside the door. Flickering, like it was half-broken, pulsing like it was deciding whether to open or close. I knew it wasn't safe, but before I could step back, it just sucked me in. No warning, no chance to close the door. Next thing I knew, I was flat on my back in the middle of some busy street here in Japan."
Carna raised her eyebrows. "So you just… appeared out of nowhere? Where did you end up?"
Ferni laughed, shaking her head. "It was the strangest sight—cars zooming past, people staring at me like I'd fallen from the sky. Turns out I'd landed in the middle of Shibuya Crossing. Never heard of the place, but let me tell you, I got some looks. Lucky for me, my sword was strapped on nice and tight, so I didn't lose it in the fall."
Al chuckled, imagining Ferni standing there in the middle of Shibuya, clad in her warrior's garb and wielding her enormous sword.
"I bet you didn't just blend in after that," he said, smirking.
"You've got that right!" Ferni replied with a snort. "A group of security guards came over, looking like they didn't know whether to call for help or get rid of me. I didn't understand a word they were saying, but after some pointing and a bit of awkward hand-waving, I figured out that I was in a completely new world."
"So how'd you make it from there to here?" Carna asked.
"Well, after that, I just started wandering around, trying to figure things out, eventually, I Learned the New Language Knowledge skill, dropped my armor to drop the looks" Ferni said, rubbing her neck. "Eventually, I stumbled into a mechanic's garage. The owner took one look at me, and rather than ask a bunch of questions, he said, 'You look like you know your way around machines.'"
Al laughed. "And you just started working there?"
"Pretty much! I've always been good with my hands, and the job was actually a lot of fun—less magic than I'm used to, but plenty of metal, grease, and gadgets. It didn't take long to learn the trade. Plus, it kept me fed, so I stuck around."
Carna looked amused. "And the blacksmithing?"
"Oh, I couldn't let go of that," Ferni said with a grin. "I managed to set up a little workshop on the side. Figured it was best to be prepared in case more Boundless folk popped up or, you know, if I ran into a few monsters here and there."
Al nodded, impressed. "So you've just been blending right in."
"Aye," Ferni replied, smiling as she sipped her beer. "Life's got a way of keeping you busy, no matter where you end up."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, each lost in thought. The restaurant around them was quiet now, the clatter and bustle of service hours fading away. Al glanced at Carna, then back at Ferni, a new sense of camaraderie warming his gaze.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Al mused. "Here we are, all from different corners of Boundless, and now we're together, facing a new reality."
Ferni chuckled, raising her glass. "I'd say it's lucky, is what it is. We might be in a different world, but it's good to know we've still got each other's backs." She gave Al a sly and playful grin. "Besides, if you ever need some more firepower in the kitchen, you know where to find me."
Carna smirked. "I'll keep that in mind. Might put that greatsword to work tenderizing the steak."
They laughed, clinking their glasses together in a toast to survival, friendship, and the strange, shared fate that had brought them all to Japan.
As the night deepened, Al couldn't shake the feeling that the next wave would come, would be tougher than the last. But with Carna, Ferni, and possibly others from Boundless joining him in this world, he felt ready for whatever lay ahead.
After all, they'd faced monsters before—who's to say they couldn't face anything else this world could throw at them?
In the next chapter, The Japanese Government has decided to tackle the waves by creating a group that specifically deals with the waves.