Kazuki trudged across the barren wasteland, each step a battle against the dry, cracked earth beneath him. The landscape was desolate, painted in muted tones of orange and grey. Twisted, skeletal trees lined his path, their branches clawing at the heavy sky. The air hung thick with an unnatural silence, broken only by the occasional echo of distant groans or creaking metal.
Kazuki(thinking): What is this place? A dream? No... it feels too real to be a dream. The heat, the weight of the sword,everything feels solid. Just what is going on?
He glanced down at the blade in his hand, its runes faintly glowing as if alive.
Kazuki(aloud): "heh, when I wish to hold a sword I never did get the chance, but when I don't, I get to have an actual sword. Looks like a magical sword. Hmm..... Got any instructions for me? Maybe a map? A clue? Anything?"
The sword, unsurprisingly, remained silent.
Kazuki(sighing): "Figures. Of course, I'd get stuck in another world with no guide. Just my luck."
The spark within his chest pulsed faintly, a warm rhythm that contrasted with the cold emptiness around him. It wasn't unpleasant if anything, it felt reassuring, like a heartbeat reminding him he was still alive.
---
As he walked, the ruined city on the horizon loomed closer. Massive structures leaned at precarious angles, their surfaces scarred with cracks and overgrown with strange, luminescent vines. Bridges hung in pieces, dangling like broken promises over a dry riverbed.
Kazuki paused at the edge of a collapsed bridge, peering down into the abyss below.
Kazuki(muttering): "Yeeeaa Nope. Definitely not climbing down there."
He turned to the remnants of a road leading into the city. Each step felt heavier as he approached, the atmosphere growing colder.
Kazuki(thinking): Why do I feel like I'm being watched?
The sensation crept up his spine, prickling his skin. He tightened his grip on the sword, its weight now a comforting anchor against the growing tension.
---
Kazuki entered the outskirts of the city, his footsteps echoing eerily against the hollow ruins. The air carried faint whispers, unintelligible yet persistent, as if the city itself murmured secrets to the wind.
Kazuki(cautious): "Hello? Anyone here?"
The whispers intensified for a moment before fading. A shiver ran down his spine, but he forced himself to move forward.
Kazuki(thinking): Aya would probably tell me to stop being so jumpy. Ren would laugh and say, 'Just punch whatever's scaring you.'
The thought of his friends brought a bittersweet smile to his face.
Kazuki(softly): "Huuu...I'll find a way back. I promise."
As if in response, the spark in his chest pulsed again, guiding his gaze toward a nearby structure, a crumbled tower with a faint, bluish glow emanating from within.
---
Kazuki approached the crumbled tower cautiously, his sword raised. The glow flickered like a dying flame, casting strange shadows on the broken walls. He stepped inside, the air immediately cooler, almost damp. The glow came from a small pedestal at the room's center, where a crystal shard hovered, spinning slowly.
Kazuki(frowning): "Well, that's not ominous at all."
As he moved closer, the whispers returned, louder this time, forming fragmented sentences.
Whispers: "Dreamer... protector... bearer of the spark..."
Kazuki(frowning): "Okay, that's definitely creepy."
The crystal suddenly flared, and a ghostly figure emerged, a translucent being with sharp, angular features and eyes like burning coals.
Ghostly Figure: "You carry the spark."
Kazuki(tensing): "Yeah, so I've been told. Who are you?"
Ghostly Figure(ignoring the question): "The Axis is dying, and the spark within you is its last hope. You must restore balance."
Kazuki: "Great. Another vague prophecy. Can someone just explain what I'm supposed to do?"
The figure raised a hand, and images flashed before Kazuki's eyes—a massive beast cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with malevolence; the Axis tree, its branches splitting and collapsing; and himself, standing in the center of it all, the sword in hand, glowing with power.
Ghostly Figure: "The darkness seeks to consume all. If the Axis falls, so too will every realm tethered to it."
Kazuki(sternly): "And you expect me to stop that? Why me?"
The figure's expression softened, a trace of sorrow in its gaze.
Ghostly Figure: "Because you were chosen. The spark saw something in you—something even you do not yet understand. But the path will be fraught with peril, and your resolve will be tested."
Kazuki(bitterly): "Yeah, I'm getting used to that part."
The figure began to fade, its light dimming.
Ghostly Figure: "Seek the Keeper. They will guide you further."
Kazuki: "Wait! Where do I find them? Who are they?"
The figure disappeared, leaving Kazuki alone with the crystal. It pulsed once before shattering, its fragments dissolving into the air.
Kazuki(sighing): "Fantastic. Another cryptic message. Thanks for nothing."
---
As Kazuki left the tower, the city felt... different. The air was heavier, the whispers now accompanied by distant growls and scraping sounds.
Kazuki(thinking): Something's wrong.
The spark in his chest flared suddenly, and he spun around just in time to see a figure lunge from the shadows. It was humanoid but twisted—its limbs unnaturally long, its face featureless except for glowing red eyes.
Kazuki(startled): "What the—?!"
The creature swiped at him, and he barely dodged, the claws grazing his arm. He stumbled back, gripping his sword tightly.
Kazuki(angrily): "Alright, buddy. You wanna fight? Let's go."
The creature hissed, its movements jerky yet unnervingly fast. It charged again, and this time, Kazuki swung his blade instinctively. The runes on the sword flared as it connected, slicing through the creature with a burst of light.
The creature dissolved into ash, but more growls echoed from the surrounding ruins.
Kazuki(thinking): Of course, there's more.
He ran, the spark in his chest pulsing urgently as if guiding him. The shadows seemed to close in, but he didn't stop, weaving through the broken streets until he emerged into a clearing.
In the center stood another tree, not the Axis, but a smaller, glowing sapling. Its light repelled the darkness, creating a small haven.
Kazuki(breathless): "Guess this is as good a place as any to catch my breath."
He collapsed at the tree's base, gripping the sword tightly. The spark pulsed steadily, its warmth a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone.
Kazuki(softly): "Aya, Ren... I hope you're okay. I'll find a way back. Somehow."
The tree's light seemed to respond, its glow intensifying slightly. For the first time since arriving in this strange world, Kazuki felt a glimmer of hope.
But in the distance, the shadows stirred, and the whispers grew louder.
---To be Continued---