Kazuya's heart raced as he stood in the middle of the strange, vast field. The unfamiliar landscape stretched out in all directions, and his mind scrambled to process the overwhelming reality of the situation. He blinked hard, trying to make sense of the sudden shift from the comfort of his apartment to this... this alien world.
The glowing screen that had appeared before him lingered for a moment before disappearing into thin air. A strange buzzing noise filled his ears, as though the very air around him was vibrating with some kind of energy. He instinctively took a step back, scanning his surroundings for any sign of life. The field was vast, but it was devoid of any movement—no animals, no people. Just an eerie, calm silence.
Kazuya took a deep breath and wiped his hands on his jeans, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. This couldn't be real. There was no way this could be real. He had been sitting in his apartment, overwhelmed by grief, and now he was here, in the middle of nowhere. But everything felt... tangible. The ground beneath his feet was solid, the breeze cool against his skin. The sky above was clear, dotted with two bright suns. His mind couldn't quite make sense of it, but the sensation of reality was undeniable.
"Where... where am I?" Kazuya murmured aloud, his voice trembling. He didn't expect an answer, but he couldn't help himself. The words slipped from his mouth in an attempt to ground himself. The silence offered no reply.
He glanced around once more, his eyes landing on a narrow trail that led toward a distant range of towering mountains, their peaks shrouded in mist. Beyond them, he could just make out the outline of a sprawling city—a place that felt familiar in some unknown way, though he couldn't say why. It wasn't a city like any he had seen before, its architecture a blend of stone and glowing crystal, rising high into the sky like something from a dream.
"Alright, Kazuya... stay calm," he muttered to himself, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "You're not dreaming. Just think."
He rubbed his face, trying to center himself. His grandfather's words echoed in his mind: To be kind to all lifeform, no matter how small or different . It was a simple lesson, one that Kazuya had carried with him through every hardship of his life. But right now, it felt... impossible. How was he supposed to be kind to everything in a world that felt so foreign? The only thing that made sense to him now was survival.
He needed to figure out where he was and, more importantly, how he could get back home.
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet rumbled lightly, shaking him from his thoughts. Kazuya froze, eyes widening as the earth seemed to hum with an invisible force. The sensation was fleeting but unmistakable. It was as though the very land itself was reacting to something—or someone.
A shadow passed over the sky, casting a dark silhouette against the two suns. Kazuya looked up just in time to see a massive shape swoop down, cutting through the air with incredible speed. It was something large, a creature with leathery wings, its body draped in dark scales that reflected the light like a living shadow. The creature banked sharply, its wings flapping powerfully as it hovered above Kazuya, its glowing eyes locking onto him.
Kazuya's heart skipped a beat as the creature descended closer. He had never seen anything like it before. A dragon? No, it wasn't quite right. It was too sleek, too graceful. But the sense of raw power radiating from it was undeniable. The creature's presence alone made the air feel thick with energy, as though it was something far beyond his understanding.
He took an instinctive step back, raising his hands in an attempt to show no threat. "W-What do you want?" Kazuya asked, his voice shaking. He had no idea how to communicate with this creature, but he needed to try something.
The dragon—or whatever it was—hovered for a moment, its intense gaze never leaving Kazuya. Then, with a sudden and sharp flap of its wings, it landed gracefully on the ground before him. The ground trembled beneath the weight of the creature, and Kazuya instinctively took another step back. It was even larger up close, easily towering over him, its reptilian eyes fixed on him with an intelligence that sent a chill down his spine.
The creature's mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth, but instead of an attack, a voice—clear and articulate—spoke.
"Who are you, stranger?" The voice was deep and resonant, not unlike the sound of a great bell echoing across a canyon.
Kazuya blinked in shock, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief. "Y-You... you can talk?" he stammered, still trying to process what was happening. A talking creature? It was absurd.
The creature's head tilted slightly, as if considering him. "It seems you are not familiar with our ways," it rumbled, its voice taking on a more intrigued tone. "You are far from home. You are not from this world, are you?"
Kazuya nodded, his mind racing. "No... I'm not. I don't even know how I got here."
The dragon—or whatever it was—paused for a moment, then said, "You have been brought to the Veiled Dominion, a land of many races, where strength and power rule all." It took a slow step forward, its massive claws scraping the earth. "You are different. I can sense it. There is something about you, human."
The words sent a ripple of unease through Kazuya. He couldn't explain why, but there was something undeniably dangerous about this creature. "I... I don't know why I'm here," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I don't want any trouble."
The creature's eyes glowed softly, studying him with an intensity that made Kazuya feel as though it could peer into the very depths of his soul. "I believe you," it said. "But the truth of this world is not something you can escape. You will need to learn how to survive."
Before Kazuya could respond, the creature spread its wings wide, creating a gust of wind that almost knocked him off his feet. It leaped into the air, soaring upward with a powerful flap of its wings. As it disappeared into the sky, it called down one final word.
"Prepare yourself, Kazuya Hiyotoshi. This world will test you."
Kazuya stood frozen in place, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea what to make of the encounter, but one thing was certain—he was no longer in his old world. And whatever lay ahead, he had no choice but to face it.