Chapter 4: Portal to the Second World
Adam sat cross-legged on his bedroom floor, the system screen glowing faintly in front of him. He'd spent the past hour scrolling through its menus, trying to make sense of everything.
"Inventory, stats, quests..." he muttered, tapping at the air. "How is this even real?"
The glowing interface pulsed slightly, as if mocking his confusion.
Adam's heart skipped a beat. "Explore? I barely survived the last time!"
The system didn't respond, its silent insistence lingering in the air.
"Fine," Adam grumbled, standing up. "But if I die, it's your fault."
He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation he'd felt the first time—a faint pull, like a thread tugging at the edge of his mind. The air around him shimmered, and within seconds, a portal burst into existence, its swirling energy bathing the room in a soft blue light.
Taking a deep breath, Adam stepped through.
The transition was smoother this time, the kaleidoscope of lights fading quickly to reveal a sprawling landscape. He stood at the edge of a dense forest, its towering trees glowing faintly under the same violet sky he'd seen before. In the distance, he could make out ruins half-covered in moss and vines.
"This place is insane," he whispered, taking a cautious step forward.
Before Adam could process the message, the ground beneath his feet trembled. A low rumble echoed through the forest, and from the shadows emerged a small, crab-like creature with gleaming, metallic pincers.
"Great," Adam muttered. "Monsters again."
The creature scuttled toward him, clicking its pincers menacingly.
"Attack? With what?" Adam scanned his surroundings for anything he could use as a weapon. Spotting a sturdy branch nearby, he grabbed it and held it like a makeshift club.
As the creature lunged, Adam swung with all his might, the branch connecting with a loud crack. The creature screeched and retreated slightly, its movements slowing.
"Not bad," Adam muttered, adjusting his grip.
The creature lunged again, but this time Adam sidestepped and brought the branch down hard. The crab-like beast collapsed, its metallic shell dented.
A small, glowing orb materialized where the creature had fallen. Adam bent down and picked it up, marveling at its faintly pulsing light.
"So this is a spirit stone," he murmured.
The system chimed again.
Adam glanced toward the ruins in the distance. A mix of excitement and apprehension bubbled within him.
"Guess we're not done yet," he said, gripping the branch tightly as he began walking.