**The Unknown Gate**
The Nine Stars Guild was a newly-formed squad, proud and eager to make their mark in the adventurer world. Their mission was to clear a Class-C dungeon, a task marked as manageable by the Dungeon Administration. The dungeon was rated as relatively harmless, and the team entered with cheerful spirits.
The squad consisted of nine skilled members, each specializing in unique roles:
1. **Arthur**, the steadfast tank, with a shield as strong as his resolve.
2. **Lila**, the agile rogue, a master of traps and quick kills.
3. **Dane**, the berserker, whose strength was unmatched.
4. **Sylvia**, the healing mage, whose light magic kept them alive.
5. **Marcus**, the tactical archer with keen eyes.
6. **Vera**, the elementalist, manipulating fire and ice.
7. **Eric**, the swordsman, swift and precise.
8. **Nia**, the illusionist, confusing enemies with her tricks.
9. **Kai**, the scholar, responsible for identifying traps and analyzing monster weaknesses.
### **Stage 1**
The group ventured into the dungeon with confidence. The first stage was a straightforward cavern filled with goblins. Though numerous, the goblins were uncoordinated. With Arthur leading the charge and Sylvia supporting from the back, they cleared the stage without breaking a sweat.
### **Stage 2**
The second stage presented a more significant challenge: a maze filled with cunning lizardmen. They used traps and ambush tactics, which tested the squad's teamwork. Marcus and Nia worked together to scout ahead, while Vera created walls of ice to block surprise attacks. Despite a few close calls, the team managed to proceed, although Kai and Eric suffered severe injuries. Thankfully, Sylvia's healing magic restored them to fighting shape, though it drained her mana considerably.
### **Stage 3**
The final stage was a massive underground chamber with a serpent-like guardian. The fight was fierce. The serpent's venom and swift movements tested the squad to their limits. However, with Dane's raw strength, Arthur's defense, and Vera's elemental spells, they managed to bring it down. Exhausted but triumphant, the squad approached the glowing gate at the end of the chamber, ready to return to Earth and celebrate.
### **The Two Gates**
As they stood before the gate, something unexpected happened: a second gate materialized beside the first. The first gate radiated a familiar energy, the path back to Earth. The second, however, was different—it pulsed with dark, foreboding energy and was marked with an inscription in an unknown language.
Kai, intrigued, approached the second gate and tried to decipher its markings. "This... this gate leads somewhere unregistered. It's not documented in the Administration's records."
The squad exchanged nervous glances. Arthur, ever the cautious leader, said, "We've completed our mission. We should return and report this anomaly."
But Dane, the thrill-seeker, disagreed. "What if there's treasure beyond that gate? It's worth the risk!"
Sylvia frowned, her staff glowing faintly. "We're not in the best shape to take on another challenge. Two of us were just seriously injured."
Nia, ever curious, added, "But what if this gate is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery? If we don't explore it, someone else will."
The group fell into a heated debate. They were faced with a decision that could change their lives forever: return safely to Earth, or step into the unknown, risking everything for potential glory, danger, or something beyond imagination.
Arthur finally spoke. "We'll vote. Majority decides. But no matter what, we stick together."
And so, the squad cast their votes.
What did they choose?
### The Unknown Gate: A Leap of Faith
After a brief rest, the Nine Stars Guild gathered their courage. The decision to step into the mysterious gate had been made. Kai, ever the curious scholar, spoke up first.
"This isn't just about danger or treasure," he said, adjusting his glasses. "As an explorer, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to discover something beyond our understanding."
One by one, the others nodded, each thinking of their own goals. For some, it was the thrill of adventure; for others, it was the chance to grow stronger or unlock new abilities. They all understood the risks. In a dungeon, you could lose more than just your life—you could lose your skills, your memories, your very self.
As they prepared to enter the gate, Nia, the illusionist, hesitated. "Wait. Shouldn't we leave something behind? A will, or a message, just in case?"
Arthur shook his head, his voice firm. "We're coming back. All of us. There's no need to talk about failure."
But Kai interjected, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Not a will, but a message to ourselves. If what lies ahead changes us—if we lose who we are—we need to remember why we stepped through this gate in the first place. Let's write something for our future selves."
The squad agreed, each finding a smooth singing stone scattered in the chamber. These stones, imbued with faint magical energy, could hold written messages for an eternity. Without sharing their thoughts aloud, they carved their messages into the stones, pouring their hearts and resolves into their words.
- **Arthur**: "Lead with courage, shield those in need, and never let fear break your spirit."
- **Lila**: "The shadows are my ally, but never let them consume the light within me."
- **Dane**: "Strength is nothing without purpose. Use it to protect, not destroy."
- **Sylvia**: "Heal the wounded, mend the broken, and always fight for hope."
- **Marcus**: "Focus on the target, but never lose sight of the bigger picture."
- **Vera**: "Control the elements, but remain grounded in who you are."
- **Eric**: "Every sword swing is a step forward; don't let it become a step back."
- **Nia**: "Illusions reflect truth. Remember what's real, and don't get lost in the mirage."
- **Kai**: "Curiosity is a flame. Let it guide you, but don't let it burn you away."
Once finished, they placed the singing stones in a circle near the gate. Without a word, they stepped forward, their resolve tested by the dark, pulsing energy.
The gate engulfed them, and the familiar world of Earth disappeared.
### The Other Side
The transition was disorienting. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in an ethereal realm—a vast, shifting landscape of floating islands, glowing trees, and skies that pulsed with colors they couldn't name.
But something felt off. A faint whisper filled the air, tugging at their minds.
"This place..." Kai murmured, his voice trembling with awe and unease. "It's alive."
They were no longer adventurers in a simple dungeon. They were explorers in an unknown world, a place that tested not just their strength but their very essence.
Would their messages guide them back, or would this realm change them forever?
### The Singing Stones and the Voice
As the squad stepped into the unknown gate, the circle of singing stones they left behind began to glow faintly, their inscriptions shimmering under the dungeon's dim light. Moments later, the stones radiated a blinding light, and one by one, the carved messages vanished as if erased by an unseen hand.
Then, a deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"**Let it be as they want... but it is not as they need.**"
The light from the stones flared once more, this time shooting into the ceiling, forming intricate patterns in the air—symbols and runes that pulsed with enigmatic energy. The voice continued, calm yet filled with a power that made the empty chamber tremble.
"**To step into the unknown is to challenge not the world, but the self. Their wishes shall guide them, but their truths will be tested. What they leave behind is no longer theirs... until they prove worthy to reclaim it.**"
The runes hung in the air for a moment before fading, leaving only silence. The singing stones, now dull and lifeless, crumbled into dust.
### **Elsewhere in the Unknown Realm**
Far beyond the gate, in the strange, ethereal realm the squad had entered, each of them felt a faint tug in their minds—a flicker of something forgotten, like a fleeting memory just out of reach.
Arthur paused, gripping his shield tightly. "Did... anyone else feel that?"
Sylvia nodded, her staff glowing faintly. "It's like... I lost something, but I don't know what."
Kai, always perceptive, frowned deeply. "The singing stones... I think they're gone. Something happened back there."
"Gone?" Nia said, her voice uneasy. "But we left them as reminders. What does that mean for us?"
Before anyone could respond, the whispering wind of the realm grew louder, and shadows began to shift around them. The ground beneath their feet pulsed like a heartbeat, and strange, humanoid shapes began forming from the mist.
The voice returned, echoing around them once more.
"**Face your truths. Find your needs. Only then shall you return whole.**"
The shapes solidified, each one resembling a distorted reflection of the adventurers themselves, their expressions twisted and alien.
The squad readied their weapons, realizing that their greatest challenge yet had only just begun.
### **Kai's Awakening**
Kai's eyes fluttered open, his body aching as though he had been through a storm. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar—a stark white with recessed lights embedded into smooth panels. It wasn't the stone ceilings of a dungeon or the ethereal skies of the unknown realm. This was... modern.
The faint beeping of machines filled his ears. Turning his head, he saw an IV drip attached to his arm, a heart monitor beside the bed, and a window letting in soft sunlight. He was in a hospital.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
As he tried to sit up, pain flared across his body, and he groaned. A nurse, noticing his movement, quickly entered the room.
"You're awake! Don't move too much," she said gently, adjusting his pillow. "You've been through quite the ordeal."
Kai blinked, his mind racing. "What... happened? How did I get here?"
The nurse frowned, her expression unsure. "You were found unconscious on the outskirts of town. No ID, no records. The paramedics brought you here. You've been in a coma for three days."
Kai's heart sank. "Three days...? But my team... Where are they? Are they okay?"
The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you were alone when you were found. There's no record of anyone else."
Kai's chest tightened. Memories of the unknown gate, the glowing stones, and the distorted figures flashed through his mind. Where were Arthur, Sylvia, and the others? What had happened after they stepped into the gate?
The nurse offered a reassuring smile. "You should rest for now. Once you're stronger, we can try to figure out more about where you came from."
Kai nodded weakly, though his mind refused to rest. As the nurse left, he looked out the window, the sun casting warm rays into the room.
### **The Missing Time**
His thoughts raced. He remembered walking into the gate, the overwhelming sensations of the new realm, and the voice that spoke of truths and needs. But after that, his memory was a haze—a chaotic blur of battles, emotions, and flashes of light.
On the bedside table, he noticed something odd: a smooth, glowing fragment of stone. He picked it up, his breath catching. It was a piece of one of the singing stones they had left behind.
Carved into it was a single phrase:
**"Find them. Remember who you are."**
Kai's grip tightened on the fragment. He didn't know how he had returned or why he was alone, but one thing was clear—his team was still out there, somewhere. And he was going to find them, no matter what it took.
### **The Mysterious Inscription**
Kai sat up slowly, his body still weak but recovering. He rubbed his temples, trying desperately to piece together the fractured memories of what had happened after stepping into the unknown gate. It was like chasing shadows—every time he thought he grasped a memory, it slipped away.
The stone fragment he had found earlier rested on the table beside him, its faint glow pulsing as though alive. He stared at it, the cryptic phrase carved into it—**"Find them. Remember who you are."**—taunting him.
As he flexed his fingers, an odd sensation prickled across his skin. He froze and lifted his arm. His breath caught.
There, faint but unmistakable, were glowing inscriptions running along his forearm. They were intricate patterns, weaving together like a language or code he couldn't decipher.
"What... what is this?" he whispered.
The markings shimmered faintly, almost as if they were alive. He rolled up his sleeves and found more inscriptions covering his shoulders, chest, and even his legs. It was as though his entire body had been marked by some otherworldly force—but only he could see them. When he ran his hand over the patterns, his skin felt normal, as if they weren't physically there.
He glanced at the nurse's call button, hesitant to press it. "No... no one else can see this," he muttered. He didn't know why, but something deep inside told him these markings were meant for him alone.
### **A Flicker of Memory**
Kai closed his eyes, focusing on the strange inscriptions. As he did, a flicker of a memory surfaced.
He was in the unknown realm, standing before the distorted figures they had fought. His body had been glowing, the same inscriptions appearing as they were now. The voice from the gate echoed faintly in his mind:
"**Face your truths. Find your needs. Only then shall you return whole.**"
But the memory faded before he could grasp more.
"What does it mean?" he muttered, staring at the inscriptions again. They seemed to shift subtly, as though reacting to his thoughts.
### **A New Resolve**
Kai swung his legs over the side of the bed, his movements sluggish but determined. Whatever these markings were, they were connected to what had happened in the unknown realm—and to his team.
He looked at the glowing stone fragment on the table once more. It felt like a tether to the past he couldn't fully remember.
Taking a deep breath, he clenched the fragment in his hand and whispered to himself, "I don't know what this is, but I'll figure it out. I'll find them. I'll find the truth."
The inscriptions on his body glowed faintly, almost as if they had heard his resolve.