[ Several kilometers above the ground, floating high above the quartzian forests of Lunithar...]
A piercing sound ripped through the air—the unmistakable noise of a dimensional portal tearing open with a deafening explosion.
"Wooowooohoooooooo!"
From literally nowhere, a mysterious guy was hurled at breakneck speed through the fleeting portal, which existed for only a fraction of a second. His trajectory tore through the air before he plummeted sharply toward the ground.
Within seconds, his body crashed into the earth with incredible force, creating a massive crater in the middle of the forest.
"Dammit! How did I end up here?"
Standing at the center of the crater he had caused, the boy appeared strangely unscathed despite the catastrophic impact.
His bare chest, chiseled like a divine statue, glistened under the harsh sunlight of this unfamiliar world. Dressed in a backward white cap, a black tracksuit, and pristine sneakers, his relaxed demeanor starkly contrasted with the destruction around him.
His irritated gaze turned skyward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned for the portal that had brought him here.
"Wait a second... where is it?" he muttered, shielding his eyes from the blinding rays with his hand.
As his search grew more frantic, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. After several minutes of fruitless effort, he slowly lowered his head, his expression darkening with despair.
"Fuck it... I'm stuck here!"
With a resigned sigh, he began to levitate, rising gently into the air to get a better view of his surroundings. As far as the eye could see, a dense forest stretched out, bordered by an immense, imposing mountain range that loomed in the distance like a natural fortress.
Witnessing the grandeur of the landscape, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
"What if I tested my power here?"
Glancing around and confirming the absence of any life, he clenched his right fist. A palpable, almost buzzing energy radiated through from his arm to his fist.
"One percent."
In a swift, precise motion, he punched forward. The resulting shockwave was cataclysmic: the forest before him vanished, replaced by a series of gaping craters. Even the distant mountains, standing several kilometers away, trembled under the force of the destructive blast.
"Ohhhh, crap."
The boy surveyed the devastation he had caused, a hand rubbing the back of his neck, his sheepish grin betraying his momentary lapse in judgment regarding his own strength.
This boy, Basil Mardovk, was no ordinary being. Having spent countless years in dimensions devoid of logic or rules, he had yet to fully grasp the impact of his power in a tangible, structured world.
He swept his gaze across the surrounding, hoping no one had witnessed this unintended display of strength. Then, with a sigh, he gently landed on the ground and made a practical decision: to leave.
"I hope no one saw me."
In an instant, he sped away like a bullet, leaving behind the desolate landscape he had created.
[Later, in the damp ruins of a forgotten village...]
Among crumbling stone buildings and uneven paths, a young woman ran, panting, clearly being pursued. Her long white hair shimmered despite the dim surroundings, and her red eyes, like rubies, glowed with an almost supernatural intensity. But what stood out most were the two black horns adorning her head, an indelible mark of her demonic nature.
She dodged obstacles with agility, though the evident pain slowed her movements. A large wound marred her stomach, just below her chest.
Her strength was fading fast. Her labored, uneven breathing matched the alarming pallor of her complexion.
Then, she fell.
"Ahhhh..."
She slumped against a tree, pressing her hand against the wound to stem the bleeding.
"The little chase ends here!" declared an authoritative voice.
A man in silver armor, draped in a white templar cloak, emerged from the shadows. His drawn sword gleamed coldly in the dim light.
"Creatures like you, spreading chaos and destruction, must be judged... and executed!"
The young woman, though weakened, showed no fear. Her eyes, filled with anger and defiance, locked onto her adversary. In her trembling hand, she clutched an ethereal stone, ready to crush it.
The Paladin approached slowly, but his target remained determined, prepared to trigger an explosion by smashing the aether-laden stone, taking them both to their deaths.
"You all think you're righteous, but you're blinded by your own ignorance!" she shouted.
The man let out a mocking laugh before his face hardened into an expression of cold resolve.
"Silence, demon."
But as he raised his sword for the final blow, a voice broke through the tense scene.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Basil, emerging from the ruins and casually cleaning his ear, shattered the atmosphere.
"Hey, you ever been taught not to hit a woman?" Basil asked.
"Huh? W-What? Who are you?" stammered the man, bewildered. "A-Are you working with this terrorist?"
Basil, slightly taken aback by the accusation, glanced at the injured girl lying on the ground. Despite her pain, she seemed to be desperately searching for a way out.
"Honestly, I don't give a damn about you... So why don't you just buzz off?" Basil replied, waving his hand dismissively as if brushing away a minor nuisance.
"Do you even know who you're talking to? I am Vlad Bergero, Holy Paladin of the Solitharian Empire!"
But Basil completely ignored him, his gaze fixed on the injured girl.
"Shouldn't she be getting medical attention instead?" he said nonchalantly.
Infuriated by Basil's insolence, the Paladin raised his sword and took a fighting stance. Meanwhile, the girl continued her desperate attempt to crawl away, though her gaze was irresistibly drawn to the clash.
With a roar of rage, the man charged at Basil, his blade poised to strike. The Paladins, renowned for their brute strength and lightning-fast speed, were among the most elite warriors in the kingdom.
But Basil was unimpressed.
"Khhaargggggg!"
In a movement too fast to follow, Basil caught the sword and shattered it with his bare hands. He followed up with an upward kick that struck the Paladin's chin and finished with a single punch to the gut. The impact sent the man flying dozens of meters, smashing through and toppling a row of trees.
The girl couldn't believe her eyes. She had never seen a Paladin defeated so effortlessly. Her gaze met Basil's, and a cold dread gripped her.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Trembling, she tried to stand, her survival instincts screaming at her to escape this colossal threat.
I need to get out of here, fast! she thought.
But her legs, weakened by pain and exhaustion, couldn't carry her any longer. She collapsed, overwhelmed by dizziness, and lost consciousness on the ground.
Basil, who had watched the entire scene with detachment, scratched his head. One thought crossed his mind:
"Is she stupid or what?"