Haruto followed Lucius, leaving behind the world he had always known. With each step he took, he ventured further into something beyond his imagination. The familiar life he once had—his friends, Aoi, and his ordinary school days—felt more distant than ever. Now, he was facing something far greater and far more dangerous.
Lucius led the way through narrow paths, sheltered by towering trees. The ground was soft beneath their feet, and the air carried an unfamiliar sensation—fresh, yet filled with a tension that was almost palpable.
"What is really happening?" Haruto asked, his voice filled with confusion and curiosity. "Where are we going?"
Lucius did not answer immediately. He walked calmly, as if he had traveled this path many times before. "You'll understand soon enough," he finally replied. "The world you know is not the true world. This is a place where you will learn to understand the power within you."
Haruto bit his lip. "So, what exactly am I supposed to learn here? What can I gain from a world that is completely different from my own?"
Lucius stopped for a moment, glancing back to make sure Haruto was following. "Your power comes from a world much larger than what you've ever known. This is a world where you will either learn to control it—or destroy it."
As they walked deeper into what seemed to be an endless forest, the air grew denser, saturated with an unfamiliar energy. Haruto could feel it—something flowing through every inch of the ground and the atmosphere around them. This was nothing like he had imagined. Here, every step felt heavier, as if something was pressing against him, urging him to understand something far greater.
Suddenly, a portal materialized before them, glowing with an intense blue light. Haruto stood frozen, watching as the portal widened, revealing a world unlike anything he had ever seen—its sky was darker, the land filled with massive boulders, and strange towering plants that swayed as if alive.
"This is another world," Lucius said, his voice serious. "A world hidden from human eyes. This world is not just a physical realm, but also a world of power. Here, you will discover the part of yourself that has been buried deep within."
Haruto gazed at the land before him. The dark ground, the heavy clouds filling the sky, and the eerie silence—it was nothing like the bustling cities or the lively school life he had once known. There was only emptiness, yet something powerful lingered in the air.
"What am I supposed to do here?" Haruto asked, his voice laced with uncertainty. "I know nothing about this world."
Lucius stepped into the portal first, looking at Haruto with sharp eyes. "In this world, you must learn to understand what lies within you. To control that power. If you fail, the world you once knew will be destroyed. You must decide—what will you do with the power inside you?"
Taking a deep breath, Haruto stepped into the portal, entering the unknown world. He knew there was no turning back. He had to accept and master the power within him.
As he crossed into this unfamiliar land, Haruto could feel the change instantly. It wasn't just the power within him—it was as if every emotion, every doubt, and every fear he had was being amplified. What Lucius had told him before—about this world revealing his true potential—was now becoming undeniably real.
"Now, we begin," Lucius said firmly, his gaze locked onto Haruto. "But remember, this world is nothing like the one you knew. Here, everything can change in an instant. The power within this realm is immense, and how you face it will determine your path."
Haruto stared at the vast world before him, his heart pounding. A new journey had begun, and he had to be ready for whatever lay ahead. This was not just a test to control his power—it was a trial to determine who he truly was.