Shaoran felt a sudden, sickening jolt, his body pulled through an unseen void with terrifying force. It wasn't like a teleportation, not like any system-jump he'd ever experienced. This was different—raw, disorienting. The world around him collapsed in on itself, only to explode outward as he slammed into a cold, barren ground.
He gasped, coughing as the air rushed back into his lungs, his heart hammering in his chest. It was the kind of shock that made his whole body feel like it had been through a blender, but at the same time, there was a strange, unexplainable pull to the place. Something powerful. Something ominous.
Shaoran slowly pushed himself to his feet, blinking as his surroundings came into focus.
He was in a strange, empty world.
A vast, sprawling land stretched out before him. No signs of civilization, no people. The ground was smooth and featureless, like a blank canvas. The sky was an unnaturally deep blue, with clouds that barely moved. The air was fresh, crisp, and strangely still. It felt alive, yet devoid of purpose. The kind of place you'd expect to find at the beginning of time itself, before anything had taken form.
He looked around, his mind racing.
"This doesn't make sense…" he muttered. "Where am I? And how did I even get here?"
Before he could think any more on it, a sharp ping filled the air, followed by a voice he recognized as the system—a constant companion in this strange new reality.
[System Notification]
"Welcome to Solva. Your new domain. You have been chosen by higher beings to be the guardian of this world. Your mission: protect this land from the impending Nightmare invasion. In one year, this world will be attacked. The destruction of both Earth and Solva is imminent. You are the only one capable of stopping it."
Shaoran stood still, trying to process the words. Chosen? By higher beings? An invasion in one year? It didn't make sense. The world seemed so empty, so quiet, and yet something in the back of his mind told him the danger was real.
"Great, just great…" he muttered to himself. "So now I'm stuck in some random world with a ticking clock and no idea what's going on."
His hands instinctively reached for his gear. He was used to strange places, sure, but nothing like this. Not this empty, this cold. His fingers brushed against the familiar coolness of the system interface embedded into his skin. The system's constant presence was both reassuring and unsettling.
He stared at the empty sky above him. "So, what now?" he thought.
The answer was immediate. Another notification flashed before his eyes.
[System Notification]
"You are in a world with no resources, no civilization. The land is a blank slate. You cannot create things from nothing, Use this power wisely. Earth is unlocked, and you may return at any time."
Shaoran frowned. "So, I can't just make stuff appear out of thin air… That's... disappointing. But wait, I can connect to other worlds, huh?"
The notification didn't offer much more, but Shaoran's mind was already running through possibilities. The ability to connect to other worlds was significant, but it also seemed like a dangerous, limited tool. He could visit Earth again if needed—he could always go back. But what would he need from Earth? And how would he manage an invasion that was still a year away?
His fingers hovered over the system menu. The interface was far more advanced than he had expected—practically seamless. The design was clean, precise, and responsive to his every thought.
He tested it. He reached out and mentally navigated through the system's options.
Shaoran scrolled through the options carefully. Importing resources from Earth seemed useful. He could get supplies, or even knowledge that would help him in the coming battles. But the system didn't allow him to create something from nothing. He could modify things, sure, but the terrain itself couldn't be changed. Not unless he visited other worlds.
He selected Connect to Other Worlds.
[System Notification]
"World Connection Lock: Other worlds are locked. Only Earth is accessible. Further worlds will be unlocked with your progress."
"Earth is unlocked?" Shaoran mused aloud. "That's... strange. This world is empty, but I can go back to earth anytime."
His mind wandered back to the world around him. The silence felt almost oppressive. There were no animals. No signs of life—just the empty landscape. He needed to test the system further, to explore what kind of power he had here. But the place felt so vast, so still, as if the very air was waiting for something to happen. Or maybe waiting for someone to make the first move.
"I guess I'll just… explore for now," Shaoran muttered. He wasn't sure what else to do. He could move forward or wait for the world to reveal its secrets to him, but either way, it felt like time was the enemy.
He took a step forward, and the ground beneath him felt firm, almost alive, in a strange way. The air was filled with a subtle hum, almost like it was breathing. The world wasn't as empty as it seemed, but there was no sign of the creatures or civilization that should have been here. The lack of anything that could pose a threat made him feel oddly vulnerable.
He focused his attention on the horizon, where a faint mist hung in the air. Slowly, he began walking toward it. There had to be something out there—something beyond this strange, empty landscape.