Chapter 5: Alone in a Strange World

"WAKE UP CHILD!" A deep thunderous voice, spoken to Joine

"W-wha, who's there?"

He blinked, but no matter where he looked, he saw nothing, just endless darkness stretching infinitely in all directions. It was as if he had been swallowed by the abyss itself. Then, out of nowhere in the endless void, a familiar pulse caught his eye.

It was the dark energy core. the same one, that he had seen before. It hovered in the distance, beating like a heart.

"What's going on? The last thing I remember is when I and Lumi went through the gate"

"You will soon find out, boy, soon enough"

Joine clenched his fists. "Where are we?"

"Mmm... we are nowhere. Between dimensions... a place where light and shadow loses meaning, where time drifts without purpose.

"Nowhere, really"

"Yes, but soon, you will be on the other side, A world of magic, where anything you can imagine exists…, demon, beast, and monster"

"Ok, Thanks for the heads up"

"Don't thank me yet, Haha!!"

And then POOF!!

The energy core disappears, leaving a think Black Fog, and an evil smile appear for a second and vanish.

"Oh Wow, creepy"

After the fog fade away a door opened up, and Joine slowly walked up to it, He hesitated for a moment, glancing around the empty void, then took a deep breath and stepped inside.

And then, WHOOSH! A swirling vortex erupted from the air, pushing him out.

"W-Wha—AHHHHHHHH!!!" Joine screamed

After what seemed like an eternity, He finally passed the clouds and saw a River,

SPLASH!

He crashed into a river, the cold water shocking his entire body. Gasping, he flailed his arms and kicked his legs, struggling against the current.

Coughing and sputtering, he dragged himself onto the muddy riverbank, collapsing on his hands and knees. His heart pounded as he choked out the water he had swallowed.

"W-Where am I…?" he muttered, his breath uneven.

As Joine lifted his head, he realized he was surrounded by towering trees. The forest was silent, too silent. A cold chill ran down his spine as an unsettling feeling crept over him.

Something was watching him, but what?!

But before Joine could react, a sudden wave of weakness crashed over him. His body felt impossibly light, as if something had ripped the strength from his very core.

The gate had drained him, his energy, and his mana, nearly everything. A cold, hollow sensation spread through his body, his vision distorting as if the world itself was slipping away.

"N-No... what... is this...?" he murmured, barely able to keep his footing.

His legs gave out.

Thud!

He collapsed onto the cold, damp ground, his fingers trembling as he fought to stay conscious. His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyelids growing heavier.

Just before he passed out, he saw it. A figure slowly approaches him, its presence felt ominous, yet strangely familiar. Was it friend or foe?

Joine's vision blurred. The last thing he heard was the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps drawing closer.

And then everything faded to black.

Meanwhile…..

Lumi realize something was wrong

"No! No! What happened?"

Lumi Panic, looking around, searching desperately, but Joine was nowhere to be seen.

His heart pounded. This wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to arrive together.

"W-where could he be!! I have to find him fast!! He better not be in any danger"

Without wasting another second, Lumi took off, his body shifting mid-stride as a flash of light enveloped him. In an instant, he had returned to his true fox form, but speed alone wouldn't be enough. He has to find a way to cover more ground and then he thought of something.

Summoning his strength, Lumi formed a complex magic circle beneath his paws. His breath grew heavy as the air crackled with energy—this wasn't an easy spell to cast.

"Celestial Divide!!"

Celestial Divide, B-tier Ability, demanding absolute concentration and endurance, It's an overpowered ability, but due to its major drawback, making it the only reason it isn't an A-tier ability, because while active, it completely restricts the user from casting any other magic and it also drains alot of mana, knowing this Lumi didn't care because right now, Joine was out there somewhere alone.

"Spread out! Find him, no matter what!" he commanded

His clones dashed off in different directions, vanishing into the thick forest mist. Lumi narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, and took off. He bolted forward, pushing himself beyond his limits.

"Hang in there, Joine! I'll find you, no matter what it takes!"

..............

As Lumi desperately searched for Joine…...

Joine slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry from exhaustion. The warmth of the sunlight filtering through the trees

"W-where… am I?"

Joine blinked and looked up. Standing over him was a beautiful girl. Long Orange hair, her eyes as bright as the morning sun, her presence made him felt somewhat at ease.

She smiled. "My name is Akari. It means light. What's yours?"

"Nice to meet you Akari, but where are we exactly"

"Where in the great forest, Tenshō Mori, a sacred forest swallowed by an eternal veil, It is said that gods once walked these lands, leaving behind echoes of their power… but now, something far more sinister lurks within."

Haha…. Great!! First, I fall out the sky, nearly die, and now I'm in some evil forest…. Just my luck, but I guess there's no point worrying about it now, we'll just have to be ready for whatever comes next"

"Yea, we will, for sure"

"Btw I never got the change to say this, but thanks for saving me"

"Ofc np, actually I'm glad I found you, I was starting to feel lonely out here"

"Hehe… Well, guess that makes two of us. Being lost in some creepy mysterious forest wasn't exactly on my to do list, but at least I'm not alone"

Joine stretches his arms, sighing.

"Well alright Akari, since I'm new here, you'll have to help me, what lurks in the forest and how to survive"

"Yea ofc"

"How long you been on this island tho?"

"Well, I guess been here for a while, I forgot…."

"Oh, sorry to hear that"

"Don't worry about, it's actually not bad. This forest has some amazing wildlife animals"

"Well ok, but don't worry we'll get out of here, trust me"

"Yes, I feel I can put my trust in you"

After they talked, it started to become night, and in this forest, the real evil starts to lurk the most.

"Oh No!"

Akari took Joine by the arm and rushes to the shelter.

"H-hey! What's the hurry about?"

"You don't wanna be out here at night"

"O-oh Ok got you"

After they reached the shelter, there breathing grow heavy, but lucky they made it in time

"Don't worry, this is my base protected by the Divine light, magic,"

"Mmm, Light huh"

"Yea, anyways, I'm SOOO! tired, so we can talk in the morning"

"Ofc yea, you did a lot for me already, Good night"

"Yea, Good night"

Akari curl up in a ball and fell fast asleep, Joine watches her while she sleeps

"Hehe, so cute, well guess I should catch some sleep myself, don't worry Lumi I'm ok, Hope you aren't to worry about me, well knowing you"

Joine slowing lay down on the bed and slowly closes, his eyes, what awaits them next, guess we'll have to see in the morning"