Kael stood silently beneath the silver glow of the moon, the cold night wind brushing gently against his dark cloak. The Eldrath estate was unusually peaceful tonight. For the first time in years, no training noises echoed through the halls, no servants rushed about, and no arguments from the younger children disturbed the silence.
Everyone was asleep.
Lyra rested peacefully inside her room after spending the entire day beside him. Amara had exhausted herself experimenting with new spells earlier in the evening. Even Lord Eldran and the others had finally lowered their guard after the family gathering.
Tonight felt calm. Too calm.
Kael slowly walked through the quiet corridors one final time. His gaze lingered briefly on every familiar place—the garden where Blue once caused chaos chasing spirit birds, the balcony where Lyra often waited for him at night, and the training grounds stained by countless battles and memories.
This world was his home.
And that was exactly why he had to leave it.
As Kael approached the outer gates of the estate, he suddenly stopped.
A small figure stood there waiting quietly beneath the lantern light.
Blue.
The young boy rubbed his sleepy eyes while clutching a blanket around himself. His silver-blue hair danced softly in the wind as he stared directly at Kael.
"You're leaving…" Blue muttered quietly.
Kael's eyes softened. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he walked forward and gently placed his hand on Blue's head.
"You should be asleep."
Blue lowered his head slightly. "I had a feeling…"
Kael smiled faintly. A warm, almost painful smile.
"I'll come back."
Blue clenched the blanket tighter but nodded silently. Even at his young age, he understood this journey was different from Kael's previous adventures.
Kael lightly flicked Blue's forehead.
"Go back to bed before Lyra finds out you escaped your room again."
Blue finally laughed softly.
"…Okay."
Without another word, Kael turned and continued walking into the darkness. Blue remained standing there until his older brother completely disappeared from sight.
—
Far beyond the borders of Eldrathin, hidden deep within an ancient ruin abandoned by time itself, a massive portal floated in the air. Endless streams of golden and violet energy twisted around its surface like living stars.
Kael stood before it calmly.
Beside him stood Brown, Queen Seraphel, and the twelve tamed demons. Their expressions varied from excitement to caution, but all of them understood the danger ahead.
The portal before them did not simply lead to another kingdom.
It led beyond worlds.
Kael looked toward them quietly before speaking.
"We're doing this for our world."
His voice echoed heavily through the ruins.
"No matter what happens…"
A dark aura slowly rose around him.
"We survive."
The twelve demons immediately knelt.
Queen Seraphel closed her eyes solemnly while Brown gave a firm nod.
Then, without hesitation, Kael stepped into the portal first.
The world shattered into light.
—
Ding!
A sharp notification sound echoed inside Kael's mind.
His eyes snapped open instantly.
The first thing he saw was the floating blue system interface before him.
═══════════════════
Congratulations Host Kael Eldrath.
You and your companions have successfully arrived in the world: INTER-GALAXY.
World Classification: High Divine Cultivation World.
Primary Energy Source: Cultivation & Magic Essence.
Danger Level: Extreme.
═══════════════════
Kael frowned slightly as countless new notifications appeared one after another.
═══════════════════
Analyzing World Laws…
Analyzing Energy Structure…
Synchronization Complete.
═══════════════════
Then the system began explaining.
═══════════════════
Cultivation is the process of refining the body, soul, and life essence to transcend mortality.
Cultivators absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth known as Essence Qi. Through continuous refinement, one evolves into higher lifeforms capable of controlling natural laws, space, destruction, creation, and even immortality itself.
Cultivation realms are divided into stages. Higher realms possess absolute authority over lower realms.
In Inter-Galaxy, strength determines status, survival, wealth, and destiny. Weakness invites destruction.
Warning: This world contains Outer God influence.
═══════════════════
Kael remained silent for several seconds while processing everything.
When he finally lifted his head, he realized he and Brown were standing atop a massive hill overlooking a distant city below.
The city stretched endlessly beneath the crimson night sky. Floating structures hovered above gigantic walls while streams of light crossed the heavens like stars. Countless cultivators flew through the skies using swords, beasts, and magical artifacts.
The sheer scale was overwhelming.
The air itself felt heavier than Eldrathin. More alive. More dangerous.
Brown whistled softly.
"…This place is insane."
Kael exhaled slowly.
Before arriving, he had already recalled Queen Seraphel and the twelve tamed demons back into the Tammer Park Domain to avoid attracting attention immediately. In a world like this, appearing with such terrifying companions would practically announce his existence to every dangerous being nearby.
Ding!
Another system notification appeared.
═══════════════════
WORLD MISSION ACTIVATED
Mission 1: Recover the Missing Fragment of the Fortune Eldrathin.
Description:
A sacred fragment belonging to the Fortune of Eldrathin was stolen from the Temple of Goddess Seraphina within the God Domain and hidden somewhere in Inter-Galaxy.
Objective: Locate and recover the fragment.
Time Limit: 6 Months.
Rewards:
— SSS Rank Skill: The Traveler
Skill Description:
The Traveler automatically extracts knowledge, language, customs, combat understanding, and world information from any world visited and directly integrates them into the host's mind.
Failure Penalty:
One Special Skill owned by the Host will be permanently deactivated.
Good luck, Son of Destiny.
═══════════════════
Kael's expression darkened slightly.
A six-month limit.
And a penalty involving his special skills.
The system was clearly forcing him to succeed.
Brown glanced toward him. "So… what now?"
Kael stared toward the massive city below them. Thousands of unknown cultivators moved within it like ants beneath heaven itself. Somewhere inside this world existed enemies powerful enough to threaten even gods.
And worse… the Outer Gods could already be searching for him.
If they discovered his identity this early, everything would become a disaster.
Kael slowly pulled his cloak tighter around himself.
"At first…" he said calmly,
"We blend in."
His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
"We stay ordinary."
For now, Kael Eldrath would bury his true identity beneath the endless crowd of Inter-Galaxy.
Only after understanding this world…
Would the real game begin.