Adam could only widen his eyes as his consciousness blanked for a moment. The sounds of trees surrounded him—the soft scrape of twigs beneath his fingers, the wind passing through leaves.
"Rehan… do you remember that?"
[Remember what, Adam?]
She leaned closer, concern slipping into her voice as she noticed the doll in his hand—something that shouldn't have existed. Her thoughts raced, hundreds of possibilities colliding at once, until one conclusion surfaced.
Something had happened in the portal.
[Did they betray us?]
"No… just—put it in my space," he said, attempting to store it in his inventory.
She shrugged.
{DENIED — UNKNOWN OBJECT CANNOT BE INTERACTED}
So it was that kind of thing, he thought. The figurine was small, barely fitting in his palm. With no other choice, he tied it to his waist.
Ahead of him was nothing but a well—simple, old, descending endlessly into darkness.
"Duck… can I just fall inside?" The fear slipped out before he could stop it. The dark unsettled him.
Rehan smirked.
[Really? Someone that powerful, afraid of this?]
She rested a hand on his shoulder.
[Come on. I'm here. What could be so different?]
Adam tightened his grip on the plush doll. "But you aren't." His face twisted slightly as she let go.
…Sigh.
I guess I've changed. Thanks to that cryptid. Trauma fricking sticks.
There was something different about true darkness. Like a room with the lights off—you feel uneasy, but not terrified. Real fear came when you were somewhere unknown, where anything could be there.
[Why not create a dog? Something you can hold, at least.] She pointed at herself, grinning.
[I'll handle all the molecular formulas—structures, bonds, organelles, organ systems.]
"Nah."
He stepped forward and fell.
The well seemed endless. Wind rushed against his face as memories surfaced—Berto, his cat.
I don't deserve a pet. I don't have the will to care for a life I create.
The shaft widened slightly, though it remained narrow. The breeze confirmed what he already knew—he wouldn't die here. He could do anything in this world.
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back.
Time lost meaning. Then—light.
He crashed down with immense momentum, the impact shattering land beneath him.
What lay before him was impossible: a cliff of clouds, threads of strings descending from above. Within them writhed a miasmic, monstrous presence. Adam realized he was inside it.
The creature with only a total mouth devoured glowing orbs attached to the threads, expanding with every consumption—hungering, spreading.
A voice cut through the chaos.
"An unknown being… leave."
A girl stood before him, clutching her chest. Radiant clusters of pink wings burst from her back, each feather spiraling with eyes. She looked at him—then steadied herself.
Adam froze.
The eyes.
Too many. Watching.
Panic overwhelmed him. His power spiraled out of control, concepts bleeding into color as his body reacted instinctively. He grabbed her—crushing not physically, but with intent, desire, fear.
Something wanting.
He released her with a gasp.
I never want something that isn't alive staring at me again.
[ADAM, CALM DOWN!]
Golden stars flickered around the girl, mending her injuries. She coughed, struggling to stand.
"…Who are you?"
"The White King sent me," Adam said. "He said I'd gain my own power—to reach other worlds."
She steadied herself, exhaling slowly.
"Then hello again. You stand in the transparent layer of this world—the space of Manori in it's totality and this is a plexus... An own multiverse with its functions, and mechanism just as it's connected to threads... Other multiverse also reach out of here have different functions and mechanism"
"…What?"
Her blue hair spiraled, rings orbiting her head as she twirled a strand.
"The King only told you half the truth. To take your power to another world… that world must belong to Manori."
"And how does a world become owned?"
"By being devoured."
She looked at him directly. "So tell me—what universe is it?"
Adam's eyes widened.
"…That's it? Would that universe even survive being devoured?"
She looked away.
The girl ignore's Adam question as she say something"..It depends how far it is from this one."
He felt the weight settle in his chest.
I don't want to be anything. I'm tired. I'm not meant for this. I wish I didn't know. I just want to rest. I want everything to be fine.
Pressure piled endlessly.
The White King's words echoed—to train his son.
The man's body flickered, hope fading, yet his will refused to break. Because he could still act.
He was the only one who could do something...
And if you can do something, you have to act.
"…Are you the White King's wife?"
She flushed instantly, covering her cheeks.
"Well… I suppose."
"How did that even happen?"
She smirked, teasing, fully aware of Adam's power.
"Oh, dear. That was two hundred years ago."
"Why aren't you with him?"
Her smile softened, thin with exhaustion.
"I have a duty to fulfill. But I trust him. He'll always be with me. And I'll always be his."
Adam winced, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sorry… I mean forgive me, for doing that to you"
Then light suddenly surrounded them—pure white. Space folded.
They reappeared in a sanctuary: a vast manor, luminous and quiet.
Ahead stood a petite young man, perhaps in his twenties. Six feet tall, holding a long sword suspended midair. His armor gleamed black and gold; his hair was long and white.
Adam smirked to himself.
"…Yeah. You're the White King's son, alright."
The resemblance was unmistakable... Hehh