A bruised twilight sky crackled with furious lightning. Below, in this strange world's second layer, stood a colossal tree whose crown pierced the very atmosphere. Its luminescence was the only source of light in the oppressive darkness, a beacon against the inky void.
A band of weary travelers advanced toward it, led by the determined Zelaive. Their goal: to claim the tree's hidden treasures.
Just as they prepared to cross the lava-filled chasm surrounding the glowing giant, a masked scout rushed forward and gripped Zelaive's shoulder.
"I have news," the scout said, his voice sharp with urgency. "Forget the main entrance. We'll be ash before we even reach it. The tree is layered in heat. The first—one hundred fifty million degrees Celsius. The second—fifteen hundred million. And the third…" His voice dropped. "A blazing one hundred fifty thousand million degrees."
Zelaive's eyes narrowed as she studied the molten river flowing around the roots.
"How hot is the lava?"
"Only fifteen million," the scout admitted.
Zelaive's next question cut through the silence like a blade.
"And what's beneath the lava?"
Her companions stiffened. The Orc leader, a massive brute with scarred arms, growled in disbelief.
"Beneath the lava? Impossible!"
"If you're afraid," Zelaive said coldly, "leave. I don't need you."
The Orc's pride flared. "You used us to get here, then discard us? My warriors bled while yours stayed untouched!"
"It's not my fault you're weak."
Enraged, the Orc leader roared and lunged, his great axe raised high. But before he could strike, a colossal figure emerged from the storm. One massive hand closed around the Orc's skull and—
CRUNCH.
The lifeless body fell to the ground.
The giant turned to the stunned Orcs. His voice boomed like rolling thunder.
"Your leader is gone. What will you do?"
A half-orc, half-dwarf stepped forward, trembling.
"Who… who are you? A Nephilim?"
The giant chuckled. "I am a traveler. If you cannot lead yourselves, then I will." His presence was overwhelming, his words heavy with power.
The half-orc swallowed hard. "If you lead us, will you promise our safety? Will you not use us as shields?"
The giant laughed, a sound that shook the ground. "Shields? No. Warriors! Strength is not only in power, but in courage, and…" He pressed his fist to the half-orc's chest. "…heart. Follow me, and prove yourselves true warriors! Bravery is not pride—it is deeds. Show me!"
The Orcs roared, their spirits ignited.
1st Layer
He'd dreamt of soaring trees and molten chasms—an escape from mundane reality.
"Zelaive, come down to eat. You still have school later. Next time, I won't wake you up."
His alarm clock rang endlessly. Zelaive rubbed his eyes. It was 8:24 AM. Classes started at 10:00 AM.
He groaned.
"It was just a dream… I don't want to get up. Maybe I'll skip school today."
He pulled the blanket over his head. But footsteps creaked on the stairs. His younger sister Marisse burst in.
"Older Brother, wake up! You'll be late!"
Zelaive ignored her. Annoyed, Marisse took a running leap and crashed onto his stomach.
"AGHHH!"
"Didn't you have an exam today?"
His eyes widened. "Oh crap! The exam!"
He scrambled out of bed, leaving Marisse laughing behind him. On his way downstairs, he ran into Jazel, his stepsister. Already dressed, she looked at him with calm disinterest.
"Why didn't you wake me up, Jazel?!"
She gave him a cold stare. "Even if I did, you'd ignore me. You've always been lazy—even about waking up. Remember last time? You threw a pillow at me."
Zelaive scratched his head, embarrassed. He remembered. A year ago, Jazel used to wake him daily, until he drove her away with his indifference.
"Ugh, forget it," she said, tossing a book at him. "You deal with your own life."
He froze as she walked past, ignoring him completely.
At School
Still dazed, Zelaive drifted through his exam. His friend Kent Raven leaned over after class.
"Hey, man, you okay? You've been spacing out."
"Huh? Yeah, just thinking the exam was tough." In truth, he couldn't shake Jazel's coldness from earlier.
Kent grinned. "Tough? You came twenty minutes late for the first test, hah!"
"I overslept, that's all."
"Yeah, you always oversleep," Kent muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Later, Zelaive saw Jazel walking alone, slipping flowers into her bag. She looked… sad.
"What's that you put away?" he asked, though he already knew.
Jazel only glared and walked off.
Zelaive clenched his teeth.
"This girl is so irritating… Why hide the flowers? It's not like she has a boyfriend. She always pushes people away. Even though we've lived together for a year, I still don't understand her."
July 7, 2023 – Friday
Their mother called them into the living room. Her expression was nervous.
"Zelaive, Marisse, I have something important to tell you."
Zelaive smirked. "You want to get remarried?"
His mother gasped. "Wait—how did you know?"
He spat out the water he was drinking. "Wait, that's actually why? I was just joking!"
"It's fine with me," he said quickly. "Not sure about Marisse, though."
Marisse folded her arms. "I'm okay with it. We never bonded with our real father. He was trash—he left and never came back."
Silence followed. Trying to lighten the mood, she added jokingly, "If I ever see Vince Mazerch, I'll punch him in the face!"
Zelaive joined in. "And I'll kick him in the butt!"
Their mother finally smiled, and the three of them laughed together.
July 9, 2023 – Sunday, 7:20 PM
On the train to a family dinner, Zelaive noticed a wallet under a sleeping man.
Should I? …Better leave it.
But he picked it up anyway, setting it beside the man. As he stood to leave, a woman approached. She glanced at the wallet, then slipped it into her bag.
Zelaive frowned. That's why I don't like 'kind people.'
When he got off, the same woman grabbed his bag.
"Wait! Why didn't you give him back the wallet properly? What if someone steals it?"
Zelaive shot back, "Why did you put it in his bag? What if it's not even his?"
She faltered. "I was going to wake him, but…"
"But he was sleeping soundly? That's your excuse? I left it beside him so he'd notice it himself. What's wrong with that?"
"But someone with bad intentions could've taken it!"
"And there's a chance it wasn't his at all," Zelaive replied coldly.
The woman froze, guilt striking her. She turned to go back—but the train had already departed.
"Tsk. Annoying train."
She glared at him. "So I really did something wrong?"
Zelaive lowered his eyes, his voice trembling. "I did something wrong too. Don't ask me to judge you."
Her expression softened. She bowed.
"Sorry for earlier."
Then she walked away, leaving Zelaive staring after her. "What kind of weirdo is this woman? She's scary."