Shree stood at the heart of Plum Blossom Paradise, taking a deep breath as his eyes wandered over the serene landscape. The cascading waterfall shimmered under the gentle sunlight, the lake reflecting the delicate pink hues of the plum blossom tree. The gentle rustling of the leaves and the scent of nature filled the air, making this place feel almost dreamlike.
"One last look, huh?" Chat's voice echoed in his consciousness.
Shree nodded, his fingers brushing against the bark of the plum blossom tree. He had spent countless days here, training, discovering, and growing. It was strange to think that he would be stepping into an entirely unknown world after this moment.
With a deep breath, he centered himself and connected to the Ancient Innate Chaos Life Disc embedded in his consciousness. A pulse of energy surged through his body, and ancient patterns began to manifest beneath his feet, glowing with unfathomable power.
Shree's heartbeat quickened as the patterns extended outward, forming a vast, intricate array. Ethereal symbols hovered in the air, flickering between reality and illusion.
"Chat... I feel the world around me shifting."
"Yeah, I see that," Chat responded, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and caution. "You're not about to explode, are you?"
"Shut up, don't jinx it!" Shree scowled but couldn't help feeling nervous.
The energy around him surged violently, making the very space tremble. The once-clear paradise became hazy, as if the world itself was blurring out of existence.
"You are finally stepping towards your path,
Before Shree could even think further, the world around him collapsed into darkness, and he was thrown into the endless void.
In the vast emptiness of the void, where time and space intertwined, a deep, ethereal voice resonated. It carried the weight of eternity, neither loud nor soft, but infused with an unfathomable depth—like the murmurs of the cosmos itself.
"You are finally stepping toward your path… my future master. I will be waiting for you."
The voice was filled with anticipation and longing, as if the very fabric of existence had been waiting for this moment. It was neither human nor beast, yet it carried an undeniable authority—like the whisper of the Heavenly Dao itself, stretching across past, present, and future.
Shree felt weightless, drifting through a realm of nothingness. He couldn't move, nor could he tell how much time had passed. The sensation was unsettling, as if his very existence was being stretched and distorted.
Then—
THUD!
His body hit solid ground. Hard.
The moment he landed, a wave of dizziness overtook him. His stomach churned, and a strong urge to vomit rose in his throat, but nothing came out.
"Ugh... I feel like I just got hit by a truck…" Shree groaned, pressing his hand to his forehead.
"Haha, well, at least you didn't splatter on impact," Chat teased. "I was kinda worried for a second there."
"You were worried?! Why didn't you tell me before I teleported?!"
"Eh, would it have made a difference?"
"...Tch. I hate you sometimes."
As his head finally stopped spinning, Shree took a deep breath and got to his feet. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of earth and greenery. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Massive trees, far taller than any he had ever seen, towered around him like ancient guardians.
"Where... am I?"
"Looks like a forest," Chat replied.
"Gee, thanks, genius. I totally couldn't tell."
"I do my best," Chat said smugly.
Rolling his eyes, Shree carefully observed his surroundings. The trees were unlike those in the Plum Blossom Paradise—these were ancient, massive, and untamed. Their trunks were thick, gnarled, and covered in vines. Some of the leaves glowed faintly in the shadows, while strange, bioluminescent flowers dotted the forest floor. There were no visible pathways, no signs of civilization. It was as if no human had ever set foot here.
A creeping unease settled in his chest.
"...Chat, do you think there are humans in this world?"
"Why are you asking me? I don't know any more than you do."
Shree gulped. "What if this world is dominated by aliens? Or worse... what if it's a world where humans don't exist at all?"
"...Pfft—Hahahaha!" Chat burst into laughter.
"Oi! This isn't funny!"
"Sorry, sorry! But your face—man, you really looked terrified for a second!"
"I am terrified!" Shree hissed. "I didn't sign up for an alien invasion!"
"Relax, worst case, you become a pet to some powerful creature."
"Chat—shut up before I shut you down."
As much as he hated to admit it, he did feel better after the banter. It was still terrifying to be in a completely unknown world, but at least he wasn't alone—Chat was with him.
Taking a deep breath, Shree focused. "First things first—we need to find people. Let's look for some signs of civilization."
He adjusted his posture and began walking through the dense forest, carefully avoiding tangled roots and unfamiliar plants.
As Shree wandered deeper into the forest, he realized just how vast and untouched this place was. The air carried a strange vitality, and the trees seemed to hum with an ancient presence. Occasionally, he spotted creatures—deer-like animals with shimmering fur, birds with radiant wings, and even a few strange, insect-like beasts that skittered away the moment he got close.
But no humans. No roads. No signs of settlements.
The further he walked, the more uneasy he became.
"Chat... are we sure this is even the right world? Did I teleport into some abandoned realm?"
"Don't ask me, man. You're the one who activated the teleportation."
Shree sighed. "You're so useless sometimes."
"Ouch, my nonexistent feelings."
By now, the sun had started to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The light filtering through the trees turned golden, giving everything an almost ethereal glow.
"Shree, it's getting dark. We should find a place to rest."
"Agreed."
Luckily, after some searching, they found a small cave nestled between the roots of a giant tree. It was well-hidden, dry, and provided decent shelter.
As he settled inside, he let out a sigh of relief. The day had been overwhelming—from teleporting out of Plum Blossom Paradise to discovering he was in an unknown forest with no civilization in sight.
But what unsettled him the most was—
"The energy here is different," Shree murmured, staring at his palm. "I can barely feel it… It's nothing like the paradise."
Chat hummed. "Maybe we just don't know how to perceive it yet?"
"Maybe…"
A chill ran down his spine. Was this world lacking energy? Or was it something deeper?
Regardless, for now, there was nothing he could do but rest and prepare for what lay ahead.
As he leaned back against the cool cave wall, staring at the unfamiliar stars above, he whispered, "Tomorrow… we find out what kind of world this is."
And with that, the first night in the new world began.
End of Chapter 21