Finally — the long-awaited day had come.The day of the expedition.Everyone had been waiting for this moment with burning anticipation.
Inside the dressing room, Dark, Laiver, and Robert were preparing.Dark stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection while wearing the uniform of the Dream Hunters of the First Realm. He couldn't help but admire how it looked on him.
He turned toward Laiver.
"Finally, the promised day has come, Laiver." — Dark
Laiver looked back at him.
"Honestly, I'm a little nervous. Did you see the crowd gathered in the Spirit Capital? They're all waiting for our march." — Laiver
Robert approached them, trying to hide his own anxiety.
"Same here. I'm really tense... I heard the crowd stretches all the way to the gate. I'm not used to this kind of thing." — Robert
Dark looked down at his trembling hands, then clenched them tightly.
"There's no need to be nervous. We've trained for a whole year. We're ready. Let's go." — Dark, with a faint confident smile.
"You're right," said Laiver. "Let's join the others. Come on, Robert."
The three joined the rest of the team at the main gate, where Serato, their commander, was already waiting — dressed in his captain's uniform.
"Late again. At this point, I should just expect it." — Serato
Pedro smirked.
"It's all because of the one with the pale eyes," he said, nodding toward Dark.
Nital stepped forward.
"You're right. Let's not talk to him, Pedro — we don't want to ruin the mood."
Serato raised his hand, cutting through the chatter.
"Enough talk. Jason has arrived at the gate. Let's begin the march." — Serato
The members boarded the floating platform. The capital below was glowing with dazzling lights — colors dancing through the air, a breathtaking sight for everyone watching.
"Smile and wave, everyone! I want to see pride in every face." — Serato
The crowd cheered.Dark stood frozen, overwhelmed by the scene, until Laiver nudged him gently. Dark snapped out of it and waved, smiling awkwardly. Everyone waved joyfully — except Mirai, who stood silent, her face carved with bitterness.Dark couldn't help but glance at her from time to time.
After nearly half an hour, the platform reached the Dimensional Gate.Standing before it was Jason the Legend, lord of the First Realm — beside him were his brother Samir and his deputy Saher.
Jason raised his hand, his voice resonating through the air.
"Warriors of the Dream Hunters...Today, you march beyond the known — into the silence where no one has returned.You carry not just the pride of the First Realm, but the hope of all realms.Our world is trembling with imbalance, and the source lies beyond that gate.Find the truth behind the SPX, uncover the origin of the elements themselves.You are the bridge between order and chaos — the spark that will decide what remains.May your spirits not falter, and your hearts burn brighter than fear itself.Go forth — and return with the dawn of a new era."
The air trembled as his words echoed.Jason then raised his hand again, signaling the Guardians of the Stones to approach. Each member of the team received four elemental stones.
"Everyone, summon your spirit beasts and place the stones upon their foreheads," — Serato ordered.
Each member obeyed — mystical beasts appeared, glowing softly as the stones fused into them.
"Now, Dream Hunters — step forward through the gate. Go, and stay in touch through the first SPX channel.Find the secrets. Discover the source of the elements.I trust you will bring change to this world.Go!" — Jason the Legend
The team advanced behind Serato as the gate began to glow — then burst with blinding light.Moments later, they found themselves in a desolate wasteland.The ground was gray, the air thick and dark.
Dark and Robert began coughing violently.
"Idiots! Don't forget your shields!" — Laiver barked.
Instantly, the two stood upright as if nothing had happened.
"Ah, sorry! I completely forgot!" — Dark"I can't believe you forgot something this important," said Laiver."Remember, the Elemental Shield is a gift from SPX. It bonds with your skin — invisible, but it provides oxygen, radiation resistance, and limited protection depending on your element." — Robert"Wow, Robert! You memorized the whole thing word for word! That's impressive." — Natalie
Robert's cheeks turned red, and he stayed quiet.
"Heads up!" — Serato
A swarm of small, dark-element creatures emerged from the mist — small, but deadly fast.They attacked relentlessly. The Dream Hunters fought back fiercely, but their numbers seemed endless.
Laiver's hair flared with orange fire as his attacks scorched the ground — yet they felt small compared to Kazato, whose hair turned to icy blue, striking down hundreds of creatures with colossal ice formations.
Nital summoned massive storms of darkness, wiping out legions in seconds.Dark stood there, watching in awe.
"They're incredible…" — Dark
He looked down at his hands, remembering the woman with the long hair from his dreams:
"Are you sure this is enough?"
A pang of doubt hit him.
"Hey, Dark!" — Robert shouted.
Dark looked up — a group of monsters was charging toward him.
"They're too close!" — DarkRobert released a blast of wind, blowing them away.
Natalie ran to him.
"You okay, Dark? Stay focused — this isn't the time to drift off!" — Natalie"Sorry... thanks, Robert." — Dark
Dark rejoined the battle.
"They really are amazing." — Dark"Of course they are," Natalie replied. "That glowing hair and energy… but sadly, it only happens when an Element User has five points or more." — Natalie
The fight raged on.Kazato hovered above, unleashing devastation.
"Two things bother me," he thought. "First — why is Serato just watching us? Is he testing us… or thinning the ranks?"
He glanced downward — one of the members, Daniel, had already fallen, overwhelmed by the creatures.Kazato's expression darkened.
"The second thing… that girl," he muttered.
He looked toward Mirai — she stood motionless, doing nothing.The creatures ignored her completely, as if she didn't exist.Serato's eyes, however, were fixed on her — confusion written on his face.
"Even he's puzzled by her… whatever. I'll play your game, Serato." — Kazato, thinking.
He struck again — miles of sharp ice erupted, obliterating thousands of creatures. The ground shook violently, and dust filled the air.
"Oi, oi! Is he trying to kill us too!?" — Laiver, summoning a wall of fire to shield himself, Dark, and the others.Nital raised a wall of darkness to protect his own team from Kazato's blast.
When the storm cleared, Kazato was panting heavily.Then silence — for a few seconds.
Suddenly, thousands more creatures emerged from the distance.
"You've got to be kidding me… this contamination has no end…" — Nital, gritting his teeth.
Serato descended calmly from above.
"Ahem. Step aside."
He raised his hands — his eyes blazed, hair glowing. The ground split open, forming a massive trench that swallowed every creature, then sealed itself shut.
"Not bad. Only two deaths this time," Serato said coldly.
Dark, Laiver, Robert, and Natalie froze in disbelief — mourning Daniel and Toru.
"I… I didn't even notice. I was too focused on fighting… damn it." — Dark whispered.
Serato walked toward him and slapped him hard.
"Their deaths hurt us all — but they were warned. They weren't ready. That's fate." — Serato"Now, move out. We'll set up the first camp two kilometers ahead."
Kazato watched him with burning contempt.
"Liar. You could've saved them… but you let them die because they slowed us down. You're a snake, Serato. But fine… I don't care. What worries me is…"
His eyes shifted to Mirai, who was staring into the horizon.Far away — nearly a hundred kilometers in that same direction — sat Joker and Silber atop a mountain.
"I can't believe it… seems like some kind of beast is watching us from afar," Joker said, adjusting a crystal lens made from his own element.Through it, he saw Mirai.
"Wait… did she just notice us?" — Silber"Don't worry," Joker replied, eyes gleaming behind his mask."Things are about to get very interesting…"
And he stared deeper into Mirai's glowing eyes.