The earth trembled violently beneath their feet. Windows shattered. Car alarms screamed. A deep rumble echoed through the city as the very skies split apart—ripped open like paper being torn by an unseen force.
A massive, swirling vortex tore through the clouds, revealing a gaping portal pulsing with chaotic energy. From within, colossal black hands —twisted and jagged like obsidian forged in nightmares—burst out of the portal.
They slammed into the ground with deafening force, crushing buildings, shattering concrete, and tossing buses like toys. Screams erupted across the city as people were ripped from their homes, plucked from the streets like insects.
Amid the chaos, a teenage boy with messy black hair and stormy gray eyes stood frozen on the sidewalk.
"Wh-What the hell is going on?!" Mark Edwards shouted, staring wide-eyed at the apocalyptic scene unfolding above.
One of the hands twisted unnaturally and lunged at him like a striking viper.
"Shit!" Mark turned and sprinted, bolting into a nearby coffee shop. Glass crunched beneath his shoes as he dove under a table, heart pounding like a war drum. Mugs and chairs flew everywhere as frightened patrons scrambled for cover.
But hiding was useless.
The wall behind him exploded inward as the hand tore through like paper. Thick fingers wrapped around his torso, crushing the air from his lungs.
"HHHHAAAAA!" Mark screamed in terror, fists slamming against the cold, rough skin of the hand. "Let go! LET ME GO!" he roared, struggling helplessly as it dragged him out into the open air.
The world shrank below as he was lifted higher and higher toward the gaping void in the sky. Cars burned, sirens wailed, and the city became a hellscape of smoke and shadow.
Mark's vision blurred from panic and wind pressure, his body trembling in fear. As he was pulled into the portal.
Mark's eyes fluttered open, the last memory of that monstrous hand still flashing in his mind.
But the world he awoke in… was nothing like Earth.
A warm breeze whispered through the air, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and moss-covered stone. He lay on soft grass beneath a pale sky, surrounded by massive floating islands, each tethered together by enormous rusted chains that groaned with age. Towering trees, their trunks thick as city buildings, rose high above the drifting isles, their silver leaves glowing faintly in the golden light.
Mark jolted upright, breathing heavily.
"W-What the hell… Where am I?" he muttered, spinning around, heart still pounding from the memory of that monstrous hand.
His voice echoed slightly—but it wasn't the only one.
A soft, melodic voice drifted down from above.
"You're on my island. It's called Altera."
Mark snapped his gaze upward.
Perched at the top of a giant silver-leaved tree, a woman lounged like a queen watching from a throne. She was enormous—at least three times his size—and yet carried herself with an air of serene elegance. Without warning, she leapt down, landing gracefully before him without so much as a sound.
The impact didn't even shake the grass.
Now up close, Mark could see her clearly. She had long, flowing green hair that shimmered like water under sunlight. A snow-white dress fluttered around her tall figure, and her eyes—bandaged in silky cloth—glowed faintly beneath the wrappings. Despite the coverings, she seemed to see him perfectly.
She extended her hand. In the center of her palm, embedded like a gemstone, was a large, unblinking blue eye.
"My name is Flora," she said softly, her voice like the wind through trees. "Second strongest among the Seven Ancient Kings… and it's nice to see you again, Mark."
"Wha—!" Mark yelped, stumbling backward and banging the back of his head against the tree behind him.
"Ow—dammit!" He rubbed the sore spot and stared at her, horrified.
"What the hell is that in your hand?!"
Flora laughed gently, her tone more amused than offended.
"Did my eye frighten you? You've grown up to be so timid."
"I'm not timid," Mark snapped, brushing himself off. "I just wasn't expecting to see a… eye in someone's hand! And don't say 'see me again' like we're old friends. I've never met you in my life."
Flora tilted her head, a nostalgic look on her face.
"Of course you wouldn't remember... We met when you were only two years old. You were so small then. So curious." Her smile softened. "I wish our reunion came under better circumstances, but…" she stepped forward slowly, placing her hand over her heart,
"…I need your help. And so does your family."
Mark's breath caught in his throat.
My family… what happened to them ?
Flora raised her hand with a flick of her fingers. Vines twisted and curled from the earth, interweaving into an elegant throne made of living branches. It creaked as it settled behind her, leaves blooming along its frame as she gracefully took a seat, towering
Her expression turned solemn.
"What you just experienced, Mark, is known as the Merger," she said calmly.
"Someone has forcibly extracted the inhabitants of your city… and fused them into this world—Liaria."
Her voice echoed across the grassy field .
"Which means… your family is here too."
Mark's heart skipped a beat.
He took a step forward, fists clenched.
"Wait—my family? Are they here on this island? Are they safe?"
Flora's smile faded. She slowly shook her head.
"No… they're not."
Mark's stomach dropped.
"I was only able to retrieve you in time," Flora continued softly.
"Your family… is in the possession of King Nexus. He's the one who initiated the Merger—he's searching for you and your sister."
Mark froze. The name rang in his ears .
"King Nexus? Why? Why would he want us?" he demanded, voice rising with urgency.
"We're just—just normal people!"
Flora's expression grew distant, almost melancholic. She reached out, letting silver leaves drift from her fingertips.
"You're not normal, Mark. Not by this world's standards. And not by Earth's either."
Mark blinked, stunned.
"What… are you talking about?"
She sighed gently.
"Because of your parents," she said, eyes tilting downward behind her blindfold.
"They're not from Earth. Not truly. Your mother… she is one of my descendants. A noble of the Gaia Clan—my children."
Mark staggered back a step.
"My mom is… from here?"
Flora nodded.
"Your father once served as her guardian, from a different bloodline the bloodline of the ash dragons. Together, they escaped this world and sealed themselves away in the realm of Earth to protect you and your sister from what was coming."
She stood from her throne, her hair blowing gently in the forest breeze.
"But King Nexus has discovered the truth. And now… he wants to sacrifice you both—to awaken and steal the full power of the Gaia Lineage. My power. All for the coming war"
Mark gritted his teeth.
"Please, help me. I'll do anything."
Flora smiled.
"I will. You are my kin after all. But since you offered…" She leaned forward. "If I help you, you must stay in this world and fight for me. Be my warrior in the coming war."
Mark didn't hesitate.
"Deal."
"Good." Flora raised her hand, the eye in her palm glowing.
"I can't help you directly, but I'll grant you my mana… and a guide."
With a flick of her wrist, the eye pulsed. A blue dragon made of pure mana burst forth, roaring as it slammed into Mark's chest.
Mark staggered back as a blue eye formed in the center of his chest.
"Ew! Couldn't it be a tattoo or something?"
Flora giggled.
"I could… make it a mouth."
Mark stared at her, then sighed.
"…Fine. I'll take the eye."
Flora gave a playful smile.
"Oh… and I modeled your guide after those system anime your mom said you liked."
She winked.
"Good luck, my little warrior."
Before Mark could respond, a surge of power erupted beneath his feet.
"Wait—Flora, wai—!"
He vanished in a flash of blue light.
In an instant, Mark found himself standing in the middle of a crumbling town square. Buildings were in flames. People screamed in the distance. The sky above was dark, swirling with violet clouds.
And at the center of the chaos stood a giant humanoid monster—its body shimmering like a walking galaxy, limbs pulsing with stars and black void. Its head was a massive deer skull, horns twisted like roots.
It let out a distorted roar, broken like shattered glass, the sound alone shattering nearby windows.
Mark's heart dropped.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
Then—ding—
A glowing blue screen appeared in front of him.
> [MISSION 1: DEFEAT THE KING OF THE MIDNIGHT FOREST]
Mark stared at it, eyes wide.
"…I hate this already."