At night during the festival, the streets bustled with crowds moving to and fro. Lining both sides were rows of shops and stalls, while countless lanterns hung overhead, glowing brightly and casting warm light across the scene. The atmosphere was beautiful, vibrant, and filled with cheer. The four of them arrived at the festival.
Rese suddenly jumped ahead of everyone with a gleeful voice.
"Here it is! A real fantasy festival!"
Eugene spoke up.
"So this is what a festival looks like on another planet, huh… Not bad at all. Shops everywhere, lanterns everywhere. And looks like Glasses Girl's really enjoying herself. But honestly, what's so 'fantasy' about this? Feels pretty normal to me."
Septa stood silently, her gaze wandering over the surroundings.
Kai then said,
"I'm going to take a walk on my own. Let's meet back here later, alright?"
Rese replied,
"Of course, boss!"
Eugene muttered,
"Ah."
Septa only gave a small nod.
And with that, Kai separated from the group, setting off to explore the lively festival filled with shops and bustling crowds.
He wandered until he came across a lottery stall, where prizes were won by spinning a capsule machine. Just then, a man was trying his luck. Kai's eyes fell on him.
"Damn… nothing again. Just my luck," the man grumbled as he spun.
Kai felt the urge to try. On his very first spin, he won a prize— a voucher for a free meal on Teruda.
"Congratulations, sir! You've won a voucher for a free meal at Teru, one of the most luxurious restaurants around!"
Kai blinked in surprise.
"Huh? I actually won something? That was way too easy…"
The man straightened up, towering at 185 centimeters. He wore a plain white t-shirt tucked into slim black trousers, topped with a light brown cloak. Simple woven leather shoes covered his feet. His dark hair, streaked with orange at the tips, was slightly messy, framing sharp eyes that gleamed with a cold edge. He looked at Kai.
"Lucky you… I've spun this thing thirty times and still haven't won a thing."
Seeing that, Kai held out the voucher to him.
"This only covers one seat anyway. You can have it."
The man's expression lit up with joy as he accepted the ticket.
"Thanks a lot. I won't hold back, then." He pocketed the voucher before introducing himself.
"Name's Ren. And you?"
"Kai."
"Good to meet you, Kai."
"Likewise, Ren."
Meanwhile, on a barren, lifeless planet devoid of vegetation, its surface dry and desolate…
A towering man stood at two meters tall. His cropped brown hair framed a stern face, his body clad in a black bodysuit and a flowing black cape that gave him the air of a superhuman sentinel. Before him sat another figure upon a large square-shaped boulder in the midst of the wasteland.
This man's amber-yellow eyes gleamed like a dragon's gaze. His medium-length black hair was tied into a knot at the back. He wore a loose brown shirt, narrow-cuffed black sweatpants, and simple black sandals. His massive frame rose to 210 centimeters. He was {Martier, Ruler of the Northeastern Continent}.
Martier sat with his hands clasped, his eyes fixed on the endless emptiness of the desert before him. A single tree stood nearby, casting its solitary shadow. Finally, he spoke in a calm voice.
"What is it, Gus?"
The tall man in black answered, standing at his side.
"It seems the The Vision Eye has been stolen, Lord Martier. Do you wish for me to pursue it?"
Martier's gaze remained locked on the horizon, his expression unchanging.
"No… there's no need. That eye will simply return to its rightful owner. Even if we had it, it's not particularly powerful. Hardly worth the effort. Besides, its current bearer was once a comrade of mine… Let it be, for now."
With that, Gus—the tall figure with cropped brown hair, dressed in black—rose into the air, soaring upward before vanishing into the clouds.