Yuki stood still as the trees moved again.
Branches rushed toward Noah from all sides.
Noah jumped back. "Hey, give me a warning!" he said.
"A real enemy won't warn you," Yuki replied.
A branch swung toward his head.
Noah ducked too late and got hit on the shoulder.
"Ow… okay, that hurt," Noah said.
"Focus more," Yuki replied.
Noah took a deep breath and closed his eyes again.
"Don't just close your eyes and do nothing," Yuki said. "Feel and see at the same time."
"That's not easy," Noah replied.
"It isn't meant to be easy," Yuki said.
[Noah's Thoughts]
How am I supposed to see with my eyes closed?
The ground shifted slightly. A root moved beneath Noah's feet.
He jumped just in time.
"…Okay, I felt that," he said.
Yuki nodded. "Good. That's the start."
More branches came at him. This time, Noah moved faster.
He blocked one and dodged another. However, a third branch struck his back, sending him stumbling forward.
"…I almost had that," Noah said.
"You hesitated," Yuki replied.
Noah got back up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
"Again," he said.
Yuki watched quietly.
The trees attacked once more.
Noah breathed slowly as he focused harder. He began to sense the movements before they happened.
A branch came toward him, but he dodged early. Another rushed at him, and he stepped aside. When a third branch came, he managed to block it.
Noah smiled. "I'm getting it."
Yuki nodded. "You're learning."
Hikamaru watched from the side. "That was fast progress."
Noah kept moving as sweat ran down his face. He dodged two more attacks without getting hit.
Then, a fast-moving branch struck his leg.
He dropped to one knee.
"…Still not enough," Noah said.
Yuki walked closer.
"It takes time," she said.
Noah looked up at her. "But I'm on the right path?"
"Yes," Yuki replied.
She turned slightly and looked toward the forest.
"If you want to learn a more advanced type of Haki, you'll need help."
Noah slowly stood up. "From who?"
Yuki looked back at him.
"From a friend of mine," she said.
Noah raised a brow. "A friend?"
Yuki nodded once.
"His name is *********, but you can call him Joyboy."
Noah's eyes widened slightly.
"…Joyboy?"
Yuki turned away.
"If you want to grow stronger, you'll have to ask him yourself."
Noah stood there for a moment, thinking.
"…Yeah. I guess I will."
After showing Noah how to control his breathing with Haki, Yuki continued walking with him and Hikamaru.
After about an hour, they finally reached the city.
Noah stepped forward, then stopped.
Large structures stood tall around them, made of clean metal and glass. Floating platforms moved through the air, while lights blinked across the buildings. Strange machines hovered above the streets, passing by one another.
"Welcome to Aetheris," Yuki said.
Noah didn't respond. He just stared at everything around him.
"…What is this place?" he muttered.
It looked nothing like anything he had ever seen before.
[Noah's Thoughts]
This place looks more advanced than the technology back in my world…
Yuki glanced at him and gave a small smile.
"Don't tell me you've never seen anything like this in the future," she said.
Noah slowly shook his head.
"No… not even close," he replied.
A floating device passed right by his face.
Noah flinched. "Okay… yeah, definitely not."
Hikamaru walked past him calmly. "You'll get used to it."
"No, I won't," Noah said. "This is insane."
A group of people walked by, wearing clean, futuristic outfits.
Some carried small glowing tools in their hands, while others moved around on floating boards.
Noah turned in a circle, trying to take it all in.
"…I was fighting dinosaurs a few hours ago," he said. "Now I'm here."
Yuki started walking again.
"Come," she said. "You'll understand soon."
Noah followed behind her, still looking around.
"…Where are we going?" he asked.
"To meet someone," Yuki replied.
Noah raised a brow. "Let me guess… one of your friends?"
Yuki pointed ahead.
"We're going to that building," she said.
Noah followed her finger and looked up.
A massive structure floated high in the sky, supported by glowing rings and surrounded by moving platforms.
"…That one?" Noah asked.
He looked at it again.
"The one floating in the sky?"
Yuki nodded. "Yes."
Noah squinted. "…And how exactly are we getting up there?"
"You'll see."
Noah sighed and followed her. "I don't like it when you say that."
They eventually reached a platform. It lit up as Yuki stepped onto it.
Noah hesitated.
"…This looks unsafe."
"It's safe," Yuki said.
"That's what people say before something breaks," Noah replied.
Yuki stepped fully onto the platform and looked back at him.
"…Get on."
Noah slowly stepped onto it.
The platform hummed before lifting into the air.
"WOAH!" Noah grabbed the side. "Okay, I was not ready for that!"
Yuki stood calmly.
Beside her, Hikamaru casually picked his nose.
Noah looked down.
"…Yeah, I'm not looking down again."
The wind rushed past them as they rose higher and higher.
The floating building grew closer. It was even bigger up close.
After a few seconds, the platform finally stopped, and they stepped off.
Noah looked around.
"…This place is crazy," he said.
Yuki walked forward.
"My friend Lily is waiting for me here."
Noah followed her. "Friend number two?"
Yuki nodded.
"And… she has the best food here," she added.
Noah stopped for a moment.
"…You should've said that first."
Yuki looked back at him.