The village slowly disappeared behind them.
Drek continued walking along the narrow forest path, his rifle held comfortably across his chest. His eyes moved constantly from one side of the trail to the other, studying the trees, the ground, and every movement hidden between the leaves.
Beside him, Ushu walked quietly.
She carried the small equipment Drek had given her, while her eyes wandered around the unfamiliar forest.
The morning sunlight passed through the enormous trees above them, creating golden patches across the forest floor.
Birds called from somewhere in the distance.
Leaves moved gently in the wind.
For the first time since arriving in this world, there was no screaming.
No explosions.
No battlefield.
No enemy charging toward them.
Only silence.
Drek found himself enjoying it.
For a moment.
Then his wrist device beeped.
"Drek."
Ushu looked at him.
"Hmm?"
Drek raised his wrist.
A holographic map appeared above it.
A small blue marker represented their current position.
A second marker represented their destination.
The Human Kingdom.
The distance between them was enormous.
Ushu stared at the map.
"That's... really far."
Drek nodded.
"Yeah."
He zoomed out.
The map revealed the enormous continent surrounding them.
Mountains.
Rivers.
Forests.
Plains.
Villages.
Roads.
And countless unexplored regions.
Ushu pointed at one part of the map.
"What's that?"
Drek looked.
A large red area had appeared.
"Unknown territory."
"Unknown?"
"The satellite hasn't mapped it properly yet."
Ushu looked concerned.
"Is it dangerous?"
Drek shrugged.
"Probably."
Ushu stared at him.
"Probably?!"
Drek laughed.
"Don't worry. The SLS is watching us."
He tapped his wrist.
A small symbol appeared above the map.
SLS ORBITAL STATION
STATUS: ONLINE
ORBITAL SURVEILLANCE: ACTIVE
GPS LINK: ACTIVE
COMMUNICATION LINK: ACTIVE
Drek's expression became serious.
"System, scan our route."
"Scanning."
A line appeared on the map.
The system calculated the safest route toward the Human Kingdom.
"Recommended route established."
Drek studied it.
"Distance?"
"Approximately 1,240 kilometers."
Ushu's eyes widened.
"ONE THOUSAND?!
Drek looked at her.
"Two hundred and forty more than a thousand."
Ushu's face went blank.
"...That's worse."
Drek laughed.
"We'll get there."
THE FOREST
They continued walking.
The forest became thicker as they traveled.
The path eventually disappeared.
Drek stopped.
He looked down.
There were no footprints.
No road.
Nothing.
Ushu looked around.
"Drek... I think we're lost."
Drek shook his head.
He raised his wrist.
The holographic map appeared again.
A blue line appeared beneath their feet.
"We're not lost."
Ushu leaned closer.
"How do you know?"
Drek pointed toward the hologram.
"GPS."
She stared at it.
"Your magic map?"
Drek smiled.
"Something like that."
Ushu nodded.
"Okay."
She continued walking.
After several minutes, she suddenly stopped.
Drek stopped too.
He looked at her.
"What?"
Ushu slowly looked toward the trees.
"Something is watching us."
Drek immediately raised his rifle.
The forest became silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Nothing.
Drek looked through his rifle's optic.
His vision changed.
Thermal imaging activated.
The forest appeared in shades of heat.
Trees.
Plants.
Small animals.
Then—
A large heat signature.
Drek moved his rifle slightly.
The creature was hiding behind a tree.
He whispered.
"System."
"Yes, Major."
"Identify."
The system scanned the creature.
"Lifeform detected."
Drek waited.
"Species: Forest Boar."
Drek lowered his rifle.
A large animal suddenly emerged from behind the tree.
It was enormous.
Much larger than any boar Drek had seen on Earth.
Its tusks were almost the size of short swords.
Ushu stared.
"That's a boar?"
Drek nodded.
"Apparently."
The creature stared at them.
Ushu slowly reached toward one of her weapons.
Drek raised a hand.
"Wait."
The boar snorted.
Then turned around.
It ran away.
The forest became quiet again.
Ushu looked at Drek.
"Why didn't you shoot it?"
Drek lowered his rifle.
"It wasn't attacking us."
Ushu smiled.
"You're kind."
Drek looked away.
"Don't tell anyone."
THE FIRST RIVER
Several hours passed.
The forest eventually opened.
Drek and Ushu reached a massive river.
The water moved quickly.
There was no bridge.
Ushu looked across.
"How are we going to cross that?"
Drek checked the map.
A bridge appeared on the GPS.
But it was several kilometers away.
Drek sighed.
"We walk."
Ushu groaned.
"Again?"
"Again."
They followed the river.
The terrain became difficult.
Large rocks covered the ground.
Ushu moved effortlessly between them.
Drek noticed.
She wasn't walking like an ordinary traveler.
Her steps were light.
Almost silent.
Drek watched her for several seconds.
"Ushu."
She looked back.
"Yes?"
"You don't make much noise when you walk."
She tilted her head.
"Really?"
Drek nodded.
"You're good at moving without being noticed."
Ushu smiled.
"I learned it from my people."
Drek looked at her.
The system suddenly displayed a small notification.
BIOLOGICAL CAPABILITY ANALYSIS AVAILABLE
Drek stopped.
"System."
"Yes."
"Run Ushu's capability scan."
Ushu looked confused.
"What are you doing?"
Drek smiled.
"Checking something."
A holographic window appeared.
SUBJECT: USHU
Physical Strength: Moderate
Speed: High
Agility: Extremely High
Reflexes: Extremely High
Stealth: Exceptional
Mana Capacity: High
Mana Control: High
Combat Instinct: Exceptional
Drek's eyebrows rose.
"Interesting."
Ushu looked at the hologram.
"What does it say?"
Drek turned the display toward her.
She stared.
"I'm... strong?"
Drek nodded.
"You're much more capable than you realize."
Ushu smiled.
"I told you I could help."
Drek laughed.
"Yeah. You did."
The system displayed another notification.
SPECIALIZATION DETECTED
ASSASSIN
Drek stared at it.
Then looked at Ushu.
"Assassin."
Ushu blinked.
"That's... bad?"
"No."
Drek smiled.
"It means your natural abilities match a specialized combat role."
Ushu looked at her hands.
She had never thought of herself that way.
Drek closed the interface.
"We'll work on it later."
Ushu nodded.
NIGHTFALL
The sun eventually began disappearing behind the mountains.
The forest became dark.
Drek stopped walking.
"We're camping here."
Ushu looked around.
"Here?"
"Yeah."
Drek scanned the area.
The system created a three-dimensional map of the surroundings.
No large creatures detected.
No hostile activity.
Drek nodded.
"Safe enough."
He placed his equipment down.
Then touched his wrist.
"System, establish temporary shelter."
A small drone descended from the sky.
Ushu looked upward.
"Your little flying machine again."
Drek smiled.
"Yep."
The drone landed.
It unfolded.
Within minutes, a compact shelter began assembling itself.
Ushu watched in amazement.
"Your technology is strange."
Drek sat down.
"That's one way to describe it."
THE FIRE
A small fire burned outside the shelter.
Ushu sat beside it.
Drek sat across from her, cleaning his rifle.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Ushu asked quietly:
"Drek?"
"Hmm?"
"What is your world like?"
Drek stopped cleaning his rifle.
He looked at the fire.
For a moment, memories returned.
Aircraft.
Cities.
Soldiers.
His parents.
Captain Haymond.
Nicole.
The stadium.
The Unknown.
Drek slowly exhaled.
"It's complicated."
Ushu waited.
Drek continued.
"My world was advanced. We had massive cities, incredible technology, powerful armies..."
He looked toward the sky.
"But none of that mattered when the Unknown arrived."
Ushu lowered her gaze.
"You lost many people."
Drek nodded.
"Too many."
The fire crackled.
Ushu moved slightly closer.
She didn't say anything.
She simply stayed beside him.
Drek looked at her.
Then smiled.
"But I'm still here."
Ushu smiled back.
"And I'm still here too."
Drek nodded.
"Yeah."
A STRANGE SIGNAL
Suddenly—
BEEP.
Drek's wrist device activated.
His expression changed.
The holographic map appeared.
Four red symbols had appeared several kilometers away.
Ushu stood immediately.
"What is that?"
Drek stared at the display.
"The system detected four lifeforms."
"Enemy?"
Drek touched the side of the hologram.
"System, identify them."
The system processed the information.
"Four humanoid lifeforms detected."
Drek waited.
"Species classification: Human."
Ushu looked toward the dark forest.
"Four humans?"
"Affirmative."
The system enlarged the display.
Four moving markers appeared among the trees.
Three blue markers were moving rapidly behind one yellow marker.
The yellow marker was moving away from them.
"System, explain their movement."
"Three human males are pursuing one human female."
Drek's expression hardened.
"Distance?"
"Three hundred and eighty meters."
Ushu looked at him.
"They're chasing her."
Drek nodded.
The map updated again.
The female marker suddenly slowed.
The three male markers were closing the distance.
"System, determine whether the female is in danger."
The system scanned the area.
"Female lifeform displaying elevated heart rate, exhaustion, and signs of physical injury."
Drek immediately picked up his rifle.
"She's being hunted."
Ushu reached for her weapon.
"Then we help her."
Drek looked at the map.
The Human Kingdom was still hundreds of kilometers away.
They had a destination.
But someone was in danger only a short distance from them.
Drek switched his rifle to a non-lethal setting.
"System, mark the female's location."
"Marked."
A bright blue line appeared through the forest.
"Guide us to her."
"Route established."
Drek looked at Ushu.
"Move."
They ran into the forest.
THE CHASE
Branches struck against Drek's armor as he moved between the trees.
His rifle remained raised.
The GPS projected a path across his vision, guiding him around thick roots, fallen trunks, and steep sections of ground.
Ushu moved ahead of him like a shadow.
She barely made a sound.
Drek followed the blue marker.
The female was getting closer.
Behind her, the three male markers continued advancing.
"System."
"Yes, Major."
"How far?"
"The female is one hundred and forty meters ahead. The pursuers are two hundred meters behind her."
Drek increased his speed.
Then he heard it.
A woman crying out somewhere beyond the trees.
Ushu stopped suddenly.
Drek raised his hand.
They both listened.
A second sound followed.
The snapping of branches.
Someone was running.
Drek looked at the holographic path.
The female was almost directly ahead.
"There."
Ushu disappeared between the trees.
Drek followed.
They reached a small clearing.
A young woman stumbled into it.
She wore a torn blue cloak over a damaged dress.
Her hair was disheveled.
Blood ran down one side of her face.
She looked behind her in terror.
Then she saw Drek.
She froze.
Drek lowered his rifle slightly.
"Don't be afraid."
The woman stared at the weapon.
She had never seen anything like it.
"Who are you?"
Drek stepped forward carefully.
"We're not here to hurt you."
Ushu moved beside him.
"The men chasing you are close."
The woman's breathing became faster.
"You have to help me."
Drek looked at the forest behind her.
"Who are they?"
Before she could answer, a voice echoed between the trees.
"Princess Elara!"
The woman went pale.
Drek's eyes narrowed.
"Princess?"
Three men emerged from the forest.
They wore dark leather armor and carried swords.
The first man smiled when he saw the woman.
"There you are."
Princess Elara stepped backward.
Drek moved in front of her.
The three men stopped.
Their eyes focused on his rifle.
The leader slowly drew his sword.
"Move aside, stranger."
Drek kept his weapon pointed toward the ground.
"No."
The man's expression darkened.
"That girl belongs to the kingdom."
Elara shook her head.
"They're lying!"
The leader glanced at her.
"Silence, Princess."
Drek's grip tightened around his rifle.
"You said she's a princess."
"She is."
"Then why is she running from you?"
The man raised his sword.
"This does not concern you."
Drek raised his rifle.
"It does now."
THE FIRST CONFRONTATION
The three men spread out.
They were trying to surround Drek and Ushu.
Drek's visor analyzed them.
HOSTILE TARGETS DETECTED
Human Male One — Armed
Human Male Two — Armed
Human Male Three — Armed
Threat Level: Moderate
Drek looked at Ushu.
"Stay with the princess."
Ushu nodded.
She moved toward Elara.
The leader charged.
Drek fired.
PFFT!
A blue pulse struck the man's chest.
He flew backward and crashed into the ground.
The other two men froze.
They had expected a sword fight.
Not a weapon that struck from a distance without fire or smoke.
Drek aimed at the second man.
"Drop your weapon."
The man shouted and charged.
Drek fired again.
The pulse struck his leg.
He fell hard, dropping his sword.
The third man turned and ran.
Ushu moved faster.
She rushed toward him as he tried to escape.
Within seconds, she caught up to him and swept his legs out from beneath him.
He hit the ground hard.
Before he could recover, Ushu pulled a length of rope from her equipment and quickly tied his wrists behind his back.
The man struggled.
"Let me go!"
Ushu tightened the rope.
"Stop moving."
The man continued resisting.
Ushu secured his ankles as well, then pulled him upright by the back of his armor.
"You're coming with us."
The man glared at her.
"You won't get anything from me."
Ushu ignored him.
She dragged him back toward the road, where Drek and the others were standing.
Drek approached the leader.
The man was conscious but unable to stand.
He stared at Drek's rifle.
"What kind of magic is that?"
Drek looked down at him.
"Not magic."
The man swallowed.
"Then what is it?"
Drek lowered the rifle.
"Technology."
The man clearly did not understand.
Drek turned toward Elara.
The princess was standing beside Ushu, watching the captured man with a guarded expression.
Ushu stopped beside her and pushed the tied man down onto his knees.
"I caught him trying to escape."
Elara looked at the prisoner, then at Ushu.
"You tied him yourself?"
Ushu nodded.
"He was running."
Elara's expression softened slightly.
"Thank you."
Ushu glanced toward Drek.
"I thought you might need him alive."
Drek nodded.
"Good decision."
The captured man lowered his head.
Drek secured all three men with compact energy cuffs. The cuffs locked around their wrists and released a low electrical pulse whenever they struggled.
The leader looked toward the forest, then back at Drek.
"You should have let me run."
Drek raised his rifle slightly.
"Why?"
The man gave a bitter smile.
"Because they will come to save us."
Drek studied him.
"Who were you expecting?"
The man remained silent.
Drek's visor scanned him.
His heart rate was elevated, but there were no signs of an approaching group.
Drek checked the surrounding forest.
No movement.
No additional heat signatures.
No magical tracking signal.
The three men had been alone.
Elara looked at the prisoners.
"They were supposed to be my escorts."
Drek turned toward her.
"Who are they?"
Elara's expression became bitter.
"They were part of my royal escort."
"How did they betray you?"
Elara lowered her eyes.
"We were traveling toward the eastern border when they attacked the rest of the group."
"How many guards?"
"Twelve."
"And the others?"
Elara's voice became quiet.
"Dead."
The forest seemed to grow colder.
Drek looked at the three prisoners.
"Why did they leave you alive?"
Elara answered.
"They wanted to exchange me for a prisoner held by the Blackthorn Dominion."
Drek studied her.
"What prisoner?"
Elara shook her head.
"I don't know."
The leader suddenly laughed.
Drek turned toward him.
"Something funny?"
The man looked at Elara.
"You still don't know why they want you."
Elara's expression hardened.
"Tell me."
The man smiled.
"Your father knows."
Drek stepped closer.
"Knows what?"
The man remained silent.
Drek's visor scanned him.
His heart rate increased.
He was afraid.
Not of Drek.
Of something else.
"System."
"Yes."
"Scan his equipment and biological condition."
The system analyzed the man.
"Foreign magical residue detected."
Drek's eyes narrowed.
"What kind?"
"Unknown. Residue appears to originate from an external object or ritual."
Elara looked alarmed.
"What does that mean?"
Drek looked at her.
"Something was done to him."
The leader suddenly began shaking.
A dark mark appeared beneath the skin of his neck.
Elara stepped backward.
"What is that?"
The system issued a warning.
"Energy surge detected."
Drek grabbed the man and pulled him away from the others.
"Everyone move!"
A black glow spread across the man's body.
The prisoner screamed.
Then his body collapsed.
The dark mark vanished.
Drek scanned him again.
"System?"
"Life signs stable. Magical energy has disappeared."
Elara stared at the unconscious man.
"What happened?"
Drek looked toward the forest.
"Someone was monitoring him."
Ushu looked around.
"Someone nearby?"
Drek activated thermal vision.
The forest appeared across his visor.
Trees.
Animals.
The three prisoners.
Elara.
Ushu.
Nothing else.
The system detected a faint residual signal.
"Remote magical transmission detected."
Drek looked at the sky.
"From where?"
The system calculated.
"Direction: Northwest."
Drek brought up the map.
A red line extended toward the mountains.
The same region where the unknown signal had been detected the previous night.
Drek's expression became serious.
"The signal is connected."
Elara looked at him.
"What signal?"
Drek turned toward her.
"Something in the forest was tracking you."
THE DECISION
The three prisoners remained unconscious.
Drek could not leave them unguarded, but he also could not remain in the clearing.
The signal might still be active.
Elara looked toward the direction of the Human Kingdom.
"I need to return home."
Drek studied the map.
The safest route toward the kingdom passed through the forest.
The residual signal was located northwest.
The kingdom was southeast.
They could continue toward the kingdom.
Or investigate the signal.
Ushu looked at Drek.
"What do you think?"
Drek remained silent.
The system displayed several possibilities.
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
Continue toward Human Kingdom
Investigate Unknown Signal
Escort Princess Elara to nearest settlement
Drek looked at Elara.
She was exhausted.
Injured.
And surrounded by enemies she did not understand.
He looked at the forest.
The signal had appeared because of her.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had sent those men.
But there were no reinforcements nearby, and the residual transmission had already faded.
Drek finally made his decision.
"We're going to the nearest settlement first."
Elara looked relieved.
"Then you'll take me to the capital?"
Drek nodded.
"Yes."
Ushu looked toward the northwest.
"And the signal?"
Drek checked the map.
"We investigate it after we get her somewhere safe."
A new marker appeared on the GPS.
NEAREST HUMAN SETTLEMENT
Distance: 18 kilometers
Drek looked at the route.
"We leave now."
Elara glanced at the unconscious prisoners.
"What about them?"
Drek activated his communication link.
"System, contact the SLS."
"Connected."
A holographic display appeared.
The orbital station's sensors focused on the clearing.
"Deploy surveillance drone."
"Confirmed."
A small drone descended through the trees.
It hovered above the prisoners.
Drek attached a tracking device to each man.
"The drone will monitor them."
Elara stared at the machine.
"Your kingdom has strange birds."
Drek smiled.
"It's not a bird."
"I know."
Ushu stepped beside Elara.
"Stay close to us."
Elara nodded.
Drek raised his rifle and took the lead.
The three began walking through the forest.
Behind them, the drone remained above the unconscious prisoners.
Far above the clouds, the SLS continued watching.
And somewhere in the northwest, the last trace of the strange signal slowly faded.
THE PRINCESS ON THE ROAD
The journey became slower with Elara.
She was exhausted from running and had difficulty keeping pace.
Drek adjusted their route to avoid steep terrain.
The GPS projected a safer path through the trees.
Ushu stayed beside Elara, helping her over fallen branches and uneven ground.
Drek walked ahead with his rifle ready.
Every few minutes, he checked the surrounding area.
"How far?" Elara asked.
Drek checked the holographic map.
"Twelve kilometers."
Elara sighed.
"That is still far."
"You can rest if you need to."
She shook her head.
"If we stop, they may find us."
Drek looked back at her.
"The men who attacked you are restrained."
"There may be others searching for me."
Drek raised his rifle.
"System, scan the area."
The system searched the forest.
For several seconds, there was no response.
Then—
"No additional hostile signatures detected."
Drek lowered the rifle slightly.
"We're clear for now."
Elara looked relieved, but she continued glancing behind them.
They walked for another hour.
The forest grew denser, and the road disappeared beneath roots and fallen leaves. Drek relied on the GPS projected across his visor, following the blue route as it curved around steep slopes and marshy ground.
The SLS adjusted their route whenever new terrain data became available.
A small drone occasionally appeared between the trees, scanned the area, and vanished again into the canopy.
Ushu watched it disappear.
"It follows us everywhere."
Drek nodded.
"It keeps watch."
Elara looked upward.
"Even now?"
"Even now."
They continued toward the settlement.
No reinforcements came.
No new pursuers appeared.
Only the forest surrounded them, filled with distant animal calls and the steady sound of their footsteps.
THE HIDDEN MESSAGE
The sun began descending.
The settlement was now only five kilometers away.
Drek checked the SLS connection.
The orbital station had completed another stage of its upgrade.
SLS UPGRADE
Progress: 61%
The station's sensors had also detected something unusual.
A message appeared on Drek's display.
INCOMING TRANSMISSION
Drek stopped.
Ushu looked at him.
"What is it?"
Drek opened the transmission.
The signal was weak.
Distorted.
But the system managed to reconstruct part of it.
A voice emerged from the speaker.
"...Princess Elara... do not trust the royal court..."
Elara froze.
The message continued.
"...the enemy is already inside the capital..."
Static interrupted the transmission.
Then another voice whispered:
"...the Unknown has returned..."
The message ended.
Drek stared at the display.
Ushu looked at Elara.
Elara's face had lost all color.
"What does that mean?"
Drek slowly lowered his wrist.
"It means your kingdom may not be safe."
Elara shook her head.
"No."
"Someone inside the capital may be working with the Blackthorn Dominion."
Elara looked toward the distant settlement.
"My father..."
Drek raised his rifle.
"We don't know who we can trust yet."
Ushu stepped closer to Elara.
"Then we find out."
Drek nodded.
The settlement appeared beyond the trees.
Wooden walls surrounded it.
Torches burned along the entrance.
People moved behind the gates.
It looked safe.
But Drek's system detected something else.
"System."
"Yes."
"Scan the settlement."
The system analyzed the walls.
The buildings.
The people.
Then it issued a warning.
"Multiple armed individuals detected inside."
Drek looked at the settlement.
"That's normal."
The system continued.
"Magical tracking residue detected."
Drek's expression hardened.
"From the same source?"
"Unable to confirm."
Elara looked at the gates.
"What is it?"
Drek raised his rifle slightly.
"We may have arrived at the settlement."
Ushu looked at him.
"But?"
Drek stared at the walls.
"But someone may already know we're coming."
The gates began opening.
A group of armed guards appeared.
Their leader stepped forward.
He looked directly at Elara.
Then smiled.
"Princess Elara."
Elara stopped walking.
Drek's rifle rose.
The guard leader placed his hand on his sword.
"Welcome home."
Above the clouds, the SLS continued watching.
Its sensors tracked the settlement.
Its systems analyzed every movement.
And deep within the Human Kingdom, something had already begun moving against them.
Drek looked at Ushu.
Ushu looked at Elara.
The princess whispered:
"Don't trust them."
Drek kept his rifle aimed at the guards.
The road to the Human Kingdom had only just begun.
And already—
The kingdom was waiting for them.