CHAPTER 4: THE MAIN PAVILION
After exiting the portal, Lisa and her friends found themselves standing in a world completely unknown to them.
Their eyes widened.
The scenery before them was breathtaking.
Mountains stretched across the horizon, while the sky seemed brighter and clearer than anything they had ever seen on Earth. Strange forests covered the land, and distant creatures flew through the air.
Lisa slowly looked around in amazement.
Lisa: "Woah... it's so beautiful."
Sakura stared at the unfamiliar landscape.
Sakura: "What is this place?"
Kim looked ahead.
Kim: "This is Nexus."
Lisa and the others turned toward him.
Kim: "The place where the Main Pavilion is located."
Sakura looked around again.
Sakura: "And where exactly is this Main Pavilion?"
Kim raised his hand and pointed toward the distant mountains.
Kim: "Behind those mountains."
Lisa stared at them.
Her expression immediately changed.
Lisa: "That's so far away! How are we going to get there?"
Kim smiled.
Kim: "Just watch."
He suddenly placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
FWEEEEET!
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then...
Lisa heard something approaching from the sky.
She slowly looked upward.
Her eyes widened.
A group of unicorns was flying directly toward them.
Lisa: "No way..."
Lisa and her friends stood completely frozen.
They had only ever seen unicorns in stories, movies, and fairy tales.
Yet now...
They were real.
The unicorns gracefully descended toward them.
Yuta stared at them in disbelief.
Yuta: "W-Woah! Is that really a unicorn?"
Kim smiled.
Kim: "Yes."
He looked at their amazed expressions.
Kim: "And trust me, there are many more things in this world that will amaze you."
Lisa and her friends exchanged glances.
At this point, they had no choice but to accept reality.
They were no longer on Earth.
Suddenly, one particular unicorn approached Arman.
It was different from the others.
Its horn was smaller, and its appearance was far more majestic. Its body had a unique golden-brown color that made it stand out from the rest.
The unicorn slowly approached Arman and carefully sniffed him.
Arman smiled.
Arman: "Yeah... it's me, buddy."
The unicorn's eyes immediately lit up.
Then it suddenly began licking Arman's face with excitement.
Arman: "Oi! Stop it!"
Lisa laughed.
Lisa: "Looks like he really loves you."
Kim crossed his arms.
Kim: "That unicorn doesn't like anyone except Arman."
Arman gently pushed the unicorn away.
Arman: "We're getting late. Let's go."
Everyone climbed onto the unicorns.
Kim's unicorn was also different from the others.
Kim's men, who had traveled through the portal with them, rode their own unicorns, while Lisa's friends sat behind them.
Lisa sat behind Arman on his golden-brown unicorn.
A few moments later...
The unicorns took off.
WHOOSH!
Lisa tightly held onto Arman as they soared through the sky.
Her eyes widened.
Lisa: "W-Woah! So this is what it feels like to fly!"
Sakura looked toward Arman.
Sakura: "Brother Arman, can't you just teleport us to where we're going?"
Arman shook his head.
Arman: "No. I can't teleport us there."
Sakura: "Why?"
Arman's expression became serious.
Arman: "Because using Berserker Aura inside Nexus is forbidden."
Lisa and her friends became curious.
Lisa: "Why is it forbidden?"
Arman: "Higher Skotian species can sense a Berserker's Aura."
His eyes moved toward the distant sky.
Arman: "If too much Berserker Aura is used, they could detect Nexus and attempt to invade it."
The realization made Lisa and her friends fall silent.
Kim suddenly looked ahead.
Kim: "Looks like we've arrived."
Lisa looked around.
Lisa: "Where?"
Kim pointed ahead.
Lisa followed his finger.
In the distance stood a massive wooden gate.
Kim: "Do you see that gate?"
Lisa: "Yeah..."
Kim: "That's the entrance to the Main Pavilion."
Lisa looked behind the gate.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
Lisa: "But... there's nothing behind it."
Kim simply smiled.
Kim: "Just wait."
The group descended and landed in front of the enormous wooden gate.
Kim reached into his pocket and took out several strange crystals.
He fed them to the unicorns.
Afterward, the group bid farewell to their mounts.
Arman's unicorn rubbed its head against him before flying away with the others.
Kim looked toward Arman.
A playful smile appeared on his face.
Kim: "Do the honors, Mr. Alan."
Arman immediately shook his head.
Arman: "Nah. You do it."
Kim laughed.
Kim: "I'm sure they'd like it more if you did."
Arman looked toward the massive gate.
Arman: "You sure?"
Kim: "Yes."
Arman sighed and walked forward.
Everyone watched him as he approached the gate.
He placed his right hand against it.
Then, in a loud and clear voice, he spoke.
"I, ARMAN ALAN, THE DRAGON BERSERKER, SEEK PERMISSION TO ENTER THE MAIN PAVILION!"
For a moment...
Nothing happened.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The massive gates slowly began to open.
Lisa and her friends stared in amazement.
Behind the gates...
A completely different world was revealed.
Arman smiled slightly.
Arman: "Let's go inside."
They entered.
The moment Lisa crossed the gate, her eyes widened.
A huge line of people was waiting for them.
There were hundreds of people standing on both sides.
The moment Arman entered...
They all shouted with all their hearts.
"WE GREET THE DRAGON BERSERKER!"
Lisa and her friends froze.
The sound echoed throughout the entire area.
Kim looked toward Arman.
Kim: "Go."
Arman looked at him.
Kim smiled.
Kim: "They've been waiting for you for eight years."
Arman's expression changed slightly.
Eight years...
He slowly began walking forward.
Lisa and her friends followed behind him.
At the very end of the line, three figures were waiting.
All three of them were Berserkers.
The man standing on the right was Lloyd Winston, twenty-one years old—the Griffin Berserker.
He was the youngest Berserker.
He had golden hair, an attractive face, and a confident expression.
On the left stood Angela Roman, twenty-four years old—the Phoenix Berserker.
She was the only female Berserker.
Her red hair stood out beautifully, and her presence carried a natural elegance.
In the middle stood John Camus, thirty-two years old—the Ape Berserker.
He had a massive, muscular body and a scar across his left eye.
The three Berserkers looked at Arman.
Then John grinned.
John: "So, bastard... you finally decided to show your face."
Arman smirked.
Arman: "Yeah. Looks like I didn't have much of a choice."
His eyes moved around.
Arman: "I heard she was living here."
Lloyd smiled.
Lloyd: "She was very excited when she heard you were coming."
Arman's expression immediately became curious.
Arman: "Where is she?"
Angela sighed.
Angela: "The Grand Master stopped her from coming here."
She looked toward Arman.
Angela: "He said you would go to her yourself."
Arman frowned.
Arman: "And where is that old man?"
Lloyd's expression became serious.
Lloyd: "Because the portal in your universe opened earlier than expected, he's investigating whether the same thing has happened in other universes."
Arman nodded slowly.
Arman: "I see..."
Then he suddenly looked around.
Arman: "Wait."
His eyes narrowed.
Arman: "Where's the Wolf? I don't see him."
Kim answered.
Kim: "He's out on a mission."
A grin appeared on Kim's face.
Kim: "But he said he'd complete the mission as quickly as possible."
Kim looked directly at Arman.
Kim: "Then he'll duel you."
Arman smirked.
Arman: "Well... he was always like that."
SOMEWHERE IN THE GAP SPACE
The corpses of Skotians covered the ground.
The air was filled with the smell of blood.
A man stood on top of the corpses.
His name was Ichiro Katsu, twenty-nine years old—the Wolf Berserker.
He was tall and attractive, with white hair that moved gently in the wind.
A large, completely white katana rested beside him.
He and his squad had been sent on a mission.
A man approached him from behind.
He was the vice-captain of the squad.
And Ichiro's younger brother.
Hideaki Katsu.
Like his brother, Hideaki also had white hair, although he wasn't as tall.
Hideaki approached Ichiro.
Hideaki: "Captain, all the beasts in this area have been eliminated."
Ichiro immediately turned around.
Ichiro: "I've told you before."
Hideaki stared at him.
Ichiro: "Call me Big Brother."
Hideaki sighed.
Hideaki: "No. I can't do that."
Ichiro raised an eyebrow.
Hideaki: "I can't bring our personal relationship into a mission."
Ichiro smiled.
Ichiro: "Relax, bro."
He looked toward the battlefield.
Ichiro: "Have you heard anything from the Main Pavilion?"
Hideaki nodded.
Hideaki: "Yes."
Ichiro looked at him.
Hideaki: "Arman Alan has arrived at the Main Pavilion."
For a moment...
Ichiro remained silent.
Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
Ichiro: "Oh..."
He placed his hand on the handle of his katana.
Ichiro: "So finally..."
His eyes sharpened.
Ichiro: "The Dragon has returned to its den."