---
Arthur drifted through the transfer space, mesmerized by the strange method of teleportation. He was surrounded by a black shimmering domain—familiar somehow, as if he had seen it before. But this time, everything was crystal clear.
He was flying at impossible speed, yet he could see every place he passed. Within moments, he had already left the continent of Veridan behind.
The sunset on the horizon turned the scenery breathtaking as he approached the northern continent… Coralia, the land of the Merfolk.
Coralia—an enormous island that blended water magic with advanced technology, combining the beauty and danger of the sea.
It was considered the number one continent in terms of pure aesthetic beauty. Its people had built an entire empire beneath the ocean, while only 25% of the island above had been developed. The underwater city was their true homeland; the island above was merely a backup in case of disaster.
And for some unknown reason, the Abyss could not open gates underwater nor create corrupted sea beasts.
This made Coralia the safest place in the world—second only to the protection of the World Tree.
For this reason, it became the meeting point of all races… and everyone knew it.
---
Even after darkness fell, Arthur remained inside the transfer dimension, drawing closer to Coralia.
After a long silence, the system finally spoke:
[We are still far away. Even though our current speed is considered extreme—even among high-ranked powerhouses—we will still need time to reach the continent.]
Arthur exhaled tiredly.
"Well… at least we gained a skill that lets us travel anywhere with a single thought. That's an amaz—"
His words cut off suddenly.
A violent tremor shot through his body—nausea, exhaustion, and sharp weakness.
At that moment, he realized his mana had completely run dry. Only a faint amount remained—barely anything.
His core was still too weak, still ranked at the lowest level, even though he was close to reaching the next stage… but fatigue overwhelmed him.
The transfer forcibly collapsed.
Arthur crashed into the ocean near the shore.
The last thing he felt before fainting was the sensation of lying on wet ground… and the system speaking words he couldn't clearly hear.
But he understood it did something to protect him.
And so, he fell asleep for the first time in this new world.
---
The Next Day
A boy of thirteen stood under the bright sun, his short pale-blue hair glowing, a cocky smile on his face.
He called out:
"Hey, sis! We finally escaped that prison called home, and you're walking like a turtle!"
A girl a year younger than him replied. Her long pale-blue hair reached down her back, and her watery blue eyes looked as if you could see an entire ocean inside them.
"You know our parents are going to kill us if they find out we ran away."
He laughed.
"And what? I wanted to go out, and when I asked you… you agreed."
She sighed.
"Fine, you're right. I'm tired of staying in the palace. Even your video games are starting to feel boring."
He gasped dramatically:
"Hey! Take that back! These games are rare treasures—relics of past generations!"
She smiled lightly.
"Seriously… you and Father do nothing but train like maniacs and play games. You barely ever watch movies with us. We meet only once a week as a family."
He shrugged sarcastically:
"Yeah, yeah… go ahead and cry about it."
She muttered:
"You're hopeless. If I didn't know you cause trouble everywhere you go, I wouldn't have come with you at all… just to hear you whining later when you get grounded again for something stupid. Like the idiots who tried to kidnap you."
His tone shifted, suddenly serious:
"You didn't see their strength… they were all Rank: Master. How was I supposed to face them when I wasn't fully awakened yet? It's a miracle I stalled them until Father arrived."
She paused, then spoke softly:
"Sorry… I didn't mean to bring that up."
He waved it off:
"It's fine. Honestly, after that incident, something lit up inside me. I want to get stronger."
Then he stopped mid-step, as if realizing something late.
"Wait… when did you get ahead of me? Weren't we at the shore moments ago?"
She looked at him with slight annoyance:
"You didn't notice? You were running like someone was chasing you. I could barely keep up."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly:
"Hehe… sorry. I got too into it."
Before she could speak again, a beast's roar echoed from the left—from Crescent Beach, named for its crescent-moon shape.
The siblings exchanged glances.
They drew their weapons:
A shining silver spear with a blue-tinted blade, and a long dual-edged sword with a black leather handle and a faint blue gleam across the metal.
Then, with steady steps, they moved toward the source of the sound.
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