Lucien groaned as he sat up, still dizzy from whatever had just happened. The strange, otherworldly field they'd been dropped into stretched far and wide—dark skies lit by floating orbs, towering cliffs in the distance, and a faint humming that seemed to come from the very air.
Mira stirred beside him, rubbing her head. "W-Where are we?" she asked, voice trembling.
Amara stood too, eyes darting around. "Lucien, this... this isn't Earth."
Before Lucien could respond, a voice echoed behind them.
"You're not alone."
The trio turned sharply. Standing a few feet away was a young man, around Mira's age—tall, lean, with tousled black hair, and a confident but gentle expression. He wore strange leather-like gear and had a curved blade sheathed at his side.
He raised both hands, smiling. "Don't panic. I'm not a threat. Name's *Kael*."
Lucien stepped in front of Mira and Amara instinctively. "Who are you? And how did you get here?"
Kael nodded respectfully. "Same way you did. Found some weird glowing artifact while helping my sister carry stuff at the market. Picked it up... boom. Everything changed. I've been here for about three days."
Mira stepped forward slowly, visibly curious. "Three days? Alone?" She tilted her head and gave a small smile. "That's... impressive."
Lucien glanced sideways. Mira was blushing.
Kael smiled back at her. "It wasn't easy. This place isn't safe. But I've figured a few things out."
Lucien folded his arms. "Like what?"
Kael's face turned serious. "You're in something called the *Core Trial World*. Everyone brought here has been marked by a system. You"—he pointed to Lucien—"were referred to as *User Zero*, right?"
Lucien's eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
"Because I'm *User Forty-Seven*. The system marks us when we merge with the artifact. It's not just a teleportation—it bonds with your body and unlocks... potential."
Amara looked wary. "Potential? For what?"
Kael glanced at the sky, then back at them. "To survive. To level up. To fight. This world is full of gates—each leading to trials. Dungeons, beasts, illusions... things that test you. And only those who pass can move forward."
Lucien frowned. "Forward to what?"
Kael hesitated. "To the truth. And maybe... to freedom."
The wind howled suddenly, as if warning them of what lay ahead. Kael turned toward a narrow path cutting through the rocky cliffs. "We can talk more later. Night is coming, and trust me, we don't want to be out here when it falls."
Lucien glanced at Mira and Amara, then back at Kael.
"Alright. Lead the way."
And so, the four of them began walking—into the unknown, into danger, and into the next chapter of a world that had chosen them… for something far greater than they could yet imagine.