"Two paths?"
Hạo Thiên clenched the crystal tightly in his hand. His eyes locked onto the dark figure standing tall before him, voice lowering, mingled with the weight of tension.
"That's right… only one of the two."
The figure's voice echoed—not loud, but as if it came from some far-off place—resonating directly inside Hạo Thiên's mind.
"One path… ends in destruction.
The other… where the line between life and death is impossible to predict."
The cloaked man continued, his tone as calm as if reciting a truth written in stone. Though his face was hidden behind a cold silver mask, Hạo Thiên could feel it clearly—he was smiling. Not a smile of joy, but one that hinted at a plan already set in motion.
"Sounds like at least the second path still holds a chance at survival."
Hạo Thiên spoke, never taking his eyes off the man before him. His words weren't defiant, just a quiet observation—but beneath it lay a silent inner struggle.
"Whether there's a chance… depends on you."
The man replied, his tone steady and cold. "I am merely the guide. Whether you walk through the door or not—that's your choice."
"Do I really have any other choice?"
Hạo Thiên asked softly, like a whisper on the wind. Yet behind the words was a faint, bitter smile—not mocking, but a quiet acceptance of the inevitable.
He didn't answer.
He just stood there—silent, imposing, like the shadow of fate itself, waiting for a final decision.
He raised his hand and opened his palm.
In it, a black sphere slowly began to spin. It looked like a miniature black hole—sucking in all surrounding light, emitting no sound, yet making the air feel oppressively heavy.
"They… will be your first companions."
As he spoke, he gently extended the sphere forward—toward where Hao Thien and his friends stood frozen in place, as if trapped within a moment of suspended time.
Hao Thien turned to look at his friends, just beginning to speak when—
WHOOSH!
The black sphere suddenly shot forward. In an instant, the entire group was pulled into it, as if dragged into another dimension.
Silence returned to the classroom.
No more rain. No more wind. No one else remained—only him, the cloaked figure standing motionless in the empty room, eyes staring through the fabric of space itself.
"Don't disappoint me… Tran Hao Thien."
He whispered. Then raised his hand and gently struck the air in front of him.
CRACK.
The space before him shattered like glass, revealing a dark, swirling gateway hidden behind the broken veil.
Without another word, he stepped into it.
The rift sealed shut behind him.
And he vanished… as if he had never existed at all.
...
Somewhere out there in the vast universe—on a distant planet within the Starfall System.
The planet was immense and strange, orbited by two small moons that slowly circled it, casting a pale glow across the deep violet sky.
In the heart of a vast, ancient forest—where towering trees stretched toward the heavens and thick layers of fallen leaves carpeted the ground—a young man lay motionless beneath the roots of a colossal tree.
Suddenly, he stirred.
Hạo Thiên slowly opened his eyes. Shafts of dim light filtered through the canopy above, making him blink a few times before he could fully take in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Strange little birds that had perched nearby chirped sharply, flapping their wings and scattering into the sky as he abruptly sat up, his face filled with confusion.
"…Where am I?"
He muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead as a dull ache pulsed behind his temples.
Everything around him was unfamiliar—from the scent of the grass to the very air he was breathing.
Hạo Thiên stood up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and began walking through the strange forest.
The scenery felt somewhat familiar—like the rainforests back on Earth—but everything here was larger, grander, and most striking of all… were the bizarre creatures moving around him.
"These creatures… they're really something else,"
he murmured, eyes scanning the shadows darting across the canopy and the ones peeking out from behind thick foliage.
Some of them looked oddly adorable—fluffy, round-eyed, and harmless. But others bore appearances straight out of a nightmare: jagged fangs, twisted horns like curved blades, and glowing crimson eyes that seemed to follow his every move.
Instead of fear, Hạo Thiên felt a surge of curiosity. He wandered slowly, like a traveler exploring a magical forest straight out of a fairy tale.
As he reached the base of a moss-covered tree, his eyes caught sight of a small creature that resembled a squirrel from Earth—only this one had soft blue fur and a glowing tail that shimmered faintly like starlight. It was busily nibbling on a glowing fruit of some kind.
Hạo Thiên cautiously stepped closer, captivated by the tiny creature.
"So cute…"
He whispered, slowly extending a hand toward its head.
The creature looked up at him with large, innocent, crystal-clear eyes.
Smiling, Hạo Thiên gently patted its head without a hint of suspicion.
And then—
Plop!
A large drop of water suddenly splashed onto Hạo Thiên's head, followed by a freezing cold glob of liquid crashing down from above, soaking half his body in an instant.
"What the—!?"
He sprang up, hair drenched, clothes dripping wet… while the little creature kept calmly munching on its glowing snack, completely unbothered—like it had nothing to do with the prank that just unfolded.
"These creatures… do they also have supernatural powers like that cloaked man?"
Hào Thiên muttered as he wiped the water from his face, his expression clearly annoyed by the unexpected "shower" he had just received.
But then—he froze.
"Wait… the others… where are they?"
He exclaimed, eyes darting around in panic. A wave of unease surged in his chest. He turned left, then right, pushed through bushes and trees—but there was no sign of his friends.
Only the rustling of leaves, the wind whispering through the branches, and a few small animals flitting by.
"…Did I get separated from the group?"
Clenching his fists, Hào Thiên's eyes reflected a mix of worry and frustration. He bit his lip and began walking deeper into the forest, hoping to find some clue or path that could lead him out.
But he hadn't gone far when—
BOOOOM!!!
A thunderous roar shook the ground. Trees trembled as if swept by a hurricane.
Startled, Hào Thiên quickly ducked behind a massive moss-covered tree, peeking out cautiously.
And what he saw made his eyes widen in shock.
In a wide clearing up ahead, two colossal beasts were locked in a fierce battle.
On one side was a lion-like creature clad in golden armor—at least three times the size of an adult elephant. Its blazing mane flowed like living fire, and every step it took left deep cracks in the earth. Its claws gleamed like sharpened blades, and its roar sent flocks of birds scattering across the sky.
Opposite it stood a monstrous wolf, but with two pairs of hind legs and scales that shimmered with black and violet hues. Its glowing eyes burned like twin amethysts in the shadows. Each time it howled, the very air around it rippled, as if some invisible shockwave was tearing through the forest.
CRASH!!!
They clashed again—fangs, claws, and raw power colliding like gods at war. Trees splintered. Stones exploded. The ground itself heaved beneath the weight of their fury.
But it wasn't just brute strength.
Each movement of theirs carried a strange elemental force—fire, wind, shockwaves—making the battlefield resemble something torn from a myth.
The fight dragged on, seemingly with no end. Both beasts showed signs of fatigue, but neither would yield.
Then suddenly—like lightning striking—
The armored lion let out a deafening roar, leapt high into the air, and came crashing down with all its weight.
BOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding light burst from where its paws struck, slamming into the wolf's chest. The earth cracked and split like glass under the impact.
The wolf shrieked in agony, writhing under the force—but it couldn't break free.
At last, it let out a final, sorrowful howl… then went still. Its massive body lay motionless, dark blood pooling beneath it on the scorched ground.
Hào Thiên held his breath, frozen in place.
He had never imagined he would witness such a terrifying sight with his own eyes.
And yet—deep inside—something stirred.
Excitement. Awe.
And something else… like a calling.
The lion-like beast walked away in silence, leaving behind a trail of blood from the wounds that streaked its massive frame. On the battlefield, the wolf-like creature lay motionless amid the cracked earth, dark blood pooling beneath its body.
Once he was sure the lion had disappeared into the forest, Hạo Thiên slowly stepped out from his hiding spot. He cautiously approached the dying wolf, his movements careful but without hesitation.
Kneeling beside the massive creature, he gently placed a hand on its head.
"That must've hurt… didn't it?"
His voice was soft—not out of pity, but from a genuine sense of sorrow. Hạo Thiên's eyes met the dim, flickering gaze of the beast—a once-proud stare now dulled by exhaustion and pain.
The wolf trembled, then struggled to lift itself. Its large body quivered as it slowly rose to stand, mustering what little strength it had left. Towering over Hạo Thiên, it still looked imposing… but the boy didn't flinch. He knew—it no longer had the strength to fight.
Suddenly—
The red crystal that had once been embedded deep within Hạo Thiên's body began to glow. It floated up into the air, spinning gently in place between him and the beast.
The wolf's eyes fixed on the slowly turning crystal. Then, without hesitation, it lowered its head… pressing its forehead against the crystal, as if completing a sacred ritual.
In that instant—
A deep crimson aura burst forth from the crystal, spreading across the creature's body. Strange markings lit up along its dark purple scales, pulsing faintly, as though the very essence of the beast was being drawn into some unseen place.
Moments later…
The wolf collapsed.
Its massive frame went limp, head resting gently on the scorched ground. Its final breath escaped like a fading mist. Its eyes closed.
And it moved no more.
"There was a beast fight here… The corpse alone could fetch a good price."
A raspy voice echoed from nearby, dripping with greed and excitement.
Hạo Thiên flinched. Instinctively, he stepped back and ducked behind a thick cluster of leaves. He held his breath, careful not to make a sound.
Moments later, a group of rough-looking men emerged from the trees. They were big, broad-shouldered, their bodies covered in grime and scars. In their hands were crude but deadly weapons—machetes, short spears, even an old-style hunting rifle.
"A Blackfang Wolf, huh? That's rare. Its scales alone are worth a fortune,"
the man in front—clearly the leader—laughed loudly, his eyes gleaming with greed as he eyed the massive corpse.
Hạo Thiên narrowed his eyes, took a cautious step back, and muttered under his breath:
"Yeah, they don't look like the friendly type… Best to stay away from that mess."
Without wasting another second, he turned and slipped deeper into the forest.
A silent figure vanishing into the shadows—
as if he had never been there at all.