Visitors from Another Land

"Over here, quick! There's another one!"

"Help me! I feel... so much pain!"

"My eyes, my eyes! Why can't I see anything? Ahhh!!!"

Along with that dazzling silver light came an energy storm that swept through the entire great hall. As the storm surged onward, the summoning temple, which had stood for countless years, vanished without a trace, as though an invisible hand had smoothly wiped it from the earth's surface. Like an unstoppable bulldozer, the wave of energy spread through the Nathrezim capital, flattening an area more than ten miles across.

As the instigator of the disaster caused by this summoning, First Lord Trekzvis was currently sprawled face-down on the ground in a thoroughly miserable state. His guards had been nearly wiped out by the summoning's shockwave, and he had lain there for about an hour before rescue finally arrived.

"First Lord! First Lord!" Seemingly sensing the shaking, Trekzvis struggled to open his eyes.

"Trekzvis, wake up. Are you all right?" The owner of the voice sounded extremely anxious.

When Trekzvis opened his eyes, he saw one of his kin clad in blue armor. Several Nathrezim stood behind him, all looking at Trekzvis with nervous expressions.

"Oh, it's you, Mephistroth. You... weren't you guarding the southern temple, my Third Lord?" Having only just awakened, Trekzvis still seemed confused. He turned to the others around him and asked, "So, who can explain what exactly happened?"

Mephistroth was about to speak when a weak voice came from behind him. "A disaster that will never be forgotten, my First Lord."

Trekzvis struggled to turn around. It was Kathanatir. The other continued, "I don't know what happened during the summoning. Lothraxion and I were chatting at the Astrology Platform when I merely felt a surge of energy." He lowered his head, as if recalling something. Then his body began to tremble, and he roared at Trekzvis, "They're all gone! A full seventeen-mile radius! Hundreds of thousands of Nathrezim, wiped out in an instant like thin snow beneath the blazing sun!"

Seeing Kathanatir lose all his strength after that roar, the First Lord fell silent as well. Then another voice spoke. "It wasn't just the civilians. We suffered grievous losses. Among the high-ranking Nathrezim guards, I only had time to save the closest ones—Mephistroth and Anetheron. The rest..." It was Tichondrius. He looked utterly wretched; most of his magnificent red armor had been destroyed, his face was pale, and his body was covered in wounds.

"The upper ranks of power the Nathrezim accumulated over endless ages were nearly exhausted in this explosion—and that does not even account for the losses among our people!"

The astrologer Lothraxion stopped Tichondrius before he could erupt, then addressed the First Lord, who was still standing there in a daze. "So, what happened during the summoning, our First Lord?"

"We have the right to know the cause of all this. We made preparations that were nearly foolproof, yet this disaster still occurred."

After a long silence, Trekzvis finally spoke. His answer left the surrounding leaders utterly astonished.

"I saw... a world, my kin." Trekzvis gave an answer that only deepened their confusion.

"When I used the power of summoning to precisely connect to that purple star—no, I merely brushed against its trailing flame—I felt more than half the energy in the formation being drained away in an instant." Trekzvis continued speaking, utterly ignoring the increasingly horrified looks of his kin.

"And just as I wanted to sever that connection, a force beyond description passed through the summoning channel in an instant. I did not even have time to see what it was, much less imprint a summoning contract on it. That damned thing came through!"

"The instant it arrived—yes, I felt it—it had already entered our world. The formation collapsed, and then came the great explosion you spoke of. That is my answer!"

After hearing the First Lord's account of the summoning, the surroundings fell into deathly silence. After a long while, Varimathras, a lord from the north, spoke in a hoarse, dry voice.

"So what you mean is that a being so powerful even you cannot describe entered our world, and we... noticed absolutely nothing?"

Trekzvis turned and swept his gaze across his subordinates. "Yes, that is correct. But that is not the most important part. Compared to that rude, violent intruder, I made an even greater discovery." He paused before continuing. "A discovery... concerning the future of our race!"

If anyone asked what it felt like to be suddenly yanked backward while moving at high speed, Vanidak would surely give them an endless account. As a victim, Vanidak was speeding through the spatial turbulence within a rift, enduring the furious shouts of his brothers and sisters while trying to use his gift to find a chance to escape. And the self-proclaimed luckiest being in the Dark Void had found just such an opportunity!

"Vanidak! If you still can't find a way out of this spatial turbulence, next time I'll shove my staff straight up your nostril!" Eonar, who had been tossed around until she was thoroughly disoriented, was helplessly raging at Vanidak, the self-proclaimed professional navigator.

That was right. All she could do now was rage helplessly. Though she possessed a Titan's immense power and dominion over life and nature, in the field of space, Eonar did not dare claim she could surpass Vanidak, whom she usually beat up for fun. Of course, aside from him, even Norgannon, who held dominion over magic, would not dare say such a thing.

"Understood, understood, my lady." The four travelers barely avoided a blast of spatial turbulence from the side. With a moment of stability at last, Vanidak shrugged at Eonar. "I'm trying. Hey, be patient!"

"But you said that eight days ago." Even Aman'Thul, usually the kindest among them, could no longer bear it. He complained to Vanidak, "Source of Order, how long have we been knocked around in this damned rift? Even my Titan body is starting to feel uncomfortable."

"To be precise, twenty-seven days, eight shichen, and one quarter of an hour, my brother," Norgannon added, driving the point home. "And while we're at it, I'm reaching my limit too!"

"I know, I know." Vanidak dodged another spatial disturbance ahead while searching for an exit. "What a bunch of exhausting little fairies. I'm working on it."

As the four Titans bickered and struggled onward, Vanidak suddenly seemed to trip over something ahead. He immediately called out to his three siblings, "Hey, I think I found a way out, but... well, this looks a little unsafe!"

Eonar, who had run out of patience, shouted at him, "Whatever it is, get us out of here first!"

"All right, all right, but don't blame me for the consequences." Vanidak gathered his strength, shouted, "Hold on tight!" and charged toward a spatial node at an indescribable speed.

After passing through the spatial gate, the four Titans could finally no longer feel the chaotic spatial currents within the rift. Having finally escaped that hellish place and regained their stability, the Titans could not help but relax. Eonar even offered rare praise. "You were finally reliable for once."

Vanidak merely gave a proud snort in response. Then he launched into his signature nonsense again.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Vanidak Spatial Jump Transit Services. What? You ask why it's not Tony Transit Services? Don't mention that name—it always reminds me of my poor hair!"

"Don't interrupt me. That is rude behavior, dear sir. As you can see, under the wise and mighty leadership of Vanidak, we have finally escaped that damned spatial rift."

"Oh, that damned spatial rift. It tossed me around so much I nearly threw up last night's dinner, even though I didn't eat anything!"

Already accustomed to their brother's nonsense up ahead, the other Titans ignored him and simply waited to leave this spatial passage and continue their journey.

Just as their peaceful progress continued, the tone of the voice ahead suddenly changed.

"So, ladies and gentlemen, our final stop lies ahead. Thank you once again for using my company's transport service. I hope you'll give us a five—what?!"

The abrupt change in tone made the others sense that something was wrong. Before they could say anything, Vanidak spoke urgently to Aman'Thul and the others.

"Hey, my brothers and sisters, there's a small problem. You keep going ahead. I left markers on you, so I'll find you!"

"No, Vanidak, what are you saying? What happened?" Sensing something was wrong, Aman'Thul demanded.

"This damned passage is about to collapse!" Vanidak said through gritted teeth. "What kind of shoddy construction is this? If I catch whoever built it, I'll make him taste—"

Then he seemed to sense something. His expression tightened, and he gave his siblings one final explanation. "The passage's energy is about to run out. I'll send the three of you out first. Don't worry about me..."

"But, Vanidak, you..."

"No time to explain! Get! On! The ride!"

As silver radiance erupted from Vanidak's body, the spatial passage suddenly collapsed, and the entire area instantly became nothingness.

Beneath an unknown starry sky, three enormous beings stood silently. Power surged from their bodies, seemingly revealing their inner unrest.

"So, have we lost him, my brother?" Eonar's voice trembled slightly.

"No, my sister. My soul can still sense his response. He has merely been separated from us. I hope he remains safe and fortunate," Aman'Thul explained from beside her.

After receiving Aman'Thul's confirmation, Norgannon, who had been silent for a long time, said to his siblings, "I don't believe there is anything in this universe that can harm that menace, unreliable as he is."

"Besides, my brothers and sisters, I believe our destination is nearby."

"That's right, Norgannon. I feel it too—and it seems there is more than one!"