The sun set in the west, and the tides rose and fell.
The turbulent sea gradually calmed, looking incomparably gentle beneath the setting sun. White seabirds circled overhead, slowly vanishing from sight.
Inside a cave by the shore, branches held up coarse cloth in a crude attempt to block the sea breeze.
Russell opened his eyes and found himself lying on a gray, rough blanket. Beside him, a wooden bowl held a little water.
"Where am I?"
The air was thick with the scent of the sea. Russell got up and walked toward the cave entrance. He wore a garment pieced together from linen, rough enough, but his thick skin kept him from finding it uncomfortable.
Nenya, Ring of Water—the items in his personal storage space were all there. After checking, he found that there were basically no problems.
Walking out of the cave, Russell gazed out across the distant sea. The air was fresh, and an unpolluted natural fragrance rushed toward him.
When he turned around, he froze.
The setting sun slanted downward, and directly opposite the ocean, a mountain range rose from the earth. Its majestic main peak towered into the clouds.
The pillar that reached the heavens was impossibly distant. Everything above the halfway point of the mountain was hidden by clouds, adding a touch of mystery to its imposing grandeur.
Russell rubbed his eyes. He had never seen such an enormous mountain range. This was no longer a mountain—it could entirely be called a pillar of heaven.
The sight was too breathtaking. Russell narrowed his eyes and considered a possibility. "Could it be that the world I'm in is Hong..."
"Big brother, you're awake!"
Big brother?
Hearing that, Russell turned around. From far away, he saw a young man waving as he ran over. Seeing the