Kuro crouched at the edge of a glimmering lake nestled in the mossy woods of Terra's Outer Rim. The air was crisp, the sky pale violet with the hint of dawn. He stripped off his shirt and knelt at the water's edge, splashing cold water on his face and arms.
He muttered, "Finally… a moment of peace."
He stared into the reflection and whispered, "So this is Terra… but what kind of world is it really? How does its energy work? Do kingdoms rule, or clans? Magic, mana, monsters — is everything just wild guessing?"
Then came a ripple. A soft splash. And a very naked figure stepping into the lake on the far side — her back turned, long golden hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders.
Kuro blinked once. Then twice.He felt his brain trying to reboot like a crashed operating system.
"Okay, okay, this is fine," he whispered. "Just admire nature. Nature with legs. Long, noble, furious legs—"
The woman turned.
Their eyes locked.
And she screamed.
"You lecherous creep! How dare you spy on me?!"
"I wasn't spying!" Kuro raised his hands. "I was just washing up!"
"On this side of the lake?!"
"How was I supposed to know it came with residents?!"
Water splashed as she stormed toward the shore, modestly grabbing a towel from a nearby rock. Her expression was halfway between outrage and offense.
Now fully wrapped, she pointed a sharp finger at him. "Do you even know who I am?"
"No, but I'm guessing not a forest hermit."
She narrowed her eyes. "Lady Seren of House Alverin."
The system softly chimed in Kuro's head:
[Target Scan – Lady Seren][Level: 68][Comparison: You – Level 34]
"Okay... so nobles aren't just decorative here. You could probably flick me into orbit."
Seren frowned, studying him again. Her eyes briefly glowed with golden light. "You're... strange. Low-level for your age. Unaligned mana signature. Outlander?"
"Yeah. And I've got questions. How is Terra structured? Are the nobility all mages or warriors? What about the kingdom's laws?"
Before she could answer, a commanding voice cut through the trees.
"Seren? Is everything alright?"
A woman stepped into view — tall, poised, gleaming in silver armor. A greatsword rested on her back, and the earth seemed to respect her every step.
[Target Scan – Rhea][Level: 137]
Kuro's eyes widened. That wasn't just strong — that was terrifying.
Seren waved her hand quickly. "All good, Rhea! Just... an unexpected encounter."
Rhea didn't move closer, but her eyes narrowed at Kuro like twin daggers. She stayed silent, evaluating.
Kuro offered a sheepish wave. "Hey. Just… very bad timing. I swear."
Seren sighed and stepped between them. "You're lucky I'm not in a worse mood. Rhea usually reacts more... directly."
"Good to know," Kuro said. "I'll start announcing myself to every tree."
Seren rolled her eyes, but the edge of her lips twitched. "You're in the western territories of the Zareth Dominion. This is Whispergrove. Be careful. Terra's not as tame as Earth."
Kuro nodded slowly. "Thanks. That's actually what I wanted — to learn more. I'll try not to make a habit of traumatic bath-time greetings."
Kuro sat on a moss-covered stone, barefoot, the lake's cool water drying on his legs. The sun had dipped behind the trees, casting amber streaks across the forest clearing. He glanced sideways at Lady Seren, who had returned to her elegant gown, now slightly wrinkled from being hastily redressed. Rhea, the knight who'd called out earlier, now stood nearby with arms crossed, her sharp eyes glinting beneath her short copper hair.
Kuro cleared his throat, glancing between them.
"So… this is Terra."
Lady Seren smiled. "Yes, and you've landed in one of the more peaceful corners, lucky for you."
"Peaceful?" he muttered. "You were nearly eaten by a bear-sized frog when I arrived."
Rhea chuckled. "That was peaceful. No darkstorms, no corruption beasts, no mana-storm surge. You haven't seen Terra on a bad day."
Kuro rubbed his temple. "Great. So… I don't suppose either of you would be up for giving a tourist a crash course?"
Seren raised an eyebrow. "What would you like to know?"
"Everything," he replied. "Start simple. Where are we exactly?"
Lady Seren looked skyward, then gestured toward the faint silhouettes of twin moons beginning to rise. "You're in the Southern Grove territories — lands blessed with gentle mana flow, home to a dozen noble families, including mine. This region is part of the continent of Ilvarra."
Rhea added, "The real heart of Terra, though, isn't divided by maps. It's shaped by phases. Think of them like power levels — except your whole being shifts with each one."
Kuro perked up. "So leveling here actually changes… what? Body? Mind?"
"Both," Rhea said. "Phase 1 is your basic survival state. Phase 2 opens internal mana circuits. Phase 3? You begin drawing ambient mana — like breathing energy instead of air. Anything beyond that, and you're walking myth."
Seren nodded. "But with each phase, the world pushes back harder. The beasts, the trials, the mana pressure… Terra isn't passive."
Kuro paused, thoughtful. "So this place evolves… as you do."
"Exactly," Seren said softly. "The world's alive, Kuro. It listens."
He let out a low whistle. "No wonder my system nearly fried when I synced back."
That earned a raised brow from both women. "System?" Rhea asked.
Kuro grinned. "Let's just say… I've got a very chatty ghost living in my menu."
Before Rhea could press further, the bushes rustled behind him. Kuro turned, hand drifting toward his blade — only to stop as he saw two familiar silhouettes approaching.
Alice stepped into view, her pistol holstered, a half-smirk playing on her lips. Yumi trailed behind, eyes wide with curiosity, already scanning the noblewoman's dress and the knight's armor like a museum exhibit.
"Took you long enough," Kuro said.
Alice crossed her arms. "You disappeared mid-sentence, remember?"
"Technical teleportation."
"You're lucky she followed the glow," Alice added, nodding toward Yumi.
"I knew you'd end up here," Yumi beamed. "The energy trail was clear."
Lady Seren blinked. "They are… companions?"
Kuro stood. "Alice, ex-special forces turned dimensional tourist. Yumi, magical support and general good soul. This is Lady Seren of Ilvarra… and Rhea, her ever-watchful sword."
Yumi bowed slightly. "It's nice to meet you."
Alice gave a respectful nod. "Likewise."
For a moment, the clearing was quiet — five people who had no reason to know each other, yet bound by a thread of fate neither of them could explain.
Kuro sat back down. "So. We've got a world that's alive, phases that change your soul, and noble ladies bathing in monster-infested lakes."
Alice grinned. "Sounds like home."
Rhea smirked. "Sounds like you'll need armor."
Lady Seren, meanwhile, looked at the trio with quiet interest. "You're… different. None of you feel tethered to this world."
"We're not," Kuro said. "But for now, we're here. So we fight, we learn, and we don't die."
The knight's eyes sharpened. "You'll need to grow stronger. Fast."
Kuro grinned. "That's the plan."
The twin moons rose higher, casting soft light across the lake. Yumi pulled a small piece of bread from her satchel and offered it around. Rhea declined with a wave, but Seren accepted a piece politely.
For the first time since returning, Kuro felt still.
Not safe.
But anchored.
Tomorrow would bring blood, training, and unknowns.
But tonight?
They were just people.
Talking beneath silver moons.