Ren fell.
Not like "oops, tripped over my shoelace" fell.
More like "sucked into a vortex of kaleidoscope lightning while screaming in six different languages" fell.
One moment he was in the fading glow of the Dream Archive.
The next—
WHAM.
He faceplanted into a pile of… singing toast?
No, seriously.
Golden-crusted loaves, humming little lullabies in harmony.
"Welcome to Cravendough," said one with a French accent. "We will rise again."
Ren blinked. "Did that baguette just threaten me?"
World Name: Cravendough – The Ballad-Baked Realm
Mana Type: Harmonized Resonance
Native Races: Loaflings, Crustbound Knights, and Butterpixies
Dominant Weaponry: Singing Swords, Yeast-Forged Armor, Breadomancy
Main Threat: The Mold Plague spreading from the Sour South
As Ren stood up, brushing crumbs off his coat, the air around him vibrated. A soft, choral hum. The trees had strings for branches. The clouds whistled in harmony. Even the grass made soft, bassy hums as he walked across it.
"Everything… is in tune?" he whispered.
"Of course it is," said a voice behind him, smug and buttery.
Ren spun around.
Standing on a mushroom loaf, one foot raised dramatically, was a talking sword.
It glowed a radiant teal and had a musical note engraved on its hilt.
"I am Balladbrand, the Crescendo Blade." "And I have chosen you, O traveler of chaos and crumbs."
Ren scratched his head. "Okay, that's cool and all, but I'm not really a sword guy."
Balladbrand gasped. "Not a sword guy?! What blasphemy is this?!"
"I'll have you know I soloed the 7-Headed Sourdough Beast of Midrackon with a solo opera finale."
"I hit C-sharp so hard it shattered a continent!"
Suddenly—
A roar shook the treetops.
From the distance, a storm rolled in—not clouds, but a swarm of shrieking mold-crows, trailing green spores that ate melodies and turned everything dull.
"The Mold Plague," Balladbrand whispered grimly.
"It seeks to silence this realm."
A small Loafling child ran from the woods, sobbing as the green mist chased her.
Ren didn't hesitate.
With a burst of mana, he vaulted forward. Balladbrand flipped into his hand with a triumphant shout.
🎵 "LET'S SLICE SOME SPORES, HERO BOY!" 🎵
They collided with the swarm.
Ren slashed, and soundwaves exploded from Balladbrand, each strike leaving shimmering notes in the air.
[New Skill Gained!]: Aria Slash – Harmonic wave strikes enemies in rhythm.
The green plague hissed and twisted away—but not before it left behind a husked bread tree, now gray and sour.
"They won't stop," Balladbrand murmured. "You may not be a sword guy, Ren Vireo… but this world needs you."
The Loafling girl sniffled, eyes wide.
"Mister, are you gonna save us?"
Ren crouched beside her, smiled, and offered his hand.
"I'm not a hero." "I'm just passing through." "But while I'm here… let's sing some victory songs."
A soft guitar strum echoed from the sky.
And somewhere, deep in the South, a blackened oven door creaked open.
A shadowy baker stirred.
"The Catalyst walks Cravendough."
"Double the mold."