Chương 7: Eteria

Five adjusted that ridiculous noble hat of his one last time, looking at me like I was a puppy he was sending off to a dog show rather than a guy he was teleporting into a literal deathtrap.

"It appears our brief time together has reached its conclusion," Five said, his voice so stiff and formal it sounded like he'd swallowed a stack of etiquette manuals.

"I bid you farewell for now. Perhaps destiny shall weave our paths together once more, provided you survive to reach the far side of the Endless Dungeon." Before I could ask if he had any more parting gifts, like a bulletproof vest or maybe a map to the nearest pub, the world started having a literal nervous breakdown. The infinite fields of green grass began to crack and splinter like someone had just thrown a brick through a window into reality.

Shards of the landscape drifted away and dissolved into nothingness, while a blindingly bright blue sky started bleeding in through the gaps. It was like living inside a glitchy video game, and my stomach did a little somersault at the sheer weirdness of it all.

"Hey, hold up a second, fancy pants!" I shouted, trying to keep my balance as my floor transitioned from solid dirt to absolute void.

"Before I get launched into this dungeon game, give me the name of the boss. Who is the goddess who picked my name out of the celestial hat for this gig?" Five went quiet, the kind of quiet that usually precedes a major plot twist. He actually let a gentle, almost human smile touch his face, which was a nice change from the royal statue vibe he usually had going on.

"Eliya, the Goddess of the Calm Wind," he said, his voice carrying an oddly soft tone for a guy who looked like he belonged on a gold coin.

"She will be waiting for your arrival at the very peak of the Endless Dungeon." I couldn't help it; I let out a grin. At least now I had a name to yell at when things inevitably started exploding.

"The Calm Wind, huh?" I muttered as the last of the grassland shattered into light.

"Let's hope she is ready for a bit of a storm." [The transit of the individual known as Arthur Gray to the realm of Eteria is now finished. It is advised that you brace yourself for the impending touchdown.] I blinked at the text, my brain stalling for a second.

"What do you mean touchdown—" I didn't even get to finish the thought before the floor, and reality itself, simply quit its job. One second I was standing on solid ground, and the next, I was a human projectile launched directly at the planet. The blue sky wasn't just a ceiling anymore; it was my entire neighborhood. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The wind didn't just blow past me; it slapped me in the face like I owed it money.

It was loud, chaotic, and doing a fantastic job of trying to peel my eyelids back. As I plummeted, flailing like a cat thrown off a sofa, the view below started to resolve into something actually impressive. It was a massive settlement that looked like it had been ripped straight out of a high-budget fantasy movie. We are talking soaring spires, stone walls that looked sturdy enough to stop a dragon, and more red-tiled roofs than I could count.

It was a sprawling, majestic kingdom, and I was currently on a collision course with its floor plan. I went rushing through the air, my internal organs performing a synchronized scream, as I headed straight for the heart of the city. Down in the center of a grand plaza, a giant yellow circle was glowing like a neon target. It looked like a cosmic bullseye, and apparently, I was the arrow. I hit the center of that glowing ring with a soft thud.

There was no bone-shattering impact, no messy puddle of Arthur, just a weirdly cushioned stop that defied every law of physics I had ever ignored in school. I was alive and completely uninjured, but my legs had other ideas. They were shaking so violently I probably could have powered a small generator just by standing there. The system, ever the polite observer of my near-death experience, chimed in with its usual monotone cheer. [Greetings and welcome to the Eterian Capital, Inizio. This location serves as the primary gateway for all participants entering the Endless Dungeon.] In my haste to not die during the landing, I'd apparently developed butterfingers. My brand new, semi-heavy, prototype-stamped revolver decided to take a leap of faith, clattering onto the hard concrete floor with a metallic ring that definitely didn't scream "heroic protagonist."

I scrambled to grab it before a passing local could trip over my only means of defense, but the second my fingers brushed the cold metal, the gun pulled a disappearing act. It dissolved into a cloud of glowing blue glitter, shimmering like some kind of high-tech fairy dust before vanishing entirely. [The firearm classified as a Revolver has been successfully relocated to your personal sub-space storage. You may materialize the weapon at your discretion via focused mental intent.] I stared at my empty palm for a second, feeling a bit like a magician whose rabbit had just joined a witness protection program.

"Oh, so it's a magic pocket dimension situation," I muttered, flexing my hand.

"Handy for avoiding awkward questions at security checkpoints, I guess." Once my legs finally stopped doing their best impression of a vibrating massage chair, I actually took a proper look around. The place was like a fever dream for anyone who spent too much time at Renaissance fairs. It was a full-blown medieval fantasy kingdom brought to life with terrifyingly high resolution. The roads were paved with weathered cobblestones that looked like they'd seen a few centuries of wagon traffic.

The buildings were these beautiful, sturdy structures of timber and stone, leaning over the streets with an ancient charm that you just don't get in a modern suburban mall. And then there were the people. It wasn't just the architecture; the whole vibe was pure old-world magic. People were bustling about in tunics, leather vests, and robes, looking like they actually lived here instead of just being extras on a movie set. I was definitely a long way from home.