Neria

As the Beast said those words the darkness behind it rippled as the Vaharians, monsters and other species emerged from its shadows, all having the same cold blue eyes, almost illuminating the whole cavern.

Aldric grabbed his sword ready for the clash, and Elijah stood his ground acting like a wall shielding the others, Allen, Yusuf and the others stepped forward wanting to help but Elijah stopped them "stay back, Chris, Lumien and Ava are still injured look after them" he looked at the others and said "make a run for it and find a way out of here, don't look back and don't stop running" "no you c…" Ava and the others tried to protest against it but he assured them "I'll be right behind you, just get out of here for now". As he said that, the monsters -initially slow- started getting closer and faster.

Aldric barely had time to react as a blue-eyed vaharian lunged at him, a feral gleam in its gaze. Its movements were unnatural, quick and predatory, but their eyes were full of despair.

The air was thick with the scent of something ancient, something wrong. Aldric twisted, barely evading a strike meant to shatter his ribs. Another enemy circled in, flanking him. He gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't hold them off forever.

Then, Elijah moved.

It was subtle, yet inhuman. A blur of motion, a flash of steel, and suddenly, one of the creatures recoiled, its arm sliced open. The wound oozed as clogged blood started falling in chunks like jelly. Elijah's stance was composed, calculating.

"You need to go," he said to the others, his voice even. "Now."

The others hesitated, their instincts screaming at them to help. Lumien took a step forward, but Elijah turned sharply, eyes locking onto his. "Don't be an idiot. Find the exit. Now." His voice was sharp, final.

Aldric scowled but relented, motioning toward the path he had come from. "Run that way. Don't stop."

With a reluctant glance back, Lumien grabbed Ava's arm, pulling her along. The others followed, their hurried footsteps echoing through the cavern as they ran toward what they hoped was safety.

Aldric exhaled and flipped his dagger, offering the handle to Elijah. "You any good with one of these?"

Elijah took it without hesitation. "You'll find out."

And then the creatures attacked.

 

The tunnels blurred past as the group ran, their breaths ragged, their muscles burning. But something was wrong.

Merry was the first to notice it. "Guys-is it normal to run this fast?"

Lumien glanced down at his side, realization dawning. The wounds from earlier-the gashes, the bruises-were gone. Ava gasped, looking at her leg-where she had once been injured- while still running. Nothing. Just smooth skin.

Yusuf clenched his fists, feeling the surge in his veins. "It's like I should be exhausted, but instead, I feel like I could run forever."

They felt Faster. More aware. More alive.

The realization was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Chloe said with a mix of amusement and annoyance "when did we even find anything normal ever since we woke up here, just keep running"

Then came the sound. A distant but growing stampede of footsteps.

They turned to see, and saw them. Elijah and Aldric, sprinting at full speed, with tens of creatures right on their heels. The blue-eyed monstrosities ran with purpose. This wasn't just a hunt. This was a purge.

"MOVE!" Elijah shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

With no time to think, the group bolted, pushing their enhanced speed to its limits.

Then Isla spotted it; a crack in the cavern wall, barely wide enough for them to squeeze through. "There!"

One by one, they shoved themselves inside, dragging Elijah and Aldric with them at the last second. The creatures thundered past, unaware of their escape.

Silence.

They were safe.

The chamber was small, just enough space for them all to breathe. Their chests rose and fell in unison. Relief was brief.

Before anyone could speak, Aldric moved his hand over the artifact at his waist.

A pulse of energy. Shackles of light snapped around their wrists.

"What the hell-" Chris growled, yanking at the restraints.

"Oh come on" Allen unhappily retorted

"Are you serious?!" Jasmine snapped, pulling at the restraints. "You're still pulling this crap?"

"Don't give these looks, I'm open for an alliance till we make it out of here," Aldric said, stepping back. "But I still need those answers, and I can't afford to let you get away until I get them."

Tension crackled in the air.

Merry exhaled, her expression shifting from frustration to strategy. "Then let's make a deal."

Aldric's gaze flickered toward her.

She crossed her arms. "We tell you what we know-which isn't much. You tell us where we are. What is this place. And what's going on outside."

Aldric studied them carefully, his eyes narrowing. Then he nodded. "Fine. But first-" He gestured at them. "You were running way too fast. Especially with your injuries" he looked at Lumien and Ava as he said that and was surprised to see they were already healed.

He looked at Lumien and asked with no sign of backing down without an answer "What stage are you at?"

A beat of silence. Then Chris frowned. "Stage?"

They exchanged glances. They had no idea what he was talking about.

Aldric's face darkened. "You're telling me… you don't even know what you're becoming?"

The weight of his words settled over them. The real horror wasn't that they were changing-it was that they had no idea into what.

Aldric thought of something for a few minutes then he asked "where did you come from"

The group fell silent as they shared a few glances and nodded, then Mia took the lead and answered "We come from earth; all we remember is that we were together before we woke up here, the strange environment and animals here lead us to think that we may have transmigrated to another world, and we were hoping if you could confirm this, other than that we really know nothing"

Aldric studied them carefully, as if making sure they truly knew nothing. Then he answered "if what you're saying is the truth, and the world you came from is called Earth, then I'm sorry I've never heard of it, which should confirm your theory" he exhaled and leaned against the wall studying their confused and shocked expressions, while waiting for the questions he knew were coming.

Silence stretched between them. For the first time, the reality of their situation hit them like a crashing wave.

Chris exhaled sharply. "So we really aren't on Earth anymore."

Chloe swallowed hard. "Then what the hell happens to us now?"

Aldric answered-sensing their growing despair- "I don't know"

"Alright, listen up."

He began explaining the fundamental structure of this new world.

"This is Neria"