Chapter 294: Back In The Real World
As I stepped through the portal, it felt like I was slipping into a tunnel made of swirling light and pressure. There was no ground, no sky—just motion. Then, in the blink of an eye, I was no longer in the realm.
I was high in the sky, surrounded by clouds and moonlight.
Before I could even fall, wings burst from my back with a familiar rush of energy. I steadied myself in mid-air and took a breath.
My perception flared out instinctively, spreading wide across the landscape like a wave of thought. I scanned everything around me—land, wind, movement, Essence.
"Oh. A desert."
I looked down and saw endless stretches of golden sand.
"Where the hell am I now?" I muttered.
I didn’t sense any people nearby—no humans, no Abominations, nothing moving except the sand itself.
I ran through the possible regions in my head. There were dozens of desert zones on the planet, maybe more. A few known for Abomination activity, others for isolation or testing grounds.
I shrugged. No point overthinking.
"Well... let’s just pick a direction."
With a flap of my wings, I started flying—high, slow, and steady.
A few minutes passed before I suddenly remembered something important.
I looked at the storage ring on my finger, reached inside, and pulled out my necklace. The moment I put it around my neck, a familiar weight returned to my chest, and with it, a small bit of comfort.
I kept flying, scanning the terrain as the desert continued on endlessly beneath me. Nothing but dunes and rocks... until finally, something stood out.
A military outpost.
I slowed down and dropped lower, just enough to get a clearer view. It wasn’t huge, but it was solid with 200 soldiers inside.
I hovered there for a moment, rubbing my chin as I thought it through.
Do I stop and ask questions? Or do I keep moving and try to find a real city.
I narrowed my eyes and kept watching from above, silently hovering on my wings.
Night had already settled in, casting everything below in shades of blue and shadow. The outpost was dimly lit, but there was enough activity to catch my attention.
A few soldiers were gathered near a small mess area, eating and chatting casually. Others stood in small groups, bantering or laughing quietly. Up on the walls, a few patrols moved in slow, practiced rhythm, keeping watch without much urgency.
In the main office, a man who looked like the commander was buried in paperwork, eyes fixed on a glowing screen. From his calm aura and the way others avoided disturbing him, I could tell he was the strongest person here.
Still, nothing stood out as dangerous or urgent.
I sighed and shook my head.
"Nah. Let’s just head for a city."
Landing there would mean questions. Maybe too many. Where did I come from? Why was I flying? Who was I? I wasn’t in the mood for a back-and-forth with a bunch of curious officers.
But before I left, I focused and swept my perception across the entire outpost, carefully tracing every sign, marking, and label I could find.
There it was—etched into a supply crate and printed on a digital log screen.
Western Continent.
The closest major city? Caltech.
"Thanks for the info, boys."
I smiled to myself, then turned and took off in the direction of the city, wings slicing smoothly through the cool desert air.
The moment I gained altitude again, I let myself relax. The clouds drifted slowly beneath me, and stars sparkled above like scattered gems across the sky. The wind brushed gently against my skin, and for once, there was no pressure. No fight waiting. No orders to follow.
Just freedom.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I glided forward, my pace slower now. I didn’t rush. I just flew....quiet and steady, surrounded by the night sky.
I decided to spend an hour or so in the city—just wander around, listen in, and see what kind of news had spread while I was gone. After that, I’d get in touch with either Edgar or Arkas, depending on what I found.
I glanced down at the two idiots I was carrying—Bruno and Grey, still unconscious and completely unaware of how lucky they were to still be breathing. With a breath, I summoned Silver.
Crimson mist surged out of my chest, swirling into the shape of the massive beast. Silver screeched softly as he formed beneath me. I landed lightly on his back and dropped the two onto him like they were bags of garbage.
"Hey Silver," I said, getting comfortable. "What do you think we should eat?"
He let out a screech in response and answered through our mental link.
I blinked. My eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait—you actually responded this time? That’s new."
But then I tilted my head, frowning.
"What the hell is that? I don’t even know what kind of animal that is."
Silver repeated the name mentally, but I still had no clue. It sounded like some beast out of a myth.
"Alright, tell you what. I’ll grab something random, and if you like it, you can eat it."
He screeched again, sounding a little too excited but I couldn’t help but chuckle. I still didn’t understand how a being made of crimson mist could eat in the first place, but I figured I’d let that mystery sit for now.
I leaned back, resting my hands behind my head and staring up at the star-filled sky. The quiet hum of the wind and Silver’s smooth flight were almost soothing. For a few peaceful minutes, I let my thoughts drift.
Then Silver alerted me, he could see a city ahead.
I sat up and stretched, rolling my shoulders.
"Alright, Silver. You stay out here with these two. Keep an eye on them. I won’t be long."
He nodded through the link and descended toward the desert floor, landing a good distance away from the city’s perimeter. The moment he started descending, I kicked off from his back and soared upward, heading toward the city.
The place was massive—tall walls surrounded it, soldiers patrolled the perimeter, and bright lights lit up the streets inside. It was alive with movement and noise, even this late at night.
I climbed higher into the sky, hovering directly above the city’s center. Then I folded my wings slightly and let myself drop.
As I neared the outer patrol line, I flapped my wings hard. My speed surged. In a split second, I zipped past their vision and flew straight toward a nearby skyscraper. One final flap, and I landed smoothly on its rooftop.
I exhaled, grinning.
"So damn stressful," I muttered, then chuckled to myself.
I walked to the edge of the building and stepped off without hesitation. With a single flap of my wings, I slowed my descent and landed gently on the ground below.
The streets were alive, packed with people moving in every direction, and vehicles buzzing past with horns and lights flashing. The city’s energy was loud, chaotic, and oddly comforting.
I glanced around, hands in my pockets.
"Alright... now what should I eat?"
I walked the streets barefoot, trying to blend in with the crowd. But that was easier said than done, people kept staring at me like I didn’t belong.
That’s when it hit me. I still had my wings out.
With a quick thought, I willed them away. The crimson mist folded in on itself and disappeared back into my body.
"Much better."
I expanded my perception, letting it sweep across the area. Bits of conversations floated to me from all directions—gossip, arguments, business deals... and then something useful.
A group nearby was raving about a restaurant. Apparently, it was the best place in the city.
"Jona’s Diner," someone said.
That was all I needed.
I changed direction and headed that way. A few minutes later, I stood in front of the place, eyeing the cozy building with its warm lights and polished windows.
"Jona’s Diner," I read out loud.