Ray watched as the little girl's expression softened, relief flickering across her weary face. She took a shaky breath before speaking.
"You are in the neutral zone of the Alister and Alarien empires," she said quietly. "I don't know where you're from, so I'm not sure which empire you belong to, but in this neutral zone, people hunt monsters for food. I'm one of them."
Her voice carried exhaustion, but also resilience.
"Our city's food supply is shrinking day by day," she continued, staring at the ground. "Because of that, my parents went hunting—but they never came back. The food supply emptied, and I couldn't take the hunger anymore… So I came here to hunt. But then that wild cat attacked me."
She glanced at Ray, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"Thanks for saving me, big brother."
She offered a small, hesitant smile. "My name is Lily."
Ray took a moment to absorb her words before introducing himself.
"I'm Ray Valehart."
Before he could say anything more, a bright notification screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Recalibration complete… Searching for your native planet.]
[You will be transported to your planet.]
Ray barely had time to react before a familiar sensation overtook him. His surroundings blurred and twisted, the dense jungle melting away into nothingness. He felt his body shift uncontrollably, like being pulled through an unseen force.
Then—suddenly—solid ground beneath him.
A gust of wind brushed against his skin. He blinked rapidly, disoriented.
He was standing on a rooftop.
A random building, towering above a vast cityscape. The air smelled different, tinged with metal, concrete, and something oddly familiar.
Ray turned sharply, his heart pounding. Lily stood beside him—wide-eyed, frozen in shock.
The girl trembled, clutching the knife she had been holding earlier. Her small frame was stiff, overwhelmed by the new surroundings.
Ray reached for his phone, desperation clawing at him. He quickly dialed his father's number—but the call wouldn't go through.
Silence. Nothing.
Panic started to take hold.
Then—a sound.
A soft, muffled crying.
Ray turned his attention to Lily, her shoulders shaking.
She was scared.
He kneeled beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "We'll find a way to get you back home."
Lily hesitated, her big, uncertain eyes locking onto his. Then, slowly, she nodded.
"…Big brother, where are we?"
Ray exhaled. His mind raced.
They had been in another world moments ago. And now—they were back on Earth.
But something felt off.