The sun was beating down with a scorching intensity, not a single cloud in the sky. The air was dry, the ground arid, and Jiro Kamimizu walked with heavy steps, panting, his lips cracked from thirst.
—Why are you walking so slow, Jiro? Hurry up —said Kogorō, floating beside him as if nothing was wrong, with his typical carefree attitude.
Jiro glanced at him tiredly.
—Easy for you to say! You're not a living being, you don't get tired, you don't sweat… you don't even feel the heat!
Kogorō smiled smugly, not bothering to hide his spiritual superiority. He didn't need water, food, or rest. He floated weightlessly, bound to the spear Jiro carried by an ancient seal that kept him attached.
—Ah, I forgot... you also have the luxury of not having a stomach —grumbled Jiro as he kept walking.
Silence reigned for a few seconds until Jiro spoke again.
—Hey… is it still far to that weaving temple?
—You're exhausting, kid! —snorted Kogorō—. You've been asking me that since we started this trip.
—I can't believe I'm walking all these distances without food or water, and you're floating like a prince! I'm dehydrated! I'm a living being!
Kogorō spun in the air, turning around mid-flight.
—Now you're complaining? A moment ago you were quiet...
But Jiro, suddenly changing the subject, looked at him curiously.
—Hey, Kogorō… you told me about the Universal Compass, the dimensional maps, and the weaving temples… but tell me something… how do you know all that? Are you some kind of traveler or something?
—First you complain, now you're full of questions... —Kogorō huffed, then lowered his gaze and spoke seriously—. I'm not a dimensional traveler exactly, nor do I come from the Spirit Realm, like you thought.
—The truth is... I've traveled through dimensional fissures for centuries. Whenever a fissure appeared, I... went in.
—You went in? —Jiro repeated, surprised.
—That's right. I found strange, epic, unique worlds… different eras. Worlds full of technology, magic, chaos, or peace. And I met many dimensional travelers… some very wise, others completely insane.
Kogorō paused before continuing.
—I saw firsthand how artifacts like the Universal Compass work. I even reached a kingdom specialized in making them... The Kingdom of the Dwarves.
Jiro's eyes widened.
—The Kingdom of the Dwarves!? Seriously!? That's impressive! Kogorō… tell me, how many kingdoms exist?
—I've heard there are twelve kingdoms —said the spirit in a thoughtful tone—. But I've only known five.
—First, the Kingdom of the Dwarves. Second, the Spirit Realm, the one you're aiming for. Third, the Kingdom of the Fairies.
—Fourth, the Kingdom of Dragons. And fifth... the Kingdom of the Elves. One of the most prosperous, peaceful, and beautiful. I'd love to see it again someday...
Jiro stopped for a moment, thoughtful, then said firmly:
—I've decided! Once I save my world, defeat the Spirit King, and recover my father... I'll travel through all the kingdoms! I want to know them all.
Kogorō raised an eyebrow with a sarcastic smile.
—Sure… if you manage to defeat the Spirit King. That goal is almost impossible, don't you think?
Jiro replied without hesitation:
—I don't care how strong he is... but it's better to try than to sit around doing nothing.
Kogorō raised an eyebrow, surprised by the firmness in his words. But just then, his expression changed abruptly.
—Wait! —he said—. I'm sensing something... an electric signal… the Weaving Temple is near!
—Really!? Are you sure!? —asked Jiro, his excitement rising.
—Of course I'm sure! Why would I lie? —responded Kogorō with an irritated tone, pointing toward a green valley on the left—. Look over there.
Jiro moved through the bushes and, pushing aside some branches, saw in the distance a large structure partially hidden by vegetation.
—You're right! There's the temple! Let's go!
—See? That's why I always tell you to listen to me —boasted Kogorō.
—Hey, one question… how can you detect a Weaving Temple?
—I don't even know myself... it's a skill I acquired without realizing. I guess traveling so much through fissures changed something in me. Now… when I get close to a temple, I feel its energy. It's like a universal compass, but more limited. It only works if I'm within a certain range.
Jiro smiled with sincere admiration.
—Kogorō… you really are amazing. I wish I had met you earlier...
The spirit floated ahead, trying to hide a slight blush.
—Hey! Don't say weird things! Come on, let's get to the temple...
The Weaving Temple rose majestically. Though covered in vines, wildflowers, and moss, its grandeur remained intact. It was an ancient construction, alive, almost pulsing with energy.
—Alright —Jiro swallowed—. Let's go in...
Inside, the temple was much larger than it appeared. Long hallways, walls covered in cave paintings and arcane symbols.
—The space inside… is different —explained Kogorō—. The Weaving Temples are built with altered internal dimensions. On the outside they look small, but inside... they're infinite.
On the walls, Jiro saw images of beings with spears, scenes of battles, and a floating figure completely white, faceless, wrapped in mystery.
Finally, at the back of the temple, atop a small golden pyramid, floated an ancient scroll.
—That must be it… —Jiro whispered.
—What if there's a trap? —he asked with doubt.
Kogorō shook his head.
Without further hesitation, Jiro reached out and took the scroll. It was light, but radiated a unique energy. The boy smiled, knowing he had obtained something important.
—Alright —said Kogorō—. Let's head outside… it's time to try it out.
Jiro held the scroll with both hands, his heart pounding—not from fear, but from a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Just as his fingers slid to remove the protective wrapper, he suddenly froze.
—Hey, Kogorō… tell me first —said Jiro, eyes locked on the object— what exactly are we going to do? What if we end up in a dangerous world? Or worse… what if we die in space?
Kogorō let out a quiet sigh in his mind.
"Typical beginner traveler reaction..."
Then he spoke, calm but firm:
—Don't worry about that, Jiro. I'll be with you, no matter what happens… Though I can't promise anything.
Jiro nodded, clinging to those words like a lifeline in a stormy sea. At last, he removed the wrapper from the scroll. The moment he opened it, a bluish light burst forth from within.
Countless glowing points and lines began to project outward, floating before them like living constellations. Some lines connected points to each other, others floated alone in the vastness.
—What are those things...? —asked Jiro, amazed.
Without even looking, Kogorō replied:
—Those points are universes… and the lines connecting them are the access routes that the Loom Temples use to travel between them.
—So… —said Jiro, slowly understanding— if I select one of those points, I'll travel to that world?
As he spoke, he moved the image with his fingers, as if flipping through an infinite book.
—Exactly —Kogorō affirmed with a slight smile—. It's like a tablet… or a GPS.
—Tablet? GPS? —asked Jiro, tilting his head.
—Oops… forgot you're from another era —said Kogorō smugly—. You wouldn't understand. Too advanced for you.
—Bah… whatever —Jiro scoffed—. I'll just pick a point…
—Don't ignore me! —growled Kogorō, visibly annoyed.
Jiro swallowed hard, feeling he was about to take a huge step. He reached out to select one of the shining points…
But suddenly, a ribbon of pink fire wrapped around the scroll like a sash, snatching it from his hands. The light vanished instantly.
—It's gone! —Jiro shouted, shocked.
Kogorō quickly turned and saw two hooded figures with masks. One had a masculine build, dressed like a shinobi.
The other, with a feminine silhouette, wore a ceremonial priestess outfit. She was the one who had stolen the scroll.
—YOU! —Kogorō roared, fury in his eyes.
—What the hell is wrong with you?! Give me back that scroll! I found it first! —yelled Jiro, stomping the ground and pointing furiously at the masked priestess.
Kogorō frowned as he noticed something strange: both masked figures had horns on their foreheads, just like Jiro.
"They're Onis too... I hate them so much!" he thought with disgust.
—Idiot… —muttered the masked shinobi. Then he signaled to his companion—. Let's go!
In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the shadows, dropping leaves that slowly floated to the ground. Jiro, without thinking, leaped high and launched himself into the forest canopy.
—Damn thieves… you'll pay for this! —he roared as Kogorō was pulled by the residual energy of the spear.
Both chased after them, jumping from branch to branch through the foliage.
—Stop! —Jiro shouted.
—What's the point of yelling that if you know they won't? —grumbled Kogorō.
Jiro sped up, getting closer to the girl. Just as he was about to touch her long hair, the shinobi appeared at his side and landed a powerful kick. Jiro managed to block it, but the force sent him tumbling through the branches.
Kogorō didn't stay still. He fired a psychic energy blast, but the enemy dodged it nimbly and countered with a spiritual barrier that pushed him back.
—They use spiritual energy too? —said Jiro, impressed.
Jumping from a branch like a slingshot, he launched a kick wrapped in spiritual energy. Meanwhile, Kogorō, seeing the girl escape, touched the branch under him with a finger, and it rotted instantly.
—You can use magic too, Kogorō?! —Jiro exclaimed.
—I can use everything —the entity replied confidently.
The girl tumbled down a forest slope. The shinobi reached her by sliding down with a spiritual barrier under his feet. He held her waist firmly.
—Are you okay? —he asked.
—Yes… —she replied softly.
Watching them, Kogorō muttered:
—Such versatility… this guy is good...
Furious, Jiro launched himself toward them.
—Give me back my scroll noooow!
The shinobi spun mid-air and, with a flip, delivered a direct kick to Jiro's face, sending him flying into a nearby river. Jiro emerged from the water, spitting and with eyes blazing in rage.
The shinobi landed on the water, leaving the girl behind. He took a stance with a mocking smile:
—Come on.
—You're gonna regret that! —shouted Jiro, lifting his spear. He wrapped it in spiritual energy as the water splashed around him.
They both charged at each other. Jiro unleashed multiple rapid attacks, slashing through the water, while the opponent countered precisely. The shinobi jumped and, mid-air, struck Jiro with another kick that smashed him against a tree covered in rocks.
The impact shook the forest… and the real battle was just beginning.
The air vibrated with tension. Jiro, panting, got back up after the previous blow. Despite the pain, his eyes sparkled with determination. The masked boy advanced fiercely without hesitation.
—He extended his fists, wrapped in an aura of spiritual energy, and launched a devastating punch toward Jiro.
Jiro managed to dodge just in time, and the impact shattered an entire tree, splitting it as if it were paper.
From the ground, Jiro twisted nimbly, using his arms for support to launch a powerful spinning kick. The masked boy dodged effortlessly, gliding with dangerous grace.
—Jiro, without missing a beat, propelled himself with his spear, unleashing multiple rapid attacks and thrusts. The enemy dodged them all with inhuman precision.
Then, with a subtle hand movement, the boy formed a symbol in the air.
—Watch out! —shouted Kogorō.
A disk of spiritual energy, gleaming and deadly, shot toward Jiro. He barely managed to dodge it, but the disk flew past, cutting down dozens of trees as if they were nothing.
—That was… dangerous —murmured Jiro, astonished.
Suddenly, a pink fireball rushed in from the side. It was the girl, running to help her partner. The fire headed toward Jiro and Kogorō, but the latter, unfazed, cut it with his finger as if it were smoke.
—You're weak, girl —snapped Kogorō with contempt.
—Hey… I told you not to interfere, to leave —grumbled the masked boy.
—I can't leave you alone, brother… so we better go —replied the girl with sweetness and firmness.
Kogorō raised an eyebrow, murmuring:
—Did she say brother? I thought they were lovers…
—I need to finish them first —insisted the boy.
—There's no need to kill anyone, Ardan… we just need the scroll and to travel to another world.
—So your name is Ardan, huh, thief! —exclaimed Jiro, intrigued.
—Damn it, Saria! You revealed our names! —Ardan glared at her.
—Ahh, why did I reveal mine too! —the girl replied, nervous.
—It doesn't matter anymore… we're leaving anyway —said Ardan, adjusting his mask.
Suddenly, a dark scythe descended with impossible speed, cutting the air near their faces. Both jumped back just in time.
—Very well —said Kogorō with a calm smile—, now we know your names and your faces…
Ardan calmly adjusted his mask, glancing sideways at Saria.
—That was close… he almost decapitated us both —he murmured in a low voice.
Kogorō returned to Jiro's side as if nothing had happened.
—Kogorō? How did you do that so fast…? —asked Jiro.
The spirit approached him from behind, whispering:
—On my signal, Jiro… you'll take my hand…
Kogorō looked at Ardan and said:
—Hey, kid… not bad. You're young and good-looking. I thought you were hiding behind that mask because you were hideous. And your sister… not bad either.
Ardan, with pale skin, intense red eyes and shoulder-length hair tied in a ponytail, let out a slight smile. Strands framed the front of his face, highlighting his scarlet horns. Saria, with an angelic face, long black hair and reddish horns, turned her gaze away in embarrassment.
—You flatter me… —said Ardan, somewhat amused.
But inside his mind, the tone changed.
What was that…? I didn't feel his presence. That spirit is more dangerous than he looks. This is a problem...
—Do you have the scroll? —he whispered to Saria.
She anxiously searched her clothes.
—No… it's not here! I don't have the scroll!
—Kogorō, the scroll! —said Jiro, alarmed.
The spirit reached into his spectral body and calmly pulled out the scroll.
—Were you looking for this?
Ardan stared at him.
He also managed to steal the scroll from Saria? When?
Activating his spiritual vision, Ardan observed the flow of particles in the ground.
Of course… while we were talking, he slipped underground and struck to distract us… and robbed us. Damn clever…
—Brother, we have to do something… —murmured Saria.
—I'm on it… —replied Ardan. He whispered something to Saria, and she subtly nodded, understanding the plan in his eyes.
—Now, Jiro —whispered Kogorō.
Jiro opened the scroll and pointed his finger at the glowing symbol. Ardan and Saria lunged at them with all their power… but too late!
A bright light enveloped Jiro and Kogorō.
They were teleported!
A dimensional rift tore through the air. Kogorō and Jiro shot through it, crashing among fruit trees. Jiro fell, breaking branches with a loud crash. Kogorō descended floating like a feather.
Jiro, lying on the ground, looked up.
—We did it, Kogorō! Another world! We're safe!
Kogorō looked at him indifferently, but something unsettled him… Jiro stopped speaking.
When he turned around, he saw it.
Jiro lay on the ground… a pool of blood expanding beneath him.
And there was Ardan. Behind him. Motionless. His spiritual hand, transformed into a gleaming white blade, still smoked.
His eyes, now empty and somber, were those of a soulless executioner.
—Problem eliminated —he said in a lifeless voice.
—JIROOOOO!!! —screamed Kogorō, with a mix of rage and despair.
The new world… had just been stained with blood.