Redwood trees, far larger than they should be, sprouted on a small island of pale white sand—reminiscent of snow.
In the distance, pristine, clear water sparkled beneath the sun's rays. Beneath its surface, creatures swam—though they were far from ordinary. Prehistoric in appearance, their twisted forms reminded Elios of the sinful abominations he had seen before.
Finally adjusting to the harsh sunlight, he stared in shock. Awe, amazement, and a hint of childlike curiosity colored his voice as he murmured,
"Beautiful."
[Ascender Elios, welcome to the Ancient World. Your trial is simple—complete a great deed and ultimately escape the endless ocean.]
"I know, Sentinel. You've already told me a couple of times."
[Keep in mind—you are among the first humans to enter the Ancient World. Of the three billion people still remaining on Earth, only fifteen have entered alongside you.]
[The likelihood of you being alone, without allies, is high. Good luck. Until we meet again—hopefully as an unborn.]
"Same, Sentinel. Till next time."
This place… It feels like my world—like Earth—but more pristine. Preserved. I've never seen water so clean. The sky—crystal blue. The trees—thriving, untouched. It's genuinely beautiful.
And so, a week passed.
Elios quickly learned the sea was far from peaceful. It teemed with ancient, prehistoric abominations. The trees housed terrifying insects—some with multiple mouths, others with a thousand legs. Though small, they would have traumatized any child.
A few days ago, he had found a large rock and begun carving into one of the towering redwoods. It had become his refuge—a place to hide from whatever monstrous thing might attack, bite, or tear into him.
Escape. That was the only goal. Reach new horizons. His quest was simple—complete a great deed and escape the endless ocean.
Or at least… in theory.
The endless ocean couldn't actually be endless. It was most likely named for its sheer size—probably larger than the Pacific.
As for the great deed required of him… Elios had no idea what to do. Each trial was different, each task unique. Only after completing his mission could he ascend to the next stage.
It sounded straightforward—but in truth, it wasn't.
There were no artificial safeguards here. No predetermined limits ensuring survival.
The teleportation was random. You could be sent to a peaceful forest… or an unforgiving abyss filled with thousands—millions—of creatures intent on killing you.
Sadly, Elios had neither luxury nor luck.
On the shores of the small island, he sat, the top half of his priestly garb discarded. His slim figure—just muscular enough to avoid looking frail—was exposed to the ocean air.
His gaze stretched across the horizon. Water. Endless, lifeless water.
This world was completely different from the one he used to live in—the modern world. Or at least, what remained of it. The air had never been this clean or pristine. Never in his life had he seen such clear skies, such pure blue stretching infinitely above.
To someone like him, it was mesmerizing. It almost made him feel as if he had been born in the wrong time.
And so, he began to live life on the island.
It was peaceful. As long as he stayed, nothing could truly harm him. Though there were creatures capable of killing him, everything here seemed to avoid one another. No conflicts. No sudden attacks. Just solitude.
For the past week, he had survived mostly as a herbivore. True, he could eat the creatures he had managed to kill—but the thought of consuming those revolting, multi-mouthed insects filled him with deep reluctance.
The sea remained calm. Waves were rare. The sun, mesmerizing as it set—just as breathtaking when it rose. Elios observed every shift of the heavens. The moon, too, never escaped his watch.
It was peace.
Yet, beneath it all… one glaring problem.
He lacked the strength to survive the endless sea. No matter how carefully he rationed his food, there would come a time when it ran out.
Returning to the hollow he had carved in the tree, he closed his eyes.
This was a problem for the future him.