A flash of pale blue light surged from below his feet. Ethan instinctively raised a hand to cover his eyes, but before he could blink, the world had already changed.
The damp scent of soil and grass filled his nose. His boots were wet. Beneath him, water flowed gently past pebbled stones—he was standing ankle-deep in a river stream. Towering trees arched high above, their green canopies fractured sunlight into dancing golden flecks. Birds chirped in distant bursts, and a few critters rustled through the nearby underbrush.
He blinked twice, adjusting to the natural light.
"…Where the hell am I now?"
A breeze rustled his tattered shirt, and he realized the environment was not just picturesque—it was real. Tangibly real. No more trial illusion. No artificial scent. This was no simulation. The temperature was mild, the humidity tolerable, and even the water's gentle current felt authentic.
> [System Active]
Scanning environment…
Coordinates: Borderline area between Iridale and Aurith Kingdom.
Current Region: Southernmost edge of Vererath Continent
Hemisphere: Northern Hemisphere, approx. 20.6° above equator.
Immediate Location: Neutral outskirts near unnamed village.
Regional Control: No major factional influence.
Ethan frowned. "So... no man's land?"
> Affirmative. Closest faction presence: Iridale scout post, 27.4 km northeast.
Civilian Settlement Detected: 1.3 km west.
Note: Outskirts. Moderate development. Trade-route adjacent.
He grunted, wiping some dirt from his hand as he stepped out of the stream.
Just as he took a step toward the treeline, a sound broke the ambient quiet—a rhythmic creaking of wood and the low, muffled clunk of wheels on dirt. A cart?
He crouched, eyes narrowing in the direction of the sound. Through the foliage, he could make out a wooden cart rolling along a semi-worn trail, flanked by three individuals in worn leather armor. A thickly-bearded driver held the reins, while two guards marched alongside—one ahead, one behind.
The third man, a robust figure in partial plate, sat atop the cart beside the driver, lazily holding a spear.
Merchants?
Ethan began creeping closer, avoiding dry leaves and exposed roots. He wasn't exactly subtle—especially in his current appearance—but he needed information. Maybe food. Maybe a damn towel.
Unfortunately, his luck ran out just ten steps later.
"Oi! You! Stop right there!"
A loud voice rang through the trees.
The spear-wielding man leapt down with surprising agility, his leather boots stomping toward Ethan's position.
Shit.
Three guards turned their eyes to him. Hands on hilts. Eyes wary.
Ethan slowly raised both hands and stepped into the open. No point hiding anymore. His torn, mud-covered clothes didn't exactly make him a threat—or inspire trust.
The approaching guard narrowed his eyes as he got a closer look.
"Damn… you look like you got spit outta a wyvern's ass," he muttered, then cleared his throat. "You alright, boy? You lost? From where do you hail?"
Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it.
He had no idea what language they were speaking, yet somehow… he understood. System sync?
He looked down at his ragged once impeccable suit. Torn shirt, dirt-smeared face, cracked lips. Even his boots, though newly bought, were scuffed from the earlier jungle.
And here he was, standing in the middle of a trade road in an unknown world. He needed to say something.
Come on, think, think… cool lines? Nah. Too suspicious. Say something believable. Say something that works in every cliché story with no effort whatsoever...
"…I—I don't remember."
Cough cough
He coughed for effect, scratched his head, and gave the most generic blank face he could muster.
"I think I… lost my memory?"
There was a pause. One heartbeat. Two.
The spear-man blinked, then looked back at the cart.
"For fucks sake..another one"
The driver groaned. "That's the third this month. Something's messing with people's heads, I tell ya."
"Should we take him?"
The robust guard sighed, lowering his spear.
"Come on, kid. You look like shit, and I'd rather not have a wild beast chew your leg off tonight. We'll get you to the village. The elder'll figure out what to do with you."
Ethan nodded slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.
Well… that worked better than expected.
Still, deep inside, something buzzed in his mind. A voice that reminded him he was no ordinary amnesiac—and the world he had stepped into was far from forgiving.
> [Hollow Crown System - Passive Tracking Active]
Region: Unaligned
Host Status: Under Observation
Temporary Cover: Civilian - "Amnesiac Stranger"
Equipped items: Boots (Basic Grade), Iron Shortsword(rusted), Cloak.
The cart began moving again, creaking into motion.
Ethan followed behind quietly, watching the trees shift past as a new chapter of survival began—not in a trial ground, but in the world of Virellia itself.