IN ANOTHER WORLD

The journey through the dark tunnel had been long and treacherous, the only source of light emanating from the flickering torches in their hands. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated off the stone walls, each step a reminder of how far they had come and how much further they still had to go. The air was thick with the scent of earth and damp stone, but there was an undeniable sense of anticipation hanging in the air.

Dr. Ren, still clearly unsettled by the surreal nature of the world they found themselves in, couldn't help but voice his frustrations. "Why does it have to be me?" he muttered to himself, walking alongside the others. "All of you have these incredible magical powers, and here I am, just… well, me."

Sou, his usual carefree demeanor shining through, gave Dr. Ren a reassuring clap on the back. "Hey, come on! You don't need to be so down on yourself. It's okay if you don't have any magic. You've got your own kind of power, right? You've got the martial art of creation!"

Dr. Ren sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You really don't get it, do you? All of you have these extraordinary spiritual abilities. And I'm just… well, I don't have anything like that."

Rachel, walking ahead, overheard their exchange and turned to offer his support. "I think it suits you, Dr. Ren," he said with a thoughtful expression. "After all, you are a creative genius. The martial art of creation may not be a conventional power, but with a little practice, it could become an invaluable asset to our team. I have no doubt that your contributions will be huge."

Rema, her usual sass tempered by a sense of camaraderie, chimed in. "Yeah, come on, Dr. Ren. We've all got our strengths. You've got a brilliant mind, and that's more than enough to help us. Be a little more positive, okay?"

Dr. Ren let out a quiet chuckle, still feeling a little unsure, but grateful for the encouragement. "I'll try," he muttered, a small smile breaking through his otherwise worried demeanor.

As they continued their trek through the tunnel, the light from their torches seemed to grow dimmer, swallowed by the oppressive darkness around them. They trudged forward, step by step, until finally, just as the weight of the silence was beginning to press down on them, a burst of bright light appeared in the distance. The moment it caught their attention, they quickened their pace, running toward it with a shared sense of excitement.

The world around them shifted as they emerged from the dark tunnel, stepping into the light. What greeted them was nothing like the forested realm they had come from. Instead, they found themselves standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing out at a breathtaking vista of floating islands, each suspended in mid-air by an unseen force. The sky was a deep, vibrant blue, and below them, the ground seemed to vanish into an endless chasm, further adding to the sense of wonder.

"Whoa… what a view!" Rema gasped, her eyes wide with awe. "Look, a ship! It's floating in the air, and it's coming toward us!"

Rachel smiled, his voice filled with quiet pride. "That ship will take us to Volmot City. The second island floating in the air over there—that's where we need to go. We'll board the ship and travel there."

Dr. Ren's eyes were as wide as saucers, taking in the strange and fantastical sight before them. "All we've seen in this world so far are forests, creatures, and danger. But this… this is like something straight out of a movie. It's hard to believe it's real."

Sou, always one to make light of the situation, grinned mischievously. "Yeah, but now all we need is a beautiful lady to play the role of the heroine! What do you think, Rema?" His smirk was wide and knowing, clearly teasing her.

Rema's expression twisted into one of mock outrage as she narrowed her eyes at Sou. "Hah… what do you mean, Sou? Are you blind? Can you not see this marvelous, young, and pretty lady standing right here?" She gestured toward herself with exaggerated flair, striking a dramatic pose.

Sou's grin only grew wider as he glanced around, clearly pretending to be oblivious. "Where? Where? I don't see anyone like that! All I see is you, a tomboy!"

Rema's face flushed with indignation, and in a moment of pure frustration, she lunged at him, her voice rising in fury. "Die, die, you idiot!"

Sou, barely dodging her mock punches, let out a loud laugh. "What?!" he cried out, his hands raised in mock defense as Rema chased him around the cliffside.

Rachel, watching the bickering duo, couldn't help but chuckle. "Let them be," he said, his tone light-hearted yet full of knowing. "At least they're getting along."

Dr. Ren, though slightly bemused, smiled and adjusted his glasses, feeling for the first time in a long while that perhaps this strange journey had a sense of camaraderie after all. "It's good to see some humor in all this madness," he said, his voice filled with a quiet amusement.

The group, despite the banter, was united in their goal. The floating islands of this new world beckoned them forward, the ship that would take them to Volmot City now within reach. They could sense that this was just the beginning, that their path was only beginning to unfold before them.

As they gathered their things and readied themselves to board the ship, Rachel's voice rang out, calm and determined. "This is only the beginning of our journey. We've just reached the first step. There are many trials ahead of us, and many more challenges. But if we stay united, if we trust each other and believe in our powers, we will be able to defeat the Sun King and bring an end to his reign. Let's move forward, together."

The group nodded, their resolve solidifying as they boarded the floating ship, ready to begin the next chapter of their extraordinary adventure.

End of Volume One.