The bottomless ocean, a darkness so deep he couldn't even see his own hands. It should have been terrifying, yet it felt inexplicably peaceful. No... something was off. It was too quiet-so silent it felt unnatural, like something ancient lurked in the depths. Something beyond human comprehension. Just thinking about encountering it, he can feel only one thing: "Fear."

  "Ugh, Dang it, it's your fault for opening the door like that!" The girl's voice penetrated the darkness and silence of the dark ocean.

  "Before you start compining, at least wake him up first. I have a bad feeling, and it's almost 'that' time," Stevphen said, his voice tense

  "Oh, you mean 'that' time you always go on about? You're just talking about noon, right?" The girl said. "Since it's almost noon, how about you treat me to lunch? Deal?"

  "Fine, Deal..." and as soon as Stevphen said that, Skye felt the heat and burning sensation spread throughout his body in less than a second. Even though it sted only a few seconds, it was enough to make even a bodybuilder howl like a dog with its tail stepped on.

  Heat flooded his body in an instant—fire licking his veins, burning his skin. His mind barely had time to register the pain before he shot up, gasping. "Jeez—ouch! Shit!" Skye excimed

  "Well, he's awake. I'll go order food downstairs. Don't forget you're paying, Steve," the girl said before she walked out of the room.

  "How do you feel, Skye? I'm sorry I smmed the door into your face, but right now, hurry up and put on your shirt and come down to lunch with us," Steven said, handing the shirt back to Skye before he walked out of the room.

  "It was a weird dream, but at least I got some sleep," the shirt covered in blood and mud was slowly put on by Skye's trembling hands.

  "Why are my hands shaking..." Skye looked at his hands. "I think it's because of the pain just now." Although he was curious about the shaking, eating right now was more important. Skye shook off the frivolous thoughts and opened the door to go down and eat.

  After walking down the stairs until she reached the lobby, it was strange that there was no one in the lobby today except for Stevphen's group who were sitting at a rge wooden table with various kinds of food lined up. It was noticeable that there was a man with animal ears with silver hair, wearing a bck vest with some tears, and wearing bck shorts.

  The other person was a girl with short gray hair, with gray ears that looked like a mouse, but the tail had fluffy gray fur like a raccoon. She was wearing a white shirt, a brown vest, dark green shorts, and newsboy caps like a child during the industrial revolution. As for Stevphen and the women who were serving the food, they were wearing short sleeves and long pants, wearing various equipment like a normal adventurer.

  "What are you standing there staring at, Skye? The food will be gone soon if you keep dawdling like that," Stevphen said as he stuffed the food into his mouth.

  Skye didn't need to be told twice. "Well, don't mind if I do," he said, sliding into the seat like he hadn't just been in agony moments ago.

  After a short while, all that was left were bones, scraps of food, vegetables that were still piled up from the beginning to the end, and the state of the four people who had eaten until their bellies were full.

  "Then if you are done eating, I will take the dishes to wash," the woman said to Stevphen before starting to arrange the dishes to be washed.

  Skye reached for a pte, but before his fingers could even touch it—

  "Now, sit down first," Stevphen said, voice edged with something firm. "We will start talking about something important."

  "Oh. Right, I still have a few questions, and K probably won't be coming anytime soon. Let's just ask the basic questions first," Skye realized to himself before speaking.

  "Sure, then I'd like to ask..." Before Skye could ask a question, he was interrupted by the girl.

  "Ugh, Dang it, why are you in such a rush? Introduce yourself properly first! I'm Cilly Castendy-ever heard of basic manners?" the girl said ftly before rolling her eyes.

  "Oh. Right right my name is Skye-" Before Skye could speak, he was interrupted for the third time today. His forehead was starting to get hot, the skin under his eyes twitching before he took a deep breath.

  "We know, Skye Rozenlinn, Steve told us yesterday while we were eating." Cilly put a finger next to her ear and spun it around before smiling smugly.

  "That's enough, shorty. Otherwise, we'll be talking until the evening," the animal-eared man said before flicking the girl's forehead with his finger.

  Cilly's ears twitched in irritation. "Who are you calling shorty, huh?!" Before Mica could smirk, she lunged forward, headbutting him straight in the face."GAH-! What the hell, shorty?!" Mica clutched his nose, gring.

  "Who are you calling a shorty huh! You little dog, mica," Cilli said before smming her head into the animal-eared man's face.

  "Sigh, Mica, Cilly, that's enough, or we'll be talking until the evening like mica said," Stevphen said before putting his hand on his forehead and sighing.

  "Alright, let me start expining," Stevphen said before starting to talk about the origin of the story.

  "As you can see, this is not the world you know, but you may be familiar with the name "other world". There are many things that are both simir and different from what you know. And you are not the only one who has been transported into this world. Let me tell you first that we will divide people into 2 types:" Stevphen took a deep breath before raised his finger

  "First: newcomers like you will be called "Newly" and Second: those who were born and raised here will be called "Endmates". However, we are not much different. It is just one side that accidentally got transported into this world and the other side that was born and raised here. And sometimes Endmates are the children of Newly who accidentally got transported into this world years before us. Now, it is your turn, Cilly." Stevphen passed it to Cilly before he took a big sip of water and looked visibly refreshed.

  "Listen carefully. I'm not repeating this."Cilly tapped the table with her knuckles. "Everyone here has something called AVC-think of it as a gift from this world."She raised a finger. "A: Arkend. That's your power—magic, abilities, whatever you want to call it."A second finger. "V: Vigor. It's a physical trait. Strength, speed, resilience—varies from person to person."Then, a third. "C: Changed. And that's something only 'Newly' get. Body shift, Gender, Race, bh bh" Cilly took a sip of water. "It's as simple as peeling a banana."

  "Damn, every time I expin this, my throat hurts. Do you understand, the blue-haired boy?" Cilly said after she finished her gss of water and pointed at Skye.

  "Hmm, I get it." Skye said. Wait, did you just say blue hair? But I have bck hair?

  "The mirror's over there. Hurry up and go check it out," Mica said and pointed to the right corner before he smiled at Cilly.

  The mirror reflected a face he barely recognized. Same structure, same features—but the jet-bck hair he had always known was gone. In its pce, an unnatural light blue shimmered under the dim lighting. His eyes, once dark, now held an eerie violet glow.

  "What the fu-" Skye's jaw tightened, but before he could even process the shock, he was interrupted. Again. Fourth time today. Great.

  "That's the F word. Pay up, you little dog, Mica. Hahaha," Cilly shouted as if she had won the lottery before she threw her gss of water and it hit Mica's head with a loud bang.