Unclaimed Stronghold

Kai suddenly felt a loud buzz in his mind, and instantly everything went blank. He felt as if he was being squeezed and stretched at the same time while moving through a tunnel, but it was only his guess as this feeling was too foreign for him.

When he opened his eyes, everything was dark and he vaguely saw a dark silhouette of a tree but suddenly he felt pain in his chest, it felt like something pierced his chest and when he looked down, there was no such thing.

"...What?"

He moved his head up, and suddenly he saw a blazing orb of fire, burning high in the sky.

"uh..." Kai was beyond confused at what was happening.

He again looked down to examine himself and was appalled to see that he was naked! 

"Damn it, why am I naked?"

He hurriedly looked around him, wary of anyone who saw him in this state.

But what came to his view was a tree of ginormous proportions, its branches spreading out and covering the sky with its golden leaves radiating a dull golden glow.

"Wow..." Kai felt a sense of awe wash over him as he gazed at the tree. He had never seen anything like it before. Its golden leaves shimmered and sparkled with a dim golden ethereal radiance, casting a magical glow over the entire area.

"Is this what the Lumantree looks like in the real world but more...Grand?"

He had heard that there was a tree in the real world that was even larger than the one he was currently seeing. However, for some reason, he could neither see nor sense the Lumantree's energy flowing through the earth, even though it was a vital part of the power system of this world.

Yes, it was vital, because it provided the people its essence which was a type of energy, with the means to evolve and strengthen themselves. It was a major turning point in human history, and it led to the formation of a comprehensive ascension path for humanity.

But...

It also brought the astral realm to humans...

Kai remembered all of this because he had read all of the books on the astral realm and Lumantree and because of his ability to record everything he read in his 'mind library' instantly.

Suddenly, the wind blew and a shiver coursed through his spine, he looked around himself and noticed that he was currently on a big branch of the tree, standing in its middle...naked.

He looked around himself, and nothing could be seen aside from branches and when he neared the edge of the branch, only an endless expanse of clouds could be seen.

Kai gulped nervously, and cautiously continued descending the branch of the gigantic tree, careful not to slip and fall. He was still naked though, and the wind was chilly against his skin. He wished he had something to cover himself with, but there was nothing around him.

Kai continued his descent down the branch of the gigantic tree, his bare feet padding against the rough bark. The wind whipped through his hair, and the leaves rustled and swayed around him.

"I have to be careful," He said to himself. The tree was so tall that a fall from this height could be fatal and very well be the end of him. He also had to be wary of any potential dangers

As he descended, he got a closer look at the tree's branches. They were massive, and they stretched out in all directions, forming a canopy that blotted out the sky. Kai could see a city nestled in the branches of the tree. It was a beautiful city, with golden domes and spires that sparkled in from the golden hue of the tree.

Kai knew that he was descending to a city that would have belonged to a once bustling civilization. After walking a few more steps, he stopped moving and held his breath.

"This is so... grand!" Kai's heart skipped a beat as he finally saw the city nestled in the branches of the gigantic tree. He had never seen anything like it before.

The city was a radiant beacon of light, surrounded by a shimmering golden aura. Its spires and domes reached up into the sky, piercing the clouds. Kai could see gardens and fountains sparkling, and the streets were lined with towering trees and exotic flowers.

After a while, Kai reached the city. He landed on a rooftop and looked around. The city was even more beautiful up close. There were gardens and fountains everywhere, and the buildings were made of white marble and gold.

Suddenly the Psion announced in his head:

'In the heart of the world, hidden away from the rest of civilization in the branches of Minor [Redacted]Tree, lies the mythical city of Arcadia. Once the nest of a powerful race of ethereal people who sought to make a society full of hope, happiness, and equality, Arcadia succeeded in its mission, becoming a self-sustainable utopia.

The Arcadians were a people of great knowledge and wisdom. They had mastered the arts of agriculture, technology, and medicine. They lived in harmony with nature, and their city was a marvel of beauty and efficiency.

But the Arcadians were also a people of great secrecy. They knew that the outside world was a dangerous place, and they wanted to protect their utopia from corruption. So, they cut themselves off from the rest of the world, hiding their city behind a veil of magic and illusion, but that also meant that they were last to be notified of the impending danger'

'Objective: Survive and Connect the Astral nexus of the city of Arcadia to Earth's Anchor'

"Huh!?" Kai was stunned by the Psion's announcement. He had never heard of Arcadia before, not in any of the books he read but the description of this mythical city sounded like a paradise.

He also realized that the Psion had given him an objective: To survive and connect the Astral nexus of the city of Arcadia to Earth's Anchor.

...Which was strange, to say the least, because generally, it was only the journey to the strongholds conquered by Humanity that was dangerous.

How far you were from the stronghold depended on how unlucky you were in being transported to the astral realm.

"Just my rotten luck!" Kai cursed.

kai was mad because he realized that he had been transported to an... unclaimed stronghold.

He looked around at the city below. It was still beautiful, but now it seemed even more daunting.