26. Encounters in the Illusory Past

As Tyler committed each incantation to memory, his focus was interrupted by a hauntingly beautiful song. It was a melody that seemed to emanate from nowhere, filling the space with its ethereal tones. His senses were immediately captivated, and before he could react, his consciousness was whisked away to an illusory realm.

The new world he entered was a stark contrast to the one he knew. It was not the familiar, bustling environment of his everyday life, but a realm teetering on the brink of collapse. Explosions echoed in the distance, a cacophony of violence that shook the earth beneath him. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, revealing dark chasms that seemed to stretch into the unknown. The sound of despairing cries filled the air, mingling with the distant roar of explosions and the crumbling of once-mighty structures.