The Arrival of a New Era [Part 1]

While falling from the starry sky, in an endless cycle of combustion, pain, and healing, Luana wondered what was happening. She didn't understand why she was there and why this was happening to her.

Luana didn't remember much. One moment, she was in the game, defending Hades' Citadel along with Minerva, Philip, and the other Butchers; the next, she was in this endless fall of pain. But one thing she was sure of: this was no longer a game.

She had played Kastigo Online long enough to know this wasn't a game. The pain was too real and intense for it to still be Kastigo Online, where sensations were diminished and controlled. Moreover, she could no longer access her inventory to grab one of the many Featherfall Potions she had stored.

Amidst this turbulence, knowing there was nothing she could do to avoid the fall, Luana tried to remember what happened in the last moments in the game, but nothing came to mind. It was impossible to be rational at that moment of pure terror when she saw a boy much younger than her turn to sparks before her eyes. The image of the boy disintegrating burned in her mind, intensifying her panic and confusion.

In her free fall, without destination and not knowing if she would survive, Luana closed her eyes and, completely naked, curled up. She felt vulnerable, exposed to the unknown. As darkness enveloped her, she tried to concentrate, searching for an answer, a way out, anything that could explain that terrifying experience. But in the end, even in that moment of terrible fear, all that came to her mind was her beloved Arthur.

Arthur had always been her safe harbor when she found herself at a dead end. He was always her anchor when she was adrift. He was her great love and her best friend. Thinking of him gave her the strength not to drown in despair. She loved him, and even if at the end he hated her, she couldn't feel anything but love for him.

In that moment of endless fall, she remembered Arthur's smile, the kind words, and the unconditional support he always offered. She clung to these memories as if they were a lifeline amidst the chaos. Perhaps, somehow, this love could guide her out of that nightmare.

With her eyes closed, Luana didn't notice the ground approaching rapidly. She felt a devastating impact, an explosive pain that made her entire body tremble. For a brief moment, everything became silent. She didn't know if she was alive or dead, but Arthur's image remained etched in her mind, like a persistent flame in the darkness.

When she finally opened her eyes, Luana found herself trembling with cold. She was lying on a sand dune, and above her, the vast dark sky presented the three familiar moons she knew well. She took a deep breath. Her body still had burns, and she felt several of her broken bones healing slowly, but she was alive.

Still lying down, she looked around, feeling the sand heated by her fall on her face, trying to recognize the place. The three moons shone intensely, illuminating the vast expanse of sand. She knew this place even though she had never set foot here. She was back in Kastigo, but something was different. The colors seemed more vibrant, the sounds clearer. The virtual world she knew so well now seemed frighteningly real.

— This place is...

Not fully healed, with effort, she stood up, feeling every fiber of her body protest. She needed to find answers and, more importantly, she needed to get out of that place as quickly as possible.

As she felt her heart race with fear, she limped through the sand, feeling her fingertips ache and go numb with the cold sand. She was completely naked, with nothing to wear or put on her feet. Her hair, which could have been her only source of warmth, was still growing after being burned in the fall, and even if it grew, it wouldn't be much. But, once again, none of this mattered when the place she was in was the most dangerous place in the world, game or not. This was the Exile Desert.

Luana felt a shiver run down her spine when she realized where she was. The Exile Desert was a place feared by everyone in the game, as it was the domain of the "Desert Saint." She knew that if she were discovered by him, her life would be in grave danger.

With determination and fear pulsing through her veins, Luana ignored the pain that still plagued her and began to drag herself through the cold sand of the night desert, desperately looking for shelter or any sign of safety. Each movement was agony, but she refused to give up.

As she moved through the relentless desert, a sense of being watched hung over her, as if she were being observed from afar. Her instincts screamed at her to hide, to protect herself from the watchful eyes of the predator. Luana knew she needed to find a safe place before it was too late.

Then, she saw a set of tall rocks in the distance, seemingly offering some protection against the desert's dangers. With one last effort, Luana dragged herself towards the rocks, ignoring the exhaustion that threatened to consume her.

Upon reaching the shelter of the rocks, Luana collapsed on the ground, panting and trembling from excessive effort and the cold penetrating her warm, sweaty skin. She curled up against the rough stones, feeling the relief of being temporarily protected. But she knew she couldn't rest for long. The one who could easily kill her was still out there, and she needed to find a way to escape the Exile Desert before it was too late.

However, the stress of the fall, the pains, the confusion, and this entire situation took a toll on Luana's physical and mental strength. Curled up against the rocks, she couldn't resist the exhaustion and fell asleep, despite the fear surrounding her.

Her sleep was disturbed by fragmented and disconnected dreams. She saw Arthur's smile, heard the voices of her friends, and felt the searing pain of the fall again. Amid these dreams, a dark figure emerged, a presence she knew was the Desert Saint. He moved silently, his eyes glowing with a cold and calculating light, searching for any signs of invaders in his territory.

Luana woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. The sun was beginning to rise on the horizon, tinting the desert with golden and red hues. She knew the intense heat would soon take over the place, making her escape even more difficult.

With her energy partially recovered, she stood up slowly, feeling the pains and injuries still present in her body. She needed to get out of there as quickly as possible before the master of that domain found her. Observing the horizon, Luana tried to recall the stories and maps of the game, searching for any reference points that could guide her out of the desert.

As she walked, she heard a distant sound, like a whisper in the wind. Her senses sharpened, and she quickly crouched down, hiding behind a dune. Observing cautiously, she saw a tall and slender figure moving in the distance. Even from afar, the aura of power and danger around that being was unmistakable and suffocating.

Panic threatened to overtake her, but Luana forced herself to stay calm. She needed to find a way to get away without being seen. She looked around, searching for an alternative route. She saw a rocky formation further ahead that could offer enough cover for her to move undetected.

Taking a deep breath, she began to move slowly, keeping low and taking advantage of every shadow to hide. Each step was a mix of pain and hope. Hidden in the warm shadows of the rock, Luana covered herself as much as she could with sand and closed her eyes so her pursuer wouldn't sense her gaze.

The wind blowing the dunes and whistling through the rocks made it impossible to discern any noise. Luana waited in silence, her heart pounding as she tried to control her breathing. Each second felt like an eternity, but she knew patience was crucial for her survival.

The wind carried distant and indistinct sounds, making her imagine all kinds of dangers. She felt tempted to look, but resisted. The oppressive presence of one of the game's greatest threats was somewhere nearby, and any movement could give away her position.

Finally, the sound of footsteps in the sand grew louder and clearer. Luana squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the fear threatening to overwhelm her. The footsteps stopped abruptly, and for a moment, everything was silent again.

Then, a cold and distant voice cut through the air, carried by the wind — I know you're here, intruder. There's no use hiding.

Luana held her breath, her muscles tensed. The Desert Saint was close, very close. She heard the sound of his voice echoing off the surrounding rocks, each word bringing a new wave of panic. But she knew that giving in to fear would be her end.

When the footsteps started to move away, Luana seized the opportunity. Still keeping low, she began to crawl slowly in the opposite direction, using the shadows of the rocks as cover. Each movement was calculated, every sound minimized. But it didn't work.

Luana felt a chill run down her spine when she realized her efforts to get away had been in vain. The Desert Saint was not someone easily fooled. She heard a low and icy laugh, so close it seemed to whisper directly in her ear.

— I found you, little intruder — said the voice, filled with an impassive tone.

Before Luana could react, she felt a crushing force grab her ankle and violently pull her out of her hiding place. She tried to fight, scratching the sand and rocks with broken nails, but the Desert Saint's strength was irresistible. He lifted her effortlessly, his eyes glowing with a sinister purple light under the sun.

— NO! PLEASE, NO! — Luana struggled uselessly, her eyes shut tight in fear.

Suddenly, the atmosphere around her changed to a cool breeze, and Luana could feel grass beneath her feet and the scent of wet earth. She also felt a cloak draped over her shoulders and no longer sensed the terror of the Desert Saint's presence. When she decided to open her eyes, she saw that she was no longer in the desert but in an endless plain.

The panic that consumed Luana gradually gave way to confusion as she looked around, trying to understand what had happened. The plain stretching out before her was vast, with grass gently swaying in the breeze. The air was fresh and carried the scent of wildflowers, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the desert moments before.

She knelt, feeling the soft texture of the cloak on her shoulders, trying to process the sudden change. The memories of the Desert Saint were still vivid in her mind: his long, graying hair and purple eyes, his slender, muscular body, his terrifying presence. The memory made Luana tremble, but the oppressive sensation had completely disappeared. It was as if a nightmare had ended abruptly, leaving her in a place that seemed strangely familiar yet unknown.

She didn't understand what had happened, how she had ended up in these plains or this world, but she knew it was useless to ask questions she couldn't answer. With difficulty, she stood up and began to walk. Her legs still ached, and her muscles tensed, but she forced herself to move forward. She needed answers and, more importantly, she needed to find a way to survive in this new environment.

As she walked, Luana noticed that the cloak covering her wasn't just a simple piece of fabric. There were runes embroidered on its edges, glowing softly in a bluish hue. With each step she took, the feeling of being watched returned, but not in a threatening way. It was as if something or someone was looking after her, protecting her.

After walking for what felt like an eternity, Luana saw in the distance what appeared to be a small wooden cabin. The relief she felt was immediate, and her steps quickened despite the pain that still plagued her. As she approached, she noticed the cabin was in good condition, with flowers planted around it and a thin smoke rising from the chimney. She knocked on the door with some hesitation, and the door opened.