I fear the dark...

Chump turned around. His face—no, his entire body and mind—started connecting the dots. He was surprised, confused, and left speechless. A current of air displaced the ordinary atmosphere, the same emerald air that had filled the skies before the catastrophic event.

A mysterious voice called out to the survivors, "Everyone shall enter our world as we have entered yours, or die in vain."

A magical wall of blue flames enveloped the passageways connecting to the main square, and the people slowly grasped the dire situation they were in. Surprisingly, it did not extend to any part of the main square.

The group consisted of three figures riding on some bull-like creature. The majestic creature commanded attention with its towering presence. Its body was a marvel of nature, designed for durability and relentless charging.

Equipped with six sturdy legs, each radiating strength, and solid knees that provided stability, the creature could navigate diverse terrains with ease.

Its two mighty horns resembled lances thrusting toward the sky, capable of piercing through any obstacle.

The creature's exterior resembled dark brownish stone, a blend of weathered walls and interlocking scales. While most of its body was protected by this sturdy, armor-like skin, its eyes and mouth remained exposed, offering a glimpse of the creature's essence.

The creature's eyes were adorned with vibrant orange jade, their eyelids closing diagonally. Inside the creature's fearsome maw were rows of sharp spikes instead of traditional teeth, both within and outside the mouth.

The creature's rough tongue completed its imposing visage, showcasing its rugged nature.

In a distinctive detail, the creature lacked a tail, featuring only a small steel wool ball as an ornament.

A moment of silence and palpable tension filled the air. Most of the people, including Chump's sister, felt dread and apprehension consume them. Chump's legs trembled, but he stepped forward toward the beast and its mounted riders.

"Who the hell are you?!" His voice, shaky but audible, gained strength.

A figure leaped from the beast, landing gracefully in front of the young man. The figure before him was a tall woman with brown, chocolate-colored skin. Her hair had dreadlocks of a similar tone, but something was amiss. The tips of her dreadlocks glowed red and fiery, reminiscent of heated metal.111111

Under arched eyebrows, her eyes sparkled with an intense radiance. The shape of her eyes provided a harmonious contrast to the subtle angularity of her face. The plumpness of her lips, which were slightly illuminated in crimson, emitted warmth and approachability when curved into a smile.

She possessed the build of a firefighter and a bodybuilder's lovechild. Every muscle was defined, and a subtle sheen covered her lizard-like arms.

Wait, lizard arms?!

Indeed! Her arms were made up of tough-looking scales in shades of brown and red, extending from her hands to her shoulders, with her clothing concealing where they ended. A couple of scars around her elbows bore witness to past battles.

Her hands resembled reptilian claws, featuring five fingers with a structure nearly identical to a human hand. The main difference was the dark red claws at the tips, while her palm bore a pale white color with a hint of salmon.

Adorned in an imposing black ensemble, the female warrior stood tall. Her military uniform was a masterpiece of precision. The sleek, form-fitting fabric hugged her muscular physique, molding each contour with a sense of both grace and ferocity.

The sleeveless design extended downward to mid-thigh, revealing glimpses of toned, powerful legs that could traverse the ground swiftly and gracefully, their skin covered in the same scaled pattern as her arms.

A black leather belt cinched her waist, emphasizing her hourglass figure and augmenting the overall ensemble. With a graceful yet predatory gait, she securely fastened an intricate bracelet—an infinite symbol connected twice—with a tiny clasp that adjusted to her wrist magically.

The bracelet emitted a faint blue glow, its metal bearing more rust than blue paint. She called out in the direction of the larger group before turning her gaze to Chump.

The figure laughed and uttered something in an unknown language, incomprehensible to Chump or any other human. Another figure on top of the beast, seemingly male, responded, and she manipulated her bracelet a few times before speaking.

"Is it working now?" The male voice seemed to agree. "Finally! I'll have to ask Meisho later for guidance on this device... Uhum!"

She coughed briefly, then looked at Chump, her smile radiating even more energy.

"Alright, listen up, you lot! Your world has been conquered, not by us three specifically, but by our superiors. I'm Gunnhildr, your new leader—well, in your terms, your Cowgirl or Rancher! Yes, we've familiarized ourselves a bit with your world, and this bracelet allows us to communicate with you, at no cost even!"

The tourists were mostly perplexed and spoke up, "Is this some sort of event or—"

"Don't question me; I'm just following orders. My companions are Ephiron, the weakling caretaker of the aristocrats, and one of the Guardians of this world. The birth of a new Guardian is a rare occurrence, and you should consider yourselves lucky to have witnessed it in your short, miserable lives. You don't need to know the details, but I enjoy making announcements!"

However, they couldn't see the third figure from where they stood. As she raised her hand, an instrument materialized within it, metal and rock clashing as they took form.

"Now, if any of you believe you're brave, you're about to find out..."

The instrument manifested as a poorly designed double-barreled shotgun, lacking precision and adorned with gold and platinum filigree on the handles. However, something seemed amiss with the firearm. It lacked a trigger or any mechanism for one, as well as a hammer or gun safety.

"Behold this beauty~. I've dubbed it Texas, in honor of that region in your world. Your weapons are more amusing than those we possess! But lack the protection against our powers, so this is SUPER lethal for all of you!" She cracked a smile while playfully tossing it around.

Chump discreetly took two steps back, not cowering but ensuring some distance from the shotgun-like weapon. Several individuals were already kneeling, and his sister was starting to panic. His tremors intensified with each passing second, and his heart pounded like a bull in a rodeo arena.

Chump retorted, "W-Why are you doing this? We don't know you..."

"Yadi yadda, blah blah, orders are orders. Don't force me to repeat myself, punk!" She paused, holstering her gun on her wrist. "Alright, those of you kneeling," she addressed the group, "form a line in order, like a well-behaved herd toward the mysterious blue portal. But watch out for the monsters! KYAHAHAAHAHHAHA!"

While her attention was elsewhere, Chump edged a little farther back, attempting to lead his sister away. However, she was initially too shocked to react. He stood a few meters from one of the hallways that connected to the main square.

The door appeared open, along with a few windows.

He tried to silently signal his sister multiple times until she caught his gaze, understanding his intent. Just as Gunnhildr was about to address Chump again, her words were cut off.

The second figure also leaped, while the third figure rapidly distanced itself from the situation, on the air.

The second figure landed gracefully, causing no crater or sign of injury from the landing impact.

This newcomer exuded an air of elegance. His sophisticated appearance invoked discretion. His impressive figure was accentuated by a flawless dark blue smoking jacket, meticulously tailored, and adorned with subtle decorations on the shoulders and sleeve ends.

The smoking jacket radiated an air of refined luxury. The man's sleek, dark hair was impeccably styled, complemented by horns gracefully curving around his ears. His choice of accessories enhanced his striking look. A light blue cravat was elegantly tied, providing a sophisticated touch.

Dark gloves covered his hands, made from a lightweight yet exceptional fabric that emitted a faint light blue aura. His elegant pants revealed a swirling cold mist beneath.

Instead of conventional feet, he possessed a semi-liquid, semi-gaseous fluid form that allowed him to glide and shift with graceful fluidity.

The figure executed a subtle bow, nodding sideways to acknowledge the others. His voice was soft, calm, and slightly deep, exuding an aura of a storyteller perfectly suited for his previous role as a caretaker.

"My apologies for my companion's brusqueness. As she mentioned, I am Ephiron, noble caretaker, housekeeper, teacher, and guardian of the noble house of my mistress, StarSea. Please understand that while we could easily have ended your lives, it's not our intent."

He cast a stern look at his colleague. "I can't provide all the details, but our mission, for this advancement and all explorers to this new world, is to ensure that the remaining souls we couldn't collect are safely transferred to our—" He was interrupted by his companion.

She imitated his voice with her eyes closed, "Yeah, yeah! They said that if we used our powers directly, we'd risk their souls going unused; they said we could only use brute force." She turned back to the people. "So, be good little herd, because once you're through, we have a lot to handle!"

Chump took another step backward. His first observation was that both of them were slightly larger than humans—not necessarily taller or heavier, but in terms of length, width, and height.

Their stature was around two meters and a few inches, in contrast to the human average of one meter and three-quarters.

Gunnhildr didn't dwell on the comparison, but Ephiron's gaze lingered on Chump for a moment. He nodded in understanding, his features transforming into a more ominous expression.

Chump halted and swallowed, scanning the surroundings. As Gunnhildr boasted about herself, Chump surreptitiously checked on his sister. She seemed on the brink of collapse, prompting him to take swift action.

Chump interjected, "Powers…Do you mean like…real powers? Like...magic?!" He exclaimed with a mix of force and surprise, emphasizing his gestures. "I need a chance—any opportunity—right now." He mentally raced for solutions.

"That's right, you diminutive beings! However, we refer to them as 'Remenant.' Please don't misinterpret. And as for your skepticism about my dear Texas being an illusion? Nuh-uh! We can actually—"

She aimed downward at the floor next to her and discharged a ball of magma she created from her hand, causing the floor to melt.

"We can conjure an array of amusing "phenomena" that you can only dream of grasping! KYAHAH—"

A new voice interrupted. "I've had enough of this charade!"