Chapter 3 "Yep, This Ain’t Earth!"

The anticipation hung heavy in the air as the door to the house creaked open, revealing a world entirely foreign to Wade. For the very first time, he was about to step outside into this mesmerizing new realm. His heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as he crossed the threshold, his senses instantly overwhelmed. "Cirdan, let's go!" His father's voice called out to him, and with gentle hands, he lifted Wade, placing him securely on his shoulders. It was an unfamiliar sensation for Wade, perched high above the ground, and instinctively he clutched fistfuls of his father's hair as he observed the world from this newfound vantage point.

"Ouw, ouw. Cirdan your father is going to grow bald if you grab my hair like that." Zaos said, holding on to one of Wade's fists. 

"Oh, sorry," Wade replied, reducing the intensity he had on his hair. But as he looked at how far from the ground he was, Wade knew he wasn't taking any chances. He had died once, and it was fucking painful. And yep, he had no intention of dying again. He grabbed Zaos' hair even tighter, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry old man, but it's either this or that." He whispered to himself. Idril laughed, the sound spreading thoroughly through the forest. 

As he looked around, Wade couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery that unfolded before him. It was a world beyond his wildest imagination. The forest stretched out as far as the eye could see, a realm of enchantment where nature and elven magic coexisted in perfect harmony. The trees in the elven forest were unlike any he had ever seen on Earth. They stood tall and slender, their trunks adorned with intricate patterns of ivy and luminescent moss that emitted a gentle, ethereal glow even with the sun high in the sky. The leaves of these trees were a vibrant green, glistening with a subtle iridescence that shimmered in the dappled sunlight. Each leaf seemed to possess its own personality, rustling in the breeze like a soft, melodic whisper. The air itself was infused with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle hum of nature's magic coursed through the very atmosphere. As Wade glanced around, he noticed that they were the only ones around. "How far into the forest are we?" he wondered aloud.

"We live pretty far from the rest of the clan but don't worry. Your father will bring you safely into town." Zaos said. 

Wade wanted to ask why, but he could already guess the answer – it was probably because of their son. He thought. Idril, sensing Wade's curiosity, began to point out various plants and explain their uses. "That's an atobi plant," She said, gesturing toward a cluster of blue flowers. "It's used to cure stomachaches. There's no part of the forest that isn't useful. Every little plant, every little organism has their own role in life." She explained, pointing out different things as they continued on their journey. Without notice, a different kind of aura swept over the atmosphere. Zaos suddenly raised his hand into the air, his expression tense. Wade wasn't sure what was happening, but the feeling of unease was palpable, and a chill crept down his spine as he struggled to draw a breath. He could sense that something was coming, and whatever it was – it wasn't good. 

As if to cement his fears, Zaos' voice held an unusual gravity. "Cirdan, I'm going to put you down. No matter what happens, stay behind your mom and me," he instructed, his tone starkly different from his usual warmth.

"Okay," Wade replied, his voice trembling as he struggled to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. The world seemed to close in around him as his father gently lifted him down from his shoulders. He was placed on the forest floor just as his entire world changed in the blink of an eye. A monstrous creature materialized before them with an earth-shattering roar that sent terror coursing through Wade's veins. This was no ordinary beast. It was a white tiger, but its appearance bore no resemblance to the tigers he had seen in books or at the zoo on Earth. This creature was colossal, its sheer size dwarfing anything Wade had ever encountered. A single thought echoed in his mind, "Yep, this ain't fucking earth." He muttered under his breath. 

The tiger's teeth gleamed like daggers, each one seemingly capable of snapping a human in two with ease. Its massive claws extended like blades, and its eyes blazed a sinister red, glowing with an unholy intensity. Wade's fear surged, his body turning cold even as sweat rolled down his back. As the monstrous tiger lunged toward them with terrifying speed, the very earth seemed to tremble beneath its colossal weight. Its roars reverberated through the forest, a cacophony of fury and primal power. In that heartbeat, everything changed. Zaos and Idril's stance transformed instantly. Gone were the friendly parents Wade had known moments before, replaced by fierce and determined warriors. Their bodies shifted into a defensive posture, ready to confront the monstrous threat that now stood before them.

***

Under the blazing sun, the forest crackled with tension as Zaos stepped forward, his every movement exuding confidence. With a flourish, he summoned his twin swords. The blades were nothing short of extraordinary, their edges sharp enough to slice through steel, and they emitted a soft, blue glow that seemed to dance along their surface. Wade's eyes widened in astonishment as he watched this surreal display of power unfold before him. "Where the fuck did he bring that from?" he muttered, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief.

Meanwhile, Idril raised her hand to the sky, her fingers gracefully tracing the air like she was writing something. "Oh mother of nature. Lend me your power. Grant me your power to conquer our enemies. Give me a path to cleanse such evil…"  The air around her seemed to shimmer with emerald energy as her magic took form. Green tendrils of energy burst out from the ground, weaving their way through the earth beneath her feet. In an instant, the ground was covered with vines, coiling and twisting like serpents on a mission. The battle that took place was a breathtaking display of skill, magic, and raw power. 

The massive white tiger proved to be a formidable adversary, and its size didn't decrease its speed, rather it defied logic. It darted and weaved with astonishing grace, avoiding Zaos' twin swords with uncanny precision. "I'll take the right," Zaos yelled, rushing toward the tiger. 

"I'll support from behind," Idril yelled back. The tiger's muscles rippled beneath its coat as it leaped and twisted through the air, dodging the vines and landing with feral grace. The battle erupted in a mixture of steel meeting fur and the vibrant clash of magic. Zaos' twin swords moved like extensions of his own limbs, a deadly dance of precision and speed. He parried the tiger's swipes with blinding expertise, each clang of metal echoing across the battlefield.

Wade watched wide-eyed as the battle unfolded before him. "What the fuck, what the fuck! WHAT THE FUCK?" he repeated over and over in his head. This wasn't even close to playing games through the screen. This was a completely different world. This was something that was beyond his imagination. His heart raced, and he struggled to catch his breath, unable to believe the incredible power and skill he had just witnessed. 'What would happen if he was able to unlock his skill window?' That thought burned into his mind, and for the first time since he arrived in this world – he felt the power of the system. This world, so strange and wondrous, held secrets beyond his wildest imagination, and he had just been given a glimpse of its awe-inspiring mysteries. 

From the corner of his eye, he watched Idril chant again. Her magic intertwined with the foliage around them, creating a complex rope of thorns and vines that snaked toward the tiger. The beast's agility skill came into play again, but Idril's manipulation of control over the surrounding nature was even better. Thorny tendrils closed in, cutting off more of the tiger's movement. Suddenly, the tiger's gaze was drawn toward Wade, and he could feel it deep within his bones. That tiger was coming for him. "Heck no!" Wade swore, taking a step backward. That small movement set off the tiger once again, and with its skill in use, it evaded Idril's magic. As it leaped into the air, Zaos followed, the sunlight catching his sword. It felt like the blade was on fire, and with a single strike, it drew blood, causing the tiger to yell out in pain. With one final, calculated strike, Zaos' twin swords found their mark once again, and the tiger's ferocious roars turned into defeated whimpers as it slowly fell to the ground. 

"Cirdan cover your eyes," Idril instructed, but Wade was too enthralled by the scene before him. In slow motion, he watched as Idril changed the form of her magic, and with a flick of her hand, the vines protruded from the ground like stakes, piercing through the tiger's belly. For Wade, it was a beautiful sight – the tiger bleeding, the deep cuts on its body, the stakes piercing through its skin; and just above the body, the sun shined gloriously. "Beautiful." He whispered. He could feel his blood boiling, and in that moment something changed within Wade. 

[SKILL WINDOW- LOCKED]

>CONDITION: System only works when player is a guild master of an adventure guild.

"Guild master? I'll fucking become one. Just wait for me." He swore. The dust settled, and the forest fell silent once more, except for the heavy breaths of his parents – Zaos and Idril. As soon as they turned to look at him, they both began to run toward him, enveloping him in their arms. 

"Were you scared?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Is something wrong?"

"I apologize that it took too long."

"I will buy you hawthorn candy when we get to town!"

They both rushed out at once, and Wade couldn't help but frown. Although they were the ones that had fought, and he had done nothing but watch; he couldn't believe that they were both worried about him. A strange sensation spread through his chest, and Wade wasn't sure he liked the way it made him feel. "Why? Why are you so worried about me?" He wondered aloud, and by the look on their faces, it was too late to take it back. They had both heard. 

"Because we love you," Idril said, placing a kiss on his cheek. "What kind of parent isn't worried for their child?" She added, smiling. 

Wade looked at them for a few seconds, and he could see his reflection in their eyes. At that moment he realized why he felt so strange. "So, is this what it feels like to have a family?" He thought. "Is this what it feels like to feel loved?" He wondered. The strange feeling spreading through his chest was warmth. "Damnit." He cussed, this was damn nice.