The bright light exploded.
Not a warmth.
But a impact.
Limbo felt as if his feet leave the ground as the world folded inward. Space twisted like it was something kind of book. He felt an uneasiness in his stomach, vision was spiraling into white and gold with few other streaks.
The gate spit them out.
THUD—!
Limbo and party slammed into the hard earth, breath was heavy as if their lungs were being squeeze. Rin rolled to the side, coughing, before she hit something here vines hold her. Gaja try his best to land stably but he skidded several meters, and by digging his blades into the ground he stop himself.
Everything was spinning.
"...ugh...uoowww." Rin groaned, but soon vomit. "I hate ... Portals..."
Limbo pushed himself to upright, he's head was pounding like a drumbeat. The air was felt thick, satured with mana far denser than the forest and places they have been before.
Only one of them stood steady, like it was nothing.
Sambha.
The child blinked once, sniffed the air—and his eyes widened.
"...home..... Smell..."
Limbo follow his gaze.
They were standing at the edge of a vast valley, bathed in golden light. Towering stone tree rose like pillars carved by god's. Massive vines arched overhead, bearing clusters of glowing fruits the size of fists. Waterfalls shimmered in the distance, cascading from floating rock.
A hidden world.
Rin take a breath. "...this place is insane."
Did humans leave in such kind of place.
Gajastared, momentarily he forgets to take a breath. So this is where those warriors come from..
Before anyone could react further, Limbo's knees gave up.
The world tilted upside down again.
Limbo! Rin reached out.
Sambha caught his fist.
The boy tugged Limbo forward urgently.
"Brother—eat."
He pointed at the glowing fruit hanging low from a nearby branch.
Limbo barely manage to say words, but before that sambha leapt—one light step, then taking two rapid movements and he plucked a fruit cleanly, like this is regular. He land without a sound, he shoved it into Limbo's hands.
"...bro....eat... Gate sickness, removed."
Limbo hesitated for a second but he trust sambha and take a bite.
Sweetness flooded in his mouth cool, grounding, stabilizing—total opposite to what he thought. The dizziness vanished almost instantly.
Rin examines, she was stunned after sambha handed her another fruit by climbing again. After a bite Rin's eyes widened. ...oh. Okay. This is truly transendic place, everything is extraordinary.
Gaja also grabs one the fruits, which he finished in two bites. "That's really.... It really fixed—useful."
Sambha smiled faintly, relief covered across his face.
Then—
Who's there?
"INTRUDERS!"
A sharp shout cut through the valley.
Limbo's head snapped up towards the voice.
Four armoured figures emerged from between the stone and trees, Spears leveled, eyes blazing with hostility towards them. Their armor was lighter than the soldier they fought at cave entrance.
"Drop the stolen goods!" One varies a loud.
Rin frowned. "Stolen—?"
Before she could finish, a spear flew at her.
Limbo twisted, lightning snapped and intercepted instinctively as the weapon deflected mid-air.
That was all it took.
"Attack!" One of them screamed a loud.
The guards surged forward, in sync one after another.
Gaja also prepare to met them head-on.
Steel clashed violently as he blocked two spears at once, heat wave came off his body. Rin's vines erupted from the ground, whipping around the ankles and yanking one guard flat.
As the other two march forward, Limbo stepped in, lightning controlled attack prepare for launch, precise— but non lethal, but enough to overwhelmed them.
One of the guard flew while jumping backward, smoke covering the armour.
Another crashed into a stone trunk.
The fourth on hesitated, but it's too late he was already in attack range.
Gaja's daggers struck his chest, knocking the wind clean out of him.
Silence fell around, almost covering the
"Garden of Ramfal ", no Movement evrything stunned on the spot.
Sambha didn't stepped on the ground, atleast not when the conflict was still going on..
He stood at a top of a branch above them, on the tree of Ramfal. He was clutching the fruit he pluck and holding tightly to branch with wide eyes.
Confused and tense.
"Stop!" Limbo shouted. We're not your enemies!"
The guards stared, then one of them froze.
...that child... It's human.
His voice dropped.
"That's... that's him."
Another guards face drained of color. "The scent... The look ....it's real."
The wounded guard scrambled back, eyes wild. "Blow the horn!... Right now!"
He shouted at fellow soldier.
Before anyone could stop him and realise anything, he raised a curved horn to his lips.
BWOOOOOOOOOOM—
The sound tore through the trees and echoes throughout the valley.
Birds scattered. The ground seemed to vibrate.
Rin sword. "That's not good, I have a bad feeling."
Gaja clicked his tounge. "That's very not good."
One guard bolted, sprinting towards the inner terraces.
He's going to report, Rin said.
Limbo clenched his jaw.
System text flickered faintly at the edge of his vision.
[Multiple Reinforcement Detected.]
[High ranking individual may appear.]
Sambha suddenly dropped down beside Limbo, gripping his sleeve tightly.
"Brother...too many... People coming."
Limbo knelt, meeting his eyes.
"Hey, listen to me." ...no matter what happens down come down from tree, you might get hurt, don't worry we can handle anything.
Sambha swallowed.
"You're not alone anymore, like that night." The boy nodded slightly, but... Something that he feared.
In the distance far but at reachable distance another horn answered.
Not one.
Many...
Gaja rested his blades on his shoulder, eyes sharp. "Looks like we walked straight in the center of fire."
Rin smiled tightly, vines cooling around her arms. "Then we don't burn quietly, we can resist."
Meanwhile.
Limbo stood still, the lightning humming softly around him as he looked deeper into the valley — towards the heart of world, Sambha's origin lyes.
So this is your home, he murmured.
Whatever is waiting...
...here I am...as you said.
He's eyes shift toward sky...
...can you hear me... The ghost...
Or .... Should I say.
Shadow of dream...
They weren't turning back...not now.