An Endless Journey To Another World

Rhuer was tired but relieved as she walked home from work. The sun was still bright in the sky, but her mind was clouded with thoughts of rest. She walked through a quiet alley, her footsteps echoing off the walls when suddenly, two men wearing masks blocked her way. "Hand over your bag, and no one gets hurt," one of the robbers snarled, holding a knife toward her. Rhuer's heart raced. She took a step back, her breath quickening. "I... I don't have much," she stammered, trying to keep calm, but fear was creeping in. The second robber smirked, his knife gleaming in the sunlight. "We don't care how much. Give us everything." In a moment of panic, Rhuer decided to run. She darted past them, her legs moving faster than she thought possible. Behind her, the robbers shouted and started chasing her. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she burst out of the alley, the bustling city street suddenly feeling miles away. People looked confused as she dashed by, but no one reacted fast enough to help. The two robbers were still behind her, relentless in their pursuit. But then, something strange happened. The solid ground beneath her feet softened. The pavement cracked, and instead of city concrete, a field of thick, green grass stretched out before her. Rhuer skidded to a stop, her heart pounding not just from running but from confusion. "What... What is this?" she whispered, her eyes wide as she looked around. The tall buildings were gone, replaced by massive trees, their trunks wider than any building she'd ever seen. Above her, the sky was filled with creatures—dragons, their powerful wings cutting through the air, as if hunting for prey. The robbers caught up, their breath ragged. "What the hell is going on?" one of them said, looking just as shocked as Rhuer. "I... I don't know," she replied, taking slow steps backward. The air was thick with tension, and the unfamiliar surroundings made it even worse. The people who had seen them running were also standing in shock, their eyes reflecting the same confusion and fear. It was as if they had all been transported to another world. As Rhuer looked closer, she noticed the trees weren't just big, they were old and gnarled, their dark leaves blocking out most of the sunlight. The ground wasn't just grass, it was uneven and wild. It didn't feel like home. It felt like a world straight out of one of the adventure mangas she loved to read. Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air, sending a shiver down Rhuer's spine. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. The robbers nodded, but before anyone could react, a scream pierced the air. Rhuer turned to see a group of people being attacked by massive, boar-like monsters. The creatures had tusks the size of her arm and eyes filled with rage. Chaos erupted. People ran in every direction, panic spreading like wildfire. Rhuer's instincts screamed at her to run. She pushed past the two robbers and sprinted toward what looked like a safer area. Her legs ached, but fear fueled her. Behind her, she heard the sound of the monsters charging at the people, the cries of pain and terror filling the air. She finally found a large tree, its base hollow enough to hide her for a moment. She crouched down, her heart racing. "This... this can't be real," she muttered to herself, trying to make sense of it all. She remembered in the mangas she read, there was always a system—a window that appeared to show the character's stats, their abilities, their chances of survival. She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered, "Window." Nothing happened. She tried again, louder this time. "Window!" Still, nothing. She slammed her fist into the ground in frustration. "Why isn't this like the stories? I need to know what I can do... I can't survive like this." Her mind was spinning, regret creeping in as she recalled all the times she wished for an adventure like this. Now that it was real, it was terrifying. But she couldn't just sit there. Staying hidden would only help for so long. Rhuer forced herself to get up and sneak out of her hiding spot. As she moved, she saw smoke rising in the distance, like a campfire. Hope flickered inside her. Maybe there was help. Quietly, she made her way to the smoke, keeping low and trying not to make noise. When she arrived, she didn't find people. Instead, a group of goblins was huddled around the fire. Some were injured, others were keeping watch. Rhuer's heart raced again, but this time, it wasn't from fear. It was from a growing sense of determination. She looked around and saw rocks on the ground. An idea formed in her mind. Picking up a few, she threw them toward the opposite side of the camp. The goblins snapped to attention, their beady eyes searching for the source of the noise. Taking advantage of their distraction, Rhuer slipped into the camp. She carefully avoided the goblins and began searching for something useful. Her hands shook as she rummaged through their belongings. She found a bow and a sword. Her fingers brushed over the cold metal of the blade, and a strange sensation filled her. Without thinking, she stuffed some food and supplies into a bag and was about to leave when she accidentally stepped on one of the injured goblins' feet. It let out a weak cry. Without hesitation, Rhuer swung the sword. The goblin went silent, and Rhuer felt a surge of energy run through her body, her skin glowing faintly for a moment. It was as if she had leveled up. She stared at the body for a moment, her mind reeling. "Is this... really happening?" Her heart was pounding, but not from fear this time. She felt stronger. She glanced at the other injured goblins. One by one, she took them out, each strike making her glow a little brighter. Once the deed was done, she hurried back to her hiding place, her body still faintly glowing. There was no game system, no clear way of knowing what she was capable of, but one thing was clear: Rhuer was no longer the same person. She was ready to survive. She stared at the goblin's body for a moment, her mind swirling with disbelief. "Is this... really happening?" she whispered, her breath shaky. But this time, her heart wasn't pounding from fear. There was something else—strength. She glanced at the other injured goblins. Without hesitation, she moved swiftly, taking them down one by one. Each strike made her skin glow brighter, a strange power surging through her. When it was over, she quickly made her way back to her hiding spot. The faint glow still clung to her, but the adrenaline began to fade as she sat down, staring at the stolen loot in front of her. Relief washed over her as she thought, At least now, I have a chance to survive. But the brief moment of victory was interrupted by a sudden, sharp thought—her family. Her chest tightened as she remembered her mother, her two brothers, and her niece. Were they here too? The thought of them being trapped in this strange, dangerous world sent a chill through her. "I need to find them," she mumbled, determination replacing her earlier uncertainty. If they were here, she couldn't waste any time. She had to find them no matter what. With this new goal, Rhuer felt a renewed sense of motivation. As she settled back into the hollow of the tree, she noticed something she hadn't before: the opening seemed to close slightly when she entered, forming a protective barrier. That explained why she felt so safe here. No creatures had tried to enter the tree yet, and now, with the entrance narrowing when she stepped inside, she understood why. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the unfamiliar landscape. A deep instinct told her that the creatures in this world would be even more dangerous at night, and she couldn't afford to get hurt, let alone lose a limb. She decided to stay hidden for the night.