'The vault was actually a secret entrance? Interesting...' A smile formed on Kuzon's face as he narrowed his sight on the twigs that now covered it's metal surface.
"Looks like the old man has gone inside the hole else. Shouldn't we follow him?" Maya asked, her tone a little hushed.
"Hmm. Yeah, if we don't want to lose the trail. We should also head in."
The problem was the unpredictability of the situation.
'What if it's a trap?' Even with his sensory abilities, he couldn't sense beyond the metal vault door.
He had no idea what to expect beyond it.
'But now that the old man has piqued my interest, I guess we can go an extra mile.'
With that in mind, Kuzon and Maya left their hiding spots and approached the cave. Their goal was simple;
Infiltrate the secret area that the old man went to, and keep following him!
******
"Are you ready?" Kuzon asked, both of them standing above the vault.
It was pitch black, and even now that the entrance was open, Kuzon couldn't sense anything beyond it.
It puzzled him to no end.
Still... he had come this far already. His interest in the old man was already growing beyond what he initially expected.
It was even possible that he could be the one he was looking for.
"Y-yeah. Though I'm a little bit... kyah!" Maya's last words were interrupted by a yelp. This was because Kuzon suddenly held her and drew her close to himself.
"W-w-what are you doing?" She screamed, her face beet red.
"Relax. The opening is not too big. We can both fit in if we stick together like this. Besides, didn't you say you're scared?" Kuzon smiled, looking straight into her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Maya's crimson eyes widened, and they seemed to sparkle the moment Kuzon made the statement.
She was so distracted by his words echoing in her ears, and the smile he gave off, that she didn't notice when they plunged into the vault.
... And descended into darkness.
*
*
*
"W-what is this place...?!" Kuzon was the first to speak so loudly.
Merely due to shock alone, he had forgotten to remain in character. Both he and Maya were now somewhere completely different from what they knew just a second ago.
It was like new a world far removed from the mundane realities of the life they had experienced before now.
"This place is... a pocket dimension?" Kuzon thought aloud, looking at everything around him.
It was a realm brimming with enchantment, whimsy, and unfathomable beauty—a veritable tapestry woven with the threads of imagination.
The skies of the land were a cerulean expanse, dotted with fluffy, cotton candy clouds that lazily drifted by. The air was infused with a fragrance akin to sweet blossoms and hints of freshly baked confections, enticing the senses and drawing visitors deeper into this extraordinary land.
'Is it like my Emperor's Domain? No... this place feels far stranger. Far removed from reality.'
He couldn't explain his unease and his comfort. He stared at Maya, and the girl seemed tok stunned to even say a single word.
The situation must have puzzled and amazed them both.
"Look at the footprints. The old man must have passed this route. Let's walk quickly so we can catch up to him." Kuzon said, finally snapping Maya from her daze.
"Y-yeah. Let's..."
With both of them nodding in agreement, they continued their journey through the strange land around them.
As one ventured forth, they would find themselves traversing winding paths that meandered through meadows adorned with vibrant flowers of every hue.
Each petal boasted a unique, vivid color, radiating a luminosity that illuminated the landscape with an ethereal glow.
Butterflies danced in a graceful ballet, their wings painted in vivid patterns, carrying with them the secrets of the universe.
The trees they saw defied the ordinary, stretching toward the heavens in fantastical shapes and sizes. Their trunks and branches were adorned with sparkling crystals that shimmered like stars, casting a gentle illumination upon the verdant grass below. The leaves rustled in harmonious melodies, whispering ancient tales of adventure and mystery.
Creatures of all shapes and sizes roamed freely, their forms fantastical and their demeanor curious. Mischievous fairy-like beings fluttered about, their iridescent wings creating a kaleidoscope of colors as they playfully darted through the air.
Squirrels with iridescent fur scurried along, chattering in a language only they understood, while unicorns grazed upon the velvety moss, their coats resplendent with hues that seemed borrowed from a rainbow.
Rivers and streams flowed through the land, their waters crystal clear and infused with a luminescent glow. The gentle babbling of the brooks created a soothing symphony that harmonized with the chorus of nature. Bridges, crafted with delicate precision, arched gracefully over the water, inviting wanderers to cross and discover the wonders that lay beyond.
Perhaps the strangest observation of the two strangers was how time seemed to exist in a perpetual dance.
The sun, adorned with a golden halo, painted the sky with breathtaking hues as it made its slow descent. Moonbeams, silvery and soft, cascaded down upon the landscape, transforming the world into a dreamscape where reality and fantasy intertwined.
At this point, Kuzon was beyond stupefied, he was beyond dumbfounded too.
'Impressive! The system that make up this entire place... did that old man make it? No, this is too amazing! I can't believe it!'
Kuzon had to admit to himself that he could have been wrong.
No, at this point, he probably was.
'This place is the real deal. That old man, whoever he is, is definitely the real deal!'
******
After walking a little further, following the footprints, they finally spotted the old man. The way he walked so casually in such an amazing landscape told Kuzon that this man most likely lived here.
This was his natural habitat, wasn't it?
'It's no wonder the Midas Empire hasn't been able to find him. He lives in his own pocket dimension, huh?' Kuzon smiled nervously
His heart was already pounding in both anxiety and excitement.
However, choosing the pragmatic option, Kuzon kept his emotions suppressed and decided to be as careful as possible.
'Let's keep watching him. He'll eventually stop at his home or something.'
*
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[A/N]
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