Journey to no End

Unknown Traveler

No One's POV:

A battle raged in a distant, desolate land, where the very fabric of reality seemed to warp and twist under the immense power of the combatants. The scale of the conflict was nearly impossible to comprehend; attacks of such magnitude that they could level cities and even entire planets were unleashed with terrifying frequency. The air crackled with raw energy, and the ground trembled as the titanic forces collided, each side appearing evenly matched in a brutal dance of destruction.

Amidst the chaos, two figures stood out, their presence commanding attention even in a battlefield teeming with power. They fought side by side against countless adversaries, their movements synchronized like those of seasoned warriors who had shared many battles. Yet, despite the apparent unity, a hidden tension simmered between them.

For a time, the battle seemed to be at a stalemate, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Then, without warning, the second of the two figures turned on his companion. In a swift and treacherous move, he drove a sword deep into the first figure's back. The blade pierced through flesh and bone, emerging from the front, skewering the figure's stomach and lung. A dark power emanated from the sword, sealing the victim's formidable abilities.

Staggering from the betrayal, the wounded figure managed to summon the last vestiges of his strength. Through sheer willpower, he conjured a portal, its edges flickering and unstable. With one final effort, he stumbled through the portal just as it closed behind him, leaving the battlefield and his treacherous ally behind.

In a Forest:

The portal deposited the figure in a dense, ancient forest, far from the battlefield. He crashed to the ground, barely alive, the portal closing just as his consciousness began to fade. The impact of his landing sent shockwaves through the forest, the force of his arrival causing the earth to shudder. Towering redwood trees, centuries old, toppled like dominos, and animals fled in terror from the unnatural disturbance.

A path of devastation stretched out from where he lay, a small crater marking the spot where his body had struck the ground. The once serene forest was now eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves and the distant cries of frightened animals.

But this silence was not to last. Far off, a young man with extraordinary hearing caught the faint sounds of the forest's upheaval. His ears, finely attuned to the subtlest of noises, picked up the disturbance from several kilometers away. Curiosity sparked within him, and he set out to investigate the source of the commotion, moving swiftly and silently through the underbrush.

When he finally arrived at the scene, he found the figure lying in the crater, unconscious and bleeding heavily. The figure was about 188 cm tall, with a lean but muscular build that hinted at great strength. His face was strikingly feminine, with high cheekbones and delicate features, yet the young man could tell at a glance that he was male. His long silver hair, streaked with black at the tips, framed his pale, almost tanned face.

The figure's attire was as unusual as his appearance. He wore a whitish cloak with intricate silver embroidery, which was now stained with blood. Beneath the cloak, his outfit was predominantly black, consisting of finely crafted leather boots, military-style pants, and a shirt that was both practical and elegant. A black leather belt with a silver buckle encircled his waist, from which hung pouches containing strange, triangular metal objects. A golden chain was visible around his neck, though it was mostly hidden beneath his clothing.

The young man, undeterred by the blood and the danger that might come with assisting a stranger of such mysterious origins, made a quick decision. He knelt beside the figure, carefully assessing the severity of his injuries. Despite the gaping wound in his stomach, the figure was still breathing, though his breaths were shallow and labored.