"Mom, we have to do something. We can't just sit here and do nothing" Fatheema spoke firmly as she stood in the front yard, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
The morning sky was bright and clear, and a gentle breeze drifted through the yard. Yet the beauty of the morning meant nothing after what had happened to their family.
Her father had always been the family's breadwinner. Without him, their future would become increasingly difficult. Relying solely on their small farm and a few livestock would hardly be enough to support everyone.
"I'm going to find a way to reach the world that mysterious creature came from... and bring Dad home" She clenched her fists with determination.
"But sweetheart, I'm worried" Her mother looked at her anxiously, "If something happens to you, I'll lose two members of my family. I can't let you go. What happened was beyond anything we can understand. You could end up becoming another victim"
She shook her head, "I'll try contacting some of my friends. Maybe someone will know how to bring your father back."
"But Mom, that'll take too long. I'm afraid something will happen to Dad. We don't have time to wait. If you still want to ask for help afterward, that's fine—but I have to act now."
Without waiting for her mother's response, Fatheema reached into her dimensional storage bracelet and took out a small pink sphere about the size of a ping-pong ball. She whispered something to it before throwing it onto the ground.
POP!
The sphere shattered, releasing a cloud of thick crimson smoke.
"Come on... where are you? Please, come here..."
As soon as she finished speaking, a crimson portal opened within the smoke. A translucent red silhouette emerged from it.
Gradually, it solidified into the figure of a young woman dressed in red.
She had fair skin with a warm golden undertone, narrow eyes, and delicate features reminiscent of a girl from China. Her long black hair reached her waist.
"Fatty! Why'd you summon me? You actually used up one of your summoning spheres."
She leaned forward, pointing a finger playfully toward Fatheema's nose, "Hey! You look terrible! What happened?"
"I... uh..." Fatheema forced a weak smile, "I'm in trouble. Come inside, Akane." She gently took Akane's hand and led her into the house.
Some time later, after hearing the entire story, Akane fell silent.
Fatheema told her everything—
about the battle with the mysterious black creature...
the terrifying monster that had terrorized Alas Purwo Forest...
the people it had killed...
her friends... and finally her father.
She explained that she believed her father was still alive, taken into the monster's world. She intended to rescue him.
"Hmm..." Akane folded her arms thoughtfully.
"Based on what you've told me, that creature is extremely dangerous. I think it belongs to the Ifrit race—one of the Ethereal races. And if it was wearing a crown..." She frowned, "...there's a chance it was an Ifrit King. The crown suggests it's the strongest among its people. Even Akane looked disturbed by the story she had just heard. Fatty, I need to examine the place where it disappeared—where it teleported back to its own world. Only then can I determine whether it's possible for you to reach it"
"Then let's go" Fatheema stood up immediately, "We're going to Alas Purwo Forest." She couldn't wait another second.
The three of them soon made their way to the place where the monster had last appeared—
the battlefield where Fatheema had lost both her father and her friends. The forest was eerily silent. The aftermath of the battle remained everywhere. Broken branches... Uprooted trees... Deep scars carved into the ground... Even dried bloodstains still marked parts of the battlefield. No authorities had arrived yet.
The entire area had been left exactly as it was after yesterday's catastrophe. Akane took out a small device no larger than the palm of her hand. She pressed several buttons. Moments later, a holographic display projected above the device, revealing rows of strange symbols written in an unfamiliar script.
"Hmm... just as I expected" She studied the display carefully "Fatty, the creature really is an Ifrit. It's one of the Ethereal races. They're incredibly powerful and notoriously violent. They often kill or torture their victims—either for food... or simply for their own amusement" She glanced back at the hologram, "According to this spacetime scanner, it came from the Realm of Saroya... a world beneath the constellation known as Tsurayya, or the Seven Sisters"
"The Realm of Saroya? Tsurayya? The Seven Sisters? What kind of place is that? Can people even get there? What's it like? What kinds of creatures live there? And what would happen to a human if they entered that world?" Questions flooded Fatheema's mind one after another.
Akane smiled faintly, "Fatty... The universe is unimaginably vast. Life exists in countless forms. As for whether humans can survive there... We don't know for certain. But judging from the creatures that come from Saroya, the Ifrit still depend on the same fundamental elements we do—fire, water, wind, and earth. I don't think the environment is drastically different from Earth's. I'm an Ethereal being too. So are the Ifrit. My guess is that humans can survive in Saroya. If that's true... Then your father and your friends should still be alive."
"Akane... How do I get there? I'm going to find my father. I can't just stand by and do nothing. And besides... There's no guarantee that monster won't return someday. I have to find a way to stop it before it attacks again."
Akane nodded confidently, "I can create a portal to Saroya. I'll use the residual spacetime trail the monster left behind in this forest. The destination coordinates will match the world it returned to. The exact arrival point may be different... But that's actually better. You won't appear directly inside your enemy's stronghold" She paused, "Oh, right. I'll need something that came from the monster. Do you have anything?"
"Me?" Fatheema thought for a moment before taking out the Semar's Pointing Dagger. Dark green blood from the monster still stained its blade, "This might work."
"Perfect! I'll begin constructing the portal. You should get ready" Akane searched for a suitable location in a clearing beside an enormous banyan tree. She unpacked several mysterious devices and carefully arranged them around the area.
Meanwhile, Fatheema walked over to her mother and gently held both of her hands.
"Mom... I have to do this. Please don't worry. I'll come home safely. And I'll bring Dad back with me. If I don't try...I'll regret it for the rest of my life. And I'm afraid that evil monster will come back and hurt more people. Don't be afraid. I'm stronger now. I'll defeat it." She did everything she could to reassure her mother.
Her mother smiled sadly. "All right, sweetheart. I know I can't stop you. Just promise me you'll be careful. Don't do anything reckless. And come home safely."
At last, she let her daughter go. She knew Fatheema's determination all too well. Trying to stop her would only be futile.
A few moments later, Akane's portal was complete. It took the form of a gigantic cylinder of light nearly ten feet in diameter. Countless shimmering colors flowed through it like an endless staircase stretching toward the heavens. The glowing column distorted the surrounding space, sending brilliant sparks of energy dancing through the air.
"This is the Ultimate Ladder Portal. It's a special portal capable of reaching worlds unimaginably far from our own. It can only be used once for now. After that, it'll need time to recharge the Power Orb before it can be activated again."
Akane handed Fatheema a small black cube with several crimson buttons on its surface.
"Take this Spiritual Communicator. When you're ready to return, send me the activation code. I'll reopen the portal for you immediately. This device works through spiritual resonance. It can reach its target even across thousands of light-years—or across different dimensions—as long as the person you're contacting is still alive. Their soul can still be reached. "
"Akane... Thank you. You really are my best friend. I can always count on you. If you don't have any other responsibilities... Please stay at my house. Look after my mom and my younger siblings while I'm gone." Fatheema accepted the communicator and stored it safely inside her dimensional bracelet.
A few moments later, after saying her final goodbyes... She turned toward the portal.
Without looking back—
Fatheema stepped into the light.
***