In the blink of an eye, everything changed.
The terrifying bustle of the shopping mall disappeared completely.
The marble floor turned into damp earth and moss.
The air conditioning was replaced by the fresh scent of vegetation and the distant song of unknown birds.
All the people who had been sucked into the portal suddenly appeared in the middle of a vast ancient forest.
Jay was one of the last to materialize, still calmly licking what remained of his chocolate peanut ice cream."I'm so glad to see you!"
Diana exclaimed, throwing herself into a tight hug with Buffy.
The scene repeated throughout the clearing. Families that had been separated in the chaos reunited in tears.
Friends embraced as if years had passed. Strangers who moments before had only been running desperately now comforted each other.
Sobs of relief and nervous laughter filled the forest.
It was a strangely beautiful moment in the midst of horror.
Jay, observing everything from a little further back, felt an unexpected lump in his throat.
For a second, his lips curved into a sincere smile and two small tears rolled down his cheeks.
He had been moved."Damn… I got too sentimental," he muttered, quickly wiping the tears with the back of his hand.He cleared his throat, embarrassed with himself.
He took one last spoonful of melted ice cream and sighed.
"This isn't like me."
The joy of the reunion lasted very little.
The air suddenly grew heavy. All the blue screens that had appeared in the mall returned, now floating between the trees with a brighter and more menacing glow.
[Main Quest: Defeat the monsters or die!]
The red letters flashed cruelly, as if the system itself were mocking them.Jay read the message and let out a dry, almost sarcastic laugh."Wow… this system really is a fucking idiot," he said out loud, not caring who might hear him.
Around him, expressions of relief turned into pure terror.
People who were still hugging separated abruptly, staring at the screens with wide eyes.Some began to tremble.
Others were already looking for anything to defend themselves with: sticks, stones, whatever.
The forest, which seconds earlier had seemed like a refuge, now felt like a death trap.
Jay ran a hand through his hair and smiled with that mix of amusement and madness that was already becoming characteristic of him."Straight to the point, huh? I like it.
GRAAAAAWWWRR!
A guttural, deafening roar echoed through the trees, making the ground and the leaves of the nearest trees vibrate.
Fear spread like a virus.
Thousands of people who had barely started breathing with relief froze in place.
Everyone's heart beat hard at the same time.
In a matter of seconds, the forest filled with more roars, howls, and inhuman shrieks coming from all directions.They were surrounded.
The sounds approached rapidly.
Branches snapping, heavy footsteps on the undergrowth, hoarse and hungry breathing.
The air became thick, charged with a metallic and wild smell."They're coming!"
"Oh my God, no!"
"Run!"Panic exploded. People started running in every direction, tripping over each other, pushing, crying.
Families that had reunited just minutes ago were separated again in the chaos.Jay raised his gaze toward the treetops, completely calm.
A dangerous smile formed on his lips.
"Finally… the real entertainment begins."
In the distance, among the shadows of the trunks, huge silhouettes could already be seen moving quickly. Glowing eyes. Gleaming fangs.And every second, they got closer.From the shadows of the trees, they finally emerged.
Hundreds of monsters with bright blue eyes surged from the thicket, moving with unnatural speed.
Their deformed bodies, covered in black scales and sharp spikes, emitted bloodthirsty growls.
Jay watched them without retreating.
His expression became solemn. He placed his right hand on his chest, bowed his head, and recited with a clear and devoted voice:
"Oh, Lady of the White Stars… Mistress of the Cosmic and Master of the Impossible… Allow your humble servant to protect these poor souls. I beg you."At that instant, his body illuminated.
His casual clothes disappeared in particles of light, replaced by an emerald green armor-robe adorned with shining golden straps.
A majestic bluish cape, full of bright stars that rotated like living constellations, fell over his shoulders.
Ethereal birds of green and blue energy flew around him before landing on a sword of pure blue aura that floated in front of him.
The power emanating from him was so overwhelming that the nearest monsters hesitated.
Jay gripped the sword with both hands. Then…Time seemed to stop.
All sound disappeared. The roars, the people's screams, the wind through the trees… everything fell into complete silence.
Before a single monster could touch any person, Jay drove his sword into the ground with force.
FLASH!
An immense white light, pure and blinding, erupted from the point of impact.
The explosion of holy light expanded in a wave at impossible speed, flooding the entire forest in a radius of hundreds of meters.
Wherever the light touched, the monsters disintegrated without emitting a single cry.
Hundreds of them were erased from existence in less than a second, turned into particles of light that dissipated into the air.
When the light finally faded, not a single monster was left standing.
Only an astonished silence remained.
The forest fell completely quiet.
Where there had once been hundreds of terrifying monsters, now only particles of light fading into the air remained.All those present —men, women, children, and elders— slowly turned toward Jay.
They looked at him as if he were a god descended from heaven.Some fell to their knees.
Others began to cheer him with tears in their eyes:
"He's a savior!"
"He saved us!"
"Thank you! Thank you!"However, not everyone reacted with joy.
Several stepped back in fear, especially when they saw his eyes.They now glowed with an intense scarlet color, like fresh blood under moonlight.
Children hid their faces in their parents' chests.
Some people looked away, trembling, unable to hold that supernatural gaze.Jay, unaware of the fear he caused, gently extended his hand.
One of the green and blue energy birds landed on his finger.
He caressed it tenderly while whispering:
"Thank you, my Lady…"The small luminous bird let out a soft trill before dissolving into bright particles.
A few meters away, Diana and Buffy watched him with their mouths open, still hugging each other."He's… he's a green-haired angel," Buffy murmured, her eyes full of awe and devotion.Diana swallowed hard, unable to look away from that figure surrounded by stars and divine aura.
"He might be… a being from another world," she added in a low voice.Jay stood in the middle of the clearing, his starry cape waving gently even though there was no wind.
His expression was calm, almost serene, but those scarlet eyes continued to shine with a power that no one in that place could understand.