"Huh?"
As Subaru emerged from the shimmering green portal, an unsettling wave of dizziness swept over him. The transition between worlds felt disorienting, but he understood there was no turning back. He had made the deliberate choice to leave behind the pain and humiliation of his previous life, and now he stood in a new dimension, surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings.
"What the..."
The first thing Subaru noticed was the striking difference in his environment. The bustling streets of the grand capital city of Lugunica had disappeared.
Instead, he found himself on the outskirts of a scenic town, nestled amidst lush green fields and forests. The sky above was a brilliant, clear blue, and a refreshing breeze danced through the temperate landscape.
In the distance, he spotted people strolling along the quaint streets of the town, predominantly humans, a stark contrast to the world he had left behind, which was teeming with demihumans.
"Where am I?" Subaru mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible over the soothing sounds of the wind rustling through the trees. He looked around, trying to familiarize himself.
The town appeared to be a charming blend of medieval brick houses, rustic wooden huts, and traditional stables and barns. It felt oddly reminiscent of Arlam Village, albeit on a larger scale, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him.
"Morty said this is a reincarnator's paradise... I didn't expect it to be so... Backward," Subaru said to himself as he began to make his way toward the town.
"Hmmm, let's see," Subaru muttered as he continued to walk. He tinkered with the tablet device in his hand, scrolling through various applications. Eventually, he stumbled upon one named "Morty Navigation Network." With a tap, he opened it, revealing a map that displayed the world and his current location.
"Uhhh DK World, Axel City, Kingdom of Belzerg... WHAT!? Is this a joke!? They call this place a city!?" Subaru mused in disbelief as he approached the town limits.
In the distance, he could see people gathered by the riverbanks, engaged in heated arguments. He let out a sigh and shook his head.
"I hope this isn't one of those BS clichés again where I have to defeat some great evil or demon lord... Seriously, I'm done with fantasy and hero stuff as far as I'm concerned." Memories from his past life briefly replayed in his mind before he shook them off.
As Subaru reached the heart of the city, the familiar sight of brick houses and shops greeted him. He couldn't help but grumble,
"I knew it... Lugunica all over again. Tsk!" The resemblance to his previous life was uncanny, and it left him slightly irritated.
In the distance, Subaru spotted a large brick building with a beige marble wall and an orange-brown roof. In the center of the building, a prominent logo caught his eye. The structure was surrounded by various shops and stalls.
"Adventurer Guild... Axel branch? Ugh! This place is straight out of some RPG fantasy cliche!" Subaru couldn't hide his exasperation, and he rolled his eyes. Deep inside, he cringed at the thought of being stuck in another stereotypical fantasy world.
He let out a resigned sigh.
"Well, I might as well make the best of it. After all, this is a new start... Again," Subaru muttered as he pushed open the door and entered the guild.
Entering, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the mostly empty halls, where the few people present were casually enjoying their lunches.
He scanned the interior, hoping to find something more interesting to occupy his time, but the place seemed rather mundane.
"Seriously?" he muttered, rolling his eyes once more. If this had been three months ago, he would have been brimming with joy and enthusiasm at the prospect of an isekai adventure.
However, the harsh memories of his past experiences in that cruel and unforgiving world haunted and tormented him. Instead of excitement, he felt a growing sense of boredom and disinterest, tinged with caution.
Just as he was about to leave the underwhelming atmosphere, a woman's voice captured his attention.
"Sir?" the voice called out, prompting Subaru to turn his gaze toward its source. "Hello. What can I do for you today?" she added.
"Hmmm?" He spotted a striking young woman behind a counter, her blonde hair neatly tied back in a bun, her gold-colored eyes radiating confidence, a red ribbon elegantly adorning her neck, and a white off-the-shoulder low-cut top that revealed a significant amount of cleavage.
Black shoulder and sleeve cuffs complemented her attire, and she wore low-rise jean shorts and short brown boots, giving her a bold and distinctive appearance.
"Oh, great, another perfect waifu cliche," he muttered with a click of his tongue. He couldn't help but despise that overused trope; it hadn't worked back in Lugunica, so why should it now?
"Huh? Sorry, I couldn't hear you. Can you repeat that?" the blonde girl tilted her head in question.
"I said, 'What do you want?'" Subaru replied with a bored tone.
"Uh, are you new in town? Are you here to register as an adventurer?" the blonde girl inquired.
"It depends. Are you the receptionist?"
"Yes, My name is Luna." With a polite smile, the girl introduced herself. "I am the guild receptionist of this city's Adventurer Guild. How can I assist you today? Perhaps with membership registration, or maybe you need some directions and tips?" She added with a warm and welcoming smile, eager to be of help.
Subaru took a moment to process all of this. He wasn't particularly in the mood for another adventure; after all, he hadn't just stumbled upon advanced technology to end up trapped in yet another isekai world. Nonetheless, with nothing else to occupy his time, he decided to humor the girl.
"Being a member of the Adventurer Guild, huh? How do I sign up then?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
"Um, in that case, you'll first need to pay the registration fee," Luna replied, her words accompanied by a warm smile.
"Registration fee?" Subaru closed his eyes, a resigned expression on his face. Of course, nothing in life was free. "Meh, I don't have the money right now. Maybe later," he replied with nonchalance. "But thank you anyway," he added, acknowledging her assistance.
"Wait, the guild can provide a loa—" Luna started to say.
"Nope I'm fine," Subaru interrupted, walking out of the guild and waving his hand in a casual farewell.
"I see," he heard the guild receptionist say, her voice tinged with a sigh, as he departed from the guild.
Exiting the guild, Subaru's face bore an unmistakable expression of disappointment. If this was the extent of what interdimensional travel had to offer, then perhaps he should venture to another reality where he could encounter another Emilia and Rem and set things right.
With a heavy sigh, he continued his walk, passing through the bustling main market of the town.
"Swords! Get your starting adventurer swords here!" a man with a pink mohawk called out in a notably enthusiastic tone as Subaru walked by. "Hey, kid! You seem new here! Would you like to try our hot new swords?" He pointed to Subaru as he passed the stall.
"Nope," Subaru replied, continuing to walk without much interest.
"Come on, kid! You never know when you'll need one!" the salesman persisted with his sales pitch.
"Not interested," Subaru retorted in a disinterested and apathetic voice.
"Tsk!" The man clicked his tongue in frustration, his sales pitch falling on deaf ears as Subaru continued his walk through the town.
"You seem new here!" another voice chimed in, this time a female.
"Uh-huh?" Subaru turned his head to the right and saw a teenage girl walking beside him. "Who are you?" he inquired.
"My name is Chris! As you can see, I'm a thief, and since you're new here, you might want to learn a new skill," the girl replied with an enthusiastic voice.
"A new skill, huh?" Subaru mused suspiciously, eyeing the girl from head to toe. She had short silvery hair, striking blue eyes, revealing clothing, and short shorts. A small scar on her right side was also visible. "What's the catch?" he asked, wary of any hidden agendas.
"Um, a drink or a snack would suffice—"
"Nope, don't have the money, sorry!" Subaru cut her off, emphasizing his lack of budget. Furthermore, he held little faith in his ability to acquire skills, given his broken gate and low aptitude for skills. He firmly believed that the most promising route to power lay in the realm of science and futuristic technology.
Moreover, the notion of getting entangled with a thief didn't sit well with Subaru. The last time he got involved with one, he had his bowels cut open twice, a memory he had no intention of reliving.
"Wait, you're seriously passing up on—" the girl named Chris expressed her surprise.
"Yep," Subaru reaffirmed, brushing her off once more as he briskly walked away, leaving the girl behind.
Continuing his walk, Subaru contemplated his options. Should he stay in this dimension, or should he move on and explore other realms?
"Hey, you!" A voice suddenly disrupted his thoughts, and he reacted with a start.
"HUH?! Emilia!" he exclaimed, his heart rate spiking as he swiftly turned his head toward the source. But his excitement deflated quickly.
"Oh," he muttered, rolling his eyes upon realizing it wasn't who he had thought.
"I happened to notice that you're a beginner, and our meeting is a fate chosen by the world itself," the girl declared. She was rather petite with shoulder-length dark brown hair and crimson-colored eyes. She donned the quintessential witch attire, including a black cloak with a gold border, a choker, a wizard's hat, and fingerless gloves, and she carried a black staff.
The sight made Subaru cringe, reminding him of the clichés he hoped to avoid.
"What the fuck," Subaru muttered in disbelief at the apparent joke before him.
"I have anxiously awaited the arrival of those such as your—" the petite girl continued, but Subaru swiftly interrupted.
"Nope, not having it! Not interested," he declared firmly. Fewer people, less bullshit, and lesser mistakes.
"Hey, wait!" the witch shouted, but Subaru paid no heed, continuing on his way.
'Seriously, this world is insane! Guilds that rip people off? Thieves looking to scam you? Scummy merchants and crazy witches?! What's next? Wait, what if this world is even more dangerous than the last?'
Subaru continued to walk until he reached a district in the town, an area undergoing heavy construction. As he strolled past a gurgling fountain, he noticed a boy and a girl fully immersed in construction labor.
"Seriously, we didn't come here to be laborers!" whined the boy, who was notably shorter than Subaru. His chestnut-brown hair had a light spiky quality to it, and he was dressed in a plain white t-shirt and green tracksuit pants. Despite his complaint, he continued laying bricks with determination.
"Oh, yeah, that's right! I need you to defeat the Demon King, or I'll never be able to go home!" the woman chimed in this time. She was a striking girl with beautiful blue hair, wearing a white-sleeved shirt and a slightly worn-out green and brown outfit. Her movements were fluid as she expertly handed bricks to the boy.
Subaru took a moment to absorb the scene before him. It was clear that the boy was Japanese, evident from his way of speaking and the telltale tracksuit attire. If not his face and eyes further affirmed his Asian heritage. The girl, on the other hand, left Subaru pondering.
'Maybe it's his girlfriend or something? An isekai heroine of some sort?'
"Hey! What are you looking at!? You have a problem?!" the chestnut-haired boy barked at Subaru aggressively.
Taken aback, Subaru took a couple of steps back, nerves on edge as he pondered his options. He could attempt to fight, but with no money or weapons, it didn't seem like a wise choice. Moreover, he was physically weak and devoid of skills and magic. He could use the portal gun to potentially cut the man in half or send him to some distant dimension.
"Nope, no problem. Just passing by," Subaru replied, waving his hands as he briskly walked away in the opposite direction.
'Yep, that does it. I'm leaving this world,'
Fortunately, they didn't follow him, or at least it appeared that way. As Subaru distanced himself from the encounter, he could faintly hear the boy and the girl whispering to each other, their voices carrying their private conversation.
'Don't know, don't care,' Subaru thought.
After walking a considerable distance, Subaru spotted a bench by the river and decided to take a seat. Retrieving his tablet from his paper bag, he unlocked it and began to use the Morty Navigation app. He hoped to find some information to help him navigate the vast multiverse he was about to explore.
"Hmmm, let's see." Opening the app, it didn't take long for the graphical interface to appear. "DK world is Dimension E-120," he mumbled, reminding himself of his current location.
He then began scrolling through the app, searching for nearby dimensions to consider for his next destination.
"Dimension-BX-888, also known as the War Dimension. Constant total war is waged there, similar to Earth," Subaru read the available data. "Meh, too dangerous, maybe in the future."
Scrolling down, he found another intriguing option.
"Dimension YA-44 is a fantasy gilded medieval world. Not for the faint of heart, hmmm, interesting," Subaru thought. He promptly bookmarked this dimension using his portal gun, and it confirmed the success with a distinct sound.
Moving on, he read about another potential destination.
"Dimension SG-665, a hybrid of an industrial-era and Renaissance-era world, filled with magic and weird technology... Oh," Subaru bookmarked it once more, intrigued by the possibilities. "Also, a cult haven world? Interesting..."
"Hey!" a voice called out, and Subaru quickly concealed his tablet and portal gun within his brown paper bag.
"Huh?" Subaru uttered, his attention drawn to the source of the voice. He saw the same chestnut-haired man, now donning a full green tracksuit, with his blue-haired companion in tow.
"Don't 'huh' me! What is that?" the chestnut-haired guy exclaimed, his temper flaring. "You're reincarnated in this world too, right?"
"Nope," Subaru replied calmly, though a hint of nervousness tinged his voice. What did this person want?
"Oi! I'm not stupid, I know you're Japanese! Plus, with your gad—"
"He's right, Kazuma. He wasn't reincarnated," the blue-haired girl interjected, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny. "I don't sense any trace of divine energy in him, but yes, he's not from here," she confirmed. "Just who are you, mister?"
"I am nobody, just here to pass by, is all," Subaru replied casually. He stood up, stretched for a moment, and then started walking away from them.
"HEY! I'm not done talking to you, dude! Come here and—" the chestnut-haired guy began, but Subaru interrupted him.
"Shhh," Subaru hushed them as he retrieved the portal gun from his brown bag. He swiftly pressed a few buttons on the device.
"WHAT...The..." the man in the green tracksuit exclaimed, his surprise evident.
"Kazuma-san! What is that?"
"I don't know, it seems like—"
"Sayonara, peeps!" Subaru said with a grin and immediately fired the portal gun. In an instant, he entered the portal.
"Hey! Where are you—" the chestnut guy began to say, but Subaru had already vanished, the green portal closing behind him. "And he's gone," he added, clicking his tongue in frustration.
Dimension YA-44
Subaru stepped out of the portal with a renewed sense of optimism. The previous world hadn't been a walk in the park, but he was hopeful that this new one might hold better prospects. Inhaling deeply, he observed his surroundings.
"So, Dimension YA-44, huh?" he muttered to himself, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity. "The description warned it's not for the faint of heart, but it doesn't look that scary."
The landscape before him stretched out, an expansive arid plain with scattered patches of vegetation. In the distance, a dense cloud of dust covered a significant portion of the field.
"Hmm, what's that?" Subaru's curiosity was piqued as he ventured toward the mysterious phenomenon. As he drew nearer, the faint sounds of distress reached his ears.
"Are those... screams?"
The air in front of him suddenly resonated with agonizing screams of terror. Subaru's heart raced as he strained to pinpoint the source of this horrifying commotion. In the blink of an eye, the distant cries grew louder, and the grim reality came into focus.
"HOLY FUCK!"
Before him, a nightmarish scene unfolded. Thousands of soldiers were in a frantic sprint for their lives. Fear contorted their faces as they fled from the grotesque creatures pursuing them. These creatures, for all the world, sounded like a herd of goats.
"HOLY FUCK, ARE THOSE... GOATS?"
The ground trembled beneath the colossal feet of the monstrous entities, their tentacle-like appendages slashing through the air. With each step they took, the earth shuddered.
"By the gods!" Subaru's heart plummeted as he bore witness to the gruesome spectacle. These were no ordinary goats but eldritch horrors—nightmarish beings with countless grotesque tentacles and twisted otherworldly mouths.
"Am... am I dreaming? This just a dream right?" Subaru's voice trembled with disbelief as he struggled to come to terms with the surreal nightmare unfolding before his eyes.
Relentlessly, the abominations chased down the soldiers, their colossal forms towering over the fleeing warriors. The soldiers' screams reached a deafening crescendo, their futile attempts to escape the relentless horrors echoing in the air.
Suddenly, the eldritch monstrosities emitted an otherworldly shriek, causing Subaru to snap out of his shocked stupor.
"Shit, shit, shit!" he screamed in panic, hastily firing his portal gun directly in front of him. But before he could enter the portal, a forceful push sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Look out!" a voice cried, and Subaru rolled over to find himself face-to-face with a blonde boy clad in sturdy iron armor.
"What the fuck!" Subaru exclaimed, his anger flaring. The boy had pushed him just as he was about to make his escape.
"Run away! I'll try to delay them!" the blonde boy shouted, assuming a combat stance, preparing to face the approaching pitch-black abominations.
"Tsk! I was about to, you idiot! But you pushed me!" Subaru retorted, irritation evident in his voice.
"Huh?" the guy replied, his expression shifting from concern to confusion, giving Subaru a puppy-eyed look.
Subaru contemplated offering a retort but decided against it. The demonic goats were drawing nearer, and escape was the only priority. He couldn't afford to take any risks, especially considering the uncertainty of whether his "Return by Death" ability would still function in this new world.
"Out of my way!" Subaru sprang to his feet, determination in his eyes. He swiftly aimed his portal gun and fired a green portal just as the eldritch abominations closed in on him. With a decisive step, he entered the portal, vanishing to safety, and leaving the terrifying creatures behind.
Dimension-BX-888
Subaru emerged once more from the green portal, and the sight before him left him utterly shocked.
"Oh, screw me!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. Standing atop a building, the scene that unfolded before him could only be described in one way—total war.
Planes soared above, strafing their targets on the ground, while others engaged in intense dogfights in the skies. The distance thundered with the boom of artillery shells and brilliant flashes as they landed on the war-torn city. Tanks and infantry forces advanced on defensive positions, whether in city trenches or the bombed-out remains of buildings.
"Damn," Subaru breathed, taking in the overwhelming chaos.
"Whoa. Where are we?" Suddenly, a voice from behind caught his attention, causing him to instinctively turn toward it.
"What the heck! Why are you here? Did you follow me through the portal?" Subaru addressed the iron-clad blonde knight, whom he had inadvertently pinned against a nearby wall.
"Huh? No, I got blown here by those monsters accidentally, I swear!" the Ironclad knight replied earnestly, his eyes reflecting his honesty. "I'm Climb, by the way," he added with a cordial tone.
"Tsk! Whatever. Just stay close, and don't get yourself killed," Subaru replied quickly as he released his grip. He then started to make his way toward a road to seek possible shelter, with Climb following closely behind.
"Hey," the blonde knight said as they walked.
"What?!" Subaru replied, his voice brimming with annoyance.
"There's a church there that we could use as cover," the knight suggested, pointing to a nearby church not far from them.
"You think that's a good idea? Really? Some dilapidated abandoned church? What if some—" Subaru was abruptly cut off as they heard a resounding sonic boom.
"Damn!" Subaru exclaimed, startled.
Looking up at the sky, they witnessed a group of soldiers gliding through the air, engaged in an intense dogfight, while others fired high-explosive rounds at the ground below.
"Tsk!" Subaru clicked his tongue in irritation as he sprinted toward the abandoned church as fast as he could to seek refuge from the battle above.
"Hey, wait for me!" the blonde knight called out as he followed the Japanese boy, eager to find cover.
Dodging the occasional shelling and bombardment, Subaru and the blonde knight dashed through the war-torn street.
"Whoa!" The blonde knight shouted as he narrowly avoided being torn to shreds by an artillery shell.
"Tsk! Watch out!" Subaru reminded him as they relentlessly dodged lethal projectiles whizzing all over the place.
"CHARGE!" A collective battle cry echoed through the chaos as a bunch of soldiers suddenly materialized from nearby rubble. "FOR THE MOTHERLAND!" They formed a human wave and rushed to a fortified position.
"Shit! Hide, boy!" Subaru dropped to the ground, and Climb followed suit, seeking refuge from plain view. They nestled among a pile of lifeless bodies.
"FIRE!" Another voice commanded. "Leave no quarter! Kill anything that moves."
And just like that, a deadly canopy of machine gun fire and rifles tore through the swarming Slavic soldiers like ants.
"Darn! I didn't bookmark this world! Why the heck did I come here?" Subaru whispered in disbelief as he witnessed the massacre unfold from a distance.
Another sonic boom reverberated through the air, and human gliders once again soared above, mercilessly strafing anything that moved in the street.
"What the actual..." Subaru muttered, his mind racing as he tried to process everything.
He contemplated using the portal gun to escape, but the circling gliders posed a significant risk.
Their weapons were fast—very fast, and he wasn't confident he could fire the portal gun and enter it without getting shot. He didn't want to take that chance.
"What are we going to do?" Climb asked in a panicked voice. The soldiers had now decisively defeated the swarming forces and began executing survivors. Some were combing and securing the street.
"Shhh! Pretend to be dead, cover yourself with the dead bodies! They're coming soon!" Subaru replied urgently as he hid beneath the gruesome piles of corpses.
Covered with bile and blood, Subaru's stomach churned as if he were about to throw up. A soldier's lifeless face lay directly in front of his own, staring at him with vacant eyes, sending a shiver down his spine. It took everything for the raven-haired Japanese boy not to break down right there and then.
Amid the chaos, he could now hear footsteps nearby, and the sound of bayonets striking the bodies all around. The ground quaked as heavy weaponry, possibly tanks, rumbled past.
"Another Russy strongpoint up ahead. Search and destroy!" a voice called out, followed by the quick and numerous footsteps of soldiers on the move once more.
Subaru began to count silently in his head, from 1 to 100, hoping for the best. He prayed that neither the soldiers nor those terrifying human air gliders would detect them. It took a tense few moments, but eventually, all was silent except for the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions.
"Alright, I think we're clear," Subaru whispered. He emerged from the grotesque cover of the dead and began to stand up, moving quietly toward the abandoned church. Climb followed, emerging from the bodies as well. However, as he stood, he suddenly gagged.
"Oh, God!" Climb exclaimed, vomiting all over the pavement, his stomach emptying its contents.
"Look, I know this sucks, but we have to keep moving!" Subaru urged, his frustration evident as he tried to keep their survival the top priority. It took a couple of seconds for the blonde knight to compose himself, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Sorry for that," Climb said with a sheepish face.
"Whatever," Subaru replied, his impatience clear. He turned and continued making his way toward the abandoned church, with Climb following closely behind.
With a crash, the blonde knight kicked open the door of the abandoned church, with Subaru following closely behind. Wasting no time, the duo entered and quickly closed the church door. They barricaded it from the inside using debris and old church benches, creating a makeshift barrier to keep them safe.
"Look, I think this world sucks..." Subaru said as he took out a tablet and opened the Morty Navigation network. "Yep, this is the war dimension." He clicked his tongue as he put away the tablet and took the portal gun in his hand, aiming it at the air, ready to leave.
"Um, where are we going?" the blonde knight asked, this time looking at the raven-haired Japanese man.
"Another world and a better place," Subaru replied.
"Another world? I'm still confused. I don't understand," the blonde knight admitted, his face filled with uncertainty.
"Eh, you want to stay? Be my guest," Subaru responded.
"No, please!" the knight shook his head. "It's just that... Princess Renner..."
"Who's that, a girlfriend? Look, I ain't coming back to that monstrous world... but if you want to be my guest. However, we first have to leave this godforsaken place ASAP," Subaru replied.
Looking at the ground, the blonde knight nodded his head. "Very well, but I'm still confused about this 'another world' you're talking about."
"Understandable, and I'll explain everything to you once we're safe-"
***BOOM*** A large explosion suddenly engulfed the area, blowing them both off their feet.
"Shit! What was that?!" Subaru exclaimed, his head ringing as he struggled to stand up. Blood trickled from a head injury caused by the blast, and he tried to look around.
"Oh, my," he muttered to himself as he surveyed the surrounding area. All he could see was a fire that had now engulfed the church. The situation was dire.
"Cli-" he was about to call out to the blonde knight but stopped himself.
In the distance, he could see a woman standing near the altar, looking at the ground.
His curiosity piqued, Subaru nervously and cautiously walked to get a better view. What he saw surprised him.
A small, blonde woman in military fatigues, heavily wounded, stood in front of an orange-haired girl on the ground, unconscious and covered in gunshot wounds.
The blonde-haired woman approached the unconscious woman, raising her gun and preparing to deliver the killing blow. However... "Eh?"
"Damn it," Subaru muttered in frustration as he bit his tongue. He had accidentally made a noise by bumping into one of the church chairs with his foot.
As Subaru's accidental noise echoed through the church, the blonde-haired woman's head snapped in his direction. Her eyes met his, and a tense silence hung in the air. At that moment, Subaru knew he had been noticed, and he had to act fast.
As fast as his trembling hand could move, he reached for his portal gun, but the blonde woman was faster.
"Ack!" Subaru groaned in pain as the blonde-haired woman rushed at him and struck him with the butt of her rifle, sending him crashing to the ground. Dazed and in pain, Subaru struggled to regain his senses.
However, the blonde woman suddenly pointed her gun at Subaru's face, ready to deliver the fatal shot.
'This is it,' Subaru clenched his fist. He was about to die once more, but not pathetically; he refused to meet his end in such a manner, as it reminded him of his past. He could only hope that "Return by Death" still worked.
He stared the blonde-haired girl dead in the eye and nodded, a silent understanding passing between them. But just before the trigger was pulled, a swift cry rang out.
"Haa!" Climb, the blonde knight, appeared out of nowhere and struck the woman in the head with the hilt of his sword. The force of the blow sent her collapsing to the floor, unconscious.
"You're welcome," Climb replied with a faint smile. "But we can't stick around here. We have to get out before more of them show up."
"I couldn't agree more," Subaru said as he picked up the portal gun from the ground and checked it. Fortunately, there was no damage. He aimed it at the air and fired.
"Come on, let's..." Subaru began to suggest to his companion, but he was abruptly cut off by another voice, this time male.
"Commander Tanya!" the voice shouted.
"Nope, screw that, let's go!" Subaru exclaimed and swiftly entered the portal, with Climb following closely behind.
Dimension SG-665
In the heart of a bustling metropolis, the sky hung heavy with gray clouds, pregnant with rain. Amidst this urban jungle, a colossal arena stood resolute, its formidable architecture a stoic contrast to the surrounding chaos.
Surrounding the arena, a lively marketplace sprawled with stalls and booths, offering an array of colorful and bizarre wares to a teeming crowd.
Pedestrians strolled through the rain-soaked streets, their umbrellas echoing the rhythmic dance of raindrops. The clatter of horse-drawn carriages on glistening cobblestones further enlivened the scene, casting an aura of a jubilant carnival.
One might assume this to be a regular occurrence during the city's annual festival and international tournament, both of which were in full swing. However, unbeknownst to the bystanders, a dramatic change was about to unfold.
Suddenly, a brilliant green portal materialized right in the heart of the street, startling both young and old alike.
"What the heck is that?" inquired one man, his eyes fixed on the bizarre spectacle that had just unfolded before them.
"I'm not sure. Have you ever seen anything like this before?" another curious bystander asked.
"No, this is completely new to me." The first man shook his head, his brow furrowing in bewilderment.
Without warning, two men emerged from the emerald portal. One was clad in a black and orange tracksuit, while the other donned the armor of an iron-clad knight. Their bodies bore the marks of grievous wounds and burns, leaving the startled onlookers mystified.
"What the heck!? Are you seeing this?!" another man exclaimed in disbelief.
"Uh-huh. What kind of magic is that?" a girl chimed in.
"Do you know them?"
"Nope. I don't think so."
Wiping the blood from his head with his arm, Subaru paid no heed to their comments. He had a lot on his mind, from tending to his wounds to satisfying his gnawing hunger.
"So, this should be the hybrid world, huh?" he mused aloud as he took in the surroundings.
The city displayed a unique blend of European Victorian-era architecture and modern technology, prompting him to click his tongue in mild amusement.
"Well, this is definitely an improvement. At least there are no brutal wars or eldritch monstrosities here, right?" Subaru chuckled, his laughter tinged with a sense of relief.
"Whoa!" exclaimed the blonde knight, her eyes widening with astonishment.
"Like what you see, Climb?" Subaru inquired with a grin.
"Uh, yes! My world... It's nothing like this. This place is... different." The blonde knight nodded fervently, his enthusiasm evident.
"You mean more high-tech?" Subaru's smile grew knowing. "Heh, believe me, there are even—"
"FREEZE!" a stern voice interrupted them.
"Huh?" Subaru was taken aback, his curiosity piqued. "Who's that?" Turning around, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Do not make a move, or I will blow you two to smithereens," commanded a young man with short, medium-blonde hair and piercing emerald eyes. He wore a military battle suit, and his rifle was pointed squarely at the raven-haired boy and the blonde knight.
Climb drew his sword and assumed a battle stance, but Subaru halted him.
"Wait," he said as he racked his brain, trying to place the young man. Then, it hit him.
"Oh, you must be with that warlike blonde loli, huh?" Subaru remarked, tapping his chin in mock contemplation. "Hey! How were you able to follow... Oh, right, you chased after us and entered the portal before it closed... Damn, dude, you work fast!"
"Shut up!" the army boy snapped in anger. "Under the authority of the Imperial Military, you two are under arrest for crimes against the Imperial Military and the Empire, as well as subversive actions against the state!" He added as his grip on his rifle tightened. "Surrender now or face swift justice."
"Heh, good luck with that," Subaru replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You're stuck here with us now," he added as the portal behind the imperial army guy closed.
Quickly glancing behind, he noticed that the portal was indeed closed. "Tsk! I don't care. You two are detained until—"
"Oh, you think? Look around you, man," Subaru retorted with a touch of sarcasm. "You're not in your territory, and you're attracting unwanted attention." He pointed at the growing crowd that had gathered around them, observing the unfolding spectacle. "I don't know how you expect this to end, but you ain't gonna like it. So, how about we part ways, and I help you get back to your world? What do you say?" he added with a mocking smile.
In response, the military man loaded his rifle.
"Well, I guess that's a 'no then,'" Subaru conceded with a shrug.
"Should I rush him?" Climb once more spoke, ready to strike.
"Heh, no need," Subaru responded as he spotted someone in the distance sprinting toward them. It seemed the newcomer had no intention of stopping and was headed straight for their pursuer.
"He's probably goofing off and checking out the food stan—ack!" screamed the girl as the newcomer crashed into the back of the Imperial Military man, sending both of them tumbling to the ground.
"Ow ow, nein! nein!" the Imperial guy groaned in pain.
"This is our chance! RUN!"