As the door opened slowly, a creepy, cold sensation slipped in, freezing my body in an instant. Reacting quickly, I clasped my arms around myself, trying to warm up.

  “What is this?” I asked, my breath visible in the air.

  Lucas chuckled. “Ahh, sorry, I forgot to mention—one of the requirements for becoming a Worldwalker is that the room must be kept at a really low temperature. I don’t know why, but it has always been that way. Probably because we’re eating a dead monster’s heart, but who knows, heh.”

  He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. His palm turned red, a sign of him using Worldflow. Suddenly, warmth flooded my body.

  “This is one of the convenient things about being a Worldwalker," Lucas continued. "We can protect ourselves not just physically, but also from extreme temperatures. Worldflow is incredibly versatile—it can be used in all sorts of situations, just like this. Make sure to remember that well.”

  I see... So Worldflow can be used like this. Becoming a Worldwalker would be really useful for me—but that’s only if I succeed. For now, I’ll trust my necklace.

  I nodded and asked, “Is this the room where we’re doing the ritual?”

  Lucas nodded. “Yeah. Mei is already inside, waiting.”

  Another person? Well, it doesn’t matter... I thought to myself.

  “So, I guess this person will help me become a Worldwalker? That means gaining an authority is finally within reach,” I said, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease.

  But Lucas suddenly added, “Oh, I forgot to mention... Not all Worldwalkers gain an authority. In fact, some never receive one at all.”

  “What?” I shouted.

  “No need to yell,” Lucas said, shrugging. “There’s just a lot to consider when becoming a Worldwalker, and I’m no expert on all of it, heh.”

  What do you mean by that? You clearly know everything...

  Lucas smirked before adding, “Mei will explain everything to you—especially the risks a Worldwalker faces when dealing with an unknown entity. I’ve already told you about our abilities and the ranking system, but she’ll clarify everything in detail. Honestly, there’s too much information for one person to keep track of.”

  So you're telling me this now—right before the ritual?

  I shot Lucas a sharp look of disdain. He had a smug expression on his face.

  Damn it. He did this on purpose. He made becoming a Worldwalker sound worth risking by laying out the benefits and the risks, but now he’s just revealing this—the most important risk of all.

  What’s the point of becoming a Worldwalker if I can’t even gain an ability?

  Well he didn’t lie—he just conveniently left out this crucial detail. He wanted me to focus on the advantages first, then hesitate when faced with the risks. But the worst part? He left out the most frustrating risk of all—not gaining an authority. He made sure I’d commit before knowing the whole picture.

  I was manipulated.

  I turned to Hera, but she looked away silently. She didn’t intervene when Lucas "forgot" that crucial detail. She’s an accomplice. This was the perfect moment to reveal this—now that we’re already here, refusing isn’t an option anymore.

  I also remember Lucas saying this was part of their plan.

  So, I don’t really have a choice, do I?

  Even if I wanted to refuse… could I even refuse?

  Lucas then smirked. “Well, no point in backing out now. Let’s go in.” A wicked smile crossed his face as his eyes glowed red.

  Shit…

  I exhaled sharply. Fine. I was already committed to this. No point in blaming them—I made this choice myself.

  Lucas looked at me. “Are you hesitating now?”

  I met his gaze and answered firmly, “No. A survival without risk is nothing but a foolish thought. And today, I realized something—since the moment we met, you’ve been manipulating me. But I’ve given up trying to fight it. I don’t know your circumstances, but I can tell you’re betting your own survival on me because of this unknown necklace. And I also know that, in the end, we’re the same—you don’t know anything about me, yet you’re still taking the gamble.”

  I smirked and added, “So, how about today, we truly become comrades? Friends. Two people who don’t know each other but will fight together. We’re risking our lives in the face of the unknown… That’s why, starting today, I’ll trust you, and I’ll risk my life alongside you as we charge into the unknown.”

  With a firm voice, I declared, “I will become a Worldwalker and survive. ”

  Lucas scoffed. “A friend, huh? Betting my life on someone—or something—I don’t fully understand… doesn’t sound too bad.” He chuckled. “I wonder what kind of knowledge that woman you saw gave you to make you think like this. If even a monster could possess such wisdom, would we really need to fight just to survive? This is the first time a monster has made a deal with me… and even more, become a friend.”

  Lucas then smirked. “Fine then. Whether you’re planning to turn on me later or just making me lower my guard, I’ll be your friend and trust you as well. Whether we live or die, it’s not so bad to put my faith in someone so suddenly. In fact, it’s rather exciting—to fight alongside someone as reckless as me, a comrade facing the unknown. You’re the first to make a move like this, despite knowing you were manipulated and had no choice. You really are… unique.”

  Lucas turned to the door as it finally opened completely.

  Inside, a woman sat in the center of the room. She wore a black robe adorned with dark red linear patterns. Despite the robe, her long, curly black hair was visible, as was the black blindfold covering her eyes.

  She sat on a ritual circle engraved into the ground—drawn in dried blood. Around her were braziers, unlit for now, and towering pillars supporting the chamber.

  The room was dark, the only light coming from the torch Lucas held and the small red particles floating in the air. They illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows. The woman sitting there seemed to glow a dim, ominous red, as if she herself was the center of the light.

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  The woman noticed us entering and turned her head toward us, despite being blindfolded. It felt as though she could see through the fabric. She tilted her head slightly, as if observing us—no, observing me—before speaking in a calm yet chilling voice.

  “So, it’s him.”

  Lucas waved casually. “Yep, he’s the one who’ll become a Worldwalker today. His name is Julian Campbell.” He then turned to me. “Julian, this is Mei. She’s in charge of making you a Worldwalker.”

  Someone in charge…? I pondered for a moment before asking, “I thought you were the one who would handle the ritual. Can’t anyone do it?”

  Lucas shrugged. “It’s not that I can’t. It’s just that she’s more well-versed in Worldwalker rituals than I am. One of the steps to becoming a Worldwalker requires injecting Worldflow into your body, and she’ll be the one to do it.”

  "Wait, but isn’t that why I’m supposed to eat the monster’s heart and drink its blood? Wasn’t that supposed to give me Worldflow?"

  Lucas sighed. “Full of questions, aren’t you?”

  Before he could continue, Mei cut in with a calm voice. “You didn’t explain everything to him?”

  Lucas smirked and shook his head. “Nope.”

  Mei let out a small sigh. “I see. So, you told him everything but deliberately left out certain details to steer him toward the answer you wanted. I guess I’ll have to take over from here and explain everything properly.”

  Lucas chuckled. “Yeah, I trust you with that.”

  Mei stood up. Before saying “Hah… A manipulator indeed. You dream foolishly, but your intelligence and deceptive nature are too much.”

  She turned to me, exhaling as if this was inevitable. “Well, there’s no point in asking now. Even if you refused, we would still force you.” Her voice was firm but not hostile. “I am Mei, the one in charge of turning you into a Worldwalker. The commander—Lucas—probably gave you the basics already, including the fact that not all Worldwalkers gain an Authority. But don’t worry, not all members here can use one. Even without an Authority, you’ll still gain enhancements in your physical abilities and mental capacity, as well as the ability to use Worldflow."

  Currently, only three of us can use an Authority—myself, the commander, and Hera. The other six members cannot. So, the number of those who can use an Authority is quite small.”

  She then smiled, this time with warmth. “Now, will you become a Worldwalker?”

  With a firm voice, I answered, “Yes.”

  Mei nodded. “Before we begin, let me explain the process. First, you will eat the monster’s heart and drink its blood. This will allow you to feel Worldflow and use it. I will then stabilize it by infusing my own Worldflow into you, helping you control what you’ve just consumed. You will need to sit in the center of the ritual circle. Also, please remove your upper clothing.”

  A thought crossed my mind, so I asked, “Does the type of monster I eat affect my strength? Will it maximize my potential?”

  Mei shook her head. “No, it won’t. You’re not absorbing the monster’s strength; you’re simply stealing the power needed to use Worldflow. The Authority you may or may not gain won’t change based on what you eat. Now, remove your clothing.”

  I sighed. “It’s part of the process, right?”

  Mei confirmed, “Yes. The second step to becoming a Worldwalker is inscribing runes onto your body. The ritual circle on the ground is designed to transform you, but the runes we draw on you will serve as protection, reducing the chances of you dying or turning into a monster.”

  So, the risk of death and transformation can be minimized… I thought to myself before removing my upper clothing without hesitation.

  Mei turned to Hera. “Hera, if you would.”

  Hera approached me and bit her hand, causing blood to drip from it. She then began drawing the runes onto my back.

  Mei continued explaining. “These runes will lower the risk of death and prevent you from being devoured by an unknown entity.”

  Her words made me pause. “Wait… devoured?”

  Mei nodded. “Yes. When someone becomes a Worldwalker, they attract unknown entities. However, considering the mysterious necklace you’re wearing, I doubt you’ll be devoured. That thing might even protect you. And to clarify something—since I know Lucas conveniently avoided explaining it—being ‘devoured’ doesn’t mean being physically eaten. It means being possessed by an unknown entity. If that happens, your body will no longer be yours. Depending on the entity that takes over, your body might even transform into something monstrous.”

  A chill ran down my spine. “That sounds terrifying… So, the unknown entities that could devour me—are they the same ones you’ve been talking about?”

  Mei confirmed, “Yes.”

  Another question immediately came to mind. “Then what about this necklace? And the woman I saw?”

  Mei’s expression remained unreadable. “That’s exactly why we’re investigating you. We don’t know anything about that necklace—or about you. But, what do you mean by ‘the woman’?”

  Lucas interjected. “He said that when he touched the necklace, a woman appeared and named him. I suspect that might be the unknown entity residing in the necklace.”

  Mei fell into deep thought before responding. “I see… An unknown entity named you and is protecting you? Then perhaps you’ll have no difficulty becoming a Worldwalker. However, if it truly is an unknown entity, there’s also a chance it might devour you once we begin. It could go either way.”

  I tensed. “Th-Then you have precautions for that, right?”

  Hera scoffed. “Of course. Do you really think we’d be stupid enough to start this ritual without preparing for the worst?”

  She held up a crystal in her right hand. Lucas grinned. “If anything goes wrong, we’re ready for the worst-case scenario… which means killing you.”

  I swallowed hard as my heart raced. Clenching my fists, I muttered, “I see.”

  Lucas smiled and teased, “What, are you scared and backing out already, friend? I thought we were going to fight toward the unknown to survive.”

  I took a deep breath. “No… thinking about it deeply, I have no recollection of myself, yet I still want to survive. Maybe it’s just human instinct. But then I wonder—if I die, will anything really change?”

  Lucas’s expression turned serious. “You’re right. But there’s always something worth surviving for.”

  Then, he smiled at me—a warm, genuine smile. “Life is a beautiful thing to experience, but the future is unknown. That’s why dreams are wonderful—they let you see yourself in the future, friend.”

  Mei, who had been silently listening, was stunned for a moment. She coughed into her hand and muttered, “Is this a sign that another idiot is joining? And that our foolish leader has actually made a friend?”

  Hera laughed. “Well, it’s not a bad thing, though.”

  I turned to Lucas, confused. “What are they laughing about? And why do they call you a fool?”

  Lucas just shrugged it off, while Mei spoke up again. “Now then, Julian Campbell, the final step to becoming a Worldwalker actually begins with a prayer to the goddess. Before we start the ritual, we must say a prayer—a plea for guidance and protection from Sanguira, the Blood-Teared Goddess.”

  “A prayer?” I asked.

  Mei nodded. “Yes. During the process, I told you that many unknown entities will whisper to you, trying to get you to respond. No matter what, do not speak to them. Even after you become a Worldwalker, never acknowledge them. This is one of the most important rules of being a Worldwalker—act like you don’t see them. They know you can, and they will try to annoy you at every opportunity.”

  I hesitated before asking, “What if they don’t stop?”

  “That’s why we have Worldflow,” Mei explained. “You can use it to silence them.”

  “I see… but what happens if I do talk to them?”

  Mei’s voice turned deadly serious. “There have been fools who tried. They either died instantly or had their minds corrupted, doomed to talk to them forever, unable to stop. Once you acknowledge them, they will start entering your body, one by one, turning you into something grotesque. They will consume your soul and body. That’s why, if a Worldwalker runs out of Worldflow, they must inform us immediately—we can protect you.”

  A chill ran down my spine. Fear settled in, but all I could do was nod. “I understand.”

  Mei smirked. “Heh, don’t be too nervous. The glowing particles floating around this room are Worldflow. Before you entered, I blessed them in the name of our goddess, the Blood-Teared Goddess. This place is protected… though an unknown entity may still slip through.”

  I then sighed. “Is this what we’re always supposed to do, even after becoming a Worldwalker? Ascending to one seems like a bunch of work, and on top of all that, we have to do different rituals?”

  Mei then said, “Well, of course. It’s part of gaining power. Through this, you evolve—not just your Worldflow but also your authority. However, in the old records, there’s mention that the ritual in phase two might change. It might not even require a ritual at all. Though, we don’t know yet, since no one has actually reached that stage here. But I think it’s called evolution.”

  I then said, “I see.”

  Mei then said, “I think I have pretty much explained everything.”

  She then glanced at Hera, who had just finished drawing the runes on my body. Then, she looked back at me.

  “Now then, are you ready to become a Worldwalker?”

  With a firm voice, I answered, “Yes.”