The Box: Fate
Chapter 38 — Two Worlds One Secret
Three days had passed in the Village of the Hidden Stream Zanaki wounds had begun to close thanks to Hanzoe's knowledge of rare forest herbs He sat on a mossy rock watching the waterfall that hid the village from the rest of the world His heart felt heavy—not from the Dragon power but from the silence of his missing friends
I can't stay here Hanzoe Zanaki said standing up despite the dull ache in his ribs My squad... my family... they think I'm dead I have to find them in Liya
Hanzoe who was sharpening a hunting knife looked up with a determined glint in her eyes Then I'm coming with you I know these woods better than anyone and the Demon Lord influence is spreading You won't make it to the city gates alone in that condition
As they packed their gear and began the trek through the dense jungle the atmosphere between them grew quiet Zanaki looked at the way Hanzoe moved—her footsteps were precise her senses sharper than any NPC he had ever met
Meanwhile back in the Whispering Woods the scene was grim Kataki Akira Axel Hatanaki and the rest of the sixteen had scoured every inch of the riverbank They had fought off swarms of Void-Ghouls their levels rising but their spirits sinking
He not here Axel shouted punching a tree in frustration We've checked five miles downstream!
Kataki stood by the water edge his silver-blindfold glowing faintly He could feel the residual mana of the Storm Dragon but it was fading into the distance He turned to the group his face a mask of cold logic
We are moving toward the next destination Kataki announced
What?! You're just going to leave him? Akira stepped forward his hand on his sword
No Kataki replied calmly Zanaki is the Dragon King He is a variable that cannot be easily erased If we stay here we are sitting ducks for the Demon Lord return We will wait in the city of Liya for three more days If he doesn't arrive we move to the next province Zanaki is smart—he will find our trail We must grow stronger so that when we reunite we can actually protect him
The group was silent the logic stinging like salt in a wound Slowly one by one they nodded They began the long quiet walk back to the city leaving the forest behind
Back on the forest trail Zanaki and Hanzoe stopped to rest by a small fire To pass the time Zanaki started rambling about his old life trying to keep his spirits up
You know back where I come from I was part of this legendary group Zanaki chuckled poking the fire with a stick We called ourselves the Akatsuki We were the Normal Anime Fans—the best squad you could imagine
Hanzoe froze She dropped the water skin she was holding her eyes wide with shock Akatsuki ? You... you know that name?
Zanaki looked at her confused Yeah? It's a famous group from an old anime called Naruto Why? You've heard of it in this world?
Hanzoe shook her head quickly her voice trembling No... it's not from this world In the world I came from the Akatsuki was a clan of powerful rogues in a story But the only reason I know that name is because I was part of a group called Trillion Anime Zone We were all brought here through a digital link... a Box
Zanaki jaw dropped Wait... a Box? You're from Earth? You're a player?!
A player? Hanzoe looked at him her eyes filling with a mix of hope and sadness My group... the Trillion Anime Zone... we were hundreds of people But when we arrived it was chaos I was weak—I didn't have a high-tier skill like a Dragon or a Spear My group leader said I was dead weight They abandoned me here in the forest months ago because I couldn't keep up with their 'leveling speed
Zanaki felt a surge of rage They left you? Because of a level number?
I didn't think anyone else survived Hanzoe whispered I thought I was the only one trapped in this nightmare When you said Akatsuki I thought I was hallucinating That's a name from the Other Side
Zanaki stood up his draconic aura flaring with a warm protective light He didn't know yet that he was falling for her but he knew one thing he wasn't going to let her be alone again
The Trillion Anime Zone huh? Zanaki reached out and took her hand Well you're with the Akatsuki now And we never leave anyone behind Let's go find my friends We have a lot more in common than I thought
As they walked Zanaki realized the mystery of the Box was even bigger than he imagined It wasn't just his group—entire communities were being pulled into this world sorted by strength and discarded like trash
The road to Liya was no longer just about a cure It was about a revolution