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FLASHBACK BEGINS***
A vivid sunset painted the sky in soft oranges and pinks as young Kaipo Kasumi (18) stood at the shore of a beach, marveling at the first planet within the Time Gap Portal. He had never seen anything quite like it—the sand beneath his feet shimmered, the ocean gleamed with colors he couldn’t quite describe, and the air was filled with an overwhelming sense of mystery.
“So this is it… the first planet,” Kaipo murmured, his eyes wide with amazement.
Just beyond the beach, a dense jungle spread out in front of him, its towering trees swaying in a soft breeze. The jungle seemed to pulse with life, yet something about it felt eerie, as though the trees themselves were watching. Kaipo, undeterred, stepped forward, ready to dive into the unknown.
But just as he made his way toward the jungle, a voice called out, "I wouldn’t head there if I were you."
Kaipo spun around, looking for the source of the voice. He spotted a figure sitting casually against a tree a few yards away. The man was dressed in a clean, white outfit that seemed out of place in such a wild environment. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the dangerous landscape around them.
"Who goes there?" Kaipo called out, cautiously approaching the man.
The stranger stood, brushing the sand off his clothes, and gave Kaipo a curious look. "Name’s Vayne," he said with a smirk. "And you are?"
"Kaipo," he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Where did you come from?"
Vayne chuckled and leaned back against the tree. "Where did I come from? You’re the first person I’ve seen in a long time. Where did you come from?"
Kaipo raised an eyebrow. "The Jack Kingdom."
Vayne’s expression twisted into confusion. "Jack Kingdom? Never heard of it. But then again, I’ve lost track of time. Been stuck on this planet for… what, a couple hundred years now?"
Kaipo’s eyes widened in shock. "A couple hundred years? How is that possible?"
Vayne shrugged. "Time works differently here. You stop aging after a while. All you have to do is survive."
"Survive?" Kaipo asked, still processing the thought of someone being stuck here for centuries. "Why didn’t you move on to the next planet?"
Vayne laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Kid, it ain’t that easy. The defender of this planet… let’s just say he’s tricky. Doesn’t play by the rules."
Kaipo’s excitement faded slightly as the reality of his journey set in. But he wasn’t one to back down easily. He took a step closer to Vayne and held out his hand.
"Let’s do this together."
Vayne stared at Kaipo’s outstretched hand with skepticism. "What do you know about being strong, huh?"
Kaipo smiled softly, his confidence unwavering. "Being strong isn’t just about how hard you hit. It’s about having faith in your comrades, believing in yourself. It’s about pouring into yourself every day—mentally, physically. And it’s about not giving up, no matter what."
Vayne looked into Kaipo’s eyes, and for the first time in years, he felt something stir inside him—hope. There was something different about this kid. Something pure. Something powerful. He could feel it.
"Alright, kid," Vayne said, taking Kaipo’s hand. "Let’s give it a shot."
Together, they ventured into the jungle. The dense trees cast long shadows as they walked deeper into the unknown. As they moved through the overgrown path, Vayne pointed up to the dark sky, which seemed oddly out of place on such a bright, vibrant planet.
"See that?" Vayne said, pointing to a glowing tube-like structure in the distance. It connected the first planet to another one far away. "That’s the only way out of here. But trust me, most people don’t make it past this point."
Kaipo’s eyes followed the tube’s path toward the distant planet. "Wow," he whispered. "The defender must be really tough to keep everyone trapped here."
Vayne nodded. "Yeah. And if you think he’s tough, wait ‘til you hear about the guy on the last planet. He’s the whole reason this course of ten planets exists in the first place."
They continued walking, the tension between them easing as they talked. Vayne asked Kaipo about his family, and Kaipo’s face lit up as he spoke about them.
"I’ve got amazing parents and a younger sister, Nia. She’s a force to be reckoned with," Kaipo said proudly. "And then there’s my squad—Squad 7. They’re my family too."
As Kaipo spoke, Vayne found himself intrigued. This kid was driven by more than just survival. He was motivated by something bigger—love, loyalty, a sense of duty.
The narrator (me lol) then detailed their journey through the jungle as the duo finally approached the massive tube, where a shadowed figure stood waiting.
Vayne stiffened. "There he is," he muttered, pointing toward the figure. "That’s the guy I’ve been telling you about."
Kaipo squared his shoulders, ready for the challenge. "Let’s do this."
The guardian of the jungle stepped forward, his body cloaked in swirling mist, making it hard to discern his true form. Vayne and Kaipo exchanged a quick glance before launching into battle.
The fight was intense. The guardian moved with a speed and precision neither of them had anticipated. Kaipo and Vayne worked in tandem, their attacks complementing one another as they pressed forward. Kaipo’s raw power met with Vayne’s finesse, creating a formidable force.
But the guardian was relentless. He played tricks, manipulating the landscape and creating illusions that threw Kaipo and Vayne off balance. At one point, vines snaked out from the ground, wrapping around their legs and pulling them to the earth.
"Damn it!" Vayne shouted as he struggled to free himself. "He’s doing it again!"
The guardian loomed over them, ready to deliver the finishing blow. But just as the end seemed near, something inside Kaipo shifted.
A dark, enigmatic aura began to swirl around him, thick and powerful. It wasn’t like anything he had ever felt before. The energy surged through his body, filling him with a strength he couldn’t explain.
Vayne looked over, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What the hell is that?"
The guardian paused, sensing the change in Kaipo’s energy. But before anyone could react further, the chapter ended, leaving the fate of Kaipo and Vayne hanging in the balance.
ns 15.158.61.51da2
