Kaito's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was an all-encompassing whiteness. The world around him was ethereal, as if he had entered some other, unknown plane. He could feel the coldness of the void seeping into his translucent form, but it did little to shake his confusion.

  Suddenly, from the middle of the fog, a woman appeared before him. She was a sight to behold, her cat-like ears and tail accentuating her otherworldly beauty. Her skin was a rich, dark gold, and she wore a revealing, ancient Egyptian-inspired outfit. A golden tiara adorned her head, and her long, flowing wine colored hair was styled in a way that would make any pharaoh proud. Her peculiar yellowish feline eyes, accompanied by her blackened sclerae, stared deep into mine.

  "Greetings, chosen one." she said, her voice carrying a regal air.

  "W-Who are you? Where am I? Where did the train station go?"

  "I am Hedda, a forgotten deity of this other world. This ethereal realm where we are is called Amenthes. You have been brought here for a purpose, one that could save my world from utter destruction."

  The confused boy couldn't help but stare at the enchanting woman. His mind was still reeling from the shock of the situation, and he found it hard to believe what she was saying.

  "This can't be real, I must be dreaming..." he muttered, turning his back on her, "Y-Yes, it's all just a bad dream and I'm still sleeping in my room."

  Hedda stepped closer, her expression one of concern.

  "Your disbelief is understandable, but I assure you, this is no dream. I have sensed your strength and your heart, and I believe you to be the chosen one. You hold the power to save my world, and I have brought you here to aid me in my time of need."

  "M-Me?!" the young man pointed his index finger at himself, "But I'm just an ordinary boy!"

  Kaito hesitated, his initial dismissal wavering as he looked into her captivating eyes. The idea of being some sort of hero, of saving an entire world, was both daunting and exhilarating. As he contemplated his next move, Hedda patiently waited, her faith in him unwavering.

  "I know it is a heavy burden for someone so young to carry at a time like this, but there is no other way."

  "..." Shirai's mind raced as he weighed the gravity of the situation.

  His heart ached to see the despair in Hedda's eyes, and he couldn't help but feel a tugging at his own. The thought of leaving her to face the looming darkness alone was unbearable.

  "Alright, Hedda... I'll help you. I'll be your hero." he slowly turned back to face her, his voice barely above a whisper, "Because if this really is some crazy dream, I want to get it over with as soon as possible!"

  A smile bloomed on Hedda's face, and she reached out to take Kaito's hand.

  "My gratitude knows no bounds, Immortal Ghost. Together, we will face the shadows that threaten to consume my world. I will guide you, and you will show the world your strength and courage."

  "Huh? Immortal Ghost??"

  "Yes, that’s right." she then led Kaito through the foggy, ethereal void, their hands entwined, "That is the name of the legendary hero, the chosen one who would come from beyond and punish the evil ones."

  As they ventured forth, the world around them began to shift and change, taking on the form of Hedda's realm. The once-empty space was now filled with lush landscapes, towering mountains, and roaring rivers.

  His spirit began to take on a more solid form, as if the very world itself was giving him substance. The deity's faith in him had sparked a newfound confidence within him, and with each step they took, the boy felt more and more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

  Together, they would assure the fate of her world now rested in the hands of a chosen one, and the adventure had only just begun.

  "But, wait a minute..." the boy thought to himself, "What the heck is up with this weird conversation? Why am I doing this? I'm just a high school student, I want to go back to my normal life!"

  And then, as Kaito's clarity returned, his ethereal form began to fade, replaced by a growing heaviness that weighed upon his mind. A drowsiness overtook him, rendering him powerless to resist. In that moment, he realized he was being pulled back to the realm of dreams.

  His eyes met Hedda's, who offered a gentle, knowing smile.

  "Hush, my champion. All will be well."

  "..." Kaito's lips moved, but no sound emerged.

  Desperate to communicate, he tried in vain to articulate his thoughts. But as the darkness enveloped him once more, he felt himself slipping away, losing consciousness.

  Hedda watched as the boy succumbed to the void, a glimmer of hope still present in her eyes. Though he was gone for now, she knew that their fates were intertwined, and that their next encounter would be pivotal in the fight to save her world.

  ***

  The young man groaned and rolled over, his movements slow and cautious as if each muscle were protesting the demand to move. The shadowy room swam into focus, and the dim, claustrophobic space settled into his vision. He couldn't remember how he ended up here, but that was the least of his worries.

  "Damn, what a headache... Where did I end up now?" he scratched his head, his dark hair falling over his eyes.

  The cold, damp stone floor offered no comfort, and his body ached from head to toe. But as he tentatively touched his chest, he breathed a sigh of relief. His body was still intact, and he definitely wasn't a ghostly form. He'd been right all along; everything he had experienced had been nothing more than a bizarre dream.

  "What a crazy dream that was!" he whispered, looking at his surroundings, "Now, I have to get out of this place... Am I somewhere deep in the train station's tunnel?"

  However, reality hit him again when he realized the locked door at the room's only entrance. The heavy wooden door was unyielding, no matter how he tried to open it.

  "Heck, it's completely stuck, it won't open!"

  He paced around the windowless room, searching for any clue or tool that could help him escape. The dim light came from crystal stones, glowing in shades of neon pink and light blue in the corners of the moss-covered stone roof. He noticed the walls were lined with bookshelves, all empty except for the one on the back wall, which held a single book depicting an infinity symbol prominently on its cover.

  "This place gives me the creeps, for sure."

  The boy cautiously made his way to the only bookshelf with that single volume, and as he reached out to retrieve it, he felt a shiver of apprehension. To his dismay, when he opened the book, he found it to be blank. However, what caught his attention was the enigmatic title etched on the cover, a mix of runic script and hieroglyphs.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  However, to his surprise, he found that he could decipher this unfamiliar language with remarkable ease. He had no recollection of ever studying such a script, but it seemed to pose no challenge to him.

  "What's that? It says 'The Immortal Ghost'."

  As he read the title of the book, a wave of icy anguish washed over him. This title reminded him of a conversation he'd had with Hedda, which he had previously dismissed as a mere dream.

  "Immortal Ghost..."

  Kaito's heart raced, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the events of his recent past were more than just a coincidence. The book, the title, and the language served as ominous reminders that his encounters with the supernatural were real, and the truth was closer than he'd ever imagined.

  Suddenly the room's heavy door burst open, and Kaito couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine. This sudden, magical explosion had to be related to the events that led him here, didn't it?

  "What the-?!"

  Then, this mysterious figure wearing a hooded black hooded cape and dual-wielding glowing blades, rushed in and collided with the surprised young man, both of them tumbling to the ground.

  "Kyaaaa!"

  As the hood fell back, revealing the girl's face, he couldn't help but stare. She was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, a striking resemblance to his childhood friend Marie. However, her fair skin, shoulder-length pale lilac hair, and deep purple eyes all contributed to her uncommon appearance. It was then that he noticed her pointy ears, a surreal sign that pointed to some kind of elven heritage.

  "H-Hey, are you okay?" he asked gently, trying to make sure the petite girl hadn't seriously hurt herself from the bump, "You need to be more careful when running around like that!"

  "Ouchie..." she uttered a softly, as her head bounced off Kaito's chest.

  He found himself blushing. This unexpected encounter, with a girl so physically reminiscent of his first crush, had left him flustered. The mysterious figure's sudden appearance and her enchanting appearance only added to the enigma that surrounded them both.

  Kaito's heart raced as he took a closer look at her outfit. The vinyl-like thigh-highs, mini-shorts, crop top, and elbow gloves all hugged her slender form, showcasing her perfect tummy and navel. The cape draped elegantly over her, as if she were a warrior straight out of a legend.

  "So flat!" he exclaimed automatically without thinking, looking at her small chest.

  "H-Huh?!" she then jumped to the back of the room and stood leaning against the wall, with tears in her eyes and a look of disgust, "W-W-What are you looking at, pervert?!"

  "N-No, you are mistaken! I was j-just... I..."

  The door's magical explosion, the elven girl's desperate entrance, and the uncanny resemblance to his friend all left the boy with more questions than answers. But one thing was certain: his life was about to take a drastic turn, and this girl would undoubtedly play a significant role in it.

  But as Kaito pondered a solution to the unfolding misunderstanding, he was suddenly startled by the sudden appearance of three cloaked figures emerging from the dimly lit corridor. The men, whose features were obscured by the fabric covering their faces, approached the pair with unnerving speed and ferocity, their loud, menacing shouts echoing through the corridor.

  The boy's eyes widened as the three thugs, wielding their sci-fi-esque glowing scimitars, violently burst into the dimly lit room. The girl, who moments ago had been in a vulnerable position, now found her resolve as she gripped her own blades in silence. Fear gave way to fury, and she readied herself for the impending confrontation.

  Kaito, sensing the girl's panic, couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness. He stepped between the thugs and the girl, his voice firm and unwavering.

  "Leave her alone!"

  "Don't meddle in our business!" the leader of the group, a man with a twisted grin, barked at Kaito, "We'll take good care of her."

  With that, he lunged at Kaito, the edge of his scimitar inches from the boy's neck.

  Yet, the brave young man's defiance never faltered.

  "I said, leave her alone!"

  In a swift, violent motion, the thug's blade sliced through the air and severed Kaito's head from his body. The scene was shocking, yet no blood was spilled. Instead, a dark, thick black smoke oozed from the gaping wound.

  "?!"

  The girl, stunned by the bizarre turn of events, watched as Kaito's severed head floated upwards, drawn back to its rightful place on his body. As if nothing had happened, Kaito's head landed back on his neck, and he stood there, his gaze fixed on the now-terrified thugs.

  "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS FREAK?!"

  "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE, THIS BOY IS CURSED!!!"

  The thugs, realizing they were in way over their heads, let out screams of fear and fled the scene, their cowardly retreat in stark contrast to the courage Kaito had shown.

  No longer the target of the thugs' wrath, the girl turned to Kaito, her eyes wide with amazement. She knew that she owed her life to this mysterious young man.

  After the harrowing encounter, the unnamed girl gazed at Kaito in disbelief.

  "Are you the Ghost?" her eyes wide, she inquired, "The one from the old legends?"

  "I don't know what you're talking about." Kaito, taken aback by the sudden mention of a legend, answered honestly, "I'm just Kaito, and I have no idea what just happened. It just sort of happened."

  The girl seemed unconvinced, and with a decisive tone.

  "From now on, you are Ghost!" she declared.

  "Excuse me, what?" the boy, still trying to piece together the bizarre events, asked, "Who were those weirdos? And what's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"

  "I'm..." the girl hesitated for a moment, weighing her options, but sensing her debt to the boy, she replied, "You can call me Starfire. Those thugs are Tal Maendar's mercenaries. They're nothing but low lives."

  Curiosity piqued, Kaito couldn't help but inquire about subject.

  "And why is this Tal Maendar after you?"

  Starfire, clearly on edge, snapped, "It's none of your business!"

  "Okay, calm down." yielding to her request, he asked, "I won't ask about them anymore. But I must ask, where are we? What is this place?"

  "Are you an idiot?" Starfire, her annoyance apparent, retorted, " How did you end up coming so deep into this Techno Tomb without even knowing it??"

  Kaito mumbled to himself, "Did you just use the term Techno Tomb...?"

  "You sure are a strange guy..." not done yet, Starfire accused, "And a pervert! Don't think I've forgotten your shameful actions!"

  A vein began to bulge on her forehead, a clear indication of her growing anger.

  "It was all a misunderstanding, I swear!" desperate and on the verge of tears, he pleaded with Starfire, "And I don't even know how to get out of this place!"

  "Shut up!" retorted the girl, her anger somehow subsided a little, "Just be grateful that you got such a top-tier scavenger Drow like me to guide you through here."

  Kaito, feeling a mix of relief and humility, nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes. The unlikely pair now faced an uncertain future together, bound by their shared experiences in the Techno Tomb.

  As the boy sat on the ground, cradling the old, scorched book, Starfire approached him with a knowing smile. In her hand, she held a well-worn, brown leather bag.

  "Here, put that in here." she instructed, extending the bag towards him, "It'll protect it from further damage."

  "Oh, thank you."

  He gratefully accepted the bag, carefully placing the book inside, and securing the strap.

  Starfire, now calling him by the nickname of Ghost, looked around the ancient underground dungeon they had come to know as the Techno Tomb.

  "Scavengers from all over the place come here, to ruins like this, in search of treasures." she explained, "But be warned, this place is full of dangers. If we're lucky, we might just stumble upon something worth our while."

  "I see..." even without understanding, the boy decided to play along.

  Leading the way, the girl began to guide Kaito through the shadowy corridors. The neon stones embedded in the stone ceilings flickered sporadically, casting an eerie glow that illuminated their path.

  "Pay close attention to your surroundings." she instructed, her eyes darting from side to side, scanning for potential traps, "This place is a maze, and the traps are not always visible."

  Together, the unlikely duo ventured deeper into the Techno Tomb, their newfound bond growing with each step they took, as they faced the dangers and mysteries that awaited them in the ancient, forgotten ruins.

  As Kaito and Starfire made their way towards the exit of the Tomb, his thoughts were preoccupied with Hedda's cryptic warning about this being an other world and the idea that he, somehow, was the chosen one to save it.

  His confusion only grew as they finally reached the monumental stone entrance that marked the tomb's exit. Starfire, sensing his distraction, nudged him gently and pointed towards the horizon.

  "Look, there it is!!" the girl smiled, as she pointed to a large exit gate also made of stone, "The way out!"

  Shirai, his mind still reeling, stepped out of the tomb and was instantly taken aback by the sight before him. The unreal view of a bustling, cyberpunk metropolis stretched out in every direction, adorned with towering skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights under the night sky.

  The overwhelming spectacle left him speechless, and all he could manage was a simple, "Wow!"

  As he took in the breathtaking sight, he realized that they were in the heart of this vibrant city, standing right at the entrance of a massive, colossal pyramid. The structure, imposing and ominous, was covered in bits of glowing neon stones, a stark contrast to the dark, stone exterior.

  The reality of their situation, and the potential role Kaito might have to play in this world, now began to set in. His heart raced with anticipation, curiosity, and perhaps a hint of fear as he prepared to embark on a new and uncertain journey in this colorful, neon-lit metropolis.