When Julian stepped into the void, it felt like the whole world had blinked out of existence. One moment, he was in the cave; the next, he was somewhere entirely different.

  The void was unique—a distorted form of space. He felt it the moment he entered. Purple lightning zipped through the air, lighting up strange shadowy shapes that seemed to move with a mind of their own. The whole place had a deep violet glow, like a storm caught in an endless loop, flickering and buzzing around him.

  He glanced back at the cave. It was still there, but it felt like looking at its reflection in a mirror—somehow, it no longer seemed real.

  The space around him buzzed with energy, a low hum blending with distant rumbles of thunder. Every crackle of lightning sent a tingle across his skin, as if tiny sparks were jumping through the air.

  Julian could feel it—the void was alive, like a beast waiting to tear everything apart.

  “Master, what is this place?” Julian asked.

  “This is the void—a place where space doesn’t follow the rules. Only top-tier space mages can handle it. Without Bubu’s legacy, you’d never have made it here, let alone survived.”

  Julian glanced around at the swirling chaos, his jaw tightening. “Fantastic. Sounds like a dream vacation. Now, how do I get out before this place fries me alive?”

  “Easy,” Alice said. “You just walk further into the void. Every step here covers hundreds of steps in the real world, and nothing gets in your way. The exit in the real world is blocked by rocks, but in the void, you can go right past them. Once you’re close to where the exit would be, use your will to crack the void open. Think of it like slicing through the air to create a doorway back to the real world.”

  “Take steps? Inside this nightmare?” Julian pointed to a crackling purple bolt that shot past him and fizzled into nothing. “This place is literally trying to kill me! Can’t we just turn back and find a safer option?”

  “Stop nonsense and move! You’re still far too weak to handle the void for more than a few moments. If you don’t leave in time, this place will consume you.”

  Grumbling under his breath, Julian took a tentative step forward. Instantly, the world twisted. His stomach lurched, and he felt like he was being pulled in every direction at once. The ground beneath him wasn’t solid—it rippled like liquid shadows, constantly shifting and making it impossible to find stable footing.

  By the second step, his head spun, and his limbs felt heavy, as if the void itself wanted him to stop. A strange pressure built around him, pushing at his body like it was trying to crush him into nothing.

  “Master, I don’t think this place likes me!” Julian shouted, staggering forward.

  “It doesn’t. That’s why you need to hurry up and leave!”

  On the third step, Julian felt like his entire body was being stretched apart. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and cold sweat poured down his face. His legs wobbled, but he forced himself to stay upright.

  “That’s enough!” Alice said. “Now cut through the void before you pass out!”

  Julian gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy. The purple lightning flickered more intensely around him, reacting to his thoughts. He raised his hand, feeling the chaotic energy of the void respond. A sharp line of light appeared in front of him, glowing brighter as he willed it to open.

  The line widened, revealing the dark forest outside, calm and untouched by the madness of the void. Julian wasted no time stepping through, collapsing onto solid ground the moment he was out.

  The void sealed shut behind him with a soft snap, the glowing line vanishing like it had never existed.

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  He lay there for a moment, staring up at the stars. “Hehe... I really did it.”

  Alice's voice echoed in his mind. “Not bad. You didn’t completely suck. Actually, for a beginner, you did pretty good. Maybe you’ve got more talent than I gave you credit for. Once you get stronger and figure out the void, it’ll get easier.”

  Julian stayed quiet, his face blank with shock. “I really did it… I used spatial magic and passed through the void,” he thought, still trying to wrap his head around it.

  “All thanks to Lord Gray,” he thought, a grin slowly spreading across his face. “I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes I’m not dead and walks into the academy selection as a space mage.”

  The more he imagined Lord Gray’s stupid, shocked expression, the more he liked the idea. He couldn’t stop himself from laughing maniacally.

  Alice’s voice cut through his laughter like a knife. “I hate to interrupt your creepy giggles, but there’s a very hungry beast coming from the east. If you don’t start running now, you’re going to end up as its breakfast.”

  Julian froze, then snapped to attention. “Yes, Master! I’ll leave right away!”

  “Stick to the road and be fast,” Alice instructed, her tone sharp. “If anything dangerous gets too close, I’ll warn you.”

  Without hesitation, Julian started running, retracing the path he’d taken earlier. As he ran, his thoughts raced. Sure, the space magic and Bubu’s legacy were incredible, but this AI, Alice, was something else entirely. What kind of mage could create something like her?

  “Master, can I ask you something?” he asked between breaths.

  “If it’s something perverted, don’t bother,” Alice replied flatly.

  “No, Master, I just wanted to ask... how strong were you? Or your master? I’ve never heard of a magician creating magic like you.”

  Alice’s voice carried a hint of pride. “You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. My master or I could destroy your pitiful realm in a single day if we wanted to. The strongest mages in this realm would be nothing more than the weakest apprentices in my academy.”

  Julian’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know there were other realms. Are there really that many strong mages living there?”

  “Yes,” Alice replied, her voice clear and full of pride. “My master is one of the greatest mages in our realm, and I am her only direct disciple. Compared to us, the world you live in is a lowly realm. Here, magic and magicians are pitifully weak.”

  “I see,” Julian said, nodding slowly. “No wonder your magic is beyond anything our world could imagine. Master if you traveled here, does that mean it’s possible for someone from here to travel to your world?”

  Alice sighed deeply, as if the question irritated her to no end. “Yes, it’s possible, but it’s extremely difficult. You people are just too weak. We are supreme beings compared to you. Even the strongest mages here wouldn’t last a day in my world. Unfortunately, you’ve inherited Bubu’s bloodline, and my master’s orders were clear. I have to guide you until you’re strong enough. Even though I don’t want to, I’ll teach you everything. Sooner or later, you’ll gain enough power to earn the right to enter my academy,” she paused before adding, almost begrudgingly, “—and maybe even become a direct disciple of my master.”

  Julian fell silent, his mind spinning. Everything Alice said was crazy, almost impossible to believe. He didn’t understand most of it yet, but one thing stuck in his mind—a big question he needed to ask.

  “Master, if you don’t get mad, can I ask you one more question?” asked with a serious face.

  “Look, I get it. After hearing all this, you probably want to learn and get stronger as fast as possible,” Alice said. Her tone was almost smug. “But take it easy. I’ll teach you everything about space spells, but don’t rush. Trust your master—I’m way more amazing than you think. I can even turn garbage like you into a great mage, hehehe.”

  Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but Julian just grinned. “Oh, space spells? Oh, right, I’ll have to ask about that later—thanks for reminding me. But, master, the thing I’m curious about is... different.”

  His tone grew serious, but his expression was anything but. “I just want to know... if I do cross into your realm, will the women there be sexier than here? You said the people in your realm are supreme beings compared to here, right? Does that mean everything about them is supreme?” With a curious face, he even gave his chest a little squeeze to make his question clearer.

  For a moment, Alice didn’t seem to understand what he meant. Then, realization hit her. “You pervert!” she snapped, her voice shaking with anger. “How can you think such... such creepy things about me?”

  Even though she was just a consciousness, the fury in her voice was palpable. “The day you step into my realm, I’ll beat you to death, boy!”

  Julian wisely decided to keep his mouth shut after that and kept running.

  Fortunately, the rest of his journey out of the forest was smooth, and he didn’t run into any beasts. When he finally reached the main road and left the forest behind, he let out a relieved sigh. The city was just up ahead.

  “Master, how long was I stuck in that cave? When does the selection start?” he asked cautiously, still a bit on edge from their earlier conversation.

  Alice’s voice was icy, but she answered, “You were in the cave for three days. The selection starts today.”

  Julian’s face lit up with a mischievous grin. “Then let’s have some fun.”