Chapter 9: World Hopping for Beginners
You know what's terrifying? Waking up from a nightmare where you actually died, in a world with two suns, while some cosmic horror cosplayer turned everyone into pretty red mist. And the worst part? It wasn't even a nightmare.
I came to gasping like a fish that had just discovered water wasn't all it was cracked up to be. My hands shook as I patted myself down - same cultivation robes, same meditation cushion, same small room in Azure Peak Sect. No blood-stained miller's apron or rusty sword in sight.
"Master! We’re back!" Azure popped into existence, looking like a kid who'd just broken mom's favorite vase and was trying to act casual about it. "So... how did you find our interdimensional vacation?"
"Azure," I wheezed, still trying to remember how lungs worked, "please tell me I hallucinated everything about the past few hours. The two suns, the raiders, the floating death wizard..."
"Oh no, that was all quite real! Though I must say, your combat performance was surprisingly adequate for someone who'd never held a sword before. Well, that body had never held a sword. You technically have, but not really, since—"
"Azure."
"Yes, Master?"
"How long were we gone? Because it felt like hours of running and fighting and generally trying not to die in creative new ways."
Azure shifted uncomfortably, his usual know-it-all demeanor flickering like bad wifi. "Ah, about that... Would you believe me if I said three seconds?"