The forest was silent after the shockwave.
The twin sisters stared, wide-eyed, at the figure standing before them—a man who had stopped a monstrous, D-rank crystal golem's killing blow with a single hand.
Leina blinked, trying to piece together what she had just witnessed. "Who... who is this guy...?"
Liora's violet eyes narrowed in awe and disbelief. "He held that thing like it was nothing..."
Still gripping the golem's crystalline arm effortlessly, the man turned his head slightly to look at them.
"Me?" he said casually, as if this were a coffee shop introduction. "I'm Carter Brooks. Nice to meet ya."
The sisters were stunned. Leina opened her mouth to speak—but she didn't get the chance.
ROOOAAAAARRRR!
The crystal golem shrieked in fury, interrupting them with a deafening roar that shook the trees.
Carter sighed, clearly annoyed. "Rude. I was talking here."
The golem thrashed, trying to escape his grip. It raised its other massive arm high and brought it down with crushing speed.
"Watch out!" Liora cried.
But Carter didn't flinch.
"Don't worry. I got it," he said coolly.
In a blur of movement, Carter pulled his fist back.
BOOM!
With a thunderous crack, he punched the crystal golem straight in the chest. A sonic shockwave exploded from the impact, ripping through the forest like a sudden storm.
The golem was launched skyward, spinning wildly as it ascended like a broken missile.
Leina's jaw dropped. "Did he just... punch it into the sky?!"
Liora's eyes shimmered in disbelief. "That's... impossible."
Carter slowly looked at his glowing fist, blinking in mock curiosity. "Huh... I only used like, 1% of my strength. That might've been too much."
THOOOOOM!
The crystal golem came crashing down moments later, slamming into the earth with such force that a massive wave of dust and debris exploded outward, rattling the trees and sending small creatures scurrying.
The air thickened with silence.
Then, as the dust settled... silence gave way to clarity.
The once-towering monster was now nothing more than a pile of shattered crystal fragments. Its core—a pulsing blue gem—lay exposed in the middle, cracked and flickering.
The twins stared at the sight in disbelief.
Leina whispered, "He... he broke a crystal golem... into pieces. With one punch."
Liora stepped forward slightly, unable to look away. "That shouldn't be possible. No one person should be able to do that. Not even a team of A-ranks could do that so effortlessly."
Carter scratched the back of his head, smirking. "Jeez, these things are fragile. Like breakaway glass at a stage play."
The twins remained silent, their thoughts racing.
Then suddenly—they weren't silent anymore.
"Did you see that!?" Leina shouted, grabbing Liora's arm. "He just punched a D-rank golem into orbit!"
"He didn't even flinch! He caught it. He held it. And then exploded it!" Liora exclaimed, her voice uncharacteristically high-pitched.
Leina paced back and forth, shaking her hands in the air. "That was a crystal golem! A D-rank magic-immune monster with pure defense! Not even a full party of adventurers could scratch it! And he just... he just one-punched it!"
Liora covered her mouth. "This is beyond impossible. I've read records of crystal golems withstanding siege weapons. And he didn't even use a weapon."
"Liora," Leina said, eyes wide, "what if he's like... some kind of secret weapon from another kingdom? Or a disguised dragon in human form?!"
"Or a demigod," Liora whispered. "No. Not even that would explain it. This is something else entirely."
The two sisters stared at Carter like he was a living myth—a walking impossibility. Their hearts beat faster, not just from fear, but from the rush of seeing something far beyond their understanding.
What kind of power does he have?
Is he even human...?
Who is this man?
Where did he come from?
What kind of power does he possess?
Carter, meanwhile, was smiling wide when suddenly—
DING!
A soft chime echoed inside his mind, followed by a glowing screen materializing in front of him.
LEVEL UP!
Defeated Enemy: Crystal Golem (D-Rank, Lv. 35)
Carter Brooks - Level: 1 → Level: 18
Stat Growth:
Strength: MAX
Agility: MAX
Endurance: MAX
Mana: MAX
Luck: MAX
Charm: MAX
New Skills Unlocked:
Crystal Rend (Passive): Increased damage to crystalline enemies
Mana Pulse (Active): Emit a burst of raw mana to knock back nearby foes
Experience Bonus: Divine Blessing Multiplier x5 applied
Current EXP: 86% toward next level
Carter let out a low whistle. "Not bad. I'm leveling up like crazy already. This world knows how to treat a guy."
He grinned even wider, golden eyes reflecting the glow of the shattered monster.
The aftermath of the battle still lingered in the air, but the silence that followed Carter's one-punch defeat of the crystal golem was louder than the explosion that came before.
The twin sisters stood frozen, their hearts still racing. Their eyes locked on the man who'd done the impossible.
Liora took a cautious step forward, her calm composure trying to steady her voice. "Excuse me..."
Carter turned around, his relaxed smile still lingering. "Oh hi! What's up?"
Liora opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word—
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Leina suddenly shouted, pushing past her sister. "You just blew up a D-rank crystal golem like it was a pillow! With your fist! Who even does that?! THAT'S NOT NORMAL!! THAT'S ANIME LEVEL NONSENSE!!"
She grabbed at her hair, her eyes wild. "Did anyone else see that? I'm not hallucinating, right?! That thing was, like, twenty feet tall! And he just punched it like he was swatting a bug! IT WAS A CRYSTAL GOLEM! THOSE THINGS ARE BASICALLY WALKING WALLS!!"
She stomped in a little circle, shouting at no one in particular. "He even said he only used one percent of his power! Who SAYS THAT?! WHO LIVES LIKE THAT?!"
Liora, already exasperated, raised a finger and flicked Leina hard on the forehead.
Thwack!
"OWWWW!" Leina clutched her head, staggering back like she'd been hit with a war hammer. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR, Liora?! Did you just flick me with holy magic?!"
"No," Liora replied calmly. "That was a perfectly normal, well-earned sister flick."
"It felt like divine punishment!"
"Then maybe stop screaming like a banshee."
Leina flailed dramatically, trying to make a point—and accidentally swung her injured arm.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" she screamed, immediately dropping to the ground again. "MY ARM!! I DID IT AGAIN!!"
She rolled several times in the grass, groaning and clutching her arm like it was about to fall off. "Liora!! I'm going to die! I can see the light! Why does everything I do end in horrible agony?!"
"Because you keep doing things before thinking," Liora muttered.
"I CAN'T EVEN SWING DRAMATICALLY WITHOUT REGRET! WHAT IS MY LIFE?!"
She finally stopped rolling, laying flat on her back and staring at the sky with glassy eyes. "Tell Mother I died doing something dumb... like always."
Carter watched the entire scene, one eyebrow raised, clearly amused. Yep. Definitely sisters."
She flailed her uninjured arm dramatically, pacing in frantic circles. "You didn't even break a sweat! You punched it ONCE! ONCE! And it went flying like a boulder shot out of a cannon!! And then it exploded! I SAW IT EXPLODE!"
Liora sighed, already exhausted. "Leina, please... calm down. Stop shouting like a lunatic."
Leina turned sharply, pointing at Carter. "How can I calm down, Liora?! That man just casually yeeted a golem into the sky like it was a sack of potatoes! WHO IS HE?!"
Liora looked at her sister blankly for a moment... then calmly reached out and flicked Leina hard on the forehead.
THWIP!
"OW!!" Leina yelped, staggering back and clutching her forehead. "What was that for?!"
"You were being loud and dramatic again," Liora replied, shaking her head. "And you interrupted me."
Leina huffed. "That hurt, you know! That wasn't just a flick—you put magic into it, didn't you?!"
"No, that was pure sisterly restraint."
Leina growled and tried to swing her arm indignantly—only for her injured arm to remind her of reality.
"AHHHHH! MY ARM!!" she screamed, collapsing onto the ground in over-exaggerated agony. "Liora!! It hurts!! It hurts worse now!! Oh my god why did I move it?! I'M GONNA DIE IN A FOREST!!"
She rolled on the grass, wailing like she'd been cursed by a demon lord.
"I CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS! MY LIFE IS FLASHING BEFORE MY EYES! I NEVER EVEN GOT TO KISS A BOY!!"
Liora knelt beside her, rubbing her temples. "You are the second princess of a powerful kingdom. Please act like it for once."
"I AM acting like it! This is ROYAL PAIN, thank you very much!!"
Meanwhile, Carter just stood there watching them, barely suppressing laughter. These two... definitely sisters. Loud, dramatic, but kinda hilarious. Knight squad, twin royalty, all that... maybe I really did stumble into something big.
Liora straightened herself, brushing her robes and looking back at Carter. "Apologies for my little sister's... overly expressive behavior."
"Hey! I am not little!" Leina shouted from the ground, flailing one arm. "I'm just... slightly shorter and infinitely more passionate!"
Carter raised a hand, laughing. "No worries. Let me introduce myself again: I'm Carter Brooks. Just a wanderer passing through—until I saw you all were in trouble."
Liora smiled warmly. "Well then, Carter Brooks, thank you. My sister and I are in your debt."
"No big deal," Carter said, waving it off. "But now I'm curious—who are you two exactly?"
Liora gave a respectful nod. "I am Liora Astravale, first princess of the Kingdom of Astravale. And this is my younger twin sister, Princess Leina."
Carter blinked. "Oh. You are royalty. That's a first for me. Nice to meet you, Princess."
Liora giggled. "You may call us however you like. You saved our lives."
Carter smiled. "Cool. Just call me Carter then."
"Ahem!" Leina coughed loudly from the grass. "Excuse me? Forgetting someone down here writhing in agonizing pain?!"
Carter grinned. "Ah, right! How could I forget... Mrs. Temper over here."
Leina froze. "What. Did. You. Call. Me?"
"Oh nothing much," Carter replied, mock-innocently. "Just... Mrs. Temper."
"I swear on the Astravale crown I will punch you in the face!"
"Oof. Can you do that with a broken arm, though?"
"RAAAAAHHHHH!!" Leina screamed, attempting to lunge—only to immediately regret it.
"AHHHH!! MY ARM AGAIN!! WHY IS THE WORLD SO CRUEL?! Liora, he provoked me! I NEED HEALING!! I DEMAND A DIVINE MIRACLE!"
Liora sighed. "Reckless as ever."
Carter finally knelt down beside her. "Alright, alright. Let me help you and your knights."
Leina looked up with stars in her eyes, gripping her shoulder dramatically. "YES PLEASE!! HEAL ME!! I BEG YOU, HERO MAN!! IT HURTS!!"
Carter smiled and lifted his hand. "Advanced Healing Magic."
Fourteen glowing circles shimmered into existence above the battlefield—twelve knights, and the two sisters. Golden light cascaded downward, warm and bright, like sunlight filtered through a divine lens.
It swept across the field, over the injured, unconscious, and fatigued. Bones realigned. Skin repaired. Energy returned.
The knights began to stir, blinking and groaning.
"My back... it doesn't hurt anymore!"
"I thought my ribs were shattered! How is this possible?!"
"My armor's still dented, but I feel like I could lift a horse!"
"Did anyone else feel that warmth? Like sunlight in your bones?"
"My shoulder popped back into place! I heard it!"
"This... this isn't just magic. This is something way beyond high-tier healing."
"He healed us like it was nothing... who is this man?"
"I feel like I just drank ten mana potions and slept for three days!"
"My sword arm feels stronger than before the fight. Is that even possible?!"
"That spell... that light... it was like being bathed in divinity."
"Is he a hero? A sage? A demigod?"
"No idea... but remind me to stay on his good side."
"I'm healed..."
"My wounds are gone!"
"This isn't healing magic... it's a miracle..."
Liora gasped softly as her fatigue vanished entirely. "Incredible... I feel completely restored."
Leina sat up, eyes wide, flexing her now-healthy arm. "I CAN FEEL MY ARM! IT DOESN'T HURT ANYMORE! BLESS THE SUN, BLESS THIS MAN!!"
She grabbed Carter's arm dramatically. "You are officially my new favorite person ever. Marry me."
Liora blinked. "Leina."
"Okay okay, too soon. But still, I might love you a little."
As the last of the light faded, Carter smiled at both of them.
"How do you feel, Leina? Liora?"
The sisters just stared at him.
"That... healed us in seconds," Liora murmured, stunned. "It defies everything I know about magic."
Leina just sat there blinking. "I don't even care who you are anymore. I just want you on our team."
The sisters looked at each other, eyes wide with wonder and disbelief. Slowly, almost in sync, they turned their gazes back to Carter, their expressions full of curiosity and something deeper—a quiet awe.
"Who are you really?" they asked together.
Carter smiled warmly, a spark of amusement dancing in his golden eyes. Then he laughed, effortlessly charming.
"I'm just Carter Brooks... a wanderer."
Carter was still chuckling at the twins' antics when one of the knights, a man clad in finely polished armor with a flowing red cape, approached. His stern expression softened just slightly when addressing the royal daughters.
"Princesses," the knight commander said with a deep voice, "we must head back to the city. Your father will want you both home safe."
Liora and Leina looked at one another, then back at their loyal knight.
"You're right," Liora said, brushing off her robes. "We need to return and report to Father. The mission is complete, and he must be told what happened here."
Leina added, "Yeah. He needs to know a crystal golem was rampaging in the forest. And we... sort of didn't take it down ourselves."
The knight commander gave a firm nod. "Then we leave immediately. We should be on the road before night falls."
The twins turned their attention back to Carter, who was now watching them with an amused grin.
Liora stepped closer, eyes bright. "Carter... I have a thought. Would you consider coming back to the city with us?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I have a strong feeling Father will want to meet the man who saved his daughters. You'd likely receive a generous reward."
Carter thought for a moment, eyes drifting to the treetops. Meet a king, huh? Wonder what kind of adventure that could lead to... He imagined more crazy battles, weird magical politics, and an endless buffet of world-building opportunities.
He grinned. "Sure. I'll come with you and meet the king himself."
The princesses both smiled.
"Excellent," Liora said. "Let's move then."
The knights regrouped and prepared the royal carriage. The princesses climbed in and turned back to Carter.
"Are you coming or what?" Leina called out.
"Wouldn't miss it," Carter replied, hopping in. As he sat down, he looked around the royal carriage. Luxurious silk cushions, carved wooden paneling, a soft floral scent lingering in the air.
Man, he thought, this is fancier than some hotels back home.
"Comfortable, huh?" Liora said with a smile.
"Very," Carter said. "Luxury on wheels."
The carriage began to move, wheels crunching gently along the forest path.
Carter looked out the window, deep in thought. In just one day, I got struck by lightning, died, met eight goddesses, got reincarnated into another world with ridiculous powers, saved two princesses from a monster, and now I'm on my way to meet a king. Not a bad start...
He looked back at the twins. "So how long is the journey to your city?"
Liora answered, "A few hours. The city of Astravale isn't far."
"Astravale, huh? What's the story behind it?"
Leina perked up. "Our great-grandfather, King Theron Astravale, was the one who united the warring border kingdoms centuries ago. Back then, the continent was fractured into a dozen territories constantly battling over land and resources. He wasn't just a warrior—he was a visionary. He created Astravale not just as a kingdom, but as a beacon of unity and hope."
Liora added, "He believed that peace could only be achieved through strength and wisdom. After his unification, he built the first palace atop the hill where our castle stands today. It's been passed down through generations of our family."
Carter nodded thoughtfully. "A legacy like that must be hard to live up to."
The twins exchanged a knowing glance.
"Our father tries his best every day," Liora said softly. "King Alveron Astravale—they call him the Sun King. He's stern, serious, and very strategic. A master tactician who led Astravale through the last continental war. He ended it with almost no bloodshed on our side."
"He's a war hero," Leina added. "But he's also our dad. A bit scary, sure, but he always made time for us growing up. He's... well, kind of like a mountain. Strong, unmovable, but warm if you sit beside him long enough."
"He rules with justice and strength, but never forgets compassion," Liora said proudly.
"And our mother..." Leina said, a smile touching her lips. "Queen Seraphine Astravale. The Silver Star of the West."
"She was once a commoner," Liora continued. "An archmage who served the royal court in her youth. She met Father during the war and saved his life during a magical ambush. He proposed not long after."
"She's the most powerful enchanter in the realm," Leina added. "Even now. I swear she can enchant anything. Once, she enchanted my bedroom curtains to shut themselves whenever I said 'I'm sleepy.'"
"She's beloved by the people," Liora said. "A queen with the heart of a mage. Wise, kind, and fiercely protective."
"We really admire them," Leina said, her voice quieter now. "They're legends. But they're also just... our parents."
Carter smiled warmly. "Sounds like you've got a family worth fighting for."
Both sisters nodded, eyes shining with pride.
"We do," they said together.
"Pretty impressive," Carter nodded. "A lot of history."
"A lot of pressure too," Liora added.
Carter smirked. "Still can't believe Leina's royalty. You're like... the opposite of what I expected from a princess."
Leina narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Just saying," Carter said innocently. "You've got a temper."
"You're impossible!" she snapped.
"You're loud."
"You're annoying!"
"You're fun to tease."
Liora sighed, watching the two go back and forth. Those two arguing... it's like watching fire and wind collide. Weirdly entertaining.
As the sun dipped low, the carriage rolled out of the forest and onto cobbled roads. Hours passed in cheerful bickering and casual talk. Finally, city gates loomed ahead.
The guards recognized the royal seal and lowered the gate.
Carter leaned out, eyes wide. "Whoa..."
The city of Astravale stretched before them—a stunning blend of stone buildings and vibrant markets. Elves walked alongside humans, demihumans bartered goods, and children ran laughing between merchant stalls.
"This place is amazing," Carter said.
"All races are welcome here," Liora explained. "Slavery is banned by royal decree."
"Good," Carter said. "I like this place already."
They passed blacksmith shops, bakeries, and scroll vendors. Carter's stomach grumbled at the scent of grilled meats and fresh bread.
Soon, another massive gate came into view—the entrance to the royal palace. It slowly lowered as guards saluted.
Beyond it stood a castle carved into shining stone, banners of gold and blue waving in the wind.
"Welcome to our home," Leina said with a smirk.
Liora nodded. "Let's go see Father."
Carter took a deep breath as they disembarked. Well... no backing out now.
With the sisters at his side, Carter stepped into the castle.
To be continued...