Cloud of ARK 427      

The year was 2140, and Earth was no more. Humanity had been drifting through the galaxies aboard ARKs, the last vestiges of civilization.

In the assembly hall of ARK 427, every eighteen-year-old male and female gathered, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation. This was the moment they had all been waiting for — the day they would finally experience what it truly meant to live.

Their entire lives had been spent training, preparing for this moment. Eternia, the fantastical realm they had studied since childhood, was the end goal of all their preparation. Life aboard the ARK was monotonous, constrained by the metal walls and the ever-present sense of confinement. But Eternia . . . Eternia was a world of limitless possibilities.

Cloud stood among the assembled humans, flanked by his childhood friend Travis and his girlfriend Trisha. Like all the others, they had no parents — conceived through the fusion of sperm and egg cells in a petri dish, randomly selected and highly confidential. They were simply known as the Children of the ARK.

Travis was nearly vibrating with excitement, constantly rubbing his hands together. "I can't wait to enter Eternia! We've been studying it and training for this our whole lives. My nerves are practically tearing me apart from excitement."

"Just a few more hours and we'll be in the Dream Weave," Trisha added, though her tone was more apprehensive. "I'm a little nervous about leaving my physical body here and being in a constant sleep while my consciousness is transported to another realm. The concept is kind of scary. What if something goes wrong?"

Travis rolled his eyes. "Countless people have done it before us, and they're all fine. We already have guilds and kingdoms in Eternia ruled by humans. What could go wrong?"

"For starters, dying there means dying for real," Trisha countered, her voice deadpan. She then looked over at Cloud, who had been remarkably calm throughout the conversation. "What do you think, Cloud?"

"I think we'll be fine," Cloud replied, his voice nonchalant.

"See? It's just you being a worrywart," Travis grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

Trisha fluttered her eyelashes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You two just don't have any concept of danger, do you?"

Part of Cloud was indeed scared — after all, they were venturing into the unknown. But that fear was overshadowed by his excitement. This was a chance to escape the suffocating confines of these sterile metal walls and step into a world of fantasy. Even if death in Eternia meant death in reality, Cloud didn't care. Anything was better than living like he was already dead.

"Attention, everyone!" A booming robotic voice echoed through the hall. "Line up according to your numbers. Assimilation with the Dream Weave will begin shortly, one by one."

The voice belonged to a robot, complete with serial numbers etched into its metallic frame. Humans no longer worked on the ARKs — robots managed everything.

Travis practically bounced on his toes. "Oh, it's finally happening! I can't wait! I wonder what class I'll get?"

"I'm sure it's Barbarian, considering you're nothing but a brute," Trisha deadpanned.

"Hey!"

"Our classes are based on our skills, combat abilities, and personality," Cloud added. "So, yeah, Barbarian seems likely for you, Travis."

Trisha grinned in triumph. "See? Even Cloud agrees with me!"

"Ah, not you too, Cloud. You two lovebirds should really stop ganging up on me," Travis groaned, though his smile betrayed his amusement.

Cloud and Trisha laughed as they moved into the line, their numbers close together since they were neighbors in the pods.

"We'll finally get to taste real food," Travis continued, trying to change the subject. "Not like the bland, tasteless stuff we get here on the ARK."

"It's because it's all made of nanomachines," Trisha pointed out with a shrug.

Nanomachine technology was the backbone of the ARKs, the colossal skyships that housed the remnants of humanity. These advanced machines provided everything necessary for survival, though not always for living.

The nanomachines, swarms of microscopic robots invisible to the naked eye, were marvels of engineering. Controlled remotely, they performed tasks with pinpoint precision, assembling molecules and even creating other nanomachines with unmatched efficiency.

Nanonourishment, or nanoN, operated on a similar principle. A large green cube, equipped with a few dozen basic recipes, served as the ARK's primary food production system. All a Citizen needed to do was supply a nutri-cube — a compact brick containing all essential nutrients — into the nanoN, and in seconds, it would produce a meal.

The food looked convincing, with textures and appearances that could easily fool the eye. But that's where the illusion ended. Despite its appetizing appearance, nanoN food lacked any real flavor or aroma. A roast chicken that looked perfectly cooked would taste bland, if it had any taste at all.

Despite the unlimited food supply and resources (3D printers print things like sofas, beds, dresses and such), life on the ARK was monotonous and uninspiring. The endless routine of sterile corridors and flavorless meals left everyone yearning for something more.

The new realm, Eternia, promised that escape — a world filled with danger but also vibrant with adventure and possibilities. It was a risk everyone was willing to take, a chance to break free from the dull existence on the ARK and truly live.

Everything on the ARK was managed by artificial intelligence — 100% reliable and 99% more efficient than humans, or so the saying went.

Cloud had grown accustomed to life on the ARK, but he had always yearned for more. Since the day he first heard of Eternia, the fantasy realm beyond the Dream Weave, his heart had been set on escaping the monotony of the ARK.

A new life awaited him there — a world bursting with color, adventure, and endless possibilities.

"Oh God, it's finally my turn!" Travis said, grinning at Cloud and Trisha. "See you on the other side!"

As Travis disappeared through the restricted door, Trisha clutched Cloud's hand tightly. "Are we really going to be safe in there? What if we don't make it to Eternia?"

Cloud offered her a reassuring smile and gently squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, no records have ever mentioned anything going wrong."

"But what if they're just hiding it?" Trisha's eyes were filled with worry.

Cloud patted her head softly. "You worry too much."

"Next, Citizen #427 808 008."

Cloud gave Trisha a gentle nudge. "It's your turn."

Trisha hesitated, letting go of Cloud's hand. She looked back at him, her anxiety clear. Cloud waved her on and gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll be right there with you," Cloud reassured her.

Trisha took a deep breath and stepped through the door, wishing everything would be okay.

Cloud watched as she disappeared, letting out a sigh of relief. He and Travis had always looked out for Trisha since they were kids, and she had grown to rely on them. He could only hope that in the new world, she would find the strength to stand on her own.

A few moments later, it was finally his turn. Cloud stepped inside the restricted door and entered the Dream Weave space.

He gasped as he took in the sight before him — a vast dome housing rows upon rows of sleeping pods, each filled with nutrient-rich fluid to sustain the body while the mind journeyed into Eternia. Circuits and webs of wires snaked across every pod, all connected to the Dream Weave — a machine resembling a massive teleportation gateway, a large metal ring with nothing but swirling galaxies and sparks of electricity within.

"Right this way, Citizen #427 808 009," a robot gestured toward an empty pod nearby.

This was it — just a simple process of falling into an eternal sleep while his consciousness was transported to another world.

Cloud took a deep breath and stepped into the pod. As it closed around him, a sleeping gas was released, and the NutriFluid filled the pod, quickly pulling him into unconsciousness.

When he awoke, Cloud found himself in an endless expanse of white. He saw everyone from ARK 427 around him, all dressed in the same white shirts and pants, their eyes wide with wonder and anticipation.

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|| A/N ||

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