Newcomers to Elythra

Eldric walked slowly, his eyes scanning the people around him. They looked like him, having just arrived in this place. Above, bodies continued to fall from the sky, as if it were raining humans.

He tried to count their numbers. Although it was only a rough estimate, Eldric guessed that there were more than a thousand people who had arrived. To make things easier, he divided them into several large groups in his mind.

As he watched his surroundings, his ears caught the conversations of the people nearby. Voices filled with confusion and worry mixed with whispers of plans and speculation. Eldric remained silent, listening intently, trying to understand the situation and find clues as to what was happening.

Eldric heard various languages ​​he did not understand - some were speaking in other languages ​​that were foreign to his ears. The atmosphere was getting more and more noisy with people confused and panicked.

"This doesn't make sense," Eldric muttered as he rubbed his chin.

"Why are we all gathered in a place like this?"

In the distance, he saw several people starting to group together based on their language. Some were hugging each other in fear, some were screaming for their families, and some were like him - standing quietly observing the situation.

A middle-aged man approached him, "Hey, are you a local? Can you tell me where this is?" he asked in the same language, stuttering.

Eldric shook his head slowly, "Sorry, I don't know either. I fell from a black hole and suddenly I was here."

"Ah, just like all of us then," the man took a deep breath.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared from above the sky. Everyone looked up, facing the source of the light. The atmosphere that had been noisy turned silent. Eldric felt that something big was about to happen.

"Chosen humans…" a voice echoed in the air.

The voice echoed in the air, making everyone fall silent. Even those who had been panicking now stood frozen. The voice was heard in multiple languages ​​at once, as if everyone could understand it in their own language.

"You have been chosen to face a great trial. The world is on the brink of destruction, and you are the hope of humanity..."

Eldric frowned. He glanced around, seeing the expressions of the people who were as confused as he was. Some began to whisper, while others were still staring at the light above.

"Each of you will be given power... power that will determine the fate of the world. But remember, with great power comes greater responsibility..."

In the middle of the crowd, Eldric saw Lilia and Alex standing not far from him. Lilia's face looked tense, while Alex still stood loyally beside her in a protective manner.

"In a short time, you will feel a change in yourselves. Use this power wisely, for the future depends on your decisions..."

Suddenly, Eldric's body felt a strange sensation. Like an electric current flowing through his body, but it was not painful. He saw his hands begin to glow faintly, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see the same phenomenon happening to the people around him.

"Your test... has just begun."

"You will be faced with challenges you have never imagined before. In the world you are about to enter, there is no room for hesitation. Every choice you make will determine not only your fate, but the fate of all humanity."

"Remember, the power you receive is not a gift... but a responsibility. Some will use it for good, others will be consumed by greed. The choice is yours."

"Good luck, chosen humans."

After the voice died away, Eldric felt his body begin to react strangely. A hot sensation flowed from the tips of his feet, slowly rising throughout his body like boiling water. Cold sweat began to wet his forehead, and his breathing became heavy.

"What is this...?" Eldric groaned softly, clutching his burning chest.

A bluish light began to envelop his body. Unlike other people who had lights of various colors - red, green, yellow, and other colors. The light on Eldric's body pulsed like a heartbeat, getting stronger and stronger.

Suddenly, an understanding penetrated his mind. Like knowledge was implanted directly into his brain. He understood his power - the ability to manipulate time on a small scale. He could slow down time in a certain area, or speed it up. But there were limitations - he couldn't stop time completely or go back in time.

"Time Manipulation..." Eldric whispered, still trying to process his new power.

He raised his hand, trying to concentrate on a small group of people near him. In an instant, their movements slowed, as if they were moving through water. Eldric gasped, not expecting his power to work so quickly. He quickly released his concentration, and the people returned to normal movement.

"This power... could be a blessing or a curse," he thought, realizing how dangerous the ability he now possessed was.

Suddenly, a thunderous sound shook the sky. Eldric and the others looked up, seeing thousands of colorful balls of light begin to appear and float in the air. The balls glow in various colors and sizes - some glow like fire, some ripple like water, some sparkle like crystals, and many other variations.

"Here are some additional gifts for you," the mysterious voice said again.

"Each ball of light contains a different supporting power. Choose wisely, for your choice will complement the primary power you have received."

People began to move, some hesitantly, others eagerly chasing after the balls of light. Eldric saw a man catch a bright red ball, and his body was instantly enveloped in an aura of fire. Elsewhere, a woman touched a silver ball, and a crystal sword appeared in her hand.

"Be careful in your choice," Eldric heard Lilia's voice nearby. He turned to see the girl studying a bright green ball floating in front of her.

Alex, who was still loyally beside Lilia, was already holding a golden ball that made his body glow - it seemed to be a physical strength booster.

Eldric observed the balls around him carefully. As the owner of the power of time manipulation, he needed to choose a supporting power that could optimize his abilities. His eyes fell on a dark blue ball that glowed quietly, as if calling his name...

The voice continued to echo in Eldric's ears, a soft whisper that seemed like only he could hear it. He watched the people around him who were busy with their own choices - no one showed any reaction to hearing the same voice.

"Come here..." the whisper became clearer, coming from the dark blue ball that floated quietly in front of him.

Compared to the other larger and more striking balls of light, this ball looks very small, almost inconspicuous. But there was something different about this ball - as if it had infinite depth within it.

"Understanding is the key to everything..." the whisper was heard again.

Eldric observed the ball more closely. Amidst the hustle and bustle of people fighting over balls of physical power and flashier weapons, he found himself drawn to this small ball. As the possessor of the power of time manipulation, perhaps what he needed was not just physical strength, but a deeper understanding of how to use his power wisely.

"With deeper understanding, your power will reach its true potential..." the whisper seemed to answer his doubts.

Eldric weighed his options. On the one hand, the other balls offered more immediate and visible power - increased speed, physical strength, or weapons. But on the other hand, the ability to better understand and analyze situations might be far more valuable in facing the challenges that await.

Eldric closed his eyes for a moment, his mind racing considering all the possibilities. The power of understanding sounds simple at first glance, but its potential could be very profound. Would this mean he would be able to understand everything faster? Understand situations more accurately? Or perhaps even understand how other powers work?

"If combined with the ability to manipulate time..." Eldric muttered to himself. "I can analyze the situation in slowed down time, making better decisions..."

His eyes scanned the surroundings, seeing people still busy choosing their powers. Some had already begun to try out their new powers - some were training with weapons, some were testing their increased physical strength.

"There must be a next stage after this," Eldric thought. "Maybe we'll be transported to another world, or a different dimension. A place where we have to use these powers..."

He imagined various scenarios: a battle arena, a rescue mission, or perhaps an exploration of a dangerous world. In any case, the ability to understand quickly and accurately could be the key to survival.

"In a world we don't know, with threats we've never faced before... perhaps a deeper understanding is more valuable than sheer physical strength," Eldric mused. "After all, the greatest power can be wasted without a proper understanding of how to wield it."

His hand slowly reached out toward the dark blue orb, still with various considerations spinning in his head. After all, this was a choice that would affect his entire journey ahead.

Eldric reached out, finally touching the dark blue orb. As soon as his fingers touched the surface of the orb, an overwhelming sensation immediately penetrated his body. The world around him suddenly felt like it was spinning rapidly. The sound of the wind howling filled his ears, making him momentarily lose his balance.

A flash of vision began to appear before him—a vast ocean with crashing waves, mountains towering up into the clouds, and a sky that was ablaze with orange. Then, a great fire split his vision, like a dragon dancing in the air. A giant river flowed swiftly beneath his feet, filled with large animals swimming gracefully. In the distance, Eldric saw creatures flying with giant wings, casting intimidating shadows on the ground.

One of the creatures approached. A massive beast with wide wings and scales that gleamed like old bronze hovered right in front of Eldric. The creature's eyes shone sharply, staring straight into Eldric's soul. The overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe, as if the creature's presence was imposing its authority on everything around it.

However, Eldric did not look away. He held his breath, his mind racing. The creature did not attack, only watched, as if assessing Eldric's presence. After a moment that felt like an eternity, the creature let out a low roar before flying away, leaving behind a trail of wind that shook Eldric's body.

The scene changed again. Now Eldric stood in the middle of a massive battle. Giant monsters slammed into each other, shaking the ground until Eldric had to struggle to keep his balance. A six-legged creature with claws like steel faced a golden dragon that breathed red fire.

Then, his gaze shifted to a magnificent human city. Tall towers of glass and stone stood strong, shining like stars in the night. The streets were wide, filled with hovercraft and bustling people. The city looked like the pinnacle of civilization, a place where magic and technology merged. Eldric was stunned. The city had an aura of grandeur that made anyone feel small.

Then, a deep, authoritative voice reached his ears, though no one seemed to be speaking.

"Welcome, Newcomer. This world is known as Elythra. Here your strength will be tested, and your decisions will determine your future. Survive or rise as a changer of destiny. The choice is yours."

The world stopped spinning. Eldric awoke on a vast grassland, with a bright blue sky above him. The dark blue orb had disappeared, but inside him, Eldric felt something new: an understanding. He could feel the fabric of this world, read the currents of energy around him, and understand the workings of the forces that surrounded the place.

He took a deep breath, his eyes shining with determination. "Elythra, huh?" he murmured.

"Let's see what I can do in this world."