The Gateway to the Past

Kaelan and Yelena hurriedly stepped out of the dimension mirror room. The air in the crystal tunnel felt heavier, as if something was watching them from behind the glowing walls. Kaelan's mind was still filled with his encounter with another version of himself—the Kaelan from a dark future.

If he continued down this path, would he end up like that version?

Yelena glanced at Kaelan, who seemed lost in thought. "Kaelan," she said seriously, "what did you see in the mirror?"

Kaelan paused for a moment before replying, "I saw myself… but not the me I am now. I was older, stronger… but also darker. He said I would become like him."

Yelena bit her lip. "I've read theories about dimensional mirrors. Some mirrors show possible futures. But what you saw may not be real... it's just one possibility out of many fates that could unfold."

Kaelan sighed. "Then I have to make sure it doesn't become reality."

They continued walking until the hallway began to widen, turning into a large cave illuminated by glowing blue light. In the center of the room stood a stone gateway adorned with ancient carvings.

And even more surprising—the artifact they were looking for was right at the center of the gateway.

A glowing purple crystal, floating in the air, surrounded by ever-changing glowing symbols.

Yelena's eyes widened. "That's... that's the shard of the artifact we've been searching for!"

Kaelan stepped closer, but before he could touch it, the stone gateway suddenly began to tremble. The light around them grew brighter, and the sound of rumbling echoed throughout the cave.

Then, something unexpected happened.

The gateway opened.

And what lay beyond was not a stone wall or another tunnel...

But a scene from the past.

Trapped in Time Kaelan and Yelena stared in shock as the gateway revealed a scene they found strangely familiar—Mount Sambo, but in a far different state. Ancient cities stood grandly on the mountainside, with crystal towers rising into the sky.

However, the most astonishing thing was the people they saw there.

They were dressed like ancient inhabitants, but with technology far beyond humanity's current civilization. Ships floated in the air, and streams of energy seemed to flow along the city streets, as though the entire place was powered by a mysterious force.

Yelena swallowed hard. "Kaelan... this is not just any gateway."

Kaelan stepped closer and felt a powerful pull from the gateway.

Before he could pull back, something yanked him forward.

"KAELAN!" Yelena tried to reach for his hand, but the force of the gateway was too strong. In an instant, Kaelan was sucked in, and the world around him shifted.

The Lost World When Kaelan opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the middle of the ancient city street. The air around him was warm, and the sky was a reddish-purple, indicating the sun was almost setting.

The people around him went about their business, unaware of his presence.

Kaelan looked around in awe.

He had truly traveled back in time.

But... when exactly?

Kaelan took slow steps, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Not far from where he stood, he saw a woman with long hair, wearing a golden-white robe, speaking with several men dressed like scientists.

His eyes locked onto her face.

His heart nearly stopped.

That... that was a face he knew all too well.

It was Anya.

But not the Anya he knew now.

This woman seemed more mature, graceful, and there was something in her eyes—wisdom that Kaelan had never seen before.

Kaelan staggered back.

"It's impossible..."

But before he could think further, an explosion rang out from afar.

People in the city screamed and scattered in all directions.

Kaelan turned and saw the sky split open with flashes of light. From the dimensional rift, giant creatures with black bodies and glowing red eyes began descending to the ground, destroying everything in their path.

Kaelan instantly recognized these creatures.

They were the Quantum forces.

But how could that be?

Weren't the Quantums supposed to appear only in the present?

Kaelan started to realize something.

Maybe... the Quantum weren't just a threat of the present.

Maybe... they had existed since ancient times.

And this civilization—the one lost to history—was the civilization that had faced them first.

The Hidden Secrets Kaelan ran toward Anya, who seemed to be aware of the approaching danger. He saw her giving orders to those around her, as if she were a leader here.

"Anya!" Kaelan shouted, though he wasn't sure if she would recognize him.

The woman turned, and her eyes widened when she saw Kaelan.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

Then, she walked toward him with a serious expression.

"Kaelan... you've finally arrived."

Kaelan was shocked. "What? You know me?"

She gave a faint smile. "Of course. I've been waiting for you all this time."

Kaelan was even more confused. "What's happening? How can you be here?"

Before she could answer, a massive explosion shook the ground. The Quantum forces were getting closer.

The woman looked at Kaelan sharply. "There's no time to explain. You must come with me, now."

Kaelan had no choice but to follow her. They ran through the city streets, which were beginning to crumble, heading toward a crystal tower in the city center.

But one big question still haunted Kaelan's mind.

How could Anya be in the past... and know about him?

And more than that...

Was this truly the Anya he knew?

Or was this something much bigger than he had imagined?