Chapter 2: It's here
Chapter 2: It's here
The spatial rift spat Tosak out like a rag doll, sending his ship tumbling through the atmosphere of an unknown planet. When he finally managed to regain control, he found himself hovering above a vast, blue-green world. The landscape stretched out before him, a tapestry of oceans, continents, and towering mountain ranges.
Tosak's mind reeled as he struggled to comprehend his surroundings. But as he reached out with his senses, he realized that something was terribly wrong. He couldn't feel his energy, the familiar hum of his Kyrerian physiology. It was as if he'd been cut off from his own body.
Panic set in as Tosak frantically scanned his surroundings for any sign of the Asthrax. But it was nowhere to be found. He cursed his luck, wondering if he'd convince his father for nothing. With a growing sense of desperation, Tosak turned to his ship's comms system, hoping against hope that he might be able to contact his father.
But instead of his father's voice, Tosak was met with a pre-recorded message. "Tosak, things didn't go as planned. The celestari would wipe us out in a few seconds." Archon Xandros's voice said, his tone weary but resolute. "I'm proud of you, son. You've always been stronger than you think. Find a way to survive, and never give up hope. I'll be watching over you, always."
Tosak's world shattered. He screamed, his voice echoing off the ship's walls as he slammed his fists against the console. The pain was overwhelming, a crushing weight that threatened to consume him whole. But as the minutes ticked by, Tosak slowly began to pull himself together. He took a deep breath, wiping the tears from his eyes as he steeled himself for what lay ahead. He would figure out his situation, find a way to survive on this strange new world. And then, he would find a way back home.
---
Milky way galaxy
Earth
Chaos erupted across the globe as a bizarre and unprecedented series of environmental disasters struck, leaving world leaders and citizens stunned and panicked.
In Africa, a massive mist descended, shrouding the continent in a thick, impenetrable fog that reduced visibility to near zero.
Meanwhile, Australia was gripped by a severe heat wave, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking highs.
In North America, a sudden and intense snowfall blanketed the region, catching residents off guard and causing widespread disruptions.
South America was battered by high winds, with gusts reaching speeds of over 100 km/h. Europe, meanwhile, was plunged into a deep freeze, with temperatures plummeting to sub-zero levels without any accompanying snowfall, leaving residents shivering and bewildered.
Asia was drenched by a massive continental rainfall, with torrential downpours causing flooding and landslides across the region. And in Antarctica, the ice sheets began to melt at an alarming rate, sending shockwaves through the scientific community.
News agencies around the world scrambled to report on the unfolding disasters, with headlines blaring warnings of catastrophic climate shifts and impending doom.
But as suddenly as they had begun, the environmental disasters ceased, leaving behind a trail of confusion and relief. The mist in Africa lifted, the heat wave in Australia broke, and the snow in North America stopped falling. The winds in South America died down, and the freeze in Europe thawed. The rainfall in Asia slowed to a gentle patter, and the ice sheets in Antarctica began to re-form. Miraculously, despite the widespread disruptions, there were no reported casualties, and damage was minimal.
The world breathed a collective sigh of relief as the 24-hour environmental crisis came to an end.
---
United States of America
United nations headquarters
The United Nations Environmental Council convened an emergency meeting, gathering representatives from every corner of the globe to discuss the mysterious environmental disasters that had struck just days before. Scientists, policymakers, and experts from various fields converged on the UN headquarters, determined to find answers and prevent such catastrophes from happening again.
Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a leading climatologist, stood at the podium, addressing the assembly. "We're facing a phenomenon that defies explanation. The sudden, simultaneous onset of extreme weather events across the globe, followed by their equally abrupt cessation, suggests an artificial or external influence. But we're struggling to identify any causative factors." She shook her head, frustration etched on her face. "It's as if the universe simply... reset itself."
The room erupted into a cacophony of questions and speculation, with scientists from various disciplines offering theories and hypotheses. But as the discussion wore on, it became clear that the data simply didn't support any conventional explanations. "We're not seeing any residual effects, no lingering weather patterns or energy signatures," Dr. John Taylor, a meteorologist, explained. "It's as if the climate just... snapped back into place. Normally, we'd expect to see some residual effects for days, even weeks, after an event of this magnitude. But there's nothing. No echoes, no whispers, no signs of what might have caused this."
The assembly fell silent, the weight of their collective helplessness settling in. They were the world's top experts, and yet they were stumped. The universe seemed to have presented them with a puzzle that refused to yield its secrets. As the meeting drew to a close, the representatives could only agree to continue monitoring the situation, hoping that some clue might emerge to explain the mysterious events. But for now, they were left with only questions, and a nagging sense of unease.
---
In the middle of a jungle on the outskirt of a town
Tosak's eyes scanned the data streaming across the console, his mind racing with the implications. The ship's advanced sensors, generations beyond anything humanity possessed, had picked up a peculiar energy signature in the planet's atmosphere. It was a pattern he recognized, one that made his heart skip a beat.
"Asthrax," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the ship's systems.
The readings confirmed it: the strange energy fluctuations, the anomalies in the planet's magnetic field... it was all too familiar. The Asthrax was here, and it was announcing its presence in no uncertain terms.
Tosak's gaze shifted to the starmap, which had finally finished processing his location. The beeped coordinates flashed on the screen, and he felt a surge of excitement mixed with trepidation.
He was in a closed world.
A world hidden from the rest of the universe, protected by some unknown force. Tosak's mind reeled with the implications. He has heard of them. They were wouldscwithout magical energy but they were closed if from the magical part like the universe was trying to protect them.
A smile spread across his face, a sense of pride and purpose swelling in his chest. His father's sacrifice hadn't been in vain. The Asthrax was here, and Tosak was determined to unlock its secrets.
"I won't let you down, Father," he whispered, his eyes locked on the starmap. "I'll make our people proud. I'll uncover the truth about the Asthrax, and I'll use that knowledge to bring our people back from the brink."
The ship's systems hummed softly around him, a reminder of the long journey ahead. But Tosak was ready. He was a Kyrerian, and he would not falter.
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