I don’t know how much time has passed, but I’m finally regaining consciousness. What a horrible sensation! Despite my sore body, I can feel that my movements are becoming more natural, and I’m able to use my wings as “arms” to support my body.

I would like to believe that my encounter with Laz Auria was nothing more than a surreal dream, but, as if the condition of my body wasn’t enough, the hole where she was floating remains as proof of my reality.

Whatever she did to me, all that pain contributed to something beneficial—my mind is completely awake, and my thoughts are clear. My perception is even sharper. For dozens of meters, I can feel the environment around me.

Other than the sound of a waterfall, this place has no presence around me.

Sigh!

“Even with my mind focused, there are still gaps in my memories. However, I cannot recall the events that led to my death.”

Sigh!

Before understanding my current situation, I need to remember how I ended up here in the first place. The absence of any presence around me will be convenient, as it will allow me to focus completely.

Curling around my body, I close my eyes, diving into remembrance.

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Nepturia Kingdom, City of Nemuria. New Era, Year 134 (2280).

As the stage of the first technological revolution that led to the discovery of the Natural Law, the city of Nemuria has become the central hub for resource investments and the congregation of individuals from various races and dimensions with which humanity has made contact.

With a population exceeding 100 million residents and an average of 200 million annual visitors using Nemuria to access other dimensions or connect to other cities across Earth, Nemuria appears as a white blur on Earth's surface from space due to its extension exceeding hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.

However, amidst all this “flat sun” is a dark spot, devoid of any light. Known as the “Island’s Void,” the area, excluding researchers and those responsible for monitoring and patrolling the region is devoid of a decent population.

The cause of such a void is a colossal island that appeared suddenly in the year 126 (2272), floating as the epicenter of all the darkness. However, the island itself does not cause the darkness. The cause is attributed to the discontinuation of resources in the region following the population exodus, who fled from creatures that spawned from the island, and which spread rapidly. 

Despite possessing extensive resources and personnel, the Nepturia Kingdom failed to handle the situation promptly. Twenty-six days had elapsed until the Kingdom's actions stopped the creatures proliferation, which led to the loss of millions of lives.

Since then, eight years have passed, but the Nepturia Kingdom, along with the Dimensional Gates Research, Analysis, and Management Center (DGRAMC), has not managed to recover more than 80 kilometers of the 450 kilometers lost to the violent advance of the creatures. This has solidified the region’s status as a restricted area, maintained under extreme vigilance daily.

◆◇

The city of Nemuria is divided into north, south, east, and west regions. Each region is divided into four territories controlled by a Main House. Each territory, in turn, is divided into sectors, where the higher the sector number, the farther it is from the central region.

At this moment, in the east region of Nemuria, sector 8, in the territory of House Boronéa, there's a trio of young individuals. They are casually conversing in a municipal park.

“Have you heard the new announcement that the Gates House has contacted another dimension?”

The owner of the voice is a girl from the Hongis race. Despite being only 17 years old, she stands 2.1 meters tall with a toned body—a characteristic of her race that exudes superior vitality among most races.

“Another one? How many have there been now, six?”

A slender young man asks, surprised. His long black bangs hide the interest in which he's gazing at his cellphone, entraced by a bikini model picture. Her long ears and furry tail highlight the model's beauty.

“Seven. Well, now it’s eight. The name of the new dimension is Areantarde. The first contact was made about a year ago.”

The third response came from a young girl sitting on a bench, drinking coffee to combat the chills of the approaching winter. Her hair is dark blue with natural white streaks, and her eyes are a mix of yellow and orange; her pupils are vertical, indicating her mixed lineage—a common sight these days.

All three have pins above their hearts with circular crests engraved with different symbols representing their houses or lineage.

“Kahaha! You humans don’t know what moderation is. That’s probably why your culture is so interesting, especially the cuisine,” the Hongi girl exclaims.

“As if only humans are interested in contacting other dimensions. Currently, a lot of the expansion interest comes from groups from other dimensions that seek to use humanity as a'shield’ against first contact,” the yellow-eyed girl retorts.

“It’s a fact that humans have an insatiable curiosity for the unknown. So, Earth is the ‘perfect diplomat’ for other dimensions. Nevertheless, Earth being the center of so many resources is something that, in the end, is worth the risk,” the young man adds as he opens another picture album of the same model.

“That’s true. But when you consider the possibility of tragedies like the appearance of the ‘Island,’ it makes you question whether it’s really worth continuing as a ‘shield,’” the yellow-eyed girl comments, to which the young man responds:

“That doubt is understandable, but for such a decision, one must consider that something ‘bad’ will happen; you just don’t know when. Well, not that I could bear the weight of making such a decision.”

“Kaha! Really. There’s only one person I know who would be capable of making such a decision. By the way, it’s almost time; did he happen to tell any of you that he’d be late?” the Hongi girl asks.

“Well, it’s no wonder he managed to gather three of the most unlikely individuals to form a team. That alone says a lot about his abilities as a leader. However, no. He didn’t inform us,” the yellow-eyed girl argues. “But you can never know what he’s thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised if he contacted us, saying that he’s running late because he’s in another dimension.”

They all laugh, imagining the situation.

“Kahaha! Indeed, that really seems something that could happen.”

TLIM!

Still laughing, the yellow-eyed girl’s attention is drawn to the alarm on her phone beeping with a received message. Checking it, she smiles and says, “Speaking of him. It’s a message saying that he’s changing the meeting location. The reason being, ‘I dozed off and missed the stop!’”

Everyone bursts into laughter. The Hongi girl laughs so hard that she has to lean on the bench and hold her stomach.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, the yellow-eyed girl explains as she stands up, “He said he’s two stations ahead, at the entrance of sector 9.”

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