Okay... that hunger... it's a critical point in that stupid dimension, Alek muttered as he ate the food the automaton had provided. He tried to distract himself with the TV: 'Therbo, turn on the screen and show me the video game news highlights,' the AI's synthetic voice was followed by the familiar sound of the screen turning on. Alek watched as the news broadcast began: 'Oh, come on, did you see that? The promotion of the new Elder Hando DLC is at its peak, recently nominated for the best quarterly update. And continuing with this month's Esports, the renowned Van Malikova..."-Oh, tell me when I'm getting that triple cup! -said Alek excitedly as he looked at the headlines. He won the monthly triple cup and will be awarded for-' The newscast was interrupted by an urgent announcement. 'We interrupt this broadcast with new information about the strained relations between Halveth and the Golden Lotus."-Hey, I was watching my celebration! -Alek protested, crossing his arms.
The sky was beginning to turn orange; it had been nearly two hours since he awoke, and night was approaching in Velmont City, a central metropolis near the mountainous regions of Johanna's central continent. This planet, previously Earth, was home to three supercontinents: Auro, Bodhir and Pastry.
Velmont City belonged to the Halveth Confederation, one of the six nations governing the vast Bodhir continent. This territory, formerly known as what might have been the union of European and American lands, changed drastically after the Third World War, a devastating conflict triggered by the military escalation between Russia and Ukraine. As the war expanded, nations from America, Europe, and Asia became involved, pushing the planet into geopolitical and environmental collapse. The intense warfare triggered a series of catastrophic tectonic shifts, causing the deaths of millions and reshaping the world's map. With the destruction and formation of new continents on a smaller scale, fortress cities emerged—independent states that resembled feudal structures: each territory functioned autonomously but maintained loyalty to a larger entity, such as the Federation and other alliances. Since then, nearly 600 years have passed. Technology regressed during the first centuries, but about a hundred years ago, its development skyrocketed once again, shaping the modern world.
Alongside Halveth were the Golden Lotus, the Holy Cathedral of Osiris, the Marine Monarchy of Soleri, the Republic of Atzero, and the Kingdom of Drasvallen. Though they coexisted under a truce agreement in case of an invasion from other continents, internal tensions were far from absent. Halveth and the Golden Lotus, in particular, maintained a constant rivalry: while Halveth controlled the continent's rich mineral veins, the Golden Lotus coveted those resources, intensifying their historic enmity.
Alek leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh as he finished his meal.—Urgh, what do I do? The year has just begun, and I'm already caught up in this dimensional mess… —he muttered, staring blankly at his desk.After a few seconds of contemplation, he made a decision.—Therbo, send a message to my academy stating that I won't be attending classes for the next two weeks due to an infectious illness.—Understood, sir —the AI responded.
Therbo was a personalized artificial intelligence, a gift from a prestigious programming company that sponsored Alek in his competitions. The message was sent in a matter of seconds. As the computer screen emitted a faint glow, Alek remained silent, trying to organize his thoughts and make sense of everything that was happening.
"Well, let's just hope this was a one-time experience. Hahaha," Alek said aloud, attempting to convince himself as he took a sip of water. The nervous laughter filled the silence of his apartment, a weak attempt to dispel the tension that had built up.
But just as he took the last sip, something changed. A chill ran down his spine—an inexplicable sensation that he couldn't ignore.The glass slipped from his fingers and began to fall, but, defying all logic, it never hit the floor."What the hell…?"
Alek watched in shock as the glass descended with an eerily slow motion before coming to a complete stop midair. His breathing quickened, and a cold sweat formed on his forehead. Slowly, he turned his head toward the window, dreading what he might find outside.
The familiar landscape of Velmont City was gone. The blue sky had been replaced by a deep, dark purple, as if a perpetual sunset had seized the horizon. Instead of the warm yellow sun he knew, a pure white orb now floated in the sky, its edges radiating violet-hued flashes. That light wasn't comforting—it was cold and unnatural, bathing the city in an eerie glow.
But the most striking sight was the fully visible starry sky, even under the supposed "daylight" of this world. An endless sea of stars twinkled in the celestial dome, some more radiant than others, forming patterns and constellations he didn't recognize. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time, as if he were gazing upon a universe never meant for human eyes.
Alek stood frozen, swallowing hard, unable to tear his gaze away from the spectacle unfolding before him."Call the devil, and he will come," he murmured bitterly, recalling an old saying he used to hear as a child.
He lowered his eyes to the glass still floating in the air, then back to the scene outside his window.—Well… I still can't confirm whether the timing of entry is random —he muttered, frustration seeping into his voice—. But one thing is clear: this wasn't a one-time thing. And, of course, the time displacement is still a fact.
Sighing deeply, exhausted, he let himself collapse into his desk chair. The weight of the situation felt suffocating as his mind raced, desperately trying to piece everything together.
"Hmm… that's strange," he thought suddenly. Something was different this time. In his last incursion, the world had been filled with eerie sounds—roars of beasts, unknown birds screeching as they soared through the sky. But now… nothing. Absolute silence.
Intrigued, Alek got up and looked out the window. What he saw made his blood run cold.
The city's bustle had vanished. The people—those figures going about their daily lives—were still there… but motionless. Each one was surrounded by a faint veil of energy, pulsing softly, as if frozen in time. There were no beasts, no birds, not even the slightest rustling of tree leaves.
"What the hell…?"
Alek could feel his heart pounding, his pulse quickening. The eerie stillness of the landscape was far more unsettling than any roar or supernatural creature he had faced before. Something was profoundly wrong.—This is completely different from last time —Alek muttered, as a mix of curiosity and fear pushed him to act.
He rushed out of his apartment, opting for the stairs instead of the elevator, which didn't seem operational under these strange circumstances. As he descended, he passed several neighbors, frozen in time like living statues. A strange energy surrounded them, like a translucent shroud of light.—Well, at least now I really am the fastest in the building —he murmured to himself, trying to ease his growing anxiety with a bit of nervous humor.
He decided to approach a neighbor he often greeted in the hallway. Reaching out his hand, he was surprised when the glowing veil around her rejected his touch. His fingers grazed an invisible barrier, cold to the touch, like a magnetic field preventing him from going any further.—What the hell…? —he muttered, pulling his hand back. He observed the strange glow, which seemed to pulse gently around her, almost as if it were alive.
Alek took a step back, becoming more aware that the rules of this place bore no resemblance to the world he knew. Everything seemed designed to remind him that he was, once again, in a reality completely alien to his own.
Letting out a heavy sigh of resignation, he rubbed his temples, processing what he had just experienced.—Well, so much for that manga plot I read out of curiosity —he muttered.
The irony of his situation drew a bitter smile. While manga protagonists eventually found clear answers or gained extraordinary powers, he felt more like a secondary character lost in a script he didn't understand.
Turning around, he continued descending the stairs, determined to explore more of this strange, frozen world. With each step, the silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the echo of his own footsteps. As he moved forward, one question kept repeating in his mind:
—Why me? What am I supposed to do here?