The sky moved.
At first, the change was so subtle that most people failed to notice it. The vast blue expanse above the plain seemed to ripple slightly, as if the fabric of the atmosphere itself had been disturbed by an invisible force.
Then the distortion grew stronger.
The light dimmed for a brief moment, not enough to plunge the world into darkness but just enough for every pair of eyes across the endless field to turn upward at the same time.
A strange pressure filled the air.
It was not physical, yet everyone could feel it.
The conversations that had erupted across the plain slowly died down as a growing sense of unease spread through the massive crowd. Thousands of people stared at the sky in silence, their earlier panic momentarily replaced by a tense anticipation that none of them could explain.
High above the plain, something began to form.
At first it appeared as nothing more than a distant glow, a faint concentration of light that slowly gathered in the center of the sky. The brightness intensified with each passing second, expanding outward until it became impossible to ignore.
The wind that had been moving through the tall grass gradually faded.
The entire plain fell into an unnatural stillness.
Then the light condensed.
What emerged from that brilliance was not merely a shape.
It was a presence.
A colossal figure materialized above the world, suspended high in the sky like a being that existed beyond the laws of gravity. Its form was vaguely humanoid, yet far too immense to resemble anything human. Its body appeared to be composed of radiant energy, shifting and flowing like living light that constantly reassembled itself into new patterns.
Even from the ground, the sheer scale of the entity was overwhelming.
It towered over the landscape like a silent god watching over the newly arrived crowd.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Fear, awe, and disbelief spread across the plain as thousands of humans stared upward at the impossible being hovering above them.
Then the voice came.
It did not travel through the air.
It appeared directly inside their minds.
The sensation was unmistakable.
Every person present heard the same words at the same time, the deep resonance of the voice echoing through their thoughts with absolute clarity.
"Children of Earth."
A ripple of shock spread through the crowd.
Many people instinctively looked around, as if expecting someone nearby to have spoken. Others covered their ears, only to realize that the voice did not come from outside at all.
It was inside them.
Inside everyone.
"You have been brought to this world through an exceptional selection."
The massive figure remained perfectly still as its voice continued to resonate across the plain, calm and measured in a way that contrasted sharply with the confusion of the humans below.
"Your original world, designated Earth, has been eliminated from the Dimensional War due to its absence of representatives and its planetary score of zero."
The words fell like a hammer.
A murmur swept through the crowd.
Some people shouted in anger.
Others simply stared upward in stunned silence, their minds refusing to accept the meaning of what they had just heard.
Khalum remained still.
His eyes never left the towering entity above.
"You now stand upon the planet Valtheris."
The name echoed through the minds of every human present.
"This world participates in the Dimensional War."
The entity paused briefly before continuing.
"Valtheris has chosen to grant you an opportunity to survive and to contribute to its future."
Across the plain, confusion slowly began to mix with fear.
"What the hell does that mean?!"
"Are we prisoners?!"
"Send us back!"
The voices rose again as panic returned to the massive crowd.
The entity did not react.
Its voice simply continued.
"All intelligent inhabitants of this world possess a System that allows them to grow stronger, complete missions, and accumulate points for their planet."
As those words were spoken, a faint glow suddenly appeared on the wrists of the humans below. Khalum felt a sudden warmth spread across the inside of his left wrist.
He instinctively looked down.
A symbol had appeared on his skin.
It looked like an intricate mark composed of thin glowing lines that slowly settled into place like living ink beneath the surface of his skin.
"This mark is known as the Sigil of Valtheris."
Across the plain, thousands of people stared at their wrists in shock.
The symbol pulsed faintly, as if responding to the presence of its new bearer.
"This Sigil connects you to the System."
Before anyone could react further, something else happened.
A translucent blue screen suddenly appeared in front of Khalum's eyes.
It hovered in the air like a projection that only he could see.
___
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE
User: Khalum Cross
Race: Human
Planet: Valtheris
Status: Active Participant
___
Gasps erupted across the field as thousands of people began seeing similar screens appear before them.
Some reached out to touch the glowing interfaces floating in front of their faces.
Others stepped back in fear.
The entity's voice continued without pause.
"The System will provide information, translation, missions, and guidance necessary for your survival within this world."
The immense figure slowly raised one radiant hand toward the horizon.
"Your first trial begins now."
The air above the plain began to shimmer again.
Space itself seemed to distort across the massive field where the humans stood.
"You will now be distributed across the continent."
The words echoed through every mind.
"Your survival will depend on your ability to adapt."
A ripple of light spread outward from the entity like a wave crossing the landscape.
"Welcome to Valtheris."
The world flashed white.