YEAR 2026
The ringing of the school bell marked the end of the final class.
Students flooded out of their classrooms, voices blending into the usual end-of-day noise as everyone headed home.
I was one of them — Ethan Cole.
After saying goodbye to my friends at the school gate, I turned and started walking home.
Spring was close. A soft breeze brushed against my skin, and birds filled the air with calm, almost comforting sounds.
For a moment… everything felt normal.
The road to my house cut through a forest.
Even though it was a proper asphalt road, thick trees stood on both sides, giving it a strangely quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
On my way home, I was already thinking about the usual routine — homework, then games on my PC, maybe some anime.
And before I left this morning, my mom had promised pizza for dinner.
Man… I love pizza.
I never thought anything would be different today.
As I walked, I noticed the black cat I always saw around here.
I had some cat food in my bag, so I took it out and placed it in front of it.
While it started eating, I glanced around.
That's when I noticed someone dressed in black.
I didn't think much of it. This road wasn't crowded, but it wasn't exactly empty either.
Just… a normal passing stranger.
I stayed a moment longer, watching the cat eat.
That's when it happened.
A strange blue light suddenly began forming in the air nearby.
A loud, unnatural sound filled the surroundings.
The cat panicked and ran off immediately.
I looked up.
A portal.
A glowing, unstable rift in space itself.
It didn't feel normal… but it didn't feel immediately dangerous either.
Still, the smartest choice was obvious.
Leave.
I stood up.
The moment I tried to step back, the portal reacted.
A violent force grabbed me like gravity had flipped.
I reached out for anything — anything at all — but there was nothing to hold onto.
"W-what the—?!"
And then…
It pulled me in.
Everything went black.
No sound. No light. No sense of direction.
Just endless darkness.
After what felt like minutes of drifting…
A light appeared ahead.
And suddenly, I was thrown out.
I hit the ground hard.
"Ugh…!"
I quickly looked around.
Massive trees surrounded me — thick trunks, oversized leaves, and wild grass taller than it should be.
This wasn't a forest.
It felt more like a jungle.
Ethan — "Oh man… I messed up. Where am I? What am I even doing here?"
I forced myself to breathe.
"Okay… okay, calm down."
At least it was still daylight.
That was something.
No people. No roads.
Just me… and my bag.
I opened it.
Ethan — "Alright… books, a pen, some cat food… and the sandwich my mom made."
That was it.
Simple. Useless in a situation like this.
Only one option came to mind.
Move forward.
Find a road.
Hours passed.
No matter how far I walked, nothing changed.
Trees. Grass. Silence.
I was getting sick of green.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up to me.
I sat under a tree and took out the sandwich.
I hadn't eaten since morning.
The moment I took a bite—
Rustling.
I froze.
Something was nearby.
I slowly looked forward.
And there it was.
A creature that looked like a rat…
But wrong.
Much bigger. More aggressive. Its mouth foamed as it made distorted sounds.
Ethan — "Um… hey. Do you want a sandwich?"
I hesitated.
"…You can have it. I'm full anyway."
I threw the sandwich slightly forward.
Then turned—
And ran.
It followed immediately.
Fast.
Too fast.
Even with tired legs, I kept running as hard as I could.
But I couldn't outrun it.
My foot caught a root.
And I fell.
The creature leapt at me.
"Shit—!"
Just before it reached me—
Something dropped from above.
A spear pierced its back.
Two more figures appeared from the sides, striking its legs.
Steel flashed again and again.
They didn't hesitate.
Didn't stop.
Only after several relentless strikes did the creature finally collapse.
Silence returned.
I was still on the ground, breathing heavily, watching them.
One of them approached.
X — "Hey there."
He offered his hand.
I took it.
Ethan — "T-thank you… for saving me."
X2 — "We actually came here to hunt that thing. We even considered using you as bait… but the boss didn't allow it."
Ethan — "Boss…?"
They looked like humans.
But not normal ones.
Dark clothing made of rough fabric and leather.
Spears on their backs.
Small knives at their waists.
And masks covering their faces.
Like a group used to survival… or war.
X3 — "One of you, go back to camp and call the others. There's a lot of meat here. We'll need help carrying it."
X1 — "Got it, boss."
Then the "boss" stepped forward.
She removed her mask.
Sophie — "My name is Sophie. I'm the leader of a camp about thirty minutes from here. And you are?"
Ethan — "Ethan… Ethan Cole. I'm 16… from New City. And thank you again."
Sophie — "I've never heard of 'New City'. I know all nearby settlements, but that name doesn't ring a bell."
She glanced at the others.
"This is Loid."
Ethan — "Nice to meet you, Loid."
Loid — "…Yeah."
Sophie — "We have work to finish. We'll talk more at camp."
Soon after, the rest returned.
They gave me strange looks but continued working without saying anything.
When everything was collected—
Sophie — "Alright. Let's move."
She walked beside me.
Sophie — "Honestly… what you said sounds suspicious. Some of my people wanted to kill you. I stopped them for now."
A pause.
"After tonight, we'll take you to the town. The chief will decide what to do with you."
We walked until we reached the camp.
Tents. A fire pit. People preparing food.
A simple survival settlement.
Everyone gathered around the fire and began eating.
I stood slightly away.
Trying to process everything.
People… real people are here.
But where exactly is "here"?
Memories of my home suddenly hit me.
My family.
My friends.
My life.
My throat tightened.
I looked down.
Then—
Someone hit my head lightly.
Sophie — "Here. Eat."
She handed me a plate.
Sophie — "If you're staying, we should at least know each other. If not, we'll still give you food and send you off safely."
I took it.
Ethan — "Thank you."
Sophie — "Why were you crying?"
Ethan — "I wasn't crying… just emotional."
Sophie — "Why?"
Ethan — "I miss my family… my friends… even games and anime…"
Sophie — "I'm sorry… may they rest in peace. But I don't understand what 'games' or 'anime' are."
Ethan — "Wait… you don't know ? interesting and How old are you ?"
Sophie — "16"
Ethan - "By the way… what year is it?"
Sophie — "My grandfather says it's nearly 300 years after the Great War."
Ethan — "The Great War…?"
Sophie — "Even children know it. Humans had everything… advanced technology… even travel to the stars. And then they destroyed it all."
Ethan — "Technology… stars… 300 years… so what year is it now?"
Sophie — "Somewhere around 2420."
I froze.
Ethan — "Oh man… I definitely messed up."