*Multiple POVs*
***
(Middle Kingdom Citizen POV)
Sitting on a couch I watch the news as it's displayed on the tv. The low sizzling of food in a pan is heard behind me, but it's soon drowned out by the tv volume.
["We still have just a little less than two months before the official openings of what used to be our nation's borders open to the public. Even now though, it seems many have already started preparing for their journeys."
They pull up an old picture of the world borders in the background. The camera also shifted to the right to show the entirety of the map along with the presenter. She proceeded to point near what used to be our borders and a red line appeared along the side that was positioned next to the ocean. Vetus Terra is the name they've chosen for what used to be the only continent of the world.
"From what we know there appears to be a new river previously unknown that connected our land into the new world. It was only discovered half a month ago when the government decided to expand on their efforts in stopping people from getting past and into the new land.
It is currently estimated that around one thousand people have passed the border, but some say it could be as high as three thousand people. The government has found around eight hundred of those border hoppers so far and they currently spent at least a year of their time in jail.
There is no need for people to hop the border since it will officially open in around two months time. Please stay home! The government is only trying to protect you."
With that the picture of the border changes into a feed of a male reporter holding a mic. He stands outside of a store looking at the camera. A short line of people await outside.
"Right now I'm here at one of the many survival stores our country has. I spoke to the managers just a little while ago and he says he never had business like this before.
These stores which used to be rarely even thought of are currently almost having shortages. If you want to prepare you better...."]
"Have you heard of all those people preparing for when our borders finally open up?" I tilted my head back a bit to look at my wife.
She stood behind a counter in our kitchen, steam raised up in front of her and a feint sweet aroma entered my nose.
"Are you talking about this again? It's dangerous, don't you remember what happened to some of the first expeditions? I heard on the news yesterday that people are suddenly becoming healthier. Those Tai Chi exercises made them look a little younger.
People all over the Middle Kingdom have been experiencing something happening with in their bodies. But no matter what doctors and scientists just can't figure out what is causing it. At least nothing that seems logical.
Why don't you start doing so as well? I have a feeling you would go there as soon as it opens, so why not try it out?"
"Do you really believe that? People just suddenly gaining some powers or something? How could that possibly be real?"
"So, you're saying that our world in its entirety as we knew it being transported somewhere else can happen? But people gaining powers for no reason can't?"
"Exac-.... I guess you're right."
"That's right. Now come eat, dinner's ready!"
Getting up off the couch I walked over to a table where she had already set down a few dishes.
A steamed fish topped with scallions and thin sticks of ginger while bathing in a brown sauce.
A small bowl containing steamed water egg and chopped green onions atop it.
A plate of steamed Choy Sum with bits of garlic around the top.
A bowl for me containing corn soup with eggs and dried scallops within.
And finally a little distance away I see, next to her, a pressure cooker. I see her press a button on top of it and it opens letting out a bunch of steam. With the nearby rice scooper she gets some of the rice, patting it down into her bowl.
'It's time to eat.'
***
(Middle Kingdom First Lieutenant POV)
"Is it true what you've said?" I sat at my desk while a man in front of me told me of a new situation. Resting my head on my left hand I listened to his report.
"Yes Sir! It is, we have confirmed reports of people changing while practicing these methods. Within our own ranks we have a few people who have 'reached the first stage of cultivation,' at least that's what they say.
From ancient manuals and records it should be the first level of 'Body Refinement.' And they say they've even become stronger. We have records of their strength and it is indeed as they say. Their strength increased on average 1.5 times their original.
Sir I believe it'll be wise for us to have everyone begin training. We should also have people analyze these old manuals and understand how they are doing this. Maybe we could improve on it."
"Hmm.... Alright, I'll see to it that the higher ups know of it. Now can you show me where one of these people are and their file as well?"
"Of course Sir! In fact I have one of their files with me right now Sir!
Here you are Sir, this was one of the first people who reported their status as a 'Cultivator.'"
The man placed a packet onto my desk. Picking it up and pulling out the files I first saw a picture of the man attached to the top left. He had the standardized haircut and brown eyes, other than that he could be considered a little bit above average in looks. Other than that nothing really stands out about him.
From his information there was a new part next to the existing info which told of his new power after cultivating.
His average punching force before cultivating was around 500 psi or 2225 newtons of force. After he cultivated it was around 750 psi.
Even his speed increased from a small run which would take him a whole minute, now takes only 45 seconds for him to complete.
"Take me to him, I want to see this for myself."
"Of course Sir!"
We both stood up out of our seats before proceeding out into the hall. The man led me through the building until we made it over to the barracks where some people still stayed, cleaning the area.
"Yang Bai!" I yelled the name startling the men cleaning the area, though one puts down his mop and walked toward me.
Once in front of me he straightened his back before giving me a salute.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Follow me, I'd like to see something."
"Yes Sir!"
***
(Citizen of Manifest POV)
I take a few final checks for my luggage and equipment. Everything I planned to take along with us on our journey sitting on the table in front of me.
Spare Clothing - Check √
Camping equipment - Check √
Food and drinks - Check √
Weapons for protection - Check √
Medical supplies - Check √
'That should be everything right? Wait, where's Josh?'
"Josh! Josh, where are you? I'm doing a final check of all our things we're going to bring so what about you? Josh!" Without hearing a response I began searching our shared house for him.
I know for a fact he was in the building, I saw him come in the door just half an hour ago. I don't remember hearing it open again either. I began searching the rest of the first floor for him.
I could instantly mark off the living room since that was where I was. The kitchen was empty as well though, welp that was the first floor onto the next. The house really wasn't that big in the first place and searching it would be quick.
I made my way up the stairs and the first place I decided to check was his room. It seems like I didn't have to look any further for him though. He was lying asleep on his bed, he didn't even change clothing or actually get into the bed. He still had the outfit from when he walked through the front door minus the shoes and socks that were just on the ground.
He lay atop the sheets with his limbs outstretched. I walked over to him and shook him awake. He slowly opened his eyes to look at me with a groggy look from suddenly waking up.
"Nnnn? Haa? whaa?"
"*Sigh* Come on man, didn't I say we should prepare?"
He stared straight at me with the same dazed look. "Nnnn?"
I sat there patiently while waiting for his senses to come back so we could have an actual conversation. I looked around his room a bit while waiting and saw his bag just casually dropped onto the middle of the floor. It didn't take too long though and soon he looked semi-normal again.
"Y-Yeah? What's up brad? You're not going to talk to me about that expedition right? you'd said we'd only start going one or two weeks before the border actually opens."
"Yeah, but it's better to be prepared! Besides, we're going to be going through an entire country to even get to the start of our expedition! You should have at least prepared something."
"Of course I've got something! Look over I even got a bag over there!" He raised one of his arms up and pointed at a bag hanging off a chair in the corner of his room. Getting off his bed I walked over to investigate his backpack.
When I picked it up I immediately noticed the unusual lightness and when I looked inside I realized the reason for it.
It was empty, the bag was all he had gotten. Even the tag was still attached to it and the receipt was inside. It was just a normal backpack that cost 60 dollars or 30 World Alliance Credits.
Though the name of the credits soon changed as it no longer encompassed the world. It was now known as Vetus Terra Credits, V.T Credits, or V.T.Cs. It's insane how fast the name changed, but lucky for them the credits were never printed with the World Alliance part, only the Credit part.
"Are you serious?"
"Look man, isn't it still like more than a month and a half away? I'll have it done in a month. Why don't we just take the sea route? I mean I bet most people are going to go by land, why don't we go by sea?"
"Don't you remember what happened in the news a while ago? Some of our naval ships are disappearing! Now the navy won't go too far out into the ocean since they've already lost a few ships. They don't even know what took them, but considering there were monsters on the land there probably are some in the sea as well.
It'll be dangerous as hell if we cross by the sea! Our nation's military strength is known as the strongest on all fronts and if our navy can't protect themselves from the monsters in the ocean how can we? I think they stated that they've lost three ships, but only the remains of one had been located."
"Ok, ok can I go back to sleep now?"
"*Sigh* Go ahead, just make sure you prepare before we go ok?"
Not even a minute later he falls back onto his bed already asleep. Leaving his room I went back down to the supplies I've spread out onto one of the living room tables. Gathering everything I make sure to carefully store it away.
'Only two months, that's how long it'll be until it's open. We can be explorers like how people were back then. I wonder how many new things we'll encounter? Plants, animals, food, and maybe we'll even gain new inventions from these new discoveries.
I can't wait!'