Chapter 1 - Marvelous Warmth
When Earth's oceans first glimmered under the sun, parallel universes began their own stories. In one, time accelerated wildly, birthing a world where technology outpaced imagination. Humanity traded genuine connection for the comfort of screens. Compassion and camaraderie faded, replaced by a chilling detachment. Amid this sterile age, warmth became a forgotten relic.
This backdrop set the stage for a critical assembly. Representatives from 419 planets gathered to discuss a brewing military crisis. Despite the urgency, their disinterest was palpable. Heads bent over glowing devices, messages typed in silence, while the hum of machinery filled the room instead of conversation.
The representative from Urban, the most influential planet, finally spoke, breaking the hollow quiet. "If no one has anything meaningful to contribute, let's end this charade."
An annoyed voice snapped back. "Leave it to Urban's envoy to make hollow declarations."
Eyes flickered upward momentarily, only to return to screens. Another figure sneered, "Perhaps the great Urban can lead with more than arrogance."
The tension in the room thickened. Petty remarks and thinly veiled jabs flew, escalating into open hostility. The debate devolved into a chaotic blame game, entirely devoid of substance. Frustration mounted, and some representatives abandoned the discussion altogether.
The Urban representative's patience snapped. "If this is diplomacy," he said coldly, rising from his seat, "then it's no wonder we're on the brink of annihilation." He hurled his chair against the wall, the echo of its impact silencing the room.
Without another word, he disappeared, leaving behind a single sheet of paper. A stunned representative picked it up and read aloud: a declaration of war from Urban against the remaining 418 planets.
Moments later, a torrent of plasma fire rained down, obliterating the assembly. Thus began a galactic war that would rage for over a century.
For 130 years, Urban's forces swept through the galaxy, subjugating 404 planets. Yet resistance hardened. A mysterious figure emerged, shifting the tides of war—a warrior whose identity was shrouded in secrecy. Whispers spread of her unparalleled strength and uncanny abilities. They called her "the Phantom of the War," a shadow feared by both Urban's legions and the Coalition alike.
Her origins were the subject of speculation. The only certainty was her birthplace—Earth. She defied galactic norms, acting outside the laws of registered combatants. Despite relentless efforts, no one could trace her, much less capture her.
For reasons known only to her, she began experimenting with time travel, creating ripples that sent shockwaves across the galaxy. These temporal shifts left indelible energy signatures, revealing her movements to those hunting her. Yet none dared confront her directly, for fear of the power she wielded.
During one of her experiments, her luck ran out. Four elite hunters cornered her mid-shift, their speed rivaling her own. A storm of bullets rained down, one finding its mark in her shoulder. Disoriented and weakened, she lost control of her abilities, flung violently through space and time.
When she awoke, she was on a riverbank, her body trembling and the wound burning fiercely. Her surroundings were unfamiliar yet eerily reminiscent of her home planet. Stumbling to her feet, she surveyed the polluted waters and the crumbling infrastructure around her. She had landed on an Earth vastly different from the one she remembered.
The pain in her shoulder throbbed as she trudged through the desolate streets. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, but the polluted environment offered no sustenance. She found shelter under a bridge, igniting a small flame with the last reserves of her mana. As she drifted into a restless sleep, her mind buzzed with unanswered questions: Where had she landed? And who had sent those assassins?
The next morning, she awoke to find a small mana stone clutched in her hand—a mysterious gift that restored a sliver of her strength. Determined to find answers, she climbed up to the city above. As she wandered, disheveled and foreign, she caught the attention of curious onlookers.
"Excuse me," a voice called out from behind her.
She spun instinctively, her hands snapping to the boy's neck before realizing her error. His eyes widened, and he gasped, "W-wait! I just wanted to help!"
Startled, she released him immediately. "I'm sorry," she muttered, stepping back.
The boy coughed, regaining his composure, and offered her a warm smile. "No problem. But you look like you've been through a lot. Here, take this." He shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked warily.
"You look like you could use it," he replied simply. "Come on, there's a safe spot nearby. Follow me."
He led her to a small encampment where two other boys waited. "This is Kang Chan and Kim Yuseong," he introduced them. "I'm Lee Cheonwoong. And you are?"
She hesitated before responding, "Aria."
"Well, Aria," Cheonwoong said with a grin, "it looks like we're classmates. You go to Eunha High, right?"
Caught off guard, she nodded. "Yes... that's right."
"Perfect! We'll help you get settled. You're safe with us."
Aria felt the faint warmth of human connection for the first time in decades. Though she remained cautious, a small spark of hope ignited within her. Perhaps, in this strange version of Earth, she could find answers and redemption.