The distant wail of sirens cut through the night, pulling Kallen from his restless sleep. He bolted upright, heart pounding, as the ground trembled beneath him. Panic surged as he realized the fragile peace had shattered—the Cold War's icy grip had finally given way to chaos.
Through the cracked window, Kallen glimpsed the night sky ablaze with streaks of fire. Ballistic missiles arced through the air, their deadly paths illuminated by the city's fading lights. He had always felt like just another face in the urban sprawl, but tonight, he was thrust into a nightmare.
Without thinking, he threw on his jacket and raced for the door. As he reached the hallway, the building shook violently. He barely registered the shadowy figure rifling through debris—an opportunistic thief in the midst of catastrophe.
"Hey, get out of here! It's not safe!" Kallen shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the cacophony of destruction. The thief's wide eyes reflected pure terror, mirroring Kallen's own.
A deafening crack above made Kallen look up. The ceiling was giving way. In an instant, he lunged forward, pushing the thief aside just as the rubble collapsed, trapping his legs. Pain exploded through his body, but all he could think was, "Why do I always try to do the right thing in a world that doesn't care?"
The thief scrambled away without a word, disappearing into the night. Kallen lay there, the weight of the world pressing down on him, both literally and figuratively. Through the haze of dust and agony, he saw a bright light streaking towards him—a missile, its fatal trajectory locked onto his position.
With a resigned sigh, he closed his eyes. "So this is how it ends," he thought, waiting for the inevitable.
But instead of the expected impact, a strange sensation enveloped him. The pain faded, replaced by a surreal lightness. He felt as though he were floating, weightless and free. "Is this death?" he wondered, a sense of curiosity mingling with his fear.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an ethereal realm, surrounded by swirling mists. A figure emerged from the fog, its form indistinct and shrouded in clouds. The voice that spoke was both soothing and powerful, resonating deep within his soul.
"Welcome, Kallen. I am Krishna, an overseer of realms. I apologize for the turmoil that brought you here. An error on my part has triggered the war that now rages on Earth."
Kallen blinked, struggling to comprehend the surreal revelation. "You… you caused the war?"
Krishna nodded, a look of profound sorrow in his eyes. "Yes, and I am deeply sorry. To rectify my mistake, I am offering you a new beginning. A chance to start anew in a different world, where you can make a difference."
Kallen's mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of Krishna's words. "What kind of world? And why me?"
"You have a resilient spirit, Kallen. In this new world, you will possess extraordinary abilities—two rank S abilities and one rank A ability. Use them wisely to shape your destiny and the fate of those around you."
Before Kallen could ask more questions, a blinding light enveloped him. He felt a surge of energy, a fusion of elements coursing through his being. The sensation was overwhelming, yet empowering.
As the light faded, Kallen found himself lying on the ground in an unfamiliar landscape. The barren land stretched out before him, dotted with small mountains and rocky cliffs. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his new reality settle in.
"This is it," he murmured to himself. "A new beginning."
Kallen stood up, determination sparking in his eyes. He knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but he was ready to embrace it. With his newfound abilities and a resolve to create a better world, he took his first step into the unknown, ready to awaken the verdant potential within.