"My purpose is to guide newborns like you and make them understand that if you want to go further than the Zero Dimension, then you will have to govern your world with care."
Alfa stayed silent for a while, then asked, "So what do you suggest I should do?"
"Let me tell you what you will face in this Zero Dimension, and after that, you can decide what to do."
After listening to the ancient core, Alfa realized that he had evolved from a regular planet, but this also brought with it a tricky situation.
Now his life depends on the living beings on this world, and they will have to face many challenges ahead of them.
This made him worry for his future; he didn't want to depend on others for his survival, but there was nothing he could do to change that.
Even after a long time of thinking, Alfa couldn't think of any other way and became anxious.
Feeling his anxiety, the ancient core calmed him down.
"Listen, child, there are many things you can do to help yourself. The people living on your world are no different than your descendants, so why not give them a chance to protect you? This is all I can help you with. Now it's up to you to decide. Goodbye, child."
After contemplating the words of the ancient core, Alfa made a decision and looked at the surface of the world.
Meanwhile, Max returned from the meeting and went inside his house, which thankfully wasn't destroyed in the previous earthquake.
Relaxing himself on the bed, Max went into a deep sleep while thinking about today's events.
Max woke up the next morning, the remnants of yesterday's stress still lingering in his mind. The weight of what lay ahead pressed on him as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He knew he couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer. The earthquake had changed everything, and now the world above, which had been nothing more than a distant memory for so long, was calling him back.
Rising from the bed, Max rubbed his face, trying to shake off the drowsiness. His thoughts turned to the group that was planning to venture to the surface to assess the damage. He'd overheard them talking about it during the meeting, their voices a mix of excitement and fear. It wasn't just curiosity that pushed Max to make his decision; it was the need to face the reality of their world's transformation.
By the time Max was ready, the group had already gathered in the common area, discussing their plans in hushed tones. Isaac, who was still pale and jittery from the previous day's events, was nervously fidgeting with his gear.
Max approached them, his voice steady despite the apprehension he felt. "I want to join you guys when you head to the surface."
The group turned to him, surprised. A burly man named Jared, who seemed to be one of the more experienced members, gave him a nod of approval. "Glad to have you on board, Max. We could use someone like you up there."
Isaac, who had been quiet until now, looked at Max with wide eyes. "You sure about this, man? I mean… the surface… it could be anything up there. Mutated animals, crazy weather, or even worse… what if we find nothing?"
Max tried to stifle a chuckle at Isaac's terrified expression. "We won't know until we go, Isaac. Besides, if anything does go wrong, I'm sure you'll outrun all of us."
The group laughed, easing some of the tension. Isaac attempted a weak smile, though it was clear his nerves were still on edge.
As they prepared to leave, Isaac's attempts to tighten his belt became a source of amusement for the others. He kept fumbling with it, causing Jared to shake his head with a grin. "Isaac, at this rate, the belt's gonna strangle you before anything on the surface does."
Isaac huffed, finally getting it right, though not without some muttering about the damn belt being cursed.
With everyone ready, they began the journey to the surface. The tunnels felt colder and darker than usual, each step echoing the anticipation building within them. As they ascended, Max noticed Isaac gripping his weapon so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
"You might want to save some of that strength for whatever we find up there," Max quipped, nudging Isaac lightly.
"Ha ha, very funny," Isaac replied, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his attempt at bravado.
Finally, they reached the exit, the heavy metal door groaning as it opened to reveal the world above. The sight that greeted them was both awe-inspiring and eerie. The once-familiar landscape was now dominated by a dense forest, the trees towering high above them, their leaves forming a thick canopy that blocked out much of the sky. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, a stark contrast to the sterile environment they had just left.
As they stepped out into the open, the sound of rustling leaves and distant animal calls filled their ears. But it wasn't just the forest that caught their attention. In the center of a large clearing stood an ancient circular object, half-buried in the ground. It was massive, with intricate carvings etched into its surface, and a strange energy seemed to radiate from it.
"What the hell is that?" Isaac whispered, his fear momentarily forgotten as he stared at the object in awe.
Jared approached it cautiously, running his hand over the carvings. "It looks like some kind of doorway… but to where?"
Max felt a strange pull toward the object, his heart beating faster as he approached. "Maybe this is what the earthquake uncovered. A doorway… to another realm."
Isaac's eyes widened. "You mean… like a portal? To another world?"
Max nodded, his gaze fixed on the ancient structure. "Exactly. And if I'm not mistaken, this could be the gateway to the Beast Realm, which the Omega system told us about."