The dream shifted again, and Natalia was at the funeral. The sky was overcast, a gray blanket of clouds covering the world, mirroring the grief that filled her heart. She stood before the casket, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch his cold, lifeless hand.
The casket was adorned with flowers, but all the beauty in the world could not bring back the warmth that had once filled Kim Min Hyun's eyes. Natalia—no, Chae Rin—refused to let go, her fingers tightly gripping his hand as if she could somehow pull him back to life.
"I'm sorry," she whispered through her tears, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry. Please... don't leave me."
The casket began to lower into the ground, but Chae Rin couldn't move. She stood there, rooted to the spot, watching as her world was buried beneath the earth. Her heart ached with an unbearable sorrow, her mind filled with memories of him—memories of what they could have had, what should have been.
And then, something strange caught her eye. The tombstone—didn't bear the name Alex as she expected. Instead, it read:
Kim Min Hyun
Beloved Son, Fiancé, and Friend
Forever in Our Hearts
She stared at the name, confusion swirling in her grief-stricken mind. Kim Min Hyun... not Alex. This was a different world, a different life. The man she loved wasn't Alex after all. He was Kim Min Hyun, and she was Lee Chae Rin.
The dream continued, pulling Natalia deeper into its strange and twisted reality. She saw herself—Lee Chae Rin—standing before a shadowy figure, her hands trembling as she extended them forward. The figure was shrouded in darkness, but its presence was overwhelming, a force of power that seemed to shake the very air around them.
"I'll do anything," Chae Rin whispered, her voice filled with desperation. "Bring him back. Please... I'll make a contract. Just bring him back to me."
The figure loomed closer, its eyes gleaming with an unnatural light. "You wish to alter fate?" it asked, its voice deep and echoing. "You are willing to sacrifice everything?"
Chae Rin hesitated for only a moment before nodding, tears streaming down her face. "Yes... anything. I'll give anything to see him again."
The shadowed figure smiled, a cold and cruel smile, as it extended its hand. "Very well. Your wish is granted."
As the figure disappeared into the darkness, Chae Rin collapsed to the ground, her body wracked with sobs. The world around her seemed to warp and twist, and she could feel the weight of the contract settling over her like chains. But she didn't care. All that mattered was bringing him back.
And then, Natalia woke up, her heart racing and her mind spinning. The dream still lingered, the echoes of that other life, that other world, refusing to fade.
*****
The grand Central Library stood tall, its towering columns and rows of bookshelves casting long shadows under the warm afternoon light. Alex, with Alexius perched comfortably on his shoulder, walked through the wide entrance. The smell of old paper and wood polish hit him instantly—a scent he had always found calming.
At the reception desk, the librarian raised an eyebrow as she saw the black cat curled around his neck.
"Sorry, young man," she said with a slightly irritated tone, adjusting her glasses. "No pets allowed in the library."
Alex, always calm and collected, leaned slightly on the counter and gestured to Alexius. "Oh, he's not a pet," he replied smoothly. "Alexius here is a certified support animal." His expression remained perfectly serious, as though this were the most ordinary thing in the world.
The librarian narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "A support animal? I've never heard of a cat being certified."
Alex held her gaze, his voice measured. "He helps with my anxiety. It's documented," he lied effortlessly. "I can provide paperwork, but we both know that would take time." He sighed as if deeply disappointed. "I was hoping to get some research done today on alien invasions and gate history."
The librarian hesitated, looking between Alex and the black cat. Alexius yawned dramatically, playing the part of a calm, non-intrusive animal perfectly. After a long pause, she finally relented with a small sigh.
"Alright, just make sure he doesn't cause any trouble."
Alex nodded politely. "Thank you. He won't be any trouble at all."
As Alex moved through the library's quiet aisles, rows of old history books stretched out endlessly before him. Alexius now curled up on his shoulder like an overgrown scarf, kept his emerald eyes half-closed as if to blend into the library's stillness.
Finally, Alex reached the section on alien invasions and the history of gates. His fingers skimmed over the worn spines until he found a thick tome titled "The Chronicles of Gate Emergence and the Invasion Wars". He pulled it off the shelf, feeling the weight of history between its aged pages.
Settling into a quiet corner, Alex opened the book on a large wooden table. He ran his fingers across the ancient text, his mind eager to absorb the knowledge within. The first chapter was dedicated to the early days of gate emergence—the phenomena that had changed the world forever.
The text explained how the gates, portals to other dimensions, had first appeared over a century ago. No one knew why they opened, nor how to close them permanently. What followed was the arrival of alien creatures—horrific monsters from other worlds—that threatened the very existence of humanity.
As Alex read, his thoughts drifted to his own struggles, the burdens placed upon him by the gods and the powers beyond his control. The invasions, the gate wars... they felt like distant echoes of his own battle against fate, a fate he never chose but was forced to accept.
Alexius shifted slightly, his tail brushing against Alex's cheek. "Interesting read?" the cat asked, his voice barely above a whisper, ensuring no one else could hear.
Alex, his eyes still on the book, nodded. "It's strange to think how many times humanity has fought back the darkness," he murmured. "And yet, the cycle continues."
"That's the nature of things," Alexius replied quietly. "One battle ends, another begins. The gates won't stop opening, and the monsters won't stop coming. That's why... well, you know."
Alex's lips twitched into a half-smile as he glanced at the cat. "That's why I'm stuck with you, right?"
Alexius stretched lazily, his claws extending for a brief moment before retracting. "Precisely."
Alex flipped to another page, where it described the "Great Calamity War"—the most recent and devastating conflict between humans and alien forces. The illustrations of monstrous beings devouring entire cities stirred a deep sense of unease in him.
He let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. The weight of history, of humanity's constant struggle, mirrored his situation. But as he sat there, surrounded by the echoes of the past, he realized something. For all the weight on his shoulders, there was a certain peace in knowing he wasn't alone. He knew. He had Alexius. And now, maybe, he had a chance to forge his path—one that might change everything.
"Let's get to work," Alex said quietly, flipping to the next chapter with renewed focus.
Alexius merely purred in agreement, his golden eyes gleaming as they scanned the ancient text alongside him.
Alex sat hunched over the large tome, pages spread across the table as the soft glow of the library's lights illuminated the worn parchment. His finger traced a line of text, eyes narrowing as he read about the different types of monsters produced by the gates. There was a disturbing consistency to the description—each gate spewed out hordes of beasts designed to decimate, but there was one striking difference.
"Monsters without intelligence…" he muttered to himself.
Alexius, lounging lazily on the corner of the table in his cat form, flicked an ear at Alex's words. "What's that?" the cat asked, feigning disinterest but listening.
Alex turned the page, his face serious. "Most monsters don't think. They're just… weapons, created for destruction. It says here that they have no consciousness and no higher cognitive function. They're soldiers—mindless, obedient, and deadly."
He leaned back in his chair, absorbing the implications. The majority of the creatures that poured through the gates were essentially biological weapons, designed to overwhelm humanity with sheer numbers and brute force.
"But," Alex continued, "the text says S-class monsters are different. They can talk, think, and even strategize. They aren't just mindless beasts—they have their own goals, and they can lead the lower-ranked monsters."
Alexius let out a low hum, his tail flicking lazily across the table. "That's what makes the S-class so dangerous," he mused. "They're not just brawn, but brain. They can manipulate, plan, and organize the lesser monsters. It's why those gates are the most feared."
Alex flipped to another page, his brow furrowing deeper. This section detailed the origin of these creatures and the theory behind their existence. It speculated that the gates themselves were not natural phenomena but artificial constructs—tools used by alien civilizations to wage war on Earth.
"The gates aren't just random," Alex said softly, reading aloud. "They're deliberate. The aliens behind them… they're using the gates as a method of invasion. The monsters are their soldiers."
Alexius raised his head, eyes gleaming with interest. "So it's not just about survival. It's a full-scale war effort. The gates are like portals for these alien conquerors, sending wave after wave of foot soldiers to soften humanity for eventual domination."
Alex's heart sank a little at the realization. The monsters, terrifying as they were, were just the beginning. They were the first wave—soldiers sent to decimate and conquer. But there was something more sinister behind it all: the aliens controlling the gates, possibly biding their time until Earth was weakened enough for a full invasion.
He closed the book, his hand resting on the cover as he processed the weight of the information. "It makes sense," Alex muttered. "These monsters—they're not just mindless beasts running rampant. They're part of something much bigger."
Alexius hopped down from the table, landing gracefully at Alex's feet. "You're beginning to see it now," he said softly. "It's not just about surviving the gates. It's about preparing for what comes after—the real invasion."
Alex nodded, his mind racing. The monsters were terrifying, yes, but they were only pawns in a much larger game. The true enemy was still out there, watching, waiting.
Alex sat in the quiet corner of the library, flipping through another thick, dusty book. This one was older than the rest, the pages yellowed and fragile, filled with illustrations and ancient script. It was titled "The Guardians and The Watcher: Humanity's Last Line". As he began reading, Alex felt a sense of gravity pulling him deeper into the mysteries of the world.
"The Watcher…" Alex whispered under his breath as his eyes scanned the page. He found the mention of the elusive figure who seemed to exist beyond the gaze of even the gods. "He's different from the other gods, isn't he?"
Alexius, still in his cat form, lazily stretched out on the table beside him. "The Watcher is… complicated," the cat muttered, one eye cracked open. "Unlike the Olympians who have their domains and followers, the Watcher stands apart. He observes the balance of the world and steps in only when necessary, often without the knowledge of the other gods. He's powerful but… distant."
Alex furrowed his brow. "So he's not part of the Twelve Olympians, yet he has influence?"
Alexius nodded slightly. "The Watcher is neutral, bound by the laws of the universe itself. His role isn't to meddle in human affairs directly—his task is to keep the balance. If something threatens to tip that balance too much, whether it's the gods, the aliens, or even humanity itself, the Watcher acts."
As Alex continued reading, he found a section detailing the Guardians of Humanity, a group of powerful beings who managed to break the void and the constraints of karma, even if only a little. These were individuals who, through sheer will and power, transcended the limitations placed upon mortals by the universe and the gods. They became something more—protectors who could intervene in events that even the gods found difficult to influence directly.
"The Guardians…" Alex murmured as he read about them. "These are humans who broke the cycle, broke through karma. They managed to push past their mortal constraints and become powerful enough to fight on equal footing with the gods?"
Alexius flicked his tail thoughtfully. "Yes, but only a handful have ever existed. Breaking free from karma is not something just anyone can do. It requires extraordinary strength, willpower, and often, sacrifice. Most gods don't like it because it means the universe is being bent in ways it wasn't intended to be. But for humanity, these Guardians are a beacon of hope—a way to fight back when all seems lost."
The book went on to describe some of the known Guardians—men and women who had lived and died across the ages, each one stepping up in times of great calamity to protect humanity. They were not immortal like the gods, but their influence and legacy lived on long after they were gone.
One passage stood out to Alex:
_"The Guardians are bound by no god, no fate, and no law but their own. They are humanity's last hope, walking a path carved by their own hands. In defiance of the stars, they break free from the cycle of life and death to stand as shields against the coming darkness."_
Alex closed the book for a moment, the words reverberating in his mind. Something was inspiring about it—this idea that humans, mere mortals, could defy the constraints of karma and fight for their world. The Watcher may keep balance, but the Guardians actively protected humanity, even when the gods couldn't—or wouldn't—intervene.
"Do you think I could become like them?" Alex asked softly, almost to himself.
Alexius yawned, his eyes gleaming as he glanced at him. "Who knows? You're not bound by the same rules, after all. You've already broken some constraints by being here, haven't you? It's not impossible."
Alex remained silent for a while, contemplating the possibilities. He didn't need to become a god or even a hero. But the idea of becoming strong enough to protect what mattered to him, to stand as a Guardian for humanity or even just for those he cared about… it resonated deeply with him.
And perhaps, with the knowledge he was gaining and the power he was slowly unlocking, that path wasn't as impossible as it seemed.
Finally, Alex closed the book and stood, determination flickering in his eyes. "I'm going to find out more about the Watcher and these Guardians. If they could break the rules… maybe I can too."
Alexius smirked, his sharp feline eyes glinting in the low light. "Now that sounds like a plan."