The world had changed, known as Blue Star. Fifty years had passed since the last animal had drawn its final breath. The virus had spread with relentless fury, sweeping across continents, oceans, and skies. No creature was spared. Humanity had tried everything within its power to stop the extinction. Laboratories buzzed with scientists, researchers, and vets working tirelessly to find a cure, but they had failed. The last panda died in captivity, surrounded by artificial bamboo forests. The world mourned.
Nature responded in unexpected ways. With no animals to pollinate the plants, ecosystems collapsed. Fruits no longer ripened on trees, and entire forests became barren. Flowers that once thrived in the presence of bees withered away. Rivers and lakes, once teeming with life, turned eerily still. Desperate to preserve a semblance of normalcy, humanity had turned to artificial means. Robotic bees buzzed around fields, AI-controlled fish swam in synthetic lakes, and virtual pets became the new companions. But it wasn't the same.
Then, in the quiet of a sterile hospital room on 20th-century Earth, a young man's life came to an end. His name was Ethan. A genius vet, loved by animals and respected by his peers. He had spent his final days in the university hospital, battling an illness that no medicine could cure. As his heartbeat slowed, his consciousness faded, and the light in his eyes dimmed, he had only one regret: not being able to save more animals.
When he next opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange new world.
It wasn't the afterlife, but neither was it his world. His body felt different—stronger, more resilient—but something else had changed. His memories of Earth remained intact, and before he could process the shock, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Welcome, Transmigrator 045. You have been selected for a special mission."
Ethan blinked, looking around the unfamiliar landscape. He appeared to be in a futuristic city, where towering buildings loomed over streets filled with people. The architecture was sleek and minimalistic, with flying vehicles zooming overhead. Yet, there was an unsettling calmness to the place, an absence of something crucial.
"The world you have transmigrated to is devoid of animals," the voice continued. "You are tasked with bringing them back."
Ethan's heart raced. "Bringing them back? How?"
"The Transmigrator System will allow you to travel through time and dimensions. You will bring back one animal at a time. Complete missions to unlock rewards, skills, and abilities. But remember, you must not reveal the existence of the system to anyone, or you will perish."
The weight of the task settled on Ethan's shoulders. He had always dreamed of saving animals, but this… this was beyond anything he had ever imagined. He had to be careful, strategic, and above all, discreet.
"What happens if I fail?" Ethan asked aloud, unsure if the voice could hear him.
"Failure is not an option. The world depends on you."
With that ominous statement, the voice fell silent, leaving Ethan standing alone in a world that felt alien to him. He had no map, no guide, and no idea where to begin.
As he wandered the streets, he noticed something else: the people. They moved about their lives, seemingly content, yet their eyes lacked a certain spark. Conversations were muted, and laughter seemed rare. Without animals, the world would have lost a part of its soul.
It wasn't long before Ethan's wandering brought him to a park. Children were playing, their laughter echoing through the air, but the park itself felt sterile. No birds chirped in the trees, no squirrels scurried about. The grass, though green, seemed almost artificial.
Ethan knelt, running his fingers through the blades of grass. "How did it come to this?" he whispered to himself.
As if in response, a small holographic screen appeared before him, displaying his first mission:
Mission 1: Retrieve a Sparrow from the Past.
Reward: Animal Language Proficiency (Basic).
Ethan stood, determination filling his heart. This was his chance, his new purpose. He would do whatever it took to bring life back to this world, one animal at a time.
But first, he had to figure out how to navigate time and space.