October 25, 2053, Earth – 8:30 PM, Grand Canyon National Park
Ethan Morales sat on the edge of the Grand Canyon, his paintbrush hovering over the canvas.
A gentle breeze brushed against his face, carrying a slight chill. He took a deep breath, gazing at the breathtaking view in front of him, but something inside him felt unsettled.
Behind him, his friends were busy setting up tents, preparing for tonight's "Quix Meteor Shower"—a trip the four of them had been planning for ages.
"Hey, Ethan! Daydreaming again?" A familiar teasing voice called out from behind.
Ethan turned around to see his friend Liam walking toward him, his chubby frame swaying slightly as he held two bottles of beer, a usual grin plastered on his face.
"I was just thinking…" Ethan forced a smile. "Never mind, let's drink." He took the beer and clinked bottles lightly with Liam.
"I knew it," Liam said, taking a big gulp, a knowing look crossing his face. "It's the Aegis Operations Division selection exam, isn't it? I heard there's some tough competition this year… even those jerks from Rex are allowed to compete!"
At the mention of Rex, Ethan's grip tightened around the beer bottle. Those guys had caused him and Liam plenty of trouble over the years.
"Let's not talk about them," Liam shook his head, noticing Ethan's reaction and trying to keep the mood light. "Tonight's all about the meteor shower—and the delicious food Samantha brought!"
Liam grinned widely, clearly thinking about the food, and then turned to head toward the camping table.
Ethan smiled faintly and looked back at the sky, but that nagging feeling of unease wouldn't go away.
For as long as he could remember, he'd always felt different. Even though he'd never shown any special abilities, deep down, he sensed there was some kind of power lying dormant inside him, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
"Ethan!" A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He turned to see Samantha walking toward him, holding a foil-wrapped apple pie.
The moonlight reflected off her golden hair, making her blue eyes seem even brighter. As she got closer, the sweet smell of the pie filled the air.
"Cracker Barrel's apple pie is still the best," she said with a playful smile, waving the pie in front of him.
"You doing okay?" she asked, her eyes full of concern as she stood beside him.
Ethan nodded and smiled. "I'm fine, just a little nervous."
Samantha grinned mischievously and quickly shoved a big piece of pie into his mouth. "Don't be nervous! I've got insider info on the Aegis exam! Tonight, just enjoy the meteor shower and forget about all that stress!"
She spoke proudly, but as she leaned in, her ample chest was practically in Ethan's face.
Ethan didn't say much, focusing instead on the stunning view in front of him.
The sudden silence made Samantha realize where his eyes had wandered. Her face flushed red, and she quickly covered her chest.
Smack!
"Pervert!"
A bright red handprint appeared on Ethan's cheek.
"Hey, lovebirds! Foodie!" Charlie Greene's voice called out from a distance. "Are you planning to sleep under the stars tonight, or are you gonna help set up the tent?"
Ethan and Samantha exchanged a smile and walked over to join Charlie in setting up the tents.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Liam sat at the camping table, his mouth stuffed with fried chicken, unable to speak.
It looked like he was trying to say, "Can someone grab me a Coke?"
At 10:39 PM, the night sky was a deep blue, and they quietly waited for the Quix meteor shower to begin.
A faint streak of light cut across the sky, followed by more meteors, one after another, like tears from the universe, leaving silver trails in the air. It was like a silent fireworks display. Ethan and his friends lay on the grass, staring up at the magnificent celestial show, completely absorbed in the moment.
"It's so beautiful!" Samantha exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
She turned to look at Ethan, her face glowing with joy, and softly said, "Happy birthday, Ethan."
Ethan was a little surprised by the sudden birthday wish and looked at Samantha.
That's right, October 25th was his birthday. He hadn't expected Samantha to remember.
Just as he was about to respond, something caught his eye—a particularly bright light streaking across the sky.
"Look over there!" Liam pointed excitedly at a particularly bright meteor streaking across the sky.
"Whoa, that one's huge!" Liam sat up, his voice filled with excitement.
Ethan followed his gaze.
A brilliant meteor, trailing a long, glowing tail, shot across the sky. Its light was so intense that Ethan's vision began to blur, and a faint buzzing sound echoed in his ears.
He closed his eyes, his mind going blank.
When he opened them again, his sapphire-blue eyes seemed even deeper, more intense. But what he saw wasn't the distant meteor from before—it was a massive ball of light, as if it were right in front of him.
In that moment, he wasn't just seeing a meteor. He was seeing something much larger, much closer.
Moreover, at the center of the orb, he clearly saw a naked young girl with her eyes closed, a rectangular object positioned between her eyebrows.
"Is that… a chip?" he muttered to himself, almost unconsciously.
"What? Ethan, what are you talking about?" Samantha asked, confused, glancing at him.
Ethan frowned. The meteor seemed to be moving much faster than the others. And… it looked like it was heading straight for them.
His vision blurred again, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Just as Ethan's consciousness began to fade, the quiet night was shattered by the sound of raucous laughter in the distance.
"Well, well, what a romantic scene we've got here!" A familiar, mocking voice called out from the darkness.
Samantha, Liam, and Charlie quickly scrambled to their feet, and Ethan, still disoriented, managed to stand as well. He blinked and saw five figures emerging from the shadows of the trees.
They were dressed in worn leather jackets, their faces twisted into malicious grins.
The man leading them was tall, bald, with a coiled snake tattooed around his neck. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous, cold intensity.
"Well, Ethan, what's the matter? Did the meteor scare you stiff?" Rex, the bald leader, sneered. His cronies snickered as they slowly advanced.
"Rex, what do you want? This is our campsite!" Liam immediately stepped in front of Ethan, Samantha, and Charlie, trying to shield them.
Rex scoffed, stepping up to Liam and giving him a light shove. "Relax, fatty. No need to get all worked up. We're just passing through, saw you guys enjoying the view, and thought we'd join the party."
He turned his gaze to Ethan, his eyes filled with disdain. "Heard you're signing up for the Aegis Operations Division selection. A coward like you, trying to play hero?"
Ethan clenched his jaw, ready to snap back, but before he could, Rex lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him close. His voice dripped with mockery. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or do you really think you'll be able to protect them once you join Aegis?" He shoved Ethan aside, sending him stumbling to the ground.
Liam and Charlie, furious, charged at Rex, but his four cronies quickly tackled them, pinning them to the ground.
"Let them go!" Samantha shouted, rushing forward, but Rex blocked her path. He grinned wickedly, waving a finger in front of her chest. "Whoa, whoa, sweetheart. No need to be in such a hurry."
Samantha's eyes blazed with anger, and she kicked hard at his groin. But Rex was quick, dodging her strike and moving behind her in an instant. He wrapped one arm around her neck, while his other hand slid down to grope her chest. "Feisty, aren't you, little firecracker?"
"Get your filthy hands off me, you bastard!" Samantha screamed, struggling desperately, but Rex's arm was like iron around her throat. His other hand squeezed her breast roughly, making her cry out in pain.
Ethan watched in horror as Samantha was humiliated by Rex. Rage and helplessness surged through him, but when he tried to stand, it felt like some invisible force was holding him down. His heart raced, his mind spinning in chaos.
"What's the matter, hero? Want to save the damsel in distress? Too bad you're not cut out for it." Rex sneered at Ethan, then turned to his cronies. "Alright, boys, tie these losers to the trees. Tonight, we'll show them what real men are like. Let's give them a front-row seat while we have some fun with this little spitfire."
Rex and his gang burst into cruel laughter, their leering faces twisted in the dim light.
But before their laughter could die down, a sharp, piercing sound filled the air, as if the entire sky was trembling.
Ethan's eyes shot to the sky, and once again, he saw that massive ball of light—the meteor, now hurtling toward the ground at an alarming speed.
He barely had time to react before a blinding white light engulfed the area, and an overwhelming pressure filled the air. Instinctively, Ethan shut his eyes, his ears ringing with the sound of an intense explosion.
When the light faded, silence fell over the campsite.
Slowly, Ethan opened his eyes and found himself standing, though barely. Beside him, Samantha, Liam, and Charlie were also coming to, looking around in confusion.
What they saw made them gasp in shock.
Rex and his cronies lay motionless on the ground. Their faces… it was as if something had punched straight through them. Where their eyes and noses had been, there were now gaping holes, yet twisted smiles still lingered on their lips.
Above each of their bodies, small stones hovered in the air, glowing faintly with a cold, eerie light.
Liam, his voice barely a whisper, muttered, "What… what the hell just happened?"