Somewhere, space distorted.
A singular point sparked before expanding into a shifting dome of golden sand. As quickly as it appeared, the dome collapsed, leaving a young boy staring wide-eyed in disbelief.
Tumbling over, Paradox landed on his rear.
'Well, that was... something. I can work with this.' Unnerved, he shifted his gaze to his surroundings.
Paradox found himself in a narrow alleyway, hemmed in by two towering gray walls.
Peering upwards, he noticed the unusual light blue hue of the sky.
"Hey, we're talking to you, kid."
His attention was drawn to two figures blocking his path.
Paradox raised an eyebrow, passively staring at the two men. They appeared human, two males in their mid-20s, their expressions filled with discontent.
One extended a hand, while the other leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Hand over your jacket, and we'll let you go peacefully."
Dumbfounded, Paradox narrowed his eyes. "I'm not wearing a jacket, though." Barely recovered from his unexpected displacement, Paradox faced the two morons, showing no fear.
His gaze seemed to look down on them for their absurd behavior.
He'd never been robbed before. It was a topic his family used to warn him about back on Earth, but it had become so distant that he'd almost forgotten the concept.
"Trying to get smart with me?" The man closest to him seemed to lose his temper, angered by the boy's indifference.
He advanced, his height and muscular build becoming increasingly apparent. Dressed in a tight black shirt and dark blue jeans, he exuded an air of menace.
Before he could reach Paradox, the hue of the dark grey corridors grew deeper and more defined, the sky mirroring the dull corridors.
A quiet ticking ceased, the grey corridors coloring everything except Paradox.
Outlined by a radiance of black and white, a light sigh escaped his lips.
Suspended in time, the two figures were detached from all ongoing events.
"Guess it works here as well."
A silver light emanated from Paradox's eye, glancing at the two, he slowly rose from the obsidian floor.
He approached the motionless figures, their silence a welcome relief.
Strolling past them, the exit came into view.
The gray walls stretched into the distance, the two hooligans long outside of view.
With the opening a step away, the quiet ticking resumed, unexpectedly overwhelming Paradox with noise and color.
He emerged into a breathtaking sight.
The air hummed with a soft, verdant glow, an ethereal light emanating from a colossal, thousand-foot tree that stood tall in the distance.
Its ancient bark, etched with the passage of countless ages, pulsed with a subtle, otherworldly energy.
It casted an illuminating glow that bathed the surrounding landscape in a gentle hue.
Mesmerized, Paradox gazed upon the abundant plant life, a stark contrast to the barren Martian landscape.
A rare smile softened his usually passive expression, the vibrant green offering a fleeting moment of tranquility.
Turning his attention to his surroundings, he found himself in a lush garden.
The obsidian floor had been replaced by a carpet of dancing grass, and a pristine white fountain, adorned with intricate ancient symbols, bloomed at its center.
Walked through the garden, were people.
Each presence was unique, mirroring the individuality of the surrounding structures.
He saw a person with orange hair, their back adorned with fiery wings that emitted a burning red glow, yet the grass beneath them remained unaffected.
Another, a tall, slender giant with swirling, dark eyes, glanced at Paradox for a brief moment, as if trying to pull him into the darkness never to see the light of day again.
Paradox took a step forward.
Beyond the fountain, a wide opening framed the majestic tree.
If he wanted answers, he would need to find them.
As he took his first step across the shimmering grass, a sense of calm washed over him, easing the fatigue from his recent ordeals.
With his second step, the symbols on the fountain erupted, an otherworldly pinkish white glow substituting its usual dullness.
At that moment, a monotone message resounded in his head.
[..Unidentified Walker..]
[..Registering..]
[..Welcome, Walker Paradox..]
[..Now entering: Nature's Plaza..]