Meanwhile, at NASA headquarters, Lord Cornell addressed the council.
"We face a significant obstacle in our pursuit of interplanetary travel," he declared. "Our experiments demand a massive influx of energy, and currently, only Beast Crystals can provide the necessary boost. Unfortunately, the crystals we require are of the Demon Tier, incredibly rare and difficult to obtain."
A murmur of concern rippled through the council. "And to further complicate matters," Lord Cornell continued, "we have only recorded sightings of two Demon Tier beasts. Pinpointing their locations and then acquiring the crystals will be an arduous undertaking."
"What of our Qi warriors?" a council member inquired. "Are they not capable of handling this challenge?"
Lord Cornell shook his head. "While their potential is immense, our Qi warriors are still few in number and their mastery of the arts remains unstable. Utilizing them prematurely would be a risky endeavor."
Another council member proposed a bolder solution: "Let us unleash the mutated humans. It will not only demonstrate our strength but also serve as a recruitment drive for our interstellar initiative."
Lord Cornell considered the suggestion. "It is a double-edged sword, but perhaps a necessary one. Phase 1: release the mutated humans. Let the world witness the power of NASA."
Later, in a private meeting:
"Your Majesty," Lord Cornell reported, "our progress has been temporarily impeded. However, I believe we are on the right track. Your intuition regarding the Dogs was indeed correct. Their home was this planet, and their extinction has left a void. They left behind an inheritance, a ritual circle seeking an heir. Remnants of their power, two Alphas, now reside on another planet, scattered after losing their origin of creation."
"Excellent work," the Majesty commended. "Locate the other Alphas, but ensure the destruction of any potential heirs on this…filthy Earth."
"Your Majesty, it will be done."
"And locate the new family that has emerged. We must understand their connection to the Dogs."
"Yes, your Majesty."
Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Athena:
"All fleets, prepare for immediate deployment," General Valerius commanded. "Our target: Harlan, home to the Altered. We seek Dezhong Prince, an Alpha of the Dogs. Today, we launch a full-scale attack. Gear up, soldiers!"
"May Immortue guide us!" the soldiers chanted in unison.
Back on Earth:
Two figures, Noah and Tyler, soared through the night sky in a high-speed shuttle. An awkward silence hung between them until Tyler broke it.
"Noah," he began, "when we reach her, where do we go next?"
"Beyond the ice wall," Noah replied. "We will venture into the second ring of Earth, where you will encounter other inhabitants of this planet. You are not alone, Tyler."
Tyler was stunned. "Humans aren't the only creatures on this planet?"
"No," Noah confirmed. "The truth is far more complex than you can imagine."
Noah felt a pang of guilt as he withheld the full truth from Tyler. Protecting the young man from his enemies was paramount, even if it meant deceiving him. The shuttle landed discreetly near the academy, avoiding detection.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Tyler recognized her immediately: Mia. "Do not activate the defense mechanisms," Tyler warned Noah.
Mia entered the shuttle, exchanging greetings with the two men. They resumed their journey, the night sky stretching out before them like an endless canvas. Hours later, Noah noticed Mia and Tyler asleep in the back of the shuttle. He observed them for a moment, then returned his attention to the journey ahead.
The shuttle, a sleek, obsidian vessel, glided through the stratosphere, leaving the familiar contours of Earth far below. Inside, Tyler, still grappling with the revelation of a hidden world, while at sleep wake's up and felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Noah," he asked, his voice trembling, "what happened?,"oh I slept" How did the world become like this?"
Noah hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on him. He knew he couldn't reveal the full extent of the events that transpired, the ancient conspiracies, the cosmic battles that had reshaped the world.
"It was a…complex situation," Noah began vaguely. "The world underwent a profound transformation. New species emerged, old powers awakened. The balance of power shifted dramatically."
Tyler, sensing Noah's reluctance to delve deeper, pressed no further. He knew there were secrets he wasn't meant to know yet.
As they journeyed deeper into the unknown, a sense of unease settled over Noah. He felt a presence, a dark shadow lurking in the periphery, watching their every move. He activated the ship's scanners, but they detected nothing.
"Noah," Mia's voice startled him. "I sense something…off."
Noah nodded, his gaze fixed on the swirling nebulae outside the viewport.
"Me too. I feel like we're being watched."
Suddenly, the ship lurched violently, throwing them off balance. Alarms blared, and the ship began to plummet towards a nearby asteroid field.
"Brace yourselves!" Noah yelled, frantically maneuvering the ship to avoid the deadly debris.
As they fought for control, a chilling realization dawned on Noah. They were not alone. An unseen enemy had targeted them, intent on disrupting their journey.
The shuttle, battered but intact, limped towards the designated coordinates, a desolate mountaintop overlooking the vast expanse of the ice wall.
As they descended, the sheer scale of the landscape became apparent. Towering ice formations, shimmering with an otherworldly glow, stretched as far as the eye could see.
Landing on the icy peak, they disembarked, the frigid air biting at their skin. The silence was deafening, broken only by the howling wind.
They ventured off the mountaintop, navigating through a landscape of colossal trees, their branches reaching towards the sky like gnarled claws. The grass, a vibrant emerald green, rippled like waves beneath their feet, making them feel like insignificant ants in a vast, alien world.
Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground. They looked up to see a colossal figure emerging from the depths of the forest. It was a giant, towering over the trees, its skin the color of weathered stone. Its eyes, the size of dinner plates, glowed with an eerie luminescence.
Noah, Mia, and Tyler exchanged terrified glances. They had encountered their first inhabitant of this strange new world, and it was far more imposing than they could have ever imagined.