The three—Adam, Kath, and Bebo—sat on comfortable chairs positioned in front of Aron, while the gentle flow of the nearby spring added to the tranquil atmosphere, creating a sense of calm and peace. All eyes were fixed on Aron in silence, each of them waiting for him to speak.
The soft rustling of the leaves in the garden and the occasional chirping of distant birds filled the space, making the moment feel almost surreal. Aron leaned forward slightly, his serene smile unwavering, as if contemplating the right words to begin the conversation.
Aron, watching them with calm eyes, said, "So, to summarize all of this, Adam was in a deep slumber underground in some kind of laboratory, and it was you, Kath and Bebo, who woke him up. But he's suffering from memory loss, isn't he?" Then, turning to Kath and Bebo, he added, "Where is the city where you found Adam?"
Kath, sitting back in his chair and breathing slowly, replied, "It's located south of the kingdom, about four to five hours away. But currently, it's under the rule of a mutated bear of king rank. We went there hoping to get in, retrieve what we needed, and get out quickly, but we ended up facing a wave of monsters. We had to flee."
Adam said, "Lord Aron, can you help me go to this city and take down those monsters? There might be something in that lab that can help me recover my memory."
Aron responded, "I'd be happy to help you with that, but the city ruled by that mutated bear is almost like a semi-kingdom, if not one already, due to the sheer number of monsters in it. That would require deploying an army and high-ranking forces. Right now, I can't order that because we're currently busy defending the borders against invaders. Things here never settle down, and there are always threats that need to be dealt with."
Adam: "invaders?.....Do you mean invaders from the other world?"
Aron replied, "Yes, they are the same invaders who attacked Earth in the past before we all transformed."
Adam responded with shock, "What!!! The invasion is still ongoing after all these years?"
Aron nodded, "Yes, we've been fighting them for a long time, and they've taken control of several lands." Taking a bite from an apple he picked from the fruit plate in front of him, he continued, "They've been dormant for two months now, which is unusual for them. So..."
Aron took another bite and continued, "Their strength has been increasing, and they've started sending stronger minions. They must be growing tired of our resistance after all these years."
Finishing the apple completely, Aron said, "That's why I can't go now and fight a battle that won't benefit us in any way."
Adam fell silent after hearing Aron's words about not being able to help. His expression was filled with confusion and doubt. Breaking the silence, Aron looked at Adam with a calm smile and asked, "So, what do you plan to do?"
Adam lowered his head for a moment, trying to find an answer, then replied in a low voice, "I... don't know."
Aron nodded in understanding, then said in a reassuring voice, "Alright, you can go now if you wish. Take your time to think about what you might do next—the road ahead of you is long."
Aron stood from his seat and walked confidently toward Adam, extending his hand with a warm smile. "And if you ever need anything, come to me. I'll help you as much as I can."
Adam looked at Aron's outstretched hand for a moment, then slowly extended his own to shake it. For a brief moment, he felt a unique warmth, as if the handshake carried a sense of security amidst the chaos of this world.
As Kath, Adam, and Beebo left Aron's residence, they walked slowly through the streets of the kingdom. The atmosphere was relatively calm, but the curious gazes of the citizens persisted, following Adam wherever he went.
Humans and other creatures alike stared at him intently, with hushed whispers echoing among the crowd:
"That's the original human..."
"Look at him, completely normal in appearance!"
"Could he be a disguised shapeshifter?"
Despite all the stares, Adam seemed oblivious to them. He was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, his steps heavy and his gaze unfocused, as if the world around him had faded away entirely.
Kath cast a quick glance at Adam, then leaned toward Beebo and whispered, "He seems lost in thought. Do you think he's okay?"
Beebo, busy munching on an apple he'd acquired somehow, shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh... maybe he just needs a nap."
Suddenly, Adam stopped walking, placing a hand on his head and closing his eyes briefly. He spoke in a low but clear voice, "Let's go back to the treehouse... I've got a headache."
Kath looked at him with concern. "Are you sure? We can rest here, anywhere you want."
But Adam lifted his head slightly, managing a faint smile despite the visible exhaustion on his face. "No, the treehouse is better... at least I'll be able to think clearly there."
Beebo chewed slowly, glancing at Adam. "Treehouse it is, then... I've been missing my hammock!"
The three continued on their way back to the treehouse. Adam remained quiet, his thoughts distant as he struggled to piece together a solution for the challenges awaiting him.
****************************************
In a desolate area covered by the ruins of a destroyed city, a rusted metal hatch slowly creaked open, revealing a tunnel leading deep underground. The air was thick with the scent of dampness and aged metal. In the depths of this dark and foreboding place, Adam's doppelgänger worked in silence, his hands moving with precise, deliberate motions as he assembled the final piece of a peculiar structure.
Beside him stood the massive gorilla he had previously subdued, its eyes still glowing with that distinctive symbol—three interlocking circles surrounded by geometric lines resembling wings—signifying its continued enslavement to the doppelgänger's will. It was not alone. Two mutated rabbits, each the size of a small dog, stood nearby. Their fur was a radiant yellow, with small horns jutting from their foreheads and long tails that swayed gently.
The construction that Adam's doppelgänger had completed consisted of two towering cylinders connected by an intricate network of metallic wires sprawling across the ground like roots. The cylinders were so massive that even the gorilla's imposing size seemed diminished in comparison. Slowly, the doppelgänger opened the lids of the cylinders with deliberate care.
A faint hum emanated from the structure, and the air around it grew heavy with an unsettling energy.
Without hesitation, each rabbit hopped into a separate cylinder, and the metallic doors sealed shut with a resounding clang. A moment of absolute silence followed, then sparks of electricity began crackling inside each cylinder. The rabbits' bodies trembled as waves of energy coursed through them, their yellow fur glowing intensely, like two radiant bulbs pulsing with life.
The ground beneath the structure began to quiver softly, and gradually, glowing lines spread across the network of wires sprawled over the floor, illuminating the space in flickering, rhythmic bursts—like the heartbeat of a colossal, mechanical entity.
Adam's doppelgänger slowly rose to his feet, his cold, expressionless face betraying no emotion as he observed the progress. Beside him, the gorilla remained immobile, a stone-like sentinel awaiting its next command. The electric currents intensified, filling the air with a low, resonant hum, as if something immense was preparing to awaken from a deep slumber.
As the entire room lit up with pulsating energy, the scene became unmistakably clear. The doppelgänger stood within an abandoned laboratory, its ancient and decrepit appearance speaking of years of disuse. Cracked walls surrounded them, and rusted machinery lined the space, while metal pipes dangled from the ceiling like the dried, twisted branches of long-dead trees.
The faint echoes of distant mechanical groans reverberated through the chamber as the process inside the cylinders reached a crescendo.
The doppelgänger of Adam moved slowly, his footsteps echoing softly in the stillness of the space. The gorilla followed him like a loyal shadow, its glowing eyes still carrying that strange symbol.
Finally, the two stopped in front of a massive computer that dominated the entire wall. The machine was covered in dust and scratches, but its screens began flickering with green and red signals, thanks to the energy released by the rabbits inside the connected cylinders.
The doppelgänger of Adam slowly raised his hands and placed them on the metal control panel connected to the computer. The moment his fingers touched the surface, thick red lines rapidly branched out from the point of contact, like veins of energy feeding into the machine.
The red lines spread across the floor and along the computer, reaching the main screen, which began displaying old data flowing at high speed: numbers, words, maps, and scattered files.
Suddenly, images of different individuals appeared on the screen, all of them with stern expressions, and their names written beneath their faces. There were hundreds of files filling the screen all at once, all related to prominent figures or those recorded within the system.
The doppelgänger of Adam focuses intently, his gaze sharpening as he begins typing a specific name.
Once he finishes, the result appears on the screen:
"Name: Nagalos"
A picture of a mysterious figure lights up on the screen, featuring sharp features and cold eyes.
The gorilla stands motionless beside the doppelgänger, while the doppelgänger starts initiating a connection. The screen then displays the message:
"Connecting to: Nagalos..."