Arthur was a blur as he ran through the dense forest, his speed breaking his previous records. The ground beneath him trembled slightly and caved in as he pushed forward, leaving behind faint afterimages of his form.
Trees became streaks of green and brown, and the wind howled in his ears, unable to keep pace with him. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, focused on one thing, the massive horde of monsters ahead of him.
After running for nearly 20 minutes, he finally caught up to the edge of the horde. The scene before him was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The creatures, alien in form and design, stampeded forward in unison, their fear evident in their erratic movements.
Arthur took in the variety of beasts around him. There were massive reptilian creatures with scales that shimmered like molten metal, their tails thrashing wildly as they bulldozed through smaller monsters.
Some had glowing horns that crackled with arcs of electricity. He saw a six-legged predator that resembled a cross between a lion and a crocodile, its hide covered in bone-like plates.
In the sky above, wyverns with obsidian scales and leathery wings soared, their shrill cries piercing the air. Their tails ended in sharp, stinger-like appendages that oozed a glowing blue substance.
Despite the chaos, none of the creatures paid Arthur any attention as he weaved through them. Their singular focus was forward, away from the meteor's crash site.
Arthur noticed that the horde continued to grow as more and more monsters joined it, drawn by some instinctive knowledge of safety ahead.
The sheer scale of the migration was daunting, but Arthur wasn't deterred. He pushed past the horde and began sprinting at full speed, leaving even the fastest of creatures behind.
For the next half hour, he ran tirelessly, covering nearly 150 kilometers. The landscape blurred into a surreal tapestry of colors and textures.He passed massive trees with glowing leaves, fields of luminescent flowers that pulsed like heartbeats, and rivers of liquid that shimmered like mercury.
Then, he came to an abrupt halt, breathing heavily.
Before him stood a structure that defied comprehension. A colossal wall stretched as far as his eyes could see, towering over the forest at a height of at least 500 meters. Its metallic surface gleamed under the alien sun, reflecting a cold, unyielding light.
Embedded into the wall were enormous high-tech weapons, their designs utterly foreign to Arthur. Some looked like massive cannons, while others resembled intricate arrays of glowing rods and spirals. Each seemed capable of unimaginable destruction.
Arthur's breath hitched as he realized what he was seeing: civilization. After weeks of solitude and survival, he had finally found signs of intelligent life. But his excitement was tempered with caution. What lay beyond the wall? Would they welcome him or see him as a threat?
Swallowing his trepidation, Arthur approached the massive gate embedded in the wall. As he neared, he noticed a small device, resembling a camera swivel to point directly at him.
A mechanical hum followed, and several guns emerged from concealed compartments, locking onto his position. A voice boomed from an unseen speaker, speaking in a language he couldn't understand.
Arthur froze, unsure of what to do. Thinking quickly, he raised his hands above his head, palms forward, in what he hoped was the universal gesture of surrender. Moments later, the gate began to open with a deep, resonant groan.
From within, two figures emerged, clad in futuristic suits of high-tech armor. Their sleek designs glinted in the light, and their helmets concealed their faces entirely. Judging by their body structures, one appeared to be male, and the other female.
The female spoke first, her voice distorted through a modulated speaker. Arthur couldn't understand her words but responded with an uncertain, "Umm... hello?"
The male figure glanced at Arthur, and though his helmet obscured his face, Arthur could feel the intensity of his gaze. The man tapped on a glowing holographic display that appeared on his arm. A moment later, he spoke in clear English.
"Can you understand me?"
Arthur nodded, relief washing over him. "Yeah… I can now."
"Follow us inside," the man instructed, turning toward the gate.
Arthur hesitated but then followed them, feeling self-conscious in his makeshift pants of stitched leaves. As they passed through the gate, Arthur's eyes widened at the sight before him. The city was a sprawling masterpiece of futuristic technology.
Tall, metallic buildings rose high into the sky, their surfaces smooth and seamless. Unlike the natural aesthetics of Earth's cities, these structures exuded a cold, industrial efficiency.
Some buildings lacked windows entirely, while others had glowing panels that served as both illumination and displays of information. The air was filled with activity. Shuttles and drones zipped through the sky, weaving between the towering structures with precision.
On the ground, vehicles resembling trucks transported what looked like raw ores toward designated facilities. Robotic arms extended from some buildings, unloading and processing materials with mechanical efficiency.
Arthur also noticed humanoid figures, some in armor and others in sleek, utilitarian uniforms, moving purposefully through the streets. They interacted with holographic interfaces and carried devices that emitted faint glows. The entire city seemed to revolve around mining and manufacturing, with the air humming with the sound of machinery.
The two armored figures led Arthur to a shuttle. Its sleek, aerodynamic design reminded him of a bird of prey. They boarded, and Arthur was surprised by how smooth the ride was. The shuttle took off without a sound, accelerating rapidly.
Within a minute, they landed atop a building that resembled a high-tech office. Unlike the other structures, this one had large glass windows that reflected the surrounding skyline.
Inside, they escorted Arthur to an elevator. It moved so quickly and smoothly that he barely felt it descend. When they arrived, they led him to a stark, white room. It contained only a single chair and a wall that was all white.
The female pressed a button on the wall, causing a compartment to open. She retrieved a neatly folded outfit and tossed it to Arthur.
"Change into this," she instructed before leaving with her companion.
Arthur examined the clothing. It was a military-style uniform, soft to the touch but clearly durable. Grateful for proper attire after weeks in his crude clothing, he quickly changed. The fit was perfect, and the material felt oddly comfortable.
He sat in the chair, waiting. After a few minutes, a voice echoed through the room. "State your name."
"Arthur Sully," he replied.
"Where are you from?"
Arthur hesitated. "I don't know. I woke up in a forest with no idea how I got there."
The voice paused, and Arthur could almost hear the gears turning in whoever was listening, as if confirming if he was telling the truth or not.. "Do you remember anything about yourself?"
Arthur thinks about what to say and decides to not lie, he does not know if they have means to know if he is lying or not, and he does not want to get on their bad side.
So he decided honesty was his best option. He recounted his life on Earth where he lived, his job, and his sudden appearance in the alien forest, carefully omitting the details of his death and the glowing orb he had touched.
There was a long pause on the other side for 5 minutes, then a different voice spoke. This one carried more authority. "What year do you believe it is?"
"2023," Arthur answered truthfully.
Another pause. Then the door slid open with a soft hiss, and a man entered. He appeared to be in his late twenties, with blonde hair and a commanding presence. His uniform was adorned with brooches that signified his rank, though Arthur couldn't decipher them.
"Hello," the man greeted. "I am Commander James, head of this mining station." He studied Arthur for a moment before continuing. "Son, you are in the future."
James truly believed what Arthur said as he was constantly monitoring Arthur, if he lied then he would have known instantly. And he had heard in theory such events were possible due to space-time anomalies.
Arthur's jaw tightened, though inwardly he wasn't surprised. "What year is it?" he asked, though Arthur felt weird being called a son by someone who looks his age.
The officer sighed and handed him what looked like a glass slab. Arthur looked bewildered. James seemed to understand and pressed on the middle of the glass slab and it lit up.
"This tablet will explain everything. Read through it, and you'll understand, you can access the history of our world from there."
"Though the mystery is how you arrived here". Arthur was going to say something but was interrupted when alarms blared throughout the building. James furrowed his brows, as he tapped on a device in his ear. "What's going on?" he demanded.
A voice responded, "Sir, a beast horde is approaching the station."
James frowned. "Ready the deck. I want every foot on the ground."
He then turned towards Arthur, and seemed to think something and said to him. "Follow me."
***
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