The rain had started to subside, but the biting cold still lingered in the valley. The three of them proceeded carefully, navigating the narrow path between rocks and ruins. After their previous battle with the mechanical creatures, Ricky, Sophie, and Kieran remained on high alert, aware that danger could strike at any moment.
"We should stop for a moment," Kieran suggested, checking his scanner. "There's a strange energy signature nearby. I've never seen a pattern like this before."
Sophie moved closer and peered at the small screen in Kieran's hand. "That's not ordinary energy. The frequency is too stable for modern technology... it seems to be something much older."
Ricky nodded. "We have to investigate. It could be a relic from before the world fell apart."
They followed the energy signal, which grew stronger with every step. Before long, they arrived at a large cave hidden behind a cliff. Inside, they found a strange metallic structure. It resembled a circular portal, covered with intricate glowing patterns.
"Is this… a machine?" Sophie asked, incredulous.
"More accurately, it's a portal," Kieran replied after examining it closely. "And based on the energy signature, it could be a time corridor."
"A time corridor?" Ricky repeated skeptically.
"Are you serious? Machines like this only exist in theory."
"Theory or not, it's standing right in front of us," Kieran said firmly. "If this portal can actually take us to the past, we might be able to learn what truly happened before the world was destroyed."
Sophie approached the console beside the portal. She studied the neatly arranged buttons and the ancient display, which surprisingly still functioned. "There are coordinates recorded here, perhaps for specific points in time. We might be able to try one."
"If we go to the past, won't there be a risk of changing history?" Ricky asked, still hesitant.
"It's not about changing history," Sophie answered decisively. "It's about understanding what really happened. If we know what caused the world's destruction, we might be able to prevent it in the present."
After a brief discussion, they decided to activate the portal. Sophie pressed a few buttons, and the machine began to vibrate softly. A bright blue light formed at the center of the portal, slowly stabilizing into a swirling vortex.
"Alright," Ricky said, taking a deep breath. "We go in together. No one gets left behind."
The three of them stepped into the portal. In an instant, they felt a strange sensation, as if being pulled by an invisible force. Their bodies felt weightless, as though they were floating between space and time.
When they opened their eyes, the scene before them left them speechless. They were standing in the middle of a vast green meadow, under a clear blue sky without a trace of pollution. A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of blooming flowers.
"This… is Earth?" Sophie whispered in awe. "But it looks completely different from what we know."
"Look around," Kieran said. "There's no sign of destruction. No remnants of advanced technology or mechanical creatures."
Ricky scanned the surroundings carefully. In the distance, they could see a small town with well-maintained buildings and an air of tranquility. "We need to gather information. Maybe someone there can help us understand what's happening in this era."
They started walking toward the town. Along the way, they couldn't help but marvel at the natural beauty. Every corner seemed vibrant and alive, in stark contrast to the desolate world they had come from.
Upon arriving in the town, they found a peaceful atmosphere. The locals appeared friendly, going about their daily lives without a hint of tension or conflict.
"We need to be careful," Sophie whispered.
"They might not believe us if we tell them we're from the future."
"Agreed," Ricky replied. "We'll pose as ordinary travelers. Let's gather as much information as we can without drawing attention."
They began interacting with the townspeople, asking about life in the town and the history of the world. Through these conversations, they learned something important: the world was at the peak of its civilization. Technology had advanced rapidly, yet it had not disrupted the balance of nature.
However, beneath this peace, there were rumors of large-scale experiments being conducted at a research center far from the town. Some locals believed the experiments were dangerous and could threaten the world's balance.
"This could be the starting point," Kieran whispered when they regrouped in a quiet spot. "That experiment might be what leads to the world's destruction in the future."
"We need to go to that research center," Sophie said firmly. "If we can find out what went wrong, we might be able to prevent it."
Ricky nodded. "But we have to move quickly. The portal we used earlier might not be stable. We don't know how long it will last."
With a unanimous decision, they prepared to head toward the research center, holding on to the hope that they could change the future of their broken world. Yet, behind that hope, they also felt the looming danger of what awaited them there.
As they began to move, someone from a distance watched them with curiosity, as if aware they were not from this era.