Instead of the dream place' gloomy atmosphere, the bright sun's light filtered through the apartment windows, enlightening and enlivening it for the first time. The melodious chirping of birds reached his ears, conveying a much-needed sensation of peace to mitigate his inner turmoil.
Despite his easing nerves, the confusion remained. How could he be here? Why was the once sinister dream place now bright?
'Questions again... and no answers again.'
If he learned something after facing mysteries for most of his brief life, it was not to overthink. Instead, he had to move forward because clues would eventually reveal themselves.
And he didn't have to wait long for the first one to fall into his lap.
"Another boring day is starting."
A voice... his voice sounded behind him. It wouldn't have surprised him much after interacting with the copy and the original, but it still did. 'It's the first words I said after awakening!'
Recognising his own words, he turned, eyes narrowed, at the source.
Only for a bitter smile to stretch on his lips.
'Of course, two never come without three.'
He watched as the third copy awakened, stretching his limbs in bed before powering his computer. Next, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, and peeled a banana before sitting before the screen.
Adam watched the images appearing on the monitor, his lips pursed. Of course, he knew about computers, just not how to use them or why. So, he focused, discovering the strange internet windows and the flood of info the small thing contained.
And soon, his second clue fell on his lap.
His copy surfed on a platform before frowning. His arm came to life, and he clicked on a box marked with 'live' in haste. He could feel his copy's growing anxiety through the subtle tremors shaking his shoulder. So, he doubled his focus on the loading video.
A second later, a man standing on a plain and holding a... a wand? Something he didn't know because number two didn't share the memory with him. Anyway, holding something spoke with utmost seriousness.
"I'm standing right before the mysterious electromagnetic field twisting our country's scouting devices. What are we going to discover? Are you as excited as I am? I'm doing this for you, dear viewers. Don't forget to like and subscribe!"
"Who is this idiot? Why would I like you?"
He grumbled, annoyed by the hypocritical smile glued on the youth's face. Yet, his eyes widened a few minutes later.
The young man walked, his back straight and his steps steady, towards a barbed barricade. Prepared, he retrieved blankets from his backpack and threw them on the threatening barbs. With ease, he climbed over them, jumped on the other side, and smiled before the thing used to record him.
"We are now inside the security perimeter. If the military posted here catches me, I might go to jail," the man said, feigning a sad expression before recovering his hypocritical smile. "So don't forget to like, subscribe, or even send gifts! I'll visit another dangerous place to show you what your government is hiding live for each castle!"
"I'll send you a slap with my mage's hand if you keep begging! What's in there!"
Adam said, his brows twitching at the man's antics. Somehow, his secretive movement intrigued him, and he wanted to see what was so well protected in the middle of nowhere.
The answer came five minutes later...
"Wow! Do you see that, dear viewers? It's classified as secret defense, so don't miss a second!" The man said, his eyes flickering with excitement as he pointed at an enormous mass of swirling energy.
"Are the wild rumors on the internet true?" The copy suddenly asked, his eyes locked on the streamer.
As if to answer the question, the man spoke.
"I investigated and learned that our country sent drones inside this mass of energy and learned two things. Something is hiding on the other side..." He approached, recording the vortex from up close before continuing. "Whatever it is, it didn't like to be disturbed by their machines. Before they could film it, their drones were destroyed."
The man's words echoed in Adam's ears, sounding like an ominous presage. The energy mass was mana. He was sure about it. And if something lay beyond, it could only mean one thing. 'It's a Gate.'
Well, more like a passage. But why was there mana on Earth? And where did the passage lead? His brows furrowed as he pondered the questions while watching the live.
"Hey! I have a challenge for you, dear viewers! If any of you send me a gachapon in the next five minutes, I'll bravely stand a meter before the vortex!"
The man's hypocritical smile returned to his face, yet Adam recognised the glint in his eyes. It was greed. 'I hope that fool knows what he is doing,' he thought, a knot forming in his stomach.
The man said it himself. They had sent drones inside. Didn't it mean that the passage was open? Couldn't the individuals on the other side step out and...
An icy shiver ran down his spine as he imagined the worst.
"Thank you for all the gifts!" The streamer suddenly said, breaking his thought process.
After expressing his gratitude, he walked confidently towards the vortex. At this distance, everyone could hear the hum of pure mana and its mystical quality, making for an entertaining and unique stream.
Nothing unordinary for Adam, though. He came from a world of magic in the first place, so he shrugged, smirking mockingly at his slack-jawed copy. However, his expression shifted the next moment.
An agonising scream echoed through the speakers, compelling him to focus on the screen... to see the man clutching his torso. His mouth dripped blood, and his eyes trembled in fear as a spearlike claw impaled his body like a silver spear.
His copy yelled in shock, falling from his chair to the ground. The sickening feeling of acid filled his mouth, threatening to make him puke after seeing so much blood.
Meanwhile, the streamer cried in pain, "Someone, please, save me!"
Unfortunately, no one came. Transgressing the rules to satisfy his greed led the streamer to his death before thousands of terrified viewers. And his video would mark the beginning of Earth's disaster.