For millennia, the Earth had harbored secrets, hidden wonders waiting to be uncovered. But this time, the secret was forged by the hands of those who played god, concealed not by time, but by power.
News of the [Land Beyond Antarctica] spread like virus. It began with a leaked report from a team of independent researchers—blurry images, shaky footage, yet undeniable. A vast, uncharted expanse lay beyond the icy barrier, defying everything the world had been told.
Social media erupted. Conspiracists celebrated their long-awaited vindication, while skeptics dismissed it as an elaborate hoax. Scientists demanded explanations. Governments met it all with an unsettling silence.
But Takumi saw something different. There was no excitement, no disbelief—only a quiet, calculating dread.
"This will end in disaster," he muttered, scrolling through articles and discussion threads, his eyes dark with certainty.
In the dim glow of his small apartment, trophies and certificates lay stacked carelessly in the corner of his room, as if earning them had been effortless. But they were nothing more than forgotten relics. His focus was elsewhere—pouring over every article, book, and document he could find on Antarctica, his fingers moving with restless urgency.
Those stacks of accolades, he never felt a shred of pride in them. To him, they were nothing more than means to an end—prize money to survive a little longer without having to work himself to death.
"Human curiosity was dangerous. If what lay beyond Antarctica was real—and if the powers that be were actively suppressing it—then the next move was inevitable."
Takumi's thoughts churned as he stared at the screen, his mind weaving through possibilities.
Takumi leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen, but his mind was already steps ahead. "If there truly were elites hiding in the shadows, pulling the strings of the world, they wouldn't sit idle for long."
"They'll move soon," he muttered, his fingers tapping idly against the desk. "They have to."
Silencing voices, erasing evidence—it was the only way to maintain control. And if history had proven anything, it was that those in power would go to any lengths to keep their dominion intact.
The world he lived in was on the brink of collapse
After an entire weekend consumed by research, Takumi returned to college, only to find everything unchanged. His classmates laughed, gossiped, and carried on as if nothing had happened—blissfully unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon.
They had no idea.
To them, life was business as usual. But in Takumi's mind, the outcome was inevitable—a future of chaos, one none of them were prepared for.
A sudden tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts.
"Takumi-chan, good morning!" Yuki's cheerful voice rang out as she smiled brightly at him.
Takumi looked at her, his expression unreadable. Knowing what was coming, he spoke without hesitation.
"Yuki-chan, I will save you."
Yuki blinked, tilting her head in confusion before laughing softly. "You're really bad at socialize, Takumi-chan."
Without another word, he turned away, leaving her behind.
"I hope I'm wrong," he thought as he walked. "But if I'm right… I will save you, Yuki-chan. I promise."
After finishing college for the day, Takumi returned home, ready to continue his research—digging through old books, archived articles, anything he could find. But…
Every article. Every post. Every discussion on the topic—gone.
Search results led to broken links, deleted accounts, and vague "content not available" messages. Even casual conversations had been erased—comments wiped clean, videos removed, threads cut short mid-discussion.
As if it had never existed.
A hollow laugh escaped Takumi's lips, tinged with fear.
"Three days… They erased everything in just three days? Even the oldest archives on the internet?"
Ding-dong. His apartment doorbell rang. Takumi walking over. No visitors were expected.
Opening the door, he found nothing—just a plain envelope resting at his doorstep.
He picked it up, tore it open.
Inside, a single sheet of paper. One word, scrawled in black ink:
"DO NOT."
Takumi's grip tightened. A warning? A threat? His mind raced.
Was someone trying to silence him? Or… was someone trying to save him?
The letter left him drowning in questions.
Too precious. Light or Darkness—Takumi!
Takumi had always been the center of attention at his college—an undeniable genius, effortlessly surpassing his peers.
But without his knowledge, two powerful factions had already set their sights on him, each determined to claim him as their own.
His latest actions only intensified their interest. His deep dive into the viral [Land Beyond Antarctica] case wasn't just idle curiosity—it was relentless, obsessive.
For an average person, such research would be dismissed as harmless. But Takumi was no ordinary student. A genius among geniuses, his mind alone was a potential threat to forces lurking in the shadows.
To these two factions, Takumi was more than just a brilliant mind—he was a variable they couldn't afford to leave unchecked.
Recruit him, or erase him.
There was no middle ground.
But they knew one thing—Takumi was far too valuable to simply be discarded.
Exhausted from the day's events and unsettled by the cryptic letter, Takumi drifted into an uneasy sleep. the scene shifted—
Across the world, in five distant and enigmatic locations, the air grew tense with quiet anticipation.
— A grand temple, its halls lined with dragon carvings, where 999 candles flickered in solemn ritual.
— A futuristic stronghold, gleaming with cutting-edge technology, watched over by a massive angel statue.
— An ancient tree, its light purple leaves and glowing roots pulsing with a mysterious energy.
— A Greek sanctuary, its towering pillars adorned with the twelve zodiac symbols of fate.
— A golden cathedral, its radiant halls bathed in an ethereal glow, whispering of divinity.
In each of these sacred places, a lone figure stood in silence, counting—waiting.
As the moment edged closer, they spoke—separately, worlds apart, yet bound by the same truth.
"The promised time is near."
The long-awaited was on the horizon
After his uneasy sleep, the following days passed in restless pursuit.
Takumi kept searching, digging through the remnants of erased data, hoping to find anything that had slipped through the cracks. But then…
News Headlines Across the Week
Renowned Geologist Dies in Apparent Food Poisoning Incident
Dr. Elias Rutherford, a leading expert in glacial geology, was found dead in his home yesterday. Authorities suspect food poisoning as the cause, though an investigation is ongoing. Colleagues recall his recent return from an Antarctic expedition, where he was reportedly conducting classified research.
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Atmospheric Scientist
Dr. Linnea Forsberg, a distinguished climate scientist, lost control of her vehicle in what police are calling a freak accident. Skid marks suggest a sudden swerve, but there were no other vehicles involved. Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause.
Astrobiologist Fatally Stabbed in Apparent Robbery Gone Wrong
Dr. Victor Salazar, an astrobiologist with groundbreaking theories on extraterrestrial microbes, was found stabbed to death in an alleyway. The perpetrators remain unidentified, and authorities speculate it was a robbery gone wrong—though curiously, none of his valuables were taken.
Seismologist and Family Killed in Home Invasion
Tragedy struck as Dr. Yuna Takahashi, a renowned Seismologist, and her family were found murdered in their home. The suspects have not been identified, and authorities are investigating possible motives. Some neighbors claim to have heard nothing unusual that night.
Geophysicist Goes Missing—No Clues Left Behind
Dr. Kenji Sakamoto, a leading geophysicist, has been reported missing. His home showed no signs of struggle, and his research team claims he was increasingly paranoid before his disappearance. Officials have yet to determine if his vanishing is connected to the recent string of deaths among prominent scientists.
Takumi stared at the headlines, his blood running cold.
"They're all…"
His breath hitched, hands trembling as he gripped the screen.
"Every single one of them—key members of the Antarctic expedition."
Eternal silence befalls those who dare speak the truth.
Takumi sat hunched over a desk in the college library, his fingers absently flipping through pages, but his mind was elsewhere. The headlines still burned in his thoughts—scientists, geologists, key members of the Antarctica expedition, all found dead under bizarre circumstances.
"Coincidence? No. It was too many. Too precise."
His grip tightened around the book in front of him. If whatever they discovered was worth so many lives… then something far bigger was being hidden.
His mind raced, piecing together fragments of information, trying to connect the dots. "Who was behind this?"
Frustration crept in as he pulled another book from the shelf, flipping through it feverishly. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for anymore—anything, any clue that hadn't been erased.
As Takumi flipped through the pages, immersed in his search, a sudden grip on his left shoulder sent a jolt through him.
Before he could react, warm breath ghosted against his right ear.
"Meet me at the cross-section near the college tonight," Mira whispered, her tone laced with playful amusement. "I'll tell you everything."
Takumi stiffened. A shiver from the unfamiliar closeness.
"Who… who are you?" he murmured, his voice with confusion.
Mira didn't answer. Instead, she placed a small note beside the books he was reading—her phone number. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Takumi with more questions than before.