Chapter 1 — Solar System
"It's the 824th year of the Sun Calendar.
The air, once thick with the stench of smoke and blood, now carried the heavy sweetness of decay. The war — a brutal symphony of clashing steel and desperate cries — had finally ceased. Yet there was no jubilant celebration, no triumphant march through the city gates. The true victor was not a king or an army, but the unseen enemy that had followed in their wake.
The first War of Rule had ended only a month ago, but the marks of war — the bloodstains — were everywhere. The world's population, once fourteen billion, had been reduced to a little more than one billion. But that was not the end. In Sun Year 846 people began searching for something called ver-dan, but they found nothing. Those years were known as the World Search Period — until 851, when someone called the Hunter came to Earth and began killing anyone who knew about ver-dan. He, too, failed to find it and left after five years.
Only one hundred million people remained in the world. The Hunter became a mystery — a legend who had killed more than six hundred million people; a story no one believed. Yet the world was unaware of four boys who dreamed of becoming Hunters."
—
872 in the Sun Calendar (Earth — Samuh Sea Coast)
"Hey, Shunya — I can't run anymore! We've been running for seven hours straight. How much longer do we have to go? And why are we wearing sleeve armor in this heat?" Yash gasped.
"Yash, we're almost there. It's only two more kilometres to the Cave of Water Cores. And we don't know if there are any snakes like last time, so we need some protection. We can't wear full armor, but sleeve armor should be enough for now."
"Okay, okay. But Tarun is still far behind. Don't you think we should wait?"
"No, we don't need to. He's hiding the vehicle so no one can steal it. He can run twice as fast as you anyway — he'll catch up in no time. Besides, Vibho is alone, so we need to hurry." Shunya's tone was sharp and serious.
"I don't think anything or anyone can hurt that son of a stone," Yash muttered.
"Do you think a human can run a hundred kilometres carrying sixty kilos nonstop for five hours and barely break a sweat?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just run already," Shunya grumbled, giving Yash a push.
After ten more minutes, at the mouth of an eight-foot cave, a man stood waiting, watching two figures approach.
"Hey — why are you late? And where's Tarun? Did you encounter anyone?" Vibho asked anxiously.
"No, we didn't. He'll be here soon. Did you find anything? Are there water cores?" Shunya asked calmly.
"We're not late — we just ran like normal humans, not like some maniac who runs nonstop for five hours," Yash muttered loudly.
"At least I'm not a lazy sloth like you," Vibho teased with a grin.
"What did you say?" Yash snapped, ready to fight.
"Don't start your catfight again," Shunya cut in, clearly annoyed. "Look — Tarun is here." He pointed toward a man approaching at a steady pace.
"All set," Tarun said flatly. "Did you find any water cores?"
"Yes, there are water cores," Vibho nodded, "but there's something even more interesting. Or mysterious. Don't ask me what it is, because I don't know. You'll have to see it for yourself."
"Okay, lead the way," Tarun and Shunya said in unison, their tones serious.
They entered the cave. With no natural light, they lit torches. After a while, a blue mist appeared and the faint glow of water cores shimmered in the distance.
"There they are," Shunya said. "Water cores. But they don't look unusual."
"It's not the cores," Vibho whispered. "The mysterious thing is that massive ball floating in place. Nine other large balls are orbiting it — and even smaller ones around those."
"Balls?" Yash scoffed. "I don't see any of your so-called balls."
"Not the time for jokes," Tarun snapped. "Where did you see them?"
"Through that crack in the wall." Vibho pointed.
"Let's check it out," Tarun said. "If it's what you describe… it sounds like a solar system."
"It is a solar system," Shunya breathed. "Never in my life did I imagine seeing the planets from books in a real model — with moons and all."
"A solar system like the one in old books," Vibho asked, "or the one you told me about?"
"Both are the same, stone head," Yash replied.
"Yeah, they're the same," Tarun said, frowning. "But why is it here? People should have found it during the search period twenty years ago. Someone must have left it here afterward." He paused. "And why is it still floating?" Shunya added. "There are no magnetic signals, no energy readings of any kind."
"Is it safe to go down there?" Tarun asked.
"I haven't found any danger," Shunya answered cautiously. "But stay alert—"
Boom.
Before Shunya could finish, the ground beneath them collapsed. All four plummeted into a deep chasm. The impact silenced them;
they couldn't move, couldn't even speak.
For some time atmosphere was silent until.
"Tarun? Shunya? Yash? Can you hear me?" Vibho's voice trembled. His eyes were rimmed red with fear, yet still held a flicker of hope. "Tarun, you said you'd teach me new moves, right? Answer me! Yash — hey, sloth, stop being lazy or I'll hit you. Shunya, wake up! You promised to tell me about all the world's strong and powerful people. Please… wake up!" His cries grew louder and louder, until finally he, too, fell silent.
The others were still alive. They just couldn't move, couldn't speak to comfort him.
Then — another boom. Something was falling from the sky.
The solar system itself was collapsing. One of the planets was hurtling toward them at terrifying speed.
(All of the following are their thoughts.)
Vibho: I need to get up. I promised them I wouldn't be weak.
Yash: Move, damn it. I have to tell them I'm alive. I swore I'd give them a good life with uncountable money, no matter what.
Shunya: Why did the floor break? Why is it falling on us? I promised to tell them every history, every mythology — everything I know.
Tarun: I promised to protect you all — and I will.
With sheer will, Tarun forced his broken body to move. The others watched as his shadow bent over them, gathering them into a pile, shielding them with his own body like a wall.
"You can hear me, right?" Tarun whispered. "I said I'd protect you. Sorry… looks like I can't do that if I die. But maybe this is better — better than dying old and lonely. At least we're together. Let's die together. What do you think? Ha… I'm right, aren't I?" He laughed, his face stretched into a long, defiant smile.
The others stopped struggling. One thought bound them all: if this was death, they would face it with a smile — just as they had embraced life, from beginning to end.
And so, despite their pain, they stood. Silent. Smiling. Ready to die together.
BOOM.
Creak.
— End of Chapter 1 —
Ding.
"Wait, wait — a little information. If you didn't notice me in the whole chapter, I am the one who gives you information about all those events at the start. From now on I will be the one to provide scene description and information on different things. To make my entry notable there will be a ding or beep before I come and go."