Silence fell across frozen wasteland.
Genesis Codex had spoken, not telepathically to Draven alone but audibly, physically, words echoing across ice.
Everyone heard.
Draven stared at the ancient book floating before him, green-gold light pulsing from pages as the cosmic artifact housing two entities, Adhivar's warmth and Codex's analytical precision, had just revealed something impossible.
From Earth.
Pack frozen, processing words as small metal object in Draven's hand suddenly carried cosmic significance while swirling gate churned silently behind them.
From Earth.
Then chaos erupted.
"How do you know?" Sylvara asked immediately, analytical mind demanding explanation.
"What does that mean?" Feyra added, small voice confused.
Velnar clicked rapidly with ancient composure shaken, Zor's wings flaring as tactical mind raced, Malvorn's crystalline features intense as earth Overlord recognized significance.
Draven's own questions formed, *How can you tell? What signature? Original universe?*, remembering previous private conversations about Codex's connection to reality beyond Theia.
But loudest reaction came from Naelvorn.
The ocean Overlord stood frozen, seven-foot human form completely still for first time since meeting him, teal eyes wide and staring at Genesis Codex, at the book, with expression mixing shock and dawning comprehension.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" Naelvorn's voice exploded across ice. "Hold up! HOLD UP!"
Pointing at Genesis Codex with trembling hand. "The book TALKS?! There are BEINGS inside the book?!"
Looking around at everyone, at pack members who seemed unsurprised by cosmic voices. "You guys KNEW about this?! Ancient cosmic entities just living in ancient book?! And nobody mentioned—"
Cutting off, teal eyes returning to Genesis Codex with mixture of awe and disbelief. "Okay. Okay, bros, I need a moment here. That's not just artifact. That's those are..."
Words failing as boisterous ocean Overlord, never speechless, was genuinely stunned.
Recognizing presences beyond anything he'd imagined, beyond Overlord comprehension, beyond everything.
"...Whoa."
Warmth emanated from Genesis Codex as Adhivar's presence became palpable in air around them, not threatening but comforting, ancient, vast.
When voice emerged again, audible and physical and real, it carried infinite patience.
*"We understand your shock, Naelvorn. Yes, we exist. Adhivar and Genesis Codex, two entities sharing this vessel. We've communicated telepathically with Draven since he became bearer. But current revelation requires everyone hear."*
Pause as warmth increased slightly. *"You asked how we know this is from Earth. Allow us to explain. The answer involves cosmology. The structure of reality itself."*
***
Genesis Codex's pages glowed brighter, light intensifying as both entities prepared comprehensive explanation.
Codex's analytical voice joined Adhivar's warmth, speaking together.
*"First, understand: reality has layers. Dimensions within dimensions. The original universe is base reality, where everything began, where existence itself formed, where Genesis Codex came into being when universe was born."*
*"Think of original universe as main building. Foundation. Root. Everything originates there. Stars, planets, life, magic, time itself, all flowing from original universe's creation."*
Adhivar's warmth emphasized points. *"We, Genesis Codex and Adhivar, were formed in original universe. We are original universe, fundamentally. Connected to it intrinsically. We recognize its signature like you recognize family voice."*
*"Theia, your world, exists in what's called pocket dimension. Separate space branching from original universe. Like room connected to main building by doorway, but isolated. Self-contained."*
Codex's analytical precision made complex simple. *"Pocket dimensions are real, functional, complete. Theia has stars, moons, magic, life. Everything needed. But it's not original universe. It's separated. Dimensional barrier exists between them."*
*"This separation limits us. In original universe, Genesis Codex wields full power. Here in Theia's pocket dimension, we operate at fraction, perhaps ten percent capability. Dimensional barrier restricts cosmic energy flow."*
Draven remembered private revelation from Sunken Archives, Codex mentioning ten percent power, now explained publicly.
*"But despite limitation, we remain connected to original universe. That connection never severs. Ever."*
*"Everything carries signature of origin dimension. Like accent revealing homeland. Like scent revealing flower species."*
Adhivar's warmth made abstract concrete. *"Objects, phenomena, energy from original universe have original universe signature. Unmistakable to beings connected there. We sense it immediately, recognition beyond doubt."*
*"Objects from Theia, pocket dimension, carry pocket dimension signature. Different. Distinct. We recognize difference instantly."*
Gesturing toward gate with wave of light. *"That swirling phenomenon? Original universe signature. Unmistakable. Not from Theia. From original universe."*
Light extended toward small metal object in Draven's hand. *"That manufactured object? Original universe signature. Same recognition. Same certainty."*
*"Both originate from original universe. Both crossed dimensional barrier somehow. Both emerged here in Theia."*
Simple, clear, absolute.
*"And in original universe, the relevant world with advanced civilization capable of creating such artifacts is Earth."*
Silence as everyone processed.
Velnar clicked slowly. "Original universe. Pocket dimension. Signature recognition. Logical framework."
Sylvara nodded. "Dimensional separation explains untouchability. Different reality layers. We cannot affect original universe phenomena from pocket dimension side."
Feyra's small voice asked, "So gate and metal thing came from Earth? Through dimensions?"
*"Precisely,"* Adhivar confirmed warmly.
Zor assessed. "Detection method reliable? Certainty absolute?"
*"Absolute,"* Codex stated. *"We cannot mistake original universe signature. Recognition is intrinsic. Like breathing. Automatic."*
Malvorn's earth communion was thoughtful. "Dimensional barrier explains our ineffectiveness. Earth manipulation cannot cross dimensions."
Understanding spread, knowledge settled, cosmic mechanics comprehended.
Naelvorn stood silent through explanation, uncharacteristic stillness maintained.
When he finally spoke, boisterous energy was muted, replaced by genuine awe. "So you two, you're from original universe. You SAW universe being born. You're connected to everything. Base reality itself."
Teal eyes wide, staring at Genesis Codex, at ancient book containing cosmic entities, with new comprehension. "And you can just sense other universe stuff. Like it's obvious. Like I sense ocean currents."
Shaking head slowly. "That's bros, that's beyond Overlord. That's beyond anything. You're not just powerful. You're fundamental."
Respect absolute with humor present but subdued as ocean Overlord recognized beings operating on incomprehensible scale.
"Okay. I believe you. If you say it's from Earth, it's from Earth."
***
Draven looked down at small metal object in palm, bent wire with precise manufacture and unknown purpose.
Now understanding it was from Earth, original universe, advanced civilization's creation.
"What is this, exactly?" he asked Genesis Codex.
Pages glowed thoughtfully. *"Manufactured object. Artificial construction using refined metal alloys. Precise engineering. Created by advanced technological civilization."*
Codex's analytical assessment continued. *"Based on design: fastening device. Used to hold thin materials together temporarily. Common Earth technology, simple, functional, ubiquitous."*
Adhivar added warmly, *"We recognize it as Earth-origin definitively. But specific function, specific use case, specific context..."* Pause. *"Unknown without additional information. Purpose clear generally, fastening. But why this particular object crossed dimensions? Who used it? What was being fastened? Those details absent."*
Mystery remained despite identification.
Small metal clip from Earth, manufactured, used, then somehow ejected through dimensional gate into Theia.
Why?
Sylvara looked at swirling phenomenon behind them. "We need to call it something. 'Swirling cloud formation' is unwieldy."
Feyra agreed. "Yeah! What should we name it?"
*"The proper term,"* Genesis Codex stated matter-of-factly, *"is gate."*
Simple, direct, technical.
*"Dimensional gate. Portal connecting separate dimensional spaces. Allowing passage, apparently one-directional in this case, between original universe and pocket dimension. Between Earth and Theia."*
*"Gate. Accurate terminology."*
Draven nodded. "Gate it is."
Pack accepted immediately as Naelvorn grinned slightly, first return of humor. "Gate. Simple. I like it. Mysterious dimensional bridge thing equals gate. Works for me, bros."
Named, defined, understood partially.
The gate connecting Earth and Theia, expelling objects from original universe into pocket dimension.
Permanent, mysterious, present.
***
Draven stood before gate, processing revelations cascading through mind.
Sunken Archives, a month ago with underwater ruins and information discovered about Earth, the other world suffering Fate's curse with mass extinctions and failed merger stealing humanity's magic potential, two worlds punished by cosmic force.
That was historical knowledge, past events, distant tragedy.
Now?
Gate stood before him, physical, real, active.
Earth wasn't distant history, Earth was connected, dimensionally linked, objects crossing from original universe into Theia.
Paper clip in hand, small and mundane and meaningless object, represented impossible bridge between cursed worlds.
Everything changed.
Not just investigating Theia's curse anymore, not just searching stable zones for solutions.
Earth and Theia were connected physically.
What did that mean? Why did gate exist? What implications for stopping Fate's Revenge?
Questions multiplying, answers absent.
"This changes everything," Draven said aloud, voicing realization.
Pack turned attention toward him.
"Earth isn't just other world we learned about in ruins. Earth is here. Connected. Gate proves it. Objects crossing proves it. Dimensional barrier isn't absolute."
Looking at family, at allied Overlord, at Genesis Codex. "We don't know why gate exists. We don't know who created it. We don't know what it means for curse. But..."
Certainty crystallized. "This is too important to keep between us. Other Overlords need to know."
Draven turned to Malvorn and Naelvorn specifically.
Two Overlords, two networks, two channels for spreading information.
"Report this to the Overlord network."
Direct, clear, command.
Malvorn's crystalline features nodded immediately. "Through earth communion. Every earth-connected Overlord will know within hours."
Naelvorn grinned, boisterous energy returning fully. "Ocean network too, bro! Every Overlord near water gets the news! This is HUGE intel!"
Draven continued, "Raziel needs to know. Frostina needs to know. Every allied Overlord informed. Dimensional gate connecting Earth and Theia, strategic intelligence requiring immediate distribution."
"We're not keeping this secret. Information spreads. Alliance strengthens through shared knowledge."
Looking at gate, at impossible bridge between worlds. "Whatever this means for stopping Fate's Revenge, we face it together. All Overlords. All allies. United."
Draven looked down at small metal object in hand one more time.
Evidence, physical proof, Earth-origin artifact.
He pocketed it carefully, preserved.
Maybe Genesis Codex could study it further, maybe it would help somehow, maybe just symbolic as tangible connection between worlds.
But keeping it, protecting it.
First object to cross from Earth to Theia in his presence.
Wouldn't be last, probably.
Standing before gate with family surrounding him, Draven felt strange mixture of emotions.
Wonder at dimensional bridge from Earth, original universe connected to Theia, cosmic mechanics revealing themselves, reality larger than comprehended.
Determination for action required, information spreading, Overlords mobilizing, alliance strengthening, whatever came next they'd face together.
Questions remained unanswered about why gate existed, who created it, what it meant for curse, whether more Earth objects would arrive, whether communication was possible, whether...
So many unknowns.
But standing here with family together, knowledge gained, purpose clear, that mattered.
They'd found something impossible, now they'd deal with implications.
Draven looked at Malvorn and Naelvorn one final time.
"Report it. Everyone needs to know. Now."
Simple instruction, clear command.
Gate stood behind them, swirling silently.
Earth and Theia connected.
Everything had changed.
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