The atmosphere on the rooftop changed instantly.
The joking disappeared.
The smiles faded.
The three reincarnators stared at the crimson warning window floating before them.
---
> [Warning
Timeline Deviation Detected
Unknown Energy Signature Found
Location: 1.3 km North
Threat Level: Unknown]
---
Kael's grin vanished.
"That definitely wasn't in the original timeline."
Liora nodded.
"No anomaly appeared this early."
Arin's eyes narrowed toward the northern district.
The location wasn't far.
In fact, he knew exactly where it was.
---
Northgate Shopping Plaza.
A medium-sized commercial district.
Restaurants.
Convenience stores.
Electronics shops.
A small warehouse district nearby.
Nothing important.
At least... it wasn't supposed to be.
---
"Are we checking it out?" Kael asked.
"Obviously," Liora replied.
"Thought so."
---
Elias looked between them.
"Okay, now I'm definitely convinced you're in a cult."
---
Kael pointed dramatically.
"We are."
---
Elias blinked.
---
"Really?"
---
"No."
---
"..."
---
"I can't believe you believed that."
---
Liora covered her face.
"You're both idiots."
---
Even Arin felt the tension ease slightly.
For a moment.
Only a moment.
Because every instinct he possessed was screaming at him.
Something was wrong.
---
Very wrong.
---
In his previous life, strange anomalies only began appearing two or three days before the outbreak.
Not ten days before.
Never ten.
---
The Trinity Link System suddenly pulsed.
---
> [Emergency Side Objective
Investigate Timeline Distortion
Reward: Synchronization +3%
Hidden Reward Available
Failure: Unknown Consequences]
---
Arin's expression darkened.
Unknown consequences.
He hated those words.
---
"After school," he said.
"We investigate."
---
The others nodded immediately.
Even Elias looked interested.
---
"Investigate what exactly?"
---
Arin immediately answered.
"Probably nothing."
---
Kael almost laughed.
---
Liora rolled her eyes.
---
Elias pointed.
"That sounded suspicious."
---
"It was supposed to."
---
"..."
---
The bell rang.
Students immediately began moving through the hallways below.
The rooftop period was over.
---
As they headed back downstairs, Arin felt something strange.
A faint vibration.
Not physical.
Spiritual.
Like something was briefly brushing against his soul.
---
He stopped walking.
---
"Arin?"
---
Liora turned.
---
"What is it?"
---
For a brief moment—
He thought he saw something standing on a distant rooftop.
Watching them.
---
A tall silhouette.
Completely black.
Featureless.
---
Then it disappeared.
---
Gone.
---
"...Nothing."
---
But deep down—
He knew it wasn't nothing.
---
After School
By the time classes ended, the sun was beginning its descent.
Students flooded through the gates.
Laughing.
Talking.
Complaining about homework.
Completely unaware that civilization had already begun its countdown.
---
The four of them gathered near the school's rear entrance.
---
"Where's Elias?" Kael asked.
---
"Right here."
---
The future betrayer jogged toward them carrying a backpack.
---
Liora frowned.
---
"Why are you coming?"
---
"Because you four are obviously investigating something."
---
"We aren't."
---
"You literally said you were."
---
"..."
---
"Also," Elias continued.
"I was bored."
---
Kael nodded seriously.
---
"Fair point."
---
Arin sighed.
Trying to stop Elias would only attract attention.
And currently Elias remembered nothing.
---
"Fine."
---
Elias grinned.
---
"Nice."
---
The four left the school together.
None of them noticed two pairs of eyes watching from a second-floor classroom window.
A girl with silver hair.
And a tall young man standing beside her.
The Student Council President.
Ayla Frost.
And her Vice President.
Rhett Blaze.
Ayla's gaze followed the group.
Especially Arin.
"Did you feel it too?" she asked quietly.
Rhett nodded.
"That energy."
His eyes narrowed.
"Those four are hiding something."
Ayla continued watching until they disappeared into the crowd.
For some reason—
She couldn't shake the feeling that something enormous was approaching.
Northgate Plaza
Forty minutes later.
The four arrived.
The plaza looked completely normal.
Cars moved.
People shopped.
Children laughed.
Restaurants remained crowded.
Yet the moment Arin stepped inside—
His instincts screamed.
Danger.
The air felt heavier.
Liora noticed immediately.
"You feel it too?"
Arin nodded.
Kael cracked his neck.
"This place feels wrong."
Even Elias frowned.
"...Okay, now I feel it."
The Trinity Link System activated again.
---
The world briefly turned gray.
Then—
A glowing red point appeared beneath the shopping plaza.
Underground.
Everyone's expressions changed.
"Basement?" Kael asked.
"No."
Arin's voice became serious.
"Further down."
A second later—
The system updated.
---
[Type: Dimensional Distortion
Status: Forming
Completion: 7%
Estimated Activation: 6-9 Days]
Silence.
Then Liora slowly exhaled.
"...A Gate."
Arin nodded.
A dimensional gate.
One that wasn't supposed to appear until after the apocalypse.
But somehow—
It was already forming.
Which meant only one thing.
The future was changing much faster than expected.
And somewhere beneath the city...
Something was already trying to enter their world.
As if responding to their discovery—
A low growl echoed from beneath the ground.
Everyone froze.
Kael slowly looked downward.
"...Please tell me that was a truck."
The growl came again.
Louder.
Longer.
Hungrier.
Arin's purple aura flickered faintly around his eyes.
Liora's crimson energy stirred.
Green energy briefly pulsed beneath Kael's skin.
For the first time since their reincarnation—
They were about to face an enemy that did not exist in their previous timeline.
And none of them knew what awaited them below.
End of Chapter 4 — The First Anomaly