Renzo moved through the city streets with steady steps.
But his destination had changed.
Instead of heading toward the scrap districts, he was walking toward the outskirts of the city.
Toward the anomaly.
The glowing distortion shown on the news.
Kensei-Ryu spoke first.
"So the curious path wins."
Renzo kept walking.
"If the timeline is changing, I need to know why."
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"A wise decision."
Renzo shoved his hands into his pockets as he continued moving.
Cars passed him on the road.
Police sirens occasionally echoed from somewhere ahead.
Which confirmed one thing.
The authorities were already responding.
Good.
That meant the location was real.
About thirty minutes later, Renzo reached the edge of a wide industrial district.
Factories.
Warehouses.
Shipping yards.
Normally, this area would be loud and busy.
But today it was different.
Police barricades blocked the main road.
Military trucks were parked nearby.
A crowd of curious civilians stood behind the barriers, whispering and pointing.
Renzo blended into the crowd.
No one paid attention to him.
Just another curious citizen.
But his eyes were locked on the distance.
About a hundred meters away…
Reality itself looked broken.
The air twisted like heat waves rising from asphalt.
Except these waves glowed faint purple.
A circular distortion floated in midair.
Slowly expanding.
Kensei-Ryu spoke quietly.
"That is definitely a gate."
Renzo nodded slightly.
Yes.
He had seen dozens of them in his previous life.
But never like this.
Usually gates appeared suddenly.
Fully formed.
This one was… growing.
Vulcanos hummed thoughtfully.
"Interesting."
Renzo narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah."
This wasn't normal.
Scientists and military personnel moved around the area carefully.
Some were scanning the air with devices.
Others were taking pictures.
None of them looked comfortable.
A young soldier near the barricade spoke to the crowd.
"Everyone please remain behind the line."
"Authorities are investigating."
Renzo ignored him.
His attention stayed on the distortion.
Then suddenly—
A pulse of purple light flashed across the air.
The distortion expanded slightly.
And Renzo felt it.
A cold pressure in the atmosphere.
Like the world itself had inhaled.
Kensei-Ryu spoke softly.
"Energy increase."
Renzo whispered.
"It's stabilizing."
Which meant the gate would open soon.
Much sooner than three weeks.
Vulcanos spoke in a low tone.
"This world is accelerating."
Renzo's eyes hardened.
If gates were appearing earlier…
Then monsters would appear earlier too.
And humanity would be even less prepared.
Another flash of purple light rippled across the distortion.
This time the soldiers noticed.
Several shouted commands.
Scientists stepped back nervously.
One of them yelled,
"The energy levels are rising!"
Renzo slowly exhaled.
He had seen this moment before.
The exact moment before a gate fully formed.
But something about this one felt… different.
The purple energy began condensing toward the center.
The circular distortion grew darker.
Then—
CRACK.
A faint sound echoed through the air.
Like glass breaking.
The soldiers raised their weapons instantly.
The crowd gasped.
Renzo's eyes sharpened.
Kensei-Ryu whispered.
"Something is coming."
But Renzo wasn't afraid.
Instead…
A small smile appeared on his face.
Because if the gate opened now—
Then monsters would arrive.
And monsters meant one thing.
Experience.
Loot.
Power.
Vulcanos spoke calmly.
"The forge will require stronger materials."
Renzo nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
He stepped away from the crowd.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Already thinking.
Because the moment that gate opened…
The world would change.
And this time—
Renzo intended to be ready.