Story Reader / Main Story / 21 Spiral of Chronos / Story
In between the pieced shards from spatial collapse, a completely different world is displayed in front of Lee.
The distorted dimension intertwines and rumbles, like an orchestra without a conductor, chaotic music notes fly out of the movement and become bitmap, they then become two-dimensional, rising up to transform into the platform beneath his feet, and lastly, into shapes he cannot comprehend.
The enormous amount of information floods into his brain but vanishes the next second. He experiences millions of years in his mind in that fleeting moment. He sees the birth and destruction of numerous galaxies through this odd-colored dimension, the pages of time are flips at the speed of light.
He stands amidst this vast universe, his view unrestricted by spatial rules. He sees the light of numerous stars at their birth and destruction—light from millions and millions of years ago, showing how young and small Earth is compared to everything else.
To those beings who dwell in a higher dimension, the stars may just resemble toys, spinning around in their hands like music boxes.
He feels trapped in this dimension away from reality, yet at the same time, he experiences all. Every past and future of all versions of "himself" is laid out like a map, with clear descriptions of all that happens.
The concepts of "beginning" and "end" do not exist in this dimension. Time is like building blocks, existing solely for the entertainment of the owner of the dimension.
The chaotic space gradually settles. Lee already understands why this place feels so familiar, it is because this is not his first time here.
The galaxies merge into a pair of all-seeing eyes, warmly looking down on the lonely soul in the darkness.
A voice resonates from afar, speaking directly into Lee's brain. It speaks a language Lee has never heard of before, as if it is the voice of the universe, at the same time, it is also the voice of all people, yet he can understand it somehow.
Their conversation revolves around his "memories," which are also his "present," as well as his "future."
Are you troubled by what you see?
What is this place?
The peripheral dimension. This is the dimensional border humans can reach. You may also call it 'the Gate'.
You can comprehend it as a 'meeting room' prepared for all life on Earth.
To make it easier for humans to adapt, we have temporarily transformed it into something you can understand.
Why am I here?
Your presence here means that the possibility of the civilization 'humanity' passing through the Gate has arisen.
The voice reverberates in the universe, Lee seems to hear a familiar voice among the harmony of everything.
He suddenly remembers what his other self had said to him in his M.I.N.D.
And you—what are you? The judge? Or the filterer? Was that tower your tool for filtering?
We are just the congregation of the Watchers' will. As per the 'rules,' we may not directly influence the history of humanity. In our early watching periods, we had accelerated the destruction of three young civilizations due to excessive direct influence.
An extremely small portion of 'us' possess 'projections' who can travel in lower dimensions. They are envoys, as well as travelers.
As for the 'tower,' it is another symbol of biological evolution, and you were able to find your way here by utilizing its attributes.
Just like how the Punishing Virus was able to find a new way of evolution from humans, humans can also use the virus to achieve the impossible.
The Punishing Virus... It's the filterer and the filtered at the same time?
The beings who you refer to as the 'twins' are currently the epitome in the evolution tree of this being. When humanity truly defeats them, it will signify a new possibility for humanity's future.
What's the purpose of all this?
Watch, and witness the real future among all possibilities.
—The moment they reach the unopened door in their bodies of flesh and blood.
We want to know, the 'possibility of the continuous existence of humanity.'
We have been waiting. Pass the final 'trial' and break the 'rules' of the future together with us.
Since you are already here—
The large eyes vanish from the skies as the world starts to shrink. Numerous transparent spikes appear from the gaps in time and space and aim toward Lee.
Tell us your answer with your will.
Lee dodges the spikes with ease and familiarity, as if he has done this multiple times before.
He sees "himself" in this battle. They appear and vanish from the spiral platform. The last identical version of himself stands in front of him and hands over a weapon.
There's only one chance for us to deliver it to you through this M.I.N.D. and it'll become your ace.
Lee reaches for it. The moment he touches the weapon, the battered illusion of the Construct turns into dust. What is conveyed is the never-changing courage and thoughts, and the memories of all the battles "Lee" has fought in all the universes.
It is because of the hard work of everyone, unsolvable regrets, and the determination of humanity that has led him to arrive at the top of the tower in this frame. He must leave this place and carry out his original duty.
I will bring an end to this fake dimension!
I will bring an end to this fake dimension!
