Ethan's point of view... When I saw with my vision still blurry, my teammates's hesitant gazes revealed a mix of awe and apprehension. I still couldn't figure out what just happened to me. I knew I had to explain, to assure them that I was still the person they knew. With that confusion swirling in my mind, and a strange pain and dullness engulfing me, I closed my eyes uncontrollably.I found myself falling from a long height and with a sudden jolt, I opened my eyes again. "Freaking Hell," I gasped the atmosphere around me was freaking hot. The pain in my chest intensified and felt all-consuming, but vanished in the seconds it took for me to blink my eyes open. I was on my back and staring up at an unfamiliar afternoon sky with clouds the color of late autumn leaves.I couldn't comprehend where I was because my mind seemed to be numb for a few minutes. "It feels like I just died," I mumbled.Where am I? I couldn't see my teammates around me. As soon as I got my senses back, I
Ethan's point of view... Reaching the starship, I was dying to get my answers but we were all held back by the chamber room to take a rest. Captain Ven had sent someone over with his orders that we needed to heal our bodies first. Three days completely in the chamber made me feel sick to hell. But I felt so energetic as I stepped out. My teammates were in the chambers for two days only as they were pretty much in good shape. As I stepped out, I saw I was alone in the chamber room. Everyone was already at the training hall. I missed everything here. Yeah...! Not the harsh training of course.As I was about to move on to the door, a beam of light flashed in the middle of the chamber room with a loud buzzing sound. And soon a colorful figure projected in the beam of light.I stood frozen, staring at the virtual projection but what astonished me most was the fact that it was my own self. It's me but a bit different.Agent C...!!******Author's point of view...The figure before h
Ethan's point of view... As I sat there, the weight of the future pressing down on me, the chamber room seemed to grow colder. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the holographic figure before me—my future self, a shadow of the man I was now, but with a story that chilled me to the bone. “So, what happened next?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but I had to. There was no turning back now. "You will get to know it soon, but you need to promise me that you won't startle" My head stirred, don't startle...! What on earth is he going to tell me about?? I leaned closer, nodding my head in agreement. Ethan’s... Uh damn...! It's so annoying to call him that. How about Future Ethan?? Yes. That's better. Future Ethan's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sorrow and pride. He began, “Ethan, the world beyond what you can imagine… it’s not just a place, it’s a crucible. It’s where I was reborn, in more ways than one.” He pau
Author's point of view... As I sat there, the room felt heavier, the air around me thick with the remnants of whatever I heard just now. My existence itself was already a mystery, and to add to that, I had just met my future self; I talked to him head-on through a virtual image. Everything was just so astonishing to take in. His words...I mean, the future Ethan's words were strangely heavy for my head to take in entirely. The pain he endured was something that I can only dread in my nightmares. I questioned my ability to survive if I had to go through those hardships. But when I gave it some thought, I did get it through, didn't I? At times, I would feel proud of myself, and then fear would take over. I hadn’t fully processed the enormity of what he’d said when the chamber door suddenly opened, jolting me back to the present. Captain Van entered his mechanical steps echoing softly through the chamber. Though I knew who entered, I was a bit startled. He had his unreadable r
Ethan's point of view...Earth was facing an unimaginable catastrophe as it became the target of a merciless Alien invasion. After several minor attacks, they had chosen our planet as a mark of destruction. The once vibrant and bustling cities now lay in ruins, reduced to smoldering rubble and remnants of a civilization that had crumbled under the weight of extraterrestrial aggression. Exactly when I thought it was my end too, a miracle happened that changed my life completely.In the year 2045, mid-May, Lassogo city.I found myself amidst this nightmarish landscape, an unwitting participant in the cataclysmic events unfolding around me. My name is Ethan Conner, a twenty-year-old with dreams of a future filled with hopes and possibilities. I work as a delivery boy yet my dreams were bigger. I wanted to join the Army. I wanted to become a warrior but my life took an unexpected turn a few years back and after a crippling accident during a cycling race I found myself laying on a bed, f
Ethan's point of view... With each step we will take, we will carry the weight of my people's suffering and the burning desire for revenge. The shattered world we once knew would be rebuilt, and I would play my part in shaping its future. I vowed to myself that no matter how powerful the aliens may be, I would stand tall, fueled by the unwavering determination to reclaim our planet and restore hope to the hearts of humanity. Once onboard, we, the survivors, were given a glimmer of hope. {Ethan, your duty as a Captain starts now, explain everything to your teammates} The fog on my head dispersed, as I heard the announcement. It's not like I am frightened but still, an unknown hesitation swirled in my whole self. I took a deep breath and exhaled the warm air out of my body to regain my confidence and strengthen my resolve before I started talking to my new allies. "Hello friends," I started, my voice resolved despite their disdainful look, "As you all know we are selected by the Zod
Ethan's point of view...We got out of the chambers one after the other, though we all felt a bit dizzy, that feeling vanished as we saw each other."Wow...!" I couldn't help but exclaim at the costumes we were provided.Each member was provided with a silver-shaded, astonishing costume, with their zodiac sign engraved on it.But mine was even more beautiful, with a copper shining armor and all the zodiac signs engraved on it.It filled us with excitement and enthusiasm. As I looked around, I couldn't help but smile at the sheer awe and wonderment displayed by my team members. To my surprise, I was no longer a crippled one. My leg which always gave me continued pain as I walk, run, or even stood was now healed. I jumped and was so happy that I felt as if my whole world was back to me. When I was done playing with my legs, I lifted my head to face my teammates.They were all experiencing the same mix of surprise, excitement, and trepidation that I was in right now and some of them wer
Ethan's point of view... {Mission accomplished} Hoo...! We all took a breath of relief as that announcement was not about any further round.{Small targets killed:-87/90}{Big target killed:- 1/1}{Saved Survivor:- 34/34}{Well done team}{Congratulations on completing the mission successfully} The announcement made us all jump for joy. As the realization of our accomplishment sank in, a surge of exhilaration filled our souls. As the Zodiac Warriors, we couldn't contain our excitement any longer. It was our first win after all, they laughed, they cheered, and also they hugged each other tightly, celebrating the triumph over this very first challenge. I found myself caught up in the moment, my heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and a different kind of emotion. As I was also dragged by Ava into the team embrace, I couldn't help but lock eyes with Ava. In that instant, time seemed to stand still, and a profound connection sparked between us. I was never so close to any girl bef