The sky above the world had changed.
At first, confusion swept through bustling cities and quiet towns alike.
"What's that up there?" someone asked, shielding their eyes against the glow.
"Is that some kind of ad or a new government announcement?" another wondered aloud.
"No... wait, those look like people. Are they… real?"
Millions looked up as a giant projection shimmered against the night.
Floating high above, a vast screen displayed the figures of the chosen—120 players from Earth, now standing silently in the alien world of Aetherion.
A woman with fierce eyes and a sharp military stance appeared first.
"Isn't that General Elena Vargas?" a man whispered in the crowd below.
"Yeah, the one who led the last defense in the Pacific," another replied.
"She looks… calm. Like she's already in command."
The image shifted to a calm figure seated cross-legged on a rocky outcrop.
"That's Kai Chen," a teenager breathed. "The martial artist from Shanghai. They say he never loses a fight."
"He's got that quiet focus. Like he's already ready for whatever comes."
More faces appeared: scientists, athletes, and other icons—people known and admired from across the globe.
"Is that Dr. Lena Ortiz?" a woman asked, pointing upward. "The physicist who worked on that quantum project?"
"And there—Carlos Mendoza, the Olympic sprinter," someone else added. "Imagine him in a place like that…"
Whispers rippled through the crowd as they watched the silent figures move through the strange landscape.
No battles yet. No explosions. Just the quiet presence of those humanity had sent to face the unknown.
Above them, words hovered in the sky:
"The Trials have begun. Earth watches. Humanity waits."
The crowd's murmur grew—a mix of hope, fear, and awe.
Because though the players stood still, Earth's fate already trembled in their hands.