Chapter 2 - Chapter Two: The Acreon Gate

Cale Oren did not stop for a moment after he stepped through the strange portal that had formed among the rubble and ash. The light that surrounded him was not just a natural glow, but a strange feeling pressing down on his soul, as if everything around him was pulsing with an energy he had never known before. With every step, he felt further away from the land he knew, from the ruins and from the past he had left behind, and a feeling of dread mixed with excitement filled his heart. As he crossed, everything around him began to change rapidly. The gray sky disappeared, and in its place were shiny expanses of metal and glass, radiating colors that had no name. The buildings were tall, made of bright blue metal that shone in the ever-changing light, as if they were alive, breathing and reacting to Kyle's every move. The ground beneath his feet was no longer dirt, but rather a plate of metal panels illuminated by a faint blue beam emitting lines of energy that moved like living veins. Kyle stood for a moment, trying to process what he was seeing. Sounds he had never heard before filled the air: whispers that sounded like calculations and codes, and the echo of invisible footsteps moving between buildings. He felt a shiver run down his body, but he didn't back down. He knew that this moment was the beginning of the test, and that this was not just a portal, but a gateway to another world, a world where science and magic blended in a way that no ordinary human mind could comprehend. In the distance, Kyle caught a glimpse of rapid movement between the buildings. Her body was half physical and half glowing blue light. He approached her, and sure enough, he saw nothing familiar. Person or object? He couldn't judge yet. Suddenly, a young girl wearing a shiny metal outfit appeared before him, carrying on her back a device that looked like two wings, but she did not have real wings. Her eyes were a very bright blue, and she examined him with a sharp look as if she could see directly into him. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice echoing between the metal buildings like a double echo. "My name is Kyle, I... I came from a very far away place. I didn't mean to bother you," he said cautiously. He didn't know how he would receive her, but he felt it was best to show his sincerity. She smiled briefly, but it wasn't friendly. "Humans?! I didn't think one of them would get here like this. Few would dare to cross the gates without knowing the consequences." Kyle felt confused. "Gates? What do they mean?" She gestured to the atmosphere around her, to the glowing buildings and the metal signs beneath their feet. "This is Acreon. The world of technology and renewable energy life. Everything here is governed by laws, but our laws are not what you know. Here, everything has its own system, and every being can control a portion of energy if it is qualified." Kyle was surprised. "Energy? What kind of energy are you talking about?" "The energy that drives everything. Every thought, every movement, every calculation. But this is not just ordinary energy. It is the ability to transform thought into reality. Here, you can see the results directly, if you know how to use it." Kyle took a step forward, looking around more carefully. The buildings were like living things. The energy lines on the ground were moving and intertwining, like a huge neural network, as if breathing with every breath he took. Everything in this world was strangely alive, even the air seemed full of pulsations. "I'll teach you something," the girl said, her name appearing on a small sticker on her uniform: Ensu Varys. "If you want to stay here, you must understand that nothing is as it seems. Even these metal surfaces are not just metal. They are reactive materials, shaped at will by those who know the use of commands. And I will know if you are worthy or just a passing visitor." Kyle took a deep breath. "I'm not looking for power. All I want is to understand what's happening and maybe... help what can be saved." Ensoo looked at him carefully. "Words are beautiful, but here, actions are more important than words. Let's see if your heart can keep up with your mind." At that moment, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. The energy panels on the ground began to glow with changing colors, as if they recognized Cale's presence. The energy within him felt responsive, and he began to sense something strange within him. It was something like a pulse, or a latent force, perhaps an ability he had carried since the Last Earth, something that seemed to interact with Acarion in a way he did not know. Ensoo smiled mysteriously. "I see. There's something different about you. Something I haven't seen in years. It's it, or maybe I'm just starting to learn it. If you want to survive here, you have to learn to control it, or else this world will swallow you up like it swallows everyone who doesn't know how to handle its energy." Kyle felt a mixture of fear and excitement. Every part of his body was tense, but he also felt a kind of strength that he had never felt before. He knew that this moment was the true beginning of his adventure, and that the world of Akrion would not be just a station, but rather a school to test his abilities to understand and control commands. Suddenly, one of the buildings rose in front of them, and a new portal of pure energy formed. It made a strange sound resembling musical notes, and a hologram of a huge being, half machine and half glowing light, began to form. "Hello, Kyle Oren," the voice said, and it was like it was echoing inside his head as well. "You have entered Acreon, and there are rules you must learn. Every step you take will reveal your abilities, and every decision you make will determine whether you are a friend or an enemy." Kyle swallowed, then raised his hand toward the gate. The light glowed around him, and his heart began to beat rapidly, but for the first time in a long time he felt like he was in a place where he could be more than just a lone man among the ruins. Ensu looked at him and said, "It's time, Kyle. Your first test begins now. Everything you learned about Earth will be of no use to you here. You have to learn the language of this world, the language of orders, otherwise there will be no going back." With her last word, Cale moved towards the portal, and everything around him began to change again. The old world has disappeared, and a world of light, machine, and energy has emerged, a world where reason and magic meet, and a world in which his journey will reveal the first true test of his supernatural powers, and unimaginable secrets. Thus, Kyle Orrin's journey in Acrion truly begins, where he will discover strength, friendship, and betrayal, and will know for the first time what it means to be part of something bigger than himself, something that can change the fate of all worlds.