Klaus scanned the forest before him—lush, verdant trees replacing the dark, star-studded room he'd seen moments earlier. The cool breeze and gentle warmth of sunlight piercing through the foliage caressed his skin.
"Yes, this is undoubtedly another world…" he mused, nodding with a satisfaction that felt both eerie and fulfilling. Just as Klaus began to savor the realization of his dream, a piercing scream shattered the calm from behind.
"Ahhh!!"
"Th-this…" Klaus stuttered as he turned around. His eyes widened and his face drained of color, the fleeting joy vanishing in an instant. A strong, metallic scent of blood assaulted his senses, triggering a wave of nausea.
A few meters away, the ground and grass were stained a deep crimson. Near a tree, the upper body of a high school student—someone who bore an uncanny resemblance to Klaus—lay lifeless. Scattered organs lay strewn about; some even clung grotesquely to the tree bark, tinting it with the same dark red as the earth.
"Urgh! Blegh!"
Unable to contain his revulsion, Klaus dropped to his knees and vomited the contents of his stomach. Others were not spared; several fainted at the ghastly sight, and a palpable panic rippled through the crowd.
"What… what happened?!"
"Where are we?!"
"Why isn't there any signal on my phone?!"
As the shock began to subside, Klaus surveyed the scene. He realized with a sinking feeling that he wasn't the only one cursed by misfortune; many around him were in similar dire straits—some even appearing to have fallen from great heights.
A spark of realization ignited in his eyes as he pondered the fate of those who had perished. Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, a sudden torrent of information overwhelmed him, forcing a small, pained groan from his lips as he struggled to process it all.
After a few moments, Klaus managed to steady his mind enough to absorb the incoming data. To his astonishment, it answered the questions swirling in his head.
So it wasn't some alternate realm at all—it was simply a return to the past! According to the information, they had been transported back to the year 1361 AD, during the Majapahit era. In such a temporal shift, no one changes position; hence, some are inevitably caught or fall from heights… The sight of the lifeless bodies darkened Klaus's expression. He silently apologized to those he could not help, and his mind soon shifted to the other question plaguing him.
Where did this information come from? And why was I the one receiving it? Klaus clung to these two burning questions, hoping they might be answered as swiftly as the previous one. He braced himself for another surge of data—but after a long, anxious wait, nothing came.
No way… there's no all-knowing power here. I'm in the real world, not some game or novel… he mused bitterly, half laughing at his own predicament. Just as he was about to rise, the long-awaited data burst into his mind, catching him off guard.
Damn this blasted skill!... Klaus fumed internally as he struggled to control the relentless mental bombardment.
Then, with a sudden clarity, it all clicked: his so-called 'Time Fragment'—more aptly, his Skill—named "Cause-Effect Seeker" paired with "Mental Enhancement." The Cause-Effect Seeker analyzed any situation in a strict cause-and-effect format, revealing effects if the cause was known, or vice versa. Its speed depended on the complexity of the scenario and his mastery over it. Meanwhile, Mental Enhancement fortified his mind against any taxing mental assaults or similarly burdensome skills.
So, after being thrust into this bizarre fantasy world, I've become an unwitting courier of information? Klaus thought with a mix of sarcasm and self-mockery. Before he could dwell further on this absurdity, a voice from behind interrupted him.
"Excuse me, everyone—may I have your attention for a moment?" a man called out. He looked every bit the college student, with neatly kept black hair, warm brown eyes, and a handsome face that belied the chaos around them.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Andre—yes, a college student—but honestly, what does a major matter anymore?" he joked, his light tone easing the terror that had gripped many of the onlookers.
Meanwhile, Klaus fought to keep the relentless influx of information at bay.
Damn it, which author cursed me with this stupid 'info-dumb' skill?!... He silently cursed as details about calming panic, ambient conditions, and more continued to bombard his mind.
Oblivious to Klaus's inner struggle, Andre pressed on.
"I know we're all baffled by what just happened—I'm feeling the same shock. So here's what we should do: let's gather everyone and move to a spot with water, somewhere we can rest for a bit. We'll need fruits, or hunt for animals to eat."
Under Andre's steady leadership, a group of several dozen people coalesced. He then organized teams of two to scout the surrounding area, leaving Klaus behind as he wrestled with his own tumult of thoughts and information.
Once the barrage subsided and Klaus deactivated his Skill, he exhaled deeply and sank to the ground. His face was ashen, his breathing ragged. As he surveyed the scene, he noticed a woman—who had been screaming moments before—now softly crying while being comforted by a friend.
Klaus's attention was drawn to the man lying near the tree, whose uniform was identical to his own. Sensing his curious gaze, the comforting woman offered an explanation.
"The man who died was her boyfriend," she said gently. "They were so close that they'd promised to marry after graduation. His death has left her inconsolable."
"Oh, and by the way, my name is Sarah. As you can see, we all went to the same school," she added with a faint, reassuring smile.
"I'm Klaus," he replied, returning her smile as they shared a brief, poignant moment amid the chaos.
A few moments earlier,
Somewhere in the capital city of China,
A young woman, who appeared to be around the same age as Klaus, sat gracefully, sipping tea and nibbling on the light snacks laid out before her. Her long black hair framed a porcelain face, and her eyes—dark as a starless night sky—contrasted strikingly with her milk-white skin, giving her an air of quiet elegance. As she delicately brought the teacup to her lips, she glanced at the time on her phone.
"It seems… that is about to begin," she murmured, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips—though the glint in her eyes hinted at something far more serious.