Fishing his phone out of his pocket and glancing at the time, Chronus found that it was 8:39, the Saturday morning before his native world of Earth would collapse and be assimilated by the Distorted Void. That would happen at the end of the day, and there was enough time for him to face it prepared.
There were actually not many items that Chronus could prepare. When a plane is devoured by the Distorted Void, individuals would only be transferred with the items that they were carrying on their body. As such, the best items for Chronus to bring are those difficult to acquire in the Distorted Void or items to aid his actions soon after arriving. Thinking about it, he decided on the most reasonable set of preparations. The first and most important item he chose to bring is a plant.
Plants found in planes like the one Earth was located in contain pure, uncontaminated life energy. Items that have this energy are almost impossible to find in the Distorted Void. The Distorted Void is innately aggressive and corrosive, and anything that finds itself in that environment will quickly become affected. Only in areas recently assimilated or some areas containing rare life energy treasures would one be able to find something similar. This plant was chosen to be an auxiliary part of Chronus’ layout for his future tower. While not a key component, it is still something that has to be prepared in advance.
The remaining objects Chronus chose are simple, tools and supplies for survival. While Chronus was confident in being able to survive after arriving, having these would be much easier than not having them. Having established his plan of action, he began to prepare.
He walked out of his apartment and down the stairs. It was a normal weekend outside. Couples walked down the street with their children, and cars rushed through the streets one after another, stirring up piles of leaves. The sun shone through the crisp morning air. Chronus could see birds flying around the trees, bringing with them a symphony of melodious birdsong. Everyone continued on with their lives, oblivious that their peace would soon be broken.
Barren planes with no extraordinary power are often the most peaceful. They are isolated from other planes, no invader would have an interest in a land with no resources or potential. The inhabitants of these planes are the happiest. In contrast, where extraordinary power is normalized, the world becomes reduced to a situation of survival of the fittest. The ordinary people lose all their status and rights. Taboo experiments and rituals become commonplace, manifesting the cruelty of the world.
It is also these barren planes that experience the most pain when they collapse into the Distorted Void. Their inhabitants are thrown into a merciless world from their comfortable homes, and some are unable to adjust to the changes. The thought that the same would soon happen to Earth elicited a hint of pity in Chronus' heart. As for hoping to change this situation? He scoffed at the idea. He will be one of the beneficiaries of the new world.
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He followed the map on his phone to a nearby hardware store with the most complete inventory. Chronus followed the signs in the store and found the area that displayed all kinds of tools and selected the highest quality axe as well as a shovel. He then searched for a sharpening stone, a lighter, and a few sheets of lead. After purchasing these items, he deposited them back at his apartment and went out again with the shovel. This time, his target was the local park.
After arriving, Chronus inspected all the different plants growing at the park, and a few passerby looked at the shovel bearing youth crawling all over the bushes with strange eyes. The plant he was looking for was a variety that could survive a while with no care and exhibited no damage or disease. Soon, he found a healthy looking sapling that fit his purposes well. He carefully dug it up, making sure not to damage the roots. Back at his apartment, he placed the sapling along with a large clump of soil and a portion of water into a plastic container.
He sealed the container, wrapping it with layer after layer of duct tape. The mummified container was then placed in a metal box, and the lead sheets that Chronus just purchased were tightly packed in together, shielding the plant. The many layers would isolate the plant from the environment in the Distorted Void and delay the time when its life energy is contaminated. Metal and especially lead are also somewhat effective at resisting the magical radiation that could damage the plant.
The final location Chronus stopped by was the supermarket, where he bought various rations, preserved food, and water. He collected a trusty chef’s knife at his apartment and replaced his clothing with some heavy duty clothing. Having finally gathered all the supplies he planned on bringing, he placed everything except the axe into a backpack.
With his preparations completed, he sat on his bed to meditate. Being in a barren plane with no rules that allowed for extraordinary powers, his meditation had no effect on increasing mental power. Even so, it helped calm his thinking and he spent the time revising his plan for his next actions, making sure to keep nothing out of his considerations.
The Crystallization of Time had previously warned Chronus of its limits. The nature of the Distorted Void is chaotic and unpredictable The ripples of destiny caused by his different actions would completely alter future events into an unrecognizable state, similar to the butterfly effect in essence, but much more unstable. As such he should not be prepared to exploit his knowledge of the future. The size of the Distorted Void is unimaginably vast, constantly expanding and growing irregular layers. Searching for the treasures he remembered in places he can't even reach would be a fool's errand.
With this knowledge in mind, Chronus thought about the optimal course of action he would take in the future to maximize his advantage. Even if external sources are unpredictable, there are many things Chronus could arrange to solidify his potential and ensure his progress. As a qualified mage that had experienced over a thousand years, the advantages brought by his magical knowledge and understanding of the Distorted Void were almost unable to be quantified.
Midway through his meditation, his stomach groaned, prompting him to eat. Chronus smiled wryly at the unfamiliar feeling with nostalgia. He got up and satisfied his hunger with some food from his refrigerator. Afterwards, he continued his meditation, mulling over his thoughts and plans.
His thoughts were interrupted when the earth began to shake violently. Chronus put on his backpack, grabbed the axe beside him, and walked out onto the balcony, ready to welcome the coming of a new world. Looking up into the sky, he saw the void begin to shatter.