"Where am I?"

"What is this place?"

"What even happened?"

Klaus found himself surrounded by an expanse of thick white fog, his mind swirling with countless questions about his sudden shift in circumstances.

The events leading up to his abrupt relocation remained shrouded in mystery, leaving Klaus perplexed as he stood in this unfamiliar realm. Time seemed to have become an enigma, as the rapid changes he had experienced defied his understanding.

With cautious steps, Klaus wandered through the mist, hoping to glean some insights from his surroundings. The lack of recognizable landmarks only deepened his confusion, rendering his efforts futile.

Despite the bright illumination that bathed the scene in an ethereal glow, Klaus couldn't shake off the uncanny sensation that something was amiss. The skies overhead should have been a source of comfort, but the absence of the sun created an unsettling paradox.

As he stood there, grappling with these bewildering occurrences, Klaus couldn't help but acknowledge that the past hour had ushered in a series of inexplicable events, of which this surreal landscape was just the latest installment.

As time trickled on and Klaus's hope of finding any semblance of assistance waned, a sudden voice broke through the solitude beside him.

"Well, there you are. You know, it took me nearly a whole minute to track you down."

Klaus's surprise at hearing another voice was palpable. He hadn't encountered anyone in what felt like an eternity, making the appearance of this voice both unexpected and intriguing. The notion that someone was nearby seemed almost impossible, given the apparent emptiness that stretched for miles around him.

Turning hesitantly towards the source of the voice, Klaus's eyes met those of a regular-looking young man – a fellow human, just like him. The stranger's brown hair framed his face, and a friendly smile adorned his lips as he casually waved his right hand in greeting.

Amid his confusion and the surreal circumstances, Klaus managed to stammer out, "Uhh... who are you?"

The stranger let out a chuckle, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. "Ah, my bad. I totally skipped the introduction part, didn't I?"

Taking a theatrical deep breath, he struck a somewhat heroic pose and continued, "The name's Falcon. Ace Falcon."

A moment of puzzled silence hung in the air, Klaus's face reflecting his bewilderment. Then, as if unable to contain himself any longer, the stranger erupted into laughter.

"Man, I knew it sounded cheesy, but seeing your reaction – priceless. Totally worth it," he said between fits of laughter.

Klaus found himself utterly adrift in this strange encounter.

Ace's laughter persisted for a while before he finally managed to compose himself and continue.

"But, seriously, I'm Ace. And my mission is to bring you back – well, not back, but to show you where we all are."

From the moment Klaus had inexplicably vanished to this bewildering conversation with Ace, a cascade of questions had flooded his mind. However, the sheer complexity of the situation left him unsure of where to begin or if he should even address this enigmatic figure standing before him.

Before he could voice his thoughts, a sudden occurrence disrupted his focus.

With a speed that defied his understanding, Ace transitioned from several yards away to a position directly beside Klaus on his right, as if he had teleported instantaneously.

"You know, you don't look like one of us," Ace remarked casually.

Klaus felt a shiver of unease coursing through him. The rapid movement Ace had just executed was beyond comprehension, leaving Klaus further mystified by the reality unfolding around him.

Stammering in astonishment, Klaus managed to utter, "Wait, how did you..."

Ace's expression morphed into one of confusion, mirroring Klaus' bewilderment. "Are you sure you're ACTUALLY one of us? I mean, you must be, considering you're here. But honestly, extraordinary feats like this shouldn't astonish you," Ace retorted.

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Klaus's growing realization struck him like a revelation. He recognized that given the context he was now in, there was little rationale behind being taken aback by such extraordinary occurrences.

Exhaling deeply, he replied, "I guess."

Several moments elapsed before Klaus had a realization, a question that demanded an answer.

"When you say 'us,' who exactly are you referring to?" he inquired.

Ace's gaze turned thoughtful as he responded, "You know, the other guys. The ones like us who are waiting at the main location."

Klaus's mind whirred as he pondered Ace's words. The idea that there were more individuals possessing abilities similar to his own was starting to solidify.

"So, there really are more people out there," Klaus mumbled to himself, the concept beginning to sink in.

Observing Ace's remarkable speed, Klaus couldn't help but marvel. He recognized that Ace's capability to move with such remarkable speed, potentially even matching his own, was an eye-opener, especially considering the unusual absence of the sun that had already hindered his own powers.

A more pressing thought occupied his mind – the realization that if someone like Ace existed, possessing the same foundational power but expressed differently, there could be a multitude of other unique abilities within their community. This, in turn, meant the possibility of finally obtaining the comprehensive answers he sought.

As his thoughts coalesced, Klaus recognized the logic in accompanying Ace to the main location. It was likely that more comprehensive information awaited him there, beyond what Ace alone could provide.

Without warning, Ace appeared at Klaus's left side, casually slinging his right arm around Klaus's shoulders.

"Anyway, let's hit the road cuz I don't have all day. Well, technically I do, but... y'know what I mean," Ace declared, offering Klaus a friendly smile.

Klaus, seeing no reason to decline the invitation, chose to play along for now. The prospect of gaining deeper insights into this perplexing world compelled him to release a resigned sigh and follow Ace's lead.

As they ventured forward, Klaus utilized the journey to dissect the unfolding situation.

The variance in Ace's speed compared to Klaus's own intrigued him. Ace's rapid movement appeared almost effortless, unlike Klaus's, which occasionally depleted his energy. The dissimilarity was puzzling – Ace's speed was seemingly superior, as he didn't rely on the absence of sunlight and could sustain his pace over extended periods.

Furthermore, there were subtleties in Ace's speed that Klaus hadn't experienced. Ace's swift motion produced a faint rustling of air, akin to the sound created by an object whizzing past, whereas Klaus's rapid movement was eerily soundless, resembling a form of teleportation. Yet, despite these disparities, Klaus recognized that both of them were propelled by raw speed, running from point A to B.

Another observation Klaus made was Ace's remarkable charisma. Klaus seldom cared to invest in relationships, which hindered his understanding of others' personalities. However, Ace's friendly demeanor was unmistakable, manifesting through his loquacious nature. While Klaus typically regarded forging connections as more bothersome than advantageous, he acknowledged that acquiring answers took precedence over personal stress.

Ace, on the other hand, couldn't help but be intrigued by Klaus. His reserved nature stood out in stark contrast to Ace's habit of launching into conversations without much forethought. Despite the dissonance, Ace found Klaus intriguing and genuinely cool, possibly because of their shared age.

After a stretch of silence, Ace made the conscious decision to break the ice

CONVERSATION

Ace: So, you're an anomaly, right?

Klaus: Excuse me?

Ace: Oh, no, that's just what I call them, you, us... you get what I mean, right?

Klaus: *quietly* Right.

Ace: Well, it's either that or 'Weirdos'. And I dunno about you, but I find such a name to be offensive.

Klaus: So your power is speed, huh?

Klaus didn't see any reason to waste time on small talk and chit-chat, so he got straight to the point, seeking information.

Ace: Yessir. I woke up like this. No, literally, I just woke up one day and found out I could run as fast as that bird that goes 'beep-beep' from the looney tunes.

Klaus: Who?

Ace: Never mind. But how about you? What are your powers?

Klaus didn't see any reason to be dishonest. Judging by the situation, he sensed that there was no reason not to trust Ace, so he responded.

Klaus: Well, it's complicated.

Then Klaus explained his abilities in detail to Ace. And after a brief moment of constant laughter from Ace, he continued.

Ace: So you still get exhausted from running, AND it's only at night? Dude, you really got the short end of the stick.

In about half an hour, the duo finally reached a massive golden gate. Klaus wasn't entirely surprised, given the fantastical nature of their surroundings.

The gate's surroundings mirrored the ethereal, cloudy environment, but once it swung open, a new world awaited inside.

Within this area, several buildings were scattered around, forming what appeared to be a small, perfect city. Cinemas, parks, sports stadiums, and other structures lined the streets. Additional places, such as material gathering sites and armory-like zones, remained hidden from Klaus's view for now.

Positioned at the heart of the city, the gate functioned as a portal to a utopian dream for Klaus. Everything seemed flawlessly designed, a depiction of an ideal world. However, something felt off – there was an eerie absence of people.

As he ventured deeper into the city, Klaus couldn't shake his unease about the emptiness. Yet, a more pressing question needed answering.

"What... is this place?" he inquired, his voice filled with awe.

Ace grinned and responded, "Oh, welcome, Klaus Walker, to Higher World, the realm of the Gods." He paused before adding, "Well, technically, you've been in Higher World ever since you got transported here. So, I guess, welcome to, uh... some city."

Amid Klaus's observations, he asked Ace about the lack of inhabitants, but even Ace was uncertain.

Before long, Ace guided Klaus to their temporary lodgings, where all of them were staying for the time being.