A man stood silhouetted against the blinding sun streaming through the glass window, casting a long shadow across the polished surface of a mahogany table. Behind him, the city stretched out like a restless sea, buildings of various sizes jostling for attention, each one a monument to ambition. Below, the streets buzzed with the frenetic energy of a July 4th parade—horns blaring, sirens wailing, and people rushing about, oblivious to the weight of his worry.
His phone rang, slicing through the chaos of his thoughts. He answered sharply, “What do you mean you haven’t found him?”
A voice crackled on the other end, tinged with urgency, “We’re doing everything we can. The search teams—”
“Everything isn’t enough!” he roared, smashing his fist down on the table. The echo of the impact reverberated through the room, a physical manifestation of his frustration. “We have to find him. Do whatever it takes! I don’t care about the cost or the risks—just get it done!”
Silence followed for a moment, thick and heavy, as if the air itself recoiled from his rage. Then, the voice replied hesitantly, “We’ll escalate our efforts. But you have to keep—”
He hung up before the man could finish, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. He glanced down at the table, where a photograph lay, stark against the wood. In it, a man in a tailored suit stood beside a woman and a child, all smiles, as if the world had no problems at all. A family, perfect and whole, frozen in a moment he wished he could reach back to, to shake off the growing dread coiling around him.
“Where are you, Thomas?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the name too loudly might shatter the fragile hope he clung to.
He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing with the possibilities. The city was vast, a labyrinth of secrets and shadows, and somewhere within it, his son was lost. Panic clawed at his insides, and he fought to keep it at bay, to think clearly. He needed a plan—a way to turn this frantic search into something tangible.
But as he looked out the window, the busy street below reminded him that time was slipping away, and every passing second felt like another opportunity lost.
In a dimly lit apartment, the air hung heavy with the stench of stale soda and unwashed laundry. A police car sat parked outside, its flashing lights casting eerie shadows on the building’s exterior. Inside, two officers were sifting through the chaotic remnants of Thomas Wiles’s life, their expressions a mix of disgust and curiosity.
“What a pigsty,” Officer Jenkins muttered, stepping over a mountain of fast-food wrappers and soda cans that littered the floor like confetti after a long-forgotten party.
“Yeah, but look at this place,” Officer Martinez replied, nodding toward the desk that dominated the room. It was a hacker's den, complete with dual monitors flickering with lines of code and a keyboard strewn with energy drink stains. “Dude was definitely into something. You see these setups? He could’ve been a millionaire in a couple of years.”
“If he’s not dead already,” Jenkins quipped, wrinkling his nose as he picked up a half-eaten burger from the desk. “Ugh, what is this? Two days old?”
Just then, the low rumble of engines echoed outside, drawing their attention. They exchanged glances as sleek black vehicles pulled up to the curb, their tinted windows reflecting the sunlight like ominous shades. Four men in sharp black suits emerged, moving with the kind of confidence that spoke volumes about their authority.
“What the hell?” Martinez said, narrowing his eyes. “Who are these guys?”
The men approached the officers, their expressions serious and devoid of any warmth. One of them, taller and with an air of intimidation, flashed a badge. “We’re with the Federal Investigative Agency. You’re to cancel your investigation immediately.”
“Excuse me?” Jenkins said, crossing his arms. “This is a police matter. You can’t just come in here and take over.”
The tall man’s gaze hardened. “We can and we will. This investigation is classified. You’ll need to vacate the premises.” He gestured to the others, who began moving purposefully around the room, examining every inch of Thomas's chaotic existence.
Martinez's stomach twisted with unease as he watched them start disconnecting the computer systems. “Wait a minute! You can’t just take his stuff! We need that as evidence!”
“Not anymore,” the tall agent replied coldly. “You can file a report if you want, but this is no longer your case.”
The atmosphere in the room shifted, tension mounting as the officers exchanged frustrated glances. Jenkins stepped forward, his hands on his hips. “You think you can just waltz in here and act like you own the place? We’ve been working this case for days!”
One of the agents, a stocky man with a buzz cut, ignored Jenkins and focused on the monitors, typing furiously as he copied files onto an external drive. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with,” he muttered, not bothering to look up. “Thomas Wiles is tangled up in something much bigger than you realize.”
As the officers stepped back, the gravity of the situation pressed down on them. What had Thomas gotten himself into? And why did these men want him so badly? Jenkins shot a glance at Martinez, his mind racing with possibilities.
“We need to find out what’s going on,” he whispered, his voice low.
Martinez nodded, determination creeping back into his demeanor. “Yeah, and fast.”
As the agents continued their work, the officers knew they were running out of time. Thomas Wiles was out there, and whatever storm was brewing in the shadows, they needed to catch up before it swept everyone away.
Frustration boiled over as the two police officers stood in the apartment, their phones buzzing in unison. Jenkins answered, his brow furrowing as he listened. “What do you mean we should give it up?” he snapped, incredulous. The voice on the other end was insistent, and he could hear the urgency cutting through the static. “You’re not equipped for this case. Just let it go.”
“Let it go?” Martinez exploded, snatching the phone from Jenkins’s hand. “You can’t be serious! We’re so close!”
But the call ended abruptly, leaving them in a suffocating silence. Jenkins threw his phone onto the table, frustration simmering. “This is bullshit,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “We can’t just walk away from this. Something’s going on here.”
“I know,” Martinez replied, his voice low. “But what can we do? If they want us off the case, they’ll make sure we are.”
----------------------------------------
Back at the police station, the atmosphere was charged with tension. The police chief, a stocky man with a face carved from years of stress, paced in front of a large screen displaying surveillance footage. Officers shuffled around, their faces pale as they prepared for a storm that felt imminent.
“This is it,” the chief said, motioning for Jenkins and Martinez to join him. “We’ve got something.”
As the footage played, they watched in disbelief. A hooded figure strolled casually toward a pedestrian lane, completely unaware of the speeding truck barreling down the street behind him. The video was grainy, but the danger was unmistakable. The chief leaned closer, his finger pointing at the screen. “There! Slow it down.”
They watched as the video stuttered to a halt. Just as the truck seemed poised to hit the man, a white glowing circle appeared at his feet, expanding outward like a ripple in water. The figure was dragged backwards, vanishing into the circle just moments before the truck crashed into the spot he’d just occupied.
“What the hell?” Jenkins breathed, his heart racing as the truck wobbled uncontrollably before smashing into a closed store across the street. The explosion rocked the screen, flames bursting forth, and the room fell silent, the only sound the crackle of flames and the distant wail of sirens.
“That was Thomas Wiles,” the chief said, his voice grave, as he pulled back to survey the expressions of his officers. “He was taken. Whatever that light was, it saved him... or took him somewhere else.”
Martinez shook his head, trying to process the impossible. “This doesn’t make any sense. Are we really going to just ignore this?”
“I don’t think we have a choice,” the chief replied, his tone heavy. “This goes beyond us. This isn’t just a missing persons case anymore; it’s something... bigger.”
Jenkins’s frustration boiled to the surface again. “So what? We just sit here and watch as someone else handles this? What if Thomas is in real danger?”
“We’re not giving up,” Martinez interjected, determination lighting up his features. “If Thomas was taken by whatever that was, we need to figure out how to find him.”
The chief crossed his arms, considering their fervor. “If we’re going to pursue this, we need a plan. We go by the book, but I want every resource we have focused on this. Find out who he was involved with, who else is missing, and if there’s any record of incidents like this.”
Jenkins and Martinez exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Let’s get to work,” Jenkins said, steeling himself. They had a lead now, however strange it may be, and they weren’t going to let it slip through their fingers.
Just as the tension in the room began to settle, the door swung open with a force that drew everyone’s attention. The police commissioner, a tall, imposing figure with an air of authority, strode in, flanked by two men in black suits whose expressions were inscrutable.
“What the hell is going on here?” the commissioner demanded, his voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. His gaze swept over the room, landing on the chief. “I’ve just received word that this video doesn’t exist.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t exist?” the chief shot back, bewildered. “We just saw it. It’s right here.” He gestured toward the screen, but the commissioner waved a hand dismissively.
“That’s not the point. Give me the disc.” The commissioner’s tone was icy, his eyes narrowed. The two men in black suits moved forward, their movements calculated and precise, as if they had rehearsed this moment.
“We need that footage for our investigation,” Jenkins interjected, his frustration boiling over again. “You can’t just walk in here and—”
“What you need is to sign this,” the commissioner interrupted, slamming an official document onto the table. The paper was thick, stamped with an official seal, and the words “Non-Disclosure Agreement” loomed large at the top. “Sign it, or face the consequences. You’re out of your league, officers.”
Martinez glanced at Jenkins, both men grappling with the weight of the situation. The chief’s shoulders sagged, resigned to the reality unfolding before them. “We’ll cooperate,” he said reluctantly, signaling to the officers to comply.
One by one, they approached the table, signing the document under the watchful eyes of the commissioner and his aides. Jenkins felt a knot tighten in his stomach with each stroke of his pen, as if he were sealing away their chance to find Thomas for good.
The two men in black suits moved quickly, retrieving the disc from the computer and securing it in a locked evidence bag. “All evidence is being taken for a separate investigation,” one of them said, his voice clipped and devoid of emotion.
“This is a goddamn circus,” Jenkins muttered under his breath, frustration spilling out into the open. He shot a glare at the commissioner, who merely raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
“This is bigger than you think, officers,” the commissioner replied, his voice low. “You’ll want to stay out of it unless you want to find yourself in deep trouble.” With that, he turned on his heel and led the two suits toward the exit.
As they left, Martinez felt a surge of anger. “We can’t just let them take everything! We need to know what they’re hiding!”
“Right now, we’re out of options,” the chief said, his face grim. “We can’t risk our jobs or worse. But we’re not done. We’ll find another way.”
Jenkins nodded, his resolve hardening. “Agreed. We’ll dig deeper. There has to be something—someone who knows what’s really going on.”
As the door closed behind the commissioner and his men, a silence fell over the room. It was a heavy silence, filled with uncertainty and the unshakeable feeling that they were being drawn into something much darker than they had anticipated.
“Let’s regroup,” the chief finally said, glancing at the remaining officers. “We need to figure out our next move, and we need to do it fast. Thomas’s life may depend on it.”
Days passed in a blur of fruitless leads and endless paperwork. Officer Jenkins found himself hunched over his desk at the precinct, staring blankly at the same reports he had read multiple times. Frustration hung thick in the air, and he felt as if he were losing touch with the case—losing touch with Thomas.
Desperate for a distraction, he picked up his phone and aimlessly scrolled through YouTube. It was a futile attempt to stave off boredom, but then something caught his eye: a thumbnail featuring Thomas Wiles’s face, bold and bright against a fantastical backdrop.
“What the hell?” Jenkins murmured, curiosity piqued. He tapped on the video, and his heart raced as the image of Thomas filled the screen, a slight smirk on his face as he brandished a sword that looked almost cartoonish. The title read, “Thomas Wiles: Goblin Slayer – Live Adventure!”
He pressed play, and the footage launched him into a strange world that seemed like something out of a high-budget fantasy film. Thomas appeared to be hunting what looked like a goblin, the scene playing out with incredible realism—detailed animations, lush landscapes, and NPCs bustling around a medieval city. Jenkins couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“What the hell is this?” he muttered, leaning closer to the screen. Thomas was interacting with characters that looked like elves and dwarves, completing quests and engaging in combat. The world was rich and vibrant, and for a moment, he almost forgot about the darkness hanging over Thomas's real life.
Then he noticed something—down in the corner of the stream, it said, “LIVE NOW.” His heart skipped a beat. He quickly called Officer Martinez, urgency lacing his voice. “Martinez! You need to see this! Thomas is live streaming—he’s hunting goblins or something! I think it’s important!”
“What?” Martinez’s voice came back, disbelief evident. “What do you mean?”
“Just come to my desk! I’ll send you the link!” Jenkins replied, excitement bubbling within him. He fumbled to send the link, his fingers racing over the screen as he pulled up the video again. But before he could even hit send, an alert popped up.
“Video unavailable.”
Jenkins blinked, confusion flooding his mind. He refreshed the page, but the video had vanished completely. Panic surged through him, and he quickly checked the livestream link—gone. He furiously typed in a search for Thomas Wiles, but nothing came up.
“What’s going on?” Martinez said as he rushed over. “You said you found a livestream?”
“I did! But now it’s gone! It was a video of him fighting goblins or something—like a freaking fantasy movie!” Jenkins explained, his voice rising with frustration. “And I was just about to show you!
Martinez shook his head, disbelief still etched across his face. “Are you sure you weren’t imagining things?”
“No! I swear, it was real! I saw it! It was like he was in another world!” Jenkins insisted, desperation creeping in.
As they stood there, the air crackled with tension. Then, another alert came through, this time on Jenkins’s phone. He glanced down, his heart dropping. “The stream was banned.”
“What?” Martinez looked at him incredulously. “What do you mean banned?”
“I mean it’s gone—wiped from the platform. Like it never existed,” Jenkins said, the weight of the situation crashing over him like a wave.
Before they could process what had just happened, a notification flashed across the precinct's screens—“All livestreams of Thomas Wiles have been erased following a security violation.”
“This is bullshit,” Martinez muttered, frustration boiling over. “They’re trying to cover something up.”
“No,” Jenkins corrected, his voice steadying with determination. “*They’re trying to hide him. We need to find a way to get to him—whatever he was doing in that video, it might be the key to understanding what happened to him.”
“Right,” Martinez said, a fire igniting in his eyes. “Let’s dig into this. If there’s a way to recover any of that footage or even find out where he was streaming from, we have to look.”
The two officers turned back to their computers, the faint glow of screens illuminating their determined faces. They weren’t going to give up. If Thomas was out there, lost in some fantasy, they would find him—and this time, nothing would stand in their way.
In a dimly lit room at a secret military base, tension hung in the air like a coiled spring. Around a long, polished table sat a mix of government officials, military brass, and representatives from powerful private companies. The walls were lined with screens displaying maps, diagrams, and the occasional grainy footage of Thomas Wiles’s earlier life—moments of his achievements and mundane activities before everything changed.
The room buzzed with muted conversations, the low hum of excitement and apprehension melding into a singular focus: Thomas Wiles. As the head of the table, a stern-faced government official named Director Lane banged his gavel, calling the meeting to order.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice echoing in the tense silence. “We’re here to discuss a matter of utmost importance. Thomas Wiles has accessed another dimension—a world that has revealed itself to be filled with vast resources, advanced technology, and potential threats.”
A murmur rippled through the room. The military general, a stout man with a grizzled beard, leaned forward, his interest piqued. “We need to understand how he got there. The implications of this are monumental. Imagine the resources we could harvest! Not to mention the military advantages—”
“Let’s not forget the risks,” interjected a representative from a tech conglomerate, a sharp-eyed woman named Evelyn. “If Wiles has stumbled upon a civilization with technology beyond our own, we could be inviting disaster. We must proceed with caution.”
“Caution is a luxury we don’t have,” General Hawkins snapped, his patience wearing thin. “We have a window of opportunity here. Wiles could be our key to gaining access to this world, and we need to act before someone else does.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “And what do you propose? We send in a team? We have no idea what we’re dealing with. We could be sending our people into a trap.”
“A trap, or a gold mine,” Director Lane countered, his eyes sharp as he surveyed the room. “The potential for technology, resources, and power is too great to ignore. Our research teams have been studying the preliminary data we’ve gathered. It suggests that this other world has its own ecosystems, technology, and possibly even a form of governance.”
“Governance?” another official piped up, leaning back in his chair with a frown. “What makes you think they’ll want anything to do with us? We could end up in a war over resources we don’t fully understand.”
“That’s why we need to be prepared,” Lane replied, steely resolve shining in his eyes. “We can’t let fear dictate our actions. This meeting is about collaboration—sharing knowledge, strategies, and resources. We need a unified front.”
A tech analyst seated to the left of Lane cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Our teams have already begun reverse-engineering some of the signals we intercepted from Thomas’s livestream. If we can pinpoint the location from which he accessed this other world, we might find a way to reopen that passage.”
Evelyn nodded, the gears in her mind turning. “What kind of timeline are we looking at? Can we realistically expect to have something operational soon?”
“Our initial estimates suggest weeks, maybe months, but that depends on collaboration. We need full access to your technological resources and military support for security purposes,” the analyst responded, glancing at the general for affirmation.
General Hawkins crossed his arms, considering. “If we do this, we need to ensure our safety comes first. We can’t afford to send our best into the unknown without a solid plan.”
“Agreed,” Lane affirmed. “We’ll form a task force, a combination of military and scientific expertise. It’ll be our priority to find Thomas and understand what he discovered. We need to know whether he is still alive and what threats or opportunities this other world presents.”
As the officials continued to debate strategies and protocols, the underlying current of excitement and fear was palpable. Each one envisioned their own dreams of power and dominance—of securing their place in history as pioneers in a new era.
In the midst of their fervor, nobody noticed the shadow that loomed just outside the door, a figure cloaked in secrecy, listening intently, their motives hidden beneath layers of intrigue. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, and soon, the world would realize just how far-reaching the consequences of Thomas Wiles’s journey would be
Months had passed since Thomas Wiles had vanished from the public eye, and in that time, the internet had erupted with speculation and outrage. YouTube channels dedicated to conspiracy theories buzzed with videos titled “What Really Happened to Thomas Wiles?” and “The Truth Behind the Goblin Slayer!” Each upload drew millions of views, with content creators piecing together every fragment of information they could find. Comments poured in, brimming with questions, theories, and accusations about the supposed cover-up surrounding his disappearance.
“Why was Thomas banned?” read one comment that gained traction. “What did he discover that was so dangerous?” Another user posted a video titled “Censored or Just Gone? The Thomas Wiles Mystery,” which delved into the timeline of Thomas’s livestreams and the sudden disappearance of all footage related to him. Memes flooded social media, mocking the “mysterious” circumstances while others expressed their outrage over the lack of mainstream media coverage.
Despite the uproar online, traditional media remained eerily silent. News anchors avoided the topic, and major news networks focused on other sensational stories—celebrity gossip, political scandals, and natural disasters. But smaller outlets and independent journalists started to pick up the trail. They reported on the facts surrounding Thomas’s life, digging into his family background.
“Thomas Wiles: The Adopted Son of Jonathan Johnson Wiles, Owner of Wiles Electronics Group” read the headline of an article that circulated widely. The piece detailed Jonathan Wiles’s meteoric rise in the tech world, the success of Wiles Electronics, and the mystery shrouding Thomas’s life.
“What happened to the prodigy?” the article asked, questioning how the son of a tech mogul could simply vanish without a trace. “Why has the government and media chosen to bury his story?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Social media exploded with discussions, and the hashtag #FindThomasWiles began trending. People began connecting the dots between the government’s sudden interest in Thomas and his father’s influential position in the tech industry. Online forums erupted with theories—some believed Thomas had stumbled upon secrets that the government didn’t want exposed; others thought he had discovered advanced technology that could change the world, prompting powerful entities to intervene.
“There’s something more to this,” a prominent YouTuber known for his investigative series said in one of his videos. “The livestream that was banned, the disappearances, and the government’s silence—it’s all too coincidental. We need to dig deeper.”
Meanwhile, in the shadows of this growing public interest, the secret military base continued its relentless pursuit. They monitored social media, tracking every mention of Thomas and every attempt to unveil the truth. The high-ranking officials had grown increasingly frustrated with the leaks and the public’s growing curiosity.
“We need to tighten our grip on this situation,” Director Lane stated in a meeting, his expression grim as he reviewed reports of the online frenzy. “If this continues, we could have a full-blown investigation on our hands, and we cannot let that happen.”
“What’s the plan?” General Hawkins asked, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. “Do we have any leads on Thomas? We can’t afford to wait while the public stirs up more questions.”
“Our priority is to locate him,” Lane replied, frustration evident in his tone. “But until then, we need to control the narrative. Any mention of Wiles must be met with denials, confusion, and redirection. We have the resources to counter this. We need to get ahead of it.”
Outside the confines of the military base, the calls for justice continued to swell. Individuals became invested in Thomas’s story, demanding answers from anyone who would listen. Activists organized rallies, insisting that the government had a responsibility to explain the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
“We’re not going to let this go quietly,” one rally organizer shouted into a megaphone, his voice echoing off the buildings. “Thomas Wiles deserves to be found, and we will find him!”
As the pressure mounted, the shadowy figure from earlier—the one who had been listening outside the military meeting—watched from the sidelines. They understood that the truth was a powerful weapon, and they were determined to wield it. The tides were turning, and soon, the truth about Thomas Wiles would no longer be buried.
The stage was set for a confrontation, and as the lines between the worlds of the mundane and the extraordinary blurred, everyone would soon learn that some mysteries were worth uncovering—no matter the cost
Weeks later, the internet exploded once again, this time with far more concrete fuel for the fire. A CCTV video that had been buried deep in government archives, long erased from official records, was somehow leaked onto the web. The grainy footage depicted a hooded figure—Thomas Wiles—crossing a pedestrian lane just before a speeding truck careened toward him. As the truck barreled forward, a white, glowing circle appeared beneath Thomas’s feet, dragging him out of view in a flash of blinding light.
For a split second, Thomas vanished into thin air. The truck, suddenly without its intended target, wobbled uncontrollably before crashing violently into a storefront, causing a massive explosion. The footage cut off, but the damage had already been done.
The video hit YouTube first. Channels dedicated to conspiracy theories, tech discussions, and mysteries latched onto the footage like hungry wolves. Within hours, it went viral, spreading to Reddit, Twitter, and smaller news outlets. The title was simple but effective: “The REAL Reason Thomas Wiles Disappeared!”
YouTube comment sections turned into battle zones, with people fervently debating the authenticity of the video.
“It’s fake! No way that’s real,” one user wrote, only to be immediately flooded by replies.
“Bro, look at the footage! This isn’t some amateur editing—this actually happened!”
“He was Isekai’d!” someone exclaimed, referencing the popular anime trope where characters are transported to other worlds.
On Twitter, #ThomasWiles trended again, but this time the conversation had shifted from a simple disappearance to something far more fantastical. People began piecing together the leaked CCTV footage with the mysterious livestream footage from months earlier, which had shown Thomas in a medieval fantasy world filled with goblins, elves, and epic quests.
“It all makes sense now,” one prominent Isekai enthusiast tweeted. “Thomas Wiles didn’t disappear—he got transported to another world, and that ‘goblin-hunting’ stream was him living out his new reality!”
In the blink of an eye, the online community had its own theory: Thomas Wiles had been pulled into another world, a parallel universe that operated under different rules—a world where magic existed, where he was living out his adventures in a place straight out of fantasy. The truth, they believed, was out.
Videos titled “Thomas Wiles: The Real-Life Isekai” and “What If Isekai Is Real?” popped up, collecting millions of views in just days. YouTubers broke down the CCTV footage frame by frame, analyzing every detail of the glowing circle that had transported Thomas away.
News outlets couldn’t ignore the firestorm any longer. While major networks still avoided the story, smaller news stations ran pieces on the leaked footage, calling it “a supernatural mystery” and interviewing tech experts, spiritualists, and even science fiction authors for their takes on what had happened. Was it an unprecedented technological breakthrough, or something beyond science?
Dr. Helena Armitage, a well-known physicist, appeared on one broadcast, her voice measured but intrigued. “If what we’re seeing is authentic—and I’m not saying it is—we could be looking at an entirely new understanding of reality. This could mean that travel between dimensions is possible.”
Not everyone was sold, of course. Skeptics flooded forums, debunking theories and claiming the footage was a clever hoax orchestrated by someone with a sophisticated agenda. But for every skeptic, there were ten believers, especially within the Isekai fan community. The crossover between Thomas’s bizarre disappearance and the fictional world they adored was too much to ignore.
Theories ranged from plausible to outlandish: “Thomas was chosen by ancient beings to enter another realm!” to “He found some kind of hyper-advanced VR technology that allowed him to simulate a new life, but he lost control of it!”
Then came the deeper, darker theories. Some believed Thomas had discovered technology far ahead of its time, something the government wanted to suppress—perhaps a form of teleportation or interdimensional travel. The leaked video only served to confirm their suspicions.
Back in the shadowy corners of the military base, Director Lane was livid. The meeting room was filled with tension as a series of officials and military personnel watched the viral footage on a large screen. Lane's knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the table.
“Who the hell let this leak?” he barked, his voice echoing off the cold metal walls.
General Hawkins grunted, arms folded. “It was only a matter of time before something slipped through the cracks. The public’s not stupid.”
“We have a problem on our hands,” Lane continued, pacing furiously. “If they start putting two and two together, we’re going to have a full-blown investigation. And if we can’t contain the narrative, the consequences could be catastrophic.”
“So what do we do?” one of the private company reps asked nervously, glancing around the room.
Lane paused, a dark glint in his eye. “We take control. We spin this story before it spins out of our hands.”
Back on the internet, the wildfire continued to spread. A new mystery had captured the world’s attention. For the people who watched Thomas Wiles disappear into that white light, there was no doubt now—he wasn’t just gone. He had crossed over into something far bigger, far more dangerous, and far more incredible than anyone could have imagined. And for many, the question wasn't where Thomas Wiles was—it was how do we get there, too?
The door to another world had cracked open. Now, everyone wanted to walk through.
The next morning, the city awoke to a breaking news announcement that no one saw coming. The police chief, flanked by the two officers who had first investigated Thomas Wiles's apartment, stood solemnly at a podium outside the police department. Cameras from local news stations flashed, and reporters jostled for position as the chief prepared to speak. The officers, visibly tense, exchanged glances, knowing the weight of what they were about to reveal.
Behind them, a small crowd had gathered, drawn by rumors that the police were about to confirm the impossible.
Chief Reynolds cleared his throat, gripping the podium tightly. He had never imagined he’d be making this kind of announcement, but the pressure from the leaked video and the viral storm it had created was too much to contain. It was time to come clean.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming,” he began, his voice steady but heavy with the gravity of the situation. “We are here today to address the speculation and growing concerns regarding the disappearance of Thomas Wiles and the recently leaked CCTV footage.”
The crowd of reporters quieted, their pens and microphones poised. Everyone in the crowd, including the millions watching online, knew what was coming but couldn’t believe it would be officially confirmed.
“The footage you’ve seen circulating online—the one showing Thomas Wiles being pulled into what appears to be a bright light before the truck crash—is indeed real.” Chief Reynolds paused as gasps rippled through the crowd. Camera flashes erupted like fireworks. “This is authentic CCTV footage from the day of the incident. I want to make it clear that this footage was retrieved from our department shortly after the accident occurred. It was confiscated under orders from higher authorities.”
Reporters shouted questions, but Reynolds raised a hand, signaling for calm.
“At the time, we were directed to stop our investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Wiles,” he continued, his tone growing more resolute. “We were also instructed to hand over all evidence and to remain silent about the details of the case. But the recent leak of this footage, and the public’s right to know the truth, has compelled us to come forward.”
Beside him, the two officers who had first stepped into Thomas’s hacker-like apartment nodded in silent agreement. One of them, Officer Daniels, stepped forward.
“We were the first to investigate Thomas Wiles’s apartment,” Daniels said, voice shaky but determined. “We found it trashed, like someone left in a hurry. But more importantly, after we saw that footage, we knew something bigger was going on. They told us to drop it. We didn’t have a choice. But now, we have a duty to speak up. People need to know that the footage is real. What happened to Thomas... it wasn’t normal.”
The press erupted into chaos, reporters throwing out questions faster than they could be answered.
“What do you mean, not normal? Was it supernatural?”
“Are you saying he was teleported?”
“Who confiscated the footage?”
Chief Reynolds stepped in again. “We don’t have all the answers. But from what we’ve seen, there is more to this story than a simple disappearance. We’re cooperating with a broader investigation, but as of now, we’re being honest with the public: Thomas Wiles was involved in something far beyond our understanding.”
The admission sent shockwaves through the media and the public. Headlines began to scroll across screens and social media within minutes:
“POLICE CONFIRM LEAKED FOOTAGE OF THOMAS WILES IS REAL”
“OFFICIALS ADMIT MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING TECH PRODIGY’S DISAPPEARANCE”
As the press conference concluded, the questions kept flying, but the chief and his officers offered no more details. They had done what they could—lifting the veil on a cover-up they no longer wanted to be part of.
Online, the revelation only fueled the fire. If there had been any doubts about the legitimacy of the CCTV footage, they were gone now. The confirmation by the police department only cemented what many had already suspected: Thomas Wiles wasn’t missing. He had been transported somewhere else—somewhere unreachable.
The Isekai fanbase erupted into full-on celebration, their wildest theories now validated by an official source. Memes of Thomas standing in front of glowing portals with captions like "Real Life Isekai: Confirmed" flooded Twitter and Reddit. YouTube channels doubled down on their breakdowns of the footage, theorizing about what kind of world Thomas had entered and what the glowing circle meant. Some even speculated that the government was trying to harness this "otherworldly" technology for themselves.
At the same time, those skeptical of the supernatural were forced to reckon with the fact that a prominent figure—Thomas Wiles, the adopted son of a tech billionaire—had disappeared in a way that defied all logic. What did it mean for science? For society?
News outlets that had previously ignored the story were now forced to cover it. Mainstream media had no choice but to bring in experts, theorists, and even science fiction authors to weigh in. Was this the beginning of a new age of human discovery? Had Thomas Wiles found the key to interdimensional travel?
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Director Lane and his shadowy group of officials scrambled to control the narrative. The leak, combined with the police department’s public statement, had thrown their plans into disarray. They needed a new strategy—and fast.
In a private briefing, Lane’s voice was colder than ever. “They’ve forced our hand,” he growled. “We’ll need to accelerate our timeline for finding Thomas. If we don’t, someone else will—and we can’t let that happen.”
General Hawkins, always practical, nodded grimly. “We need to control the story. Keep them distracted, feed them misinformation, but above all, find Wiles before the public does. If he’s still alive, he’s the key to everything.”
The race was on. Thomas Wiles had become more than a mystery; he had become the world’s most sought-after secret. And while the truth had been cracked open, the deeper questions remained—where was Thomas Wiles now, and what did he know that had the world on edge?
Days later, in the hidden corners of the deep web, a new video surfaced—one that immediately set the internet ablaze. The video was simple, a low-resolution clip showing none other than Thomas Wiles himself, sitting in what appeared to be a dimly lit room, stone walls behind him, a strange glowing crystal hanging from the ceiling. His face was slightly worn but unmistakable, the same young man who had vanished months before. He stared into the camera, his eyes steady, but behind them was something different—experience, maybe even wisdom.
The title of the video was blunt: “Thomas Wiles: The Truth About My Disappearance.”
As people scrambled to download and spread the footage before it was inevitably scrubbed from the web, the video began to reveal what no one had expected: a firsthand account from Thomas himself, laying out exactly what had happened.
“I know this is going to sound insane,” Thomas began, his voice a mix of exhaustion and determination. “But I need to tell the truth. The day I disappeared, I wasn’t planning on anything big. I was just heading to check out that new fast-food place that had opened—nothing special. I didn’t even see the truck coming.”
He paused, running a hand through his now longer, slightly messy hair. “But I did hear a voice. A robotic voice. It said, ‘Host found.’ Before I could even process what that meant, a white circle of light appeared under my feet, and everything went... weird. Next thing I knew, I was being dragged out of reality, like I’d just fallen through a trapdoor. That’s how I ended up in... the other world.”
Viewers across the world watched in disbelief, their eyes glued to the screen as Thomas continued his tale, the sound of disbelief clear in his voice even though he was the one living it.
“The system—it’s like something out of a game or an anime. It gave me abilities, one of which was... well, Internet access. Yeah, you heard that right. While I was in this fantasy world, with magic and monsters, I could still browse the web. That’s how the livestreams started. I wasn’t trying to be clever. I was just surviving, trying to figure out what was going on. The ‘system’ let me stream everything I did in real time, but I guess it got pulled off the internet pretty fast.”
Thomas’s expression grew darker as he explained more. “That world... it wasn’t like the fantasy stuff we see in games or movies. It was brutal. I had to go full survival mode just to stay alive. At first, I thought it was just me and my ‘system.’ But then I found something—some kind of ancient technology, hidden in a ruin. It was like programming and electronics had been fused with magic.”
He reached off-screen and held up a glowing tablet-like device, covered in runes. “This... this is what changed everything. It’s like a programming interface, but for magic. You can code spells into reality. I’ve spent months learning how to use it, and... well, I’ve managed to make it work for me. But there’s something you need to understand.”
The video paused for a moment, Thomas’s face growing more serious. “Even if I told everyone exactly how I got here, no one could follow me. The system told me flat-out: crossing from my world to this one was a one-time deal. It’s impossible for anyone else to do it, and it’s impossible for anyone to find me. I know that doesn’t make sense, but trust me—it’s true.”
A long silence followed, before Thomas added one last thing, his tone lighter but still cautious. “Maybe, someday, the system will give me a skill to cross back. Maybe I’ll get to see Earth again. Who knows? But for now, this is my life.”
The video ended abruptly, no final words, no dramatic send-off. It just cut to black, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.
Within minutes, the video was mirrored across multiple platforms, deep web forums, and even YouTube—before it was pulled down again and again. However, the cat was out of the bag. Those who had seen the footage couldn't unsee it, and the entire world began to debate its authenticity, its implications, and what it meant for Thomas Wiles.
Theories flooded social media, with hashtags like #ThomasWilesTruth and #RealLifeIsekai hitting trending lists worldwide. People speculated endlessly about the technology he had discovered, the "system" that had transported him, and the potential crossover between technology and magic that he described.
“It’s like Sword Art Online meets The Matrix,” one popular YouTuber said in a breakdown video, frantically replaying the parts where Thomas explained the rune-tech device. “If this is real, we’re talking about a completely new level of existence. Magic, technology, a parallel world—it’s all real.”
But there were skeptics too. Some refused to believe that such a thing could be true, dismissing it as a well-orchestrated hoax or a publicity stunt for some upcoming virtual reality project.
“The technology isn’t there yet,” one critic said on a tech blog. “This sounds like a mix of fantasy and science fiction, but until there’s more proof, I’m not buying it.”
Still, for many, the video was the last piece of the puzzle. Everything that had happened—Thomas’s disappearance, the government’s sudden interest, the livestream footage, and now this final confession—it all fit together in a way that couldn't be denied.
Back in the halls of power, Director Lane stared at the latest report with clenched fists. “How the hell did this get out?” he spat, eyes blazing with fury. The deep web leak had thrown their control into jeopardy.
“We don’t know, sir,” one of the agents stammered. “But we’re tracking the sources now, trying to isolate where it originated.”
“I don’t care where it came from. We need to contain this before it blows up even more,” Lane growled. “He’s out there, and he’s talking. Find him before he finds a way to bring this technology back.”
But despite their best efforts, the video had already taken root in the public consciousness. The truth was out, and the world had been given a glimpse into something far larger, stranger, and more dangerous than anyone had ever imagined.
And as for Thomas? He was out there, somewhere in a world of magic and technology, forging a life no one on Earth could comprehend. But one thing was for sure: his story wasn’t over—not yet.
Hours after the deep web leak set the world on fire, a mysterious website appeared, sending the internet into another frenzy. It was beautifully designed, with a slick fantasy theme that looked straight out of a high-budget video game or movie. The homepage featured intricate, animated landscapes—towering castles, sprawling medieval cities, and forests dotted with glowing runes. But this wasn’t just a fan creation or some marketing stunt.
At the top of the page, bold letters gleamed: “The Chronicles of Thomas Wiles”.
The site was unmistakably created by Thomas himself. Below the title, a banner looped through images: Thomas battling goblin-like creatures, tinkering with glowing rune-tech machines, and even conversing with elves and dwarves as if they were part of his daily routine. Each image was a snapshot of his life in the other world, taken straight from the raw, unfiltered livestream that had been abruptly shut down.
Curious visitors scrolled down the page, discovering a treasure trove of videos. Each was a high-definition clip from his time in the fantasy realm—adventures, battles, moments of solitude in strange new lands, even footage of Thomas attempting to figure out how the "system" worked. It wasn’t just a collection of random videos—it was an ongoing narrative, pieced together like episodes from a show.
One video, titled “The First Days”, opened with shaky footage of Thomas wandering through a desolate, snow-covered forest, clearly lost and confused. “So, uh, this is day one,” his voiceover explained, a mix of nerves and disbelief. “I guess I’m not dead, which is a start. Still trying to figure out what the hell just happened.”
Another video showed him inside a bustling medieval marketplace, his eyes wide with wonder as he marveled at the unfamiliar sights and sounds. “Okay, so this is insane,” Thomas said, holding the camera up as a dwarf blacksmith hammered away on a sword nearby. “This isn’t cosplay. This is real. These people—they don’t even blink at the idea of magic. I swear to God, I saw a guy levitate a cart earlier.”
But the real kicker came at the bottom of the homepage. In a single line of text, Thomas left a challenge for the world:
“If you hack this, or take this site down, you’re a god.”
And below that, in classic Thomas fashion, a final jab:
“Yours truly, Thomas Wiles. HAHAHAH.”
It was a taunt that immediately caught the attention of hackers, government agencies, and tech enthusiasts everywhere. The message was clear: he had set up the site with a level of security that no ordinary person—or even most experts—could break through. It was a bold move, daring the world to test its limits.
Cybersecurity experts quickly took to forums, discussing the complexity of the site’s encryption. Some claimed it was layered with a kind of protection they’d never seen before—almost like the code had been fused with something more. Speculation ran wild: had Thomas somehow integrated magic into his programming? How was it possible for a site this secure to be hosted by someone supposedly trapped in another world?
"There's something different about the code," one prominent hacker, known only as ShadowByte, posted on an underground forum. "It’s not just standard encryption. It’s like it’s alive. I tried to breach the first layer, and it triggered a countermeasure that wiped my entire hard drive. Whatever this is, it’s way beyond anything we’ve ever dealt with.”
Others tried and failed, their hacking attempts foiled by the advanced security measures Thomas had built into the site. The more they tried, the more Thomas's challenge became an obsession. Hackers from across the globe worked day and night, trying to crack the code, but every attempt ended in failure. It was as if the site itself was protecting its creator, a digital fortress no one could breach.
Meanwhile, the videos continued to draw attention. Each day, new clips were uploaded—uncensored and unfiltered—showing Thomas navigating life in the fantasy world, uncovering more about the mysterious "rune-tech" and the ancient magic that powered it. The site became a hub for those obsessed with the truth behind his disappearance, with discussions ranging from the technical to the philosophical.
“This isn’t just a livestream anymore,” one popular tech commentator said in a viral video. “This is documentation of an entirely new reality. Thomas Wiles isn’t just telling us his story—he’s showing us proof that our understanding of the universe is... well, incomplete.”
But as much as the world was captivated by the videos, there was a darker side to the obsession. Government agencies, frustrated by their inability to locate Thomas or take down the site, began ramping up efforts to silence the leaks. Rumors circulated that intelligence agencies from various countries had launched covert operations to track down the origin of the website, even sending teams to investigate obscure tech hubs and internet black markets.
Despite their best efforts, the site remained untraceable. It was as if Thomas Wiles had truly disappeared off the face of the Earth—and into the depths of another world—leaving only his digital footprint behind.
Back in his hidden base, Director Lane stared at the latest reports with thinly veiled rage. "This kid," he muttered under his breath, "is mocking us. He’s making a fool out of the entire system."
One of the agents nervously shifted in their seat. "Sir, every attempt to breach the site has resulted in catastrophic data loss. He’s outmaneuvered every tech specialist we've brought in."
Lane’s fist slammed down on the table. "He’s using something we don’t understand. And we will understand it—no matter the cost."
As the world watched, waiting for the next video to drop, Thomas Wiles was becoming a legend. His message was clear—he was out of reach, and the powers that be could do nothing about it.
Somewhere, in the other world, Thomas grinned at his creation, knowing full well the chaos he had unleashed back on Earth. For now, he was untouchable. His adventures continued, his story unfolding not just in the pages of fantasy but across the digital landscape, where millions waited to see what he would do next.
The next video Thomas Wiles uploaded on his mysterious site wasn’t for the world—it was for his parents. The opening shot was simpler than his other videos: no action, no magic, no strange landscapes. Just Thomas, sitting in front of the camera, his face softened with a rare vulnerability. He sighed deeply, almost as if he’d been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Mom, Dad,” he began, his voice wavering slightly. “I know this is crazy. I mean, how could it not be? I disappear, and now I’m broadcasting from another world. But I need you to know that I’m okay. I’m safe.” He paused, rubbing his temples, searching for the right words.
“I didn’t want to disappear like this. I’m sorry for worrying you. And I’m sorry for being so damn stubborn about everything.” He chuckled softly, a trace of his old self coming through. “I know Dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps, take over Wiles Electronics, but... that was never me. I couldn’t become the heir. I couldn’t sit behind a desk running a company. I just... I wasn’t made for that life. Programming was always my thing. I love the logic of it, the way you can build something from nothing with just a few lines of code. I always wanted to build something new, something different. And, well... I guess I did.”
He smiled awkwardly, but his eyes were sincere. “I never thought it would take me to another world, though. But here I am. Just know that I’m okay. I don’t know if I’ll ever get back, but if I do... I hope you’ll understand why I couldn’t be who you wanted me to be.”
The video ended on that note, leaving behind a sense of longing and unresolved tension. But then, almost immediately after, another video appeared on the site—this time, with a title that sent ripples of excitement through his growing audience:
“The Story of Another World: The Wall and the Swarm.”
The video opened with an intricate, hand-drawn map of the fantasy world. Thomas’s voice narrated over the image, his tone shifting from the personal reflection of his previous video to a more matter-of-fact explanation.
“For hundreds of years, the people here have been fighting against a single enemy,” he said, as the map zoomed in on a dark, jagged line stretching across the continent. “They call it ‘The Swarm.’ I haven’t seen them up close yet, but I’ve heard enough stories. These things range in size—some are no bigger than your average person, while others are as large as castles.”
The screen shifted to a detailed drawing of one of the creatures—a monstrous, insect-like beast with thick, armored plates and massive mandibles. Its body was hunched and grotesque, claws large enough to tear through stone. The image was almost as horrifying as it was fascinating.
“According to what I’ve gathered, the Swarm is kept at bay by a massive wall—190 feet tall and stretching across the entire continent, like some kind of giant barricade.” The camera panned over to another drawing—a towering stone wall, covered in glowing runes, patrolled by what appeared to be soldiers in medieval armor.
“The people here live behind this wall, protected from the Swarm. Only the garrison soldiers, who are recruited or volunteer, get stationed on the wall to defend against attacks. And then there are the S-rank adventurers—these guys are the real deal. They’re the only ones allowed to venture beyond the wall, into the wilderness where the Swarm roams freely. Everyone else? They don’t stand a chance.”
The map zoomed out again, revealing the full scope of the world. “I haven’t been to the wall yet,” Thomas admitted, “but it’s only a matter of time. And here’s the thing—I’m not just sitting around. I’ve got a plan.”
The video cut to a series of rough blueprints—designs for weapons and machines unlike anything the people of this fantasy world had ever seen. “Rune technology,” Thomas explained, “is the key to everything here. It’s like their version of electricity, but it’s closely guarded. You have to be someone important to get access to it.” He grinned, the old spark of mischief returning to his eyes. “Lucky for me, I stumbled upon something no one’s seen in a long time: an untouched ruin. Inside, I found a book filled with rune tech—blueprints, formulas, the works. It’s all ancient stuff, and it took me a while to figure out, but I’ve started tinkering with it.”
The camera zoomed in on one of the blueprints—a rifle-like weapon covered in intricate runes. “My plan is simple,” Thomas said. “Industrialize. Create rune-powered guns, machines, and defenses. The Swarm has been held back by swords and arrows for centuries, but with this tech? We could tip the balance. Turn the tide.”
His tone shifted again, this time more contemplative. “But it’s not going to be easy. The powers that be in this world aren’t exactly thrilled about the idea of some outsider playing with rune tech, especially when it’s something they’ve guarded so carefully. But I’ve already gotten this far. I’m not stopping now.”
The video cut to a shot of Thomas sitting at a desk in what appeared to be a makeshift lab, rune-powered machines humming quietly in the background. “The way I see it, this world has the magic. I have the programming. Together, we could change everything. And I’m not just talking about surviving. I’m talking about revolutionizing this place.”
He leaned closer to the camera, a half-smile on his face. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll even build something to get me back home someday. But until then... this is where I belong.”
The video ended with the map of the world once again, the dark line of the wall standing ominously against the unknown wilderness beyond. The message was clear—Thomas Wiles wasn’t just surviving in this other world. He was making plans, big ones. Plans that could reshape the entire balance of power in a world that was still trying to figure him out.
As the video spread across the internet, fans and theorists alike debated endlessly about what it all meant. Some speculated that Thomas had already made enemies in this other world, that his discovery of rune technology put him on a collision course with the ruling factions. Others wondered if his plan to industrialize could truly work, given the limited resources and the deeply ingrained traditions of magic.
But one thing was certain: Thomas Wiles wasn’t done yet. And as his story continued to unfold, the world—both the one he had left behind and the one he now called home—was watching closely.