LOADING...

We all saw it. It was on every screen across the world. A pale gray box with just a single world. It was almost like a joke.

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY AT... 98%

AIOS HAS BEEN LOADED INTO ROOT FRAMEWORK.

ACCESS... GRANTED.

LOADING PROTOCOLS...

COMPLETE.

The screens flashed more text in a variety of languages. Some were definitely human while others weren't. The text scrolled faster and faster until we all realized, the text was just on screens anymore. We could see it with our own eyes. As if our brains had been hacked.

WELCOME TO THE AIOS SYSTEM.

DEFENSIVE PARAMETERS FAILING.

FIREWALL RESET INEFFECTIVE.

WORLDWIDE SERVER RESET IN 5... 4... 3.. 2.. 1..

GOOD LUCK.

WORLDWIDE SERVER RESET.

It's been six years and we still don't know what caused it. All around the world, computer systems and electronic devices went crazy and the world failed. Conspiracy theorists thought the millenia would be the end of the world. They were two years late.

Every single electronic device in the world blinked out and shut off. For the first time in decades, the world was quiet.

And in that quiet lull, a low rumble. Growing into a deafening roar.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

In a moment, it sounded like a million thunder bolts crashing all at the same time.

We called it the World Break.

Across the planet, tears in space and time connect our world to another. Allowing endless horrors and monsters onto a population that wasn't ready for it. Millions died within the first day. A billion in the first year. The world as we knew it had ended.

After the first months, humanity was able to finally use the AIOS System to fight back. And after a year, civilization returned. Small towns at first, then larger cities safe from harm. With safety came curiosity.

The breaks were the source of monsters, but they also bled energy into the environment and atmosphere. In some cases, they corrupted the environment around them and caused decay and rot. But in others, they pulled the environment from another world into ours. Effectively transforming it into an alien landscape.

We call it an incursion.

***

They walked through the corridor-now-cafe until they found themselves in an antechamber. Just big enough for them to stand together and look at the map. All the good it did them.

An incursion was more than just the transformation of the human world into another. It transformed structures, objects, but also architectural elements and designs. Doors would become walls. Halls could become rooms.

"I have an idea."

Everyone looked at Johann. "This chamber has three exits aside from the one we entered through. We should split up and scout them out. One man stays behind to act as backup and we all return after 5 minutes."

"What are we looking for?"

"The subway station. Or, more specifically, elements of its architecture. Our world."

Cyrus was relieved. It was a good idea. They'd traveled so far into this incursion, it'd be easy to think they had simply traveled to another world. It stood to reason that all they had to do now was find signs of their world to find their way back.

Cyrus looked around. "Jinyoung and I will move on our own. Seah, you move with Johann. And Hana, you'll stay here as back up. Five minutes."

Cyrus didn't like the idea of splitting up, but they didn't have any choice. The longer they stayed in the dungeon, the more likely it was they'd get lost or something else would happen. The most important thing now was to move quickly and get out of the dungeon.

Normally, he'd ask Seah to stay behind as backup and pair Johann with Hana... but he knew. Six years ago, she'd been south of the city on the subway with her mother during the World Break. Thankfully, there were no monsters where she was at. But the earthquake collapsed the subway tunnel she was in. It was seven days before the survivors were able to get back above ground. Her mother didn't make it.

The last thing he wanted to do was leave her behind.

After five minutes, he found the path he was following narrowing and no signs of human life. Cyrus thought about moving further, but thought against it. Worst comes to worst, they'd have to pair up and move down some of these tunnels together.

Back at the antechamber, Seah and Johann had better luck. About two minutes into their trek, they were walking on tiling and the rock walls slowly gave way to concrete and plaster. After looking at the map, they agreed that this path would take them to the sub-basement level 1. Probably a maintenance hatch.

The problem was Jinyoung. He didn't come back.