Anthony blinked, trying to orient himself. He was no longer in the RV, no longer in Missouri. The place he found himself in was a vast, cavernous space open, yet filled with the hum of energy that seemed to pulse through the air. He looked down at Miss Valenski, who was now perched on his shoulder, her eyes glowing with a strange, unnatural light.

The air around him shimmered as figures emerged three beings who stood before him, each emanating an aura of power. Thane, Vantheir, and Varga.

“Who are you?” Anthony asked, his voice thick with confusion.

“We are the leaders of the factions fighting against the yoke of the System,” Thane said, his deep voice reverberating in Anthony’s mind. “We’ve brought you here because you possess the potential to master the three paths.”

“The three paths?” Anthony repeated, his mind racing.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

“Yes,” Vantheir spoke next, his voice soft but firm. “Cultivation, Techno Magic, and Runesmithing. Each of these paths has its own strength, and we have the means to teach you all three.”

“Why me?” Anthony asked, still struggling to understand the gravity of the situation.

“Because Earth’s survival depends on it,” Varga grunted. “The System is coming, and humanity must evolve or perish.”

“Will you fight for your world?” Thane asked, his piercing gaze locking onto Anthony’s.

“Yes,” Anthony answered, without hesitation. His mind was already racing, thinking of his best friend Bri, his kids, his nieces everyone he cared about back in Dayton, Ohio. The System’s coming, and there was no way in hell he’d let them suffer.

“Then accept our offer,” Vantheir said, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “We will teach you all three paths. You will be our ally in the fight against the System and you will have the power to save your world.”