The cityscape sprawled before Elian, a forest of skyscrapers that seemed to drip with a viscous, blood-red substance. The sky above hung heavy with crimson clouds, casting an ominous glow over the metropolis—as if heralding the dawn of some terrible apocalypse. Cries of panic and chaos reigned supreme, a discordant symphony of fear that echoed through the streets below.

Elian stood at the edge of a balcony, powerful winds whipping against his face. His eyes, devoid of life, stared unseeing into the abyss. He spread his arms wide, embracing the nightmarish scene before him as the dark red clouds continued to envelop the city, plunging it further into a bloody nightmare.

"Here we are, at the gates of hell," he whispered, his words nearly lost in the howling wind. "After all our sins, it's time to pay. What will be left? Nothing apart from the immense darkness of the world. I hate this world. I hate all of you. I hate myself."

With a deliberate step forward, Elian plunged into the void. For a moment, everything felt empty, suspended in time. Then, like a canvas being wiped clean, the bloody sky began to wash away. Elian's eyes flickered open, and the bustling lights of the familiar city came into view—a dazzling, lively metropolis full of vigor, with blue lights shimmering against the night sky.

The wind slapped him back to reality, his blurry vision steadying as his heart skipped a beat. The realization of where he truly was hit him like a physical blow. "Damn," he cursed, stumbling forward. Instinctively, he lunged his arm upward, fingers desperately grasping for purchase on the balcony railing.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Elian hauled himself up and over, crawling back to the safety of the balcony. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, back pressed against the wall. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he held his head in trembling hands.

"That was close this time," he muttered, his voice hoarse. For many, nights were moments of peace, of vigor, of shared love. But for Elian, they brought nothing but reiterating nightmares.

Shaking off the last vestiges of his terrifying dream, Elian retreated inside, closing the glass doors behind him and shutting out the persistent wind. "Let's grab some lunch," he said to no one in particular, padding towards the kitchen. But as he pulled open the refrigerator door, he was met with disappointing emptiness. A heavy sigh escaped his lips—now he was forced to leave the building. He wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad about this unexpected excursion.

Reluctantly, Elian returned to his room, pulling on a shirt and trousers before heading out. "Marli, send me to the exit," he commanded, pinching the air as if interacting with an invisible interface.

"Understood," Marli's disembodied voice replied. "Have you received permission?"

Elian stepped out of the elevator into a bustling lobby. People moved freely in and out, while two guards stood lazily against the walls, their light blue uniforms and round bracelets marking them as security. They chatted idly, oblivious to Elian's approach.

As he neared the massive exit doors, the guards snapped to attention. One waved his hand, and a holographic image of Elian appeared. The guard chuckled, "You can't go out."

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"I'm hungry and need groceries," Elian replied, stepping forward undeterred.

The guards raised their palms in warning, hands hovering near their waists. A series of bustling sounds filled the air as tiny figures rushed into view—nanobots on patrol.

"Nanobot Patrol is here. What is the threat?" a mechanical voice inquired.

"I said you're not allowed to step out. The orders come from the Lord Commander himself," the guard insisted, his voice tinged with a mixture of fear and respect.

Elian continued forward, nonchalantly brushing past them. "If I starve to death, you won't be able to strip anything out of my body," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

The guards hesitated but ultimately stepped aside, allowing Elian to pass through the doors and into the vibrant streets of Planet 5.

A buzzing sound filled his ears as he walked, prompting him to remove his headphones. Though invisible, he knew the nanobots hadn't left his side. "So annoying," he murmured, making his way down the lively thoroughfare.

The streets pulsed with energy—strangers hurrying to their destinations, faces set with determination. A sleek, levitating sports car flashed by, its occupants—a shirtless man flanked by two women—the picture of carefree indulgence.

"Marli, send us to the club," the driver's voice drifted on the air as he leaned back in his seat. The car's systems lit up, Marli's familiar voice responding, "My pleasure," before the vehicle vanished into the depths of the city.

Elian pressed on, the grocery store coming into view. As he walked, passersby stepped aside, crossing to the other side of the street. Their looks of disgust and fear were poorly concealed. Elian glanced at the tattoo on his arm—a stark reminder of his otherness. "Ah, this," he muttered, pulling down his sleeve and continuing his journey.

Stopping before the store entrance, Elian met the guard's strange stare with calm indifference. Years of experiencing every kind of unfriendly glare had left him largely unaffected. A group of children, about to enter the store, halted several meters away, tugging at their mother's clothing in fear.

Balling his fist, Elian turned away. "I'm lazy. Marli, bring me my groceries," he commanded. In truth, he could have asked Marli to handle this errand entirely, but the monotony of seeing the same walls and faces day after day had driven him to seek fresh air—however hostile that air might be.

"You have spent more than five minutes outside. You need to return," the nanobots reappeared, their mechanical voices grating on Elian's nerves.

"I know. Get the hell out; I can't see anything," he grumbled, waving his hand in front of him as a small robot approached with his groceries.

Suddenly, the nanobots turned red, their voices urgent: "Danger! Broken rift! Retreat and protect the civilians!"

Elian cursed, rushing away as a booming explosion rocked the street. The very fabric of reality seemed to split open, a yawning black hole appearing and swallowing everything in its path. Elian's eyes flickered as the quantum armor hummed to life. With a decisive movement, he smashed his fist into the ground, his body sucked backward into the rift.

The nanobots sprang into action, creating protective spheres around civilians. A pixelated image of a little girl—Marli's avatar—appeared in the void, composed of blue light. She waved her hands, directing the nanobots as they assembled into a massive sphere, enveloping the rift. A thunderous explosion followed, and Marli's image flickered, battered by the ripples of energy before dimming and disappearing entirely.

As the chaos subsided, Elian let out a breath of relief. His eyes scanned the now-empty street, taking in the devastation. The grocery store and several surrounding buildings had been completely razed, leaving a gaping hole at the center of the destruction. Miraculously, thanks to Marli's quick action, no one appeared to be injured.

Elian's heart raced, adrenaline coursing through his veins. A sense of urgency gripped him, his mind suddenly clear and focused. "I need to see them," he declared to the void, stepping forward with newfound determination. The time for hiding, for playing by the rules, was over. Whatever force had torn open reality itself demanded his attention—and he was ready to face it head-on.