Time travel. The concept ricocheted through Elian's mind like a stray bullet, dangerous and unpredictable. He had always known that with Planet Five's relentless pursuit of advancement, such technology was bound to be developed eventually. But he never imagined it would happen so soon, or that he would be thrust into the heart of it all.

What's more, the audacity of the plan stunned him. Traveling back with the entire population? Was such a feat even possible? The sheer scale of it boggled his mind.

As much as he disliked Dr. Aiden, Elian had to admit the man was right about one thing: his "little brain" was indeed struggling to comprehend the enormity of what was being proposed.

Aiden's voice cut through Elian's swirling thoughts. "The first batch will be leaving in a few days. We need someone to take the lead. You have been chosen to guide a group of researchers and soldiers to establish the primary relays in the past."

Elian's hands came together on the table, fingers interlacing as he processed the information. He understood clearly what Dr. Aiden wanted, but a nagging question persisted: what was in it for him?

As if reading his mind, Aiden leaned forward, a cunning smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Your family will be freed. All accusations against you shall be forgotten. You will get what you've always wanted."

Elian's hands trembled, and he fell silent. The reward was tantalizing, but the risk was enormous. What would they find in the past? How many would survive the perilous journey through time? Skepticism warred with hope in his mind, but the lure of redemption and freedom for his family was a siren song he couldn't ignore.

Wasn't this what he had always wanted? Hadn't he promised his mother she would never cry again? Here was the chance—a chance to change everything, to rewrite their story. He had said he was ready to tear the skies apart for them. It wasn't just empty words.

With determination etched in his eyes, Elian stood. "When are we leaving?"

Dr. Aiden's smile widened as he heaved a little sigh of relief. "Since you're so eager, in two or three days. Just enough time to get everything ready. Meet me in the lab when you're prepared."

"Okay," Elian replied, his voice steady despite the tumult of emotions beneath the surface.

Aiden stood and left, but Elian remained, rooted to the spot as the weight of his decision settled over him. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally moved, stepping out into the corridor. He had preparations to make.

As he walked, the balcony to his side offered a towering view of the city below. The vast expanse of Planet Five stretched out before him, a world on the brink of destruction—a world he now had a chance to save.

Lost in thought, Elian almost collided with a group of women coming from the opposite direction. Each was striking in her own right, but as is often the case, one stood out from the rest. She had long black hair cascading down her back, framing delicate and mesmerizing features. Round glasses perched on her nose, adding a unique and appealing touch to her appearance. She clutched a book close to her heart, as if it contained secrets of the universe.

The ladies walked in formation, unconsciously allowing her the central position. They chatted animatedly, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. But as Elian stopped before them, their eyes connected briefly. It was a fleeting moment, but enough for her to feel a flicker of unease. He stepped aside. "Ladies," he said politely. They all smiled and walked past, their conversation resuming.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

As Elian continued on his way, the enhanced features of his quantum armor picked up fragments of their chatter:

"That guy was so cute!"

"Are you serious? Don't you know what he did?"

"Of course, but that doesn't change the fact he's cute. Elena feels the same—she couldn't stop looking at him."

"Who, me? Never! When have I... Stop spouting nonsense, let's go!"

For reasons he couldn't quite fathom, Elian felt compelled to turn back. As he did, he caught the lady called Elena sneaking a glance at him. For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked, a silent exchange charged with unspoken intrigue. Realizing she'd been caught, Elena abruptly turned away, quickening her pace to catch up with her friends.

A smile tugged at Elian's lips. "Interesting," he mused. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. He had priorities now, and getting ready for the mission took precedence over everything else.

With renewed focus, Elian made his way to the training facility. He raised his palm to the scanner, and the round door slid open with a soft hiss. Inside, he stripped off his shirt, revealing his torso. A small sigh escaped him as he noticed the slight softness around his midsection. "How long has it been since I trained?" he muttered, stretching his body.

"Marli," he called out to the AI, "launch the training program. Full power."

There was a pause before the AI responded, a hint of concern in its artificial voice. "Are you certain about that?"

Elian smirked, continuing his stretches. "You're being stubborn, Marli."

Without further warning, a series of machines materialized around him. They were humanoid in shape, their bodies reminiscent of agile athletes, bristling with an array of lethal weapons. Their skin was sleek and metallic, humming with barely contained energy.

Elian raised his guard, muscles tensing in anticipation. He blinked, and the robots vanished from sight. Frowning, he stepped to the side just as a laser sword pierced the air where he had been standing. He flipped backward, narrowly avoiding two robots that dashed towards him.

The first jumped, its blade slashing through the air. In that instant, Elian's quantum armor activated. His eyes flickered blue as he slapped his palm against an invisible barrier. His body was propelled to the side in a powerful explosion of blue energy—the Quantum Dash.

But even as he evaded one attack, another robot appeared behind him. Its fist connected with Elian's back, the impact accompanied by a sickening crack. Elian's body went flying, rolling uncontrollably across the floor. He curled in on himself, cursing through gritted teeth. "I said full power, not killing machines!"

Before he could fully recover, another robot was upon him, its laser lance slashing downward. Instinctively, Elian waved his hand, and a blue shield enveloped his body. The Quantum Shield sprang to life just in time, deflecting the attack with a thunderous explosion that sent Elian skidding backward.

Realizing the intensity of the situation, Elian's expression hardened. "Time to get serious," he muttered. Raising his left hand, he placed the fingers of his right above it. A blue light began to model between his palms, taking shape as he pulled back, using one hand as a bow and the other drawing invisible strings. A deafening sound echoed through the training room as he released, blue arrows of energy whistling through the air.

The robots deftly sidestepped the barrage, immediately resuming their relentless assault. Elian found himself fully engaged in the most intense training session of his life, pushing his body and his quantum abilities to their absolute limits.

As he ducked, weaved, and countered, Elian's mind remained focused on the monumental task that lay ahead. This wasn't just training—it was preparation for what would undoubtedly be the greatest adventure of his life. With each punch thrown, each energy blast deflected, he was one step closer to being ready for the challenges that awaited him in the past.

The fate of his family, of Planet Five, of their entire civilization rested on his shoulders. And as the training robots pressed their attack, Elian silently vowed that he would not fail. Whatever the past held, whatever dangers lurked in the corridors of time, he would face them head-on. For his family, for his world, for the chance to right the wrongs of history—Elian would tear through time itself if he had to.