Awakening to the Unknown (Volume 2)

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Kaito’s eyes shot open, only to be met with an overwhelming, blinding white light. For a moment, he wondered if this was the first glimpse of heaven.

Have I died?

Is this the afterlife?

Gradually, the intense brightness began to fade as his eyes adjusted to the contrast. His senses slowly stirred to life. He felt a dull ache radiating through his muscles, heard the rhythmic sound of his own breathing, and a low, mechanical hum nearby.

As shapes and colours sharpened before him, black, yellow, and green, he realized he was in an enclosed space. His gaze darted around cautiously, his head barely moving.

Is this... 

The 'life' pod?

"..."

As Kaito tried to make sense of his surroundings, the confined space he was in suddenly began to move. A louder mechanical whirring filled the air before the motion came to a halt. A sharp whooshing sound followed, signalling the opening of the upper part of the enclosure.

Fresh air rushed in, causing Kaito to instinctively gasp and cough, struggling to adjust his breathing to the unfamiliar atmosphere.

“Ahh!” Kaito cried out in desperation. “Someone help!”

His plea was quickly answered. A tanned arm reached into the pod, pressing an oxygen mask gently over his mouth.

“Easy there,” a calm, masculine voice reassured him. “Breathe in slowly, then breathe out. Just like that, alright?”

Kaito nodded weakly, following the instructions. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and the pressure in his chest eased. Noticing Kaito’s calmer expression, the man carefully removed the mask.

Kaito attempted to get up but found his body too weak to respond. He rolled onto his side, his arms trembling as he pushed himself upward with sheer effort. His teeth clenched, his face reddening with the strain.

Finally, as he managed to prop himself up slightly, his gaze fell upon a figure nearby.

It was an older man with a grey beard and hair, a lean body, tanned skin, and wearing a pristine white coat. A pair of sleek digital glasses sat on his face, displaying a stream of glowing numbers.

Kaito, his voice hoarse but determined, asked, “Who… Are you?”

“Oh my,” the figure chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. “Have you forgotten me already? It’s only been ten minutes.”

Kaito squinted, his hoarse voice carrying a mixture of uncertainty and recognition. “Dr. Nilesh Radheshyama…?”

“Bingo,” the figure said with a smile. It was indeed the wise speaker Kaito had spoken to moments ago. Yet, his appearance said otherwise.

Kaito blinked in disbelief. “But… But you look so different!”

“That’s rude,” the wise speaker said, pretending to cover himself with mock indignation. “Are you being fatphobic!”

Kaito, accustomed to the wise speaker’s plumper form, found the stark contrast of his slender frame baffling. Suddenly, the memory of being pushed from the rooftop resurfaced, and he erupted, his voice strained, “Wait! You b*stard! You pushed me!”

“Did I?” The wise speaker placed a thoughtful hand on his chin, feigning forgetfulness. “Oh right, I did, didn’t I?” He chuckled unapologetically.

“Don’t take it too personally, Kaito. You were hesitating at the last second, so I had to step in.” He extended a small red circular object toward Kaito. “Here, have this candy. It will restore your energy. Just make sure you chew it properly-”

Kaito, still fuming, snatched the candy out of his hand and bit into it with urgency. As he chewed, warmth spread through his body, and his energy began to return. His breathing steadied, and his muscles no longer felt weak. Testing his strength, he flexed his fingers and arms, his expression relaxing as he regained control.

The wise speaker offered a steady hand to help. “Careful now. Step off slowly.”

With a nod, Kaito climbed out of the pod and stepped onto the metallic floor. A chill spread through his feet, grounding him in this new, unfamiliar reality.

“Welcome to the Albion Dome, Kaito,” the wise speaker said warmly, gesturing to their surroundings.

“...”

Kaito’s breath caught as he took in the sight before him. The scene was exactly as the wise speaker had described, an immense, dome-shaped structure extending endlessly in all directions. Metallic bridges crisscrossed the abyss from top to bottom, their gleaming surfaces suspended in what seemed to be emptiness. Encircling the dome’s edges were rows upon rows of blue-encased pods, life pods, each with a small green-tinted window at the top, revealing faintly visible faces within.

Turning back, Kaito realized, he, too, had emerged from one of these pods. Gripping the barrier of his platform tightly, he stared into the endless depth below, his knuckles white with fear. The sheer scale of the dome made his head spin.

“Is... Is this the dome?” Kaito asked, his voice shaky but filled with awe.

“Yes,” the wise speaker replied with a knowing smile. “This is, indeed.” He gestured toward a hovering wheelchair nearby. “Come, sit here. Although the candy restored some of your strength temporarily, it will not last very long.”

Still clutching the platform’s barrier for support, Kaito carefully lowered himself into the hovering wheelchair with a huge sigh of relief.

“Right then,” the wise speaker said, striding confidently toward the far end of the bridge, where the exit elevator stood waiting, “Let’s head to the lounge first, shall we?”

The wheelchair hummed softly as it followed the wise speaker, gliding smoothly over the bridge. Kaito kept his eyes forward, avoiding glances at the abyss below.

When they reached the elevator, its sleek metallic doors slid open with a quiet whoosh. Inside, an AI projection appeared, its voice neutral and pleasant. “Please select a floor.”

The wise speaker casually entered a number, 1034.

Kaito’s eyes widened in shock. Before he could react, the elevator surged upward with a force that pressed him into the wheelchair. His heart pounded as the sensation of rapid acceleration washed over him. The wise speaker, however, remained unfazed and stood calmly.

A soft chime signalled their arrival, and the elevator doors opened smoothly. They stepped out onto a wide, polished floor with a view that left Kaito momentarily speechless.