1 The Begining

CHAPTER 1 The beginning

On certain mornings, when the light rose soft and pale over the horizon, the whole city looked as if it had been dipped in bubble liquid. The streets gleamed, the rooftops glowed, and the enormous dome above shimmered with confidence. Alex paused at his window, watching the reflections across the curved surfaces of the buildings. Everything he saw was made from bubl, the miraculous substance that had remade the planet. It was lighter than a feather, stronger than titanium.

He stepped outside, and the city welcomed him with its usual humming glow. Cars floated soundlessly along magnetised tracks, their frames transparent like film. High above, piercing the Dome itself, stood the headquarters of the BUBL Corporation—a spiral so tall that its peak vanished into the bright haze.

His breath clouded faintly as he walked, though the air wasn’t cold. That was simply something the Dome did—an imitation of weather meant to feel natural, even if nothing about it truly was. Today, unlike every other morning, Alex wasn’t headed to training or home. Today he walked with purpose, his heart steady and his steps sharp. His mission instructions echoed in his mind: Do not draw attention. Reach the entrance. Find John. Begin

He slipped into an alley where the gleaming walls gave way to older, rougher materials—relics from a world before bubl ruled everything. A narrow metal hatch waited at the far end. It was scratched, battered, and wonderfully solid in a way that bubl never was. Alex knocked twice. A moment passed, then the hatch swung open.

John’s face appeared from the shadows. Jhon stepped aside, but before Alex could descend, he held up a hand, his eyes locking onto Alex’s with an intensity that made the distant hum of the city fade. Alex climbed down into the dim tunnels beneath the city. Faint lights flickered along the floor. Here, deep below the glowing utopia above, laythe hidden base of BLD—Bubble Destruction. The air hummed with low voiceshurried footsteps, and screens lit the walls with grainy maps, schematics, and encrypted messages. Everything felt temporary, makeshift, and alive. Glint was tightening security again. The BUBL labs were becoming increasingly difficult to access, comprehend, and challenge. Alex took a breath, steadying the tremor in his hands. Today’s mission was more important than anyone dared admit. John placed a hand on his shoulder. “This is recon only. In and out. Alex nodded.