The world outside the Facility's walls was nothing alike the one they experienced mere hours ago.
"Welcome back to our reality, I guess…"
As the two stepped out of the institute situated on the outskirts of a destroyed city, Inase monotonously greeted his own return.
The scenery of ruins and debris welcomed them with a melancholic feel.
"What a bittersweet reverie."
Both Inase and Hosen were born after the apocalypse had struck. Thus, they had no idea what a normal world would look like.
For them, here was their normality.
In their world, place names had lost all significance, as had nationalities and cultures—everything had been reduced to ashes.
No one believed in miracles anymore. The only thing that mattered was identifying the horror species that tormented the world.
That's it.
People focused on surviving rather than preserving religion, categorizing people by nationalities, or remembering the names of the places that had long since been lost.
For example, Hosen's name, just like Inase's, had lost its meaning if it ever had one.
Nowadays, it could be read in different ways—Ho-Sen, HoSung, or Hussain, it didn't matter. As long as it sounded similar, it was enough.
The end wasn't as sudden as myths had written it out to be.
Of course, the big impact took place at the beginning, but afterward?
Well...
Civilization dissipated at a very slow rate. It didn't end in fire and fury but in a quiet, creeping decay, dissolving the ground piece by piece.
And even decades later, humanity still lingered in uncertainty, not knowing when their final breath would come...
It was already too late to fix anything; everyone knew. That was the reason why a time machine was invented as a madman's last gambit.
Time-traveling was the only hope to save whatever was left in the present.
To change the past—from the times before the sky vanished and the stars shone brightly at night, to the time before all hell broke loose.
For their mission, they needed people who excelled in both knowledge and physical capabilities. All to ensure their precious agents wouldn't be killed on their first.
They were carefully picked, since these types of people were the only ones who could bring salvation through a dive into the past.
It meant that... Inase and Hosen were humanity's last hope.
And now,
Walking through the ruins of the city, both looked over the brick-woven city remains calling their names like a yearning parent.
Windowless apartment wrecks were called luxurious mansions in the present day. If it contained a working TV, food-filled storage, a pillow, and a warm blanket, the place would be called a palace instead.
"Come with me."
Hosen cleared his throat, feeling his voice come back. He invited the other for a long stroll, taking in their surroundings:
The flooded, tall buildings and shopping malls toppled over as the reminders of a time long past—their empty halls echoed with silence.
It brought back a sense of nostalgia as they carefully walked past, long accustomed to dangers like falling debris.
"No matter how many times I leap through time, I still can't get used to how different the past feels."
Being on a few prior missions, Inase had the opportunity to see some varieties—clean streets, well-managed gardens, and crowds of people.
He sighed, missing the good meals of the old Rockport. Even during the Great Depression, they had a better cuisine than what they had been raised with.
Now that Inase was back, he had to revert to eating canned food, some of which had long since passed their expiration date.
Further ahead,
Majestic monuments from decades ago now lay abandoned for their headless statues were covered in vines, and rust clung to their very surface.
Parks, once beautifully maintained, have been overtaken by the relentless roots of trees, forcing concrete-filled paths to crack and splinter beneath.
At last, supermarkets and convenience shops stand half-consumed by nature, branches, and roots weaving through their walls.
"Why did you decide to work for the Facility?"
Asked the white-hair, being one step ahead of the blonde's stride.
His question wasn't innocent, aware that time divers were strictly prohibited from bringing personal vendettas into missions.
Another rule in their instructions quoted: for the sake of success, emotional bursts during the mission were unacceptable.
They had to stay objective—their personal feelings would cloud their judgment.
"Hmm…" Inase needed to carefully pick his words in response.
Looking around,
In the abandoned industrial areas, the hum of electricity lingered with exposed wires that sparked and crackled to the uneven rhythm of the long-lost technology.
"I like danger," he uttered lightly, "and this job provides me with enough of it. I've killed monsters in the area since I was a kid, might as well take on the ones from other timelines."
The occasional, decayed car remnants and boarded-up windows with shattered glass, where monsters, both dangerous and harmless, scattered across the land.
Somewhere far away, a creature emerged from the dense fog, trudging across the earth with its numerous, spindly legs, thin and needle-like, which extended from its sides and gave a spider-like quality. Its long, segmented body resembled that of a millipede, while its head looked like a crustacean's, adding to its eerie presence.
Its deep, resonant tremor trembled the ground as each step carried a weight that sent low, rippling vibrations through the wind.
A low rumble rang out from within, powerful enough to topple buildings yet hauntingly precise, leaving its surroundings untouched.
It was gigantic.
Large enough to reach the clouds, it hovered over them like a thin thread.
Though the two paid it no mind.
To them, it was nothing out of the ordinary.
"What about you, doc?" Inase returned the question with a curious look.
Despite the world's decay, the few remaining people carried on with their daily routines, surviving while being constantly shrouded in fear.
They had lived in hiding since the horrors had been searching the lands thoroughly, and they didn't dare to take the risk of haphazardly discarding their safety for the sake of thrill and scavenging adventures.
Unlike some.
The steps of the two men echoed through the calm of a place. They currently walked through a safe zone—these were formed where monsters weren't spotted as often. Such areas allowed people to gather without fearing for their lives.
Not a lot of survivors could be spotted outside these designated shelters.
There, marketplaces flourished, even though money had lost its value. Instead, bartering (equivalent exchange) made a resurgence, much like in the medieval era...
For over twenty-four years, the remaining humanity had been painfully aware that the world around them was slowly, yet visibly falling apart, but nevertheless refused to give in.
"I research all the anomalies. Diving into timelines gives me more opportunities to study them and be of help in further fight against them," was Hosen's reasoning, "All I want is for the world to return to normal."
The two passed by a tall building where a family lived on the first floor with a broken window.
One glance inside was enough to see a comfy, although worn-out, armchair and hear old melodies playing on repeat through a shabby radio. A lady swept the floor to the beat of its cheerful melody.
"How lucky… They were able to get one."
The blonde commented, remembering his own TV that only worked when he gave it a good kick.
Further ahead, they saw children playing outside with a deflated ball.
Despite its ruined condition, they laughed and chased after the saggy object rolling across the uneven ground, and even though their toy was full of holes, they still made the best of it.
Suddenly, a mischievous grin appeared on Inase's face.
"How about a short game of soccer?"
Without warning, he strode forward, effortlessly joining the game.
The children welcomed him instantly—their excitement doubled when he expertly maneuvered the ball around them and juggled it in the air, encouraging them to steal it.
He was known in these lands as a protector, guardian, or the older brother figure to many.
Locals knew him well, and children often looked up to him.
Despite his rough edges, there was something about him that drew others in. He had that kind of charm of a lovable asshole, as some would put it.
Hosen shook his head as he watched his buddy play with the kids, dodging and teasing them with practiced ease.
Then, as if to spite him, his rowdy partner decided to drag him into the chaos.
Inase kicked the ball toward him.
"C'mon, join in!"
The white-hair sighed but lifted a foot to reluctantly return the pass.
The ball, however, was too light and too unpredictable. It wobbled midair, swerving off course—straight into his face.
Smack!
A loud noise echoed.
The impact left an immediate red mark across his cheek.
"..."
Silence followed.
Then, a chorus of giggles erupted from the children.
"You suck, old man!"
Inase barely held back his laughter (he was ready to roll on the ground), throwing his hands up with an exaggerated shrug while disgruntled Hosen massaged his pain away.
Old man, they said. He was just twenty-four, far away from being called even an uncle!
It was because of his white hair, wasn't it...
"Brats." He hissed under his breath.
Even in a grumpy mood, he still continued to watch over the playing group.
The little ones had already pulled Inase back into the game, their shouts of excitement drowning out Hosen's grumbling.
At least they have fun.
…fifteen minutes later and the children's mother called them in for dinner.
"Bye-bye, big brother!"
Waving back at the two, off they went, hopping enthusiastically into the house.
Both men were left in a quiet environment alone. The silence between them continued just for a moment longer.
"Children, am I right?"
Inase scoffed with his hands resting behind his head.
"I thought you liked them."
Hosen muttered, rubbing his still sore face.
"Nah." The blonde waved a hand dismissively. "They're loud and rowdy. You can never predict what kind of trouble they'll drag you into next. I pretty much hate them."
And yet, he had taken the time to play with them.
The scientist stared at him for a moment, piecing together Inase's words, his actions, and the contradiction between them.
Then, with a nod of understanding, he said, "So… you are a child."
"Ha?"
The other's brow twitched.
"By your own definition." Hosen doubled down.
"Listen here, Mr. Smartypants," Inase huffed, crossing his arms. "Just because you might have more knowledge doesn't mean you get to look down on me."
Hosen simply turned his head to the side, amused.
When they walked by a neglected playground, they heard the low hum resonating through the atmosphere.
Two beings called for each other from opposite sides of the planet—a sign that night had come.
That song of theirs vibrated across the ground and shook the air particles, resonating and echoing with their eerie sound.
Their distant call was a cue to go home.
The scientists named them Ul'birah and Xersz, also known as the Chasers of Dusk and Dawn.
Similarly to Sköll and Hati from ancient Nordic myths, who chased the moon and the sun, these two were born from the collapse of the universe, appearing years after the first impact.
Those spectral, translucent beings, whose physical forms showed only during their respective times.
Xersz was only seen during daybreak, hovering over the horizon facing the sun like a comet traversing the stratosphere, while Ul-birah only revealed itself during dusk when the dormant Devourer, coiled in a sphere, had taken the place of whatever was called the real moon in the old world.
One could just wonder what would happen with the two if the eclipse were to occur…
As for the Moon Devourer, its once-vibrant colors had dulled, casting only a faint glow, far dimmer than the moon it had replaced.
It cast the night into a deeper, more ominous shadow, offering a perfect cover for the roaming horrors to hunt.
Its mass of the meaty ribbon spun into a sphere, slightly larger yet infinitely more unsettling—it hovered above, a constant, looming threat… Who could say when its hunger would waken it once more?
"What are you going to do now?"
Inase asked, recognizing the path leading to his base.
"Go home and continue whatever I was doing."
Probably further his research, or something of the sort... Not that he remembered after spending many days in the 1930s.
"What a workaholic." The blonde rolled his eyes, "You should take a break sometimes, you know? I'll probably sleep all day long, wake up, eat something, and go to sleep again. I'm beaten!"
He stretched and pointed in the direction of the nearest building on the left.
"I live nearby. Pretty sweet spot, am I right?"
Right by the Facility, on the border of the city.
He snatched a room high up in the building, one that gave him a clear view of the area. From there, he could easily monitor his surroundings and be ready to act swiftly in case any monsters attacked.
Like the city's protector.
Hosen did not comment on it.
"Then, I'll excuse myself."
He bowed curtly and trudged along the path to his home further away.
But before he disappeared in the distance, he paused for a moment and turned to face his companion.
"Just remember, we aren't allowed to time-dive for personal reasons."
This made Inase click his tongue, irritated by the sudden need to deal with a patronizing mother.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. Just go already. See ya."
Waving, he was left alone in the vast plains of ruins.
Inase spun on his heel, but paused when he spotted something pouncing through the overgrown greenery just beyond the city's edge.
A deer.
Not a normal one, of course. Very few animals remained untouched after the Eldritch force had changed everything around.
It was mutated, with two heads and six legs. Its nostrils were inverted, breathing outward from its body, and its antlers were made of wood, adorned with flowers that had eyes for pistils—it would be blind otherwise.
Leaping proudly over a broken wreck of a car, it looked majestic under the vast hue of red and purple bleeding across the atmosphere, shifting like a storm of cosmic fury.
Yes, cosmic.
The sky was no more.
What remained above instead was a grotesque and beautiful gash in reality itself.
Galaxies and planets—once distant and unreachable giants—now pressed against Earth, so close they dominated the heavens with their overwhelming presence. They became visible to the human eye, floating, hovering, and dominating vast space; their immense size dwarfed everything beneath them.
There was no longer a blue boundary nor a firm line sheltering humanity from these giant wonders, which slowly but inevitably disintegrated the planet's land into dust.
The scientists of the past would have lost their minds trying to connect the heads and tails of the new universe, but not the ones living in the current times.
Inase did not bother to wrap his head around the physical laws of this ethereal scenery.
"Time for a hunt."
Instead, he focused on what stood ahead.
He took out his revolver,
"I bet the marketplace will give me a lot of goods for this meat."
And aimed, pulling his index finger against the trigger,
"Today's gonna be a feast—!"
The shot pierced the air with a loud echo, landing between the deer's two connected foreheads.