Milan, Italy
Perched atop a mountain, within a sprawling mansion, a man sat on his balcony, watching the sunset paint the historic city in hues of orange and gold.
In his hands, a golden ticket, inscribed with strange, unfamiliar runes. Yet, incredibly, Adam could read what was written: 'Dimensional Train.'
His pupils dilated within his hazel irises as he stared at the ticket in disbelief.
Holy shit! That was the only thought that came to his mind at that moment. Why the hell can I read this ticket?
As an avid novel reader, Adam immediately suspected something mystical was at play. It made no sense for him to understand the ticket's inscription without ever having encountered those runes before.
But even after years spent in a monotonous world, a certain apprehension lingered. He was afraid his expectations would be shattered.
Adam had grown up in an orphanage, always proving himself to be an intelligent and creative boy. From an early age, he was obsessed with the world of fiction. He started young, reading hero stories, then moved on to anime, manga, manhua, and finally, webnovels.
After that, he could never truly detach himself from the world of fantasy.
Adam was a sociable and charismatic kid, and though he didn't discuss his hobby with the other boys, he learned to wear a mask to fit in.
Around his twelfth birthday, a wealthy man appeared at the orphanage's door. Seeing Adam, a handsome and communicative child, he decided to adopt him.
At first, Adam didn't understand why a rich man in his early thirties would adopt a boy already considered "old." It didn't take long for Adam to figure it out: his "father" wanted him and a woman to pretend to be the perfect family to boost his social media presence.
It didn't take long for his plan to succeed. Soon after, Adam found him teaching others how to get rich online. Yes, his father was a fake business guru!
And surprisingly, he grew fond of Adam, as the boy had great potential for online sales. He was charismatic, social, and had a talent for reading people. It was almost like looking at a younger version of himself.
So Adam slowly entered that world. He started by selling fake male enhancement pills, and before he knew it, he was a 15-year-old millionaire teaching others how to become rich. After all, what better marketing slogan is there than, "If a 15-year-old can do it, so can I!"
Adam didn't stay in that line of work for long; after all, he didn't like getting rich through the misery of others. He was a laid-back guy, not a pyramid scheme owner—or, as his father affectionately called it, a 'prosperity triangle.'
Adam was smart and lucky. He invested a small, yet significant, portion of his savings in cryptocurrencies, and soon came the massive appreciation.
So, at 16, he left home and moved out on his own, determined to explore the world and have fun. Ten years later, as a billionaire, he found no joy left in the world. He had explored countless countries, dated numerous women, frequented the most luxurious and expensive places, bought every car and house he desired. He had everything, yet he felt he had nothing.
The only thing that stayed with him and brought him true happiness were novels. He found the world of fiction so much more captivating: the pursuit of immortality, the adventurous journeys, the battles and moments of aura, the mythologies. Each story was unique and creative.
Then, when Adam received that ticket, his reality shattered. For a brief moment, he believed there was another possibility, a hope to break the chains that bound him to that monotonous world.
But he was afraid that it was all just an illusion of his mind, corrupted by years of reading Chinese webnovels (MLT).
Adam was still lost in thought, sitting on his balcony chair, when a loud sound of thrusters and a strong gust of wind jolted him from his stupor. Looking up, he saw a spaceship, straight out of a sci-fi movie, hovering before him.
Adam's mouth fell open in shock, and he straightened in his chair. His hands rose to eye level, palms facing forward. In his mind, only one thought echoed:
absolute cinema!
While he was still in shock, the spacecraft swung around and faced away from the mansion. The soft hum of the thrusters echoed across the balcony, vibrating gently beneath Adam's feet. A rear hatch opened, releasing a gust of air. The bluish light emanating from inside the ship gave it an even more high-tech vibe. Two figures in technological suits appeared, standing and staring at Adam.
They were Madame Jae-hee Kim and Park Sang-min. They exchanged glances, not understanding what gesture the Earthling was taking
Adam, recovering from his stupor, felt adrenaline course through his body like an electric current. His mouth went dry, and he could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. He quickly understood what was happening. With trembling fingers, he raised the golden ticket in his hand.
"I have the ticket. Can I board?" he asked with an apprehensive smile, his voice unexpectedly rough, betraying the nervousness he was trying to hide.
The two visitors hesitated for a moment, as if unsure how to proceed. The silence was filled only by the gentle sound of the ship and the rustling of tree leaves below, disturbed by the thrusters.
Park looked at his master and, activating the microphone in his suit, asked uncertainly:
"This world shouldn't have this kind of tech. Neither this ship nor our suits should exist here. Why does this guy seem to accept it so easily? Is he crazy?" His voice sounded metallic through the communication system.
A curious smile spread across Madame's face as she heard her disciple through her visor.
"Well, let's find out," she said while commanding the ship to approach the balcony. The engine increased in intensity, creating a vibration Adam could feel in his bones. The air around grew warmer, and the metallic smell intensified.
Adam, watching the ship approach, felt a whirlwind of emotions. Fear and excitement mixed in his chest like oil and water. For a brief moment, images of his luxurious life flashed through his mind – the extravagant parties, the imported cars, the comfort of his king-size bed. Everything he knew was about to be left behind.
He swallowed hard. He felt a rush of emotions in that moment; his hands trembled and cold sweat ran down his face – not from fear, but from excitement. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the evening air – perhaps the last Earth air he would breathe.
He didn't hesitate for a second. With growing determination, he climbed onto the edge of the balcony, feeling the cold marble under his fingers. The wind now blew stronger, as if trying to dissuade him, pulling at his clothes and tousling his hair.
Standing on the edge, between two realities, Adam briefly looked down. The illuminated gardens of his mansion now seemed small and insignificant. He closed his eyes for a second, savoring the final moment of his old life.
Then, with a decisive push, he jumped.
His feet hit the metallic floor of the ship with a dull thud, the impact reverberating through his legs. He stumbled forward, nearly falling, but regained his balance at the last second. The air inside the ship was colder and had a strange taste, metallic and artificial.
Knowing that by taking this step, he was leaving everything behind – his money, women, life of luxury and pampering, even his worthless father – Adam felt a strange relief spread through his body. A sensation of lightness, as if he had left behind not just his life, but a weight he didn't even know he carried.
Although the future was uncertain, this was his only chance to change his destiny. The uncertainty of the unknown was still there, but now mixed with growing excitement. Even though Adam felt some apprehension, visible in the slight tremor of his hands and his accelerated breathing, he was confident enough to have taken this final step.
When the hatch began to close behind him with a mechanical hiss, blocking the view of his old life, Adam knew there was no going back. The sound of the door sealing was like a period at the end of a chapter in his monotonous existence. Before him lay only the unknown – and for the first time in a long time, he felt something he had forgotten: hope.