The invasion
"Adam! Hurry up, or your little brother will eat everything!"
A smile that he himself didn't yet understand came naturally.
Hesitantly, Gabriel, or rather Adam from now on, approached the mirror on a chest of drawers in the bedroom.
In the reflection, he saw the image of a teenager with messy brown hair and ordinary brown eyes.
He was neither ugly nor handsome, just ordinary.
But those youthful features, that lighter, more supple body, none of it was his.
Yet it all seemed curiously natural, as if he'd always been that Adam, whom his lost memory had simply forgotten... temporarily.
He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, then moved towards the bedroom door, crossing the threshold like one crossing the threshold of a new life.
He felt at ease, but also anxious about this new world.
Downstairs, a woman, probably his mother, had her back to him, leaning over a frying pan where eggs were sizzling.
Beside her, a little boy of about seven, whose face beamed with innocence seemed eager to devour breakfast, looked up at him with a smile.
"You're up later than usual, big brother!" he exclaimed curiously.
At the boy's words, the woman turned to look at Adam.
"Finally!" the woman exclaimed, giving him a warm smile.
She walked over to him, grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed him on the forehead, the gesture so familiar and fluid that it seemed a daily habit, a routine between mother and son.
"Are you all right, darling? You seemed restless last night..."
Adam blinked, a soft warmth invading his heart. He strained to smile, the words hesitating in his mouth.
"Yes, I'm fine... I just had a funny dream."
She burst out laughing, shaking her head fondly.
"So you know what you need to do to avoid that? Go to bed earlier and stop reading in your bed until late at night!"
This spontaneous, natural response sounded so familiar that he heard himself laugh, a laugh that escaped like a long-forgotten breath.
His heart was beating faster and faster, and this time it was with a feeling he hadn't known in years: happiness.
They sat down at the table, and the little boy, and thus his brother, began to proudly recount his latest soccer match, gesticulating to mime every detail.
Adam listened, fascinated by the simplicity of the scene and the authenticity it exuded.
This new life, unexpected as it was, seemed to fit him perfectly, like a warm coat put back on at the start of a new winter.
As he dipped his toast into the steaming café au lait, a thought crossed his mind, fleeting and fragile.
Perhaps, he thought, he'd been sent here for a reason.
Maybe he was entitled to a second chance, a simple existence, far from the pain and loss of the past.
"Adam?" his mother asked suddenly, placing a light hand on his.
"Is everything all right? You seem... elsewhere."
He smiled and squeezed her hand in return, savoring the warmth of that simple gesture.
"Yes, Mom. Everything's fine."
At those words, a feeling of peace came over him. This time, he was no longer Gabriel, the man with the tragic past and broken destiny. He was Adam, a boy who had lost nothing yet, and who now had everything to live for.
"By the way, this is an important day for you, not too stressed?"
Adam was confused.
"An important day?"
His mother looked at him strangely, still maintaining a light smile.
"You couldn't have forgotten about wake-up day though?"
Adam was even more confused, until his predecessor's memory became active.
This world was very similar to the original one, except that it was thousands of times bigger.
The kingdom of Kerya alone, where they resided, was the size of Earth, the planet where he had previously resided.
At first, all the countries were focused on technological development, and so had a similar development to Earth.
But in year 0 of the invasion calendar, a deafening roar ripped through the entire planet, ripping through the atmosphere and making a piercing high-pitched noise.
All eyes on the planet's living creatures turned to the luminous rift that slowly widened above the treetops and overgrown ruins.
A bluish, iridescent light splashed through the clouds, like a celestial river that refused to stop.
This blue light proved to be an extraordinary energy, and spread throughout the world.
It encouraged the expansion of the planet's flora and fauna, to such an extent that they took over from humans.
Indeed, technology could no longer stop the growth of the flora, which invaded cities and destroyed everything in its path.
In year 20 of the invasion calendar, humans realized that some animals had become much bigger, stronger and faster than before.
So much so that even airplane missiles could no longer harm them.
Fortunately, these animals, which had become monsters in the eyes of humans, took to having their own territory.
So, as long as no human entered their territory, there was no problem.
Research also began at this time into whether humans could also become stronger.
By year 100 of the invasion calendar, results began to emerge, but it was too late.
The rift widened before the stunned eyes of every living creature on the planet, and the first ship slowly emerged, its smooth black surface shining like obsidian.
It floated noiselessly, defying the laws of gravity, before coming to a halt, suspended in mid-air.
Behind him, an entire armada appeared, ships similar to those in science fiction films.
They appeared one after the other, each more impressive than the last, adorned with strange patterns, seemingly alive.
Then, the unthinkable happened. A silhouette emerged from the rift. The first alien.
Its skin shimmered with a silvery glow, like a star that had fallen to Earth. He stood nearly three meters tall, his slow, calculated gait exuding an aura of power.
His eyes, two luminous spheres of piercing blue, scanned the surroundings with icy intelligence.
Above all, he literally flew through the air, making no move whatsoever.
Behind him, others emerged, each carrying a unique strangeness.
Some had multiple limbs terminating in glittering blades, others seemed made of pure energy, their contours blurred and shifting.
One of them transformed before the astonished eyes of the onlookers into a creature resembling a gigantic bird, uttering a shrill cry that shook the planet.
Each alien wore a complex suit of armor, adorned with glowing symbols in an unknown language.
The sky seemed to darken further as an entire army emerged from the rift.
These beings did not come in peace. Their presence was a challenge, a cruel reminder that mankind was not alone in the universe.
But the raucous thuds echoing through the forest were quick to respond.
The monsters that inhabited the planet, those ancient animals turned titans, sensed the threat.
Yellow eyes blazed in the shadows, roars shook the earth. The planet itself seemed to be preparing for an inevitable war.
And so began the violent retaliation of the planet's animals.
Silver blood, animal blood, debris from spaceships and sophisticated armor rained down on the planet.
The most powerful animals were called primordials.
All were endowed with a power comparable to that of a God. At that time, and according to various accounts across the planet, 30 monsters were listed among the primordials.
Faced with an extraterrestrial race equipped with extremely powerful weapons and numerous beings with unimaginable powers, the war was extremely fierce.
Every day, you could hear violent collisions between two powerful beings, as well as explosions after a spaceship had been destroyed.
The fighting lasted for ten years before finally coming to an end.
A decade spent in hell for the humans, who had virtually no power to intervene.
By year 110 of the invasion calendar, only a dozen primordials and 3% of the world's human population remained, but the invaders had been repelled.
What's more, humanity had managed to retain its technology.
Not only had humans managed to retain their technology, they had also continued to carry out research.
And thanks to this research, various kingdoms finally succeeded in acquiring extraordinary powers.
In the Kingdom of Keria, they learned to awaken a talent in the body of every human being.
This talent was decisive for the future of each of the Kingdom's citizens.