1 Chapter 1: Reasons
It was said and reported like any other day.
Nothing unusual was happening, it was just another peaceful day in the month of September, with no hint of what was to come. However this peaceful day would come to be known as "Day Zero" in the new calendar - our current Venante calendar - also commonly known as the "demon fall"...
A particular meteorite fell in the country of Romania, devastating some of its small states.
The fall, explosion and sadness of people has been documented to the world. And it is said that, even in different countries, people could see that mysterious meteorite descend through the atmosphere.
However, this was not by far the most shocking event at the time.
Whoever took the risk of investigating the meteorite has disappeared. So far, no one has been able to approach the crater.
And, this, aroused doubt and mystery, because, as the days passed, a greenish mist began to leave Romania, leaking to the nearby countries.
Scientists tried in every way to identify what this gas could be, but no matter how many experiments they did, the result was the same: It had no chemical variation, it was literally ordinary air.
Months after its fall, without a person being able to see the meteorite up close - even if he went by plane, the result was the same - it was reported to the world, not just one case, but several absurd cases of people showing inhuman abilities.
The report's video showed a boy raising a flame in midair, above his hand… Another who could emit electricity from his body and a girl capable of lifting the earth without physical effort. It was a spectacular birth of powers.
And it didn't stop there. With each passing day, more people demonstrated other abnormal abilities. Chaos arose this entire year. It was as if all these mysteries were directly linked to the green mist and the meteorite.
However, there was no way to confirm all this. For a long time, it had been anybody's guess.
A year had passed, and the green fog was no longer visible in the air, as if it had vanished, or mixed with the air.
Then, in Year 1 Venante, the "old demonic gates" began to appear.
Quite simply, holes, trapdoors, doors, gates and other types of entrances, all strangely rudimentary, have sprung up in the midst of cities, seas and forests. In other words, anywhere in the world, these openings were raised — Which, nowadays, we define as "Gateways".
Some countries were in chaos… People with super powers, with their faith in their gods lost, were attacking. Their powers gave them the ability to achieve everything they dreamed of; riches, control, superiority.
Other countries kept the order of the people very wisely, but these were rare cases in the first year.
These countries, which managed to maintain order, were the first to investigate the Portals. Obviously, the first formally recorded in history. Many curious civilians entered, just to see what it could be—obviously they never returned.
And it was during this first investigation that the world stopped its chaos.
A military platoon had entered one of these "doors" which was in downtown Chicago, in the United States of America, and of the forty men and women who entered, only three returned, covered with near-fatal wounds. One of them ended up coming back without a leg. And, your report was amazing.
"—Monsters…! Monsters everywhere…!"
The information would not be made public, leaving all the Portals under military supervision of the countries. It was of utmost urgency, and such confirmation should never be leaked to people… However, no more than a few hours after the three survivors' report, something horrifying was being reported.
It was in Saudi Arabia, in helicopter recording, small green monsters were escaping in thousands of a hole that had opened up in the city center and were attacking people.
Screams and more screams were being broadcast live.
After the Arabian army arrived, the situation was at an impasse. As much as the many weapons could kill these creatures, conventional ammo didn't seem to work against those green creatures.
This clash continued until the morning of the other day, when finally the monsters stopped leaving that Portal.
Many of the armed windows had to use their powers against these creatures, which turned out to be more effective than shooting them non-stop - later connecting to the mysterious meteorite.
On that day, the term "Infernal Gate" was popularized to refer to the gates.
At the time, there was much questioning about the information that a civilian had jumped into the hole where these monsters came out, accusing that this was the way to "burst" in Portal.
However other places in the world appear to have different monster levels.
More and more open questions.
And, no doubt, it took months and years for them to have the exact answer for them.
Did the meteorite cause all this earth change? At the time, it was a possibility, but today we know it was.
Why did the monsters leave the Portals? Because the timer was broken.
What do the powers represent? Perhaps, a protection delivered to fight these enemies. Perhaps, a test...
Why did the worldview change so suddenly? Beliefs were broken after Day Zero. The enemy came out of nowhere, an immediate adaptation was needed, otherwise we would lose our space.
Should we enter the Portals? History proves so. Transforming the Grade of the Portal, it can take days to weeks for it to break out and eat and release its monsters to the world.
And once again, I am grateful for the efforts of our predecessors.
- By Léric Thomas Osvald, in the year 86 Venante.
A young man was lying on his bed, running his finger across the holographic screen that was over his body. I had just read an E-book, with audios and videos, practically telling the initial story of the outbreak from Year 1 to Year 50 Venante.
For him, who was born in the Year 119 Venante, he knew of many research conclusions, clashes and terms that the author, Léric, had no idea in his time.
As soon as he finished reading, an animated pop-up of an alarm clock appeared on the holographic screen, giving the boy a start.
— It's time to wake up, Leonardo! It's time to wake up! It is…! — On the third attempt, the little clock was blown up, turning only pieces, by Leonardo's finger.
At that moment, he looked at the time he listed on the screen and let out a sigh.
"Looks like the day has come," he commented unsatisfiedly.
All teenagers, when they turn 14, would have to decide what career they would follow on the first of March. As shocking as it may seem, these young people on present-day Earth had the ability to think about such important things. All this because of new possibilities and a single test...
"The measurement and definition test," he said with some discomfort, rubbing his head.
Leonardo had dawned, reading "Day Zero, by Léric Thomas Osvald", a popular document for those who liked history, mainly because Léric was an iconic figure in history. Now, with bags under his eyes hidden behind his glasses and already dressed—because he knew he wouldn't sleep—the young man headed for the kitchen.
After making a sandwich and taking a sip of coffee, he commented with a grunt, "I need to tell her to bring that coffee again..." He was talking about his own mother, who was traveling abroad for work.
Rising from his chair, he dropped his dirty plate and mug into the sink and helped himself.
His black hair was messy, his white skin indicated he didn't have a go out attire, and the way he dressed showed that he didn't really care what people thought about him. A jacket, white T-shirt, jeans and a regular sneaker that he always wore. That was Leonardo's style.
Without thinking too much, he put his hands in his jacket pocket and headed for the door.
As he was about to open a door, his gaze was directed to the living room's bookcase, where the portrait of his deceased father was.
- Tch… - He clicked his tongue and continued: - I still don't want that, Dad. - And walked out the door, locking it with his fingerprint.
The sun hadn't risen much, so it was slightly mild.
"I hope it doesn't go above 25ºC today," he said with displeasure.
Her white skin was the greatest proof of her avoidance of the sun's heat. He hated hot days, or even going out.
As soon as he left the house, he was prepared and had already asked for a transport to come to his house, to clean him where he wanted. This had become a common practice in everyone's daily life. In addition, Leonardo's mother always deposited a certain amount so that her son would be well for the months that he would not see him.
So he waited two minutes and a car stopped in front of him.
- Mr. Leonardo? - politely requested.
In response, the boy just nodded and got into the backseat.
- Is the coordinate correct? - Asked the driver.
He answered bluntly: - Yes, it's at Marvente College. Today is that day.
The driver smiled, knowing he didn't look happy about that day, otherwise, open a good conversation and talk about the test he took when he was younger.
The continuous silent journey, fifteen minutes was all it took to get to the school.
"We're here," the driver said as he parked.
Without thinking too much, Leonardo passed the card over the reader he had in the car and paid the cost.
When he got out of the car, he sighed. What his eyes saw was the gate of a giant school, with several buildings, people and notices.
Loud voices filled the place, bothering him, but all he could do was sigh often.
