The Gate of Ages

The world was never the same after that day in New York City. It began as a normal morning—the sun gleaming between towering skyscrapers, people rushing to work, and the hum of traffic filling the streets. Then, without warning, the sky seemed to split open. A colossal vortex, shimmering with otherworldly colors, emerged in the heart of Manhattan. It towered over the skyline, casting eerie shadows over the city and sending ripples of energy through the air.

The event was initially mistaken for a natural disaster or a massive technological failure. News channels scrambled to cover the phenomenon, with helicopters circling the vortex, capturing the awe and terror of the public. Scientists from around the world were baffled, unable to explain what they were seeing. Panic set in, but it was tinged with curiosity. What was this gate? Where did it lead? And, perhaps most importantly, what lay on the other side?

Within days, similar Gates appeared across the globe—London, Cairo, Tokyo, the Amazon rainforest, and even the frozen wastelands of Siberia. Each Gate was unique in its size and energy, but they all shared the same mysterious, swirling glow. Governments mobilized their militaries, deploying troops to quarantine the sites and keep the public at a safe distance. The world was on edge, and social media buzzed with wild theories, from extraterrestrial invasion to divine intervention.

The first tentative steps through the Gates were made by highly trained special forces teams and scientific expeditions. The Gates allowed only a limited number of people through at any given time, depending on what they termed the "level" of the Gate. The initial teams that ventured inside reported back with staggering news—these were not just portals to different locations but to entirely different realms. On the other side lay vast landscapes of dark forests, desolate deserts, and ominous castles, each teeming with monstrous creatures of every shape and size.

The monsters varied in their danger, classified by what came to be known as "disaster levels." Some were mere nuisances—giant rats, goblins, and skeletal warriors. Others were devastating forces of nature—colossal dragons, rampaging giants, and demonic overlords that could lay waste to an entire city. Yet, with each monster slain, the team found strange items—artifacts of ancient power, potions that healed wounds instantly, weapons forged from unknown metals, and, most importantly, Crystals.

These Crystals were unlike anything humanity had ever encountered. They glowed with an inner light and radiated an energy that defied all conventional understanding. Scientists determined that these Crystals were a new, incredibly potent form of energy. Clean, renewable, and highly efficient, they had the potential to revolutionize entire industries. Military leaders were quick to see the value as well—the Crystals could be adapted to enhance weapons and armor, turning tanks, planes, and even infantry into forces of unparalleled power.

The discovery of the Crystals ignited a race among nations. Diplomatic agreements quickly crumbled as countries mobilized their best soldiers, scientists, and engineers to enter the Gates and secure the treasures within. The United States, Russia, China, and a coalition of European nations spearheaded the effort, each forming elite units—"Gate Teams"—tasked with delving into these unknown realms, battling the monsters, and bringing back Crystals and other artifacts.

Global economies began to shift. The Crystals became the new gold, the new oil. Financial markets surged and crashed based on the success or failure of Gate expeditions. Corporations specializing in "Gate Technologies" sprang up overnight, developing new weapon systems, energy converters, and survival gear tailored to these alien landscapes. People from all walks of life volunteered to join the Gate Teams, driven by a sense of adventure, patriotism, or simply the promise of immense wealth.

Yet, even as nations fought to control the Gates, they began to realize a harsh truth: each Gate could only be cleared once. The number of Crystals and artifacts within a Gate was finite, and once its monsters were defeated, the Gate would close forever. This led to a frenzy of competition and, eventually, to conflict. Small skirmishes erupted at the edges of Gates, as rival teams clashed over control of this precious new resource.

The situation grew more volatile with each passing day. The United Nations convened emergency meetings, calling for restraint, but it was clear that the world was inching closer to the brink. The desire to control the Gates, to secure the Crystals and the power they offered, began to overshadow all other concerns.

Then, everything changed with the appearance of the Last Gate.