: The Energy of Echo
The silence that followed the attack was almost deafening. The bunker, steeped in the scents of gunpowder and rotting flesh, seemed to hold its breath. The air vibrated with residual tension; every sound seemed louder, every shadow more menacing. Min-jun and So-hyun, battered, exhausted, dirty, and soaked with sweat and adrenaline, sat in the laboratory. The surrounding screens flickered with green and blue light, and the rustle of the sensors seemed alive — keeping pace with their racing thoughts.
The tension from the battle gradually subsided, replaced by another sensation — the closeness that had formed in the fire of chaos. Their eyes constantly met, reflecting shared experiences, fears, and unspoken words. They sat in absolute silence, yet their bodies gravitated toward each other, as if an invisible force pulled them together.
So-hyun leaned over his tablet, fingers gliding rapidly across the screen, analyzing the data from the attack. The information was chaotic, but through the noise, patterns emerged. The anomaly that had triggered the zombie assault was connected not only to the virus — it emanated from a source greater than they understood. It was something beyond ordinary scientific comprehension.
"Remember how my generator slowed them down?" So-hyun asked, slightly tense, as if reminding himself of the risk. "I think it's not a coincidence. It's connected to Echo." He pointed at the screen, where energy surges flickered green, resembling a heartbeat. "The energy of the anomaly… it's similar to the energy that powers the Stella crystals."
Min-jun stepped closer. His eyes scanned the graphs and formulas. He didn't fully understand them, but something felt familiar — something he had seen in portal schematics from his world. He touched the bracelet on his wrist — and it warmed, responding to So-hyun's words.
"These formulas…" he whispered. "I've seen them in portal schematics. In my world, it's called Aether." He looked at So-hyun. "We thought it was a myth. A legend. But it's real. The energy that connects worlds, that powers portals."
So-hyun shivered, as if the word "Aether" had sent an electric charge through his veins. He looked at Min-jun and understood: their worlds were indeed linked, and it was no coincidence. Their task was to understand this power, study it, and use it wisely — or face catastrophic consequences.