Cythonia

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CHAPTER 2: The Gift

It had been sixteen years since the Monster Invasion.

Sixteen years since creatures from another world first emerged from the portal inside Star Light Labs. The facility had long since been sealed off from the public, but the portal's influence never truly disappeared. In the years that followed, a strange energy continued to leak into the world. At first, it was only detected near the laboratory, but gradually it spread across continents, oceans, and eventually the entire planet. Before long, the mysterious energy had become as common and ever-present as the air people breathed.

The discovery sparked worldwide panic. Governments quarantined affected regions, scientists raced to study the phenomenon, and rumors of another invasion spread across every corner of the globe. Yet despite the fear, researchers soon discovered something unexpected—the energy was completely harmless. More than that, it possessed extraordinary properties unlike anything humanity had ever encountered.

After six years of intensive research, scientists finally reached a breakthrough. The energy could be harnessed, stored, and manipulated. It could be shaped into different forms, altered into elemental states, and used as an incredibly efficient source of power. To many, it seemed almost identical to the magic described in fantasy stories. The scientific community eventually named this energy Neo, and the revolutionary technology built around it became known as Star Light Tech.

Thanks to Neo, society has a larger and better source of energy resulting in almost everything being powered by Neo from street lights and cars to machines and homes, medical technology has advanced leading to create a cure for cancer and other diseases, and improved military weapons and forces to combat and secure the monsters in the old star light laboratory.

They are primarily made by the newly built Star Light Labs in another section of the city and with this new technology the world has advanced and started to learn "magic", but in a different way from traditional fantasy.

[9:00 A.M.]

[Star Light University]

Star light university, One of the most prestigious schools in the world. A University that nurtures students from a young age till adulthood.

Now we're seeing Max sterling 16 y's/o walking into star light university late for class.

The Teacher in class is talking.

The classroom door slid open automatically.

Max stepped inside not caring that he was late.

The teacher sighed.

"Mr. Sterling. How kind of you to finally join us. Do you know the answer to this problem?"

"Ehhhh? I just got here," Max complained. "Can't you let someone else answer the question?"

The teacher folded his arms.

"Since you're late, you'll answer it yourself. Get it right, and I'll overlook your tardiness."

"Fine..." Max muttered as he walked toward the board. "What a drag."

"Just because you get good grades doesn't mean you can come inside my class whenever you feel like it," the teacher said. "Now answer this problem on Neo Theory."

The teacher touched the board. Purple Neo particles gathered across the board's surface, forming glowing equations that hovered slightly above the display.

Max stared at the problem.

*The Neo Theory...*

*Even most students that are older than me struggle with this stuff.*