1 THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
Clang!. The basketball hit the rim of the basket missing its mark.
"Hey, how could you miss such a shot" a burly teenage boy with brown hair and eyes said as he dribbled the ball, making his way to the target of his words.
"Hey, man, check out that ride," a teenage boy with pitch-black hair and reddish-brown eyes exclaimed, attempting to excuse the shot he had missed.
The burly teenage boy, who had an annoyed look on his face turned in the direction his friend had gestured.
Parked in front of the basketball court was a two-seater Mercedes Benz classic, a rare sight in this day and age.
They both stopped the game as they were the only ones playing at the moment as they admired, what they felt was a historical art piece.
Buzz! A slight buzz sounded in their ears, snapping them out of their daze, the source; was an earring they wore on their left ear.
"Leo, recess is over, let's go," the burly teenage boy said as he made his way out of the basketball court.
Leo took one last glance at the vehicle before following suit.
******
" Take care of yourself my dear" A middle-aged man said as he went in for a hug. The recipient of the hug reciprocated the gesture as she gave the man a warm smile.
The middle-aged man entered his two-seated Mercedes Benz Classic and with one long loving gaze, he drove off.
"How is the project progressing" he said seemingly addressing no one in particular as he was the only one in the car.
"We have made a breakthrough, we have deciphered it and will go on with the plan. We are just waiting for your orders" a voice sounded in his ear, its source, the earring on his left ear.
"Halt all activities, I will be there in about ten minutes"
Changing gears he sped up towards his destination.
******
"Leo, it's lunchtime. Did you bring any food?... Hey, my man, she's way out of your league." The burly teenage boy tugged at his friend's shoulder when he noticed where Leo was looking.
"Yeah, I know... Let's go"
He stood up from his chair making his way to the school's cafeteria.
The girl, who had sensed his gaze the whole time, watched him as he walked past her, chuckling to herself.
> Please state your order <
A feminine mechanical voice sounded as Leo stood in front of what looked to be a vending machine with a variety of food options on it.
"Mark, what should I get you" Leo turned as he addressed the burly teenage boy who sat at a table a few metres away from him.
Mark made some hand signs trying to describe what he wanted. That seemed to have worked as Leo stated the food he wanted.
A tray slowly emerged from the machine he stood in front of, presenting him with his meal.
"Man, you know you've got no chance with her, right... Eei, wait, you might," Mark said as he pretended to contemplate his next words. He bit into a juicy steak as he still wore a look of contemplation.
"Really?" Leo said, surprise and a slight tinge of happiness in his tone.
"Yeah, man, when the world ends." They both looked at each other with an awkward silence before bursting into laughter. The onlookers gave them awkward stares as they felt they were disturbing the peace.
*******
"What have you discovered?" the middle-aged man inquired as he entered a well-lit room. He experienced temporary blindness as his eyes adjusted to the light.
"Chief, over here," A beautiful woman, who wore a spotless white lab coat said gesturing for the middle-aged man to get closer.
She sat in front of three large flat screens, each displaying the same image from different angles.
Adjusting her glass she addressed the middle-aged man who was now standing beside her.
"It seems to be a treasure trove, worth even more than the city itself"
" Be more specific, Lia"
" Oh, sorry chief, after years of deciphering we have been able to crack it, and it reads;
He who opens this box shall gain the right and rite to godhood but beware, gold is only refined after passing through the flame"
Lia looked at the middle-aged woman with eager eyes awaiting his thoughts on the message.
" That sure sounds ominous" An elderly man adorned in the same attire as Lia said as he walked in on their conversation.
" He's right, but there has never been a success without risk..." The middle-aged man paused as he looked at the screen before him.
" Tell them what they need to do, we are prepared for whatever may come out of it"
Lia grinned as she was overjoyed, she gave the middle-aged man a salute as she started to make arrangements for their plans.
"Boss, are you sure" the elderly man asked
"Yeah, the government is in support of this operation, if anything were to happen, they will handle it."
*****
At 13,000 feet below sea level lay the ruins of a city. Skyscrapers that screamed the year 3000 littered the ocean floor, disfigured by something more than water pressure.
Immobile contraptions resembling vehicles lay amidst the collapse of skyscrapers.
Despite the incredible depth of this submerged city's wreckage, lights illuminated the ocean floor, their source being the huge light poles that had been erected on the ocean floor.
"We have our orders; let's get a move on," people clad in pressure suits swam, following their leader who had just spoken.
They swam to their destination: an advanced colosseum that lay at the center of the ruins. Surprisingly, it looked unscathed despite the condition of the buildings around it.
In the center of the Colosseum was a massive black box adorned with intricate, unrecognizable patterns, giving it an eerie vibe.
They moved around it, touching specific spots on it, as they were instructed to do.
*****
" It's almost opened" Lia exclaimed as she viewed the whole thing from the huge screens that stood before her.
*****
The huge black box opened from its sides and slowly exposed its contents.
A brilliant light emanated from the box, casting its radiance upon the entire ocean floor, the expanse of the sky above, and even the very planet they stood upon.
*****
" Ah, that's too damn bright"
"Yoo mate, did ya see that"
" Mom, that's so bright"
"..."
"..."
Around the world, people were momentarily blinded by a radiant white light that illuminated the world for a couple of seconds.
[ Pandora's box has been opened ]
[ Initiating trial of a hundred misfortunes.]
[ Process Complete ]
The whole world was caught off guard as they all heard the message. The monotone voice of a woman reverberated throughout the world.
"Is that a new game?"
"Sounds dope"
"This generation and their tech... they are ruining this old man's sleep"
"..."
"..."
Oblivious of their predicament, they all believed the announcement to be from a game company as such technology was not uncommon in their current day and age.
The voice sounded once again
[ The hottest flame forges the purest gold. Survive the trail of blood and misfortune and reach Godhood.
The first trial will commence in an hour, survive the Miasma flood and take your first step into godhood. Good Luck!! ]
Just as the voice ended a semi-transparent blue screen appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Leo, this game company should be quite rich," Mark said as he noticed the screen in front of him.
" I don't think it's a game... Such technology should not be possible now"
