Prologue, a true fantasy

Mo Chen felt somewhat bewildered, but more than that, there was a peculiar demeanor that he had grown somewhat accustomed to. He merely let out a soft sigh and then continued to rest his head on the table, lost in thought.

What year is it again this year

It is akin to how an ordinary person, at certain moments, absentmindedly reaches for their phone to check the time

Mo Chen merely rested his hands on the table, gazing around with wide eyes, yet he did not know where to direct his gaze at this moment. He still wore the same expression as before, but his eyes were half-closed and unfocused.

The cold air from the air conditioner was blowing continuously, but as Mo Chen recalled the events before his time travel, his face turned pale and cold sweat appeared on his forehead

In the moment when consciousness drifted away from him, the last scene that Mo Chen could see was...

... ...

However, if there is anything that could possibly be related to one's own time travel, it would only be this one thing

The last scene he saw before crossing over was truly terrifying. He had no idea what had actually happened and could not even be certain whether he was experiencing a hallucination

Mo Chen gazed somewhat absentmindedly at the chaotic desk in front of him, particularly at the calendar, feeling that his heart remained in disarray and overwhelmed with mixed emotions, yet he could not articulate precisely what those feelings were

He felt an indistinct sense of unease, yet he could not pinpoint the exact reason. The more he clung to it, the more agitated he became, increasingly restless.

Is it because he lacks the conventional acceptance of the memories of the world's origins that he feels a lack of sense of belonging

As before, after looking at the calendar each time, I have not been able to obtain any valuable information, nor have I been able to confirm the current date and time

However, this is also an unavoidable situation, for in this seemingly ambiguous and unfamiliar space-time, he is like a solitary observer, excluded and isolated from the world.

He originally thought the world was still the same, but he discovered that the familiar things had completely vanished. Mo Chen does not know what the future will become, and he does not even know what the past was like.

Moreover, is it really so easy to accept the concept of time travel?

It is not only due to the anxiety about the future, but also because of the unease and oppression he feels from the events he witnessed before the journey.

The young man sat with his head down for more than ten minutes, then suddenly stood up and began to pace back and forth quickly in the room

Summer is a rather fervent season, full of enthusiasm, characterized by high temperatures and abundant rainfall, with heat akin to fire

At least based on Mo Chen's current feelings, from yesterday until now, he has not been able to accept the reality, embrace his new identity, or adapt to the new world as described in novels...

After all, this is really quite normal, or rather, it is too normal

This fear of the unknown weighed heavily on his heart, making each breath he took in this world a struggle that required all his strength

He is envisioning the scene of that enormous fireball peacefully hanging in the sky at this moment

Although it is not a positive aspect, it is undeniable that every footprint in life is covered with dust called regret. Regardless of who it is, everyone inevitably encounters various unsatisfactory events or, one might say, regrets in life

On the contrary, he increasingly felt a sense of agitation, wishing he could shout and scream, as that would allow him to properly vent the tumultuous emotions within him

From yesterday until now, in his mind, there is nothing left but fear and the source of that fear

In comparison, it is truly embarrassing that Mo Chen has still not accepted reality up to this point

The trees lining the roadside are lush and green, and during the height of summer, one cannot escape the intermittent chirping of cicadas, with their rhythmic calls of "zhī liǎo—zhī liǎo—" echoing one after another; the hotter the weather, the more joyfully they sing

The sun has already melted, spreading its blood in the last rays of light visible to humanity

First, without discussing rigorous scientific discourse, let us consider the significance of the existence of such concepts

The world unveiled its vast mask before its beloved

However, perhaps it was because he ultimately did not lose his head completely, or perhaps it was the remaining rationality within him that prevented him, so he never engaged in such outrageous behavior from beginning to end

Because he was never a person of this world

It has become smaller, as small as a song, as small as a moment of eternal kiss. - Tagore

Perhaps, it is just that Mo Chen has been unable to muster the energy to face this unfamiliar new world from yesterday until now, with a deep sense of repression and unease within.

Mo Chen is no exception, but... One must understand that the reason fantasy is fantasy is precisely because it is separated from reality by an insurmountable boundary.

... ...

This sound is not only quite loud, but also has a rather dense frequency. In the already oppressive and unsettling heat of summer, listening to it for an extended period inevitably makes one feel even more annoyed and restless.

Thinking of this, the somewhat despondent young man struggled to swallow a mouthful of saliva, then turned his head to look at the scorching sunlight outside the window

... ...

Those with greater ambition may have even formulated plans to dominate another world and embark on the path to a successful life filled with starlight.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, he finally withdrew his gaze, only to remain in a daze for a while longer before belatedly recalling...

On this unbearably hot summer day, this somewhat disheartened young man is sitting in front of his computer, diligently organizing his still somewhat chaotic thoughts

Finally, he seemed to remember something and returned to the table to open the bottom drawer, where a silver-white cube was quietly placed, resembling a metallic craft.

Therefore, people have more or less fantasized about a certain possibility, which is what they would do if they had the opportunity or ability to travel back in time to the past

So, why is this the case

He knows that he may never be able to forget the last image he saw before losing consciousness, but he is equally unable to find someone to share it with

... ...

The central air conditioning in the room is blowing cold air with a whooshing sound

What time is it now

Am I dreaming ... ... ?

The eternally unchanging sun resembles a great furnace, its unquestionable power scorching the streets and roads of the entire city to the point that even the air feels sweltering, with the burning heat making it difficult to breathe

The result was that I glanced at the screen of my phone, then closed it and put it back in my pocket. After a while, I realized that I had unconsciously made the motion while I was lost in thought, and in fact, I had not seen the time at all

Or perhaps it is a consequence of memory disarray caused by time-space travel

... ...

Mo Chen placed the cube on the table, carefully examining this object, gazing at it intently.

Who has truly tasted this flavor?

The incessant chirping of cicadas interprets the sweltering heat of midsummer

This is a very spacious room, but it is clearly somewhat messy and untidy, with the floor covered in garbage such as empty cans and snack bags, along with books and notes scattered all over the entire floor

He is somewhat confused

In such circumstances, Mo Chen naturally did not grasp any special sentiment, such as feelings akin to "the cicadas' noise makes the forest quieter, the birds' chirping makes the scenery more secluded"

The exterior of the cube is constructed with dimensions of approximately 5 to 6 centimeters for each edge, featuring a cool and hard metallic texture with a silvery sheen. The surface is also faintly adorned with strange and mysterious vine patterns.

Regarding the term "time travel," in Mo Chen's understanding, it has likely become a cliché. He knows that this is a term from online popular literature, widely used in literature as a special plot device to unfold the storyline