#1. Prologue.
“Let us keep this conference secret. The many peoples of the world would be most displeased indeed, were they to learn that we have arbitrarily judged their fates here today.”
- February 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, following the Yalta Conference.
****
January 6, 2027, 11:00 PM.
Rare Isotope Science Project (RISP), Institute for Basic Science, Yuseong District, Daejeon Metropolitan City.
Here had been constructed a heavy-ion accelerator, once known as the greatest basic science project since the era of Dangun.
Particularly, using the Large Acceptance Multi-Purpose Spectrometer (LAMPS), researchers were engrossed in experiments even at this late hour, colliding neutron-rich rare isotope nuclei to elucidate high-density states of matter akin to neutron stars, and to investigate the origins of cosmic elements and stellar evolution.
However, suddenly, red warning lights began flashing throughout the institute, emitting deafening alarms.
EEEEEEEN! EEEEEEEN!
“Wh-what’s going on!”
“It’s a disaster! The heavy-ion and RI (Rare Isotope) beams delivered from the injector are running wildly out of control!”
“What? That can’t be!”
“It’s still climbing! 100MeV! 150! Aaaah! 250MeV!”
“Impossible...”
The design acceleration limit of the installed accelerator here was 200MeV.
Watching it shatter that limit in an instant, the research team leader turned deathly pale.
“500! 800! Breaking 1TeV!”
“Damn it! We have to stop it now!”
“We can’t control it no matter what we do! 2TeV! 5TeV!”
“Damn it! Aaaack!”
It was the moment the team leader tore at his hair and screamed.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The building began to vibrate as if struck by a minor earthquake, and finally, a flash as bright as a solar explosion burst from the nuclear spectrometer.
SHWAAAAK!
“Uwoooh! It’s blinding!”
“...”
“...”
Suddenly, the vibration stopped.
As if nothing had happened.
“Th-the readings have returned to normal.”
“Is it over? Phew! Someone turn off that damn siren!”
Team Leader Gim, who had slumped into his seat, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat streaming down his face.
“Damn, how the hell do I report this...”
It was then.
BRRRING! BRRRING!
The phone on the desk rang, and he answered.
“Yes, this is... Huh? Ah, understood. I’ll come out immediately.”
“What is it, Team Leader?”
“I don’t know either! It seems something has appeared outside because of this accident.”
“Huh?”
“If you’re curious, come along!”
THUD-THUD-THUD!
Three team members rose from their seats and rushed after Team Leader Gim.
Team Leader Gim dashed out frantically and ran toward the forest 300 meters to the right of the institute, where some twenty staff members had already gathered and were murmuring amongst themselves.
“Wh-what is this?”
He could scarcely believe his eyes.
A massive circle, having pierced through a low hill, was swirling while emitting a hazy light.
It undoubtedly appeared related to the accident they had caused moments ago, so Team Leader Gim and his team members pushed through the crowd and cautiously approached.
The swirling circle was quite large.
Roughly 30 meters in diameter?
Just what was this thing?
Feeling something akin to a slight suction, Team Leader Gim unconsciously brought his hand toward it.
“Team Leader! Be careful!”
But at that moment.
Ssshwick!
“Uwaaaah!”
“H-huh?”
“Oh my!”
“Grab him!”
Shoop!
Team Leader Gim, screaming, was sucked into the vortex, and the team members grabbing onto him were all pulled in instantly.
“Oh my!”
“Wh-what do we do!”
The gathered staff stomped their feet in panic.
“119! Hurry and call 119...”
“Stop! Everyone stop and get away from that circle!”
“Ah, Director! The people who went in there...”
“I saw it too, enough! Get far away from the circle, now! This isn’t something to call 119 for! Security! Security!”
“Yes, Director!”
“Seal off this area and quarantine everyone who was here without exception!”
“Huh?”
“Now!”
“Yes, understood.”
“H-huh? Director! What is this...”
“Director!”
Institute Director Bak Chanhui ignored them completely, took out his mobile phone, and called somewhere.
For he had instinctively sensed the gravity of the situation.
If that circle was the kind of thing he believed it to be.
“Haah... The world is already chaotic enough. Whether this will be a blessing or a curse, I cannot say...”
Only heaven knew.