Defiance of the Fall PrologueWelcome to the Multi-Verse

Information carries immense weight. It serves as either the blade used to strike down an adversary or the very weapon that leads to one's own downfall. This grim realization occupied Zac’s thoughts as he navigated the dense forest, a small hatchet gripped in his hand while his face shimmered with a mixture of sweat and annoyance.

He remained baffled by how a casual remark regarding childhood trips to his family's cabin had resulted in him being assigned the chore of gathering firewood. He shoved aside several intrusive bushes as he pushed deeper into the foliage. Back at the campsite, his friends were likely lounging in comfortable chairs by the fire, enjoying cold beers and laughing at his expense while he endured a classic struggle of man against nature.

A quick swing of his hatchet severed a thin branch, but Zac realized immediately that its freshness made it useless for a fire. He questioned his own qualifications for this task. Wood gathering had always been his father's responsibility at the cabin, and Zac suspected his dad had simply bought the logs rather than actually felling trees.

The May heat was oppressive, characterized by high humidity despite the cloudless sky, likely a lingering effect of the previous day's rain. Given that it was spring, Zac doubted any of these standing trees would burn well. The moisture trapped inside the wood would surely transform their campsite into a cloud of stinging smoke, assuming he could even get the damp logs to ignite.

Furthermore, the legalities of cutting down trees in a nature reserve weighed on him. Nevertheless, he pressed forward, wiping sticky hair away from his eyes as he scanned his surroundings.

He wasn't entirely certain what he was searching for. A part of him hoped to stumble upon a pre-cut stack of wood hidden under a tarp, perhaps forgotten by a more skilled woodsman. Zac had been wandering aimlessly for a quarter of an hour; he wasn't built for this type of labor and desperately needed a stroke of luck.

There was a certain irony to his predicament, as his physical appearance suggested he was a master of the outdoors. At five-foot-eleven with broad shoulders and a flannel shirt with sleeves rolled up, he looked the part of a rugged lumberjack. However, his carefully groomed beard, the soft pudge around his waist, and the absence of hard, functional muscle betrayed his sedentary life.

In reality, he was a marketing consultant who had simply adopted the "grizzly" aesthetic because it was trendy. The look had served him well, considering this trip was a getaway with his new girlfriend, Hannah, and three of her long-time friends.

Honestly, he wouldn't have minded this solitary trek if not for the stifling humidity. Joining a tight-knit group with years of shared history was always an awkward endeavor. It required navigating complex social dynamics and keeping up with conversations filled with inside jokes and stories that predated his arrival.

For the most part, they were decent people. David was particularly friendly and energetic, serving as the life of the party. Unfortunately, their interests were worlds apart; David was obsessed with hockey and soccer, while Zac preferred art and video games. This made finding common ground difficult during the long drive, though Zac still considered him a good guy to grab a drink with.

Izzie, David's girlfriend, was more exhausting. She constantly lectured the group on whatever social or environmental issue she could find, ranging from veganism to corporate greed. While Zac usually agreed with her principles, the constant preaching was draining.

It’s a common trait among the children of the wealthy, he mused. Hannah had mentioned that Izzie’s father was a high-level hedge fund manager and her mother was a partner at a prestigious law firm. It seemed that a lack of parental supervision combined with limitless wealth resulted in a surplus of energy that needed an outlet. For Izzie, that outlet was a crusade against "the Man." Despite this, her vibrant personality made it difficult to stay frustrated with her for long.

Then there was Tyler—or "the Snake," as Zac had dubbed him. Tyler was charismatic and possessed the kind of polished good looks that would cast him as the arrogant antagonist in a romance movie. That was essentially the role he played here. While Tyler and Hannah had never officially dated, their social circle had expected them to end up together eventually. Zac wasn't shocked by the subtle coldness Tyler had shown him over the last two months. Tyler likely viewed Zac as a disruption to the natural order of his social life, an idea that made Zac chuckle to himself.

"Maybe I should head back," he muttered. A lingering sense of unease combined with his frustration at playing the role of a woodsman made him want to return.

Zac wasn't prone to jealousy, but he disliked leaving his girlfriend alone with Tyler circling like a predator. Besides, wandering further wasn't going to produce firewood out of thin air. He tightened his grip on the axe, pushed his sweaty, product-heavy hair out of his face, and began the trek back toward the camp.

Having walked in a rough semicircle, he figured that veering to the right would eventually lead him back to the campsite or the main road. After five more minutes of fighting through thorny bushes and swarming mosquitoes, Zac entered a small glade.

The thick brush gave way to soft grass and clusters of wildflowers. The clearing felt like a sanctuary; there were no branches to snag his clothes, and the sounds of the forest seemed strangely muted. It would be a perfect spot to relocate the camp, he thought as he walked to the center of the opening, taking one last look around before heading home.

Just as he turned to leave, the environment went unnervingly silent. The natural noise of the woods vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy, deafening stillness. A heartbeat later, the entire world plunged into total darkness.

[Initiating System]

[Welcome to the Multiverse.]