Chapter 245
When the press caught a whiff of something suspicious and showed up to investigate, the military quickly announced a toxic substance leak during transport, smothering the story.
After that, top scientists from the US jumped in to secretly study the portal. A few weeks later, they recruited a volunteer and sent him through.
The volunteer was a soldier. He came back through the portal after just one day—but he was a wreck. Gone for a single day on Earth, yet he returned in rags like a beggar, skin and bones, utterly emaciated.
“I was there for over a hundred days. I lost track of the exact date midway—my head wasn't right. No food anywhere, so I dug up roots and caught bugs to eat. Give me a steak or a burger, anything. I'm starving to death.”
That revealed the massive time dilation between Earth and this world. Scientists calculated it at nearly 1 to over a hundred. One Earth day equaled over a hundred days here.
Still, confirming it was habitable was a huge win. Oxygen, water, forests, bugs—they had it all.
“It's different from Earth, but it felt strangely similar. Everything's supersized, but the environment somehow reminded me of home, like brothers. I wandered around, but weird bugs and plants kept me from venturing far into the forest. The water was so pure it acted like a detox—drank some and puked up everything in my gut. Felt refreshed after. Air was clean, no pollution at all. But food? Scarce as hell. Next time, we need rations for at least half a year. The portal seems to appear once every hundred-plus days. Waited every day, but it didn't show—huge pain.”
The soldier wolfed down three burgers while spilling everything he knew.
“I poked around nearby, but no signs of people. Too many freaky bugs and plants to stray far. Guns, bombs, flashlights worked fine, but radar, drones, cameras? Dead. My watch stopped too—probably fried crossing the portal. Days and nights, seasons matched Earth, but time felt sped up. Twenty-four hours felt like twelve. Heard beast roars from afar, but nothing came near. No contact with intelligent life.”
Judging it safe from the soldier's report, they assembled a pioneer team right away. Colonel Elbert, hero of the Iraq War, led a platoon-sized special forces unit packed with scientists. Over a hundred strong, loaded with half-year rations and gear, they plunged through the portal.
Upon arrival, everyone gawked at the colossal forest of this alien planet before diving into settlement. Soldiers built barracks and carved out a base; scientists collected plants and bugs for study.
But that was it. Just like the first guy said, electronics wouldn't work. They'd hauled tons of gear—and it was all useless. Stuck to foot patrols in the nearby woods, two men died from bizarre venomous bugs. Medics pumped them full of every antidote, but nothing worked.
Terror set in. After that, they barely explored the forest. Three months in, two dead, no progress—Colonel Elbert was burning up inside.
“Can't use a single electronic? Surveying this planet on foot will take forever. Like pioneering old America—could be centuries.”
Elbert figured they'd pull out empty-handed. Probably swap him for a successor, send a new team. Maybe explorers over soldiers next time.
“What a shame. Wanted to see more of this place.”
“Same here, sir. Stuck in camp—total letdown.”
Major Kenneth felt the same frustration. He'd volunteered for new planet duty, left his family, risked his life—and had nothing to do.
“Can't even film anything. No records—pathetic.”
“Photos would be nice, but nope.”
Blind with eyes open—that's what it was.
Suddenly, someone yelled.
“Something's floating in the sky!”
Colonel Elbert jerked his head up in shock.
“What? A bird?”
Everyone stared skyward. Two shapes—one big, one small—hovered 200 meters up. Black silhouettes.
Major Kenneth grabbed binoculars, then shouted in alarm.
“P-people! Or human-shaped! The smaller one's like a beast!”
Soldiers and scientists at camp gaped at the two hovering figures. Troops gripped assault rifles, tense, ready to fire.
Han Yaseong floated midair with his cosmic beast, eyeing the US camp below. About a hundred total, all craning necks in stunned awe at his arrival.
First otherworlders he'd met here—no wonder they were shocked. To them, he was an alien, a spaceman.
Han Yaseong, though? Totally chill. If he hadn't known they were US military, maybe scary—but now? Laughable. Best bulletproof suit, gravity field weapon. Like kids with toy guns.
Early settlement stage: just camp and labs built, nothing happening. Motorcycles and jeeps sat dusty and abandoned in a corner—tech dead, no doubt.
Watching the panicking Americans, Han Yaseong pondered. Wipe 'em out? Or scare 'em off with a lecture?
His call either way. Massive power gap—no fun massacring them. What gain from killing kids?
Decided: dress 'em down, instill fear. Activated the language translator.
“Get out.”
Spoke in Korean; it auto-translated to English.
Elbert, Kenneth, and the Americans freaked.
“It spoke English!”
“American? Or Brit?”
English speaker = friendly American or Brit? Idiots. Rifles dipped slightly.
“Who are you?!”
Major Kenneth, beside Colonel Elbert, mustered courage first.
Han Yaseong, cosmic beast at his side, said his piece.
“You've invaded my land. Leave. Now.”
“This is your land? Who the hell are you?”
Elbert jumped in. Dying to talk to this intelligent alien.
Han Yaseong pegged the two as leaders, demanded IDs.
“Your names and ranks.”
“I'm Colonel Elbert, mission commander. This is my XO, Major Kenneth. Curious about you too. Care to share your name?”
Han Yaseong nearly snapped none of your business, but nameless felt weird. Quick search: fed his Korean name "Han Yaseong" into the giants' language converter.
Out popped: Tan Ya Grane.
Han Yaseong in giantspeak was Tan Ya Grane. Perfect.
“I am Tan Ya Grane, guardian god of this planet.”
Gasps of “Ahh!” all around. Convinced: advanced alien civilization.
If they'd looked dumber, he'd have attacked, captured 'em as slaves—like they did to Native Americans. Bastards.
Han Yaseong loved hot Hollywood actresses, hated America. Upstart nation barely founded, always strutting. Sure, they deterred war in Korea, but bruised pride stung.
Someday, maybe reunify North and South. With this suit's weapons, spaceship arsenal—could conquer the North. Found a new kingdom, crown himself king...
Nah, hold off on reunification. United Korea under democracy? No kings allowed. Brits were ditching theirs already.
Think it over later.
The Americans stayed put, silent as the alien went quiet. First contact—had to tread light. Black suit, backpack gadget, floating in the sky. Not your average foe.
One wrong move, massacre. They aimed to avoid poking the bear.