"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the Nations in the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog-and gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore."
A voice sounded softly in the dim space, reciting ancient verses in a calm tone. As the measured recitation continued, a faint sense of holiness seemed to fill the air.
But someone soon spoke, breaking the atmosphere.
"Mr. Grisha, please stop reciting scripture. I really can't understand any of it."
Li Ran scratched his head helplessly.
Across from him, the blond man stopped praying and looked over calmly with clear eyes.
Don't stare at me like that...
Li Ran found it strange, but to make sense of his situation, he cleared his throat anyway. "Ahem, Mr. Grisha, where were we? Oh, right. You said you were some sort of researcher, and you came here to study this stuff."
As he spoke, he pointed beneath him.
Splash...
A shallow layer of thick black liquid covered the floor, cool against the tops of his feet. On closer inspection, the liquid looked illusory and strange, as though it contained every possibility. And for some reason, whenever he looked at it, he seemed to hear the constant, gentle sound of the tide.
"This stuff really is unusual. No wonder you came to study it."
Li Ran shook his head. "But it still doesn't make sense. You said you came here in 19XX, but it's already... 20XX."
If the other man was telling the truth, then several decades separated their arrivals. Yet the white man opposite him was clearly still young, without any visible trace of the passing years.
"And I remember perfectly well that I was hit by a big