After a strange spell of disorientation.
Gilan's vision sank into darkness.
It was as though he had lost all sense of time and direction, able only to let his body and consciousness travel through an unknown space.
He did not know how much time had passed.
Gilan felt himself pierce through an invisible yet exceptionally resilient "membrane," arriving in an entirely new realm.
His feet suddenly touched solid ground.
Faint sounds of bustling activity reached his ears.
He opened his eyes.
Gilan found himself standing in an alley. The surroundings were spotless and orderly; even the trash bins had gleaming, mirror-like surfaces with a distinctly technological feel, electronic nameplates mounted around their middles.
He looked up at the sky. It was clear and cloudless.
There was even a "sky screen" above the urban sprawl, like a projection, broadcasting the major news of recent days.
A beautiful AI female streamer with a sweet voice, dressed in a silver uniform, sat smiling before the camera as she read the news:
"...The 'Seventh-Generation Human Genetic Optimization Serum' project, developed by the 'Glass Rose' laboratory, has made major progress. According to Mr. Jebel Condi, head of the laboratory, this generation of genetic serum can effectively eliminate disease-causing factors in humans and greatly extend natural lifespans to as much as 150 years."
"The first batch of one hundred thousand genetic optimization serums is expected to officially go on sale on the 55th of next month."
"...It has been learned that the mysterious hazardous incident in the High Tower District the day before yesterday was caused by two lone mystics. It has resulted in four deaths, multiple injuries, and economic losses that have yet to be fully calculated."
"The Empire's Hand of Order has dispatched its God-Chosen unit and apprehended the two suspects, who await further