The moment he passed through the portal, Neos's feet landed upon solid, familiar ground.
The first thing he felt was the air... clear, pure air, filled with vigorous life force and orderly energy fluctuations.
Every breath seemed to cleanse the dust from his soul, bringing peace and strength.
He looked around.
He stood at the edge of a white platform, with the fading points of teleportation light behind him.
And before him...
Was Terra.
Yet it was not the Terra he remembered.
The sky was a clear azure, dotted with soft white clouds hanging high above.
The air carried the faint fragrance of flowers and fresh grass.
As far as the eye could see stood elegantly arranged silver-white buildings, each one a work of beauty.
Soft halos of light flowed across their surfaces, blending perfectly with the surrounding green belts, parks, and lakes.
In the sky, gracefully shaped aircraft moved silently along invisible routes in perfect order.
Farther away lay a scene brimming with life.
Forests, grasslands, rivers, oceans... this planet had regained the beauty and abundance worthy of humanity's cradle.
People walked along the roads in neat attire, their expressions peaceful.
Children chased and played in the parks, their bright laughter ringing like silver bells.
Adults either strolled at an unhurried pace or spoke with smiles on their faces.
Every face glowed with a kind of... heartfelt peace and hope.
It was a sight Neos had painted in his dreams countless times, yet had never truly seen realized on Terra.
There was no oppression, no fear, no desperate struggle to survive at any cost.
There was only peace, prosperity, and a sense of security.
It was even more perfect than the ideal world of his dreams.
Neos stood there quietly for a long time.
The lines of his stern