Chapter 1001 So-Called Apocalypse
Rudy couldn"t help but wrestle with the question of whether the girl was truly Rebecca"s sister or if she was addressing Rebecca as "sis" out of respect. He was certain that if Rebecca had a sister, he would have known about it. However, the significant changes in the worldline raised the possibility of a new familial connection, such as a previously nonexistent aunt.
As Rudy pondered these thoughts, he realized that he needed to learn more about the changes that had taken place in this world. To do so, he needed a reliable source of information. His initial plan was to search the internet, but he was well aware of the challenges in navigating a digital landscape filled with fabricated information, biased narratives, and unreliable sources.
Rudy considered seeking answers from someone else, but he recognized the limitations of that approach. No single person could possess all the answers he sought. Reluctantly, he decided to rely on the internet as his primary source of information. While he knew it was far from ideal, it was currently his best option. Rudy resolved to proceed with caution, knowing that he could cross-reference the information he found and dig deeper as he continued to navigate this new and intriguing worldline.
Rudy had made up his mind to head to his room and start his research on the changes in this unfamiliar world. He stood up from the couch, ready to make his way to his room. However, just as he was about to leave, the girl called out to him, asking where he was going.
Rudy replied, "I"m going to my room to do some homework."
The girl then made a request, "Could you do me a favor and plug in my laptop to charge? I"ll need it later to revise my project."
Rudy agreed and began searching for the girl"s bag, but it was nowhere in sight. Perplexed, he asked her, "Where"s your bag?"
The girl replied, "It"s in my car, parked outside."
Rudy"s eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. "Oh! We have a car?!" This was the most astonished he had been since entering this new worldline.
The girl handed him the car key, and with a sense of wonder, Rudy ventured outside to fetch her bag. He returned to the living room with the bag in hand, ready to plug in her laptop as requested.
Rudy had been mulling over the girl"s ident.i.ty and considering how to address her properly, given that he knew neither her name nor their relationship. An idea struck him, one that could potentially provide some valuable information.
"Hey, can I use your laptop?" Rudy inquired, keeping his tone calm and reasonable.
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Why? I need it charged, though."
Rudy replied, "I"m working on an essay about everything that"s happened in this world. I could do it on my phone, but you know how much better and helpful it would be on a big screen."
The girl contemplated his request for a moment before granting her approval. "Sure, you can use it. But please, make sure not to touch my project files."
Rudy nodded in agreement and powered up the laptop. As it booted up and the screen came to life, he couldn"t help but notice a profile named "Jessica."
"So her name is Jessica," Rudy thought. Learning the girl"s name was a significant step forward. He also couldn"t help but notice the similarity between "Jessica" and Rebecca"s name, which further fueled his growing belief that she was indeed Rebecca"s sister.
Rudy was so elated upon discovering the girl"s name, Jessica, that he didn"t immediately notice the laptop was pa.s.sword-protected. After a few moments of exploration, he asked, "Hey, what"s the pa.s.sword, again?"
The girl"s response was cryptic but confounding, "You know it."
Inside, Rudy was thinking, "I don"t! And that"s why I am asking you!" However, admitting that he had forgotten the pa.s.sword didn"t align with his character. It wasn"t in his nature to forget something he had once learned.
Then, on a whim, Rudy decided to input the pa.s.sword as "You Know it." To his surprise, it worked, unlocking the laptop and revealing the desktop screen. Rudy"s intuition had served him well, and he was now presented with an opportunity to explore the contents of Jessica"s laptop to learn more about this worldline.
Rudy opened the laptop"s browser and began to search for information about the world he found himself in, but he struggled to find the right words to phrase his questions. He needed to understand when and why the towering structures existed and whether they were a common occurrence throughout the world.
As he delved deeper into his research, Rudy discovered that the towers had emerged seemingly out of nowhere just five years ago. The peculiar aspect was that these towers had gates that only opened once a year, allowing humans to enter. Those who ventured inside gained superhuman powers and the ability to wield magic. It wasn"t just the towers; colossal gates also appeared, but they never opened.
The world had been plagued by portals from which monsters emerged, spreading terror and havoc. In response, humans formed teams of heroes who had gained their powers from the towers. However, everything changed three years ago when the gates of the towers stopped opening.
Rudy couldn"t help but feel a sense of disbelief as he read the article. The information he had uncovered felt like something out of a fantasy novel, a far cry from the reality he had known. Additionally, a nagging gap in his memory was revealed as he considered that he couldn"t recall anything from the age of 12 to 17, a mysterious five-year lapse that only added to the enigma of this altered world.
As Rudy delved deeper into his research, Jessica"s voice interrupted his concentration. She called him and informed him that they were out of an essential ingredient needed to prepare Rudy"s favorite dish. With a touch of urgency, Jessica asked Rudy if he could make a quick trip to the market to purchase the missing ingredient.
Rudy saw this as a great opportunity to venture outside, not only to acquire the needed item but also to explore the parts of the town that had undergone significant changes due to the so-called apocalypse.