C-Lab; one of the most prominent and successful technological laboratories in Japan; stood as a beacon of scientific progress. Its towering presence in the heart of the city reflected the nation's ambition, pushing the boundaries of what humanity once thought impossible. From groundbreaking medical advancements to artificial intelligence, C-Lab was hailed as a gift from above, a testament to the brilliance of human innovation. At the helm of this prestigious institution was Professor Elkanor; a man in his late 70s whose vitality defied his age. His intellect was unparalleled, and his research had laid the foundation for countless scientific marvels. Despite his wrinkles and graying hair, he moved with the energy of someone decades younger. The biggest mystery is how he is able to keep fit than a lot of people younger than his age.

  Evening had fallen over the city, casting its amber glow upon the lab’s glass exterior. Most of the researchers had already left, their shifts over, leaving the facility eerily silent. However, within a secluded section of the lab, two scientists remained. A pair of eyes was watching intently the slight changes of a test tube, its contents bubbling and sizzling. Observantly following the minute changes within the solution, reflecting both curiosity and anticipation. The lab’s dim lighting cast elongated shadows as the liquid within the tube fizzed and hissed, releasing a faint vapor into the sterile air.

  Those eyes narrowly dimmed as the solution within the tube went up in a small puff of smoke, clearly not happy with the feeble to no results. They greeted their teeth then slammed their hands unto the side of the table. Resigning to defeat, they reached to pinch the bridge of their nose; hoping to negate the migraine setting in.

  “Another failure.” Marcus Christian, a man in his early 30s with sharp features and a pair of rectangular glasses, sighed as he adjusted his lab coat. “Best to call it a night, don’t you think?” This made Marcus turn his head to the direction of the voice. A few meters from him was a dark skinned man of tall height, his back turned from Marcus as he was absentmindedly fidgeting with some arranged apparatus.

  Marcus scoffed at the man’s proposition. “Of course you’d say that, James.” James turned his face, his pristine moustache twitching. This was James Wailer, a former military scientist turned researcher, and a childhood friend of Marcus. “What can I say, this is already the umpteenth time we are working on this.”

  Marcus’ eyebrows dimmed to a frown. “Do you ever think this will work?” That question made James frown as well, only to emit a weary sigh. “Where’s this coming from all of a sudden?”

  “It’s been nearly a decade we’ve been working on this. How can I NOT be thinking about that?” James chuckled at his friend, “I’ve always told you to avoid cooping yourself down here. Believe me when I say this, but racking your head over this would get you nowhere.”

  Marcus seemed to contemplate this for a while, till a defeated sigh escaped his lips. Exhaustion fully written on his face. “Yeah…maybe a break would be sufficient.” James smiled at that and wrapped an arm around his best friend. “Tell you what. Let’s try this one more time then we call it home, it’s already late. We wouldn’t want our families to worry about us.”

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  “I suppose you’re right.”

  "Aw come on Marcus don’t look so down. Who knows," James muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion yet laced with excitement. "Maybe a miracle could come from above. God works in mysterious ways, you know."

  The other scientist, leaning forward slightly, let out a small chuckle. "Yeah," he replied absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere, pondering the endless possibilities their research could uncover.

  Unbeknownst to them, something far beyond their realm of understanding was unfolding in the vast expanse of space.

  Far beyond their world, at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, a formation of jagged, uneven crystals hurtled through the void at blinding speeds. Their origin was unknown, their composition alien to any known celestial body. A cosmic anomaly in its purest form.

  Then—collision.

  A massive meteor, drifting aimlessly through the abyss, slammed into the crystalline mass, causing a violent explosion that sent fragments scattering across the universe. Some were flung into distant galaxies, lost among the stars. Others, however, remained on a direct course toward the Solar System.

  As they drew closer, they broke apart further, dispersing into smaller shards—each still brimming with an otherworldly energy.

  And then, drawn by an unseen force, some of these shards hurtled toward a singular destination—Earth. Several spread around the seven continents surface. A shard landed down to Japan.

  More specifically—C-Lab.

  Meanwhile, inside the lab, the two scientists had just stepped out of their experimental chamber, stretching after hours of meticulous observation.

  "I swear, if this batch turns out to be another dud, I'm gonna—"

  He stopped mid-sentence, his brows furrowing as something caught his eye through the reinforced window.

  A faint glow.

  Frowning, he squinted, trying to get a better look. "James… What the hell is that?"

  His colleague, James turned his gaze towards the sky. James was known for his keen instincts and unshakable composure. But even he felt a strange unease as he saw what Marcus was referring to.

  A streak of light, brighter than a shooting star, tearing through the atmosphere.

  No. Not just one. Several.

  Their blazing trails burned a path across the sky, but one was growing larger by the second. And it seemed to be heading their way.

  "That’s not normal…" James muttered, stepping closer to the window. His fingers reflexively tightened around the edge of the counter.

  Then—impact.

  A deafening boom rattled the facility as the first shard struck. Alarms blared as the force of the impact sent tremors through the lab, knocking over beakers and test tubes. Cracks splintered across the reinforced glass, and the emergency lights flickered erratically.

  Marcus stumbled backward, gripping onto a nearby workstation. "An explosion?! Are we under attack?!"

  James barely had time to react before another blast rocked the building. This time, the ceiling above them groaned, debris cascading down as the structural integrity of the lab was compromised.

  Then, a strange hum filled the air.

  It was deep, resonating from the very walls, as if something was alive within the fragment that had fallen into the lab. The shard; brilliant in color; pulsing like a heartbeat lay scattered on the floor. The strange piece radiated an energy unlike anything the scientists had ever encountered.

  James, ignoring his survival instincts, took a step closer. His breath hitched as he stared at the shard, glowing with an eerie greenish blue hue. The longer he looked, the more unsettling it was becoming.

  “James!” Marcus called out as he reached his partner. He too was looking at the crater formed on the floor where the shard resided.

  “Wh-what am I looking at exactly?” Marcus whispered to himself.

  “How am I supposed to know.” James muttered back; the two individuals too fixated at what they were looking at. Across the globe, more residual shards scattered and landed on random sites and locations. A global phenomenon was soon to occur.