Chapter 1 - Native American? (1)

Chapter 1: Native American? (1)

The rise and development of science and technology evolved at a faster rate than the general public expected. Ten to twenty years ago, their accelerated creations and invention that would have only been a figment of their imaginations, at last, came true.

And now…

Man conquered aging.

Previously, mankind’s highest life expectancy was 120 years and has now jumped to eternal life. Aging, it had finally been conquered. Thus, man painted a rosy future of infinite time… that was… until… a giant asteroid approaching earth was discovered.

***

Kim Kiwoo exhaled and the smoke from his mouth dispersed into the air. He stared at the scattered smoke blankly. 

The sky was brutally blue. It looked as if it was laughing at the humans who’ve achieved and created a highly advanced civilization. 

‘Will today be the last day I’ll see this perfect scenery?’

Beyond that deep-blue sky, in the vast universe, was the giant asteroid, Narvas, nearing closer to the blue planet. In less than a day, Narvas would collide with planet earth. 

Then what? 

‘Earth will become a planet with unbearable living conditions.’

No matter how advanced they were as a civilization, the chances of survival were slim. 

‘Why has it come to this…’

Kiwoo resented the heavens. Perhaps… if given a few more decades, mankind would have become an interplanetary species and avoid their potential downfall. 

Technological singularity was in sight and an unparalleled scientific revolution was bound to come, but much to their dismay, time was not on their side.

Kiwoo sucked the butt of the cigarette and exhaled out puffs of smoke. His inwardly frustrations lingered.

“I knew I’d find you here.” A husky voice tooted from behind, a voice Kiwoo was overly familiar with.

“What are you doing here? You don’t even smoke?” Kiwoo said, not once bothering to turn his head.

“Heh… to see you of course.”

“Hah. You’re all set and this is how you want to spend your last day? With me of all people? That’s not right. What do you want from me?”

“Am I that obvious? Jesus, your hunch is like that of a ghost. Since you know, let’s go now. I have something to show you.”

Kiwoo finally looked at Son Sungjoong’s face. His lips twitched looking at Sungjoong’s carefree smile. 

“You’re not afraid?” Without filter, Kiwoo asked the thoughts pervading his mind immediately.

He omitted death for both parties knew well what he meant. 

Kiwoo felt somewhat apologetic for his words, but his pride prevented him from uttering another word, but after much thought to apologize for the slip of the tongue…

“Fear.” Sungjoong cut off Kiwoo. “I thought I could finally be free from the clutches of death, but I’m about to die. Who wouldn’t be afraid? Don’t you know it’s anarchy outside right now?” Sungjoong croaked, his voice dry and shriveled up at the thought of death.

“…..”

It was as he said. 

The world had been thrown in a state of panic and anarchy at the news of Narvas, an asteroid, colliding with Earth. 

That would be the end of the human species.

Only those able to survive from the cataclysmic event were those with enough capital to venture out into the open space via spaceship, but chances of survival were slim.

“But we can’t just stay like this, can we? I didn’t stop trying. Let’s go down after you’re finished. It’s time.”

“…Fine.”

Kiwoo knew what Sungjoong spoke of. It was an invention but vaguely stated. He had no choice but to rely on the hope of extreme probability that was infinitely close to zero.

But what could he do?

This was the only hope for that speck possibility of survival he could place all his wishes to.

This was the most powerful thing mankind could do at present.