Leo walked back to his room, the strange information device in hand, uncertain of what to expect once he activated it.
"I wonder what kind of information I'll find inside?" Leo murmured as he settled into the plush chair in his luxurious bedroom.
With a focused expression, he began carefully connecting the modules to his head, each click of the attachments echoing softly in the quiet room.
He tried to follow Kid's guidelines precisely, attaching every module exactly where it was supposed to go.
"I hope this is right…" he said at the end, as although he did connect the device to the best of his abilities, there was always a risk of brain damage when trying odd devices on the mind.
[Insert message CD here]
A white label with black text read, as Leo placed the information CD within, causing the device to boot-up automatically.
[Checking user identity….]
[Confirming identity…..]
[Loading message….]
[Boot-up complete, Displaying message]
The device said through a speaker, as once the device was ready to project the information, it began doing so, directly into Leo's brain.
************
The sensation that Leo felt after the message device activated was similar to logging into the world of Terra Nova, but slightly different.
While logging into the game daily felt like a routine experience, this felt slightly foreign, which was mostly the reason behind why Leo felt uncomfortable at first.
Then, as he found himself completely immersed in the message world and relaxed, the message finally began to play, with a small pixie fairy flying in front of him.
"So cadet from outer world! You have finally decided to join the most prestigious institution in the whoooole of universe! Congratulations!" The fairy said in the most childish and shrill voice, as Leo almost let out an involuntary laugh.
The fairy seemed to believe he was a new military recruit and was apparently treating him as such.
"It's my understanding that your knowledge about the wider universe and its accepted practices is a bit lacking because you have come from a different planet, but that's okay, for today, me, pixie will tell you all you need to know!" The small fairy said as it flew excitedly around Leo's head.
"Firstly, let's talk about planets where you might be deployed to complete your missions!" The fairy said, as the background behind her shifted from green fields and trees to two split screens, showing two spherical planets.
Then, the pixie twirled in the air, her tiny wings leaving a faint trail of glittering light as the two planets behind her began to rotate slowly on the split screen.
One glowed with bright neon lights and metallic structures reaching into the skies, while the other shimmered with hues of green, gold, and deep brown, its forests sprawling endlessly under clear blue skies.
"Alright, cadet! Pay close attention because this is super important!" the pixie chirped, her voice ringing with exaggerated enthusiasm. "The universe, vast and endless as it is, can broadly be divided into having only two types of planets: Technological planets and Ecological planets!"
The left screen zoomed in on the first planet—the Technological Planet. Leo's eyes narrowed slightly as towering skyscrapers made of gleaming steel and glass came into focus.
On the technological planet, the roads were filled with sleek, hovering vehicles snaking through the air as they crisscrossed between the mega-structures.
Mechanical drones zipped around like metal bees, while cybernetically enhanced humans walked briskly, their glowing cybernetic limbs reflecting the city's ambient neon glow.
"Technological planets," the pixie continued, "are marvels of scientific advancement! Here, technology reigns supreme. Everything you can think of—teleportation corridors, flying cars, state-of-the-art medical facilities, cybernetic augmentations—everything is available and in constant use! Think of them as cities of light and steel, constantly buzzing with energy and invention."
Leo watched as the camera panned across a bustling marketplace where vendors sold futuristic weapons, mechanical limbs, and holographic gadgets. In the background, a massive teleportation corridor glowed with vibrant blue light as travelers blinked in and out of existence in a seamless stream of movement.
"However!" The pixie's voice rose as she fluttered to the other side of the split screen, where the second planet began to dominate the display. "Ecological planets are completely different!"
The view shifted to reveal a sprawling forest, ancient trees towering so high that their branches disappeared into the clouds. Rivers shimmered with crystal-clear water, cascading into waterfalls that roared with life. Amidst this paradise were villages—small, humble settlements made of stone, clay, and natural mortar. Structures rose organically, blending into the environment as though they had grown directly from the earth.
"On Ecological planets, all forms of modern technology are strictly forbidden!" the pixie emphasized, her tiny finger wagging at Leo as though he were already guilty of breaking this sacred rule. "No flying cars, no cybernetic implants, and not even advanced medical devices are allowed. These planets live and breathe in harmony with nature. Their cities are built using stone, clay, and natural materials, not concrete and steel."
Leo felt an odd sense of calm wash over him as he observed the serene beauty of the ecological world. It was an untouched paradise, yet there was something almost intimidating about its raw, unyielding natural power.
"The universal government has clear rules about engagement on these planets," the pixie continued, her tone growing serious. "On Technological planets, warfare and enforcement rely heavily on advanced weapons and technology. Armored mechs, plasma rifles, and orbital strikes are all fair game. But on Ecological planets?"
The camera panned to a group of warriors standing atop a hill under a stormy sky. They wielded swords glowing with raw mana, bows that shot ethereal arrows of light, and staves crackling with elemental energy.
"Fighting on Ecological planets must be done using primitive weapons—swords, bows, spears—and, of course, mana. The moment you draw advanced technology into an ecological world, you've committed a crime against universal law. And trust me, cadet, the consequences are not worth it."
The two planets faded, leaving only the pixie hovering before Leo, her wings fluttering softly.
"So there you have it!" she said with a flourish. "Two different worlds. Two completely different sets of rules. And you, dear cadet, might find yourself on either one, so remember the rules of both!"
"Next, we talk about the different types of enhancements you can possibly undergo at the military–" The fairy declared as with a clap of her tiny hands, the background behind her shifted again, and Leo braced himself as the next segment of the message began.