Akira stepped back to make way for Yousef, who came out from behind him, saying in an arrogant tone, "Sir Keno, with all due respect, the soldiers can’t take any more of this. This terrifying atmosphere and the unknown things have destroyed our mental health. Even these strong suits can’t extinguish our fear of the unknown. We have gathered enough reconnaissance data. Let’s go back and return another day. This will be better for everyone. Isn’t that right, my friends?"
Everyone mumbled and nodded their heads in agreement with what he said. Keno objected, his voice rising in intensity, "I told you before, anyone who wants to turn back can go back. You all played the hero and continued the mission with me, so know this: there is no turning back now until we carry out our mission. This mission is for the sake of humanity. Don’t you see that we are on the brink of extinction? That our resources are running out? That there is not much time left until everyone dies of hunger! Maybe five more years until the last drop of water and loaf of bread is gone. Will you let some fleeting emotions like fear control you and make you forget why we came here? Will you let down everyone who has placed their last hope in you to fix everything and return victorious, all because of your fear? Our mission will make history. While you want to go back, there are comrades of ours who are also risking their lives to reach their goal and finish their mission, and I don’t think they have asked their leader to return. You should be ashamed of what you are saying!"
Yousef felt ashamed of what he had said and slowly retreated into the crowd to hide himself. After a few seconds of heavy silence, one of the soldiers said with confidence and enthusiasm, "I will complete my mission and will not retreat. I have a family that I want to be safe, and I do not want them to starve."
Another said, "And I will continue. I may not return, but at least I will try to make a better future for all people."
"Despite my great fear, and I will not pretend to be strong, I will continue until I breathe my last."
"These suits will protect us, I’m sure. Ali’s suit has regenerated and returned to how it was after the part that covered his hand evaporated because of the unknown substance."
Everyone looked for Ali, and he raised his hand to show them that the suit had a regeneration feature.
Keno said, a smile hidden behind his helmet, "It’s decided then. We will continue our mission now."
Keno stood before the strange passage that suggested it would drop them into the clutches of the vastness of space. He said with hesitation, "I will go first!"
One of the soldiers said with concern, "Sir, what if this passage actually leads to space? How will we get you out of it? You should wait first and let us think together about all the possibilities."
"There are no possibilities, soldier. The matter seems as clear as day. There has never been such a phenomenon in the history of our planet. It’s all an illusion, and I will show you myself. And if I don’t come back—which won’t happen, but let’s assume I don’t—only then do you have the right to return to Atlantis and inform headquarters of what happened." Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵
Everyone was silent; no one uttered a word, while the wind shook the trees, and the leaves danced to the consistent rhythm of the wind. Keno prepared for this risk while everyone stared at him in silence, fear, and anticipation. Keno extended his hand slowly and cautiously, and his hands began to pass through the passage until his whole body had passed through and he had completely disappeared. Everyone stood bewildered about what had happened to him! They found no answer to their question until they saw a body emerging from the passage toward them. They took a few steps back in readiness and fear. Keno emerged, safe and sound.
"Cross over now," he said firmly. "You have to see this!"
The soldiers looked at each other in confusion, astonishment, and happiness at Keno’s success in crossing and that he was right; everything was an illusion created by the machines. They felt some reassurance. They saw Keno returning to the passage, and before he crossed, he said in a frightening tone, "It seems the illusion is not the only thing here!"
The soldiers did not understand his meaning, but his words filled them with some apprehension and anxiety. They began to move behind him in regular rows, with the war machines beside them. They crossed the passage one after another until they found themselves in what seemed to be another world, as if they had crossed a space gate that had transported them to a completely different world.
Yousef crossed the passage and felt a strange change. He looked around, his jaw dropping in surprise, and he heard the sounds of astonishment and surprise from the other soldiers as well. They were standing on water, but it was a strange water. Somehow they did not fall into it, and it did not pull them under. It let them stand on it. It was solid water, but not like ice. It was water with an extremely high density that enabled them to stand on it.
Everyone looked at the ground in great surprise, and with every step they took, the water rippled under their feet. One of them said with astonishment tinged with confidence, "It must be another illusion!"
"No, this water is real!" Keno said, interrupting him and shattering his hopes into scattered pieces.
"I have analyzed its components. I’m sorry to say that it is extremely dense water, and we cannot drown in it or drink from it. It is a truly strange phenomenon. I’m starting to suspect that we have really crossed into another world. But this is not the most amazing thing here. Look around you."