Draven sat on ice ridge overlooking gate with smartphone glowing in hands as everyone gathered close, curious about Earth glimpses preserved in device.
Scrolling through Daniel Hayes' photo gallery methodically revealed hundreds of images documenting ordinary human life casually.
First photo showed city street at sunset with tall buildings reaching skyward, glass surfaces reflecting orange light. Cars moved along paved roads as metal vehicles Daniel's world used for transportation. People walked sidewalks peacefully with faces relaxed and conversations casual.
No fear, no corruption visible, no defensive walls, no magical barriers.
Just normal life.
Feyra's small voice was awed. "Everything looks so clean. Organized. Peaceful."
Naelvorn leaned closer. "And check out those BUILDINGS! Massive! Like crystalline mountains but made of metal and glass!"
Next photo showed Daniel at restaurant with friends as smiling humans held strange devices, other smartphones, pointing at food arranged artistically on plates. Bright interior had comfortable seating with laughter captured mid-moment.
Technology everywhere with lights without fire, screens glowing on walls, devices in every hand.
Sylvara's analytical voice followed. "Their civilization relies heavily on these devices. Everyone carries one. Constant connectivity."
Another photo displayed park on sunny day with green grass, trees healthy and vibrant, humans relaxing without weapons, without vigilance. Children played freely as dogs, domesticated beasts, ran happily.
No corruption zones as nature thrived and life flourished.
Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "Peaceful coexistence. Humans and nature integrated harmoniously. No supernatural threats disrupting daily existence."
Stark contrast to Theia's reality.
Photo series showed Daniel's commute inside metal vehicle moving through city traffic with other cars surrounding him, thousands of vehicles in organized flow as paved roads extended endlessly. Buildings lined streets with infrastructure complex and maintained.
Zor's tactical assessment came. "Transportation network impressive. Organized society. Infrastructure suggesting advanced civilization coordination."
Another image revealed transit station with underground railway system as metal trains carried hundreds simultaneously. Clean platforms had electronic displays showing schedules while humans moved efficiently through system.
Malvorn's earth communion sensed through image somehow. "Massive construction beneath surface. Tunnels, foundations, utility systems. Engineering achievement substantial."
Frostina's composed voice followed as concentric ice-ring eyes studied images carefully. "They built this civilization during curse dormancy. Three thousand years of development without active supernatural interference. Result: technological advancement replacing magical dependence."
What Theia could have become if curse never manifested.
***
Draven scrolled to Daniel's most recent photos dated November 3rd, day before smartphone disappeared through dimensional gate.
Normal day with office building exterior, coffee cup on desk, coworker smiling at camera, evening skyline through window.
No awareness of dormant curse waiting, no knowledge of dimensional gates opening, no understanding that Fate's Revenge hung suspended over his peaceful world.
Eight billion humans living, laughing, building, loving, completely unaware supernatural punishment waited for unknown trigger.
"They don't know," Draven said quietly. "Curse dormant their entire history. They think peace is permanent."
Ignorance as blessing.
Feyra's small voice carried sadness. "We don't have that. Corruption zones spreading. Beasts enslaved. People suffering. Every day fighting just to survive."
Velnar's cautious addition followed. "Theia's curse active from beginning. We never had development period. Always struggling against supernatural threat."
Different fates with same punishment but different manifestations.
Earth had dormant curse, peaceful development, technological civilization.
Theia had active curse, constant struggle, survival-focused society.
Naelvorn's quieter tone emerged. "And now Fate's stealing OUR mana to wake THEIR curse. Using us to fuel Earth's catastrophe. Kinda messed up, bros."
Cosmic injustice as Theia suffered to empower Earth's eventual destruction.
Malvorn's steady voice countered. "Which is why we find Anchors. Stop curse on both worlds. Give Earth warning. Give Theia peace."
Mission clarity.
Sylvara's nature magic probed smartphone gently, sensing Earth through preserved images. "This is what Theia could become. If curse stops. If Anchors enable proper merger. Peaceful civilization. Nature thriving. People living without constant fear."
Hope visible in glowing screen as future seemed possible if they succeeded.
Draven looked around circle at three Overlords committed to search, loyal pack ready for impossible quest, cosmic artifact guiding them, smartphone window showing peaceful world worth fighting for.
Gate swirled behind them as dimensional bridge drained Theia's mana, Fate's plan advanced, timeline unknown.
Five Anchors somewhere across Theia, or Earth, or lost in void.
Find them, however long it took.
"We keep searching," Draven said firmly. "This—" gesturing to smartphone, "—this is what we're fighting for. For both worlds."
***
Malvorn's crystalline features were thoughtful as earth communion extended instinctively. "Raziel should know. Five Anchors, smartphone discovery, mana drain, Fate's plan, information affects all Overlords. Coordination necessary."
Frostina nodded agreement as frost bloomed along sapphire scales. "Fire domain needs same intelligence. Unified search more effective than isolated efforts."
Naelvorn grinned. "Plus Raziel's been searching volcanic regions for gates. Dude should know what we found!"
Practical coordination as Overlord alliance shared critical intelligence.
Draven nodded. "Share everything. Northern ruins findings, smartphone data, cosmic theories. Complete picture."
Three Overlords' eyes simultaneously brightened with Malvorn's crystalline silver, Frostina's concentric ice-rings, Naelvorn's bioluminescent teal as Overlord network activated.
Telepathic-like connection spanned Theia as earth communion, ice domain awareness, ocean network, three elemental pathways converged, reaching toward volcanic regions northeast where fire Overlord maintained territory.
Information transmitted, not words exactly but shared consciousness as collective knowledge transferred. Experiences, discoveries, theories flowed through dimensional resonance connecting four beings transcending mortal limitations.
Anchor revelation transmitted: five glowing rods, human-sized, bevel patterns, coordinate points for merger, currently lost.
Smartphone discovery followed: Earth device, Daniel Hayes, technology glimpses, peaceful civilization visible.
Mana drain detection completed package: Fate preparing catastrophe, forced merger or mass extinction possibilities.
Complete intelligence package transmitted instantaneously.
Response arrived through network as fire Overlord's presence manifested briefly with volcanic heat signature recognizable even through dimensional connection.
Message simple: *Acknowledged. Volcanic regions contain no Anchors detected. Will continue systematic search. Mana drain implications concerning. Will monitor fire domain energy levels. Coordinate further as developments occur.*
Professional, efficient, Raziel's characteristic directness.
Network connection faded as eyes dimmed and transmission completed.
Information shared, alliance coordinated, search continuing.
Smartphone glowed in Draven's hands as Earth remained visible but unreachable.
Gate swirled behind them as dimensional bridge advanced Fate's plan.
Quest ongoing.
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