As days passed Aerin and his team spent as much time as possible together, then a visitor arrived on Sunday…
"Hello Aerin, I've come to teach you more about this new world before you have your first real challenge in this world," Léōn said.
What do you mean real challenge?
"All will be revealed in time. Just be patient my child, you will know tomorrow," Léōn explained.
"Anyway, first I'll explain the way this universe functions and its layers.
The first, highest layer is what humans think of as the entire universe—the Surface Layer.
It has three spatial dimensions and one temporal dimension, filled with multiple worlds and galaxies.
Directly beneath it is the second layer, The Labyrinth. This world has seven extra spatial dimensions but still just one temporal dimension. It has a physical ground like your world, but because of those extra spatial directions, it is significantly more vast.
Below that is the third layer, The Chrono-Plains. This world shifts the rules, offering three spatial dimensions but two temporal dimensions. Like the realm above, it has solid ground on which its beings can stand.
Finally, at the very bottom sits the foundational realm, The Apex Citadel. This is the bedrock of everything, holding all ten spatial and all two temporal dimensions at once. Yet, just like the rest of the layers, it is a literal world with a physical ground for its inhabitants to walk upon.
In The Apex Citadel exists a tree called the Tree of Life and two angels guarding it.
The Tree of Life can grant immortality with its four distinct fruits. The first fruit looks like a golden apple but it shines brighter than the sun and it grants eternal life. The second fruit looks like a white strawberry but it is whiter than white and it grants the ability to be unbound and to control life and death. The third fruit looks like a mango but it is greener than green and it grants regeneration from the complete destruction of the body and soul. The fourth fruit is the most powerful but it can only be eaten by those pure of heart. It looks like a half black and half white dragon fruit and grants the ability to reincarnate or resurrect not just yourself but others from the complete erasure of their body, soul, past, and future.
Anyway, that is the way this universe is structured.
Now to explain a little bit about the portals.
Well, the portals are actually artificially constructed. You see when The Morningstar fell from glory he became the embodiment of evil. And as such the beings that followed him to rebel against the absolute became evil as well, those same beings are now making worlds and connecting them to earth with the portals you see.
So your assumption was correct, the dungeons are a part of the same space-time as earth," Léōn explained.
That's a lot to take in.
"I know it is but it's important for you to know because one day you will have a place in my army," Léōn said as he disappeared.
What did he mean? Once again I'm left with more questions than answers.
Then someone knocked on the door and Aerin answered it…
You guys again, what does John need now?
"Tomorrow you are to participate in the raid of The Dungeons of Doom," the men dressed in black said.
"You will meet your teammates tomorrow at 9 am sharp in front of The Adventurers Administration Building. Your team must stay home. Further information will be provided tomorrow at 9 am. Don't be late," the men in black said.
As the men in black left Aerin pondered for a while before returning to his room to spend time with Aelira…
To be continued…