"I was 17 years old when I discovered the unknown world that hid itself from me… and at the same time, the world came to know me as well." - Evans, the Year 1316 APC.

More than a thousand years ago, Portals opened up all over the world.

​​

It took the whole world by surprise, but then, the System Holders were born, exploring the depths of the Portals and successfully closing any that appeared. Clearing the monsters outside and within, sacrificing their lives so that the world will once again become safe.

The people of the normal population considered them to be heroes.

But even then, perhaps they came too late. 97% of the human population was already gone, almost wiping them out entirely, as well as their civilization.

Africa. America. China. Philippines. Japan. United France. North Korea. India. Egypt. Australia.

These were the only countries that survived the calamity, most had become a dead zone-- where portals, monsters, vagrants, rogue civilizations roam about. Even after a thousand years, even with the help of the System Holders who cleared out Portals, now known as Explorers-- the humans had still not fully reclaimed their lands.

But still, the Explorers risk their lives to this day. Their heroism and tales, being told throughout history and the present.

They were heroes, but some of them are treated as gods.

And one such individual was now looking towards the horizon as she stood tall on the edge of the deck of a large ship; her eyes as if looking at a long-lost paradise she once left.

Charlotte Gates-- one of the only few Platinum Explorers, and the strongest Enhancer-type System Holder in the world. Her legends are known almost by everyone. How she cleared a whole Portal with just her hands stretched inside it, how she destroyed a whole guild by herself because they were annoying her son, how she defeated a Gold-class monster with one hand, how she destroyed a whole mountain with just her fist…

...And how she saved the whole country of Africa when their very own Platinum Explorer died from the threat of a Black-class monster. The people of Africa treated Charlotte as a deity-- The White Imvubu, they called her.

And then there was Van.

A young man, 17 years of age; his eyes also looking ahead towards the land that finally welcomes him after almost 10 days of… just water. It was exciting the first night, as the sea seemed mysterious to him as if there was a monster waiting to pop out at any time.

But after 2 days of that, Van just spent most of his time sleeping. With everything that had happened to him these past few months, it was probably his most peaceful sleep yet. He got thrown into a prison Portal, became the leader of the people of that Portal, met a god that proclaimed himself to be his half-brother, reunited with his friends…

...But probably the most important of all was meeting Evangeline. If there was anyone in this world that knew who he really is and was, it would be his biological mother. But alas, she remains elusive, only wishing for Van to discover the truth himself.

And so now, they were only a kilometer away from stepping into a new land. Van was already almost an outcast in his own country, and now he enters a country where he will be a stranger.

"...Their port seems to be bigger."

Now that their ship was preparing to dock, Van could not help but notice the vast difference of Africa's port compared to the one they have in America.

"You haven't seen anything yet, boy," Charlotte let out a light chuckle as soon as she heard Van's words, "That is just one of the perks of not having the Circle meddling with your country. The influence of the Circle is almost non-existent here, you'll be like a baby finally learning how the world works."

"Is it… really that different?"

"Just see for yourself."

"Wh--"

"Queen Charlotte! Queen Charlotte!"

"Look here!"

"There she is!"

Before Van could finish his words, his voice was quickly drowned by screams coming from the people that suddenly rushed towards the docks, as well as the horn of the ship, signalling that they could finally disembark from the ship.

"Where did all of these people suddenly come fro--" Van turned his head towards Charlotte. But as soon as he saw her expression, he could not help but shut his mouth.

Charlotte's face was completely… gentle. She was waving her hand towards the people with such elegance; almost as if she was a different person.

"I am back, everyone."

Charlotte slowly walked down the stairs, still waving her hand to the people. Surprisingly enough, even though the people were in a frenzy, none of them approached her. Instead, they became silent, bowing their heads as Charlotte passed by them.

And soon, they began to hum.

Charlotte closed her eyes as she too slightly bowed her head. Seeing as everyone was doing it, Van felt that he had to do it too. They stayed like this for a few seconds before the song faded away.

"The Ballad of the White Imvubu." Charlotte then whispered to Van.

"White Imvubu?"

"Yes. It's what they call me here," Charlotte said, her tone filled with pride, "It means the Great White Lion."

"...Isn't it White Hippopotamus?" Van raised an eyebrow.

"W… where the fuck did you hear--"

"Queen Charlotte, we have prepared a feast for your arrival!"

Before Charlotte could finish her question, a loud voice echoed through the port, completely shutting down the cheers that once again filled the air.

"King Badru." Charlotte's tone once again shifted to a gentle tone as she slightly stretched her hand towards the person that was approaching them, "It has been a while."

Van slightly squinted his eyes as he was once again taken aback by Charlotte's sudden change in temperament. But after a few seconds, he looked at the dark-skinned man called Badru, who was now kneeling in front of Charlotte.

Badru then carefully reached for Charlotte's stretched hand, slightly shaking it. "Africa is very thankful for your visit, White Imvubu."

Charlotte lightly cleared her throat as she gestured for Badru to stand up, "I have told you, Badru, you do not need to call me that."

Badru quickly shook his head, "You are this country's hero."

"You are a hero of this country as well."

"As long as you exist, none shall be hailed as Africa's hero." Badru once again bowed his head, and the people followed suit.

"And this is… your grandson?" Badru then turned his attention towards Van, "He is a lot younger than I thought he would be. Your son was here a year ago and he was telling us how big his son was… I see he still has the tendency to lie."

"No," Charlotte let out a slight chuckle, "This is Van, I am taking care of him now but he is not my kin… at least not yet."

"Va-an?" Badru slightly leaned down as he talked to Van, "Did you enjoy trip, little Va-an?"

"..." Van blinked a couple of times as Badru talked to him as if he was a baby, "It was a peaceful trip, Mister Badru."

"!!!"

"Ah!" Badru patted Van a couple of times on the shoulder as he burst out in laughter, "So you have learned our language? As expected of the White Imvubu's protege."

The hums of the crowd that was near Van and Charlotte suddenly filled the air as they looked at Van with their eyes wide open.

"..." Van once again blinked his eyes a couple of times as the eyes of the people were suddenly all on him. Even Charlotte held a shocked expression on her face. Van was a bit perplexed as well, but after a while, he finally understood what just happened.

The others were speaking in a language foreign to him. Van felt something was weird at first but he couldn't determine what it was, but now he does. The movements of the mouth of Charlotte and the others have not been in sync ever since he stepped foot on the land.

"...The Academy taught me several languages," Van slightly bowed his head, imitating Charlotte's temperament.

Bullshit-- Charlotte thought. But she just let out a small chuckle as she faced King Badru.

"Good, that is good," Badru clapped, "Now come, I am sure both of you are tired. Your feast awaits!"

King Badru waved his hands, and as soon as he did so, the crowd dispersed, making a way for Van and Charlotte.

"It seems you really are as special as your mother said you are," Charlotte whispered to Van, "I wonder how many secrets are you keeping in that little body of yours?"

"...Probably a million." Van casually replied as he followed King Badru. His casual tone, however, was quickly destroyed as a huge box with tires welcomed them outside the port-- a car.

This was only the second working car that he has seen in his life; not to mention this was bigger than what Sarah had back in America.

"It seems they are really treating you with respect, Miss Charlotte," Van breathed, "As expected of the Great White Hippopotamus."

"..." Charlotte could not help but twitch her eye as she heard Van's words. But after a few seconds, she let out a long and deep sigh, "It's just a car, boy."

"What do you mean just a ca--"

Before Van could finish his words, a thundering noise echoed throughout the air… followed by the appearance of another car.

And then another.

And another.

Until 5 cars lined up behind the car that initially welcomed him.

"W… what?"

"Pft," Charlotte let out a quiet scoff, "Welcome to a country without the Circle, Van...

...Welcome to the rest of the world."