Morning light slipped through the window.
Van Thien slowly opened his eyes.A familiarceiling.
A familiar room.
"…I'm home?"
Before he could sit up—His mother rushed to his side.
"Trời đất ơi! Finally you woke up, you little brat!"
His father stood behind her, arms crossed, letting out a long sigh.
"You scared the hell out of me yesterday. What were you trying to do—kill your old man with fear?"
Van Thien pushed himself up, still dazed.
"…What happened to me?"
His father replied immediately.
"People found you passed out in the rice field. Lucky the local police brought you home."
"Otherwise, who knows what would've happened…"
Van Thien fell silent.He remembered everything.The battle.The creature.The power.But—He couldn't say a word.
His mother placed her hand on his forehead.
"Maybe you got shocked from that 'meteor' yesterday."
His father nodded.
"Yeah, all this weird stuff… thinking about it gives me a headache already."
Silence lingered.Then suddenly—His father clapped his hands lightly.
"Anyway, forget it."
"Oh right—Ba Tu invited us to go to Hà Nội."
Van Thien blinked.
"…A trip?"
His mother smiled.
"Yes, we've never been there before. Let's go see Ha Noi for ourselves."
After everything that happened—
Maybe…
Getting away wasn't a bad idea.He let out a small smile.
"…When do we leave?"
"End of this week," his father said.
"Everything's already arranged."
Van Thien turned to the window.The wind brushed across the distant rice fields.
"…Ha Noi…"
Weekend — 5:00 AM.The sky was still dim.
"Get out of bed, baby! Hurry up, brush your teeth and get dressed—Ba Tu's car won't wait!"
Half-awake, Van Thien stepped outside.Cold water.Fresh air.He changed quickly—T-shirt and jeans.Simple.Normal.Like nothing had happened.A few minutes later—The whole family gathered at Ba Tu's house.Neighbors were already there:
Co Ba.
Chu Nam.
Bac Bay.
Voices filled the air.Laughter.Excitement.A trip.The car arrived.Everyone got in.Since he got carsick, Van Thien sat in the front with his father.The engine started.The journey began.The car rolled past familiar rice fields.Slowly—Concrete houses replaced wooden ones.Traffic grew heavier.The world changed.
Van Thien looked out the window.His old elementary school passed by—Trường Tiểu học Thái Mỹ.Memories flashed.Running under the sun.Carefree.Near the market—Even at 6 AM—It was alive.
Voices echoed everywhere:
"Fresh fish here! Come and get some"
"Ghé mua cá đi em!"
"Fresh water spinach, everyone!"
"Rau muống tươi nè bà con!"
Engines.Laughter.Life.
Van Thien watched quietly.
"…Everything feels normal…"
"…Like nothing ever happened."
The car continued.Buildings rose higher.Wires tangled above like a web.Urban life slowly unfolded.
Near Cu Chi — National Highway 22
The driver spoke up:
"Time for breakfast! Anyone hungry? I know a good spot nearby!"
Ba Tu laughed.
"Take us to a good spot, please!"
"Got it!"
A few minutes later—The car stopped.
A signboard stood in front:Pho Quynh Mai
256 National Highway 22, Tan Thong Hoi, Cu Chi
They stepped inside.Spacious. Clean.Warm.Bowls of Pho arrived.Steam rose into the air.
Van Thien ordered:
"No scallions, please!"
Simple.Comforting.After eating—Some went to the restroom.Others returned to the car.
A few minutes later—Everyone regrouped.
"Everyone here?" the driver asked.
"That's everything!"Ba Tu answered.
The engine roared again.The car moved forward.Bridges.Rivers.Boats drifting below.Van Thien stared outside—And suddenly—A vision flashed.A massive fleet.A port.Warships.Then—Gone.
"…What was that…?"
The road stretched ahead.And then -Something appeared in the distance.Massive.Imposing.
Long Thanh Airport.
Steel. Glass. Structure.Modern.Powerful.
For a moment—
Van Thien froze.A strange feeling rose inside him.Familiar.Too familiar.
"…Why does this feel like I've seen it before…?"
Inside the luggage compartment—A small bag trembled.Barely noticeable.Inside—A tiny device flickered.Red light.Blinking.A mechanical voice whispered—Almost silent.
"Target signal… locked."
Far above—Something responded.