Perspective: Jetdoe | September 2025
After finishing a simple breakfast, we moved to gather under the shade of a large tree by an old concrete pavilion at the roadside. Both trailers sat quietly along the outskirts near the West Gate of Xishuangbanna. The scent of damp earth and meadows drifted on the breeze. Just a few kilometers ahead lay a crucial junction: one path led to Luang Prabang, while the other was a shortcut into Chiang Lap, Sawn’s home turf.
The view before us was paradise on earth. Puffy white clouds drifted lazily across the vast sky. Emerald rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see, looking strangely soothing. A lone palmyra palm stood solitary under the gentle morning sun. Breezes blew intermittently, keeping the air cool and comfortable... yet my heart was racing as if stoked by fire. The serenity outside was in stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest.
Sawn, looking no less stressed, splashed some water to rinse his mouth before turning to ask Ju-yeon in a voice he tried to keep as gentle as possible. "How are you holding up? Is the journey exhausting? Did you sleep well in the hammock last night?"
"I’m not tired at all. The hammock was comfortable, but I couldn't sleep a wink..." she replied without taking her eyes off the screen. "I’m worried about Natalie and Paipai. The signal just cut out abruptly. I can't reach them at all... thank you for asking."
This North Korean girl possessed a remarkable inner strength. She sat with a perfectly straight back, her fingers flying across the keys of a battered, ancient-looking laptop with expert precision. Her fair, unadorned face was set in determination. Her sharp, defiant nose complemented her puckered lips as she scoured for any trace of a signal coordinate that had vanished into the void.
"Is that equipment still holding up? I saw you tapping away at it all night," I asked, glancing at the tools she was trying to modify.
"The machine might look old, but I’ve upgraded it with top-tier hacking hardware. However, the frequencies here are too static..." She bit her lip. "I’m trying a Brute-force
Sawn tossed a large bag down beside her.Ju-yeon looked up and offered a slightly shy smile when she saw the clothes inside. "The athletic wear from those two... we’re the same size, so it fits perfectly. I don't have any money on me. These items are still new and very useful," she answered clearly, maintaining a calm, disciplined stance like a well-trained soldier.
I looked at her with a burgeoning sense of admiration for how quickly she had adapted. Taking the clothes of missing friends without hesitation was true survival instinct. Her military background must have forged the knowledge that in a world on the brink of ruin, pride is trash. The only thing of value is staying alive to wait for the chance to become strong again.
"And what’s all that on your lap? Why is there so much of it?" I shifted to sit next to Sawn, looking at the cluttered gear on the North Korean girl’s lap with annoyance. Loweis sat opposite us with a smug grin, looking as if he were waiting to see how I’d needle her next.
Ju-yeon paused and cast a flat gaze my way. Her lips twitched slightly before she spoke in a monotone, matter-of-fact voice. "Hacking equipment you wouldn't recognize. This machine is for Packet Injection to interfere with external signals. And this one has to run the Brute-force
I was dazed by her answer but refused to lose face. "I thought you said you had no money?"
"The Panasonic Toughbook and this hacking gear were bought with Natalie’s money. The clothes I’m wearing too... and she gave me ten thousand dollars in cash." She pulled at the lapel of her thin gray shirt to show me before whipping out a wad of cash, looking as proud as a child receiving a prize.
I observed her eyes. This girl didn't have a shred of shame about receiving things from others. There wasn't a hint of feeling inferior or 'less than' in her gaze.
I liked people with this kind of spirit—someone who doesn't sweat the small stuff, accepts their circumstances in hard times, and moves forward directly. But still... I had no intention of being nice to her. She might get too comfortable and become even more of a burden.
"That girl is really that generous? Then why didn't she pay for my car repairs too... God, what a mess." I grumbled, thinking of that bratty intern who annoyed me so much. I couldn't believe the Natalie who seemed so arrogant could be this open-handed.
"She said she doesn't usually use much money anyway. Once I get a job, I’ll pay her back every cent," she replied without looking up. Her small hands continued their rapid-fire on the keyboard without pause.
In the moment she wasn't grinning with squinting eyes, I noticed her large, bright, and determined eyes. Her smooth, rosy skin complemented her shoulder-length hair that fluttered in the wind...
"So how did you pull it off? Getting her to pay for everything like this?" I probed further.
Ju-yeon’s hands froze on the keys. "It seems you don't really like me," she said, looking up with a sharp, piercing glare. Her bluntness caught me off guard.
"Can't a guy ask?" I shrugged, feigning indifference, though I was secretly amused by the fiery attitude of this young female soldier.
Suddenly, Loweis jumped up. "Hey! Look at this! I found it... Oh my God, that’s some incredible driving!" He shoved his phone toward me, buzzing with excitement.
"Is this the blue BMW
Sawn leaned in with intense interest. "Tan snatched a car? What a sense of justice! He’s got guts!" He asked while pulling out his own phone to search for more info.
Ju-yeon let out a joyful cry. "Is it Tan? I couldn't see the car's color from the coordinates last night; it was just a blinking red dot on the screen... Look! Are Paipai and Natalie with him?"
Sawn handed her his phone.Ju-yeon grabbed it, her eyes almost glued to the screen. She swiped through, searching for clips. "There! That's Paipai in short shorts and pink ankle boots. I remember. This clip must be from before they got in the car. They were still running at the fountain roundabout." She and Sawn huddled so close their heads nearly touched.
I swiped through the clips on my own phone and let out a long sigh. I felt a twinge of regret for ever disparaging him, thinking he was just squandering his father's law school money on useless drifting. Who would have thought... his steering skills in this hellish situation would actually be saving lives.
"There are tons of clips, but after that roundabout, he just vanishes. Where the hell did he go?" Loweis asked, his voice tight with stress.
I swiped for new clips, feeling a growing knot of worry for Tan. If something really happened to him, I’d be in deep trouble with Ueang. Her favorite nephew getting hurt while I was around... I’d regret that for the rest of my life.
"What’s the move, Bro?" Sawn asked, jaw clenched. His eyes told me he was ready for action at any moment.
"You take these two to their destination first. I’ll find a way back to help them myself." I let out a long, heavy sigh. My brain was spinning, trying to figure out where to start. Thinking about it just made me resent those two girls even more. Trouble-makers since day one... cursed from the first moment we met until now!
Sawn pulled his phone back, nodding thoughtfully. "I’ll call La and Long San to bring the small trucks from home and swap them for these trailers. Let them handle the delivery in Luang Prabang for us," he suggested an out that aligned perfectly with my plans.
"Make it happen," I decided in that second. Sawn walked off immediately to issue the orders.
Loweis stepped toward Ju-yeon, who was still preoccupied with the screen. "Ju-yeon, let’s go wait at Sawn’s place first. Let Jetdoe and Sawn handle things here. We’re only a few steps away from Thailand now."
"Are you leaving right now?" She looked up, her face tight with stress and visible hesitation.
"The situation is too risky. Let Sawn deal with this," Loweis gave her a gentle smile. I agreed with him; Ju-yeon’s idea of going back to help her friends was reckless. Her life was at stake just as much as theirs.
"Friend, I hope you don't think I'm being selfish," Loweis turned to pat my shoulder lightly. Meanwhile, Ju-yeon’s fingers continued to fly across the keys until the laptop screen flickered with dozens of social media clips.
"Loweis, you take the North Korean girl out of this country first. This might get heavier than I can handle," I patted his shoulder back in understanding, then looked down at the female soldier. "You, get out of here. I can handle this problem myself."
But Ju-yeon looked at Loweis with a pleading gaze I had never seen before. "Please, you go with him... I don't want to be selfish. I want to repay my friends. Right now, Natalie and Paipai truly need help." She reached out and shook Loweis’s arm like a stubborn child.
"Everyone understands you’re worried about your friends, but this situation is beyond your capabilities," Loweis said, shaking his head.
Sawn walked back with a smug grin and sat in his original spot. "My guys will be here within two hours. Let’s wait right here!"
"Sawn... have your subordinates take these two back with them. They’re in the way!" I snapped, directing the tone at Ju-yeon. Part of me didn't want her to be stubborn; if Tan had committed a crime as serious as vehicle theft in China, the chances of survival were slim. And if she were caught, she could be deported back to face a severe sentence in North Korea.
She let out a sigh, slumping down and looking at the BMW’s coordinate history, muttering to herself, "Mankong Insurance Building... the last point before the signal cut out. Tan actually made it out of Guiyang."
Ju-yeon looked up, her eyes shimmering with hope. "Sir! Tan really escaped! Look at this. At the point the signal vanished, he had already fled the city!"
"Really!?" I quickly leaned down to look at the computer screen, my long hair falling over and covering the display completely.
"Which way did he go?" I asked frantically.
"The route heading toward Yunnan... but I’m not familiar with the roads in this section at all."
"Can you track Tan’s phone signal?" I asked, a new surge of hope rising within me.
Ju-yeon’s hands froze for a split second before she began typing even faster, the keys clattering loudly. "I can do it! If he had the navigation system on, there will be one final Data Packet containing GPS coordinates sent back to the server before the connection was severed... I need his number."
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
She rattled off more commands before hitting the Enter key with a loud The laptop screen displayed a 3D map of the route leading out of Guiyang, with a red line tracing along the main highway.
"There!" Ju-yeon pointed to the exact spot where the red line abruptly ended. "The last recorded speed was180 KM/H
I leaned in to look at those coordinates, my heart skipping a beat. "What does that mean? Did the device break, or did he just turn it off?"
"Neither..." Ju-yeon looked up, her expression filled with dread. "The signal didn't gradually fade. It just 'vanished'—as if it were cut off by something that instantly shielded all frequencies. If the car didn't explode, it means they’ve plunged into somewhere radio waves can't reach... like deep underground. And right there... is a Great Sinkhole."
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Anshun, Guizhou, China
Perspective: Officer Zhang Anna : September 2025
I gripped the steering wheel of the massive black van, swinging it onto the main highway. The wind shrieked against the chassis as we tore down the road at high speed under a hauntingly clear sky. Inside the rear cabin, the atmosphere grew heavy with tension as new data was fed into the system.
"Comrade Captain! CCTV spotted the trailers heading down toward Xishuangbanna around 8:00 PM last night. As for the phone signal provided by the informant, it vanished at Xingyi!"
"Forget the trailers. We follow the phone signal," Captain Gao ordered sternly.
Suddenly...
"Look at this, Captain! I think we’ve found the root of it all!" Soldier No. 1 reported, swiping an image from his personal screen onto the giant monitor at the rear door.
I glanced through the rearview mirror. The screen displayed playback footage of a blue BMWFast & Furious movie. The driver was elite—pedal to the metal, never once easing off the gas, even during the sharpest turns.
"This clip is from 8:00 to 9:00 PM in Guiyang. But we just received a confirmed report from local rescue units... this blue BMW
Captain Gao Litian tilted his head, staring at the chaotic footage. His eyes began to flicker with suppressed urgency. "Check the local news sites in Xingyi! Find more dashcam footage from civilians of the moment it went over. Now!"
The cabin fell silent for a moment, filled only by the rapid clacking of keys. Finally, Soldier No. 1 looked up, his face pale with shock.
"This has to be it, Captain. Look at this!"
He instantly patched a new video clip onto the rear screen.
The footage captured a heart-pounding moment: a tall young man with jet-black hair and sharp features—looking like a foreigner or perhaps of mixed race—swung a heavy fist into the stomach of a scrawny Chinese youth, the owner of the blue BMW
"Presumed vehicle theft for the purpose of escape!" Soldier No. 1 reported clearly.
I narrowed my eyes in surprise. Natalie didn't have friends, let alone male ones. Who the hell was this guy? We had barely been apart, and she already had a 'man' protecting her?
"The coordinates where the car vanished... it’s the Ancient Forest, a strictly forbidden zone," the soldier continued, highlighting a deep red coordinate on the map.
"Do you know why it's called the Ancient Forest?" Captain Gao asked.
"I don't, sir! All I know is that the strategic maps mark it with a skull and crossbones—the highest danger level." The soldier used a laser pointer on the screen. The Captain nodded before climbing over the seats to sit in the front next to me.
"Comrade Anna... have you ever been around here?" he asked, staring at me.
"I once went to Mu Lao Village for an experimental vaccine trial. It’s quite far from where the BMW went down, Captain. If you really plan on entering the Ancient Forest, the only way is to take a boat from there." I had been there to get the Tame 30 shot not too long ago.
"General Hao wouldn't be pleased that you came along," the Captain threatened, using General Hao’s name. The stench of stale alcohol and cigarettes on his breath made my head spin.
"I believe Dr. Natalie still listens to me. I can convince her without much trouble." I handed him a piece of gum.
"Ah, I see... Well, you are close to our target, after all." Captain Gao chewed the gum loudly, staring at the road. His breath smelled a bit better now, making him slightly more tolerable.
"I used to work with her," I replied curtly.
"What is she like?" He turned to look at me with those 'charming' eyes. He had been trying to flirt with me the whole way. Sorry, not interested.
"She’s brilliant and beautiful... but her arrogance is insufferable. I never really liked her. Sometimes she’s clumsy and dawning, like someone lost in the wrong era. Other times she’s just so eccentric you can't predict her move. She’s a workaholic to a fault. No friends. Never socializes. And she always has a book in her hand." I laid out Natalie’s traits for him.
The truth was, two years ago, we were best friends. We knew each other inside out. But we broke apart because of that damn vaccine. I wanted to deliver the results to the boss to close the project and get the promotion to pilot I had always dreamed of. But she was stubborn, refusing to budge.
"The order is to take her alive. We must bring her back. General Hao emphasized that this is top secret. We cannot contact local police directly. I’ll be relying on you, Officer Zhang."
He let his gaze linger suggestively on my chest. I stared straight at the road. He was just another one of those men lining up to hit on me, but his type was the one I detested most.
"Comrade No. 6, can we rappel down?" I asked, looking at the rearview mirror.
"Too risky, Officer. In the rainy season, the soil at the edge is waterlogged and could collapse at any moment. Statistically speaking... at that speed and that depth, everyone is likely dead."
Dead? Don't make me laugh, Natalie. You don't have the right to die until I get what I want. Your brilliance belongs in my hands, not at the bottom of some cursed pit. And this lecherous Captain needs to stop staring at me. If I didn't need his military force, I would have kicked him out of the van kilometers ago.
"What if we use wingsuits to glide down? Is it dangerous?" I wanted to see it with my own eyes... to know where Natalie’s body was buried at the bottom of that ravine.
"You can go down, but you can't come up," No. 6 shook his head. "More importantly, there are no records of anyone ever coming back. Only legends of it being a cursed forest."
"Every door is locked, then," I sneered at fate.
"Drones might not work either due to intense underground electromagnetic interference. Geological reports classify it as a Dead Zone. Even satellites struggle; the images are completely static."
I fell silent. Rain began to lash against the windshield. The scent of mint gum from Captain Gao didn't make me feel any more relaxed. The secret of that vaccine might be buried with that brat. Or... the Ancient Forest below might be a new cage I have to find a way to break into.
"To Mu Lao Village," I ordered decisively. "If we can't go by air, we go by water. Prepare the boat!"
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Xishuangbanna, September 2025
Perspective: Choi Ju-yeon
The gentle morning sun at the West Gate of Xishuangbanna did nothing to lighten the heaviness in my heart. Sitting on an old concrete pavilion bench, I tried to gather my scattered thoughts and focus on the laptop screen balanced on my lap. The breeze carried the scent of damp earth, a constant reminder that only a few kilometers ahead lay the fork in the road leading to my freedom.
I was torn between heading to Thailand with Loweis or risking my life to go back and help my friends who had vanished near that massive sinkhole.
"Look at this! I’ve found the exact spot where the phone signal dropped," I said, sliding the laptop toward Sawn.
"Send me the coordinates," he replied, frowning as he studied the images of the vast sinkholes deep within the ravine.
"I won't be coming with you. I don't want to impose on Loweis and the friends who worked so hard to get him here to help me. If I don't leave, their efforts will be for nothing. Please, just make sure you save Natalie," I said, lightly touching the back of Sawn’s hand.
Sawn rubbed the back of his neck and offered a broad, affectionate smile. "I’ll handle this. You head out first. I'll tell Natalie myself."
His eyes drifted dreamily whenever he mentioned Natalie. Tan and I had long suspected he had a crush on her, especially noticing Paipai’s jealousy. Sawn was as awkward and bashful as a teenage boy with his first crush whenever he was around her.
"Tan's phone signal just blinked out at that exact spot," I sighed. A signal loss there was far more concerning than one in the city.
Jetdoe walked over with Loweis, leaning in to glance at the screen. "Sawn! Tell Long-sun to take these two across at Tachileik. Make sure Ju-yeon is safely in the hands of the Thai police. Don't take your eyes off her until the South Korean embassy arrives."
My heart swelled with gratitude. Despite his foul mouth, I could sense that deep down, his roughness was just a defense mechanism. He was a warm person who simply chose to act cold toward his juniors and others.
"I’ll be in touch. I’m just not sure how you’ll be able to reach me, because I don't know what’s coming next or where life will toss me," I said, meeting his eyes with a thankful, sincere smile.
Loweis offered a calm smile. "Let me know how it goes. If I wasn't tied up with something important, I’d come help your 'younger brother' too. I’m praying that Natalie and Paipai survive."
A bright, polished yellow Hummer roared into view.
The massive vehicle pulled up in front of the pavilion. Four brawny young men stepped out, pressing their palms together at their chests and bowing respectfully to Sawn.
"Boss! Mai Sung Ka!"
"Long-sun! Hla!" Sawn acknowledged them and hurried over. His demeanor shifted instantly from Jetdoe's subordinate to a lion leading his pride.
"Boss! The military is coming back around. Hla snuck into Naypyidaw last week."
"I still have work to do. Hla, keep a low profile for now," Sawn said, patting the shoulder of the handsome, long-haired young man.
I turned back and took another long breath, feeling a pang of regret for not going back to help my two friends. I had to steel my heart as I reached out to say goodbye to Jetdoe.
"Sir! Thank you for all the kindness you’ve shown me. I wish you nothing but luck and hope you can save everyone. It was a pleasure to meet you."
He offered a gentle smile, his eyes sparkling as he took my hand and gave it a firm shake. "North Korean girl—stay safe, stay strong, and take care of your health."
Loweis moved in to put an arm around him and patted his shoulder. "I'm off, friend! See you next time."
"If possible, it'd be better if you didn't show your face again. Every time you turn up, there's trouble," Jetdoe laughed as they embraced.
I stepped back to stand behind Loweis, waiting to thank Sawn, who was still issuing orders to his men by the roadside.
A faint notification sounded from the phone in Loweis's hand. I glanced over unintentionally, and the light from the screen flashed directly into my eyes.
MESSIAH 2030
My heart nearly stopped. I remembered it vividly! It was the exact same symbol that appeared on the control system screens the day the global leadership summit in North Korea turned into a disaster—the day that forced me to flee my homeland under a death sentence!
Why did Loweis have 'Messiah' data on his phone? Who exactly was he?
The desire to go to Thailand was instantly replaced by extreme paranoia. Loweis wasn't just some ordinary guide... who gave him his orders, and why?
Feeling uneasy, I stepped back and observed Loweis closely, searching for any detail that might link him to that code. But all I saw was a tall European man, looking like any other.
After he walked over to Sawn, I hurried to Jetdoe. "Sir! I’ve decided to go with you instead," I whispered, glancing back at Loweis.
He immediately waved me off. "No way."
"I can help you, and you need me."
"Do you have a fever? Why the sudden change of heart? Get out of China! You're safe now," he said, shooing me away and refusing to listen.
"I don't want to go yet! I want to help Natalie. Please let me go with you." I couldn't explain the real reason, so I could only offer a pleading gaze.
Loweis walked back. "Ju-yeon, let's go! We're ready!"
My heart hammered, but I had to make a choice. "Loweis! You go on ahead. I’m going back to help my friends first."
I saw a flicker of irritation in his eyes for a split second before it vanished into a calm mask. "Why the change of heart? We’re almost at the border."
The images of the MESSIAH 2030 text from the summit flashed in my mind alongside the face of Kang Sang-ah, filling me with suspicion.
"Loweis! I lost my last friend at the Yalu River. Out of fear, I had to turn and run into China without even finding his body. It breaks my heart every time I think of him. I won't let another friend go without trying again!" I forced my voice to stay firm, glancing at Jetdoe for help, but he looked away.
"How am I supposed to answer Dr. Yan Liyin if she asks why you didn't leave?"
"Liyin is my childhood friend. I’ll email her and explain it myself."
"What’s really going on?" He narrowed his eyes, and my heart raced under the intensity of his blue eyes.
"Loweis! I’ll look after her," Jetdoe's short sentence was like a hand pulling me out of a swift current. Finally, he stepped in. Relief surged through me so strongly I almost wanted to hug him right there.
"But I came here specifically to get her, as you saw," Loweis said, keeping his emotions well under control.
Sawn frowned, rubbing his arm as he looked over. "This is the last chance."
"Did I do something wrong? Why the sudden turnaround, as if I’m some kind of criminal?" Loweis's tone made my heart sink, but the image of that secret code haunted me too much to trust him.
"Jetdoe! She's friends with the person who sent you. You guys can talk it out later. Besides, she owes a debt of gratitude to Natalie. If she wants to repay her benefactor, let her do it first. If you’re not in a hurry, come with us. What do you say, Sawn?" Jetdoe turned to Sawn, who was standing there scratching his leg.
"Since the Big Boss said he’ll take care of it, then that's that... Loweis, you should head back first," Sawn added firmly, waving Loweis off dismissively.
Loweis hesitated a moment longer before letting out a soft sigh. "Fine then! I’ll be on my way. Take good care of yourselves."
He looked strangely crestfallen as he shook my hand to say goodbye. "If you make it out of China, contact me."
I hid a small smirk as Loweis walked out of sight. Jetdoe probably thought I was happy to go on an adventure, but the truth was, I was just relieved to have escaped the shadow of 'Messiah.'
"Get in the car!" Sawn shouted, leading the way to the Hummer.
I ran after Jetdoe, feeling an indescribable sense of happiness. "Let’s head to the massive sinkhole! I’ll show you that a hacker from the 'Lazarus Team' can do much more than you ever imagined!"
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Hi everyone,
The Last Standing: 2030
"Ancient Forest"Tiankeng sinkholes
In this arc, expect:
- A World Beyond Time:
- High-Stakes Survival:
- Mystery & Exploration:
- High-Stakes Survival:
The real adventure begins now!