Reality hissed back like a breathing beast.
Pods began opening, one after the other, their metallic lips parting with a smooth hydraulic exhale. Fog bled from the edges, licking the cold floor as groggy minds stirred awake. Arms twitched. Chests rose and fell with unfamiliar breaths.
"Congratulations to the candidates of Ascension Protocol. The simulation was a success," CORE's voice announced, its tone dead-flat, void of any human triumph.
Juno's eyes opened in an instant, veins in his arms flaring with barely contained fury. The moment he felt the cold chill of the real world again, he knew something was wrong. His body tensed, his senses weren't adjusting fast enough—but his rage was already home.
He tore the chips off his arms and neck like they were leeches. His legs stumbled as he emerged from his pod, shirt damp with sweat, eyes darting around at the scientists waiting with polite applause.
Two gentlemen stood right above where Zane had guessed them to be right above the white room, watching them. Same masked faces. Same expressionless judgment.
Juno recognized the old scientist immediately. The one who had made promises. The one who had said everything would be fine.
The promise of safety.
It had been all lies.
Juno charged.
His fist collided with the man's jaw, a sickening crack splitting the tension in the room. The old man crumpled like paper, blood spraying from his mouth, a tooth bouncing across the floor.
"HEY! What did you do that for?!" Another scientist lunged at him.
Juno didn't stop.
Another jab. This time to the gut. The man folded with a shriek and crumpled beside the first.
"SECURITY!" someone yelled.
The doors burst open. Two guards entered, tasers already crackling. Electricity shot into Juno's ribs, and he collapsed with a groan, body seizing as the cuffs clicked around his wrists.
"Leave him alone, you vultures!" Rika's voice cracked through the room like a whip. She was still half in her pod, face flushed with fury.
"Let him be," came a voice from above.
The guards hesitated. Then obeyed.
Juno lay on his knees, arms bound, head down. He raised it slowly, breathing hard, eyes fixed on the glass window above.
"Player 003, can you tell me the reason for this rash action of yours?" The man's voice echoed clearly in the room as if a hidden speaker was perfectly resonating his voice
Juno spat.
"You called that a simulation. One you created. Controlled. You said we were safe. We just had to survive."
"That is correct."
"Then why did they —?"
He stopped.
The applause had stopped. Everyone else had climbed out of their pods now. Some stood silent, others looking around. Something was wrong.
Juno turned. His gaze fell on the other test candidates.
Several pods hadn't opened. Their lights glowed red. No hiss. No movement.
A sharp chill prickled down his spine.
He stumbled forward, knees shaking, toward the silent pods. One after the other.
Red. Red. Red and Red.
Rika was beside him now, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Mason. Cindy. Silva. Herald. Sienna. They all took turns observing the various pods.
They formed a half-circle around the sealed pods.
"What…" Rika breathed. "What is this?"
"Why aren't they waking up?" Cindy asked, her voice cracking.
"Life or death….Juno" The scientist who was attacked said, his hands carefully caressing his jawline where it hurts.
"What the hell happened?!"Herald snapped.
"You said no one would die in there!" Sienna screamed. "You said it was a test!"
"OPEN THEM!" Silva banged on one of the pods, panic rising in his chest like wildfire.
No response.
Just red. Just silence.
Above, the masked men watched.
"It seems," the one in white finally said, "you did not read the terms of the agreement thoroughly. The Ascension Protocol was made very clear: it was either life or death. You signed willingly."
Juno's head snapped up.
"Wait I thought it was in the game?" Silva spoke up, confused.
"You set us up."
"You agreed to the stakes."
"They were innocent," Cindy screamed. "We thought this was a trial! An experiment!"
"It was an experiment," the second masked man said, unmoved. "But every worthwhile experiment comes with a risk. You wanted Ascension. Not all are worthy of it."
"Bastards!" Silva shouted.
"From your viewpoint, we might be the enemy but we seek evolution for humanity, a way in which human consciousness can live for decades or…..even centuries."
"Bull shit." Silva cursed
"They died proving your point?" Sienna gasped, hands clutched to her chest.
"In a way yes, they died proving our theory and concepts." The other gentlemen in black cloaks spoke up.
Juno clenched his jaw until it trembled. The others gritted their teeth in anger and pain.
"I'm done here."
Mason concluded raging through the crowd towards the exit door. A taser brought him to his knees, his eyes shut in pain as his body shook in reaction.
"What…what are you doing?" Silva asked, surprised. The agents took him out of the room, unconscious.
"I'm afraid, no player be leaving until you attain your purpose in the simulation system." The gentlemen announced.
"You will be provided with food, shelter and attention if needed, you've taken the first step for humanity's evolution and survived." The second spoke. "There's no turning back now, it's either Life or death."
They gazed at each other in disbelief, Cindy grabbed her hair in regret, descending on the cold room floor, her head sinking into her knee.
"Three things caused the death of your subordinates, Players". One of the Manageries, finally let go of his stationary pose, grabbing a wine and a glass goblet.
"One…..Fear"
He poured slowly.
"During the experiment, our esteemed scientists picked up unnatural waves from your respective pods…one that showed you were afraid.Though we didn't know what made you scared. Whatever it was made you break the second law."
"Rule two….." the other gentlemen continued "….Running from your opponent."
"We clearly stated DO NOT RUN!"
"Like hell you wouldn't" Rika muttered under her breath.
"We ensured that your compatibility with this experiment was within range of 80% upwards."
"Meaning?" Silva broke the silence.
" Everyone would have survived if you had cooperated against your opponent and accomplished the task given to you."
"Well guess what?" Rika walked forward, bold. "Your dumb system goal changed, we were asked to kill the creature that attacked us including one of our candidates."
"Yeah, indeed it was a life or death situation…..Real life or real death situation!" Cindy yelled.
" I am sorry if the system acted rashly and claimed one of their lives," He continued, gesturing with his hand to further make clear his point.
"….As included in the contract, all lives lost we are not responsible for but compensations would be sent to the deceased guardians and families."
"So what now?" Juno, who now lay on the floor, requested. " We just wait here until we die?"
"Quite the opposite, our personnel shall guide you through to your various halls, I believe we have more than enough."
A button hummed as the main exit slowly opened up. Three female attendants stepped in orderly.
"Please follow them to your resp—"
"Wait!" Someone exclaimed, cutting the gentleman short of words.
Juno looked startled all of a sudden, his eyes scanned the room as if searching for something or someone.
"Where…where is Player One?"
All gazed fell on Pod E —17AC, his signature beacon still gleamed green.
The Gentleman tilted his head towards his second "..is there still another survivor? CORE?"
"Yes, Manageries" A female voice echoed back.
"Run a data analysis on Player One" One of them commanded.
{Initializing...
Player One also known as Zane Everhart….
Error Detected….
Data resources not found….}
"Try the revalidation protocol" The other masked gentleman informed, tension seamed into the air.
{Revalidation protocol engaged….
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Error: Player Number One does not exist on main profiles}.