As we approached the massive gates of the Safe Zone, I realized what an impressive structure loomed before us. The gates were huge and rose high into the sky. Their massive metal plates gleamed in the sunlight. Around the gates stretched a high, fortified wall, guarded by watchtowers and armed guards. Their watchful eyes scanned the surroundings, ready to repel any intruder.
We approached the entrance, and I could see the clearly visible scanners in the walls. They glowed a soft blue. People stood patiently in a line waiting to be checked. As I got closer, I heard the soft hum of the scanners as they used their sophisticated technology to screen each visitor.
After the security check, we entered the city. The streets turned into a maze of dilapidated buildings and narrow alleys. The once proud skyscrapers were now crumbling ruins, their walls covered with graffiti. Daylight filtered through the holey roofs into the dilapidated rooms that served as improvised shelters.
People lived in dilapidated shacks cobbled together from rusty metal plates, torn tarps and old wooden boards. The streets were littered with trash, and the acrid smell of decay and poverty hung in the air. Children in worn clothing played among the piles of rubble while their parents desperately searched for food and water.
There was no electricity, no running water, and no sanitation. People struggled against hunger as they laboriously picked their way through the rubble. Desperate merchants tried to sell their meager wares on improvised stalls, while being ignored by the wealthy who entrenched themselves in their protected district.
But suddenly an unexpected apparition appeared in front of us. A dazzlingly bright light broke through the dull clouds and illuminated the path in front of us. We paused for a moment and looked in the direction of the light, which seemed to emanate from a distant government facility.
As we entered the state facility, we were greeted by a dazzling light emanating from the state-of-the-art light panels on the ceiling. The building was an architectural masterpiece of the future, with smooth, shiny surfaces and clean lines that exuded an atmosphere of efficiency and technological advancement.
The entrance hall was spacious and airy, with impressive glass walls that overlooked a lush green area. Futuristic plants with glowing leaves and floating water fountains formed a harmonious symbiosis between nature and high-tech.
Automated robots greeted us politely and directed us to the various departments. Their gentle movements and smooth gestures gave the impression that they were alive. All around us were people in elegant clothes and modern suits, busily going about their tasks.
The walls were adorned with interactive holographic screens on which information and data were presented in bright colors. In the laboratories, researchers worked with state-of-the-art equipment and conducted complex experiments, while in the offices, employees worked at holographic monitors and manipulated virtual reality with gestures.
The woman led me to a futuristic terminal that lit up in front of us. "Put your hand on it here," she said, pointing to the smooth surface. "We're just checking your skills and attributes. NORI's unification system represents them as numbers, similar to an MMORPG."
Carefully, I placed my hand on the terminal and felt a gentle tingle as NORI's unification system began to record my information.
===
Name:
Tim
Skills:
[Python] - 2
[Java] - 3
[C++] - 5
[Cooking] - 2
[Writing] - 2
[English] - 2
[German] - 6
[Gaming] - 3
[Geography] -1
[Biology] - 2
"What the hell? You know about programming languages? And what is this German anyway? And you don't have any survival or regeneration skills? Where the hell did you come from?" she asked, confused and with a mixture of disbelief and wonder.
"I thought you were valuable, but you won't survive here long with skills like that. You know what? Try the church, maybe they'll take pity on you," she added, her words sounding slightly snide.