Alex rushed at the stranger, his anger flaring up as he swung his fist toward the man's throat. "What did you do to Charles?!" he shouted. But just as he made contact, the man's body dissolved into a cloud of glowing particles that faded away. In an instant, the stranger appeared behind Alex and kicked him hard, sending him rolling across the ground.
Struggling to lift his head, Alex was confused, unsure of what had just happened. Before he could think it through, another powerful kick slammed into his face, throwing him against a wall. His body hit with a thud, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. The stranger walked toward him, his voice full of arrogance: "You're way too reckless, Alex. You need to learn your place."
Even with the pain burning through him, Alex stood up slowly, his anger still burning. "Damn you!" he yelled, glaring at the stranger. The tattoo on his arm flickered oddly, triggering one of his hidden powers—(dumb luck... (-_-)). He moved faster now, charging at the stranger, but the man vanished into particles again.
Alex spun around frantically, searching for any sign of the man's return. His heart pounded, ready for anything. Suddenly, the stranger appeared above him, coming down with a crushing kick aimed at his head. Alex tried to dodge, but it was too late. He hit the ground hard, pinned down by the weight of the blow.
The stranger pressed his knee into Alex's chest, holding him firmly. "You can't beat me, no matter what you do," he said coldly, his voice steady and sure. "You still don't get the game, and you definitely don't understand who I am."
Tired and frustrated, Alex looked up at the man holding him down. His mind raced, and the truth hit him hard: he couldn't use all his tattoo's powers here. The university was watching every move he made, and if he revealed too much, he'd be stuck in an even worse situation.
As Alex desperately searched for a way out, his mind raced for any opening in this virtual world. He felt helpless, but giving up wasn't an option. "There has to be a way… He can't be unbeatable," Alex thought.
But before he could finish thinking, the stranger interrupted him again, still holding him down. His voice was filled with pride, every word making Alex feel smaller. He spoke slowly, like he knew he was in control: "Stop wasting your time thinking. You're not going to beat me, especially not here."
A chill ran through Alex as he realized the stranger wasn't bluffing. Something about his voice made it clear that he was in full control.
The man's voice grew deeper, the air around him seeming to get colder: "I am the system in this virtual world. I am the code. I'm the strongest here, the fastest, the smartest. I see everything, control everything in this simulation. Call me what you want, but my name… is Turing."
"Turing?" Alex thought, the name sounding strange. But the way the man said it—it was more than just a name, it was power. Alex realized this wasn't just a test, it was a world fully controlled by a mind that saw everything. The idea of fighting something this powerful made his heart race, but there was no other choice.
Turing leaned in closer, his face cold and calm, every move he made sending chills through Alex. "Now, Alex, listen closely," his voice was calm, but full of disdain, each word laced with a threat. "You won't beat me, no matter what you try. Do you know why? Because I am the heart of this system."
He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing: "If, somehow, you do manage to defeat me… this whole world will fall apart, the simulation will crash, and your test will be marked as a failure."
Turing's words hit Alex hard. He started to think, "Is he serious? If I beat him, everything collapses?" The pressure on him grew heavier, like it was crushing him from the inside. Fear, confusion, and frustration all swirled around in his mind.
Then, the voice came again, even colder: "Why don't you stop wasting time... and just give up fighting already?"
Alex felt his blood run cold. Turing's voice was deceptively calm, but beneath that calm lay something terrifying and bleak. Every word he spoke dripped with absolute cruelty, as if he took pleasure in watching Alex struggle in a trap he couldn't escape. "Think about it, Alex. No matter what you do, the outcome is the same. You will fail."
Alex swallowed hard, his thoughts colliding in his mind. Should he give up? Should he surrender? His mind screamed inside him: "No! I can't let him win! I can't lose here! But… if what he's saying is true… how can I get out of this without destroying everything?"
Turing seemed to read his thoughts, smirking as his cold eyes sparkled with a hint of enjoyment: "You feel it, don't you? The sensation of being trapped… that nagging thought circling your mind right now. I know you're thinking about resisting. But let me make something clear. Even if you fight with all your strength, you will fail. So be smart… and stop."
The pressure inside Alex intensified. Every part of him refused to give in. But how could he fight against a being that controlled everything, not just in the physical world but in his very mind? The idea of resisting Turing felt nearly impossible, yet there was a tiny part of him that refused to back down.
Turing loomed over him, with endless coldness in his gaze and a dark aura radiating power. Even the air around him seemed to shift in response. "What if I offered you a deal?" Turing said slowly, his words heavy like ice sliding slowly into a deep abyss, but they plunged straight into Alex's thoughts.
Alex felt an unbearable weight. "What kind of deal could a being like this offer?" he thought, doubts swirling in his mind. Was he even in a position to negotiate? Did he really have any other choice?
Turing leaned in slightly, as if presenting something precious, but his demeanor suggested he wasn't obligated to do so. His tone was calm and confident: "I will ask you three questions. Three riddles. If you answer them correctly, I will reveal what your test is in this virtual world, and you will be able to escape."
Alex's mind raced, trying to grasp what was happening. "Riddles?" He sensed a hidden trick, as if Turing was relishing the chance to present this offer, testing Alex on a deeper level than just strength or intelligence. "But is this just a trap?" thoughts echoed in his mind, his eyes darting as he tried to analyze the situation.
Then Turing added coldly, as if discussing something trivial: "Oh, and I'll leave that thing… what was its name?" He paused for a moment, as if recalling the name required unnecessary effort. "Ah, I remember. Charles. I'll leave him be. And I'll also stop the wave of monsters so you can complete your task."
The offer was tempting, but deep inside Alex, an uneasy feeling stirred. It felt like walking on a razor's edge. "Can I trust him?" he thought quickly, but time was not on his side. He had to make a decision now. "If I accept, at least I'll get some information. But if this is a trap… I could lose everything."
Alex's emotions were in turmoil. The feeling of helplessness against Turing's power weighed heavily on his chest. Still, he didn't have a clear alternative. Every other possibility seemed destined for failure. Time was slipping away, and he felt the decision he needed to make pressing down on him more and more. "I won't be able to defeat him the traditional way. He controls everything here; he knows everything. Maybe, just maybe, this deal is the only key I have left."
Turing raised an eyebrow slightly, as if enjoying watching Alex struggle with his decision. A faint smile flickered on his face, as if he already knew what Alex would choose. "Do we have a deal?" he asked in a soft voice, yet laden with gravity, his eyes glinting with lethal coldness.
"Can I trust him?" Alex thought again, but he knew the one truth in this situation: in this virtual world, Turing was the ultimate authority. If he wanted any chance of escaping, he had to face this challenge. No matter the danger lurking behind this offer, the only logical decision was to accept.
He took a deep breath, trying to mask the tension that engulfed him. Looking into Turing's eyes, he said firmly, "Alright, we have a deal." His tone remained steady despite the inner storm raging within him.
Turing flashed his cold smile once more, as if he were not at all surprised. "Good," he said slowly, straightening up, as though every movement made the ground around him feel heavier.
Alex continued to ponder: "But I'll remain cautious. I can't fully trust this being, even if it's a deal. I'll look for any loophole… even if it seems impossible."
Turing stood firm, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light, filled with hidden excitement. He knew the questions he was about to ask wouldn't be easy. He turned slowly, as if reflecting for a moment, then said: "Alright, the first question…" Turing took a deep breath, relishing every moment of the rising tension in the room. His eyes sparkled with concealed enthusiasm as he posed his first question: "If you had a perfect computer ,... Let's say for example capable of performing an unlimited number of calculations in a very short period of time..., but you had a process that required using a branch and bound algorithm to find the optimal solution among millions of options, so.... , what principle does this type of algorithm rely on to ensure efficient search reduction?"
Alex felt the weight of the question; it was far from simple. His mind began racing as he tried to recall what he knew. The algorithm wasn't new to him, but the context heightened his anxiety. For a moment, his thoughts felt foggy, but he quickly steadied himself and focused on the correct information. "okay , so the algorithm relies on reducing the number of possible solutions by eliminating branches early that won't lead to the optimal solution using bounding measures," he said confidently after a few seconds of contemplation.
A flicker of surprise crossed Turing's face, a fleeting glance that was enough to spark some hope in Alex's heart. Then suddenly, Turing began to clap exaggeratedly, like a child discovering something exciting for the first time. "Oh! Fantastic! Correct!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands vigorously, his eyes shining with unexpected enthusiasm. "Exactly right! How clever you are, Alex!" he added in a voice filled with feigned excitement, before abruptly stopping the applause as if he had been performing in a play.
Alex couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled by the bizarre reaction, but he realized this was part of Turing's game to psychologically control the situation. Turing paused for a moment, scrutinizing Alex with his sharp gaze, as if the boy before him had become more interesting than he had anticipated. After a few moments of silence filled with mystery, he grinned slyly and said: "Alright, Alex, the second question will be more complicated… get ready."
Turing tilted his head slightly back and spoke with an air of undeniable confidence: "Let's assume you're observing someone, and you want to assess their intelligence. However, this person lives in an environment devoid of technology and complex information; they don't read books and lack formal education,a peaceful life . Yet, you have only 24 hours, to evaluate them without speaking to or interacting with them directly.
So how would you as an evaluater determine their level of intelligence?"
The question was perplexing, a stark departure from the previous one. It wasn't about mathematics or programming; it delved into something much deeper. Alex sensed that this question demanded lateral thinking. He closed his eyes for a moment, recalling instances from his past where he had encountered individuals lacking formal education, yet whose natural intelligence astonished him. Slowly, he opened his eyes and responded with a blend of confidence and calm: "I would observe how they navigate daily challenges...., Even in a rudimentary environment, intelligence can manifest in how they handle surprises or unforeseen problems. in general , I would focus on their adaptability and how creatively they utilize the resources at their disposal. Intelligence isn't merely about the information one possesses; it's about leveraging one's surroundings to solve problems."
Turing stared at Alex for a moment, then erupted into a deep laugh, as if the depth of the answer had taken him by surprise. He leaped to his feet once again and clapped vigorously, this time with genuine enthusiasm. "Oh, Alex! You've done it again! Absolutely correct! And innovative, too. It's truly delightful to see how your mind operates!"
Then Turing leaned slightly forward, his gaze filled with challenge and excitement, as if he could hardly wait to pose the final question. "I'm not sure what will happen next, but you're making me eager to see how far you can go."