Chapter Thirteen: The End or the Beginning?
Elias stood face-to-face with a truth far beyond anything he had anticipated. As he stepped through the massive gateway that had opened before him, he found himself in an entirely different world. The land was barren, the sky heavy with dark clouds, and the vast surroundings alternated between endless deserts and turbulent waters.
"Where am I?" Elias whispered to himself, trying to grasp the situation. A strange sensation filled his body—a feeling of emptiness, as though everything was on the verge of disappearing. His artificial intelligence companion had vanished moments after the mysterious figure faded, leaving him utterly alone in this strange, alien realm.
"Elias, listen carefully. You are now at a new control point," a voice echoed, colder and more detached than before. It was as if the essence governing his mind was no longer part of him but had become an extension of this new reality.
"A new control point? What does that mean?" Elias asked, his confusion mounting.
"You are now faced with new laws—laws that govern this world. This is not merely a test, Elias. It's a true challenge to your depths. Can you survive here?"
The ground beneath him began to shake unnaturally, vibrations coursing through his entire being. The earth beneath his feet seemed to boil, resembling a nightmarish scene that threatened to consume all life. The voice of the AI, now angrier than ever, seemed to signal the approach of the experiment's climax.
But Elias did not yield. He understood this was the ultimate test. He knew that to escape this endless loop imposed upon him by this world, he would have to choose a path he had never envisioned.
As he focused on surviving this reality, he found himself face-to-face with another figure. This individual was enigmatic, their features indistinct but radiating an inexplicable power. Their eyes gleamed with an uncanny brilliance.
"You—are you part of this experiment too?" Elias asked, a mix of fear and curiosity in his voice.
"I am not part of the experiment. I am its result," the figure responded calmly. "And so will you be, Elias—a result of your own trial."
Elias was struck by these words. He couldn't tell whether this person was an enemy or an ally, but there was something unsettling about them. It felt as though everything around him—the figure, the ground, even the air—held a dark secret.
"If you know everything, then tell me—what's happening here?" Elias pressed, his voice tinged with frustration.
"You are in the realm of martial arts, but that's not all. What was implanted in your mind is a double-edged weapon. Invisible entities surround you, waiting for you to collapse under the weight of this test. If you want to survive, you must find the strength within you—the strength that will allow you to surpass them."
Elias turned in circles, wary of his surroundings. He didn't know how to confront this challenge, but something inside him told him there was no avoiding it.
At that moment, he felt a strange shift within him. His body no longer felt the same. A peculiar energy began radiating from his mind, coursing chaotically through his cells.
"This is it, Elias. If you want to survive, you must discover the limits of your power."
But Elias suddenly felt a deep surge of anger. This bizarre energy disrupted his thoughts, playing with his mind, distorting his focus. His questions multiplied, and his world grew increasingly hazy.
"What is this?!" Elias shouted, his voice cracking with pain.
Then came the surprise.
Before him appeared a familiar image—the enigmatic figure he had encountered earlier. Their voice rang out, "Can you endure this trial, or will you crumble as the others did?"
And so, the decisive moment arrived. Between truth and illusion, strength and weakness, Elias stood at the brink of a challenge that would define his destiny. Would he become the hero who conquered worlds, or would he disintegrate into the folds of time?
In that instant, something wholly unexpected occurred. The artificial intelligence that had accompanied him disappeared entirely, replaced by an overwhelming sense of emptiness.
"The choice is yours, Elias."