The first thing I noticed was the unnaturally smooth floor beneath me, slick and pristine. It felt too perfect, as if every trace of life had been wiped away, leaving only a cold, antiseptic sheen. My feet slipped slightly as I stood, struggling to remember how I even got here. I blinked, trying to make sense of the space around me, but everything felt... wrong. The sterile whiteness of the walls, the faint hum in the air, the way the light seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once—nothing about this room was familiar.
Then I saw them. Dave, Han, Lazy, and—surprisingly—the clerk, each standing or sitting in varying states of disbelief. A faint relief passed through me, but it did nothing to calm the storm of confusion building inside. My heart pounded. What happened? My thoughts raced. How did we get here? Were we transported? Was this some kind of trap? Had we... died?
The more I looked at the others, the more questions filled my mind. Han stood closest, gripping the collar of his jacket like it might vanish if he let go. His face was pale, his eyes wide, but he remained silent, staring at the strange room. Lazy sat cross-legged on the floor, still rubbing his eyes as if trying to wake up from a bizarre dream. Dave paced near a wall, a deep frown creasing his forehead. Even the bored, indifferent bookstore clerk looked unsettled, his usual impassiveness replaced by nervous confusion.
"I... what the heck happened?" Dave's voice broke the silence, more frustrated than afraid. He paused his pacing and glanced at the rest of us.
"Are we dead?" Lazy muttered, his usual nonchalance cracking. "This... this doesn't feel real. Or maybe I'm still dreaming?"
Han's gaze darted around, his lips pressing into a thin line. "No," he said quickly, as if convincing himself. "This isn't a dream." His voice was shaky, his calm facade crumbling.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to think. "We're not dead. But where are we? And why are we here?"
Before anyone could answer, the floor beneath us shifted. A soft hum, almost electric, buzzed through the air. It started faint but grew steadily louder, vibrating in my chest. Then, without warning, a voice echoed through the space—calm, detached, yet oddly reassuring.
"Welcome, new participants. You have been chosen to undergo a transformation. The power to shape your fate lies before you to acquire true power. Choose wisely, for your decisions will define who you become."
The clerk blinked, his usual impassiveness gone. "What... does that even mean?"
The voice responded without hesitation. "You are disoriented, and have been brought here without consent. As compensation, each of you may ask one question. I will answer."
No pause. Just cold efficiency.
"By 'transformation,' I refer to the untapped potential within every being of this universe. Most have no control over its emergence or direction—it manifests at random, shaped by circumstance. You, however, will be different. You will wield choice. You shall wield power, Clark."
The voice had no clear source, yet we all felt its presence settle over us, unmistakably addressing the clerk.
Silence followed, thick and heavy. The weight of the AI's words pressed down like a cold fog. We stood there, absorbing it, trying to make sense of what we had just heard. The only sound was the low hum of electricity in the background.
Finally, Dave spoke. He shifted on his feet, looking at the others before focusing. "Give us a moment." His voice was steady and his tone filled the room.
There was no response from the AI, only that same unsettling hum.
Lazy rubbed his temples, his grin faltering as he tried to laugh it off. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like I'm losing it." His voice wavered slightly, half-joking, half-serious.
Han remained silent, his fingers twitching slightly, gaze locked on the walls as if expecting them to shift at any moment.
I took another good look at our surroundings and, for the first time, noticed a distinct lack of doors. A shudder ran through me as I locked eyes with Han. A silent nod passed between us.
I forced myself to focus. "Let's put our heads together." I gestured for the others to join me, though the silence between us felt like an unspoken weight. It wasn't just confusion anymore; it was fear.
This seemed to stir them into action. Lazy got up, his unease fading slightly, a grin slowly creeping onto his face. The clerk-I mean Clark- joined as well, though his body language screamed discomfort. He had already wasted his question, but at least it had given us some insight.
Once we were all in position, I began. "What do we know about... all this?" I gestured at the room around us.
Dave responded first. "We seem to have been teleported here." His hand rested on his chin, his expression pensive.
"It looks like an experiment of some sort," Han added.
"Wait—doesn't this feel like one of those manga where the heroes are chosen to save the world or something? Just without the cool powers... yet."
We all turned to look at Lazy. I was ready to dismiss the idea as ridiculous, but then I glanced at the others. Dave remained deep in thought, nodding slightly, as if considering it. Han's expression had grown even more serious. And Clark... his face held an expression I had never seen before.
"Alright then, assuming that's even a possibility, what do we need to know to overcome this ordeal?" I interjected.
Lazy's eyes gleamed, a grin spreading across his face despite the unease. "Okay, okay—first thing we ask: what exactly are we supposed to do with these powers—or 'unleashed potential,' as they put it?"
"Yeah, like if they expect us to go and defeat some demon king or something," he continued.
Dave nodded. "That could be a solid approach—to inquire about their expectations regarding these abilities."
"On the other hand," Dave mused, "this is such a bizarre scenario that we might take the opportunity to ask deeper questions—like the true meaning of well everything. This could very well be a visit from an advanced civilization."
The thought had never crossed my mind. While fascinating, I doubted such a question would help our current predicament. What in the world had we gotten into?
As we pondered, Lazy boldly raised his voice. "Hey, machine!" I wanted to tell him to wait, but before I could, he continued, "What exactly do you expect us to do once we awaken our powers?"
"You will journey through this tower, using your awakened potential to overcome hardships. Growth is expected. Survival is not guaranteed, Mr. Jack."
This response left us all stunned. It was worse than I had expected. Han had guessed correctly—this was an experiment, and we were the subjects. They would test us, push us, and see if we survived their so-called "tower."
I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus. "Look, this isn't what we would have hoped for, but at least it answers some questions."
A tense silence hung between us. I glanced at the others. Dave was lost in thought, Lazy's initial excitement was fading, and the clerk—Clark—looked paler by the second. Only Han met my gaze, his expression unreadable.
"I think," I continued, "the next thing we need to figure out is what this tower actually entails. What kind of challenges will we face? What's the best way to phrase a question to get that kind of info?"
Dave finally spoke, his voice measured. "If efficiency is what we're after, why not ask it directly?"
Han narrowed his eyes. "I'm more curious about the actual cost of acquiring these 'powers.' Nothing comes for free."
That snapped Lazy out of his daze. "Isn't it obvious? The cost is the trial itself. If we survive, we earn our powers. Simple as that, right?"
Han shook his head. "I don't buy it. There has to be more to it. I still can't figure out what they gain from all of this."
Dave let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I just can't pass up the opportunity to ask why we're truly here. What does life truly mean, it's purpose, our purpose?"
That frustrated me more than I cared to admit. This wasn't just some philosophical debate—we were standing at the edge of something that could define the rest of our lives. What were the limits of our choices? Would we ever get to go home? Where even was this "tower"? Why were we of all people the ones chosen?
I turned to Dave, ready to argue, to convince him to reconsider. But the moment I saw the glint in his eyes, I knew it was pointless. That stubborn gleam—the one that meant nothing I said would change his mind.
Dave met my look and quietly said, "Adam."
No other words were needed between old friends.
I sighed, relenting. "Fine. Han will go first—he can ask if there's any catch or hidden price to these powers. I'll ask about the best way to face the trials. And Dave..." I hesitated, "Dave will ask about the big questions of life."
I made sure Dave would go last, hoping he might change his mind. But deep down, I knew he wouldn't.
Clark opened his mouth as if to say something, then hesitated. His eyes dropped to the floor, whatever words he had catching in his throat.
Han stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with caution. "AI, what is the true cost of acquiring these powers, what's the catch?"
The ever-present hum in the background shifted—quicker, sharper, almost as if reacting to his words. Then, for the first time, there was a pause. A deliberate, lingering silence.
I couldn't explain it, but I swore I could feel something watching us. Not just hearing, but listening. If a machine could smirk, this one just did.
When the AI finally spoke, its voice had changed. Gone was the detached, sterile tone. This time, it sounded... human. Smooth. Almost amused.
"Everything has a cost. Those who awaken their potential naturally often pay nothing. But the universe demands balance. By unlocking your power in this manner, you will each acquire a ... weakness —an Achilles' heel, if you will"
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier.
"This weakness will be unique to you, shaped by your own experiences. And let me assure you..." The voice dipped lower, almost conspiratorial. "None of you will enjoy it. Worse still, as your power grows, so too will this flaw."
A cold chill crawled up my spine.
Han's fingers twitched at his side. His expression didn't change, but I could tell the answer hadn't reassured him. If anything, it had only deepened his unease.
That answer only made my question feel even more urgent. If we were going to be thrown into this so-called tower with a growing weakness hanging over us, we needed every advantage we could get. I took a deep breath, refining my question as much as possible.
"AI, what is the most efficient way for us to survive and succeed in this tower?"
The hum in the background steadied, almost as if the machine had lost interest. When it responded, its voice had reverted to the cold, clinical tone from before—dispassionate, detached.
"Survival and success are not the same. Survival is achieved by adapting. Success is earned by overcoming. If you wish to endure, learn to recognize your limits and avoid unnecessary risks. If you seek victory, embrace growth at any cost. The tower will shape you. Whether you break or ascend is up to you Adam."
The weight of those words settled over me. The AI wasn't handing us an easy answer—it was forcing us to think, to confront the reality of what lay ahead.
Then, Dave stepped forward, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. His voice was steady, yet beneath it, I could sense something deeper—a quiet determination, a need to understand.
"What is the true meaning of life?"
The hum in the air shifted, its rhythm slowing, stretching the silence between us. Then, finally, it spoke.
"The true purpose of life is to use power to bring about true change, Dave."
Before we could even begin to process its answer, the entire room shifted. The sterile white walls faded into a soft, glowing blue, and with a faint hum, a tablet materialized on one of the walls.
The AI's voice returned one last time, now devoid of the weight it had carried before.
"You have one hour before this room disappears and you are released onto the first floor."
And just like that, the presence vanished, leaving the five of us standing in silence—alone with our thoughts, the tablet, and the reality of what was about to begin.