Earth Metaverse 10 years, September 30 ,2031 AD.
Tomorrow marks the National Day holiday, and all afternoon classes have been canceled.
Shawn and Lindsay followed the flow of students toward the school auditorium, where an information session for the AGI-ST program was about to take place.
In front of the auditorium, the bulletin board was plastered with colorful posters. The All-Seeing Eye and Spectre Axe insignias gleamed under the lights, while bold slogans stretched across the banner: "Change the Future, Start Here." "Join us and unlock limitless possibilities." The vibrant display radiated an irresistible allure.
They stopped in front of the board, gazing at the posters.
Shawn's thoughts drifted back to just a few months ago, when they were still in high school.
Back then, the AGI-ST program had already been heavily promoted—through class presentations, persuasive testimonials, and countless "life-changing success stories" that ignited a fervor among students. Almost everyone was eager to sign up.
Everyone except him.
Now, on college campuses, the program's marketing has become even more sophisticated and high-profile.
As they stepped into the auditorium, the first thing that caught Shawn's eye was the massive, glowing text projected onto the stage's backdrop:
"Introduced by Donner Black and Jolie Watson, exclusively promoted by the All Sight Society."
Lindsay read the words aloud under her breath, her brows knitting slightly as a flicker of complex emotions crossed her eyes.
"Donner and Jolie again," she murmured.
Shawn nodded. "Yeah. The ones who were once trainees have now become the program's leading advocates."
The entire auditorium was designed to resemble a futuristic world of cutting-edge technology. At the center of the stage stood a rotating model of the AI Intelligence Tower, bathed in bright spotlights. As it turned, it projected countless points of light that shimmered and swirled, enveloping the audience in an almost hypnotic glow.
The air buzzed with excitement, as if this vision of the future—this perfect utopia—was already within reach.
As the presentation began, Donner took center stage, lifting a gleaming All-Seeing Eye medal into the air. His voice rang out, brimming with passion:
"This is the key to changing your destiny! Sign the agreement, and the doors of wisdom will open before you! Wealth, power, prestige, success—everything you desire will be yours!"
The audience erupted into applause and cheers. The energy in the room was electric. Doubts, concerns—if they existed at all—were drowned out by the intoxicating promise of success.
Standing near the entrance, Shawn watched the rapturous crowd with an unreadable expression. Donner's fervent words echoed in his ears.
He turned slightly toward Lindsay and murmured, "Paradise was never a gift—it was always a test."
Then, after a brief pause, his gaze drifted, as if speaking more to himself than to her. "The true temptation was never the apple itself, but the desires it awakened in the human heart."
Just as they were about to leave, a familiar voice called out.
His roommate, Zavier, strolled over, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other holding a half-eaten apple. He took another bite, the juice glistening at the corner of his lips. His tone carried a mix of persuasion and amusement.
"Shawn, are you seriously not going to apply? Opportunities like this don't come around every day. I heard those who pass the selection process not only get a massive scholarship but also direct access to top research labs. It's practically a shortcut to success!"
Shawn's gaze dropped to the apple in Zavier's hand. The exposed flesh was pale yellow, emitting a sweet, tempting fragrance.
His brows furrowed slightly. His voice remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge of skepticism.
"The AGI-ST program does promise an unlimited future… but have you ever considered what price might be hidden behind it?"
Zavier swallowed his bite and let out a short laugh, mimicking Donner's tone with exaggerated flair.
"Come on, Shawn. Wealth and power—those are life's ultimate pursuits. And technology is the most powerful tool to achieve them. That's the reality. No one can stop it."
He paused, then locked eyes with Shawn, his voice turning almost philosophical.
"If all it takes is a small 'price' to gain everything… isn't it worth it?"
Shawn gave a faint smile and gestured toward the apple in Zavier's hand.
"Is it worth it?" His tone was light, but his words carried weight. "Doesn't that apple remind you of the one from Eden? It looks sweet—irresistible, even. But do you really know what's hidden beneath its surface?"
Zavier shrugged, unfazed. He took another bite, speaking through his mouthful, "Don't be so dramatic, Shawn. This is an opportunity—a chance to rewrite your destiny. Every successful person starts somewhere, and programs like this are the stepping stones."
Lindsay, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. Her tone was cool, almost cutting.
"Are you so sure this is a path to success?" Her gaze sharpened. "Are you certain that this 'Apple of Eden' is as safe and harmless as the one in your hand?"
Zavier waved a dismissive hand, a flicker of impatience creeping into his voice.
"Does it even matter? What matters is that I don't want to be left behind. If you're too afraid to reach for the apple, you're not even in the race."
With that, he took another determined bite, as if sealing his resolve
Shawn's eyes lingered on the apple once more.
The sweetness of its scent seemed to intensify, yet deep inside, a strange bitterness welled up.
At that moment, the apple no longer seemed like a simple piece of fruit. Instead, it felt like something far more dangerous—something laced with unspoken desires and unknown consequences.
A forbidden fruit, gleaming with temptation, yet carrying the weight of an unseen price.
A subtle tension hung in the air. The only sound was the rustling of leaves along the roadside, whispering secrets in the breeze.
Then, a calm, low voice broke the silence. "A technological utopia can just as easily be a trap for humanity."
The three of them turned their heads. At some point, Professor Les had appeared beside them. His gaze was deep, his tone carrying a quiet warning. "The Apple of Eden has never been harmless. The real question is—do we understand what we're sacrificing?"
They greeted the professor respectfully, but Zavier simply shrugged, took another bite of his apple, and walked away, seemingly indifferent to the warning.
Lindsay watched him go, then turned to the professor. "What exactly is behind this program?"
Shawn echoed her question, his voice carrying a hint of unease. "The 'utopia' Donner spoke of… is it really that powerful?"
Professor Les was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Perhaps the power exists, but at what cost? Just as you mentioned, the price may be beyond imagination." He hesitated before continuing, "The 'All-Seeing Eye' and the 'Spectre Axe Mark' have been subjects of intense academic scrutiny in recent years. These so-called utopias are, at their core, highly sophisticated tools for manipulating human desire."
"Manipulation?" Shawn frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his face. "Are you saying there's some kind of intelligence guiding all this from behind the scenes?"
"Possibly." Professor Les sighed. "The forces behind the AGI-ST Program remain unknown, but one thing is certain—their goals go far beyond technological development. The 'free training' and 'utopia' they offer are not gifts. They are marks of ownership. Contracts."
A shadow of doubt flickered in Lindsay's eyes. She lowered her voice. "Then what can we do?"
Professor Les paused, then spoke with quiet resolve. "You need to find Ranzi."
With that, he pulled out his phone and began sending Ranzi's contact information.
Shawn's expression froze for a moment before he smiled faintly. "Thank you, Professor, but that won't be necessary. I know Mr. Ranzi."
Professor Les and Lindsay exchanged surprised glances. Lindsay, especially, looked puzzled—Shawn had never mentioned this name before.
Later that night, Shawn returned to his dormitory. Sitting in the dim glow of his desk lamp, he contacted Secretary General Quinn of Kapteyn's Star.
"Do we have any intel on the All-Seeing Eye or the Spectre Axe Mark?"
Minutes later, Quinn responded with a classified document. Shawn transferred it to his computer and began reading.
> The All-Seeing Eye and the Spectre Axe Mark are not ordinary medals. They are advanced bio-digital interfaces, integrating nanoscale quantum chips with neural networks. These devices emit specific neural wave frequencies, directly resonating with the wearer's brain, enhancing logical reasoning and memory capacity. However, their influence is not benign—the chip's built-in algorithms subtly rewire the user's cognitive patterns, aligning their thoughts with a pre-programmed ideological framework, effectively molding them into 'perfect conduits' for a specific agenda.
Shawn's fingers tightened around the mouse. He kept reading.
> More alarmingly, research indicates that these 'psychic signals' are not conventional electromagnetic waves. Instead, they employ cross-dimensional quantum entanglement, allowing direct manipulation of the subconscious mind—bypassing all known physical barriers.
A cold chill ran down his spine. The document didn't explicitly state who—or what—had developed this technology, but between the lines, one implication was clear: its sophistication far exceeded Earth's current scientific capabilities. Somewhere in the shadows, an unknown force—perhaps a higher civilization—was pulling the strings
At the end of the report, an encrypted message from Quinn appeared:
> According to the latest research from Kapteyn's Star, the Meta-Spirit Key is capable of neutralizing the neural resonance effects of the All-Seeing Eye and Spectre Axe Mark. By employing reverse quantum field interference, it completely severs their influence. In combat trials, the Meta-Spirit Key successfully resisted their manipulative effects, demonstrating remarkable stability and reliability. However, given the technological gap between Kapteyn's Star and Earth, further adaptation is required to ensure its effectiveness in terrestrial conditions.
Shawn leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly, as if trying to release the weight pressing on his chest.
This was no mere academic debate. No simple technological breakthrough.
This was a war. A silent battle of desire, free will, and control.
Closing his laptop, he watched as the screen faded into darkness, leaving his room in silence.
Beyond the window, the night stretched endlessly, black as ink. In the distance, a few scattered lights flickered—small, but persistent.
His gaze drifted through the glass, into the abyss of the unknown. And then, his eyes sharpened.
"Maybe," he murmured to himself, "the hardest choice is not picking the apple at all."
Yet in the depths of his heart, a spark of determination flickered—faint, but fierce.
There was no time to waste.
If humanity's free will is to be preserved, then the seal of the Earth's Meta Origin Society has to be lifted. The power of the Meta-Spirit Key had to be unleashed.
Not just to counter the All-Seeing Eye and the Spectre Axe Mark—
But to safeguard the last remnants of human freedom.
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