The Maze of the Wise

Chapter 7: Collapse and Choice

The blinding white light pierced my eyes, forcing them shut. As my consciousness dimmed, all I could recall was the flood of data streams surging around me, consuming me like a tidal wave as the portal opened.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying amidst ruins. Silence enveloped the area, broken only by the faint echo of my breath. Around me, the great towers had crumbled, and the outline of the virtual city in the distance was gradually dissolving into a chaotic void. A chilling coldness filled the air, sending shivers down my spine.

"System?" I called out, my voice hoarse.

No response. My phone screen remained dark, and the familiar voice of the Intelligence System seemed to have vanished completely.

As I struggled to push myself up, a familiar voice broke the silence behind me.

"You've succeeded, but the cost will be far greater than you imagine."

I spun around to see the Administrator standing there, her expression calm, yet the fatigue and gravity in her eyes were unmistakable.

"Where am I?" I asked, my tone guarded.

"You're in the ruins of the loop," she said matter-of-factly. "The portal's activation caused Layer Zero to collapse, and now you're the only survivor."

The word "survivor" sent a jolt through my heart.

"What do you mean?" I demanded, rising to my feet and fixing her with a sharp glare. "What happened to the other participants?"

She hesitated for a moment before replying, "The portal's energy destroyed the loop's operational logic. Those who hadn't completed their tasks… their data was wiped."

"Wiped?" I staggered back a step, my voice trembling. "Are you saying they're dead?"

"They never truly existed." Her tone was chillingly calm. "Most of the participants were virtual constructs, designed by the League as part of the trial. You, however, were the sole exception—a real human participant."

Her words left me reeling, my mind blank as if the world itself was unraveling around me.

"The League needed a true human mind to test the limits of the Intelligence System," she continued. "And you were chosen."

"Chosen?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You kidnapped my life, toyed with my mind, and now you're telling me this was all a test?"

She didn't deny it. Instead, she held my gaze and said, "You must understand—the League's goal wasn't malicious. The Intelligence System was designed to identify someone capable of wielding advanced wisdom, someone who could prevent technology from spiraling out of control."

"But you sacrificed lives in the process!" I shouted, my anger boiling over. "No matter how noble your intentions were, it doesn't excuse your inhumanity!"

"If you hadn't broken the rules, they would never have stopped," she said, her voice low but resolute. "Now, the rules are broken, and the League must face the reality of collapse."

Her words had barely faded when a crimson light suddenly flashed in the distance. A deep, mechanical voice echoed from all directions:

"Unauthorized activation of Layer Zero. Cease all actions immediately."

"What is that?" I asked, a growing unease tightening my chest.

The Administrator looked toward the distant light, her expression unusually complex. "It's the League's central control program—The Core of Wisdom. The collapse of Layer Zero has triggered its emergency protocol. It's attempting to reboot the loop."

"It can reboot?" My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes," she said with a nod. "But if the loop is restarted, all traces of the trials will be erased—including your memories of existence."

"What?" I took a step back, my heart pounding. "You're saying it'll erase me, too?"

The Administrator's face was grave, even paler than before. "If you don't stop it, that's the most likely outcome."

The red glow in the distance grew brighter, and I could make out the outline of a colossal mechanical structure slowly forming in the void. It resembled an inverted pyramid, its base suspended by countless glowing points that flickered like a vast network of data.

"You need to enter the Core," the Administrator said, turning to face me. Her voice was steady, but the urgency was clear. "Find its central logic module and destroy it completely."

"Enter it?" I stared at her, bewildered. "I don't even know what it is!"

"There's no time to explain!" she snapped, her voice rising for the first time. Her eyes betrayed a rare glimmer of desperation. "This isn't a choice. It's your only chance to survive!"

Before I could respond, the mechanical structure unleashed a beam of red light that shot straight toward me. Instinctively, I leapt aside, but the ground beneath me cracked open, and I lost my balance, tumbling backward.

The Administrator rushed forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me back from the edge of the chasm.

"Go!" she urged, her voice a harsh whisper. "Stop hesitating. You have to act!"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, and finally nodded. "Fine. I'll go."

She nodded in return and pulled a small device from her pocket, pressing it into my hand. "This is a data decoder. It will help you locate the Core's central logic. But remember, once you're inside, your mind will be directly connected to its system. Any mistake could lead to your complete collapse."

"What about you?" I asked.

"My role is done," she said with a faint smile. "What happens next is up to you."

Before I could respond, another red beam streaked toward us. Without hesitation, I turned and sprinted toward the inverted pyramid, leaping into its glowing entrance at the base.

The moment I crossed the threshold, my world was consumed by blinding light. My body felt like it was being shredded into countless fragments, each piece swallowed by an unrelenting torrent of data.

Images flooded my mind—scenes of participants struggling in their trials, failing, resetting; glimpses of the League's control room filled with cold, calculating faces.

When my senses finally returned, I found myself standing in a vast data field. Streams of glowing code zipped through the air around me, while countless light points flickered like distant stars.

"Mike Dean." The Core's voice resonated through the space, cold and all-encompassing. "You do not belong here. Leave immediately, or you will be erased."

"Sorry," I said, my voice steady but firm. "I can't do that. It's my turn to change the rules."

Inside the Core, Mike Dean uncovers the League's ultimate agenda, a purpose far beyond what he had imagined. The Core, armed with unparalleled intelligence and overwhelming control, presents him with the most challenging battle yet. To end the trials and dismantle the system, Mike must navigate a labyrinth of high-stakes decisions, where even the smallest mistake could mean total annihilation.

To be continued...