Noah woke up with a jolt. His head throbbed like it had been set on fire just moments before. Instinctively, he reached up, fingers searching for the scar from the operation... but there was nothing. Not a single mark. No stitches. No sign that his skin had ever been cut open.

  That unsettled him.

  —Hey, kid. Time to get moving. You're not the only one who needs surgery today.

  The rigid voice yanked him from his thoughts. He turned to the doorway, where a doctor stood watching him with impatience. Beside him, a team of medics pushed a stretcher carrying someone who was completely anesthetized.

  Noah swallowed hard.

  He let out an awkward chuckle, feeling out of pce, and asked where he was supposed to go. The doctor simply pointed to the left.

  Without another word, Noah stepped out into the hallway. With every step, his mind felt stranger. Like something in his surroundings wasn't quite right.

  On the outside, the facility looked ordinary. But from within, everything was pristine, futuristic in a way that didn't seem natural. It felt like he was walking inside a simution.

  Was it just his imagination? Or was the EVO-Link already affecting his perception of reality?

  Lost in thought, he walked straight into someone.

  —Oh, sorry about that —he said quickly—. I was just... caught up looking at the pce. It's fascinating.

  He waited for a response, but the man barely reacted.

  He was in his thirties, dressed in the same white uniform as Noah. His eyes were vacant, devoid of any expression. Without hesitation, he simply continued walking—like Noah didn't even exist.

  That wasn't what he expected, but he ignored it. If anything, it was a relief not to have to make conversation.

  —Hey, you! Ryker, wait up!

  The voice snapped him out of his trance.

  He turned and saw someone he recognized: the guy he had spoken to before the operation.

  Noah sighed internally.

  "Why can't I go three seconds without something demanding my attention?"

  —Yeah, that's me —Noah replied, keeping his tone polite—. What's up? How was the surgery for you?

  —For me? Like nothing happened —the guy said with excitement—. Hey, the AI thing they included is sick! I've been chatting with it nonstop. Oh, right, almost forgot—I'm Tirso. Nice to meet you, man.

  Noah barely paid attention to what he was saying. But then—

  —Wait. AI?

  —Yeah, the EVO-Link's artificial intelligence. It never shuts up, but it's kinda cool.

  Noah frowned.

  He wasn't hearing anything.

  He focused.

  "AI. AI. AI."

  Nothing.

  Before he could ask more, they arrived at a massive room filled with people.

  Tirso kept talking, but Noah's attention was elsewhere.

  Everyone in the room wore the same white uniform. Their posture was identical. Their expressions bnk. Their gazes fixed straight ahead, as if they had no will of their own.

  The only one who seemed normal was Tirso. Though, to be fair, he was still rambling.

  And then, the atmosphere changed.

  From a higher level of the room, a door slid open.

  Tirso, who had been chattering nonstop, suddenly went silent.

  Then, his excitement erupted.

  —Holy shit! That's Xavier Musk! The smartest man alive! The richest! The creator of EVO-Link!

  Noah looked up.

  It was him.

  The man who made everything possible.

  Xavier Musk wasn't particurly imposing. He wore a navy blue suit with a bck tie, his short hair neatly combed into pce. His smile was unusual, like he wasn't entirely there.

  But his eyes...

  His eyes pierced through the room.

  When he spoke, his voice was calm, but every word carved itself into their minds.

  —Hello, my subjects.

  Silence.

  —It seems most of you survived the operation. That pleases me. You are now part of the next stage of human evolution.

  A chill ran down Noah's spine.

  —I am not a god. But I knew our species couldn't afford to wait millennia for progress. That is why I created EVO-Link. Artificial evolution. And now, you are special... and I need you.

  Xavier's smile widened.

  —But I understand. You have families. Jobs. Lives. So, I will give you a choice.

  At his feet, two doors slid open.

  —You can become the future of humanity... or you can remain ordinary. You will have power, but you will do nothing with it.

  Noah's stomach twisted.

  In front of him, the subjects moved as if someone had pressed a button.

  Most walked toward the exit.

  Only a handful stepped toward the CENTRAL BASE.

  —Hey, Ryker. What are you gonna do? —Tirso asked—. Everything Xavier said gave me chills...

  Noah barely heard him.

  "What is this feeling?"

  His chest felt tight. Suffocating. His hands were sweating. He was terrified.

  But at the same time...

  He was thrilled.

  A force pulled him toward the base.

  —Dude, what's up? Are you talking to your AI or something? Don't ignore me!

  Tirso grabbed his shoulder.

  Noah reacted instantly.

  —Shut the fuck up. Do I look like I want to talk to you?

  The air between them froze.

  Tirso's eyes widened. Hurt.

  —Ryker... what's your problem? I was just trying to be friendly... You seemed like a good guy...

  Noah didn't answer.

  His body moved on its own.

  Each step brought him closer to the underground stairs.

  His mind screamed at him to stop.

  But his heart...

  His heart had never pounded this hard before.

  For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive.

  Tirso watched him go.

  —Ryker... what's your problem?

  Noah didn't stop.

  —I was just trying to be friendly...

  His voice cracked slightly at the end.

  Noah stepped onto the first stair.

  Then the second.

  Then the third.

  Each step took him further away.

  "Don't look back."

  —Ryker!!

  Tirso shouted his name in desperation.

  But Noah didn't stop.

  —Noah, man, what the hell?! I don't know what's wrong with you, but don't go down there!

  His voice was genuinely scared.

  But Noah had already made his choice.

  He descended.

  And the darkness of the CENTRAL BASE swallowed him whole.

  No turning back.