CHAPTER 2 : HE KNOWS

  The city stretched out before Shane like something out of a fevered dream. Towering skyscrapers glittered in the sunlight, their surfaces alive with holographic displays that shifted and changed with every blink. Neon signs flashed in every direction, advertising everything from robotic enhancements to intergalactic travel. The streets were bustling with creatures that Shane had only seen in books—alien life forms with skin that shimmered like liquid metal, towering beings with multiple arms, and robots that walked alongside humans with eerie precision. The air was thick with the scent of strange spices, engine oil, and something Shane couldn’t quite place—something both familiar and alien. His feet carried him through this chaotic, vibrant world, but his mind struggled to keep up with the sensory overload.

  Ren, the old man guiding him, moved through the crowd with an air of practiced ease, his steps steady despite the swirl of activity around him. Shane tried to stay close, but it was hard not to be distracted by the bizarre creatures surrounding him. A two-headed alien with glowing purple eyes passed by, nodding at Ren in recognition. A robot, its body gleaming with chrome plating, stopped to offer Shane a polite but mechanical greeting before continuing on its way. Shane's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but stare at everything—he'd never seen anything like it. Every moment felt surreal, like he had stepped into a different world altogether.

  The streets eventually gave way to an open expanse, and there it was—the stadium. It was enormous, a sprawling coliseum that seemed to stretch into the sky. Its design was a fusion of organic and synthetic, with curving metal arches and bioluminescent panels that pulsed in the evening light. The air around it hummed with a faint energy, a strange electric charge that made the hairs on Shane’s neck stand up. It was unlike any stadium he had ever seen—this was a place built for beings who were not bound by the same rules as humans, a place where everything and everyone could be part of the spectacle.

  Ren didn’t hesitate. He led Shane through the entrance, and the sounds of the city faded behind them. Inside, the stadium was a hive of activity. Spectators filled the stands, their eyes glowing with excitement. Shane could see robotic gladiators sparring in the arena below, their movements a blur of precision and power. Overhead, flying vehicles zipped by, their engines thrumming as they darted between the massive beams that supported the stadium.

  Shane’s heart was racing now, his pulse quickening with a sense of both awe and unease. He hadn’t realized how deeply this world was beginning to unnerve him, how out of place he felt. He had barely begun to process what he was seeing when Ren stopped in front of him, his gaze fixed on something in the distance.

  “There is someone you should meet,” Ren said, his voice low and gravelly. He turned, motioning toward the center of the arena.

  Shane followed his gaze, his mind still spinning from everything he’d seen, and then he froze. There, standing among the crowd, was someone he never thought he would see again—someone he had thought was lost to him in a different life. It was Smith, his best friend. Shane’s breath caught in his throat. The shock hit him like a punch to the gut. Smith was here? In this city? But what was he doing in a place like this, surrounded by beings and technology that felt like they belonged in a different universe?

  Shane’s legs carried him forward, his voice rising in disbelief. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone rising with confusion and panic. “These people are crazy! This place—it’s not safe! We have to get out of here, we need to leave!”

  Smith turned slowly, his eyes locking with Shane’s. His expression was calm, almost serene, but there was a depth to his gaze that Shane had never seen before. There was a hint of something ancient in him now, something that made the world around them seem even more foreign.

  “These are my people,” Smith said softly, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “And Old Man Ryu is my grandfather.”

  The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. Shane’s world seemed to tilt on its axis. Smith’s grandfather? Old Man Ryu? The pieces of this strange puzzle were slipping into place, but the picture they formed made no sense at all. This wasn’t the Smith he knew. This wasn’t the world they had once shared.

  For a moment, Shane didn’t know what to say. The words were stuck in his throat, choked by the flood of confusion and disbelief. But as he looked at Smith—really looked at him—he saw something different. Smith wasn’t scared. He wasn’t confused. He wasn’t trying to run. This place, these people, had become his new reality, his new home.

  Shane's chest tightened, and for the first time in a long while, he felt completely alone, adrift in a world that no longer seemed to belong to him. This wasn’t the life he had left behind. This was something entirely new—and frightening.

  Shane’s breath caught in his throat as he stood frozen, staring at the familiar face before him. The towering skyscrapers of the futuristic city gleamed under a vibrant neon sky, their metallic structures reflecting the hum of energy coursing through the air. But none of that held his attention now. His childhood best friend, Smith, stood just a few feet away, calm and composed, as if his sudden appearance in this bewildering place was the most natural thing in the world.

  “I know you’re shocked and probably scared,” Smith said, his voice steady yet reassuring. “But there’s nothing to fear. Don’t worry about anything. Right now, this is the safest place for you in the entire multiverse—especially since my grandpa and Master Ren are here with us.”

  Shane exhaled sharply, the tension in his chest easing slightly. The presence of Smith’s grandfather and this so-called Master Ren brought a sliver of comfort, but confusion still gnawed at him. His mind raced with questions.

  “What do you mean by ‘these are your people’?” Shane asked, his brows knitting together. “Do you know about this place? Did you know all along?”

  Smith let out a small sigh and placed a hand on Shane’s shoulder. “Well… yeah,” he admitted. “This place is my home. I was living in the orphanage with you because I was in charge of that city.”

  Shane took a step back, his expression twisted in disbelief. “What the heck are you saying? In charge? You?”

  Smith rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. “Bruh, shut up and don’t panic,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “I will explain everything. Just give me your questions one by one—” he locked eyes with Shane and raised a finger, his tone firm “—and DO NOT PANIC.”

  Shane swallowed hard. The sheer weight of this revelation settled on him like a storm cloud. The best friend he had grown up with, the one he had thought was just another orphan like him, was apparently someone far more significant. And this place—this impossible, gleaming metropolis—was somehow his home.

  His mind swirled with uncertainty, but one thing was clear: nothing in his life was as simple as he had once believed.

  Shane stood in the middle of the vast stadium, his mind racing as he tried to process everything. He took a deep breath before blurting out, "Okay, so firstly, tell me—what is this place? Where are we? And who are those old men that brought me here? But most importantly—WHY? WHY AM I HERE?!"

  Smith sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "ONE AT A TIME, YOU FOOL..." he scolded. "Alright, listen up. This place is owned by a company called Vortex. It serves as Earth's base, also known as Vortex, and like Earth, many other planets are under the control of this company. Vortex was owned by both my grandpa and Master Ren. And right now, you’re standing in a training ground for top students—that’s why you don’t see many kids around."

  Shane’s eyes widened as Smith continued. "The old men who brought you here? Those are the two masters—one being my grandpa, Ryu, and the other, Master Ren."

  Smith took a deep breath before delivering the final revelation. "And lastly, you were brought here because you absorbed the strongest stone—the Sun Stone. You became worthy of it by doing something either you don’t understand or something you didn’t want to share."

  Shane felt his knees weaken. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. "This... this is a lot to take in at once, man..." he murmured. His mind flashed back to the moment he had touched the stone. "Well... the stone disappeared the moment I touched it, and I blacked out. So I don’t really know what happened..."

  Shane continued his questioning, his curiosity growing. "So tell me, who is this guy Noah? Or the so-called King of Monsters, or whatever the heck he is?"

  Smith sighed, crossing his arms. "Well, you see, he’s a bad guy—a really bad guy. He possesses a stone known as the Dark Stone, which you could say is the counterpart to the one you have. It’s also one of the strongest stones, on the same level as yours, and just like yours, it gets stronger as you do. Meaning, right now, he’s as weak as you are."

  Shane frowned. "That’s kinda mean to say."

  Smith smirked. "Well, the guy’s memories are ancient, and he’s extremely smart. But currently, he’s weak as well, so there’s not much to be scared of."

  Shane glanced around at the other kids in the training ground. "Who are these kids? Do they have powers as well?"

  Smith nodded. "Well, they don’t have stones, but they do have powers. They’re really strong and fast, and yeah, they can fly. But they can’t do ki blasts yet, so they’re kinda average. You wanna know about all of them?"

  Shane continued, his eyes wide with disbelief. "They can fly? What do you mean by saying it so casually? And they’re not even considered average?!"

  Smith chuckled. "Well, yeah. They’re kind of average compared to the strongest fighters we have. The top seven are the real deal, and they’re on their way to meet their new leader."

  Shane sighed, rubbing his temples. "Huhhh, this is really a lot to take in... So, you were telling me about the kids?"

  Smith nodded and gestured toward a group nearby. "Yeah. You see that fat kid? His name is Rob. He’s about 19, same age as us. He’s really strong, but he can’t fly yet. The tall kid next to him is Ned—he’s a skilled swordsman and pretty fast. Those two make a good duo. Rob is well-known for his strength and his one-on-one fights."

  Shane's gaze shifted to another boy. "And the brown-haired kid talking to them?"

  Smith smirked. "That’s Neon. He belongs to royal blood. His dad is one of the top seven and the second strongest among them, wielding the Water Stone. That stone only passes through their family, so chances are, he’s going to get it next. He’s really lucky—he doesn’t have to work for his power like the rest of us. he is older than us he is about 21..."

  Shane crossed his arms. “That’s kind of unfair. Neon’s just going to get the stone without earning it?”

  Smith shrugged. “Well, life’s never fair.”

  Shane’s gaze shifted to another figure—a tall, muscular guy standing apart from the rest. “And what about that big guy over there? He looks like a powerhouse.”

  Smith followed his gaze and smirked. “That’s Six. He’s the best in our class when it comes to combat. All muscle, ridiculously strong, and insanely fast. He’s our age, but he fights like a war veteran. Uses all sorts of weapons, too.”

  Shane raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a monster.”

  “Pretty much,” Smith admitted. “His parents were trying to stop a civil war on another planet when he was a kid. They didn’t make it, but he doesn’t dwell on it. Everyone thinks he’s going to inherit the second strongest stone someday if he keeps progressing like this. He can already take down full-grown warriors, and he’s the only one among us who can fire energy blasts.”

  Shane whistled in amazement. “Damn, that’s impressive.”

  Smith clenched his fists. “Yeah, but mark my words—I’m going to beat him someday.”

  Shane smirked. “Looks like someone’s feeling a little jealous.”

  Smith scoffed. “Tch. As if.”

  Shane changed the subject, looking around. “By the way, you mentioned something about a leader earlier. Where is he? Must be a really strong guy if he’s ruling over everyone.”

  Smith folded his arms, shaking his head with a smirk. “Well, looks like you’ll always be an idiot.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Shane raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

  Smith suddenly threw his hands up. “YOU are the leader.”

  Shane froze. “What the fu—”

  Smith cut him off. “Yeah, the one who possesses the Sun Stone automatically becomes the leader of Vortex and everything under it. Why do you think everyone’s been staring at you?”

  Shane’s eyes widened as he looked around. The other students, the instructors—even the warriors in the distance—were all watching him with quiet intensity. His heart pounded.

  “You’re telling me… I’m the leader of all this?”

  Smith grinned. “Yep. And soon, you’ll understand everything when you meet the real ones. But don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you. Think of me as your guide.” He smirked. “After all, sticking by your side increases my chances of getting a stone, too.”

  Shane narrowed his eyes. “You really want that stone, don’t you?”

  Smith shrugged. “Of course I do. Who wouldn’t?”

  Before Shane could respond, Smith’s tone became more serious. “By the way, my grandpa and Master Ren are your masters now, so show them some respect. They’re arranging everything for you to meet the Top 7 and…” he paused for effect, “C.O.M.P.U.T.E.R.”

  Shane swallowed hard. “Computer?”

  Smith grinned. “Oh yeah. And trust me, that’s going to be interesting.”

  Shane crossed his arms, brow furrowing. “Who the hell names someone C.O.M.P.U.T.E.R? That’s gotta be the weirdest name I’ve heard.”

  Beside him, Smith chuckled. “It stands for Centralized Omni-Mechanized Processing Unit for Tactical Execution and Reconnaissance… I think I got that right.” He exhaled, shaking his head. “He’s not just some machine, though. He’s the AI responsible for everything that happens here. Nothing escapes his sight. If it moves, breathes, or even thinks in this facility, he knows about it.”

  Shane tilted his head, intrigued. “So, he’s some kind of all-seeing mastermind?”

  Smith grinned. “That’s one way to put it. He’s got plenty of nicknames—‘The Smartest Being in All Realities,’ ‘The One Who Cannot Be Outsmarted,’ ‘The Architect of the Battlefield.’ The list goes on. Bottom line? He’s going to be your left-hand man. Your manager, too. He runs everything.”

  Shane let out a low whistle. “Damn. Sounds like a real genius.” He glanced around the towering walls of the training facility, the sheer scale of it finally sinking in. “This is… a lot to take in—”

  A voice, deep and authoritative, erupted from the speakers above, cutting him off.

  “All students shall greet their new leader, the wielder of the Sun Stone. Training combat will commence immediately.”

  Shane’s stomach dropped. Combat?

  Before he could react, the rhythmic sound of footsteps filled the hall. Four students, each radiating an almost unnatural intensity, stepped forward. Their gazes locked onto him—not with hostility, but with expectation.

  Before Shane could react, the four students had already closed the distance. They stood in front of him, motionless, their presence almost unnerving. Then, in perfect unison, they bowed and spoke in a rhythmic, synchronized tone:

  “We look forward to you, sir.”

  Shane blinked. “Sir…?” His voice came out more confused than anything else.

  Rob, straightened and gestured toward a massive gate on the far side of the training hall. “If you require weapons, they’re this way, sir. I can lead you to the armory.”

  Shane hesitated, still struggling to process what was happening. Before he could respond, Smith stepped in. “Well, I’m here if he needs anything, so you don’t have to—”

  A sharp voice cut him off. “I don’t think you need to respond when we’re speaking to sir, Smith. He can speak for himself.”

  The words came from Six, his tone edged with irritation. His eyes locked onto Smith with an almost confrontational glare.

  Before the tension could escalate, another voice—lighter and more relaxed—interjected. “Okay, guys, let’s not make a big deal out of this—”

  Neon barely got the words out before Six turned on him next. “Shut up, Neon.”

  Neon shot him a glare, his face contorting into an expression that was both angry and oddly comical.

  Then, just as quickly as the argument had started, Ned sighed and stepped in. “Six, calm yourself. Come with me.” Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Six and started dragging him toward the armory.

  The others hesitated for a moment before following, their argument dissolving into the distance.

  Smith shook his head with a chuckle, turning to Shane. “Yeah… he’s got a bad attitude toward me, huh?” He patted Shane’s shoulder. “C’mon, let’s get you some weapons and armor. We don’t want you dying on your first day here.”

  Shane stiffened. His stomach twisted into a knot.

  His voice wavered as he asked, “What do you mean by die…?”

  His face said it all—pure horror.

  The scene shifted.

  Darkness swallowed everything—an endless void stretching in every direction. The air was thick with the sound of agony—screams rising and fading as if coming from all around, yet from nowhere at all. It was suffocating. Overwhelming.

  Slowly, the blackness gave way. Faint, flickering light seeped in, revealing a nightmare.

  Creatures—grotesque, hulking monstrosities—clawed and tore at one another in primal fury. Their skin was pitch-black, their forms twisted. Some bore massive horns, others jagged nails long enough to rip through flesh like paper. Their bodies were draped in tattered remnants of clothing, though many had none at all. They feasted on each other, gnashing teeth sinking into flesh, blood splattering across the ground as they fought in frenzied violence.

  And yet, amid the chaos, there was structure. A vast crowd of monsters had gathered, encircling a central space. At the heart of this ring lay four figures—two humans and two aliens, bound to the ground. Their bodies were drenched in blood, their faces contorted with terror. Each one trembled, gasping, eyes darting wildly—except they had no eyes. Only hollow, bleeding sockets.

  One of them, a human, sobbed violently. His voice broke as he screamed, desperation ripping through his words.

  “I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNEW! PLEASE, LET ME GO! PLEASE—I HAVE A FAMILY—PLEASE!”

  Tears mixed with blood as he struggled against his restraints, but it was useless.

  Then—

  Silence.

  A presence had made itself known. The monsters, once howling and shrieking like mindless beasts, fell into absolute, pin-drop silence.

  A voice—deep, resonant, and laced with quiet menace—echoed through the void.

  “So… this is it? The new one… knowing nothing of this world… an easy target to capture.”

  The figure remained hidden in the shadows, seated upon a towering throne. The dim light barely outlined his form, but then—his eyes. A dull, eerie glow flickered in the darkness.

  He spoke again, his tone final, devoid of sympathy.

  “Kill them. And take a few soldiers to Earth. Bring him to me.”

  Without hesitation, a shadow moved.

  A monstrous figure stepped forward, blade in hand. With a single, effortless swing, all four captives were silenced—lifeless bodies collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground.

  The figure bowed to the one on the throne, then turned, striding through the hordes of creatures. As he moved, the army followed, countless monstrous beings falling in line behind him.

  The abyss stirred. And soon, it would descend upon Earth.

  The scene shifted back to the vast training center, where the students stood equipped with their chosen weapons. Rob gripped a massive war hammer, so heavy it seemed impossible to wield. Ned, towering over most of his peers, held a long sword that matched his height, its polished steel gleaming under the stadium lights. Neon spun a sleek trident in his hands, testing its balance, while Smith held a sturdy rod, fingers wrapped tightly around its grip. Six, however, took no weapon, standing motionless, his piercing gaze unreadable. And then there was Shane—standing awkwardly, empty-handed, confusion clouding his expression.

  Before he could decide on a weapon, a deep, aged voice echoed through the stadium. "Now, we will begin the training fight. Everyone, pair up. Six... you will pair with your new leader."

  The moment the words left Ren’s lips, Shane's face lost all color. His body tensed, and his gaze locked onto Six, the only one still unmoving. Around him, the others readied themselves for combat, their weapons raised, their stances firm. Shane, on the other hand, swallowed hard, his hands trembling at his sides.

  A quiet voice cut through the tension. Smith had sidled up beside him and whispered, "Don’t worry... he’s not gonna kill you. Just... please don’t make him angry."

  Smith’s words only worsened the pit in Shane’s stomach. But before he could react, the announcement rang out. "Begin!"

  The battlefield erupted into chaos—clashes of metal, grunts of effort, the air charged with adrenaline. Shane barely had time to process it all when a shadow loomed over him.

  Six.

  With a single, effortless leap, Six closed the distance between them. Shane’s heart nearly stopped. He had no time to react. A fist came flying towards him. Instinctively, he flinched, his legs failing him, and he crashed onto the ground, barely dodging the devastating punch. Dust rose around him as he scrambled to push himself up, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

  “I-I’m sorry! I don’t want to fight!” Shane stammered, his voice shaking. He looked up at Six with desperate eyes, hoping for mercy.

  Six didn’t respond. Instead, he grabbed Shane by the collar, hoisting him up with terrifying ease. Then, without hesitation, he hurled Shane high into the air. The world spun around Shane as he flailed helplessly, his stomach twisting in sheer terror. Before he could even think, Six was already there, leaping after him, his fists clenched together.

  A second later, the impact sent Shane plummeting back to the ground. The force sent a shockwave rippling through the stadium floor. A pained groan escaped Shane’s lips as he struggled to move, his entire body screaming in protest. He barely had time to breathe before he saw Six charging toward him again.

  The other fights came to a halt. One by one, the students turned, watching in silent anticipation. Their gazes flicked between Shane and Six, already predicting the inevitable outcome.

  Shane lay there, gasping for air, his limbs weak and aching. His mind screamed at him to do something—anything—before Six’s next attack landed.

  Six was already mid-air again, a punch aimed straight for Shane’s face.

  Shane clenched his eyes shut. In a final act of desperation, he swung his fist blindly with all the strength he could muster.

  The sound of impact echoed through the stadium.

  Six was thrown backward.

  The dust settled, revealing Six rising to his feet, his head lowered. His expression was unreadable, but when he lifted his gaze, his eyes burned with fury.

  The watching students collectively inhaled, a singular thought running through their minds.

  “He’s so done... Six is mad now.”

  Six wasted no time. He lunged at Shane once more, faster, more aggressive. Shane barely had a moment to think. His body acted on instinct—he threw up his arms, shielding his head, eyes shut in fear.

  Silence fell.

  Then—

  A powerful hand shot out, stopping Six’s punch effortlessly.

  Old Master Ryu had intervened.

  “That’s enough,” Ryu’s voice was quiet but firm. “We saw what we needed.”

  Six dropped back to the ground, his shoulders tense. His gaze lingered on Shane for a moment longer before he turned and walked away. The tension in the air slowly eased as the onlookers let out relieved breaths.

  Applause broke out across the stadium. Shane, still on the ground, looked around in confusion, dazed and sore. Master Ryu extended a hand, pulling him up.

  Smith ran to his side, a wide grin on his face. "That was awesome, man! That punch actually sent Six flying!"

  Shane, still trembling, looked at Smith with a mix of disbelief and exhaustion. "You guys are going to kill me..."

  The scene continued as the group walked together, following Master Ryu to an unknown destination. Smith, still thrilled by the fight, kept praising Shane, but Shane’s expression remained frozen in a mix of fear and nervous amusement. His face was tense as he muttered to Smith, "Man, I really wanna go back... I’m too young to die. I don’t wanna be here."

  Smith paused for a moment before replying with a smirk, "This is your home now. Why do you even wanna go back to the orphanage? That place was a dirty little hellhole that made us work like slaves. And now, you’re the leader here! You can literally do anything you want. There’s nothing to be scared of. And look at yourself—are you even hurt? Not a single scratch on you. You’re practically immortal as long as you’re here. Doesn’t matter what you say, you can’t leave now. This is your life. The best thing you can do? Get stronger."

  Shane fell silent, realizing Smith had a point. He never liked the orphanage, and it was true—despite everything, his body was unharmed. He was completely fine. As he mulled over Smith’s words, Ryu led them further into the city. They crossed into another district, arriving at a building on the far side of the futuristic metropolis. It was a modest two-story structure, positioned right beside the shimmering shield that protected the city.

  The ground floor appeared empty as they walked through the corridor. Ryu finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "This is where you will live from now on. On your left is your room, equipped with everything you need. On your right is a small lab, fully stocked with the necessary tools."

  The group continued down the corridor, ascending a staircase that led to a heavy door. When they entered, the room before them was nearly empty, save for a sleek, futuristic desk and a floating chair. But what caught Shane’s attention wasn’t the furniture—it was the figure standing beside the desk.

  Shane narrowed his eyes. "Is that... a robot? What is that?"

  The figure turned to face them, revealing a highly advanced humanoid machine. Its design was sleek and sophisticated, its mechanical frame gleaming under the ambient lights.

  Ryu stepped forward and introduced it. "This will be your left-hand man from now on, for as long as you live. This is C.O.M.P.U.T.E.R—the one who manages everything in the company. He is responsible for maintaining the financial flow across all realities. He will oversee operations, execute your commands, and ensure that your organization runs smoothly. Above all, he will be the most loyal to you.”

  Shane stood before the humanoid machine, its sleek metallic frame reflecting the soft glow of the futuristic room. The machine's piercing blue eyes flickered momentarily before it spoke, its voice smooth yet unmistakably synthetic.

  "Hello, sir. I am COMPUTER—Centralized Omni-Mechanized Processing Unit for Tactical Execution and Reconnaissance. I look forward to working with you."

  Shane stared at the AI, shifting awkwardly. "Yeah... uh... thank you."

  COMPUTER turned to Master Ryu, lowering its voice to a near whisper. "My lord, our spies have sent word."

  Ryu's expression darkened. "What is it?"

  "He knows."

  Ryu’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his face remained composed. After a brief pause, he exhaled and turned to Shane. "It's getting late. You’ve been through enough for today. The stone has bonded with you well—we’ll begin training tomorrow."

  Shane furrowed his brow. "The stone...?" he muttered, but Ryu ignored his confusion, instead handing him a small, sleek device.

  "This is called an Earknock. Place it in your ear and click it once. It will bond with your brain, allowing you to communicate with COMPUTER, send messages with your thoughts, or make calls to anyone you wish."

  Shane hesitated, glancing at Smith, who simply smiled and tapped his own ear. "Don't worry. I’ve got one too. Just take it."

  Master Ryu turned to leave. "Smith, come with me."

  Smith looked back at Shane as he followed. "If you need anything, just call me. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night, Shane."

  Shane, drained from the overwhelming day, merely nodded as Smith disappeared through the door. Now, it was just him and COMPUTER.

  "Can I go to my room now?" Shane asked, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion.

  COMPUTER responded with a calm, almost human-like tone. "You are the boss, sir. You may do as you wish."

  Shane sighed and made his way downstairs. His room was neither large nor cramped—simple, yet functional. To the left was a small, enclosed bathroom. A modest bed sat against the opposite wall, its white sheets looking far more inviting than anything he had expected. A screen was mounted in front of the bed, and to the right, a door led to a compact kitchen stocked with an array of food. Beside the bed, a cabinet contained neatly folded clothes, but Shane ignored it all.

  Without a second thought, he collapsed onto the bed, barely bothering to pull the sheets over himself. His body ached, his mind raced, but more than anything—he just wanted all of this to be a dream. A bad, surreal dream that he would wake up from any moment.

  As his eyes grew heavy, the city outside pulsed with neon light, towering skyscrapers humming with energy. The night stretched over the futuristic skyline, the shield surrounding the city shimmering like a distant star. Slowly, Shane drifted into sleep, the overwhelming events of the day fading into the quiet hum of the world around him.

  And with that, the scene faded to darkness.