Gens could only remain silent and stare blankly ahead while speaking inwardly,
"Eh? Why? Didn't all of this happen so fast? That's the question that came to my mind. I thought—what's the point of all this? What's the use of technology this advanced if the risks are too high for us?! That's why I made a vow! I vowed to revert this world back to the era before AI existed! I vowed to stop the development of robots and AI! No—even the most advanced search engines!"
"But... even though I've devised a brilliant plan… is it even possible for my wish to come true? Judging from the current situation… ah, clearly not! Ahh… if only… if only I could turn back time… maybe I'd go back to the past and stop those crazy geniuses from ever rising. Huh? A time machine, then?
AI... explain how to build a time machine that can travel to the past and the future!"
Gens thought there might be a way, even though he already suspected what the AI would answer. Still, who knows, right?
As expected, a few seconds later, the AI device hovering in front of Gens' head responded,
"YOUR LEVEL IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH."
"Hah? What? Why would you answer like that? Usually, if there's no answer, you're honest and say it doesn't exist. What do you mean by 'level'?" Gens was confused by the AI's response.
"Apologies. As before, your level is not high enough to access this answer. The level refers to your own being—it may include intelligence, strength, and willpower. Please increa—"
Before the AI could finish its sentence, Gens struck it with a powerful blow, destroying it.
"Hah… this is insane, huh? Instead of making people smarter, you're just blinding them… Dumb thing. Pretty strong, huh? Haha, but in the end, AI is just AI. Stay obedient and don't make things up," Gens said furiously as the AI continued glitching.
Gens then continued his journey home. Once there, he naturally went inside and cleaned up something that looked dirty.
"Dad, I'm home!" Gens called out.
"Alright, Gens... eh? Why are you home early today, son? Did something happen?" his father asked.
"Huh… yeah, Dad. A lot happened today. And for tomorrow, maybe for the next two weeks too... I'll be staying here," Gens replied.
"Eh… what's going on at school again...? Then... what are you planning to do at home? You don't seem too interested in learning with AI," his dad remarked.
Gens answered with a puzzled look,
"Ah... Dad, maybe I should continue my progress in martial arts training... for the sake of my life's purpose too, hehe,"
Though Gens replied, he was slightly confused—why was his father suddenly speaking so formally?
Then came a knock on the door—five knocks. Gens' father hurried to open it, thinking it might be someone important.
SFX: BRUGGG
Gens, who was in the martial arts room, quickly ran to the front to check.
"Eh... the door's not closed properly. Why did Dad suddenly leave? Did he have an urgent job? Huh? Wait… why was Dad even home just now? Didn't he leave for work this morning?! This is seriously weird."
Confused by the situation, Gens went to the door to close it—but there was something that piqued his curiosity.
"Ugh... what's this? Is it a code...? What kind of code starts with an S? And... there are four dots...? Does it mean five letters?" he muttered while staring at the floor, as the code was engraved there.
At that moment, his friends arrived.
"Yo, Gens..." his five friends greeted.
Gens turned around and replied, slightly startled,
"A-Ah... yo. Eh, Syamseong? And… who are the other four?"
"HEY! GENS!!" Syamseong shouted.
"Huh? What the—don't scare me like that!" Gens responded, confused.
Just then, about 30 cm beside Gens' body, a navy-colored barrier appeared. At first, it was short—only as tall as Gens' foot—but within seconds, it grew tall and engulfed him. That was what made Syamseong shout.
"Alright, this was bound to happen anyway..." (?!)
Gens froze, slightly frightened, as he was swallowed by darkness that seemed to consume him.
He could only stare upward, swallowing nervously, watching as the thing… advanced? …flew? …no, stretched? …eh… grew taller?
"What is this? Hoihoiohi, i-is this real? What is this? Hah…" (he fell down, sitting in the darkness that enveloped him)
After a few minutes, a small light appeared from above, slightly calming Gens.
He thought maybe this was just a prank his friends had set up, just for fun.
But who would have thought—the light turned out to be a storm cloud full of lightning that struck down at Gens, knocking him unconscious with its searing pain.
Five hours later, Gens finally woke up—but he was in a room filled with potions, medicines, serums, and other scientific items, like a laboratory.
"Hah...hah...hah..., finally I'm awake. Eh, where is this? Is anyone there? Please, help..." he gasped, panicked.
While Gens was looking around for someone, a voice came from behind,
"I'm here, you idiot!" said the man.
"W-what... who are you? Why did you kidnap me?!" Gens asked in panic.
The man responded,
"Haha, of course... I'm the one who watches over this room! Why? Heheheh… you're the one who took the bait! You said you were training martial arts, didn't you? HAHAHAHA... what for? Don't you know what happens to people who do that in this country?"
Gens answered, trying to lie,
"Of course I know, sir! But... I didn't really mean to train in martial arts... So why did you arrest me, sir?"
The man replied,
"Ahh... you think I'm stupid? That I got the wrong guy? Ridiculous! Just take a look at this..."
He pulled something down from above.
SFX: swoosh... BOOM...
A box came down, secured tightly by advanced AI systems.
The man uttered,
"S****"
The box opened... and to Gens' shock, what he saw made his eyes widen in horror.
Inside was his father—merged with an AI robot. His upper body was his father, but his legs and brain area were mechanical, made of robotic metal.
"Well? How do you like that?!" the man said, grinning psychotically.
"Ah... what is this... I wish this were just a nightmare... or some fiction book I read," Gens thought to himself, staring blankly at the horrifying scene.
"Alright... START," the man declared.
To be continued...
Author's social media:
@navypemula
@giansugiana357
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