G.O.D Complex// Earth Prime

Linus remained skeptical. He found it hard to believe they had completed the climb this early. Something about it felt... off. He glanced up at the towering wall that led to the tenth floor, then down at the sleek platform beneath their feet.

"I guess we made it," Levi muttered. "So... what now?"

Velvet walked closer to the wall, placing her palm against its surface. "What kind of material is this?" she asked. It felt cold—but strangely alive, pulsing faintly beneath her hand.

Linus joined her, pressing his own palm to the surface. It didn't feel extraordinary, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching him. Curious, he tapped the side of his head, activating the AI interface.

His personal data appeared in his peripheral vision—same as before—along with new additions from the notepads he'd downloaded, including the AI Interface.

He glanced at the remaining time: 2 days.

"I think the best explanation," Linus muttered, "is that we were manipulated."

The others turned to him.

"What do you mean?" asked Velvet, narrowing her eyes.

"Think about it. We were told to reach the tenth floor as fast as possible, like something horrible would happen if we didn't. That urgency—along with the chaos of the first two days—made everyone panic. But now that we're here, there's no immediate threat. Just... waiting."

Levi frowned. "You think it was just a psychological test?"

"Partly," Linus said. "But also a filter. They used fear to weed people out. And no one's even talking about the massacre on the first floor—those who made it out are quiet about it."

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Tell me something. Do any of you feel... remorse for what happened back then?"

The others exchanged glances.

"Not really," Velvet admitted. "It's like... it doesn't bother me."

"I didn't know them. So why should I care?" Levi said coldly. Nathalie silently nodded in agreement.

Linus turned back toward the edge of the floor, eyes narrowed. "Then it's true... this batch of survivors—" he smiled faintly "—we're all already predisposed for violence."

The thought settled over them like a heavy cloud.

"Everyone here... might have already been a murderer."

---

Two days passed.

At last, the great doors opened, revealing a vast main hall—a chamber of steel and light, humming with soft pulses of energy.

Linus walked in first, flanked by Velvet, Levi, and Nathalie. Behind them, dozens of survivors from their batch followed in. Benjamin arrived with the petite girl in tow, along with a fresh group—some still recovering from their journey. Among them: the muscular man who had carried the girl during the climb.

Then, a voice rang out—not from a speaker, but from the air itself.

> [Welcome, and congratulations on reaching Floor 10.]

[You and the hundreds of thousands in this sector of the G.O.D. Complex have successfully completed your academic route and are now eligible to embark on your life journey.]

> [Before addressing questions, we wish to inform you that you have earned a one-week stay within the complex for rest and recovery. During this period, you will be provided with access to food, shelter, and entertainment facilities.]

> [Access to these facilities will be granted based on arrival time, divided into Class A, B, and C authorizations. This classification also determines your access level to specific tools and modules during future missions.]

> [Any inappropriate conduct—including murder, cannibalism, sexual assault, human experimentation, or related crimes—will result in immediate termination. The facility is under constant surveillance.]

> [You may now ask any questions.]

A man near the back raised his hand. "What happens to those who didn't make it?"

> [Those who failed to reach Floor 10 will remain on lower floors until their deaths by starvation or dehydration. Once the floor's support systems shut down, no aid will be rendered. A new batch will be prepared in time.]

The room froze. Shock rippled through the survivors. Linus frowned.

"A new batch... will be born?" he thought.

The AI voice continued.

> [The capsules and drugs given to participants at the beginning contained ultra-condensed nutrients capable of sustaining human life without food or water for several days. Efficiency varies by grade—some can last a month, others only a week.]

> [Those without access to these resources will perish.]

A girl stepped forward and raised her hand.

"What happened to Earth? And our homes?" she asked, voicing the question everyone feared.

> [Restricted. Information related to the blackout period is accessible only to candidates with SS-Class Authorization.]

Levi folded his arms. "And how do we get SS-Class authorization?"

> [Authorization is granted to individuals who exhibit signs of personal redemption, leadership, and a desire to pioneer a better future.]

"That's vague as hell," Levi muttered.

Linus raised his hand.

"What happened to our planet after the blackout?" he asked calmly.

Velvet glanced at him. "What do you mean our planet?" she whispered. "Isn't this Earth?"

The AI responded before Linus could clarify.

> [That is correct. This is not Earth.]

The room went silent. Then, the projection above shifted—revealing a strange, alien planet: swirling skies, wild terrain, oceans of unfamiliar hue.

> [We cannot reveal the state of the Earth you once knew. However, we can inform you about the world you now inhabit—classified as the Doom Planet.]

> [Also known as: the Planet of Life. Or, by your former designation—]

> [Earth Prime.]

— To be Continued