Chương 13: Chapter 12 - The Arena (III)

July 31, 2024 - Headquarters of the United Nations, New York, US The room was bathed in the warm, early morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a stark contrast to the grim expressions on the faces of those gathered within. Seated around the large, oval conference table were some of the most influential figures of the world: scientists, political leaders, and military officials.

At the head of the table, Secretary-General Elena Morales, a woman of commanding presence and calm demeanor, began the session.

"Thank you all for assembling on such short notice," she began, her gaze sweeping across the room, meeting the eyes of each participant.

"The situation we face is without precedent, and our response must be swift and unified."

"On July 29th, at precisely 21: 32 UTC, The Tower appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The structure is 10 kilometers tall, with 6 kilometers above the sea, and has proven impervious to any sort of detection. It does not appear on radar, and it is impossible to see inside. For all intents and purposes, The Tower seems invisible. However, we have sent flares and test shots, confirming that The Tower is physically there, not an illusion." The tension in the room was palpable as Elena continued.

"We also sent a robot, which successfully reached The Tower without issues. It attempted to mine the material from which the tower is made, but to no avail. We will try 'stronger' methods, but setting up the necessary equipment will take time." She looked around the room, her expression serious.

"Now, before we move to the next point, there are two immediate concerns we must address. First, should we send a human to touch The Tower? Second, should we attack The Tower with heavier weaponry?" A murmur of discussion broke out among the attendees. Dr. Michael Anders was the first to speak up.

"Madam Secretary-General, sending a human could yield valuable information, but the risks are considerable. We have no idea what kind of effects contact might have on a living being." General Thomas Reed interjected, "While I understand the need for caution, we can't ignore the possibility that this structure poses a direct threat. We should be prepared to use whatever force is necessary to neutralize it if it comes to that." Elena nodded, absorbing their input.

"We will need a comprehensive risk assessment before making any decisions. I want detailed reports on potential biological hazards from our top medical experts and a strategic analysis from our military advisors on the implications of a direct attack." She turned to Dr. Samantha Lee, a leading biologist.

"Dr. Lee, can you coordinate the risk assessment for human contact with The Tower?" Dr. Lee nodded, her expression focused.

"I'll get our best people on it immediately. We'll need to run simulations and gather more data from the robot's sensors." Elena then addressed General Reed.

"General, I need you to prepare a contingency plan for a potential attack. Ensure that all measures are taken to avoid unnecessary escalation." The General gave a sharp nod.

"Understood, Madam Secretary-General. We'll start—." A sudden tap on the table interrupted the flow of conversation. Everyone looked at the source of the noise, and the room grew silent.

"Seriously? Was I called all the way here to joke around?" His voice carried a hint of incredulity. After a pause, he continued, his voice calm.

"I believe you all understand the difference between whoever sent that tower and us is thousands of times greater than our own technological difference with the first man that graced Earth. Now tell me, if this first, primitive man encountered a T-14 Armata, is he supposed to... throw a stone at it?" Only one of those present briefly chuckled, while the rest remained serious. Elena responded calmly, addressing the man by name.

"We understand the difference, Marshal Viktor Ivanov. But we must face the problem with what we have. We know some missiles may not do anything to the structure, but it may shed light on more information about it. After all, the signal mentioned a test. If the test is only meant for those teleported inside, then why put a physical tower in the first place? Why make it real?" This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"If you are happy to send missiles, then be my guest Madam Secretary-General. Are you planning on using the marine or the air force? Just a quick reminder that each Tomahawk is $1. 96 million, and each AARGM is $1. 6 million. I would suggest using a Hellfire or a TOW instead and save a bit on the budget," Viktor smiled.

"Thank you for the suggestion, Marshal," Elena said calmly and seriously, offering a smile in response.

"If there is nothing else, we will move to the next topic: the teleportations." The room grew even quieter as Elena continued.

"We have confirmed reports of over 300, 000 people being teleported from various locations around the world into what we suppose is The Tower."

"Now, while this is the reported amount as of now, we have reason to believe the real number is much higher than that, maybe close to or surpassing one million," she said, leaving some in the room shocked. After a pause, she continued, "As we are all aware, a significant percentage of those who disappeared started to reappear, most after 7: 40 UTC of the next day, yet it has been confirmed that some appeared earlier and later."

"After a process of screening, we are certain that the condition to exit The Tower is to die inside," she said.

"There is good news and bad news about this. The good news is that all who die are brought back alive exactly to where they were last, and, at least physically, they are fine. The bad part is that we are certain this means those who returned have failed the challenge." A murmur of concern spread through the room. Elena continued, "As you may all be aware, the first trial in The Tower is an empty white room in total isolation. After 10 hours, a knife appears at the center.

Now, as we understand, it is hard for an average human to survive in those conditions for that long without experiencing severe psychological distress. I believe Dr. Lee can provide more input on the matter."

"Thank you, Elena. The conditions described are designed to induce extreme stress and isolation. Prolonged exposure to such an environment can lead to symptoms of sensory deprivation, severe anxiety, and depression. Sensory deprivation, even for short periods, can result in hallucinations, cognitive deficits, and emotional instability. Prolonged isolation can exacerbate these effects, leading individuals to lose touch with reality." Dr.

Lee continued, "The introduction of the knife after 10 hours appears to be a psychological trigger, forcing individuals to confront their desperation. In such a state, people may view the knife as a means to end their suffering, leading to self-harm or suicide. This is consistent with research on solitary confinement, which has shown that individuals deprived of social contact and environmental stimulation can resort to extreme measures, including self-mutilation behaviors."

"Our preliminary interviews with the returnees indicate a range of severe psychological responses. Many exhibited signs of acute stress disorder, with symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and hypervigilance. If these symptoms are not addressed, they can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder. Some individuals have also demonstrated profound dissociative symptoms, indicating a severe impact on their mental health."

"Thank you, Dr. Lee," Elena said.

"We've already started implementing comprehensive support systems for those who return. Medical teams are on standby to provide immediate care, psychological support is being arranged to help them cope with their experiences, and security measures are being tightened to ensure their safety and the integrity of the information they bring back." Suddenly, after a brief pause, Viktor spoke up.

"All that is good and well, but … what about the links?" There was another creature standing in the middle of the now orange circle. It looked exactly like the one before, but… was it? He took a deep breath and calmly stepped in. At this moment, his worry wasn't the creatures themselves; they were weak. His concern was about him, his need to control his emotions and resist the growing lust for power and blood. The creature rushed at him just as he entered the circle, leaving him little time to react.

He managed to block the strike coming from the left, feeling the force and speed of the attack. It was stronger and faster than before. Without thinking too much, he created a brief space between them, moving away from the edge of the circle just in case. The creature, however, was relentless, giving him no time to relax. It continued with a flurry of slashes, keeping him on the constant defensive.

'What a joke.' As the creature raised its sword for a downward slash, Alonso crouched and moved forward through the small opening. Using one foot as an axis, he spun his body 180 degrees. His sword, already at his hip, sprang forward in an incredibly fast slash that left the creature no time to defend or escape. The sword severed the creature from the hip upward, slicing its body in two. Blood spilled for a couple of seconds before the creature disappeared, leaving behind a bluish orb.

He gazed around and noticed no changes. Then he crouched and absorbed the orb. S##g# # - 0. #78# That thing again. It felt slightly clearer this time. Would it reveal itself as he absorbed more orbs? Likely. In any case, the challenge of this room was not over. The circle on the floor turned yellow.