The Power of Belief (Volume 2)

"..."

"Yes, fifty years ago," the wise speaker confirmed, his tone tinged with a distant nostalgia. "Back then, I was just like you, young, full of curiosity and questions. But my life in this virtual world ended prematurely due to an unfortunate accident."

He paused, his gaze unfocused, as if reliving the memory.

"After I 'died' here, I awoke in the real world. The life pod I was confined in suddenly began to move, gliding toward an exit zone. When it finally opened, a rush of air hit me, and I gasped desperately, my lungs were fighting to take in air like they had forgotten how to breathe."

"I struggled to move," he continued. "I tumbled onto my side, using the little strength I had to lift my upper body. Having been confined in that pod for who knows how long, my muscles felt weak, and my movements felt clumsy. But somehow, I managed to roll out of the pod, landing on a narrow bridge row. Rows upon rows of similar bridges stretched above and below me, disappearing into darkness."

He took a deep breath, the weight of his memory evident.

"I had no idea where to go, but I saw a sign, an exit sign glowing green. With immense effort, I began to crawl, crawl towards the door marked by the sign. It felt like I was in a battle with my own body, struggling to fringe forward."

"What I thought was the exit turned out to be an escalator. Inside, a large AI visual interface greeted me which prompted me to select a floor. At that time, I felt hungry, very hungry. Despite moving only a few meters from my pod, I shouted 'Food!' out of pure instinct. Almost instantly, it took me to my desired floor."

"The escalator doors opened, and in front, I saw an empty lounge, with barely any signs of life. The only thing present was a solitary robot stationed near a white ceramic counter. It approached me and asked what I wanted to eat. I was still in a haze due to hunger, so I blurted out, 'Just give me anything!' Without any further questions, it simply handed me a neatly wrapped packet. I tore it open and devoured it without putting any second thoughts to what it was, barely chewing. But it tasted sweet, and later I found out it was some nutrient-dense sweet."

"But almost immediately, I felt a surge of energy course through me. I found I could move better, despite my knees struggling to balance on two feet. From there, I began exploring the strange dome, floor by floor, I was desperate to uncover its mysteries, hoping to find another like me. Soon, I was able to walk upright, whilst constantly relying on the food from that peculiar lounge to sustain me. And just like that, I uncovered the truth, the real history of the world."

"..."

"Of course," the wise speaker added with a faint smile, "I would love to share more, but that would take an entire day. And I’m certain now isn’t the best time for such a long tale, wouldn’t you agree?"

"..."

Kaito stood silent feeling baffled, processing the overwhelming information the wise speaker had shared. The story sounded like something pulled straight from a dystopian fantasy, yet the wise speaker's calm confidence and piercing gaze made it difficult to dismiss. Either everything he was saying was the truth, or he was an unparalleled storyteller, or perhaps a lunatic. But given the dire circumstances, Kaito felt he had no choice but to listen and press for answers.

"Does this mean... That those who died in this world wake up in the real one? That they leave their life pods like yourself?" Kaito asked, his voice trembling. "Surely, that includes everyone right, including..." His voice broke as he whispered her name. "Natasha, right?"

His eyes bore into the wise speaker, desperate for confirmation, a glimmer of hope clinging to his words.

"..."

The speaker sighed softly, shaking his head. "No, Kaito. They’re gone. Those equipped with brain implants, like Natasha, have had their real brains destroyed by the virus. They are essentially brain dead."

Kaito fell to his knees, his hands gripping the ground as despair consumed him. "No... There’s no way..." His voice cracked. "But what about the others? Those who have died naturally, or those without the brain implants? What about them?"

The wise speaker paused, choosing his words carefully. "Well, it’s a little different for them," he began. "Those without the brain implants, who experience what they believe to be a natural death, remain in a comatose state. Their minds convince them they’ve truly died, so they refuse to wake up. On the other hand, some who regret dying, those who wish for a second chance, are given another body by the virtual system. A reset, if you will. It’s... Similar to the concept of reincarnation in the real world."

"Reset?" Kaito murmured.

The wise speaker nodded. "Yes. But there’s a catch. Their subconscious mind governs what happens next. If someone dies with strong regrets or distorted beliefs, they might end up in a virtual body entirely different from their real one. This means their gender, race or appearance may differ."

"After all, your subconscious mind is powerful. Whatever you choose to believe, it will be so. If you choose to fill your life with negativity, it shall become true, and it is the same for positivity as well. So always be wary of what you say, whether internally or externally, whether as a joke or in seriousness."

"..."

The speaker continued, his voice softening. "For me... I always questioned, always sought to know more. I believe it was that subconscious drive that brought me back to the real world."

"..."

Kaito’s voice wavered as he asked, "So... There’s no hope for Natasha?"