2099?!
Dawn
The sky was gray, and the sun pierced the horizon like a bleeding eye watching over the battlefield.
Elliot stood atop the wall, observing the army crawling through Wolf's Pass. Their armor reflected the morning light, and the sounds of horse hooves echoed like the heartbeat of a giant, filled with dread.
Five thousand... George whispered beside him. Against four hundred.
Elliot smiled, his hand playing with a small dagger.
The number isn't the problem... ignorance is.
They're ignorant that we can hear them.
One Hour Earlier
Inside General Graven's Tent:
We will attack in three directions, exactly as planned. The infantry from the center, and the cavalry on both sides. Don't engage until we reach the inner courtyard. The palace is full of loot, and I want their leader's head on a pike.
General Graven believed he was devising a brilliant plan.
But Elliot heard every word... as if the general was whispering directly into his ear.
7:00 AM
They're moving! one of the scouts shouted.
Elliot raised his finger.
Execute Phase One.
Doooom!
Flaming arrows shot from behind the hills, striking some soldiers in the vanguard while others fell on the supply carts.
They think we've started the attack.
He turned to George. Send the cavalry to the forest.
In Wolf's Pass
They're attacking us! a royal officer shouted.
Advance! Graven ordered. They're nervous!
The royal army charged into the pass, unaware that they were now like a trapped herd.
On the northern hill, Elliot raised his hand.
Now.
Doooom!
Rocks rained down from the side cliffs, blocking the path of retreat.
The royal army, five thousand soldiers strong, was now trapped in a narrow pass.
Burn them!
Whoosh!
The archers launched oil bombs, followed by flaming arrows.
The air filled with screams.
Soldiers ran... stumbled... the fire consuming them.
In the Heart of Chaos
Retreat! one of the officers shouted.
Elliot heard his name in his mind: Captain Darin, 35 years old.
He'll order his men to escape south.
Elliot looked at George. Send the second division south. We'll trap them.
And in his mind, he heard other whispers:
Graven is advancing himself!
Finally... the jackal had entered the trap.
The Battle Shifts
Graven appeared amidst the flames, riding his black horse.
You cowards! Move forward!
He was a terrifying leader.
But Elliot was smiling.
George, leave him an open path.
Graven saw a gap in the palace ranks.
They're broken!
He charged with his soldiers into the inner courtyard.
He entered through the open gate... unaware that the walls were coated with thick oil.
From atop the wall, Elliot dropped a single torch.
Boom!
The courtyard exploded in flames.
The horse neighed wildly. Soldiers burned in place.
Graven fell to the ground.
Elliot descended into the courtyard, approached the charred general, and knelt beside him.
Graven... 48 years old.
The man opened an eye with difficulty.
Who... are you?
Elliot smiled and whispered:
I am the man who knows everything.
Then, he plunged the dagger into his throat.
The black flag fluttered over the palace.
The battle was over.
On the Wall, at the End of the Day
Elliot stood among the victorious soldiers.
More will come, George said.
He nodded.
Yes... but for now, we've become a legend.
Six Months Later
Since Elliot's victory in the Battle of Wolf's Pass, the once-ruined palace had become a bustling center of power. The walls were rebuilt, weapons stockpiled, and soldiers trained personally by Elliot.
He was now known as: The King of Ideas.
But deep down, he believed he was more than just a king.
I am the mind that cannot be defeated. As long as I know the name and age... I control everything.
The First Week of the Sixth Month
News arrived:
The kingdom had assembled a new army.
Ten thousand soldiers.
Ten thousand? Elliot laughed loudly before his commanders.
We crushed five thousand with only four hundred. Now we're two thousand men, and I have twenty thousand ideas in my head.
The commanders laughed with him.
One Week Before the Battle
Elliot stood in front of the mirror.
I am the genius. The one who hears thoughts. How can they defeat me?
But he couldn't silence that inner voice:
Pride... Elliot.
Who said that?
He searched through the names. No one knew his true age.
Maybe I'm imagining things.
He turned away from the mirror.
Day of the Battle
Elliot stood atop the wall, just as he had six months ago.
He saw the new army: dozens of ranks stretching to the horizon, their armor black, their banners not bearing the usual royal insignia... but a new symbol: an open eye.
An eye? George whispered beside him.
Elliot felt a cold grip on his heart.
They know about me.
The attack began.
Arrows flew.
Fires blazed.
Elliot tried to focus, to hear the thoughts.
But... he heard nothing.
Complete silence.
What is this?
Suddenly, a single voice echoed in his mind:
You're not the only one who knows.
He turned his head and saw the royal army's commander standing in the distance—a bald man with a tattooed eye on his forehead.
Who... is that?
I am Valerius... 50 years old.
How?
The Plan
The palace army split to face the attack.
Elliot was trying to control the battle, but his inner voice was disoriented.
How can he hear me? How does he know me?
In that moment of distraction, the royal army broke a gap in the defenses.
They're entering! George shouted.
For the first time, Elliot had no solution.
Retreat to the courtyard!
In the Inner Courtyard
Soldiers were dying around him.
Elliot drew his sword.
Valerius appeared before him.
Did you think you were alone? the man said with a cold smile.
Who are you?
I am the one who knows your name... Elliot Gray, 22 years old.
Doooom!
A mental shockwave hit Elliot.
My thoughts... exposed!
We used your own power against you. You deceived us, tormented us, but we learned.
Elliot lunged with his sword, but Valerius was faster.
A stab to the stomach.
Warm blood soaked his body.
I... was a genius... Elliot whispered, a bitter smile on his face.
But I was a fool.
He fell to his knees.
Valerius leaned in and whispered:
Even the sharpest minds... collapse under their own arrogance.
Then, he drove the dagger into Elliot's heart.
The End
Elliot fell, his eyes fixed on the sky.
If I know the name and age... I control everything.
But he forgot to truly know himself.
And so, he died alone.
Darkness.
A strange cold enveloped his body.
Am I... dead?
He slowly opened his eyes.
A white ceiling gleamed. Blue light pulsed along the walls in a rhythmic pattern.
Where... am I?
He tried to rise, but his body felt heavy.
Welcome, Elliot Gray.
He froze. The voice was feminine, robotic... but it knew his name.
Who are you?
I am the ARIA System. You are now in the year 2099.
2099?!
He looked around. He was lying on a metallic bed, surrounded by transparent screens displaying complex symbols.
How? I was in a battle... I was at the palace... and... I died.
You were part of an Enhanced Mental Reality Experiment. Welcome to the future, Elliot.
An experiment?!
Twenty Minutes Earlier
In a glass observation room, a man in his forties wearing a gray coat stood beside a woman with short hair and a screen displaying brainwave patterns.
He's awake.
Excellent. Three years in the simulation, and his mind survived.
Should we tell him the full truth?
Not yet. Let's see how he adapts first.
Back to Elliot
He sat on the bed.
If I was in an experiment... then everything that happened? The palace? The battle? My powers?
It was a mental simulation. An experiment to test the limits of human cognition.
Everything was an illusion.
But... the voice? My ability to hear thoughts?
You were hearing others' thoughts.
That was part of the system. We implanted neural signals to stimulate your brain and give you that experience.
They played with my mind.
The door opened.
A tall man with gray hair entered.
Welcome, Elliot. I'm Dr. Kain. How do you feel after your journey through time?
Angry.
The man laughed. That's normal. You lived a full life in different worlds. But now... you're back to reality.
Why did you do this to me?
You were a volunteer. You needed the money. You agreed to participate in a cognitive experiment.
An experiment?! You made me live nightmares! You made me feel death!
And now your mind is stronger than ever.
Stronger?
Dr. Kain smiled.
Do you think your ability was just an illusion?
Elliot felt a chill.
What do you mean?
The ARIA System did something unexpected. It developed your mind in ways we didn't anticipate.
How?
Try it yourself. Tell me... how old am I?
Elliot looked into his eyes.
Kain Robertson. 45 years old.
Dr. Kain's eyes widened.
Impossible... it worked.
Elliot slowly smiled.
In the observation room, the woman pressed a red button.
We have a problem.
What problem?
His mind... is out of control.
In the room, Elliot looked at the camera and smiled.
I can hear you.