Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Lesson learned Chapter 345 – Lesson learned Noah and Virgo didn’t know how they had found themselves on the silky bed, pressed together, their almost naked bodies touching in uneasy closeness. A white sheet was wrapped lazily around them, and above, the ceiling split open, parting in silence as something descended — not the small mechanical arms they had seen before, but far larger, longer, like the massive hand of some giant — and in its grasp, absurdly enough, it carried popcorn and sodas. Noah was flabbergasted. The eerie suspicion gnawing at him since the moment they first fell into the void began to consolidate into something sharper, something that felt dangerously close to truth. This place was tied to Earth. He didn’t know how such a thing was possible, but everything he saw confirmed it — things common to Earth, yes, yet here twisted, refined, built at a level far beyond anything Earth had ever achieved. As if... "No talking will be allowed." The feminine robotic voice cut through his thoughts like a frosted blade. Noah lifted his head, eyes narrowing toward the space in front of him, just as it rippled and wavered like heat haze before flickering into sharp focus. A colossal square panel appeared, glowing with unnatural clarity — a video projector. At its arrival, the sterile oval room was bathed in new light, transforming into the uncanny likeness of a cinema hall. Noah almost laughed at the absurdity. He was here, like a child being scolded and ordered around by some presence he could neither see nor fully grasp. It was laughable. He was not afraid. Now that the fog of confusion had lifted, his mind moved differently, sharper, clearer. His life was safeguarded by the Records, and as long as he lived, none of his siblings — nor Virgo — would be touched. Do not forget, Providence had already warned him of this incident. He did not know what trial or spectacle awaited, but he had prepared enough to ensure that if things turned south, this entire place would be reduced to ashes and rubble. He glanced down at the device embedded into his flesh. For an instant, the corner of his mouth threatened to curve into a smirk, but he forced his face to remain neutral, his emotions flat, his thoughts calm. Perhaps this construct could read his feelings, perhaps even his mind. Better, then, to betray nothing. ’Providence has never lied to me. There is something to learn here... so let’s learn, then burn this place to the ground. And besides...’ His gaze drifted toward Virgo. She had steadied herself, her earlier panic cooled, her instincts telling her to focus, to be useful. ’...it’s the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap.’ The thought carried the edge of a smirk. Now he considered the possibility of playing along with whoever was behind this, at least for a while. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 He reached out, his large warm hand enveloping Virgo’s smaller one. She shivered at the sudden touch, but she did not pull away. Instead, her fingers tightened, clinging to him, searching for comfort. Understandable. Virgo knew nothing of this world, compared to Noah. She stood here blind, thrown into something alien and vast, and do not forget... ...fear of the unknown was, after all, the oldest fear of them all. The holographic screen flickered, and the images began to play. Gigantic stone pyramids rose like mountains carved by men, each block so massive it could have been a house on its own. People in brown skin, dressed in strange garments of short-kilt like and tight fitting linen dress walked about, their lives etched in colors and sounds that felt both foreign and hauntingly familiar. Then the ruler appeared, the one the feminine voice had named Pharaoh. He was a sight to behold. His fingers, ankles and wrist were covered in golden jewelry coupled with a crown magnificent. And as Noah’s eyes locked on the figure, the first thought that surged unbidden through him was... ’How arrogant,’ Noah mused, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth. It was the only thing that stuck with him as he watched the life of this so-called king, the way he carried himself, the way he treated his people. The man slaughtered every newborn boy in fear of a prophecy, yet allowed one into his palace because of his wife’s pleading — and that very boy was the one who sealed his downfall. Of course, the story was far more layered than that, more complex, but Noah focused only on the essence. It was fate. It was laughable. To kill countless children in an attempt to defy the inevitable, only to nurture the very one destined to rise against you. To claim divinity, to pretend to be immortal and untouchable, only to drown like any other man — swallowed by the same sea that had parted in silence to let another walk free. By the end of the vision, the projector faded, its glow retreating as the room returned to its sterile white stillness. Noah turned his head, only to see Virgo with her cheeks puffed out, mouth stuffed full of popcorn, desperately trying to devour all of it before it vanished. Good choice. Because seconds later, both popcorn and sodas were gone. Virgo froze, her expression shifting into visible embarrassment. She gulped down what she could, bits of popcorn still stuck to the corner of her lips. She licked them hurriedly and whispered, "It... it was too good." Noah simply smiled. It seemed the silence had lifted — they could finally speak. They both shifted their attention back to their surroundings, bracing for whatever came next. "What did you learn?" the mechanical voice asked. Neither was surprised by the question. They glanced at each other, then Virgo spoke first, her voice steady, confident. "Arrogance is the downfall of all great men." Noah followed, his tone measured. "There is always something — someone — greater than you. Cruelty to others doesn’t make you immortal. And..." He smiled, a quiet, sharp smile. "...Fate is absolute." That was the lesson. That was the truth he chose to take. And as the words left his mouth, Noah began to see why Providence had sent him here in the first place. This place was no mere test — it was a gallery of ancient myths and histories, recounting events that had already unfolded, showcasing the rise and fall of men and women across ages. Some had achieved greatness, some had erred, some had been broken by their flaws, but all had left something behind. His role was not to mock them or dismiss them. It was to watch. To listen. To absorb. To learn. Because, as a wise man once said, anything you are striving for has already been attempted by those before you. Rather than waste your life stumbling blindly, learn from their paths, take their lessons, and carve your own. Noah smiled again. Yes, he was liking this place more and more. And beyond that, all these mechanical contraptions stirred a strange nostalgia inside him, a reminder of Earth that he could not ignore. And even if he lost everything here, even if he was stripped bare, he still had an entire world within himself. He would reduce this place to nothing but ash and ruin with his wives and people if things got to that point. And Providence was with him. But for now... ’Let’s take the first real step toward Perfection...’ His goal was no longer vague. Its edges were sharpening before his eyes. All he needed was the vision, the resolve, to see clearly. "Answers acknowledged." The voice came again, flat and mechanical, but this time its words carved straight into his soul. "I have replaced your blood. I have replaced your flesh. I have replaced every cell, every chain of DNA that once defined you. What now remains... is it still you?" And thus, the question struck Noah. —End of Chapter 345—