"Don't you think you should take a bit better care of your sleep?" asked the black-haired man with a faint morning stubble, his eyes lingering on the dark circles under his son's eyes across the table.
"Haha, come on, Dad. You know I haven't been able to sleep these past few days, I'm too excited," said the young man with messy blond hair and bright green eyes.
The older man sighed quietly and looked at his son with a mixture of concern and irritation. "You know very well that gaming all night isn't doing you any good. You're sixteen now. It's time you started thinking about what you want to do in life instead of playing games until morning."
Before the boy could reply, a woman with long blond hair appeared from the kitchen, wearing an apron and holding two steaming plates of scrambled eggs.
She set the plates down in front of the men and looked at her husband with calm firmness. "Darling, I know you're worried about our son, but nagging him won't help. You'll only make the atmosphere worse. Give him a little freedom , he's nearly grown up. He has to learn to take responsibility for his own choices."
"Exactly, Dad. I know you're worried about my future, but you really don't need to be. I'm one of the best students in my class. I'll get into a good university and become a doctor, just like you and Mom," the boy said with a gentle smile, understanding that his father only wanted the best for him.
Hearing that, the man glanced toward his wife, who gave him a small, knowing nod and a soft smile. He sighed again, then turned back to his son. "Just make sure you get proper sleep next time. It's one of the most important factors for your mental and hormonal development... especially at your age. You see, during adolescence"
"Yes, yes, I know, Dad. Sleep's important. I'll go to bed earlier next time. You don't have to explain it for the hundredth time," the boy cut in quickly before his father could launch into another scientific lecture.
The woman chuckled under her breath, adjusted her apron, and said to her son, "Just remember, you should choose your own path in life. The fact that your father and I are doctors doesn't mean we expect the same from you. Decide for yourself what you want to do, and don't let anyone not even us decide it for you."
She smiled and came closer, gently running her fingers through his messy hair. Her voice softened. "Whatever you choose, remember that we'll always be by your side."
The boy grinned widely and squeezed her hand. "I know, Mom. That's why I love you both so much."
His mother smiled even brighter. "We love you too, sweetheart," she said, turning her blue eyes toward the clock on the wall.
"Speaking of sweethearts... it's already half past nine. Our other treasure should be back any moment now."
Just as she said it, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, followed by hurried footsteps and the thump of shoes being kicked off.
A moment later, a tall girl with long brown hair tied into a sporty braid entered the kitchen. Her brown eyes sparkled; sweat glistened on her skin. She wore a sports bra and leggings, still flushed from her morning run.
Seeing her father and brother already seated, she smiled. "Good morning! I see you started breakfast without me."
"Your mother just finished cooking," her father said, scratching his stubble and trying to hide a faint smile. "Sit down and eat before it gets cold."
The girl nodded and sat beside her brother. "You know, I beat my record again today. Five kilometers, faster than yesterday. Two days in a row. I must be in pretty good shape."
"Oh, so my little star gave it her all again," her mother said warmly, placing a plate and a towel in front of her. The girl accepted both, wiped the sweat from her face, and set the towel beside her chair.
"I'm just doing my best every day," she said with a spark in her voice. "I'm eighteen now, and a top-league team's shown interest in me. I can't afford to waste the chance."
Her mother nodded approvingly as she sat next to her husband. "Just remember that rest is also part of training."
Her father lifted his gaze. "And don't forget sleep, Lilliane. It's just as..."
"Yes, yes, I know, Dad," she interrupted with a small laugh. "You don't have to remind me again."
The man scratched his head awkwardly, giving his wife a sheepish look.
Lilliane smiled and turned to her brother, who was eating quietly, staring at his plate as if lost in thought.
A mischievous grin crossed her face. Without warning, she jabbed him in the side with the back of her fork.
Poke!
The boy straightened in surprise and glared at her. "What do you want?"
"Come race me this afternoon."
"No, thanks."
"Eh? Why not?" she asked, puffing out her cheeks in mock annoyance.
He looked at her seriously. "If a professional MMA fighter challenged you to a cage fight, would you accept?"
"Of course not. I'd get beaten to a pulp before I could even react."
"There's your answer," he said dryly, continuing to eat. "Besides, Hundred Floors finally releases at ten. I'll be busy."
"Oh, right... the game you kept talking about during the beta tests," she said, glancing at him sideways.
"Yeah. The beta only had five hundred players. Now it's opening early access for fifty thousand. Luckily, beta testers get guaranteed access keys, so I don't have to fight over one," Adam said, trying to sound calm though his excitement was obvious.
He finished his breakfast quickly, thanked his mother, and set his plate in the dishwasher. "I'm going to my room to set everything up."
"Don't forget to log out and eat lunch, Adam," his mother reminded him gently. "Your father and I won't be home until late, but I left food in the fridge. You can heat it in the microwave."
Adam nodded and hurried upstairs, his footsteps fading down the hall.
At the table, his father sighed and set his fork down. "I still think it's too dangerous for him to use that SoulLink helmet. The NeuroLink connects directly to the brain's neurons. One mistake in that process, and our son could end up paralyzed."
"Dad, I know you're worried, but it's the twenty-first century," Lilliane said lightly. "Technology's advanced so much thanks to AI. SoulLink ran all the safety tests and got full government approval. Everything's been checked and double-checked."
"She's right, dear," his wife added calmly. "You of all people should understand that. You perform surgeries thousands of kilometers away using remote robots. The world moves forward - there's no stopping it. Instead of worrying, maybe think about how we can help Mrs. Helena Clinton with her strange stomach pains."
The conversation in the kitchen went on, but Adam no longer heard any of it.
He was in his room, standing before the sleek black helmet resting on the small table beside his bed.
He picked it up carefully and brought it to his desk - a setup of three monitors, a mechanical keyboard, and a gaming mouse under the window. He crouched down to power on his PC, pulled out a long cable, and connected it to the helmet.
9:50. Ten minutes left before launch.
He smirked faintly. Might as well watch the SoulLink conference while I wait.
Opening his browser, he went to SoulLink's site. The live broadcast filled his screen: an older man in a black suit with neatly trimmed facial hair, speaking with calm authority.
"As we conclude today's conference," the man said, his voice steady and full of confidence, "I want to address all the players who will soon step into the world we've created. Hundred Floors is not entertainment. It is a trial a world that transcends human understanding and reveals who you truly are. The true ending of this trial waits only at the top of the tower."
Adam nodded slightly, murmuring, "Hard to disagree with that. Compared to ordinary games, this one feels like another world entirely. You live it, not just play it."
A journalist raised his hand. "Mr. Kagyama, apart from launching the first game of this kind, you also own SoulLink - the company that created the first full neural-dive system. Could you tell us about the safety of using the NeuroLink helmet?"
The man smiled faintly. "In five years of testing, not a single person was harmed. The technology is perfectly safe, and I take full responsibility for it. That's all for today. Thank you, and have a pleasant day."
As the stream ended, Adam closed the browser and looked at the clock.
One minute left. Time to get ready.
He launched the game, picked up the helmet, and lay down on his bed. The room was silent except for the soft hum of the computer under his desk.
He placed the helmet over his head, closed his eyes, and waited.
The seconds stretched endlessly. 9:59:50… 55… 58… 59…
10:00.
"NeuroLink activation. Launching game...Hundred Floors."