Technology is now in everyone's hands: children, men, women.
But our story is not about phones or devices. Our story is about one machine, called artificial intelligence.
Some welcomed it. Some feared it. Some said it was a path to goodness, and some said it was a gateway to control.
But the real danger is not that the machine will become smarter. The danger is that humans will become more ruthless when they have a smarter machine.
Our story is about a group of humans who exploit artificial intelligence to strengthen their grip on the world.
The Tragedy of theCity
In that tragedic day...
3 years ago...
When I lost Everything....
The city is collapsing from every side. Columns of fire soar between the destroyed buildings, casting a glowing orange hue on the faces of the rubble, while black smoke fills the sky and suffocates anyone trying to breathe. The scorching heat stings the skin, and the smell of burning and debris fills the air, an unbearable mix of smoke and burnt metal.
In the midst of this devastation, a fifteen-year-old teenage boy stands, his eyes wide, his body trembling. His heart beats violently, as if each thump carries with it the shock and terror of the world around him. Next to him, his thirteen-year-old younger sister trembles, her eyes shining with tears and fear, searching for safety in every corner of the burning rubble.
"I'm very scared, Hae-won... Where are we going?" Where are my parents? She whispered in a trembling voice, a mix of fear and confusion.
"Don't worry, Hae-In… we will escape from them… and we will find Dad and Mom." The words came out heavily, each letter dragging behind it a feeling of weight and fear. Song Hae-Won couldn't tell her the truth: their parents had been killed by the Crimson Predator, and he himself didn't know that everything left to him would lead to a confrontation with this bloodthirsty beast.
Hae-won went away from his sister to find an exit and told her:"Stay where you are, don't move at all."
Hae-In didn't move, her body tense, her heart racing with every passing second without Song Hae-won returning. Suddenly, the silence was pierced by a terrifying metallic sound, and before them appeared a half-human, half-machine monster, its weapons glowing with scorching rays, watching the place with cold eyes, searching for any trace of life.
Every step he took emitted a metallic creak, and every light from his weapons glimmered on the burning rubble, making the shadows move as if they were living beings. Park's feeling of helplessness and fear was increasing, Song's long delay and the absence of any people around her was making her heart choke even more. She tried to escape, ran, screamed, her tears falling mixed with sweat, but there was nowhere to hide.
"Hae-Won! "Hae-Won!" She screamed, her voice trembling and choking with fear.
But the Crimson Predator did not hesitate. He aimed his radiation weapon at the little girl, while her eyes widened, filled with terror, not knowing what her last words would be.
At that moment,Song Hae-won rushed back, his eyes shining with anger and despair. He shouted at the top of his lungs:
"SISTER!!!"
Hae-In tried to escape from the Crimson Predator... but before she could make any move... The Predator prepared his weapon and started shooting.
The Crimson Predator, Who was sent by the Crimson Army. fired his weapon, and the girl turned into a charred gray corpse, As if it were an unknown flower crushed.
With his cold robotic voice, He was Like:"..... Target-0..... Eliminated"
After the Predator left, Hae-Won approached his sister's corpse, tears streaming from his eyes like a waterfall, every feeling of shock, anger, and sorrow merging into a single scream:
AAAAAAAAAAAH!
The echo of his scream swept thru the city. The residents approached him, their eyes filled with tears. They were moved by what they saw and heard. Some cried with him, while others remained silent, helpless in the face of the tragedy's magnitude.
A small funeral was held for the deceased, including Park Hae-Won stood, his eyes sharp as knives, those gazes would remain fixed for the rest of his life, a mark of his loss and obsession with revenge.
That child was... me.
Yes... I am, Song Hae-Won, from a wealthy family destroyed by the Crimson Army. They killed my family and everyone I loved, including my sister.
I was a smart and talented student, but all of that became a burden after that day. Memories repeat every moment, I don't know whether to cry, scream, or get angry... My body and mind freeze, as if time is standing still around me.
Days passed like centuries, all that was going through my head was one thing... buildings being destroyed... warnings from the Crimson Forces... dead and wounded... a dark world surrounding me.
I always tried to get close to people, make friends, get involved in activities... but those memories were like a giant wall separating me from my life.
Hae-In's laugh, my father's happiness, my mother's warm hug... all of that was breaking me piece by piece
Year After that incident, I moved to a new city, studied in high school there, and lived in a small house with the little money left from my family... until the day I couldn't bear the pain anymore. While I was studying for the final exam for Grade 11 Math, I remembered that day again, and everything inside me completely collapsed .
I suddenly shouted:
"ENOUGH!!! THAT'S ENOUGH!!!"
And I slammed my hand on the table, the wood cracked under my strength, and then I made my decision:
I will take revenge on the Crimson Army! I will become stronger! I will crush them and free my world and my people..."Konota People" I promise you, my parents... I promise you, Hae-In... I promise you, all my friends whose souls were crushed at his hands! I will avenge you, even if it costs me my life...
The Crimson Predator... His fate will be in my hands.
"But wait….. Will this revenge... really be for my people and my family, or just to quell the anger inside me? Am I really different or just like everyone else? Can I even take revenge? I am weak like everyone else. If I were strong, what happened wouldn't have happened.
It wasn't the first time... It used to happen to me all the time, then I'd think again and lose hope... But this time, it was completely different from any other time before. And from here... My adventure began.
Now I am in Grade 12, This is my first day of the new school year... It started like a normal day... The students are laughing... Having fun...They were getting to know the new students, but as for me, my sharp gaze from the time my sister died hadn't left me until that moment...
Hae-In was very kind and loved by all my people... She helped the weak, the poor and the needy despite her young age... As a child, she used to sit with me whenever I was feeling down during middle school... She was a positive person, Optimistic and had the same intelligence and talent as me... She never deserved what happened to her... My heart is still broken... That crimson didn't even give us a chance to repay her.
She was always with me during the darkest days and moments of my life... Some people were there sometimes and sometimes not... But she was the only one who always comforted me... I didn't realise it until I lost her... If it were possible, as we see in fairy tales... I would give everything I have to bring her back... or even to see her one last time... and apologise to her for my weakness... I know she would never accept it, but... at least she would have heard what I had to say.
When I was eating my usual meal during school break... there were some students looking at me and talking about me, what I heard was as follows:
Student 1: Is this the student Song Hae Won?
Student 2: Yes, he is.
Student 1: He seems so calm... I've never even seen him smile.. That's not how an overachiever like him does.
Student 2: It is said that he came from the city
(Lowering His Voice)
....
that was destroyed by the Crimson Army years ago... It is difficult for me... especially since someone I know faced the same fate but long before when he was a young child in the third grade of primary school.
Student 1(In an angry tone): Heh, This criminal army that deceives the media and claims justice... when will they put an end to it?
The break ends...
As you can see, I was just a pathetic and mysterious student, nothing more.
And the chemistry class started... I was absent-minded throughout the class... My sister and family were the only ones on my mind, until it was my turn to answer the question.
Teacher: Hae-won, come on answer... What's the answer to that equation?
I didn't hear that time because my mind was so distracted
Teacher, a little louder: Hae-won! Is something wrong?
My thoughts were interrupted this time: Ah, yes... Sorry, Mr. Ji-hoon
I started looking at the chemical equation, but I couldn't focus because of what was going on in my mind... so I couldn't answer, even though the question was easy.
"Sorry, Mr. Ji-hoon, I don't know the answer."
Teacher:" Weird, Hae-won... The answer is NaCl... I do not think it's that hard. You might need to see a doctor if you have something wrong."
The students' laughter started to get louder around me... I remained silent and looked down.
The classes went by very slowly... I was very distracted that day... My eyes were tearing up a little... I broke down silently... but I continued the day as usual.
My family... My friends.... You all evaporated from my sight... all of you in one day... why? You used to be with me always... now I am alone. Said in myself.
Time seems to have stopped in my mind. I hear nothing but the sound of loud laughter and the students' mouths as if they are open but not moving.
After the school day ended, I met the same chemistry teacher... but I heard from him... something I had never expected from anyone before...
Teacher: Dear Song, I know your story well... and I've heard what you've been through. I'm also your teacher... (His voice began to falter and waver)
" I-I... I Lost my wife and my daughter Also By the hand of that army...I couldn't protect or save them... I'm like you... I'm still disappointed until now.
My little girl... she was eight years old, she always asked me questions about chemistry and science... her smart and innocent looks... and her cheerful and kind personality, will never leave my memory.
And my loyal wife, she never abandoned me... always stood by me... endured with me during our worst days... and was more patient than I was.
The professor's body began to shake slightly after he finished speaking... a tear began to fall from his eye... and he began to make a heartbreaking crying sound.
I hesitated... I didn't know how to respond to the professor... I didn't expect to find someone going through the same ordeal as me....Standing with me... but would that change anything?
"Sorry to hear that, Teacher... but I don't know what you're saying... maybe you meant the wrong person." I said.
The teacher, his tone becoming a little calmer: "No, Dear. I know very well who I am talking to."
Then he went back to talking: A while ago... I was offered the opportunity to join the opposition party... Maybe... Maybe... I could please my wife and daughter after I disappointed them in me.
"That will be between you and me, Song. If you want to join us, Meet me somewhere far away here in the corner of the school... and I'll show you everything."
I was shocked and started thinking to myself: An opposition party? Is this my chance for revenge?
The professor left me and went away...and I started to think deeply about what he said.
Then I started to remember everything that happened, all the situations I went through before... all the anger...
Then I said to myself: "No, I am not qualified to take revenge... The teacher has more experience than me... As for me, I am just an ordinary student.... Maybe the Teacher Himself isn't ready to face anything."
I returned home a few minutes later... I studied everything I had learned the first day, in my free time... I watched a little of the latest TV news... It was all about the false and deceptive glorification of the Crimson Army... as usual.
As is my usual daily routine, nothing new.
I turned off the TV and went to sleep.. I started thinking deeply... about everything that happened to me... my whole life from the beginning.... Why couldn't I accept what was destined for me until now? Is there a solution? Patience?
All these questions started to run through my mind in an organized and analytical way... like a table.
Then I said to myself: Perhaps with time... wisdom will appear... I am sure that everything that happened to me... has a wisdom behind it... not because I am hated or rejected... but because the world wants to teach me something... but until now I cannot determine ...What exactly is it? I wish I knew, even just a hint.
I started to contemplate the sky... in the small garden of the house... the beautiful twinkling stars... they remind me of the days when Park and I used to count the stars together... I really miss those days
I went to bed to sleep to get ready for school tomorrow... Then I had a strange dream...
I... I'm fighting someone... who is very giant... who has advanced abilities and weapons... but I... I defeated him easily....and crushed him like someone crushes an ant with their feet.
Then I started running out of the building we were in.
I went out and this building exploded and disappeared.
Then I saw shadows of people from the sky... greeting me and calling my name... as if I had truly become a hero... then a person appeared who looked wise and dignified.
He looked at me with his calm, steady eyes: Do you really think you are weak? But what if I told you that you are not? You won't believe me at first, of course, but you will know in the end when you achieve your goal.
I woke up in shock and amazement, my body very calm, not tense or tight as it has been since the tragedy: I wonder, was that a message... was that a hint of a lesson? Will I be able to take revenge?
I remembered what my chemistry teacher had said to me yesterday, and I started thinking about his words and connecting them to what I had seen in my dream.
Then I said to myself: Could this be the opportunity?
And from here... the path to Hae-Won's revenge begins.