A robotic voice, smooth and devoid of empathy, echoed through the plaza. "Identification required. Please proceed to Checkpoint 1."
Elias adjusted the strap of his oxygen recycler. In the year 2142, "Checkpoint 1" wasn't just a location; it was a myth. It was the gateway between the Lowlands—a sprawl of smog and scrap metal—and the spires of the Upper Tier, where the air reportedly tasted like pine needles and the sun didn't look like a bruised orange through the haze. Continue para o ponto de verificação 1
The machine whirred. A green light swept over his face, scanning his retinas, his pores, the very exhaustion etched into his skin. For a heartbeat, the world was silent. "Validation successful," the voice announced. A robotic voice, smooth and devoid of empathy,