Cerebria

"Cerebria? Where am I?" I muttered to myself, my eyes fixated on the enigmatic word displayed on my phone's screen. In an instant, the screen flickered and transformed into something entirely different.

[Identification Complete. User identified as Joe Heart]

Then after a moment.

[You have gained access to Cerebria, the dimensional plane responsible for generating, manipulating, and storing mental energy. Your current location is: Joe Heart's mindscape.]

Once again, I found myself at a loss for words. Being whisked away to an alternate dimension sure can throw a guy off balance.

Jokes aside, as I processed the information, a flicker of familiarity crossed my mind. Hadn't I heard the word mindscape before? Maybe it was from that video game I played a while back. Or was it a dream? I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was a lingering sense of recognition.

"Why the hell am I here in my own mindscape?" I mustered the courage to ask, my voice tinged with hesitation.

[The Origin has recognized latent psychic potential. It has chosen you to be a recruit.]

Well, that sure added another layer of mystery to the mix. Who or what the heck was this Origin, and why did it think I had some sort of psychic ability? I mean, aside from my mind-blowing skills at predicting pizza delivery times, I hadn't really dabbled in the supernatural realm before.

But hey, at least this place didn't seem intent on frying my brain or turning me into a cosmic guinea pig. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that all this was kind of exciting. Maybe I would find training with a pint-sized green mentor, mastering the ways of the Jedi and casually levitating starships. Hey, a guy can dream, right?

Now that I was warming up to the situation, I decided to continue, "So... what's next?"

[You will be taken to the Tower of Traits to complete the assessment challenge.]

"Huh, alright then," I muttered absentmindedly to myself, my mind already buzzing with questions that I should ask about the tower and the challenge that awaited me. But before I could utter another word, the display on my phone changed once again.

[Consent received. Prepare for immediate teleportation.]

"Wait, wha--" I barely managed to stammer, my voice trailing off as the stars around me began to spin. Faster and faster they twirled, streaking across the sky like the tails of comets. The streaks of light gradually formed into perfect circles, illuminating the entire celestial canvas above.

In all honesty, the galactic spectacle unfolding before my eyes was so mesmerizing that it made me calm down. It's hard to be concerned about anything while staring down the cosmos. The vastness of space makes all of your problems seem small. But as quickly as it started, the brilliance faded, and I was left standing in front of it—the Tower of Traits, as if conjured in front of me by some unseen ****.

The tower loomed large, an imposing structure that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Its futuristic design stretched towards the heavens, a white spiral ascending into the unknown. A faint white aura enveloped the entire edifice, giving it an otherworldly glow. At the base, a pale blue light bathed the structure, gradually shifting to a deep purple as it climbed towards the pinnacle.

I couldn't help but feel humbled as I gazed up at the structure. My jaw dropped open in astonishment, probably forming a perfect O-shape. The energy in the air tingled against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. It was as if the tower was alive, pulsing with power, watching me, and waiting for me to take the next step.

[The Origin has determined a challenge suitable for your talents.]

Then after a pause.

[Enter.]