Steve stepped closer to the AI and asked in a tense voice,

  “Did you do something wrong? If yes, tell us clearly.”

  Tony spun toward him, eyes wide like tennis balls.“Steve, what are you saying?! The AI is the reason we’re even here. Don’t blame him for everything!”

  Neil didn’t join the argument. His trembling hand was pointing at the jar-shaped structure floating ahead.“We found two wormholes… and they’re connected. Which one do we choose?”

  The AI sounded unusually excited, almost proud .“Science has done it. We have done it. They exist—both of them! Steve, take the Pohonote and record everything.”

  The Pohonote—a space camera powered by liquid mercury—clicked rapidly, capturing the impossible scene.

  Steve lowered the camera .“Should we move toward them now?”

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  “Increase speed to 1900 km/h,” the AI instructed calmly.“Enter the ringworm. It will be easy. All you’ll need to do is reverse your thoughts.”

  The three exchanged uncertain glances but obeyed. They reached the top of the ringworm and carefully descended inside.

  Neil squeezed Steve’s hand. Steve squeezed Tony’s. Their breaths were shaky, echoing inside the helmets.

  Then—

  The engines died .

  The spaceship lurched downward at terrifying speed.

  Neil screamed,“The engine is off! Turn on the emergency flight—NOW!”

  But the AI responded in a strangely soft, grieving tone,“Don’t be scared. Stay calm. Everything is under control.”

  It wasn’t.

  They suddenly remembered: inside a ringworm, every thought reverses.

  Hope turns into despair.

  Courage becomes fear.

  A calm mind becomes chaos.

  Their hearts sank.

  Tony completely broke. Tears streamed down his face as he clawed at his own neck.“Don’t worry, pillow… I’ll be back soon…”

  Neil grabbed his hands and ripped them away, yelling his name—saving him for a moment—but the ship kept falling, faster and faster .

  Their breaths crushed, vision darkened, minds collapsed…

  Eventually, all three of them lost consciousness.

  Then—

  A deafening, piercing sound—over 1,000,000 Hz—shattered the silence.

  Neil gasped awake.

  His eyes struggled to open, but when they finally did, he saw something unreal : A violet mountain, glowing faintly, and a tiny creature with four eyes observing him curiously.

  Neil’s voice cracked,“Guys… we made it… wake up…”

  He crawled toward Steve and Tony, shaking them.

  No response.

  He touched their arms.

  No pulse.

  Neil froze.

  His lips trembled.

  His eyes widened.

  His world broke.