This simulation had been the longest Tony Snow had ever experienced. It spanned six decades—far beyond what he had anticipated—and it even earned him his first achievement: Octogenarian.
Because of its length, the simulation was packed with information—far more than Tony could retain in one go. He didn't have a photographic memory, after all.
So he read through the simulated life once. Then again. Then a third time.
"If the simulator had disappeared last time, would this have been my future?" Tony wondered.
It had been a fulfilling life: accepted into his ideal graduate program, married his first love, earned both his master's and doctorate in record time, became a professor, made millions in the stock market, and even fathered a child. There were no betrayals this time, no cheating, no emotional collapse.
If anything cast a shadow over that life, it was his wife's miscarriage during their second pregnancy—and her subsequent infertility.
Still, it was a life most people would envy. Yet Tony felt a strange hollowness.
Why do I feel so… lost?
He didn't immediately pick his reward. He needed time to sit with the emotions.
All his previous simulations had been short. They ended just as he began to taste life. But this time, he'd lived the whole thing. All the way to eighty-one. That weight left a mark.
Eventually, Tony took a deep breath, calmed his heart, and turned back to the simulation screen.
[Simulation Complete. Choose one of the following to retain:]
1. Knowledge at age 81
2. Experiences at age 81
3. Skills at age 81
"I choose knowledge," Tony said calmly.
The moment he confirmed, a torrent of information surged into his brain—vaster and more forceful than anything before. It was like being hit by a mental tsunami.
This time, it wasn't euphoric or graceful. His head throbbed with pressure. His vision swam. But he endured it all.
When the transfer finally ended, Tony exhaled slowly.
For the first time, he felt like he truly held the future in his hands.
Even if the life simulator disappeared now, I could still make it to the top.
"Simulator, what are the requirements for the next run?" Tony asked, even though he had no intention of starting another simulation right away.
[Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Complete the following task to unlock it again.]
Task: Future Prospects
You've glimpsed decades ahead. You've simulated success and seen what's possible. Now it's time to take the first step.
Publish one SCI-indexed paper within one year to unlock your next simulation.
Failing to publish at least one within the time limit will result in a one-year lockout.
Tony read the requirement and nodded slowly.
The Science Citation Index, or SCI, referred to peer-reviewed papers published in journals recognized globally for scientific rigor. For his old self, this would've been a monumental challenge.
But now? With six decades of accumulated knowledge?
Tony knew he could write an SCI paper blindfolded—whether in biology, where his foundation was strongest, or even in math and computer science, which he'd studied extensively in his simulated life.
It wasn't about being a genius anymore. He had the knowledge. Now, he just had to decide which path to take.
Publishing an SCI paper isn't hard anymore. Publishing a great one… now that's the challenge.
He dismissed the simulator's panel and leaned back. He didn't want to think about simulations for now.
By this time, it was already late January. The first semester of his junior year was winding down, and Tony was preparing for final exams.
He'd started reading those ten simulator-bound books back in October. It had taken three grueling months of effort—but he had done it.
Now, he sat quietly in the library, still feeling the echo of the life he'd just relived.
"Tony? You okay?" Clara Quinn, sitting beside him, glanced at him with concern. He had been staring off into space for some time.
"Oh, yeah, I'm good," Tony said softly. "Just thinking about a problem."
Clara gave a small smile. "I figured something was off. You're usually not like this."
Tony waved it off. "Thanks for checking. Mind if I borrow a couple of your books?"
"Go ahead. Just grab them."
Despite keeping things casual these past three months, Clara knew Tony's feelings. She hadn't acted on them—partly because they were both preparing for graduate school, and she didn't want to risk distraction.
Tony also knew—from a previous simulation—that she would accept his confession after exams. So he wasn't in a rush. He enjoyed their quiet moments together.
Their bond had grown stronger, even if they hadn't said it out loud.
Tony reached into Clara's backpack and pulled out the books she'd been using for her grad school prep. He flipped through them casually.
No need for graduate-level English anymore—he already had near-native proficiency thanks to years of simulated research.
He skimmed her exam guide for political theory. It was still as dry and outdated as before.
He paused at the biology book—Cell Biology. As he turned the pages, the content practically leapt into his brain, matched and corrected instantly by the knowledge from his simulated future. Much of it was already outdated. Some had been disproven. Other sections reminded him of breakthrough ideas not yet discovered in this timeline.
With what I know now… I barely even need to study for grad school exams, he thought, returning the books gently to Clara's bag.
In fact, I don't need to take them at all. If I just publish a few papers, any university—local or international—would offer me a position.
And not as a student. As faculty.
Still, Tony didn't say any of this aloud. He had no intention of rushing. Time was on his side now.
After sliding Clara's books back into her bag, Tony didn't feel like reading anymore. He checked the time—thirty minutes until the library closed.
He leaned forward, rested his arms on the table, and quietly turned to look at Clara, who was scribbling notes in her notebook, her brow furrowed in focus.
It was the first time Tony allowed himself to truly look at her like this—openly, without hesitation, without fear of being caught.
She looked beautiful under the warm yellow light. Determined. Unaware of how important she was becoming in his life—not just in one simulated future, but in this one too.
And this time, Tony was determined to protect that future.