John had learned to recognize the moment a universe gave up.

  It always started with the same feeling.

  Like reality sighing.

  The applause around him froze mid-cheer. The pastel lights dimmed. The lavender smell faded into something else entirely.

  Protein powder.

  Cheap cologne.

  Energy drinks.

  John blinked.

  Then gravity slammed back into place.

  He hit a rubber floor with a dull thud.

  “Let’s gooooo!”

  A roar exploded around him.

  John sat up.

  He was in a gym.

  Not a normal gym.

  A cathedral of muscle.

  Massive squat racks lined the walls. Neon lights flashed above rows of treadmills. Giant speakers blasted hype music that sounded like a motivational speech fighting a drum machine.

  Everywhere he looked were enormous dudes in tank tops.

  They were all shouting.

  “BRO!”

  “BRO!”

  “BRO!”

  John rubbed his face.

  “Oh no.”

  A cosmic notification appeared.

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  REALITY LAYER DETECTED

  BRO CULTURE UNIVERSE

  The message continued.

  CORE RULE

  Confidence = StrengthHype = PowerSelf-Doubt = Defeat

  John sighed.

  “So if you’re not confident—”

  The message updated.

  CRITICAL FAILURE

  Across the gym, a giant scoreboard lit up.

  A man the size of a refrigerator walked over.

  He wore sunglasses indoors.

  His tank top read:

  HEAD BRO

  The Head Bro clapped loudly.

  “NEW CHALLENGER!”

  The entire gym turned toward John.

  “BROOOOO!”

  John waved awkwardly.

  “Hey.”

  The Head Bro pointed at him.

  “You lift?”

  John shrugged.

  “Sometimes.”

  The gym gasped.

  The Head Bro leaned closer.

  “You gotta believe in yourself, bro.”

  John scratched his head.

  “I mean… I guess?”

  The scoreboard flashed.

  CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 12%

  The crowd booed.

  “WEAK ENERGY!”

  “NOT HYPED!”

  John sighed.

  “Alright.”

  The Head Bro dragged him to the center platform.

  A massive barbell waited there.

  Plates stacked higher than John’s head.

  “Cosmic deadlift,” the Head Bro said.

  John looked at the bar.

  “That seems… excessive.”

  The Head Bro flexed.

  “YOU GOT THIS BRO!”

  The entire gym started chanting.

  “BRO! BRO! BRO! BRO!”

  The scoreboard flickered.

  John remembered the rule.

  Confidence = power.

  So he raised his arms.

  “Alright!”

  The crowd cheered louder.

  John pointed at the bar.

  “THIS BARBELL IS NOTHING!”

  The gym exploded.

  “LET’S GO!”

  The scoreboard jumped.

  CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 63%

  John continued.

  “I AM THE STRONGEST GUY IN THIS ROOM!”

  The crowd screamed.

  “BROOOOO!”

  CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 92%

  The Head Bro leaned in.

  “Say it again.”

  John grinned.

  “I AM THE STRONGEST GUY IN THE UNIVERSE!”

  The scoreboard maxed out.

  CONFIDENCE LEVEL: 100%

  The barbell began glowing.

  John grabbed it.

  Lifted.

  The bar rose effortlessly.

  The plates shattered into sparks.

  The entire gym erupted.

  “BROOOOOOO!”

  John dropped the bar.

  “Okay that actually worked.”

  The cosmic notification appeared.

  RESULT: PLAYER VICTORY

  The Head Bro nodded approvingly.

  “Respect.”

  John wiped sweat off his forehead.

  “Thanks.”

  Then the Head Bro crossed his arms.

  “But you got one more test.”

  John groaned.

  “What now.”

  The Head Bro leaned in.

  “Ultimate Bro Challenge.”

  The lights dimmed.

  A giant mirror dropped from the ceiling.

  The scoreboard flashed again.

  FINAL ROUND

  LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SAY

  “I LOVE MYSELF BRO.”

  The gym fell silent.

  John stared at the mirror.

  Then at the crowd.

  Then back at the mirror.

  He sighed.

  “I’m getting really tired of these universes.”

  Above them, the cosmic notification flickered again.

  Because the House was watching.

  And it was beginning to understand something deeply frustrating.

  No matter what rules it created—

  John Six Aces eventually figured out how to play.