Level 150 : "Memory Foundry" (Trimmed; Open for Rewrite)

Level 150 is a trap in the form of a crumbling road that cuts through an encroaching forest. The level seems to stretch endlessly, but that is just one of the many tricks it plays on the mind. Its true nature is such that walking in any direction (whether by following the road or by crossing the forest) will eventually drag you back to the same point in space, giving the illusion of infinity. Each repetition of the area initially appears similar to the previous one, but some iterations can present subtle distortions, like debris appearing where it was not before, or major variations, like the emergence of the Foundry.

Despite the unsettling behavior of space within its bounds, Level 150 still tries to present itself as mundane as possible. The road appears to be just another dilapidated and neglected path. A decaying way left exposed to the elements for years without any form maintenance, overrun with potholes and split by cracks through which patches of grass have begun to grow. The surrounding forest is densely packed with pine trees that even form wall-like barriers in some areas, forcing movement back towards the road. Only the constant background hum that every wanderer eventually comes to perceive reminds those who end up on this level that something is wrong. It indicates that the memory rewriting procedure has begun.

The time of day at Level 150 is forced to remain static at dusk. According to the local residents, a community known as the "Forged," the level used to be devoid of any celestial bodies, and was only lit by the remnants of a light source that could never be clearly distinguished. This changed with the emergence of THE EYE, a perfectly circular red-glowing orb resembling a bright moon that remains in a fixed position above the sky. Wanderers report a sense of uneasiness emanating from this “entity,” as if it were watching them at all times; this aligns with statements from the locals, who describe it as a malignant presence tainting the land.

No one who has reached this level knows exactly how they got there. All they can remember is being in a completely different location and then suddenly finding themselves standing in the middle of the road without notice. It is believed that eradicating these intermediate memories is the first of the assaults that Level 150 performs on all of its unwilling visitors.

Up! Come on! Please concentrate, listen to my voice.
There we are.
This is… unorthodox, I know, but you can still get out of this if you trust me.
You have to keep moving, above all, please keep moving.
The more cycles you go through, the better the chances are that my people will find you.
I know you have already lost a lot… this is not how it is supposed to be, but I am doing everything I can, be sure of that.
Oh? I have to go now, it has noticed me. Remember what I told you. Do not stop!

Memory rewriting

The most remarkable, and dangerous, element of Level 150 resides in its mind-altering capabilities, which take effect the moment anyone arrives at the level, with the only exceptions being those who have already undergone the phenomenon and people who were born within the level's confines. Memory rewriting, or "forging" as it is called by the Forged, is a process by which the memories of a person are metodically expunged and subsequently replaced until they ensentially become an entirely new individual. The phenomenon can be divided into three roughly distinguishable phases, which are described below.

• Phase 1
• Phase 2
• Phase 3

The first stage targets short-term memory, slightly altering the most recently recorded events as they occur. This often leads to discrepancies in the recollections of the affected individual, such as: remembering landmarks that never existed, misremembering the reason a course was taken, or being unable to keep track of the time spent in Level 150. Researchers theorize that this approach is intended to disorient the subject and retain them within the level long enough for the entire process to be completed.

It is highly recommended to abandon the level during Phase 1, since at this point the level’s influence has not yet penetrated the mind deeply enough to cause permanent damage. Seek the expedition groups that depart from the Foundry with the express purpose of helping wanderers escape the level. These expeditions were established in recent years by those who believe that every successful escape serves to undermine the perceived intentions of THE EYE.

The second phase can be described as a constant assault on the mind. It is a painful process by which the memories of the individual are haphazardly taken apart until nothing of the previous self remains. There is no logic or reason behind the order in which memories are erased. The first memories to be removed can be anything from core memories central to a person’s identity to irrelevant details that barely cling to the subconscious.

At this stage, exposure to Level 150's properties has permanent effects on the individual’s constitution, as the solidity of all memories formed prior to entering the level begins to fade. These effects are permanent, and halting the forging midway can cause lifelong undesirable consequences, such as a profound distortion of reality, depression, and a deterioration of one’s own identity. Even wanderers who managed to escape Level 150 without being significantly altered by this stage report having difficulties remembering routines, places, or relationships, and having lost all confidence in their abilities and knowledge.

Although it can sometimes overlap with the previous phase, Phase 3 specifically involves the systematic replacement of all the lost memories. As a result, those affected may be able to recognize the discrepancies between the recollections of their actions and their ideals and beliefs. During this stage, the lived experiences, knowledge, and skills of the individual are progressively overwritten with fabricated equivalents that build a new, mostly consistent life story.

After this final stage, the original memories, the core of the self, are fully dismantled and replaced. However, according to the Forged, this process has become “messy,” so it is possible that individuals whose minds were recently rewritten may still experience sudden flashes of fragments from their former existence.

I don't know how much longer I have. It's been… what? 10 hours, 20? 100? Not sure, I stopped keeping track as soon as I got stuck here.

I… it's too much. I remember— I remember doing horrible stuff, deranged stuff. I knew they were bad, but I didn't know— I didn't know. I didn't do those things. That's not me. I doesn't matter how real, how recent, it feels. I know that's not me.

I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm going to forget everyone and everything I love. I'm scared that I'm not going to care.

Recording recovered from an abandoned cellphone on Level 150.

So far, the only element that is consistently maintained through all stages of memory rewriting is the person's original name.

Though in the past every person who went through the entirety of the forging process would emerge as a member of the Forged, ever since the THE EYE took residence on Level 150, the phenomenon triggers more extreme and jarring changes to the memories of those affected. Barely any new members of the Forged have been created through forging since.

The connection is clearer now. I can reach you much more easily.
Oh, it has done some terrible damage. Your mind, I can see the ruptures, the rips… entire pieces are missing.
This is wrong, it should be a shared journey—a farewell to the old self and an acceptance of the new one—but it just tears and tears and discards the memories so ruthlessly.
Wait, no. Do not try to remember what it has taken, trying to filll the gaps will only hurt you.
Listen carefully.
It knows where you are. I do not know why, but it has taken an interest in you.
I am going to try and hide you. It will not last long, but it should be enough.
You are almost there, just a little farther. Keep moving, and whatever happens, do not let it convince you to stop.

The Foundry

The Foundry is a vast industrial complex that occasionally materializes beside the roadway. There is no indication of how or when it appears, it simply manifests after an indeterminate number of cycles through the level. The only individuals known to be capable of consistently entering and leaving the complex are the Forged, who inhabit it. The structure spreads irregularly across the landscape, with towering chimneys, exposed concrete, and rusted metal frameworks. Despite the countless pipes, furnaces, and valves in action, which seem to indicate that the complex is, in some way, operational, no discernible output has ever been attributed to the Foundry.

Large sections of the structure lean at strange angles or sit partially submerged in the earth, as though its own weight has been slowly sinking the entire Foundry over time. The only structures that remain upright are the makeshift dwellings constructed by the Forged around its perimeter. In recent years, however, most of these homes have been abandoned and are now used only sporadically, as the Forged have chosen to permanently settle within the Foundry itself.

It's still dangerous for us, you know? This whole business of going out of our way to find the lost ones like you… there are quite a few among our own who think it's not worth it, that we should just let, well, let it keep you all. We're supposed to be protected from the forging you see. Once we were touched by the Core we became who we were supposed to be, but under its corrupting gaze… well, things have changed. We can go out for a while—we're more resistant to it than you—but even so, if we hadn't retreated to the protection of the Foundry, THE EYE would have already unmade us all over again.

Excerpt from a conversation with one of the Forged.

The only confirmed escapes from this level are accessible through the Foundry. All doors within the complex marked as “emergency exits” lead to other areas of similar constitution, such as Level 3 or the factories of Level 901.

You are almost there, come on. Just a few more cycles, and you will reach the Foundry.
Although this entire realm once belonged to me, these days I can only truly call the Foundry my domain.
It is the only place where I can still muster the strength to hold it at bay.
Even if it corrupts everything else, I will not let its touch reach my people.
Not for as long as I still endure.
I am still not sure what it wants from you… but I—
Wait.
No—
It found… it found US, the connection—

The Core

Deep within the Foundry lies a colossal piece of machinery known to the Forged as the Core. It is a towering structure that occupies an entire warehouse and continues to extend down below. Thousands of cables, conduits, and pipes extend outward from its surface, connecting into every machine within the Foundry. Some even spread beyond the complex, beneath the earth, stretching until they reach every corner of Level 150.

The Forged believe the Core to be the heart and soul of the level. According to their lore, it is the origin of the memory rewriting phenomenon that affects the minds of all who enter Level 150. Despite its battered and rusty appearance, the Core shows no signs of a decline in its operations. In fact, every recent report suggests that it is currently operating at maximum capacity. The Forged interpret this as proof of the machine's continued protection against THE EYE, which they blame for all the recent alterations to the forging procedure.

I FINALLY CAUGHT YOU

DON'T WORRY ABOUT HER, SHE'S ALREADY SERVED HER PURPOSE

MY AGENTS HAVE BEEN POSITIONED WHERE THEY NEED TO BE

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE YOU, MY CATALYST

IT'S ALMOST TIME, DESTINY AWAITS YOU

Originally written by VivamusLudio for the Survival Difficulty Contest 2020
Rewritten by VivamusLudio for the Rewrite Contest 2026
(Author Page!)