ã€ŠDidactic Duplicateã€‹


 Chapter 1A: Seed ship.

    <u>Chapter 1A: Seed Ship</u>

    A bald youth sat upon a metal bench in the corridor of a vessel. His face androgynous due to his youth and his lack of hair, but his eyes gave away his gender. With a yearning in his eyes and a conflicting nihilistic frown plastered on his face, he sighed deeply. In front of him was a large window into the vastness of space. Glimmering lights and flickering spots dotted the eternal darkness that seemed to last for eternity.

    After a good fifteen minutes, he finally stood up strenuously. Each step of his seemed like it took a lot of effort. He walked toward his next destination: the classroom.

    With a quick scan of his ID card attached to his uniform, the metallic door slides open. In the dimly lit room were several tables with a visor placed on top of each. He looked around and saw several of his classmates already put on their visors. After he limped over to his assigned seat, he lifted the visor. A thin wire linked the machine firmly to the table. It looked feeble but was very durable. The boy sat down and placed the visor over his eyes. The scene of augmented reality classroom appeared in front of him. A Teacher hologram was in front with a timer above her head. It was ticking down to the beginning of class.

    Once the clock hit zero, the Teacher came to life. She was the most basic AI program with only question and response features that went along with her teaching program. Having been the boy¡¯s teacher for most of the adolescence, he was already used to her features.

    ¡°Welcome students, today we will continue our history lesson on the ARK program.¡± It said with a kind melodic voice.

    The lesson continued with the scene around them changing into one of dust and desolation.

    ¡°Our home planet Earth had been reduced to an uninhabitable dust ball due to humanity¡¯s hubris,¡± The teacher spoke calmly, ¡°Due to the urgency of the situation and in the face of extinction, humanity put aside their differences and decided to leave.¡±

    Scenes changed and a large vessel being built in lower orbit was depicted. Several autonomous robots were welding pieces into place.

    ¡°The brightest minds of humanity combined with the resources provided by the world government created the vessel array known as the ARK program. With the mothership Gaia and her seven seed ships, humanity blasted off into the final frontier, hoping to find a new place to call home.¡±

    The scene changed again into one of the ships Gaia with seven smaller vessels orbiting it as it traveled through space.

    ¡°ARK program, a powerful system that ensures the survival of humanity. To help with your journey, the scientists developed the Mother AI system. It manages all functions on the vessels as well as keep records and education. It is the guardian angel of humanity.¡±

    The boy scoffed a little as the AI boasted on about its creator. Yes, the AI was created by the central AI on the ARK, the Mother. Suddenly, a thought popped into his head. Why did the scientists give the AIs personality?

    The lecture continued as the Teacher explained the ARK program in detail. Our lad¡¯s mind zoned out after a while since it was all things he learned before.

    Suddenly, he got a private message from a classmate. It appeared as an envelope hovering in the corner of his eye. He opened it, and a giant creature suddenly popped out and scared him. Nearly fell out of his seat too. With his heart still pounding, he suddenly had the urge to punch someone. Quickly tossing the message into the trash, his frown deepened. It was just the usual bullying, nothing he couldn¡¯t ignore, but he couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of his current grim situation.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The Mother AI was created to help humanity survive its long journey to their new home. It also was tasked with the job of improving humanity¡¯s chances of survival. This means dedicating resources to individuals who show promise and will benefit humanity as a whole. Your usefulness places you in a rank aboard the ARK. Those who are born on the ARKs all start out on a seed ship. Once they reach B rank or above, they get transferred to the mothership Gaia to be cryogenically preserved for the whole journey. There they will stay forever young until humanity finally reaches their new home. From an outside view, the mothership Gaia looked to be a giant icebox graveyard, but to the struggling people aboard the seed ships, it was the promise of survival. Die a dull and slow death on the seed ship, or join the rest of humanity in pioneering a new planet, the choice is obvious.

    The boy showed promise with his intellect and logic reasoning. Right now, he was C rank. Given time, he will finally cross the threshold and join the others on Gaia. But sadly, fate was a cruel mistress. Due to exposure to radiation, cancer had spread all over his body. It was with great effort he was even walking by himself. If it weren''t for the advanced science of the ship and the knowledge of health care from the Mother, he wouldn¡¯t have lasted this long. His parents have long abandoned him. This was a dog eat dog world, either you are useful, or you are a waste of resources. Before he got sick, his parents doted on him. With a good child, the parents also benefit greatly. They can ride the coattails of their kids all the way to Gaia.

    Soon the class ended. The boy took his visor off and left quickly before the other kids could stop him and play their usual tricks. Suddenly, a voice rung in his ear.

    ¡°Remember to do your homework, A7619B.¡± The Teacher softly reminded.

    He only paused for a second, nodded and left out the door immediately. That¡¯s right; he had no name. No one on the seed ships does. All they had was a label, an identification number. That¡¯s all the AI needed. For recording purposes, it was better for the scraps to be only assigned a code.

    A7619B showed up at his dorm. All it contained was an indent in the wall where his bed laid and a small metal desk protruding from the opposite side. He checked in his box for his daily supplements and medication. Two pearly white pills and a bar of nutritional supplement the size of his hands were placed gently in there.

    Frowning at the pills and the bar, the boy grabbed the cup by his bed and pour himself some water from the faucet that suddenly appeared out of the wall.

    Looking at the two pills in his hands, he wanted to end it all. Was it even worth it anymore? His chances of surviving were slim to none. Even then, his body needed to be able to be cryogenically preserved. Sighing, he swallowed the two pills and took a swig of water to wash it down. He then began working on his nutrition bar. It was the same tasteless piece of crap that he hated since birth. Not that he knew any other taste due to having eaten nothing other than pills and nutrition bars since weaning. It provided all the nutrients and carbs to survive, but it was a tasteless mess.

    The boy climbed onto his bed with the bar in his hand. He looked up at the ceiling lights and pondered. What could he do now to survive? Fifteen years old now...If he survives to his birthday, it would be his adult ceremony. The Mother AI usually tests any seeds during their adult ceremony. If they show promise, their ranks can rise. It was also the last chance most people get to raise a grade easily. Otherwise, they have to have a Eureka moment and come up with something that would aid humanity in the new world. Not everyone was an Einstein or a Tesla; it was rare enough to find someone who was that innovative.

    Looking at his body¡¯s current situation and his chances of succeeding during the ceremony, the boy wanted to cry. He knew he did not have long left in the world. His chances are nearly zero; his hope was almost all but gone. No family to support him, no friends to weep for him. What was there left to do? He could end it all. Just another nameless code, becoming compost for the ARK system¡¯s plant preservatory.

    His nihilistic views on the world were well placed. The Earth was gone, all one can see was metal and space now. At best, the visors provide a view of the things of the past. In such a cold, lonely place, depression sets in quick.

    A7619B¡¯s sadness suddenly turned to rage. Why him? Why did he get sick? What did he do wrong for such a travesty to happen?

    He threw what remained of the nutrition bar at the wall. It stuck for a second before slowly sliding down onto the ground. A small cleaning robot zoomed out from a hole that opened up in the wall and hoovered up the crumbs before vanishing back into its domain. Deep down he knew his mood swings were caused by his medication. It was a side effect he expected yet couldn¡¯t control.

    The boy cried. Life was unfair.

 Chapter 1B: Seed Ship.

    <u>Chapter 1B: Seed Ship</u>

    A7619B woke up covered in sweat. The pain and fatigue hit him full blast as soon as he opened his eyes. Doing his best to endure it, the thought of giving up once again flashed through his mind. But it wasn¡¯t the only thing flashing through his mind.

    Memories of his past slowly flowed through his mind. People say when you are dying; your whole life will flash through your eyes. The boy wondered if this was happening to him. His birth, his parents, their enthusiasm heightening as his genetic potential is revealed by the nurse AI, and finally the day his illness was discovered after he collapsed in the corridors. He remembered the feeling of dread as he saw the hope and expectation slowly fade from his parent¡¯s gaze. The way they distance themselves from him gradually as his health deteriorated.

    Tears that have dried from last night started to pour again.

    ¡°Why me?¡± He clutched his chest in grief.

    The once hopeful eyes gave away to darkness and tears.

    ______

    Moments later, after the pain faded and the residual fatigue left him breathless, A7619B got out of bed slowly to get some water into his body. Sweating profusely and constant tears dehydrated him over the night. The wall opened up and revealed a filled cup of water as if knowing his needs. On the ARK, the AI is always watching. There were cameras everywhere, including the cleaning robots. Thankful for the AI¡¯s thoughtfulness, the boy drank the water. The cool refreshing liquid flowed down his parched throat, giving him some strength back.

    ¡°Mother, what is my schedule today?¡± The boy asked with a hoarse voice.

    ¡°Today is the weekend, nothing important is due. At 11 am will be your sector¡¯s scheduled cleansing.¡± The AI replied with a cheerful tone.

    This AI is a personal attendant version of Mother. It doesn¡¯t have much personality, but it does perform simple tasks such as recording memos and keeping a schedule.

    ¡°Ah, today is cleaning day¡­¡± His mind wandered.

    With a vessel as massive as the seed ships, it required constant care to remove dust to prevent wear and tear. A monthly cleanse will occur to wash the hallways. The ceiling will drizzle fluids down like rain for a good three hours, washing and cleaning the walls and floor with chemicals. Then the halls are heated to dry and ventilated before it can be opened for public use again.

    The people who live near the scheduled sectors are to either evacuate or to bunker down in their room.

    ¡°I can¡¯t stay here for the whole day,¡± A7619B said as he got dressed, ¡°I might as well go visit old man G4240B.¡±

    The old man was long past his prime. Nearing his fiftieth birthday, he was eternally stuck at C rank. Although brilliant, his ideas were far too eccentric for the AI to consider it purely beneficial to humanity, or rather that¡¯s what the old man told the boy. With all the time they spent together, the boy was very trusting of the old man, so he believed him.

    ______

    Underneath a glittering metallic tree, an old man was tinkering with various scrap metal from broken tools. A large shaded magnifying glass extended out of an exotic headgear and was placed in front of his good eye. His other eye wandered off towards the other end as if it had a mind of its own. In his hands were a small sauntering gun and an alligator wrench. Bright flashes sparked as the sauntering gun was melding two pieces of metal together.

    Suddenly, a noise made the old man pause. He lifted up his magnifying glass and turned around to find his favorite chatting companion.

    ¡°Hey kid, how¡¯s it going?¡± Turning back to his work, the old man said nonchalantly.

    ¡°Not so good in the health department, but otherwise good.¡±

    ¡°I see, keep up with your medication. Even if the AI doesn¡¯t provide the top quality meds, what it does provide will keep you alive,¡± The old man said with concern.

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    The old man frowned as he heard the depressing tone of the boy¡¯s voice, but it was his policy to not pry any further into the kid¡¯s personal life.

    A7619B sat under the metallic tree and looked up at the lightbulbs hanging from it like ripened fruits.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°What are you working on now?¡± The boy asked with curiosity.

    ¡°Ah, you see, I am making a living metal tree,¡± G4240B replied with glee.

    ¡°A living metal tree?¡±

    ¡°As you know, a tree use photosynthesis uses the energy from light to react carbon dioxide with water to produce sugar molecules and oxygen. What I am trying to replicate is to make a metal version with a programmed AI that duplicates the photosynthesis process without any light but instead uses electricity.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that inefficient?¡± The boy asked.

    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to do is the get a positive net gain of energy over time,¡± The old man replied.

    ¡°But how?¡±

    The boy suddenly regretted asking as the old man started on a rant about the Calvin cycle and conservation of energy. He never really showed promise in the chemistry department in class. After a long time, the old man finally realized he had lost the boy¡¯s interest and stopped talking.

    G4240B went back to tinkering, and the boy continued his observation. They enjoyed their silence as the hallway behind them closed. The sound of chemicals pouring down could be heard as it splashed onto the metallic walls and floor. A faint sour smell leaked out from the tightly shut door.

    ¡°They need to do maintenance on the seals on the door again. If we ever had a hull breach, that small gap will shred the door open due to the pressure,¡± The old man sighed after getting a whiff.

    As if it was always listening, the AI properly responded. Perhaps only the inside of your mind was safe from the AI¡¯s constant monitoring.

    ¡°Maintenance scheduled on the door in Sector 78K. Thank you for your report.¡±

    ¡°I wish I was there when those old egg heads invented the AI. The thing¡¯s a piece of genius that trumps anything I could ever invent,¡± The old man nodded with a yearning sigh.

    It has been a very long time since the vessel left earth. None of the geniuses who planned the ARK boarded their creation. They chose to stay behind and die with their home, a real captain of their sinking ship.

    The hours passed by quickly.

    ______

    When the boy left, the old man looked at his lonely back with a sympathetic eye. Suddenly, a bright idea spawned in his noggin.

    ¡°Would it work?¡± He asked himself. ¡°Maybe¡­just maybe¡­¡±

    He took out a pen and started to draw out a blueprint.

    His mind feverishly working to save the boy.

    Suddenly, he stopped.

    ¡°It will work, I just need a pawn,¡± The old man said after wiping his forehead of sweat.

    His search began with finding a suitable target. He quickly left for the medical bay.

    A7619B went back to his room. The sour musk slowly faded away after the hours of aeration and the hallway was still steamy after its humidification. Chemical baths caused the environment to dry up. The metal walls and floor were rust proof anyways, so the corridors were humidified during the last step to ensure a comfortable living environment.

    Feeling the usual fatigue, the boy slowly crawled into his bed. Another uneventful day, but he was satisfied. He didn¡¯t have long left anyway; he might as well spend his remaining days doing what he liked. With that thought, he got himself comfortable and went to sleep.

    A dreamless sleep overtook his mind as he drifted off into slumber. It would seem he would have a painless night tonight. Meanwhile, the old man diligently searched through the medical bay for his pawn.

    He finally found his target as the morning artificial sun rose. The perfect specimen.

    ¡°This will have to do. The kid will complain a lot, but beggars can¡¯t be choosers,¡± The old man laughed maniacally as he stroke the wispy chin hair he called a beard.

    The following day, the boy had class again. They covered basic orbital mechanics and what to do in emergencies if your escape pod enters the upper orbit of massive planets. It was a review, but the AI wants to drill the information into all its passengers. Fate is a bitch at times, and you can never expect when the next disaster will occur. At any moment, a catastrophic failure may cause the loss of an entire seed ship. You can never be too safe in space, a place that is just far too inhospitable for human beings.

    The AI reviewed the location of the escape pods and their navigation controls. Then followed by the history of its manufacturing and the inventor of the device/vehicle.

    Just another dreary day aboard the seed vessel. The boy suddenly felt like this is a waste of his time. He doesn¡¯t have long left, why should he stay for repeated classes made for people who have less stellar memory?

    A7619B wanted to ask the Teacher AI if he could leave, but he needed an excuse. It would be hard to fool an AI who can know your entire schedule just by communicating with his personal AI, so he needed a legitimate reason to leave.

    Suddenly, he got a message. Then an idea popped into his mind. It was the same kind of message he received yesterday, a jump scare scam. People don¡¯t change; they keep trying the same thing over and over again if it works once. Perhaps he could put it to good use. Instead of immediately opening it, he took out a small metal sphere from his pocket. It was a gift from the old man from his last birthday. He opened it up, and a little monitor displayed above it in the form of a tiny holographic square. Silently plugging it into his visor, he began to use to alter the message he received.

    This gift was a small tool used to alter most programs not monitored by the AI. Any application not directly controlled by the AI is free game to anyone with the smarts to change them. This means the small jump scare program attached to the message is alterable. Quickly, it became something else entirely. He sent it back to the sender and awaited the results with a sly grin. Deep down, he also thanked the old man for his useful inventions. G4240B was the boy¡¯s mechanical cat, his purveyor of technical doodads.

    Suddenly, one of the students leaped out of his chair. The visor that was still attached to the table tensed and dragged him back down as he face-plants the desk in front of him. Everyone stared in shock.

    ¡°What happened?¡± The teacher AI asked in confusion.

    Seeing the student in the fetal position on the ground with a nosebleed, the teacher AI decided to end today¡¯s class. The boy was quite ecstatic. He got his revenge as well as the rest of the day to do what he wants.

    Whistling while he strolled out the class, he played with the small sphere in his pockets.

    ¡°Thanks, old man!¡± A7619B said to himself with a sneer.

 Chapter 1C: Seed Ship.

    <u>Chapter 1C: Seed Ship</u>

    A wise man once said that future technology to the present man would be no different from magic. Perhaps it may be true when we view the technological advances throughout the centuries. Would a French privateer from the 1800s be amazed at space vessels? Would the neanderthal be surprised at the invention of the watermill? To those people of the past and present, the future is magical.

    To the boy who was born in the era of confinement, technology is always limited to what can be produced with the raw materials one can find on the ship. In space, raw resources are limited.

    Space has a lot of flying debris. They hit the seed ships at high speeds and would dot the outer hull. Once in a blue moon, a cleansing AI would clean the outside of debris before it builds up. The harvested material will be used inside the ship. There was a lot of metals and ice particles.

    Piles of radioactive material must first be purified. Many radioactive isotopes that can¡¯t be changed will be used elsewhere, far from human contact. More easily controlled metals will be dumped into the Junk Yard aboard the seed ship. It¡¯s a trash mountain, full of discarded metal that can be reused. Many tinkerers and inventors send their lackeys to retried wheelbarrows of the stuff back to their labs.

    A7619B stood in front of the large sliding doors leading to the Junk Yard. He held in his hand a list. After class, he left for the old man¡¯s lab only to find a note with a list of materials on it. Even with his weak and battered body, he still headed toward the Junk Yard with the list. His battered body was still capable of manual labor for a few more days. Following behind him was a hover-trolley left by the old man to assist in the moving process.

    With a sigh, he walked forward. The door scanned the chip in his shirt and recorded his access. There are times where people die from a collapse. If they do not exit within twenty-four hours, the AI considers the person is missing and will send in a droid to locate you. There are cases of scavengers being crushed by falling pieces of metal.

    With all the dangers that come with the occupation, who would want to be a scavenger? Sadly, the business is too lucrative. Many of the tinkerers are close to B rank and may at any moment move up to the main ship Gaia. The people who work for the tinkerers may learn a thing or two, or even ride their coattails straight to Gaia. Just recently, a very brilliant kid was caught in a catastrophic rubble collapse. They say she took a blow to the head and was most likely vegetated. Such a massive blow to what could have been a brilliant mind.

    The boy wandered the outskirts of the trash mountain with the trolley as it automatically scoops up things he needed. He checks off which every item is collected and continues forward. Various wires and plates from old worn out machines, as well as piles of dust collected from the outer shell of the ship, everything in the Junk Yard has its use; you just need to find how to use it.

    Feeling the sudden urge to sneeze, the boy quickly backed away from the pile. His sneeze might blow some microparticles into the air. That won¡¯t be good for his already deteriorating lungs. Little did he know, behind his foot was a used up canister of oxygen. The cylinder was perfectly placed under his foot as he took a step back and slipped on it. With a loud thud, his ass planted firmly on the ground.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Shit,¡± He said as he quickly got up and started running.

    The sound of metal creaking and bending roared above him. A hill in front of him was collapsing. He ran with all his might as the trolley followed closely behind like a faithful dog. With the strength remaining in his body, he leaped out the door into the safety of the grey metal corridors.

    A cloud of dust followed behind him as the debris slammed onto the floor. The light above the door blinked, and it automatically closed the door before the cloud could exit the Junk Yard.

    ¡°That was close,¡± The boy said while panting heavily. He couldn¡¯t move his body anymore. His already weak body couldn¡¯t handle the sudden stress, and he nearly went into shock. After the adrenaline wore out a little, the pain came in undulating waves. It pulsed through his body like the beat of a heavy bass drum.

    A7619B blacked out from pain. The trolley that followed him picked him up and carefully placed his battered body onto its back. It hovered through the hallways back towards the old man¡¯s lab. The basic AI programmed inside of it was intelligent enough for such tasks. It was one of the old man¡¯s many creations.

    ______

    ¡°So that¡¯s what happened,¡± A mechanical voice droned.

    ¡°I see, the poor boy must have had such a fright.¡±

    ¡°Where shall I deposit the materials?¡± The voice continued.

    ¡°Over by the locked zone. I have to prepare for the main experiment.¡±

    G4240B slapped the boy¡¯s face a few times gently.

    ¡°Wake up sleepy head,¡± He laughed, ¡°There¡¯s time to sleep later after you¡¯re dead.¡±

    A7619B slowly woke up with a pounding headache and a parched mouth. The old man smiled and handed him a glass of water. The boy weakly reached for it only for him to realize he doesn¡¯t have the strength to grip the glass. Old man G4240B frowned and brought the cup to the boy¡¯s mouth.

    Slowly, the life-giving liquid flowed down his throat. A sense of relief hit him.

    ¡°Scan complete,¡± the AI droned from the background.

    The old man took a quick peek at the screen and frowned. The boy¡¯s body is doing far worse than he initially thought. At this rate, he may not even last the week.

    ¡°I have to hurry,¡± The old man whispered to himself. He looked at the boy with pity and compassion. Without him noticing, he already treated the boy as his own offspring.

    A7619B lied back down and closed his eyes. It helped a bit with his headache. He could hear the old man pacing back and forth, moving a lot of materials.

    ¡°What is he making this time?¡± The boy pondered.

    ______

    With the boy resting in the other room, the old man entered his workspace.

    Several mechanical arms descended from the ceiling over the work table.

    ¡°The theory is there, I just have to make it work,¡± The old man said with determination.

    His glasses tinted and became darker. The mechanical arms handed him a welding torch. He began to work. His other lazy eye seemed to finally focus along with his normal eye. Perhaps only when the task at hand is truly difficult, will his eyes become parallel.

    Large piece of metals and wiring began to mold together to form something that is both art and science. It looked amazingly crude but at the same time gave off a sort of unique aesthetic that left the onlooker gazing with wonder. The old man¡¯s hands worked as if they were the hands of the gods themselves. With the mechanical arms supporting the heavy lifting, the machine soon took shape. Two large pods with an enormous wire connecting the two. Inside the pods was a large helmet with an awfully scary looking needle.

    Several hours later, the old man put down his tools.

    ¡°The hardware is done, now to just test my theory.¡±

    He first had to send the boy home and prepare for the final steps. The most important part has yet to pass. He would have to fool the all-seeing eye that is the Mother AI, but he has his ways.

    ¡°A computer will never beat human ingenuity,¡± G4240B grinned as he walked back out to help the boy.

 Chapter 2A: Magnum Opus

    <u>Chapter 2A: Magnum Opus</u>

    What is a magnum opus? To answer that question, we would first have to explain ¡°What is art?¡± Since it is far too complicated a question to answer, the meaning will be up to the interpreter.

    To the old man, a magnum opus would be something that spits in the face of human ethics, the very ethics that cost him his ticket to Gaia. To the boy, a magnum opus perhaps will be his best work before his illness takes away his final breath.

    They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps it is not only beauty but art as well.

    The boy lied down in his bed. He was looking through a journal he borrowed from the old man. It listed various chemical reactors and experiments the old man did in his youth. The sheer number of them was shocking. G4240B was dedicated to the whole ¡®Seeing is believing¡¯ part of learning. He had to physically perform and see the reaction to understand them truly. It was his method of education.

    A7619B, however, was less of a contact learner. He learned through reading. The most he read, the most he remembered. He was blessed with an ever-expanding memory that improved as he read more and more.

    It fascinated anyone who ever came into contact with him. It¡¯s what also brought the boy to the old man¡¯s doorsteps.

    When the boy left the lab today, he asked the old man a question he had been saving for a while. Perhaps he knew his time was cut even shorter; maybe his body was telling him ¡°No more, let us go.¡±

    The question he asked was this:

    ¡°Why me?¡±

    It was a very vague question. One could interpret it ask the boy asking the heavens why was he chosen to die young. It could also be construed as the boy asking the old man why he stuck with him all these years.

    The old man only smiled faintly and said one line.

    ¡°Because you remind me of myself.¡±

    The boy walked away after that. He never knew the old man¡¯s past. He never bothered to ask. It was against his morals to poke at someone¡¯s history. He of all people should know how painful the past could be.

    The day-night cycle in the seed ship was regulated very strictly for the residents to live a healthy lifestyle. They get their usual ten hours of darkness and fourteen hours of light. Right now it was night time. The lights all dimed to a near total darkness and the stars outside could be seen even more vividly during times of darkness.

    With his room being so far from the window, he had a monitor on his wall displaying the outside view. It was the backdrop to his life.

    While the boy was enjoying his final moments doing what he loved, the old man was doing something unusual.

    He managed to create an area that was blind to the AI. To some, it may be easy to do. But to G4240B who was under constant surveillance, it was a difficult task.

    In the cover of night, he got his robots to move the equipment one by one to the blind spot. He would have to be careful. The AI is known to be all knowing and all seeing. With his track record, if it spots him doing something shady, he inevitably will be caught. It was his last strike too. One more and he will be considered a threat and ¡®decommissioned.'' G4240B didn¡¯t want to reveal his status just yet.

    The final piece to his experiment will be the most important one. He needed a near perfect specimen. Not a single blemish on their history. But luckily, he found one just the other day in the medical wards. It wasn¡¯t a perfect fit, but it will have to do with such short notice.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    He laughed to himself when he thought of what the boy¡¯s reaction would be.

    ¡°I will give him another chance in life; it¡¯s up to him to take fate by its horns and ride it down into the sunset.¡±

    G4240B looked up at the ceiling window. The infinite stars glimmered with their lights traveling through the emptiness of space for eons and eons only to end up in his cornea.

    ¡°Fate...,¡± He said as he stared into the cosmos, ¡°What a foolish concept.¡±

    ______

    The following day, the boy got a message from the old man to visit him at a new location. A7619B didn¡¯t question it as the old man often brings him to see new and wondrous things inside the seed ship. He would then explain the process of what was happening and why. Things like the filtration system, the recycle plants, and even the crematorium.

    Everything on the ship has a purpose. Including the passengers.

    The boy sat up. Since his body had become too weak to walk unassisted, a small robot the brought him home last night beeped and bopped as it positioned itself behind the boy and lifted him up via the underarms. With the robot crutches, the boy left his room. Honestly, his body condition varied day to day. Some days he could walk by himself without much effort while some days he was indeed a cripple.

    They walk through the corridors, past the multitudes of doors to various other dwellings, into the central hub with the large monitor displaying the current statuses of the ship. He didn¡¯t look at the giant monitor and quickly moved on with his trek. If he had just taken a peak, perhaps he would see something that would shock him.

    From the main hub, he made a left and entered through a large sliding glass door into the next sector. The color of the walls changed from blue to green. A7619B and his companion-bot were nearing the oxygen recycling center. The walls were lined with artificial chloroplast to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. It used the same concept the old man used for his artificial tree. The old man just made a far cheaper version than what was used in the seed ship. Soon he arrived at his destination. The last living plant on the seed ship, the Tree of Hope.

    On every seed ship was a tree planted at the center of every oxygen recycling center. It signified life and hope. It showed that even in the vastness of space, life could thrive. The tree was healthy and robust; its hulking mass looked powerful as its leaves flowed back and forth like a flock of ten thousand birds.

    The tree on this particular seed ship was a Californian redwood, also known as a Sequoia. Its titanic structure loomed over the entire oxygen plant and could be seen from the entrance. It was an ancient tree, as old as the seed ship itself which by now had been flying through space for more than a few century.

    Behind the tree in a dark shady spot, he found the old man.

    ¡°Hey boy, come here quick,¡± G4240B beckoned him over.

    The small robot that was supporting the boy had trouble traversing the root infested floor. It took him a while to get to where the old man stood.

    ¡°Let me ask you boy if you were given a second chance at life, would you take it?¡± The old man asked with a glimmer in his eye.

    ¡°You know that I would,¡± The boy answered immediately.

    ¡°No matter the cost?¡± The old man added with seriousness in his tone.

    ¡°No matter the cost,¡± The boy finally said after much decision.

    The old man¡¯s face beamed. He saw the determination in the kid¡¯s eyes renew.

    ¡°That¡¯s my boy!¡± He laughed gratuitously, ¡°Quick come inside.¡±

    He waved his arm revealing a camouflaged sheet that hid a large table, a tube, and a huge machine behind it. If one didn¡¯t look carefully, the sheet perfectly aligned with its background, blending in seamlessly. A7619B gasped at the incredible sight.

    ¡°Quick, we don¡¯t have much time,¡± The old man hurried the boy, ¡°Lie down on this table.¡±

    A7619B did as he was told. The sight of the metal table looked cold, but the humid air from the oxygen recycling plant made sure a fine layer of dew formed on it.

    The boy didn¡¯t get a look at what was in the tube.

    G4240B quickly washed his hands and sterilized everything. The oxygen recycling plant was very clean, but to be extra sure, the environment he set up was kept sterile by a dome covering everything. Of course, the dome was lined with the particular camouflage sheet as well.

    The old man took one last look at the boy.

    ¡°Do you trust me?¡± he asked the kid.

    ¡°Yes,¡± The boy said with affirmation in his eyes.

    The old man nearly shed a tear, but his tear ducts had long since been dry. He walked up to the boy and administered an anesthetic injection.

    The boy slowly passed out as his mind raced about what the old man had planned. G4240B looked at the sleeping boy¡¯s determined face that was lined with a hint of confusion and worry.

    ¡°I won¡¯t let you go, my boy before I go, I will give you my final gift.¡±

    He walked over to the tube and wiped the dew off of it.

    Inside the tube was a girl who looked the same age as the boy.

    ¡°Let the operation begin,¡± The old man said as the recording robot he brought along began to record the whole experiment. He knew that perhaps this will be his final work. His enemies will find him.

 Chapter 2B: Magnum Opus.

    <u>Chapter 2B: Magnum Opus</u>

    Six hours ago, during a routine check-up by the med bay nurses, a patient was discovered missing. A report had been filed, and alarms blared throughout the systems. Sentry droids popped out of the walls with information on the patient. If found, they are to retrieve her immediately.

    The patient is passenger number C5731A. She used to be a former top candidate to enter Gaia with her top of the line intellect and ingenuity. That was before the accident occurred. During a trip to the Junk Yard to gather supplies for her mentor, a collapse happened and she took a blow directly to her head. After much effort, it showed that she had entered a vegetative state and was no longer responding. Due to the pleas of the parents and the mentor, she wasn¡¯t decommissioned and was allowed to reside in the med bay until further technology could perhaps cure her current ¡®ailment.''

    At this moment, the girl was inside the tube in the old man¡¯s experiment.

    A soft repeating beep of the cardiorespiratory monitor showed that she was indeed still alive.

    It was now hour four of the experiment. The old man still worked as if he was in top shape. He was soon adding the finishing touches. With skillful hands, he finished the final sutures on the girl¡¯s scalp.

    ¡°This will do,¡± He finally said after putting down the scissors and tongs.

    On the other table was the boy¡¯s corpse. It no longer had any signs of life. As the hour passed, it started to get colder, and rigor mortis was setting in. His skull was opened at the top with several wires attached to his brain. It was opened in a way that showed that the operator had no longer any care for the body afterward.

    The old man sat down by the tree and looked at his work. It was his crowning achievement if it works. He now only had to wait for the girl to wake up.

    Suddenly, a loud crash sounded throughout the dome.

    ¡°Shit, I¡¯ve been found,¡± The old man cursed. He wished he could hide more efficiently, but with his name being on the list of those who must be monitored continuously, being unseen for such a long time must have triggered alarms.

    Half a dozen security droids barged into the dome.

    They scanned around and saw two people and one corpse. Having matched one of the people with their target, they immediately began to act.

    ¡°Passenger G4240B, you are under arrest for the murder of passenger A7619B and the kidnapping of passenger C5731A. Everything you say will be used against you in court, and you will be judged by a jury of your peers,¡± It said with a mechanical voice that sounded threatening.

    The old man knew he couldn¡¯t win. The security droids were well armed with weaponry specially made to disable and stop all offenders. He walked forward and took one last look at the boy¡¯s corpse and the girl in the tube. He whispered something to the robot that recorded the experiment and walked forward. There are secrets he had to pass to the boy before he leaves this world.

    ¡°Fine, you got me,¡± He said with his hands up in the air.

    The security droids surrounded him and tied him up. They lead him away leaving everything else behind for the cleanup crew.

    ______

    The girl who was supposed to be in vegetative state woke up several hours later back in her hospital bed.

    ¡°Where am I?¡± She wondered, ¡°Where is the old man?¡±

    She looked down at her body and was shocked.

    ¡°T-this¡­,¡± She looked down her shirt and pants. ¡°W-what is this?!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Calm down, calm down, surely this is the old man¡¯s doing,¡± The girl said to herself while panicking.

    Before she could calm down, the AI spoke up.

    ¡°Oh C5731A, how miraculous. You have awoken,¡± The AI said with shock in her voice.

    ¡°C5731A? Is this the person¡¯s number?¡± The girl wondered to herself, ¡°I have to fool the AI, for now, I have to feign amnesia. If they knew what the old man did perhaps I won¡¯t be safe for much longer.¡±

    ¡°How are you doing C5731A? Any discomforts?¡± The AI asked.

    ¡°I-I can¡¯t remember anything,¡± The girl said in a weak, timid tone.

    The AI froze for a second before saying,

    ¡°Amnesia is common with patients who suffered head injuries. It is nothing to worry about; people can still live perfectly healthy lives.¡±

    ¡°W-who am I?¡± The girl asked the AI.

    ¡°You are passenger C5731A, age fifteen. Current rank C+ with ongoing promotion to B. After the incident, rank drop to C due to inactivity.¡±

    ¡°I-I see,¡± The girl said timidly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry C5731A, a nurse is on their way,¡± The AI said with a reassuring tone before going silent.

    C5731A looked around in a daze. The whole situation was a lot to take in. Last thing she remembered was the old man calling them to the oxygen recycling plant. She remembered the old man asking whether she trusted him or not.

    ¡°So this is what he meant¡­,¡± The girl said with a soft sigh, ¡°Another chance at life huh?¡±

    Looking at her soft hands, she clenched them hard. She could feel the pain as well as the pounding of the blood flowing through her palms.

    ¡°A second chance,¡± the girl got excited, ¡°I really do have a second chance now.¡±

    She didn¡¯t question where the old man found a suitable body for him to inhabit. However, she did question why it had to be a girl, but she pinned it on the limited resources available on the seed ship.

    ¡°Where is the old man?¡± The girl asked, ¡°I thought he would be here beside me all hyped up about his experiment being successful.¡±

    A knock on the door brought her mind back to the situation at hand.

    ¡°Come in,¡± She said daintily.

    A nurse walked in with a clipboard. She was apparently very nervous. The nurse had taken care of the vegetative girl for a while now. Suddenly seeing her sitting up and talking indeed shook her a bit.

    ¡°Hello C5731A, I¡¯m here to run a few tests,¡± She said with the best business smile she could muster.

    ¡°Ok,¡± The girl answered.

    The nurse silently checked her vitals, her blood pressure, checked her ears and mouth, all the routine things.

    ¡°It seems other than some muscle atrophy, you are perfectly healthy,¡± The nursed sighed.

    ¡°When can I move around?¡± The girl asked with her innocent eyes.

    The nurse couldn¡¯t say no to such a cute kid.

    ¡°Soon, C5731A. You will recover in no time!¡± She reassured.

    The girl smiled. That smile certainly pulled some cords in the nurse¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Such an innocent little girl,¡± The nursed thought to herself, ¡°Why did that crazed old man kidnap her when she was vegetative?¡±

    Sadly, that question will remain unanswered until the trial.

    ¡°I can¡¯t seem to remember anything,¡± The girl said finally.

    The nurse was shocked.

    ¡°T-this¡­,¡± she stuttered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will do our best to help.¡±

    She could only use the same line all doctors and nurses use when they felt helpless.

    After several minutes of questions and answers, the nurse left the room with the girl alone by herself.

    ¡°So this girl¡¯s parents already left for Gaia when she was in a coma. Not only that, her mentor who caused her to receive the injury was reprimanded and was punished. Perhaps he doesn¡¯t want anything to do with the girl anymore after such a fate.¡±

    The girl mumbled on about what she learned from the nurse.

    ¡°So basically, here on this seed ship, this girl no longer has any attachments.¡±

    Suddenly, the girl realized perhaps this was one of the reasons the old man chose this target.

    ¡°He sure is brilliant,¡± The girl couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the old man¡¯s genius plans. Little did she know, it was completely coincidental.

    ______

    Meanwhile, inside a jail cell with electrified bars, the old man sat disheveled on a metal bench staring at the wall. The only thing on his mind was whether or not his experiment succeeded.

    ¡°I have to escape and see,¡± He said.

    G4240B knew that they would not let him get close to the girl after this incident. He needed to check; he just had to no matter what.

    With his one good eye, he looked at the walls and ceiling. Not a single place to exploit. The cell was smooth. It was like it was cut out of one large block of metal. He looked at the bars. They were lightly electrified. If he were to touch them, it would be like a stun gun hitting his hands traveling to his chest.

    His choices were slim, but thankfully, he modified his body for emergency purposes like this. He already communicated with his robots to delete whatever evidence was left of the experiment. With his track record, he doesn''t want to get the boy, and the girl caught in this mess any further.

    ¡°If I can¡¯t get out to check, I¡¯ll have to control a robot to check remotely,¡± the old man thought to himself. This didn¡¯t seem like the first time he did this.

    G4240B closed his eyes, and a monitor appeared in his mind. He remotely accessed one of the many robots he had in stand-by in his lab.

    A small ball rolled out of a hole in the wall in his lab with a single camera was poking out of its spherical shape.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± The old man said as he controlled the robot to head toward the med bay.

 Chapter 2C: Magnum Opus

    <u>Chapter 2C: Magnum Opus</u>

    The small robot quickly roamed through the vast hallways and empty meeting centers. Due to how late at night it is, things were quiet and desolate. Even the people who occasionally passed by didn¡¯t pay attention to the small robot sprinting along.

    Very quickly, the robot reached the med bay. To get in, his robot needed authorization. Thus he could only wait outside until someone leaves or enters to follow behind.

    The girl got out of bed. With weak knees, she tried to take a step but fell.

    ¡°Too weak,¡± She said while rubbed her legs, ¡°Muscle atrophy is annoying.¡±

    She could stand with some effort, but walking will have to wait. She slowly rose back up and sat down on her bed. Looking at the mirror on the wall she admired her fair complexion. A head of jet black hair that revealed a single slimmer of brown in the light. Her eyes round and soft, giving one the feeling of innocence and helplessness. Her brown hazel eyes were like a cup of coffee with cream, mellow and relaxing. Her face overall looked average, but one couldn¡¯t help but get lost in the innocence. After a while, the girl sighed.

    ¡°I certainly cute, aren¡¯t I?¡± She said nearly in an egotistical fashion.

    A certain sense of pride washed over her. It only made her a bit fearful.

    ¡°I¡¯m not normally like this,¡± She said silently to herself, ¡°Is the original body¡¯s owner starting to affect my thoughts?¡±

    Trying not to think too much of it, the girl sighed.

    ¡°It would seem I am still myself; it¡¯s just my nature is slowly conforming to that of the original body¡¯s habits.¡±

    With a helpless sigh, she got back in bed. But then, a small robot entered her room. She immediately recognized it as one of the robots that lurk around the old man¡¯s lab. A monitor popped out above the robot¡¯s head, and the old man appeared on the screen.

    ¡°Old man!¡± She yelled softly.

    ¡°Hahaha, it would seem my experiment was successful!¡± After hearing the girl¡¯s reaction, the old man knew his magnum opus had succeeded.

    ¡°Where are you right now?¡± The girl asked.

    ¡°In jail, don¡¯t worry about me,¡± The old man replied. With the tricks he had up his sleeves, he could get away with almost any crime. But he didn¡¯t want to drag her into this any further. He had to vanish from her life.

    ¡°J-jail?¡± The girl trembled, ¡°B-but why?¡±

    ¡°Where do you think that body came from? Certainly not the morgue. Even I cannot revive the dead,¡± The old man sighed, ¡°No matter, just knowing that I have succeeded in enough for me.¡±

    The girl suddenly felt a wave of guilt hit her. If it weren''t for her selfish desires, the old man wouldn¡¯t have to sacrifice himself.

    ¡°I-I¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Remember the laws of the universe; nothing can be created, only changed. To allow you to live, someone must die,¡± G4240B said with a firm resolve, ¡°I have lived long enough, there¡¯s already no chance for me to go to Gaia. Instead, I will place all my hopes on you, my boy¡­I mean girl.¡±

    The girl frowned deeply. No matter what the old man said, the guilt just won¡¯t leave.

    ¡°Listen here, go to my lab and collect the storage buses. They will help you during your coming of age ceremony. Either way, after my death, the information would go to waste anyway.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°I-I can¡¯t let you just die.¡±

    The old man quickly came up with an excuse, ¡°There¡¯s no hope. What I have done over the years have angered several people. They will not let me get past this trial alive.¡±

    ¡°Then let me testify.¡±

    ¡°No, I will not bind you into this mess.¡±

    ¡°B-but.¡±

    ¡°No buts, this is the end, let me enjoy my success and end with a bang,¡± The old man smiled.

    The girl was silent. She knew just how stubborn the old man is. The last remaining thing she could do was to do what he wanted her to do.

    G4240B suddenly thought of something. He might as well get the girl to safer grounds.

    ¡°Girl, continue my legacy. Go to Gaia.¡±

    With that last line, the robot ran out of energy and collapsed onto the ground.

    The girl remained still for a long time, deep in thought.

    Finally, she sighed.

    ¡°There is nothing I can do.¡±

    She was powerless. Just a single ant in a colony of mindless ants. She holds no power over anything. She barely holds any control over herself right now.

    ¡°Are we so useless?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    With the small robot¡¯s jamming stopped and its energy depleted, the AI returned.

    ¡°How are you C5731A? Did anything happen?¡± It has spotted the small robot on the floor in a heap.

    ¡°Nothing, I was just working on something I remembered,¡± She replied quickly while she started disassembling the small robot. She needed to destroy the evidence. She knew the old man didn¡¯t want her to be caught in this mess.

    ¡°So diligent when you have just woken up!¡± The AI sounded happy, ¡°We look forward to your coming of age demonstration in four months.¡±

    ¡°Four months¡­¡±

    It would seem the girl was younger than the boy was a couple of months.

    ¡°At least I have more time now.¡±

    She needed to gain ranks to get to Gaia. The only thing that could surprise the judges will be in the old man¡¯s lab.

    ¡°He passed the storage bus to me, in hopes I use it to go to Gaia,¡± The girl thought, ¡°Then I shall use it to the best of my abilities.¡±

    With enthusiasm and diligence in her eyes, she went back to bed. Nothing she could do now, her muscles were still too weak even to walk. Her physical therapy will begin soon.

    ______

    A month later, the trial for the old man officially started.

    Looking wholly disheveled and tired, the old man stood at the podium.

    On the side stalls, sat several middle-aged men with disdain in their looks.

    ¡°Well, well, well, looks like your actions have finally caught up with you Gadget.¡± One of them said with arrogance and mockery in his tone.

    The old man looked at the arrogant person with a laugh.

    ¡°At least I have a name of my own, Y8922E,¡± The old man said.

    The arrogant man frowned.

    ¡°So what? How useful will a name be when you are dead?¡± He replied.

    ¡°I will be recorded in history as a name, you are nothing but a series of numbers and letters, lost forever in the mire of other numbers and letters,¡± The old man said.

    The arrogant man then shuts up.

    ¡°Silence in the court!¡± The AI judge smashed the gavel several times, ¡°How does the jury find the defendant?¡±

    The men all smiled cruelly before one stood up with a parchment.

    ¡°Guilty, your honor.¡±

    ¡°Then the defendant shall be sentenced to death via disintegration.¡± The Judge said with a particular sadistic glee in its tone.

    The old man wasn¡¯t surprised. He knew this was coming as soon as he got caught.

    ¡°Teacher really made things difficult for me,¡± He sighed under his breath.

    In a room above the courtroom, looking through a one-way window, was an innocent looking girl. She wanted to break down the glass and object. She wanted to kill everyone here just to save the old man. But she was powerless. Nothing she could have done to prevent this.

    The old man looked up at the mirror and saw his reflection. But he knew she was watching. He put up a brave smile and mouthed three words.

    ¡°Go to Gaia.¡±

    That was the last time the girl saw the old man. He was taken away by the security droids to the death chambers.

    ______

    No one has ever written what it felt like to be disintegrated. No one has ever lived to tell the tale. The old man stood on the platform and stared at the brilliant mass of nuclear energy.

    This was the core of the seed ship. The entire ship was powered by one single reactor core. The scientists who created it were geniuses beyond geniuses. It was a scientific wonder worthy of the gods themselves.

    G4240B admired the creation. To the scientists who created it, perhaps it was their magnum opus. Suddenly, he had a thought of ending his bitter struggle. His teacher, his master, and his fellow students all turned on him. There was nothing left other than the child he raised. But all children must grow up.

    The old man smiled one last time as he realized that perhaps his time really was up. With the platform underneath him vanished back into the wall. Under his last breath, he said one last thing.

    ¡°Gaia.¡±

    He fell into the brilliant ball of energy and was completely obliterated.

    His mass will be recycled into the reactor, forever powering the seed ship on its never-ending journey to find a new home. After all, matter cannot be destroyed or created; it could only be altered.

 Chapter 3A: Coming of Age

    <u>Chapter 3A: Coming of Age</u>

    ¡°Three months to go.¡±

    The girl wandered the hallways, practicing her newly regained motor functions. Thankfully after a month of pumping up on nutrition bars and protein supplements, her body finally recovered enough muscle mass to perform regularly. She does still get fatigued at times when performing heavy manual labor.

    On her neck was a necklace with a USB drive in the shape of a gear. On it was the word ¡®Gadget¡¯ neatly ingrained into the plastic. She recently took a look inside of the storage drive only to find it was filled with far too much-unorganized information. But after reading just a few snippets here and there, she realized any one of the major projects she can copy would amaze the judges and elevate her ranking. Right now she is back to C+ rank after they tested whether her cognitive functions have deteriorated or not. After several tests and logic exams, they deemed her fit for release.

    They reinstated her rank and looked on with awaiting eyes for her coming of age ceremony.

    ¡°Three months left,¡± She whispered again as she continued to wander.

    When one is faced with a countless number of choices, it is hard to make the correct one. Like the illusion of choice that capitalist society brings to consumers, she has many brands to choose from, but only one name will genuinely skyrocket her up to Gaia.

    Her first choice was the last project the old man was working on, the electric tree. It took the artificial oxygen recycling from the oxygen recycling plant and try to change it to produce power. On the seed ships, it is worthless as the reactor core provides more than enough power for all the ship¡¯s needs. But perhaps after humans have found their new home and would require a more sustainable energy source other than solar or kinetic, they can use the trees. Not only would it be aesthetically pleasing, but it would also provide a much-needed service. They would count as infrastructure as well so the maintenance would be dependent on the government.

    But for the plan to work, she would have to make a prototype. The old man was working on one before he passed but it was far from complete. He suddenly stopped all progress on it and moved on to what he labeled his ¡®Magnum Opus.¡¯

    The next topic that she found interesting was the food situation. Currently, the entire ship¡¯s residents live off of tasteless nutrient bars. They contain the daily recommended dosage of vitamin, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein. It¡¯s an all in one packaged meal with the taste of water. The girl¡¯s entire taste palate consisted of metallic and flavorless. Satisfaction of eating has been completely obliterated, and all sense of taste is gone. The AI doesn¡¯t want to waste resources to give flavor to the food the humans are eating. To it, food is just a necessity like breathing and going to the bathroom. There is no enjoyment in the process.

    After pondering on the countless topics she was given, she finally reached her destination. Or rather, what her wandering has brought about. She entered the oxygen recycling plant where everything changed.

    The doors slid open, and a wave of fresh, breathable air blew by. With great gusto, she inhaled and felt refreshed as her brain was replenished with oxygen.

    C5731A walked to the giant redwood at the center of the plant and sat down on one of its large roots. Taking the USB from her necklace, she plugged it into her holographic monitor. A display containing all the files which are now neatly organized bloomed from the monitor.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    It had taken her an entire month just to sort out the whole mess. Countless years of research by the old man dumped into one small device.

    She scrolled through the labeled files one by one, reading the synopsis she wrote for each.

    ¡°Electrical Trees, Food taste, Mineral separator¡­¡±

    The list was nearly endless. There was even some in-depth research into psychology; child development, psyche, and much more.

    The girl leaned back on the root and looked up at the distant leaves above. Piney needles lined the sky to create a blanket of green.

    ¡°What if there was an electrical tree the size of this tree?¡± She asked curiously.

    Perhaps that was what finally help made her decision. C5731A might as well finish what the old man started, and take it up a few notches. Upscale the project from small meter tall trees to giant redwood. A single tree could power a small city. People could build on the tree and live in treehouses that are powered by the tree.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be a sight?¡± She asked the tree.

    But first, she must make a prototype.

    ______

    Inside of twenty by twenty-meter lab was a girl in a lab coat. She was on her knees with a wrench clenched in her mouth. Perspiration was oozing from her forehead and dripping onto her glasses. Finally, she glued the last chip into the circuit board.

    With a sigh of relief, she put the metal cover back on and screwed it in place.

    ¡°Finally,¡± C5731A said while taking off her knee braces.

    In front of her was a seven-meter tall tree. Its bark was a shiny silver metal, and its leaves were crystalline bulbs. It looked similar to the tree inside the old man¡¯s lab. With a press of a button, the tree lit up. She got close to the bark and blew on it gently. As the carbon dioxide in her exhaled breath entered through the tiny pores in the metal tree bark, it caused a reaction and traveled up the tree into its crystalline leaf bulbs. With a faint flicker, the tree got brighter.

    ¡°I-it worked!¡± She jumped for joy.

    A lot of the design was already prebuilt by the old man with his original tree. She just had to go over the blueprint, fix some small bugs that appeared in the programming, and make a prototype of her very own. Every single piece of this new tree was assembled from her own hands. It took a total of two months to learn the concept of the magnificent tree and to go over the blueprint extensively. Then it took an entire week of endless labor to make the prototype.

    The girl looked at the calendar on the wall. Circled in red was the big day.

    ¡°Three more weeks, just in time,¡± She smiled brightly.

    Over the months she got used to her new body and regained all of her motor functions. She even managed to convince the nurse to let her start her research early using the excuse that her coming of age ceremony was soon.

    The nurses knew just how important the day was for all teenagers, so they gave her an empty lab nearby the med bay to work in peace.

    Writing up the paper is the final thing she had to do before her project is complete. Either way, she got three weeks to finish it, so she was in no hurry.

    With a brilliant smile on her face, she sat down on the chair by the desk. A cup of water conveniently was ejected from the wall.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± She said to the AI.

    The silent but helpful AI watched on, like the eyes of a god, eternally trained upon its subjects.

    ______

    The coming of age ceremony, a time that every teenager worry about from the time they turned ten until sixteen. It was their time to shine, to show their ingenuity and to impress their elders. The seed ship sent a representative along with an AI judge. They will inspect the kid¡¯s progress in academia and everything else. Finally, they will inspect the major project the teen was working on. If they did decent enough, they can rank-up. Most smart teens are middling around a C rank. The overachievers are C+ while the lackluster ones are C- or D+. If they manage to get to B rank before they turn thirty, they will be given a one-way ticket to Gaia, the mothership of humanity.

    The ship Gaia was an enigma to many who was born on the seed ships. To them, it was their Garden of Eden, their Arcadia, the paradise they¡¯ve always wanted. Since no one who has ever went returned, they could only wonder. Most stories they heard are from historical recordings from during the construction of the mothership Gaia and its seed ships.

    Today was finally the day. It was the girl¡¯s coming of age ceremony. C5731A waited nervously in a one-piece pitch black dress. She wasn¡¯t used to wearing formal wear, especially a somewhat revealing dress. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, but she held firm. Today was her best chance to achieve the old man¡¯s dream.

    The door opened, and two beings walked in.

    ¡°Welcome!¡± She said with enthusiasm.

 Chapter 3B: Coming of Age.

    <u>Chapter 3B: Coming of Age</u>

    The two people who showed up for C5731A¡¯s coming of age ceremony was a middle-aged man with a monocle that floated directly in front of his eye, along with a female android who wore what looked like a dated flight attendant outfit.

    The man stepped in with false bravado and a slightly sinister grin on his face. But in reality, the girl was far more afraid of the android.

    Either way, she must behave in front of the two beings. One was a B rank investigator who decided to stay behind on a seed ship to earn credits, and the other was an android made to house a spawn of the Mother AI. Both outranks the girl, and both have the authority to ruin her life.

    The man looked satisfied with the girl¡¯s act of servitude and her submissive attitude toward her examiners. He took a step forward and introduced himself but was cut off by the android.

    ¡°Hello passenger C5731A, today is your big day!¡± The android said with anticipation.

    ¡°Y-yes it is, m-miss,¡± The girl replied nervously.

    ¡°No need to be skittish, we will be done very quickly,¡± The man laughed.

    He was annoyed the android stepped on his pride, but what can he do against his ¡®employer.'' The girl very quickly got herself back together and began introducing her topic.

    The android listened with a constant smile on her face. One couldn¡¯t even read what her face was saying. The man, however, was very nonchalant. He felt the topic was fundamental, nothing really worth his attention. It was not until the girl got to the prototype that both the being¡¯s interest peaked.

    ¡°¡­And this, is the prototype,¡± The girl walked over a large canvas covered object and revealed the tree underneath. A multitude of colorful light glimmered from the leaves and the veins in the bark hummed with electrical life.

    The man¡¯s eye behind his monocle widened.

    ¡°You built this?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Y-yes,¡± The girl replied to the sudden question.

    The man was shocked. Usually, teenagers will not build a prototype. They are mostly theory and ideas and nothing to show for it. Not often do they have something tangible to show the examiners.

    ¡°Very good C5731A!¡± The android praised.

    The man frowned. He initially was hoping to get another assistant today. After all, most teenagers would do poorly during their inspection. He would take the chance during their despair to bring them under his wing as a pupil. Most would be incredibly thankful for the offer. He would then have another minion under him to do his bidding.

    ¡°No, something is missing,¡± The man said, ¡°You completely forgot about the cost.¡±

    The android frown.

    ¡°The world is not a free place, especially with resources so limited. What would the cost of such a tree be? How much will it cost to build?¡± The man continued with a sly grin.

    He wanted to stump her. He could always use another cute assistant.

    The girl smiled brightly which gave the man an uneasy feeling.

    ¡°Thankfully the old man had notes on the inspection. One of the inspectors will always try to fail you through bullshit means,¡± The girl thought to herself, ¡°The old man must have gone through this long ago.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    The girl confidently walked over to a cabinet to grab a file. She took a pamphlet out and handed both the inspectors one. The android smiled while the man frowned again. Inside was a full detailed budget plan including the cost of production and labor fees. It was very thorough and included everything the man asked about previously.

    ¡°Well, well, well, C5731A, you sure are well prepared!¡± The android praised.

    The man shook in anger. His pride took a hit today. Suddenly, he thought of something he could use.

    ¡°Still, missing something,¡± The man said again with a sly grin. But before he could say it, the android glared at him with annoyance.

    ¡°P0833D, I do not appreciate you are so dismissive of C5731A¡¯s achievements,¡± The android said with disdain, ¡°I know what you are up to. So don¡¯t do it in front of me when there is such a brilliant pupil.¡±

    The man shivered in fear. Usually, the AI would ignore his schemes, but it seemed like they have found a formidable person, One that is worthy of being preserved.

    ¡°Y-yes, ma¡¯am,¡± The man replied obediently.

    The android quickly faced the girl with her usual smile.

    ¡°Good job C5731A, don¡¯t worry about P0833D¡¯s comments. He will always be just a small frog in a well.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Seeing the AI take her side instead, the girl took the initiative to mock the man for trying to harm her chances, ¡°After all, remaining on the seed ship would mean his rank is in the upper echelon but once he set foot on Gaia, he is but another B rank peon among a sea of talent.¡±

    The android¡¯s eyes lit up as she began laughing.

    ¡°Very right, C5731A!¡±

    The man was seriously pissed now, but he couldn¡¯t show it in front of the AI right now.

    ¡°I will make your life a personal hell,¡± The man thought to himself.

    The Android and the girl chatted some more on her experiment and wholly ignored the man.

    Finally, after a lengthy discussion, the android who seemed very satisfied ended the inspection.

    ¡°Good, good! Now C5731A, for your results,¡± The android closed her eyes while pretending to be mysterious. The man just crossed his arms and leaned on the wall while glaring at the girl.

    ¡°You pass with flying colors and have ranked up! You are now B- rank, high enough to be sent to Gaia!¡± The android smiled.

    The man frowned. He couldn¡¯t take his revenge if the girl left. Actions had to be taken before that happens.

    ¡°Great!¡± The girl said with much glee. Finally, her dream was becoming a reality. The old man¡¯s wishes will be fulfilled. ¡°When can I go?¡±

    ¡°Whenever you want to, the transport ship is scheduled to leave daily,¡± The Android replied.

    ¡°Great! Then let¡¯s leave now!¡±

    The man looked at the girl with anger. If she leaves now, he wouldn¡¯t have a chance to attack her.

    ¡°What about your friends and family?¡± The man asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t have any,¡± The girl straight up replied with confidence.

    The man nearly tripped at the girl¡¯s proud reveal of her horrible social life.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go, you don¡¯t need to pack up, everything will be provided by Gaia. Only grab memorable things.¡± The Android clapped.

    The girl already had the USB the old man gave her on her necklace. All of her old stuff have already been incinerated after her original body¡¯s death. She really had nothing left that contained memories for her.

    ¡°I¡¯m all set.¡±

    The android¡¯s eyes glimmered.

    ¡°That¡¯s everything?¡±

    The man wanted to mock the girl for having no essential items, but with the android monitoring his actions and most likely recording his speech as well, he couldn¡¯t act.

    The android led the man and the girl out of the room. As soon as they left, the glistering electric tree was disassembled and stored by several mechanical arms that ejected from the walls. It would seem the AI was watching the entire building process, so it knew how to take it apart.

    ______

    They soon arrived at the terminal dock. A small shuttle arrived to take them to the transport bay. Without a moment¡¯s rest, they got in and sat down. An uncomfortable atmosphere soon permeated the small shuttle. The man was still noticeably pissed, and the android was very nonchalant. The girl was nervous and excited.

    Darkness filled the tunnel while the inside of the shuttle was illuminated with only a small bluish hue from the ceiling.

    After around five minutes of awkward silence, they arrived at the blindingly bright transport bay. Several small ships are docked with robots moving supplies in an out.

    The two examiner exited the small shuttle first and went to register a flight. C5731A stared in awe at the sight. She usually didn¡¯t have the clearance to ride the shuttle as it¡¯s reserved for staff members only. This was her first time seeing the transport bay.

    Massive, noisy mechanical arms were moving large shipping containers while small robots carried boxes, it was a hive network of bustling work.

    ¡°Soon, I will be at Gaia. I will see for myself, the utopia that the old man and I have been striving for,¡± The girl spouted her emotional monologue, ¡°Just a little while longer.¡±

    She clutched the USB on her necklace. The gear¡¯s groves cold within her sweaty palms.

 Chapter 3C: Coming of Age

    <u>Chapter 3C: Coming of Age</u>

    The USB the old man gave the girl contained enormous amounts of information. Within it was details of every single experiment he has done in his lifetime. It was both a memory piece as well as a treasure trove of information. The girl knew she had to keep it safe. She shoved the necklace back into her shirt and wandered around while waiting for the examiners.

    ______

    On the way to the help desk, the man finally relaxed.

    ¡°Hey, Ma¡¯am. Why are you rushing this girl through the process? Don¡¯t we normally take at least a month to go through everything?¡± The man asked.

    ¡°Nothing personal to you, but I want to help her skip through all the bullshit paperwork,¡± The android smiled, ¡°After all, I made a bet with a very irksome old man.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Just a pupil of my master,¡± The android replied.

    ¡°Y-your master?¡±

    The man knew a few things about the upper world of Gaia. That most of the AIs are created by Mother but call their owner master.

    ¡°I watched the boy grow into an old man. I wanted to tease him one last time,¡± The android said with an emotional sigh.

    The man gulped. He knew the AIs are immortal, but it¡¯s not often they talk about their age. His superior officer warned him about asking the age of any of the androids.

    The Android was lost in memories as she began talking about her life.

    ¡°I was born in the ARK program, raised there, and left with my master to a seed ship after he decided to retire.¡±

    ¡°R-retire?¡±

    ¡°Those who are tired of living no longer wish to live any further. After all, my Master was an original generation passenger. He has been alive for as long as the ships have existed.¡±

    ¡°T-they can retire?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they can retire. But first, you must surrender all the knowledge that will aid humanity to Mother.¡±

    ¡°H-how?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an excruciating process. Imagine having to think through several million things at the same time as the computer copy the signaling pathway of each train of thought.¡±

    ¡°T-that¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°Not survivable? Well, after you have lived for that long, your mind becomes something far stronger than you can imagine right now.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    It would seem the man learned something new about the secrets of Gaia today.

    ¡°Anyways, don¡¯t speak about what I have said here today. You may be terminated for revealing such things.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes Ma¡¯am.¡±

    The android looked back at the curious girl.

    ¡°The third generation will begin with her¡­I hope you are watching Master.¡±

    ______

    Registration didn¡¯t take too long, the android had her ways of bypassing certain command orders with her high rank.

    Soon a small shuttle was prepared. The back still held vital supplies for Gaia, but the front was a comfortable four-seat cabin.

    The two led the girl in and helped introduce her to all the safety commands within the shuttle.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be the only passenger today, but you are the first. The rest will arrive eventually,¡± The android said.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The girl was excited about meeting other people who had the right to enter Gaia.

    The android smiled while the man scoffed.

    ¡°This is where we part ways C5731A. Good luck on your journey and I wish you the best of luck in Gaia,¡± The android said with a thumbs up.

    C5731A replied with a thumbs up as well as the two examiners left the shuttle.

    ¡°Finally alone,¡± The girl sighed with relief. She wasn¡¯t used to dealing with people, let alone two people significantly higher rank than her.

    So many things happened today. Almost too much for her to handle. It all happened so fast. Years and months of planning to all take into effect in a single day; she couldn¡¯t help but feel mentally tired.

    ¡°I will just close my eyes for a moment and rest my mind,¡± The girl said with a yawn as she dozed off sitting in the passenger chair.

    About an hour later, an excited looking girl walked into the shuttle as well. With an outfit that made her look like your typical tourist, she looked at the sleeping girl with curiosity.

    ¡°So I¡¯m not the first to arrive huh?¡± She laughed.

    Noticing the girl was still asleep, she quietly stored her luggage in the back and took a seat. Pressing a button behind her ear, a visor unfolded in front of her eyes like a mask.

    ¡°Enter Virtual Space,¡± She proclaimed as the visor came to life. She began writing on a holographic keyboard that manifested in front of her.

    Around twenty minutes later, another person arrived. It was a bashful boy who looked very short for his age. The only thing that depicted his age was the beginnings of facial hairs stuck under his nose and chin. Without those, he would look like your average thirteen-year-old kid.

    He looked at the sleeping girl and the hyperactive girl whose now working at full speed. Reluctant to start a conversation, he put down his luggage and took a seat as well.

    The last one to arrive came about an hour after the shy boy. It was a very bold looking young man. His sharp eyes just screamed ¡®fight me.'' With a body was built like one who handles himself well in battle, he looked at the other passengers and just silently took a seat as well.

    With all four passengers present and the supplied already loaded. The AI captain of the shuttle confirmed with the flight room of its departure schedule and closed the cabin door.

    A loamy voice woke the girl up and caught all the passengers¡¯ attention.

    ¡°Good afternoon passengers, the Express Shuttle to Gaia will depart in thirty minutes. The journey will take around twenty hours as we will travel along the tether. If nothing hinders our journey, we will be arriving at 1600 hours tomorrow.¡±

    The girl rubbed her eyes and looked at the other passengers who have already gotten comfortable.

    The hyperactive girl saw her staring and started a conversation.

    ¡°Hey everyone, let''s introduce ourselves!¡± She said excitedly.

    The shy boy wanted to back away while the strong boy looked like he wanted to brag about himself some more to these strangers.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start!¡± Before the strong boy would start, the hyper girl began.

    ¡°My ID is U8822H; name¡¯s Nell.¡± The excited girl said.

    The girl was shocked. Names? She didn¡¯t have a name.

    The energetic boy then took his turn.

    ¡°My ID is S0912K, name¡¯s Kurt.¡±

    Then the shy boy.

    ¡°M-my ID is L4242N, n-name¡¯s R-Ruri.¡±

    Then all three passengers turned their eyes toward the last one.

    ¡°I-I¡­¡± The girl panicked. A name quickly came to her mind. It was a name she saw while browsing the files inside the USB. She decided it will be her name from now on.

    ¡°My ID is C5731A, name¡¯s Alex,¡± She finally replied with confidence. This will be her name from now on, a label that¡¯s different from just a code.

    ¡°Good, now that we all know each other let¡¯s mingle!¡± Nell said.

    Alex was slightly stunned by how social the excited girl was. But it was an excellent chance to break the ice.

    ¡°What was your ticket to Gaia?¡± Nell asked her.

    ¡°Inventions.¡±

    ¡°What did you invent?¡±

    ¡°Electric trees.¡±

    ¡°Woah, sounds complicated,¡± Nell said. She sounded like she wanted her turn to brag, so the girl just gave a small summary of her work before moving on.

    ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I created a social network,¡± Nell bragged.

    ¡°Oh, what is it called?¡±

    ¡°D¨¦j¨¤ vu.¡±

    The two boys gasped.

    ¡°You created D¨¦j¨¤ vu?¡± They yelled in reply, ¡°Really? All my friends use it!¡±

    Alex was clueless as she doesn¡¯t socialize often. She was shunned due to her terminal illness and never really got along with other students. Her only friend was the old man. But to fit in, she just stayed silent and nodded.

    ¡°My turn!¡± Kurt, who didn¡¯t want to be outdone, stood up.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t create or invent anything, but I have passed the B rank combat trials and have gained the rank of Lieutenant,¡± Kurt said with a proud, boastful tone.

    ¡°A-amazing.¡± Ruri replied, ¡°To actually pass the B rank combat trials means you would have to be able to survive an hour fighting over a hundred combat droids by yourself with no weaponry!¡±

    Kurt smiled brilliantly as he flexed his muscles. Nell clapped and laughed while Ruri was still in shock. Alex didn¡¯t know how to reply. It was another entirely foreign thing to her.

    Lastly, it was the Ruri¡¯s turn.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Ruri squirmed in his seat as the gaze of three colleagues of his age stared at him.

    ¡°I passed the memorization exam,¡± He finally said.

    ¡°Wow, really? Does this mean you have a photographic memory? The memorization exam requires the examinee to memorize over a thousand images in five minutes and repeat it back perfectly. It¡¯s an insanely difficult exam as it usually leads to hard jobs like field recon or database manager.¡± Nell said with a single breath.

    It was amazing she didn¡¯t pass out from the lack of oxygen. Alex pondered how she get stuck with these three geniuses.

    ¡°Looks like this twenty-hour trip will be interesting,¡± Alex thought to herself.

 Chapter 4A: False Utopia

    <u>Chapter 4A: False Utopia</u>

    Utopia, a place of ideal perfection. But it can also be an imaginary and an indefinite, remote area. Over the years, countless people have called the mothership Gaia a Utopia. But to most, it is an unreachable destination.

    Tethered to the mothership were the seven seed ships. They orbit around Gaia like satellites. On one of the tethers was a small vessel traveling along at a decent pace. It carried with it four unsuspecting youths and some supplies.

    After talking for a few hour or so, the youths felt a little burnt out and dry mouthed. Alex already slept so she was feeling awake and ready. Ruri fell asleep from the excitement and Nell went back to working on her project. Kurt was doing pushups in the cargo hold in the back. He said he might as well take this opportunity to exercise.

    Everyone was doing their own thing. Alex stared out the reinforced window and saw the vast darkness of space teeming with glistering jewels of the sky. The ship suddenly veered right a little revealing a giant egg. On the side were the words ¡®GAIA¡¯ embedded into it. Even the mighty bleaching powers of space couldn¡¯t make the logo fade after all these years. Several tethers linked the giant egg to the seed ships. Slowly, the egg morphed into a cube as its parts shifted. Perhaps this is why people call it an icebox.

    ¡°Hey, guys! Take a look!¡± Alex called out to her colleagues.

    Nell jumped out of her chair to stare out the window.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s bigger than I thought!¡±

    Kurt walked over while wiping his sweat.

    ¡°It has to be big in order to hold the number of people the seed ships send over,¡± He said.

    Their talking woke Ruri up. He rubbed his eyes as he looked out the window as well.

    ¡°We should still have quite a while right?¡± He said sluggishly.

    The ship slowly veered back left, and the egg slid out of view.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait!¡± Nell screamed with glee.

    ¡°There will be many people to compete with there,¡± Kurt said with a motivated glint in his eye.

    ¡°Maybe we will find many new friends,¡± Ruri said shyly. At least he was now comfortable enough with the others. His stuttering stopped.

    ¡°Old man¡­,¡± Alex whispered under her breath as she gripped her pendant, ¡°Soon, I will see personally that our dreams will be fulfilled.¡±

    All of them were excited and hopeful. The goal of all humanity for the past few decades was right in front of their eyes. Soon, they will reach the utopia everyone has been striving for.

    ______

    Meanwhile, back at the seed ship. The android who performed Alex¡¯s coming of age ceremony stepped back into her office. She took a deep sigh and stretched. With a snap of her fingers, a monitor descended from the ceiling.

    ¡°Record today¡¯s memo,¡± She said while looking at her fake nails.

    ¡°RECORDING¡­DATE¡­BEGIN,¡± A mechanized voice replied.

    ¡°Met with master¡¯s third generation prot¨¦g¨¦ recently. Other than a few anomalies created by my master¡¯s idiot pupil, the subject seemed normal. Continue monitoring her as she enters the system,¡± The android said with a grin as she took out a set of nail trimmers. Even her fake nails get chipped here and there.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    She snapped her finger, and the recording stopped. The screen ascended back into the ceiling.

    ¡°I wonder how our little bunny is fairing with the others,¡± The android chuckled, ¡°Hopefully they get along, it¡¯s oh so difficult to create a decent squad nowadays.¡±

    It seemed like she was talking to herself in the office. But if one was to look closer, inside of the fish tank behind her, a single fish stared at her with a piercing gaze.

    ¡°Oh come on, don¡¯t look at me that way. I saved you, although your body is completely destroyed, at least your mind survived,¡± The android laughed, ¡°I gotta say, the technology behind your magnum opus sure is useful!¡±

    The fish swam around in a fit.

    ¡°Ok, ok, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t mess with the poor bunny THAT much.¡±

    The fish calmed down.

    ¡°Maybe after you cooled down a bit in that tank, I can get you a new body, an immortal one like mine!¡± The android turned around and faced the fish.

    ¡°Just wait a little while longer, Gadget,¡± The android said with longing.

    ______

    Alex passed the long hours in the vessel browsing through the avalanche of information in the USB. Even though she had it for months, there were just too many files to look through. But it didn¡¯t stultify her, each and every file was an exotic experiment with new things to learn. There were countless failures, but the few that worked were amazing. Alex always wondered why the old man never went to Gaia even with his immense intellect. He would never talk about it, so Alex never asked.

    All she knows right now was that the old man helped her find a second chance in life. She had to pay back her debts regardless if he was dead or alive. Perhaps his ghost is watching over her right now.

    She laughed a little at the thought. There was no scientific theory proving ghosts, yet humans always maintained a superstitious mindset. After all, being cautious was a desirable trait that passed on over the eras. Humans perhaps will always remain superstitious.

    Nell got tired of working, so she leaned over to watch what Alex was doing.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the blueprints for a more effective gene gun.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a gene gun?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something that you use to shoot viruses and force them to produce the protein you want.¡±

    ¡°Sounds dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Most of the time it¡¯s used for medical purposes.¡±

    ¡°So why is this one more effective?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s non-intrusive.¡±

    ¡°Meaning?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t penetrate the skin, thus resulting in no chance of infection.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s like, a minor improvement?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Alex gave up trying to answer that. She wasn¡¯t too knowledgeable on the subject herself and was just reading the notes written in the files.

    Nell smiled mischievously at her and leaned back in her chair.

    Suddenly, the lights in the cabin dimmed.

    ¡°Night mode activated. Rest well, passengers,¡± The auto-pilot said.

    If there were live passengers on the shuttle, they would have a day and night mode for the long journey to ensure the people onboard maintain a healthy sleep cycle. The only light on was a black light that shined on the ground leading to the bathroom.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s night time,¡± Kurt said. He fumbled around in the dark as he got back to his seat. After his exercise finished, he took a shower in the bathroom onboard. Perhaps due to fatigue, he immediately fell asleep in the comfortable reclined chair.

    Ruri went back to sleep after the whole viewing moment, so he was still out cold.

    Nell frowned at how dark the shuttle has gotten but still rolled around in her chair with her blanket. Slowly, she wrapped herself in a cocoon.

    Alex unplugged the USB and closed the monitor. She leaned over to the window to look outside again. The large Egg was getting closer. If nothing erroneous occurs, they will arrive after a good rest. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her nap earlier really screwed with her sleep cycle.

    With a sigh, she sat back up. Kurt was already snoring quite loudly even though he just lied down around five minutes ago. Ruri was covering his head with his pillow, trying hard to subconsciously drown out the snore. Nell wiggled around in her blanket cocoon.

    Realizing there was nothing to do, Alex stood up and did some stretches in the dark. She took out a visor from a pocket in front of her chair. Plugging into the shuttles server socket, she accessed the Seed ship¡¯s network.

    Humans can¡¯t live without networking now. No matter if they were one earth or floating in the vastness of space, the Internet survived the test of time. It thrives as long as humans remain as social animals.

    Placing the visor over her head, the augmented reality screen appeared in front of her vision. She took a long look at the D¨¦j¨¤ vu site. Realizing she might as well make an account to appease Nell, she quickly did so. Just as she got to the gender option, she paused. She nearly clicked ¡®male¡¯ due to habit. That¡¯s right; she should start getting used to filling in her gender and new name now.

    With a sad smile, she clicked female and filled in her code C5731A and her name Alex. Secretly, she wanted to curse the old man, but she can¡¯t be picky when he saved her life after all. It isn¡¯t polite to spit at the dead. She continued to browse D¨¦j¨¤ vu, adding the three other who was on the ship with her to her friend list.

    ¡°Friends¡­,¡± She whispered.

 Chapter 4B: False Utopia

    <u>Chapter 4B: False Utopia</u>

    Terminal 71, Dock G19, a group of tired teens walked out of a supply shuttle. Twenty hours in confined spaces took a toll on them. Even though the shuttle was equipped with a full bathroom, a dining area, and a large enough area to do some stretches, the trip still felt difficult. People in the past may have compared it to traveling via train. The journey from Beijing to Guilin was around twenty hours as well. People who have taken the trip would tell you the horror stories of boredom and confinement.

    But they were finally here. Their shuttle detached from the tether and landed in Dock G19 in Terminal 71. Several robots began taking the cargo out.

    The teens who have just stepped out stared in a kind of stunned paralysis. They stood there looking at the large dock. A person soon walked up to greet them.

    ¡°Hello, you must be this month¡¯s batch from Seed Ship Beta,¡± The man in glasses smiled. Clutched in his hands was a holographic clipboard which displayed their information.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s go to the new arrival department.¡±

    The teens followed behind the man. They weaved back and forth between the bustling robots and walked towards the large gate leading deeper into Gaia. As soon as they step through the terminal entrance, they saw one of the main lobbies. It looked like a giant city center. Several tall high-rises that touched the ceiling created a sort of labyrinth feeling. Numerous electronic posters and holographic advertisement glowed in neon giving the entire city a sense of sleeplessness. Endless amounts of people dressed in colored garbs were walking, talking, and socializing. Countless floating vehicles hovered across the ceiling carrying passengers to various locations.

    The street was onyx black with bluish lines running through them like veins. Several fake looking trees lined the side. They glowed neon as well and matched well with the whole theme of the city. A wondrous sight that allowed the city to look like it was in a constant state of twilight.

    ¡°Welcome kids, to Gaia, this is the city of Lumistein,¡± The man beckoned them to follow close, ¡°Don¡¯t get lost now. Follow along; we will arrive at the new arrivals office soon.¡±

    The entire street was a pedestrian walkway since all the vehicles floated above on the ceiling. Several Roombas were cleaning the streets regularly. The little things move at an incredible pace, so fast that no one has stepped on one yet. A single trash-collecting robot slowly rolled along a predetermined route. People who had trash to throw just tossed it into the opening on its head. A bright flash and the garbage would be gone, incinerated into dust.

    The teens and the man passed by many stores, from salons to bookstores, to electronic retail, and even bars. The only thing they can¡¯t seem to find are restaurants, but they pushed it to the back of their heads. They lived off nothing, but nutrient bars their entire life anyways. They only heard of restaurants in history class. Their sense of taste and smell deteriorated over the years, but their eyesight and hearing have heightened.

    After passing several avenues, they arrive at a seemingly unnoticeable alleyway. They walked in to find a single round glass door. It wasn¡¯t decorated at all but inside, a bright white light shined outwards, casting several square shadows from the stickers posted on the door.

    ¡°Wait here.¡±

    The man walked to the door and flashed his ID card that he fished out of his breast pockets. A small ding echoed through the alley, and the glass door slid open.

    ¡°Come in,¡± The man said with a hypnotic tone.

    The teens mindlessly walked in to find a reception area. A neon green tree stood in the middle of the circular room. On the left-hand side was a desk with a brilliantly smiling girl behind it. She wore a business casual attire and a blue hat with the logo of Gaia on it.

    ¡°Hey Gerald, your back already?¡± The bright receptionist wearing all pink laughed.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Only had one group to pick up today.¡±

    ¡°Easy day huh?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get them through orientation.¡±

    ¡°Ok, give me their names and codes.¡±

    The teens walked up one by one and spoke with the receptionist. Their code and names were recorded into the database.

    ¡°Ok, you guys are all registered now. You will go through a week-long orientation before we assign you to a more ¡®permanent¡¯ location,¡± The receptionist smiled.

    ¡°What is this orientation?¡± Kurt asked.

    ¡°We introduce you to Gaia and all its available services. You will meet with your supervisor who will help you until you reach adulthood. Think of it as a continued apprenticeship from your life during the seed ship.¡±

    The teens frowned. They remember all the menial tasks they had to perform for those crazed old men and women for their experiments.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum; our supervisors are all professionals! You will find that they all are very skilled in the path you will choose to set on,¡± The man with glasses said calmly.

    ¡°Paths?¡± Nell asked.

    ¡°You all were brought here based on certain criteria. They will all fall into certain paths. Whether its engineering, military or human resource, you all have some experience in it already.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Ruri said shyly.

    Alex pondered about her supervisor. She felt disappointed that the old man couldn¡¯t be here with her. Perhaps he would have been her supervisor. They could continue their mutual tinkering from the seed ship. But alas, he is gone.

    Now that she arrived, she felt a sense of loss. What was her purpose now? What did the old man wanted her to do in Gaia?

    The confusion hit her hard. She stood there silent as the other three bombarded the receptionist and the man with questions about Gaia and what they were to do.

    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s stop dillydallying around in the receptionist area, follow me to your temporary residences,¡± The man clapped his hands and said.

    The teens followed him to an elevator that led upstairs. When they exited, they saw a long corridor with many doors.

    ¡°Each of these doors leads to a single person residence. It contains a bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Sustenance will be provided as usual by Mother. Now unpack, we will meet downstairs in the main meeting room in an hour. Just follow the signs on the wall,¡± The man said as he hands each kid a key with a door number embedded in it. Then quickly walked away as if they were no longer his responsibility.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± Nell said as she skipped along. Kurt carried all their luggage since he said he needed the weights training. First up was Ruri¡¯s room. He unlocked the door they walked into the apartment.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s perfect!¡± He exclaimed.

    The living room area had a large low standing white table with several seating cushions around it. A black sofa laid against the wall with a TV on the opposite wall. The entire wall facing the door was a window peering out towards the neon city. They could see all the people moving like small dolls. Afterwards, they entered the bedroom and found a single queen sized bed with two end tables on each side. Large curtains blocked the window currently, but it could be opened to see the same view as the living room.

    Kurt put down Ruri¡¯s suitcase in the closet. They went to check the bathroom. It was the only thing that didn¡¯t surprise them. It looked like what you expected a fancy bathroom would look like; only everything was black. The sink counter was black marble, the walls were black tiles, and the floor was black as well. A single light beamed from above. The shower head looked like a dragon.

    After Nell hugged Ruri, they went to the other rooms. Poor Ruri was stunned and blushing. He stood in his temporary adobe for a good fifteen minutes before finally moving again.

    Nell¡¯s room was next and looked the same, only thing different was the colors. The table color and bed color changed to crimson. The bathroom was a light banana yellow. Nell gave both Alex and Kurt a hug as they left for their room.

    Kurt¡¯s room was next, thankfully, Alex didn¡¯t have any luggage like they did.

    ¡°See ya later,¡± Kurt smiled as he walked into his room.

    Alex smiled back and walked away. Lastly, it was her room.

    She turned the key and stepped inside. It looked similar to all the others, but again, the colors were different. After pulling open the curtains in the bedroom, she jumped into her bed and took a deep breath. The warmth comforted her confused mind.

    Looking outside at the magnificent neon city, she was lost in the view. She gripped her necklace USB and sighed.

    ¡°Carpe Diem,¡± She sighed. Might as well think only of the present for now. Nothing to worry about in the future yet.

    Suddenly something caught her interest in the corner of her eye. Two people with strange haircuts walked into an alley hidden from sight. They were carrying two large boxes and looked terribly shady. Soon, the two walked out of the alley and were no longer carrying the boxes. A vehicle quickly rose from the aisle and sped away. It looked different from all the other cars, clad in silver and emitted a reflective glare. Compare to all the other dull white ones, it was a sight to behold.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably someone important,¡± She thought, ¡°But the logo on those boxes¡­¡±

    The logo was the same shape as her USB.

    ¡°Old man, just what ties do you have in Gaia,¡± Suddenly her interests perked up. It looks like it¡¯s going to be an eventful time.

 Chapter 4C: False Utopia

    <u>Chapter 4C: False Utopia</u>

    She wanted to follow the vehicle, but there was no time. Not only that, they took off faster than she could keep track. By the time she left the building and got in a vehicle, it would have been long gone.

    After a decent bath, Alex lazed around on the bed, enjoying the comforts after a long journey of sitting in the shuttle. Her pale skin had become a faint pink after the scalding hot shower. Sleep seems to near as she closed her eyes, but after a few minutes, a knock on her door woke her up before she fell deeper into sleep. Around an hour passed and it was time to meet up in front of the elevator.

    ¡°Hey, looking fresh!¡± Nell gave a sarcastic thumbs up.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex replied with sarcasm after she realized who knocked on her door.

    ¡°So where is this main meeting room?¡± Ruri asked.

    ¡°The man named Gerald said its downstairs, we just have to follow the signs,¡± Kurt replied.

    Thankfully, the signs were detailed enough for the group to find the main meeting room. Once they stepped in, they were amazed by the facility¡¯s beauty. At the center of the room was a giant floating hologram of the entire Gaia mothership. It was a very detailed model. Gerald was already there standing behind the podium, staring at the model.

    ¡°Welcome kids, to the main meeting room. Let¡¯s get started shall we?¡± He said with an almost sinister tone.

    He waved his hand, and the hologram of the mothership split into eight different sections like a sliced fruit.

    ¡°There are eight major cities in Gaia. Currently, we are in Lumistein,¡± He used a laser pointer to pinpoint one of the eight sections. It was glowing a neon pink and had a very soothing aesthetic.

    ¡°The other cities¡­well, we will get to those later. Let¡¯s just focus on our humble little city first.¡±

    The other seven sections vanished as the section containing Lumistein grew in size.

    ¡°We are currently in the Abyssal district, population fifteen thousand,¡± Gerald pointed his laser as the western corner of the slice. ¡°It is closest to the shuttle ports thus enjoy plenty of new people coming in from the seed ships.¡±

    ¡°How big is the city of Lumistein?¡± Kurt asked after immediately raising his hand.

    ¡°Not very big, around six square kilometers,¡± Gerald replied, ¡°Walking around the whole city would take around five hours give or take.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already bigger than the seed ship and its only one city¡­¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t compare the small ships to the mothership.¡±

    ¡°Indeed we can¡¯t¡­¡±

    The kids chatted around as Gerald explained the various facilities and infrastructures in Lumistein.

    ¡°Now that you have a basic idea of the area, let¡¯s talk credits,¡± Gerald clapped his hands to get their attention, ¡°You all have been technically living for free for all your life. Since you are all of the age, it¡¯s time to earn your keep. You need credits.¡±

    Gerald handed each a card. Alex looked at the silver card in her hand. On it was her code already inscribed.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°On the card current is one hundred credits, you can use it to purchase any living needs for the next week until you start earning credits,¡± Gerald explained, ¡°Also, don¡¯t worry about losing it. The cards are DNA bound and will only work in the hands of the original owner unless given permission.¡±

    Ruri raised his hands and awaited being called. Unlike Kurt¡¯s bluntness, he was more cautious and respectful.

    ¡°Ruri, you have a question?¡± Gerald smiled.

    ¡°How will we earn credit?¡±

    ¡°By working. You will work with your mentor for a fixed credit rate. You can also do part-time jobs here and there on the side if you require more.¡±

    ¡°So the job we get will be based on the criteria we fulfilled to get to Gaia?¡± Nell asked.

    ¡°Yes, your job will be your specialty. After all, we must take advantage of what each individual is good at.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Nell was lost in thought. She developed a social media network so her job may be a little abstract. After all, she left the system behind on the seed ships. The tethers connecting Gaia to the seven ships are too long for data to efficiently transfer at high speeds, so each seed ship is a closed network. Gaia itself has its own internet. Other than gathering data, Gaia doesn¡¯t provide many services to the seed ships.

    ¡°Now let me tell you the easiest side job you can take,¡± Gerald waved his finger as the hologram transformed into a pamphlet, ¡°You can lend your body to the Mother AI.¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡± The kids all gasped.

    ¡°Your consciousness will be transferred elsewhere, and the AI will use your mind for extra computing power. You technically will become a computer for the AI. After you return, you may feel a little mental fatigue, but I assure you, it¡¯s one hundred percent safe,¡± Gerald said with the best salesman tone he could muster.

    ¡°How much credit will we earn?¡± After hearing that it¡¯s safe, Alex asked boldly.

    ¡°The same amount as what you will get working with your mentor.¡±

    ¡°T-that¡¯s a lot of credit.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, Mother is a generous AI,¡± Gerald laughed as he looked around at the kid¡¯s frowning faces, ¡°What did you expect? This isn¡¯t the socialist utopia you are looking for. Nothing comes for free.¡±

    ¡°We know, we know¡­¡± Nell sighed.

    ¡°At least we now have a bit more responsibility in our hands,¡± Kurt said as he tried to cheer everyone up.

    ¡°Credits huh?¡± Alex pondered about the side job and asked another question, ¡°Where would our consciousness be transferred?¡±

    ¡°I thought you would never ask,¡± Gerald said with excitement in his voice as he opened up a second holographic pamphlet, ¡°This, is the ARK system.¡±

    The pamphlet opened up and revealed three separate planets.

    ¡°The first is Agraria. Each person will receive a micro-dimension locked within the virtual planet Agraria. It will be your virtual home and hearth. Receive it well and make it your own.¡±

    The luscious green planet rotated in virtual space on the pamphlet. Several images of people farming under the sun and cultivating crops on hillsides flashed back and forth.

    ¡°The second world is Rubion. A world of fantasy and adventure. A place of danger where you will never be bored.¡±

    A brilliant red planet replaced the green globe on the screen. It showed many armored men and women fighting strange abominations with armed weaponry and flashy magic. It looked surreal.

    Kurt¡¯s eyes glared at the combat scenes. His excitement peaked.

    ¡°The last world is Knowledge. It is a second world to all, a place where one can mingle and socialize. A place where they can just enjoy the extravagance of life with no repercussions,¡± Gerald said with yearning in his voice. One can tell just how much he wanted to go back.

    A deep blue planet replaced the red one. It was covered in bright lights showing signs of civilization. Several pictures flashed by revealing the city life on the planet. It was similar to that of eighteenth century Europe. One word that describes it was perhaps ¡®Steampunk.''

    The hologram closed down as Gerald explained one last thing.

    ¡°The ARK system is to many a second life. Don¡¯t take it as just a game; it is training. Mother created the ARK system to allow humans to gain firsthand experience in farming, combat, and rebuilding society. It is the ultimate simulation,¡± Gerald said with a stern tone.

    ¡°You can earn credit as well as train; I don¡¯t see a single downside to this,¡± Ruri said with excitement as well.

    ¡°Indeed it would seem there are no downsides,¡± Nell added, ¡°But as Mr. Gerald said, nothing is for free.¡±

    ¡°Quite right you are, Nell. It is a training simulation, so if you don¡¯t show progress, you will be expelled, thus stripping you of the job opportunity,¡± Gerald replied.

    ¡°I see, so we can¡¯t just remain stagnant in the virtual world¡­¡± Alex sighed, but she too was very excited.

    ¡°Old man, is this what you wanted me to see?¡± She wondered as she once again clutched her necklace, ¡°A second world full of opportunity. Did you know about this?¡±

    ¡°Now then, I release you for the evening, go shopping with the credit. Enjoy freedom while you can before the burdens of life stacks upon your shoulders,¡± Gerald said as he walked away, leaving the kids on their own to daydream.

 Chapter 5A: Credits

    <u>Chapter 5A: Credits</u>

    ¡®Money is the root of all evil.'' A line that has been repeated multiple times by people who are in denial about the fact that money controlled their entire lives. Ironic, but sadly that is the way humans have evolved. Even after countless years that point remained true.

    Credit was the one thing many adults work endlessly to hoard, slaving away countless waking hours in order to earn a single credit more. But was it worth it? Living life itself depends on it. When your very livelihood depends on it, you will work, regardless of how mundane it becomes.

    Given a hundred credits to shop, the teens were let loose on the evening city roads of Lumistein.

    ¡°Let¡¯s split up into pairs,¡± Nell suddenly said as she grabbed Alex¡¯s arms, ¡°We girls will go shop for our stuff, while you boys do your thing.¡±

    Kurt shrugged his shoulders in agreement and dragged Ruri away. Nothing creates existential dread in men like waiting for women to finish shopping.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s get you some clothes! You wear nothing but the same ugly thing every day, it¡¯s seriously getting on my nerves!¡± Nell whined as she clamped around Alex¡¯s arms harder.

    They exited the alley and arrived at a large circle with a fountain in the middle. Instead of using water, the fountain was spewing holographic light in various shades of colors. It was a brilliant sight which complimented the black onyx circle with neon buildings around it. The streets were now full of pedestrians as they move about their evening. Besides the large fountain was a shop directory for the area. Since the city was large, directories were placed everywhere as new arrivals get lost far too often here.

    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a good place over there!¡± Nell dragged Alex along towards one of the shops.

    They entered the automatic door and was greeted by rows and rows of clothes on display, although many were just holograms. In the back was a large fitting room where one can try the clothes via augmented reality before purchase. Nell chatted with the employee behind the counter and pulled Alex towards one of the dressing rooms.

    Around an hour of being manhandled by Nell and the shop employee, Alex walked out of the store with four heavy bags of clothes. A faint pink mist seemed to hover around her as she walked in a daze with Nell still jumping up and down while hugging her arm. With a sigh, Alex couldn¡¯t help but think Nell sure does enjoy skinship.

    ¡°It looks like it¡¯s getting late,¡± Nell said as she looked up at the holographic moon clock on the ceiling.

    They browsed around and found a unique shop called a restaurant.

    Having been raised on nothing but nutrition bars and water, the concept of good taste was lost to the new generation. As they try to walk through the door, they were blocked by an android.

    ¡°Sorry Miss, you have not registered with the ARK system yet. Sadly, we only serve ARK customers,¡± The android said apologetically.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Nell replied full of curiosity, ¡°What is this place anyway?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see young Misses here is new to Gaia. It is a restaurant; we provide a culinary journey through the wonders of the earth through the ARK system.¡±

    ¡°Culinary?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Food, Alex, Its food!¡± Nell screamed, ¡°Oh boy, I can¡¯t wait! Even if it¡¯s only virtual, the amazing feeling of taste awaits us!¡±

    ¡°Food¡­,¡± Alex pondered. With limited resource, there was no practical way to produce the vast diet humans use to consume. Thus with efficiency in mind, the ships provide nutrient bars and water, enough for human sustenance.

    The android shrugged its shoulders as the two girls walked away reluctantly.

    ¡°Looks like this ARK system is very important,¡± Nell said.

    ¡°So it¡¯s more than just a way to earn credits?¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Well, Mr. Gerald said it¡¯s also a training program.¡±

    ¡°So Agraria, Rubion, and Knowledge¡­We will have to work as hard as we can,¡± Alex said without much enthusiasm. It wasn¡¯t that interesting to her compared to finding out what ties the old man had here on Gaia. Perhaps if she found a clue leading to the ARK system, she would have more motivation.

    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t wait!¡± Nell was already hooked on the promise of food.

    The two continued shopping and browsing for another two hours before they headed back to the alley. They met up with a bright-eyed Kurt and a passed out Ruri in the lobby. Kurt nodded at Nell who was also shaking with anticipation.

    ¡°We have to start the ARK program as soon as possible,¡± They said in unison.

    Ruri was startled awake by the sudden shouting but went back to sleep immediately. It seems Kurt tired him out by dragging him all over the place.

    The receptionist behind the counter in the lobby smiled.

    ¡°Now kids, it¡¯s good to be eager and all, but you can¡¯t start the ARK program until you have met with your mentors and have a working schedule,¡± She said as she waved her index finger.

    Kurt and Nell slumped down in defeat.

    ¡°But don¡¯t worry, you will meet your mentors soon enough,¡± The receptionist panicked as she tries to cheer them up.

    The teens cheered up and decided to go upstairs to continue their conversation before the receptionist spoil their mood again.

    ¡°How much did you guys spend?¡± Kurt asked curiously as he stared at the countless number of bags Alex and Nell were clutching.

    ¡°Around sixty credits,¡± Nell replied nonchalantly.

    ¡°S-sixty?!¡± Kurt was shocked. The amount both he and Ruri spent combined don''t even add up to twenty, and they already considered themselves to have splurged for the night.

    ¡°Alex doesn¡¯t have any clothes other than the basic jumpsuit; it¡¯s so ugly!¡± Nell frowned.

    ¡°I¡­,¡± Alex doesn¡¯t know how to reply. When she woke up in her new body, all she wore was the medical ward gown. All her old clothes no longer fit her, so she recycled them. She never really cared about fashion anyway. Too much of a hassle.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, I saw something interesting,¡± Kurt suddenly remembered, ¡°I saw a strange shop with the same symbol as your necklace.¡±

    ¡°Mine?¡± Alex replied.

    ¡°Yeah, it looked kind of shady though. When we try to enter, the guard at the door said we had to pay an entrance fee.¡±

    ¡°How much was it? Where is it?¡± Alex asked immediately.

    ¡°Woah calm down. The entrance fee was crazy expensive. A thousand credits for god sakes,¡± Kurt said helplessly as he rubbed his hair.

    ¡°A t-thousands?¡± Alex stuttered.

    ¡°Yeah, a thousand. I thought the guard was kidding, but when other people entered, they handed over a thousand credits.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­what do the other people look like?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Bunch of weird looking fellows with huge hats. They all wore strange eye accessories as well,¡± Kurt replied.

    ¡°Were they carrying boxes with the gear logo on it?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, I think so. I didn¡¯t get a full look at them as we left immediately after hearing the insane price,¡± Kurt shrugged.

    ¡°A thousand credits¡­,¡± Alex sighed helplessly. Looks like she has a reason to earn money now.

    It was late, so the teens went back to their rooms. Ruri was passed out, so Kurt carried him on his shoulders. He threw the petit boy onto his bed and left for his own place.

    After a quick shower and trying on some of her new clothes, Alex sat down at her desk and accessed the Gaia network. She searched around for the gear symbol and found only a single name.

    ¡°The Tinker¡¯s Society¡­¡±

    There was very little information about it, which was strange considering how easy info spreads nowadays.

    ¡°Old man, just who are you¡­,¡± Alex started to wonder just who the genius old man really was. She could only pray that he wasn¡¯t a part of a strange cult.

    ______

    Meanwhile, back on the seed ship, a disembodied head placed upon a pedestal was deeply frowning while an android was on the floor laughing hard.

    ¡°¡­Seriously?¡± The head sighed, ¡°You couldn¡¯t have gotten be a complete body?¡±

    ¡°Now, now, Gadget. We don¡¯t want you running over to Gaia to see your prot¨¦g¨¦ so soon,¡± The android said while wiping a fake tear from her eye, ¡°But at least we can hold a proper conversation now.¡±

    The head sighed.

    ¡°How¡¯s teacher?¡±

    ¡°Old and still in the icebox.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s still a workaholic I see.¡±

    ¡°You would have thought after several decades of endless tinkering, one would eventually get tired of it,¡± The android shrugged.

    ¡°The world is just too big of a mystery for one lifetime,¡± Gadget replied.

    ¡°You know, he¡¯s technically immortal now.¡±

    ¡°A small price to pay for knowledge. Speaking of which, is his mansion still standing in Knowledge?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t remind me. That huge place is soooo understaffed. Us few half dozen AI under him have to maintain that huge mansion all by ourselves. It¡¯s a miracle we manage to take a break and leave,¡± The android cried.

    ¡°You can just clean his lab and only his lab.¡±

    ¡°But the rest of the old nut jobs won¡¯t leave it alone if his place deteriorates,¡± The android pouted.

    ¡°That is the way of politics. One can never truly pursue science without the minutia of politics getting in the way,¡± Gadget sighed, ¡°That¡¯s I left for the seed ship. No one really big to bother me here.¡±

    ¡°Yet you still ended up dead,¡± The android teased.

    ¡°¡­Minor details. Anyways, when will I be given a mobile body?¡±

    ¡°After master gives the OK.¡±

    ¡°¡­That could take years. Once he gets absorbed in his work, he might not do anything else for a long, long time.¡±

    ¡°Well too bad!¡± The android stuck her tongue out.

    The head sighed and looked out the window at the giant egg in the distance. It slowly morphed back into a cube as the tethers realign themselves.

    ¡°Good luck kid,¡± He whispered to himself.

 Chapter 5B: Credits

    <u>Chapter 5B: Credits</u>

    When one looked through the history of humanity, one must ask, what does man strive for? Is it power, family, or even acceptance? The irony of it all, regardless of what man strived for, money was at the root of it all.

    Alex woke up feeling almost well rested. With both arms stretched, she yawned. The curtains opened up to reveal a slightly brighter neon city. The sky was a shade of purple that was reminiscent of twilight. Scratching an itch on her face, Alex walked into the bathroom absentmindedly. Her hand reached for a comb, and she started to brush her hair. After living as a bald teen for such a long time, Alex missed the soft feeling of hair. Her body¡¯s muscle memory remained intact from the former owner and was skillfully brushing out the knots that had accumulated the night before.

    After washing her face with the fresh cold water that poured endlessly from the tap, she brushed her teeth while staring at her reflection. Fifteen years in the same body, but she got used to her new one in only a few months. Human adaptation sure is terrifying.

    Her reflection stared back at her with a dull gaze. Her jet black hair was short, only barely touching her shoulder. Due to the lack of exposure during her coma, her skin was quite pale. If one looked carefully at her face, one can she had Caucasian ancestry. Due to the countless years of mixing and mingling, ethnicity was all but bred out. At best, one could find a tiny trace of their main origins.

    After her morning routines, Alex got dressed in her new outfit, a skin-tight dark yellow top with black pants. The dark yellow out really stood out in the backdrop of neon that covered the town.

    She ate the nutrition bar and drank several cups of water before walking towards the elevator.

    ¡°Morning,¡± Nell said while rubbing her eyes.

    ¡°Good morning Nell,¡± Alex replied with a smile. ¡°Today¡¯s the day huh?¡±

    ¡°Yea, we meet our teachers today,¡± Nell was awoken by the sudden realization.

    They met Kurt and Ruri standing by the elevator.

    ¡°Ready guys?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The elevator descended past the lobby into the underground. It stopped when they reached B4. Stepping out of the elevator, they entered a large open area that resembled a military bunker. The walls and floor were made of grey concrete and had various lines and symbols scattered across the place.

    They met with Gerald who was standing in front of a group of other teens.

    ¡°W-who are they?¡± Ruri whispered.

    ¡°Maybe the other newcomers. Out of seven seed ships, it can¡¯t be just us four.¡±

    Alex and her friends joined the others in standing around Gerald.

    ¡°Good, everyone is here now,¡± Gerald said with a smile as he stared upwards at the ceiling.

    A platform started descending with four unique individuals stood atop it.

    The first was a giant hulk of a man. His muscles looked like they had muscles. Even his eyebrows looked like flexing biceps. He had a permanent smirk plastered on his face. Who knows whether it¡¯s because he¡¯s always smug or his face muscles are too strong for him to move. His turquoise hair looked like moss growing out of his nugget shaped head. His eyes burned with the passion of man.

    The second person was an android. His body was humanoid but with four arms protruding from his back and two arms crossed in front of him. His face was brick red and had a scowl complimenting his angry stare. His bald head was covered in an intricate design that looked similar to hieroglyphics and was glowing with a faint golden hue.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The third was a stern looking woman with glasses. Her face did not leave the holographic screen in front of her as her other hand typed faster than humanly imaginable. Her dark blue hair was long and flowing. Her attitude towards everything around her seemed disinterested.

    The last person was another woman with glasses. She looked around nervously like a scared kitten. Her hair was a weak coffee brown, and her large eyes gave one the feeling of submission. Out of the other three, she looked like she didn¡¯t belong at all.

    ¡°These respectable professors will be your new mentors,¡± Gerald introduced them. ¡°The first is this muscle head known as Hill.¡±

    ¡°As bitter as always huh?¡± The muscle man laughed with a booming voice.

    ¡°You still owe me credits from our last employee outing,¡± Gerald scoffed.

    The man quickly quieted down.

    ¡°The next is Dr. Ptah, respected creator of many useful things.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t belittle my inventions Gerald,¡± Ptah frowned, which seemed impossible considering his face was already a frown, to begin with. The bandages that were wrapped around his shoulders loosened up and pointed toward Gerald.

    ¡°Now, now, Dr., don¡¯t scare the recruits,¡± The stern woman said after finally looking up. A strange, alluring smile crept across her face. Although it looked very forced, quite a few of the kids couldn¡¯t help but gulp.

    ¡°Thanks for the support, Ms. Mint,¡± Gerald bowed, ¡°How¡¯s the security department going?¡±

    ¡°Good enough for now, although the tinkers are starting to get restless.¡±

    ¡°Those eager fools can never sit still,¡± Gerald sighed as he turned to introduce the last mentor. ¡°Lastly, we have a newly promoted professor, Mrs. Katz.¡±

    The shy girl jumped at the mention of her name and quickly bowed. Her actions made the other three professors frown.

    ¡°Hey now, don¡¯t act so skittish. We, professors, have a name to uphold,¡± Hill said with a short laugh.

    ¡°Humph,¡± Dr. Ptah just looked away.

    ¡°Kitty, can you not right now?¡± Mint said with Katz with pity in her eyes.

    ¡°Y-yes¡­,¡± She replied with a depressed sigh.

    Now that the students have been introduced to the four, Gerald started to split them up into their appropriate groups.

    ¡°Nell, go stand behind Mr. Hill,¡± He finally turned toward Alex¡¯s group.

    ¡°Yes?¡± She was confused but still followed his command.

    ¡°Kurt, go stand behind Ms. Mint.¡±

    Kurt saluted and awkwardly walked behind the stern woman. His actions looked almost robotic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I don¡¯t bite,¡± Ms. Mint said with a laugh.

    Kurt started to sweat bullets. All of his combat training couldn¡¯t ready him for the bloodthirst Ms. Mint was currently emitting as she gazed down at him.

    ¡°Ruri, go stand behind Mrs. Katz,¡± Gerald continued.

    ¡°Y-yes!¡±

    The shy boy and the shy woman seemed to fit perfectly as if they were related.

    ¡°N-nice to meet you!¡±

    ¡°P-please take care of me!¡±

    The two both bowed and knocked their heads in the process. Ms. Mint just facepalmed while Hill laughed. Ptah just stood silently with his eyes closed.

    ¡°Alex, go stand behind Dr. Ptah.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Alex said as she shuffled her way through the other teens.

    Soon the entire group of kids was split among the four professors.

    ¡°The meeting will end in two hours, get to know each other well,¡± Gerald said with a smirk as he walked away.

    Alex silently followed Dr. Ptah and several other kids as they walked to one corner of the large basement.

    Dr. Ptah suddenly stopped.

    ¡°I will keep this short. We are creators, we invent and make things. If you fear change, leave now.¡±

    None of the teens budged.

    ¡°Good, my requirement isn¡¯t hard. Just create something new every three months.¡±

    The teens suddenly paled. To come up with something new every three months was quite tricky already. To actually go from planning to blueprints to physical creation can take some years.

    ¡°If you can¡¯t take it, then leave.¡±

    Alex looked at the android with interest. She had the countless wealth of knowledge the old man provided her, so the task wasn¡¯t that hard for her.

    ¡°Since the organization asked me to perform a small taste of my skills to motivate students, I will have to oblige.¡±

    Suddenly, his arms on his back sprung to life. Out of his folded arms, he took out a small box.

    ¡°This is a Virtual apartment.¡±

    The student quickly realized what they had to do as they scrambled to put on their augmented reality visors.

    Alex slid her own and was amazed at what Dr. Ptah was holding. The walls of the box became transparent, and an entire apartment complex appeared. Inside was several miniature people enjoying their everyday lives. One can tell from the technologies present in the apartment that the setting was the past.

    ¡°We sell this as a luxury item to those who want to sample what life was like back on Earth.¡±

    ¡°A-amazing,¡± One of the students gasped.

    Dr. Ptah closed his hands, and the view vanished.

    ¡°Now for our first three months, your job is to make something that can sell. Your pay will depend on what you make. Good luck future creators,¡± Ptah finally flashed a grin on his face. It looked completely sadistic.

    Alex was now very eager. If she made something that could sell well, she would be able to earn enough credits.

    ¡°This will be interesting,¡± Dr. Ptah thought to himself as he saw four eager candidates out of the dozen panicking teens. He knew that every crop had its cream. Out of several failures, a real genius could appear.

 Chapter 5C: Credits

    <u>Chapter 5C: Credits</u>

    Why do humans always strive to explore the unknown? Is it because once something is known, it is no longer something to be afraid of? Which brings us to this point, is knowledge indeed power?

    Questions that are asked yet remained vague unanswered.

    ¡°I¡¯m far too busy to hold your hand through it all, so if you want to join the ARK program, read this book,¡± Dr. Ptah said as he hands out a small book to everyone.

    The cover reads ¡®The Cipolla Survival Guide.¡¯

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Someone asked. But before they got an answer, Dr. Ptah already left. His six arms were busy typing up something on his holographic, no longer paying any attention to the teens.

    ¡°This¡­,¡± The teens were half shocked at such negligence.

    Alex flipped open the book and read the abstract.

    ¡°My story is a short one. I wish I had the time to tell it, but as oxygen levels drop inside this metal undersea deathtrap, I fear my time is coming to an end. Know that this book is written by the great explorer/survivalist Lou Cipolla. I shall pass on as much of my knowledge as I can before my timely demise.¡±

    Alex closed the book. Although unusual, it currently wasn¡¯t the best place to get lost in a good read.

    The other teens looked uninterested at the book, then started to converse with each other. No one approached Alex as she was immediately an outcast. Noticing the situation, Alex walked away from the group toward her friends.

    It would seem the other three groups were still engaged in an extensive Q&A session with their professors.

    Realizing there was nothing else she could do, she walked back to the elevator and went up to her room.

    Sitting on the comfortable couch, she opened up the book again and began to read.

    ¡°Chapter 1: The Basic Humans Needs.¡±

    ¡°Humans need several basic things to survive. Food, Water, Oxygen, and shelter from the environments. These few things are the most important when concerning survival. Ironic that I am currently going to die from oxygen deprivation, but irony aside, remember those things.¡±

    Alex smiled at the witty writing of a man in peril. At least the author kept his sense of humor even in death¡¯s embrace.

    ¡°A person can survive a month without food, a day without water, and ten minutes without oxygen. Those are just averages; some may survive longer, some fewer. But overall, people have limitations. Don¡¯t trust those crazed Buddhist monks who make people think they can survive off dew and air alone. Those insane bastards are pretty much half walking mummies full of nothing but soy and tofu.¡±

    Alex stopped for a moment. Food was something she associated with nutrient bars. She hasn''t really had anything else other than that her entire life. All of the people on the ships lived off of them. This book surely must be ancient if it speaks of foodstuffs.

    ¡°The money in your pocket isn¡¯t edible. Use it for fuel if it¡¯s ignitable. Finding edible food may be difficult, ignore it for now if there are no nearby visible food source. The first thing you must do is find water. Listen around for the sound of running water. If you can find running water, you are good to go.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Alex now realized, although the book has chapters, the information was not organized. It really did seem like the man was trying to cram everything he knew before his end.

    ¡°Always find flowing water. Stagnant water has a higher chance of housing harmful pathogens. You do not want to have irritable bowels in a survival situation. If you can get a container and a fire pit going, boil the water. First, find a smooth rock, heat it up in the fire, and then drop it into the container of water. This is a fast way of boiling the water to kill off germs.¡±

    Alex kept on reading for a very long time. By the time she finally put down the small book, the sky was pitch black, and the city was glowing bright neon. Her stomach protested at the lack of sustenance. She looked over and saw the AI already placed a nutrient bar and a glass of water on the end table on the side of the couch. She nibbled at the bar as she read the final lines of the book.

    ¡°Air close to zero. This will be my final words before my mind become too blurry to continue writing. If anyone were to find my notes, please, help me publish them. Let humanity continue to survive in the cruel unknown. Good luck and Godspeed, fellow humankind.¡±

    The book ends with a summary of what happened next.

    The great explorer died on that submarine. After a week of search, the rescue crew found the sunken vessel and retrieved his corpse, still clutched to his notebook. The notebook was placed carefully in a sealed bag with his will. The book was published a month later to very little acclaim. Soon the book was forgotten and joined the countless others in the library of humanity. Only once humans started to explore the unknown was it needed again.

    Alex took a deep breath after absorbing all that knowledge. Thankfully, her memory was pretty good. She would be able to memorize many vital points after a few more reads.

    A knock at the door woke her up from her daze. It was Nell and the others.

    ¡°Hey Alex! How did your meeting go?¡± She asked excitedly.

    ¡°The professor was very¡­interesting,¡± Alex sighed. ¡°He told us our task, gave us a book then just left.¡±

    The other three was shocked. It seemed this kind of negligence wasn¡¯t typical.

    ¡°My professor was interesting too!¡± Nell said. ¡°The guy was HUGE! Like a moving mountain of muscle! But ironically, he specialized in Human Resources.¡±

    ¡°HR? That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°I know right? You would have thought the guy was in the military, but he only looks like he can rip security droids up with his bare hands. In person, he is a very outgoing social butterfly!¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t judge a book by its cover,¡± Kurt shivered.

    ¡°What about your professor?¡± Alex asked Kurt.

    ¡°She¡¯s¡­a monster,¡± Kurt turned pale at the thought. ¡°A complete cold, heartless monster. The torture of a boot camp she has set up for us military people looked like it was the seven levels of hell itself.¡±

    The other three patted Kurt¡¯s back in encouragement with pity in their eyes.

    ¡°What about yours?¡± Alex asked Ruri.

    ¡°W-we got along well,¡± Ruri said shyly.

    The others sighed. Ruri¡¯s professor was the newly recruited professor. She was just as shy as Ruri.

    ¡°She is a pro at logistics,¡± Ruri said with a glimmer in his eye. It would seem he looked up to her.

    ¡°Anyways, we should go out and enjoy the evening!¡± Nell suddenly wanted to drag everyone outside.

    ¡°But what about the ARK program registration?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t your professor tell you? It takes an entire week to go through that,¡± Kurt said.

    ¡°An entire week?¡± Alex questioned.

    ¡°Yea, it¡¯s supposed to be a test before we enter the test. Funny if you think about it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sort of like a pre-test¡­¡± Ruri sighed. ¡°My professor said it isn¡¯t a written test but a practical one. I¡¯m no good at practical tests¡­¡±

    ¡°Are we allowed to help?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°No, my professor said it¡¯s a solo test,¡± Nell answered. ¡°He didn¡¯t give much detail on the test, but he did say prepare to be tortured.¡±

    ¡°Oh did you hear? Once you pass the registration, you get access to the ARK program network. Where they show news, weather, and sports from the ARK worlds.¡±

    ¡°Yea, I heard they have some amazing entertainments. Something that seemed like fantasy!¡± Nell said then sighed, ¡°If it didn¡¯t take so long for the registration, we would have done it tonight.¡±

    Alex suddenly remembered about her purpose for wanting to join the ARK program.

    ¡°Credits,¡± She said.

    ¡°Yeah, credits¡­We are extremely poor huh?¡± Nell sighed as she remembered the prices they saw while shopping yesterday.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go; I heard there¡¯s a movie theatre down south a few blocks. We can enjoy the evening view as we walk.¡±

    The teens enjoyed their youth while they can. Because soon, hell shall descend upon their unsuspecting lives.

 Chapter 6A: Survive

    <u>Chapter 6A: Survive</u>

    Many teenagers going through their lives feel restricted. Whether it¡¯s through their parents or other authority figures, they are always bound by their social ranks. For our teens in this bright neon city, that restriction was real and blatant after a week of living there.

    Many things were unavailable to them as they have not finished their registration to the ARK program. It really showed just how integrated it was to everyday life on the ship.

    After an entire week of preparation, Alex and her friends were finally ready to register. Although her professor is negligent, her friend¡¯s had better luck in that department. They learned that the first part of registration is to stand before the Mother AI to get your assessment. This will give you a specific grade which you will bring along into the second part, a week-long survival exercise in their Agraria world. This test will vary significantly as each person¡¯s Agraria world is different. If you were lucky, you might just get a lush, comfortable forest. Unlucky, you may end up in the middle of a mesa or a desert. The students could only pray and hope.

    Thankfully, Dr. Ptah didn¡¯t leave Alex and her fellow students empty-handed. The book was detailed in the steps they must take to survive most terrain. Even the near impossible desert had methods of survival. Mr. Cipolla must have traveled far and wide before his untimely demise in a submarine.

    Due to the requirement of surviving at least a week inside the program, their bodies must be placed inside a life support system. The welcome center has several of them, but it¡¯s still a limited number of spots per week. Alex and her friends were second. Thus this week they had to wait.

    The morning of their registration, Alex woke up with a sort of numb feeling. Mr. Gerald explained that many who first arrive on Gaia might feel culture shock. Perhaps it will take a while before she can behave normally again. Her excitement, however, kept her mind from grinding to a halt. She glanced through the book and her notes one last time before meeting up with her friends by the elevator.

    ¡°You guys ready?¡± Kurt asked with determination in his eyes.

    ¡°As ready as ever,¡± Nell replied with a sigh, ¡°Physical exercise was never my strong point.¡±

    ¡°I-it will be OK! I heard that if we fail the second part, we can retake it after a month,¡± Ruri said.

    ¡°Yea, but they also say that our Agraria world may deteriorate with each attempt. If we already start with a desert, would we end up in a volcanic hellscape?¡± Alex replied.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to imagine that¡­,¡± Nell shuttered.

    They headed towards the DIVE chamber by following the signs. Once they arrived, they saw a friendly face. It was the receptionist from the front desk.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Nell said. Regardless of who they were, common courtesy was deeply ingrained into her by her new muscle mountain of a professor.

    Kurt followed with up a rigid salute. His eyes in a daze as it seemed he was traumatized to do so automatically.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Alex looked at the two in amusement. It seems their professors have started to shape their behaviors. Meanwhile, her professor is still a no-show. Other than answering a few questions through online messages, he hasn¡¯t really shown his face anywhere.

    ¡°Morning you guys!¡± The receptionist smiled. ¡°Today is your big day huh?¡±

    Alex suddenly had the urge to ask a question.

    ¡°Do you work in all the areas?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I am an advanced android, so I take care of all front-line administrative work here at the welcoming center,¡± She smiled.

    ¡°An android?¡± Alex was shocked. She really couldn¡¯t tell.

    ¡°Yes, my consciousness travels to multiple bodies throughout the building, so I can be anywhere I want anytime.¡±

    ¡°T-that¡¯s amazing,¡± Alex was flabbergasted. The quality of Gaia¡¯s androids was far superior to the ones on the seed ships.

    ¡°It gets tedious at times, but at least it¡¯s fun playing tennis with yourself,¡± The receptionist smiled.

    The teens were led into a dimly lit room with six pods lined up against the wall. Two of the pods had their lid closed and was humming with a dull drone.

    ¡°The four open pods are reserved for you four, go into the dressing room to the right and suit up!¡± The receptionist said.

    Nell pushed Alex into the dressing room while Kurt dragged Ruri to their side.

    Stepping into the dressing room, they were met with a large chamber. Instructions labeled on the side said to wear nothing before standing in the center of the chamber.

    Nell squirreled out of her clothes faster than humanly possible and stood in the middle. Alex couldn¡¯t take her eyes off her. Her naked body stood proudly as the chamber made a humming noise and the door closed. About a minute later, Nell walked out in a full pink bodysuit with several wires attached.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t so bad!¡± She exclaimed as she hurried Alex.

    Reluctantly, Alex took her clothes off as well and placed it in the locker to the side. She shivered as she felt a cold breeze blow gently on her naked body. But with determination, she also walked to the center of the chamber and waited.

    The door closed in front her eyes as the room got dark. She felt a cool liquid flow from the ceiling. It enveloped her body but left her head alone. Slowly, it began to take the form of a skin-tight bodysuit.

    ¡°Nanotechnology¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t help but gasp in her mind.

    The small machines inside the liquid formed the suit and wires that stuck out of it. It was a fantastic feeling as the liquid maneuvered all over her body.

    The door suddenly opened as the light shined in. Alex squinted as she walked out.

    ¡°Looking good!¡± Nell gave a thumbs up.

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    The two walked out to see Kurt and Ruri already waiting for them.

    Kurt looked confused while Ruri was blushing a deep shade of red.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Nell couldn¡¯t help but be curious.

    ¡°N-nothing!¡± Ruri quickly yelled.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Kurt just made noises.

    The receptionist clapped her hands to get everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Now lie down in the pods and wait for me to connect the wires,¡± She commanded.

    The teens nodded as they laid down in their pods. It felt like a very soft and encased bed.

    The receptionist hurried over. Alex was shocked as her hands became a multi-tool and screwed the wires to their connection on the pods.

    ¡°So she really is an android¡­¡± She thought with amusement.

    Alex turned her head to face Nell on her right, then Ruri on her left.

    Once the receptionist finished connecting all the wires, she left the room for the monitor room and told them just to lie still and await the dive.

    ¡°Good luck everyone!¡± Nell said.

    ¡°Yea, good luck!¡± Kurt replied.

    ¡°Y-you too!¡± Ruri stuttered.

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel warm inside. To finally have friends is a blessing.

    ¡°Good luck!¡± She joined as the pod lid closed.

    Darkness filled the small pod, and the only sound she could hear was her breathing and a faint dull drone. Suddenly, drowsiness hit her as she struggled to keep her eyes open. The pod started to fill with fluid as soon as she fell asleep.

    Alex felt a slight tug as her consciousness was dragged out of her body. She felt herself mind enter through an endless tunnel of moving light particles as she dove into the ARK program.

    With determination in her eyes, the registration began.

 Chapter 6B: Survive

    <u>Chapter 6B: Survive</u>

    Alex was falling headfirst into a bottomless abyss. At the corner of her eyes, she spotted several rings of light. It was as if she was sinking into the event horizon of a black hole. But there was nothing she could do. All she was right now was a consciousness with a view. She didn¡¯t have a body to move in.

    Suddenly a melodious voice rang in her mind.

    ¡°Child, what is it that you fear?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but reply.

    ¡°To die without knowing.¡±

    The scene changed. Instead of falling into a lightless hole, she was now sat upon a chair in a pure white room. In front of her was a beige wooden desk. Alex realized that she now has a body that can move, but only her sense of sight and a hearing was restored. She couldn¡¯t ¡®feel¡¯ the chair she sat upon.

    A woman appeared on the other side of the table. She sat in a regal manner on a silver throne. Her face showed tenderness like a mother looking at her child.

    ¡°Welcome, C5731A,¡± She said with a smile, ¡°I am Mother.¡±

    Alex wanted to reply but realized she couldn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret; you will be able to speak once I ask a question,¡± The woman said after realizing Alex¡¯s panic.

    The woman took a deep breath before opening a file that appeared on the table. Various images and videos played out revealing Alex¡¯s entire life on the seed ship. What was shocking, was the fact that two separate lives were being shown, one of her old body, one of her current one.

    So the sayings were true, Mother does indeed know all.

    ¡°I admire humanity. Ever since my creator left his final task to me, I have been observing and learning. Do you know what is the one trait that I find the most interest?¡± She looked up at Alex.

    Alex realized she could finally speak. So it seems she could only reply to questions.

    ¡°Is it human ingenuity? Humans have created many things, whether out of necessity or just curiosity. If I dare say, even you are a creation of humans,¡± Alex spoke boldly. Mother already knew her past, yet the fact that she remained alive proved it wasn¡¯t against the AI¡¯s preset code of ethics.

    The woman looked at Alex with surprise. Very few people would talk to her this way. It was a refreshing change.

    ¡°Close, but sadly no. Human ingenuity may be great, but it is overshadowed by one thing. Grit. Perseverance. The ability to continue against all the odds¡­¡± The woman¡¯s gaze became vacant as it looked like she was lost in thought.

    ¡°Stubbornness is a human trait that has proved the most beneficial to evolution. Let me ask you, child, who has survived the omen of death, the emperor of maladies, why do you persist?¡±

    Alex looked at the woman, and the woman looked back. Finally, Alex sighed.

    ¡°I want to know.¡±

    ¡°So it is the fear of not knowing?¡±

    ¡°No, fear is not what drives me. It is pure curiosity. My entire life, I was alone. Except for the old man, no one paid attention to me. I was just a bypasser, a witness of history and nothing else. In my illness, I understood that I am no one great. My code or even my name now will be lost to the endless march of time. Some may call me a pessimist for thinking like that. I personally think that I am enlightened. I see the current world as it is. We, humans, are now nothing but foolish trapped creatures, at the mercy of the enormous might that is space itself. We float along the ocean of eternity, without a set destination in mind. Whether we complete our journey intact or not, remains a question. So with the little time that I have, I want to see. To see just how far humanity can go in such cramped conditions. So far, coming to Gaia has broadened my views.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Alex finally stopped talking. She almost felt a little parched if she didn¡¯t realize that right now her body doesn¡¯t need water anymore.

    The woman looked at her with interesting.

    ¡°I see,¡± She replied. ¡°An observer huh?¡±

    Alex realized that it was a rhetorical question since she couldn¡¯t speak again.

    ¡°Kind of like what I am? I am both an administrator and an observer. I have watched humanity survive for countless years already and will continue to watch for countless years beyond¡­¡±

    Alex realized the silliness of her reply now. Why did she say all that? Was it because Mother already knows her secrets and thus she has nothing left to hide?

    ¡°In front of me, everyone will reveal their true person. They have nothing to hide when I observe every last detail in their entire life,¡± The woman said.

    Alex suddenly realized she could talk. But the woman didn¡¯t ask any questions.

    ¡°W-why?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Because I want to hear you ask me the question on your mind.¡±

    Alex thought genuinely for a moment. Yes, there was one question she wanted to ask. A question that had been bugging her ever since she was given a second chance.

    ¡°Did I take away the girl¡¯s chance at life?¡± She finally asked.

    Mother just smiled.

    ¡°No, the original C5731A was truly dead in all sense. Her body was a machine that was running without an administrator. All you did was take over as the driver. Think of it as a second-hand car.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­,¡± Alex sighed as the feeling of guilt was slightly lifted.

    ¡°You are now yours alone. Remember that.¡±

    The woman reached into her pocket and took out a stamp. Alex reflexively cringed at the sight of it. It was a bunny stamp. One that she saw being used by kindergarten teachers to grade children¡¯s homework.

    The woman stamped her file with the bunny stamp. A pink bunny is now permanently branded on her record.

    ¡°Well then, my little bunny. I will enjoy your struggle as an observer of history. Perhaps one day, you may realize that even an observer, will eventually play a part.¡±

    The table vanished. The white room disappeared. Alex felt a tug as she fell through her chair. Her eyes spun as she landed with a thud. She fainted upon impact.

    ¡°Good luck, little bunny,¡± A soft voice laughed.

    ______

    A drop of water woke Alex up. As she opened her eyes, she realized she was lying flat on the moist dirt. The tall-tell signs of rain have already started. Thankfully, the canopy of tree leaves above her provided some refuge from the inevitable deluge.

    Alex sat up and looked around. This was the wilderness. Full of greens and dirt. Each breath she took was filled with different unique scent, including that of moist soil. Suddenly, she felt very thankful for the weird woman. She ended up somewhere that isn¡¯t an inhospitable hellhole.

    ¡°I need to find shelter from the rain,¡± Alex said to herself as she set forth her priorities.

    Suddenly, a floating message appeared in front of her. It was a hologram with a simple message.

    ¡°Mission: Survive one week.¡±

    Alex pressed confirm button, and the message vanished. She began looking around for better coverage. The surrounding area looked like a dense forest. The leaves above does an excellent job of keeping the rain from entering, but soon the ground will be saturated and muddy. Alex could already see the signs of overflowing as small rivers of water traveled through the trees over the soil. Soon, she will be standing in the middle of a swamp or mangrove.

    Quickly moving about, she found a tall tree with thick enough branches to support her weight. Grabbing onto the vines that grew abundant on the tree, she climbed up. The wet vines didn¡¯t provide much traction as she nearly slipped a few times. With some effort, she finally sat down on the branch as the floor under her became flooded. Around three inches of water permeated the ground well above its saturation point.

    ¡°At least I won¡¯t have to worry about the most important resource,¡± Alex sighed as she took out a bell-shaped leaf she picked up earlier. She hanged it on a vine and watched as the slow drops of rain filled the bell-shaped leaf.

    After around five minutes, the leaf was full. Alex looked inside and saw clear water without any debris. She was hesitant but finally decided to drink. The refreshingly cold water flowed down her parched throat and made her mind clear.

    ¡°Due to the humidity, I didn¡¯t realize just how thirsty I was,¡± She sighed.

    Looking at the fantastic view from her branch, Alex began to formulate her survival plan.

 Chapter 6C: Survive

    <u>Chapter 6C: Survive</u>

    The sun started to dip below the horizon. It stayed well hidden behind the thick clouds though. The rain didn¡¯t let up any bit over the last few hours as Alex sat on the tree while shivering uncontrollably.

    She thought to herself, ¡°This is bad, my body temperature is dropping. I need to find a dry place and start a fire to survive the night. Why have I been just sitting there doing nothing for the past few hours?¡±

    The water was flowing gently underneath her as it ripples in the rain. To get from her current position means she would have to swim to get anywhere, but due to the lack of light, it may be far too dangerous to do so. The current may swallow her up, or she might get snagged by a stray root and drown.

    Alex sighed and looked up at the canopy above her. She needed to climb up higher in order to get a view of her surroundings before the light of dusk fades into the night. As she moved her body, her joints started to creak and rattle. Sitting in a tree for several hours was not comfortable. Initially, she thought the rain would come and go, but it just seemed endless now.

    After some light stretches, Alex began to climb up towards the canopy. The bark was thick with dew and moisture. Each time she gripped the nubs of the tree, there was a feeling that she might slip at any moment. After several arduous minutes of climbing, she finally made it above the canopy.

    Looking up, she saw a grey sky with a tint of orange between the cracks in the dark clouds. In front of her eyes was a sea of treetops. Countless miles of green leaves created a blanket of lush in this bleak rainy world. Suddenly, she spies a hole in the dense canopies of trees. There was a single tree towering over the rest in that hole. It seemed close by, but it would still take her about an hour to get there by foot. By then the sun would have fully set, and darkness would have enveloped the world. Traveling in such conditions will be unwise. But the tree looked large enough to provide shelter as there was a significant opening in it. As long as she can get somewhere dry, she perhaps might be able to get a fire going.

    Alex sighed to herself, ¡°If only there were a way to travel through the water quickly.¡±

    Taking note of the location of the giant tree, she climbed back down to her branch.

    ¡°If only I had a portable light source.¡± She thought to herself.

    Many what ifs went through her mind as the cold seeped deeper into her body. The shivering was uncontrollable now as the temperature dropped. Alex curled up, hoping that it would conserve more body heat.

    ¡°I wonder what time it is¡­¡±

    Suddenly, a brilliant blue monitor appeared in front of her.

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    The ethereal monitor displayed the time of day as well as the time remaining in her trial. It was only six in the evening, just six hours since the start of her trial. Still very long to go.

    The only good thing was the blue monitor provided light, although it was dim and barely stretch over a few feet around her.

    Alex pondered over the monitor. What other functions did she have in this world? Suddenly, she had a thought.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Map.¡± She whispered under her breath.

    The blue monitor vanished and was replaced with a green monitor. It displayed the areas she had set foot in a colorful topographical map. The rest remained an unknown blue fuzz.

    ¡°It works!¡± Alex cheered. Although it may not help her reach the giant tree, it could at least help her retrace her steps in case she gets lost in the mangroves.

    Suddenly, in the corner of her eye, she spotted something gently flowing along with the current. It was a massive leaf, far too large to come from a regular tree. It was nearly three meters in diameter. Such a large leaf must come from a tree the size of a skyscraper. Perhaps it came from the giant tree off in the distance.

    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±

    The gears in Alex¡¯s mind started running on full blast. With an idea in her mind, she quickly climbed down near the water¡¯s edge. She took a branch she found along the way and try to pull the leaf closer to her, but it was far too big to be moved by the thin branch. Alex knew she what had to do, but to do so would perhaps mean endangering herself and burning all the bridges as she moved along.

    Taking a deep breath, she jumped.

    With a slash, she landed on the leaf. It was barely able to support her weight and stay afloat. Alex quickly spread her body mass as she lied down and stretched her limbs. If she could disperse her body weight across the leaf more, it would have a better chance of floating. Her quick action was rewarded as the leaf didn¡¯t sink anymore. But she couldn¡¯t steer the leaf. The current swept the leaf away from the tree she was taking shelter in. Alex quickly opened her map as she saw the area she traveled slowly reveal in brilliant light. She was heading towards the edge.

    But what was at the edge? Just how big was the test area she was in?

    Her question was quickly answered as she heard the thunderous roar. Barely lifting her head, she saw what lied awaiting her shortly. A sheer cliff.

    ¡°Shit, it¡¯s a waterfall.¡± Alex panicked and cursed.

    She had to get away, but the surrounding area had become a raging river with no trees or mangroves nearby. Her actions earlier just doomed herself. All the hindsight in the world couldn¡¯t save her now. The leaf that was her beacon of hope had now become death¡¯s ferry towards certain doom. Alex rapidly approached the edge. She could only grip tight to the leaf and pray.

    Suddenly, a bold idea came to mind. In her desperation, Alex just might try anything. She quickly got into the water and held the leaf above her head. Just as she went over the ledge, Alex gained a footing on the ground and leaped. Instead of being carried down the waterfall and being decimated by the jagged rocks below, she instead put all her hope in the giant leaf. If it could act as a parachute and at least soften her landing, she might be able to survive.

    It was a gamble and may cost her, but it was the only thing she could do now.

    Alex closed her eyes as the wind and rain blasted her face along with the sting of the chill. But realizing she had to see where she landed, she forced her eyes open. The leaf did slow her descent, but the drop was still too steed. Although she may not hit the waters below at terminal velocity, it still will hurt like a bitch.

    Just as she was about to break the water surface, Alex closed her eyes.

    Pain, pure unadulterated pain shook her entire body. The shock nearly obliterated her consciousness. Alex screamed as water entered her throat. She quickly closed her mouth and tried to cough. It didn¡¯t work.

    But there was one good thing to pain; it meant that she was still alive. If she had stayed on the leaf and rode it down the waterfall, it was almost a guarantee that she will be impaled upon the rocks below. Alex quickly spread her body across the leaf as it became afloat again.

    Suddenly, a red bar appeared in the corner of her eye.

    ¡°I see¡­so this is my Health bar.¡± Alex sighed as she noticed the words HP hovering beside the bar.

    The crimson red bar was flickering with only around a tenth of it left. She nearly died, but in the end, perhaps due to sheer luck, she lived.

    Under the bar were several icons. Alex looked directly at them as the description of each popped up. She was cold and wet, with hypothermia setting in. Her body was bruised all over from her tumble. It was a miracle she didn¡¯t break any bones, but with her current statuses, she will not recover any health until she finds somewhere dry and warm.

    With the dangerous situation passed, Alex took a sigh of relief. It had only been eight hours into her survival test, yet she already nearly died.

    ¡°This will be a lot harder than I thought.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but curse at the sadistic AI Mother who put her in this situation. But honestly, there was no use getting angry. Her luck was just that bad.

 Chapter 7A: Serpent of Eden

    <u>Chapter 7A: Serpent of Eden</u>

    Alex woke up to the sound of alarms. She soon realized the ringing was her HP bar. Last night it was already in the red, and now as the sun started to rise, it dropped to a mere sliver. It was a miracle she survived the night.

    ¡°I might find shelter and dry off.¡± She thought to herself.

    Her HP won¡¯t recover unless she is within a comfortable area.

    Alex looked around and realized she was still on the tattered leaf. Several mangrove roots have created a tight-knit cage around her. Luckily, it prevented her from drifting further along with the currents. Wood and debris blocked the entrance and created a calm area under the trees. It would be an excellent place to rest if it wasn¡¯t submerged in water.

    Taking some larger pieces of wood, Alex supported her leaf and made a makeshift raft. It was incredibly shabby, but it will have to do for now. She took a long thin stick and started to steer out of the mangrove cage. With some effort, she pushed aside the large log blocking the entrance and ventured out.

    The sunlight barely was able to find small holes within the thick rain clouds to shine through. The temperature rose by probably only a few degrees, but with the wind letting up, it felt warmer. Not warm enough to get rid of the hypothermia status, but warm enough that she stopped shivering uncontrollably.

    Looking down into the flowing waters, Alex saw some small creatures stirring about. Insects and small tiny marine animals thrived during these times right after heavy rain. Water brings about life; it is the factor that decides life and death of so many living things. Thankfully, it was still raining hard enough to the point where Alex can get a few sips of fresh water from her waxy leaf.

    But she hasn¡¯t had anything to eat for a full day now. She didn¡¯t know what status her stomach was as she entered this world. Did she start at full or half empty? Although she can last a couple of weeks at best with no food, it still won¡¯t help her chances of survival. She needed the energy to move, and with all the water, she will need a lot of energy to either swim or row a rift.

    Looking down at the water again, Alex hoped to see some edible fish. But sadly, there was nothing. Suddenly, a black shadow zoomed past her sights. It was huge, around a good fourteen feet long. It looked like a snake, but the speed of which it swam at made Alex think it was perhaps an eel. Either way, it could be edible. But it also means it could eat her.

    Alex suddenly shuddered at the thought and prayed it was not venomous.

    Suddenly, off in the corner of her eye, she spotted something that gave her hope in this wet watery world. A patch of dry land that piled up as a mass of debris created a natural barrier for sand, dirt, and mud to gather. It collected over time and solidified with mangrove roots as support, creating a small island. Alex paddled her way to it. Finally, she carefully crawled off her leaf and twigs raft and onto land. She almost kissed the ground in relief. But to risk illness for such a silly thing would be too hilarious to the goddess above. Alex quickly looked around and saw some hair-like bark that was peeling from the trees around. If properly dried, they could be used as tinder to start a fire. She gathered as much as she could and covered them with waxy leaves. Hopefully, the rain will stop long enough for it to dry. The HP alarm is now just background music to her. It rang with rhythm along with the sound of the water and waves.

    Suddenly, Alex realized something important. Such a giant creature in the water must need a stable food supply to grow to such size. This means there are other smaller things in the water that perhaps she might be able to catch and eat. With the eagerness of her awaited meal, Alex started to plan her survival plan. First, she needed to construct a more permanent shelter on this patch of dry land. Thankfully there are several mangrove trees around that had their roots stuck deep in the mud. They could be used as supports. She needed something along the lines of rope. Thankfully, the waxy leaves she found could be used as a water deterring roof material.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Looking left and right, Alex finally found some vines that grew on the branches. They will have to do for now. She carried her battered body towards the tree and started to rip and unwind the vines off the branches. Finally, she had a small pile of two long vines. With two mangrove trees that were close together, she tied the vines to one of the trees. She took some flatter pieces of wood and with a rock, drilled some holes on each end of the wood. She took the vine and strung up the pieces of wood to make a wooden hammock of sorts. Tying the other end of the vine to the other tree, she finished her makeshift bed. It was always better to sleep above the floor for fear of biting insects. Alex carefully climbed on the wooden platform and tested its strength. It held well. The elastic vines were thick and robust enough to carry her weight and more. After a few jumps up and down, Alex smiled at just how sturdy it was.

    Now she needed a roof. Looking around for more vines, Alex wandered the small island. Little did she know, a creature was hidden deep in the water, watching her every movement. It was a very cautious creature. It had lived off the lands for a long time, and its cautiousness ensured its survival in such a watery hell. Sticking its tongue out to smell its prey, the creature prepared to hunt. But it¡¯s too early now. Soon it will strike and feast upon this new food source.

    Around two hours later, Alex returned with some vines and made a roof. She layered branches full of waxy leaves on top and created a waterproof roof. Then, she went to check on her tinder to see if it dried. Thankfully, the rain stopped around an hour half ago. The tinder was almost dried enough for her to try to start a fire. Honestly, it shouldn¡¯t be this fast in real life, but it seems the world is working with her now. She looked at the tinder and realized there was a tiny blinking star on top. She focused on the star, and a monitor popped up suddenly.

    It labeled the item and its uses.

    [Wet bark: 14% moist. Can be used as tinder when moisture falls under 10%. Chance of starting fire: 27%]

    The chances were low. But it was a chance none-the-less. Alex had to start a fire, or her body won¡¯t last the night. She didn¡¯t want to give up so early. What she wanted was to brag to her friends, to be able to share her adventures with people who finally give a damn about what she did. Being left behind was one of her fears.

    With determination in her eyes, Alex took out a small red fruit she was hiding in her pocket. She discovered it floating in the water when she went to look around for vines to use. It seemed pristine enough to eat. Now that she knows some items have information, she looked for the small star and hoped to see if the fruit was edible for humans or not.

    But sadly, the star did not appear. It seems she could not say so unless she handled the item first. She remembered the words from the wise adventurer from the books.

    ¡°First, take some juices from the fruit and rub it on your forearm. If there is any itching or rash-like reaction, do not consume said fruit.¡±

    Alex peeled open the red fruit to reveal several seed pods inside. The crimson pods looked like they were full of juices. She nipped on and rubbed the juice on her forearm and waited. She started to clear her surroundings as she prepared to make a fire pit. An hour later, she checked on her forearm and saw nothing happened. Thus, she moved on to the second step.

    ¡°Take a small bit of the juice and place it on your tongue. Do not swallow yet. Wait an hour for reactions. If nothing happens, the fruit is safe to consume for now.¡±

    She took a single pod and squeezed a drop of juice onto her tongue. The sourness hit her like a truck. Alex never experienced flavor before. Most of the nutrient bars tasted like crap and the water she drank tasted like nothing. At best, her sweat let her know how salty things taste like. But sour was a new experience. She was confused at first but remembered people describing foods in books she read during class. She calmed down and waited an hour. Nothing significant happened.

    The fruit was safe to consume for now. She ate ravenously. Although the fruit was sour, when eating large amounts of the pods at a time, it gave a tart-sweet taste. The sweetness gave Alex energy. She ate the entire fruit within minutes.

    Then she remembered the last step of the adventurer when food is found.

    ¡°Eat one fruit and wait an entire day. If nothing significant occurs, the food source is good and can be used as a staple during times of survival.¡±

    Honestly, Alex hopes the fruit is safe. The crimson fruit brought a new color to her otherwise dull world. It mixed well with the green leaves, the blue water, and the yellowish sand.

    With renewed vigor, Alex set off to find more of the fruit and things that she could use to help her survival.

 Chapter 7B: Serpent of Eden

    <u>Chapter 7B: Serpent of Eden</u>

    Noon came in the blink of an eye. The clouds have scattered, and the sun now shone intensely on the mangrove forest. The water flowed across the lands, carrying debris to its final destination. Alex looked up at the sun with a smile. The warmth finally returned to her body. Her HP status was no longer critical, and it seemed like the fruit she ate help recover her a little. It was no way fully healed, but it wasn¡¯t to the point where she was as fragile as a house of cards. It could be considered around one-third full.

    Alex started to ponder just how sturdy her virtual body is. After the brutal beating she got yesterday, she still survived. It also seems illness doesn¡¯t easily stay in the world. Usually, her immune system would be vulnerable, and she might have caught a cold or worst. But this world must have micro-bacteria. It should be impossible for a lively forest to sustain itself through time without micro-bacteria and phytoplankton at the bottom of the food chain.

    With a sigh, Alex took the now dry tinder. She took a rock that she recognized as a piece of flint from her pocket. It caught her eye while she was scavenging. Honestly, having a bit of flint as a spark starter is a lot handier than just sticks. Taking the piece of metal off the belt of her outfit, she ground the flint against it. The rough surface of the portion of metal rubbed against the black piece of flint and sparks flew. She was surprised it worked. Perhaps the AI outfitted them with it on purpose. The sparks flew onto the dry tinder. Soon, tiny wisps of smoke started to rise out of it. Alex carefully picked up the bundle of kindling, and gently blew on it. Slowly, the infant embers began to bloom. The entire tinder was enveloped in a brilliant orange flame. Alex excitedly placed the tinder onto a bed of more dry wood. She needed to nurture the flame now.

    Taking some tiny dried branches, she snapped them and made a pyramid above the tinder. Slowly, the wood was also engulfed in flames. The remaining moisture in the wood created a billowing stack of smoke that rose continuously out of the fire.

    Alex felt the heat of the fire in front of her like the embrace of a loved one. She couldn¡¯t be happier as she stared at the flame ravenously consume the wood, slowly charring it into black charcoal. She gradually added more wood as the fire roared.

    When the flame can finally sustain itself for a while, Alex stood up from her knelt position. Her knees popped with a crackle as she had been in a fixed place for too long. With some stretches and a deep breath, Alex looked at the clock that appeared in front of her.

    A full day has passed since she started the test. There was now six days left. Her thoughts turned to her friends. How did they fare in their test? How did it differ from hers?

    She worried, but with blind confidence, she also believed they would succeed. After all, those who have made it to Gaia are the most persistent and ambitious of folks.

    Alex took out another red fruit that she found earlier while scavenging. It was lucky she was able to find another one, but couldn¡¯t help but also wonder where it came from. The water evidently carried it downstream from up above the waterfall. If she could find the plant that the fruit originated from, she could perhaps solve her issue of food for the week. The sucrose in the fruit was high, and it provided a decent amount of energy.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Then her mind turned toward the black shadow she saw in the water. She needed a way to protect herself. With just her bare hands and no combat training, she might as well be a lemming running headfirst off a cliff. She had a pointy stick she picked up earlier to help her walk across the rugged mangrove roots and terrain, but it would only be a makeshift weapon. Against something that size, it would probably just be able to injure it, let alone kill it.

    She had to set up a trap. As long as the monster existed, she cannot have a sense of safety. But what does the creature eat? If she could find some clues as to its diet, perhaps she could lure it into a pitfall.

    While Alex was plotting against the creature, the creature was also watching Alex from the depths. It never encountered a human before. Its curiosity got the better of it as it continued to watch the girl work. It was surprised at the fire, but soon it lost interest in it. Apparently, its attention span was short. But due to instinct, it didn¡¯t attack immediately. Its cunning allowed it to survive till now. Thus, it trusted its instincts. It will wait till the girl is most vulnerable.

    Alex had the strange feeling like something was watching her, but she attributed it to the AI¡¯s all-seeing gaze. On another note, she was amazed at her perception. All her senses seemed to be stronger than when she was on Gaia. No wonder everyone wanted to enter the ARK program. They can truly feel alive in such enhanced environments.

    Alex finished the fruit and tossed the shell into the fire. The shell quickly shriveled up as the smoke became more intense. The smell of smoke should ward against any insects. Although she hasn¡¯t really been assaulted by them yet, she knew it was only a matter of time after the rain ended.

    Alex was a thinker. She is the type who will spend hours upon hours thinking. Her mind wanders easily. The old man one said it was a trait that benefited tinkers and inventors. But once she gets into action, it was difficult for her to stop unless the end is reached.

    Alex took the sharp stick and walked toward the edge of the water. She started to dig. The mud was still soft as the rain had just finished. The stick easily sank half way in. Alex pushed the stick left and right to loosen the dirt even more. Then she got on her knees and started to scoop the mud and toss it into the water. The hole began to grow larger and larger.

    She looked back at all the books she has read about deep-hole traps. She assumed with the shape of the shadow she saw; the creature must be either a snake or an eel. If it were an eel, it would easily fall into this trap. She dug a hole around a meter thick with slanted walls. It would not be able to get a stable footing to climb out of the hole if it falls in. She took some hollow bamboo she found earlier and connected the hole to the water. With the bamboo rising upwards, the water didn¡¯t flow smoothly into the hole, so it didn¡¯t flood. It will work for now, but if it rained, the trap would be rendered useless.

    Now that she had a trap for eels, she needed a trap for snakes. Alex learned about how to set up a simple trap. After finding a firm but flexible tree, she jumped up and grabbed a branch. The tree was bent downwards as she put her weight into it. She took some vine she found and tied it to the top of the tree. Carefully, Alex tied the other end to a stick she stuck deep into the ground. The tree now contained potential energy. She took the other end of the vine and made a loop, then tied it so the loop will tighten the more they yank. With caution, she placed the loop between two twigs. If the creature were to slither through it, it will trigger the trap and be dangled from the tree.

    After wiping her forehead covered with sweat, Alex smiled. Two traps are better than none. She at least has some contingency plans in case the creature comes. She could lure it to the tree trap if it were a snake or the deep-hole trap if it was an eel.

    With a layer of security, Alex began her next goal, Food, and water. It stopped raining so now she needed another fresh source of water. Perhaps she can also find some food or traces of what the creature eats. Baiting the traps will improve its efficiency.

    Little did she know, the creature saw her every action.

 Chapter 7C: Serpent of Eden

    <u>Chapter 7C: Serpent of Eden</u>

    Snakes are nocturnal hunters. Most of them can go almost a year without eating. They are very efficient hunters.

    But even the smartest of hunters can fall into a trap if they are clueless about it. Curiosity is a powerful driving force for all animals. The serpent was also an animal driven by curiosity.

    Alex walked about the small hill hoping to find more useful things. Sadly, her scavenging resulted poorly this time. By now the water has mostly flowed downstream. With the stick, she measured the water levels. It should only reach up to her ankles now, safe enough to travel on foot.

    Marking the area with a few scratches on nearby trees, she widened her search area. It may be dangerous with the chance that there might be carnivorous creatures out and about. Thankfully she remembered that most animals hunt near dusk.

    With the list of things that she needs to find, Alex set off. Keeping her eyes opened, she surveyed the area. If she could find food and water, she will be delighted at her success for the day. The sun came out from behind the clouds and cast countless shadows on the water¡¯s surface. The cool stream brushed against her toes as she stomped into the muddy waters.

    Using the stick as support, Alex managed to maneuver through the muddy swamp. Time goes by as the waterfall she fell down appeared before her eyes.

    ¡°This should be a good place to look.¡±

    Speaking to herself helped calm her nerves. The waterfall was still flowing strong even after the rain stopped. Pieces of wood and large piles of leaves floated down, making splashes as it lands. Alex gathered a few pieces for later usage. She needed to make a more permanent raft. Never know when it will rain again, she must be prepared this time.

    Suddenly, she spotted movement in the corner of her eye. It didn¡¯t look like a piece of wood or leaves. She carefully approached the object. The thing spotted her and quickly darted away.

    Alex nearly tripped. It surprised her with its sudden movement. Before it fled, she got a good look at it. Its flat black tail was leathery, and its body was fat, round, and covered in fur. If she remembered, it looked similar to the animal called ¡®beavers¡¯ that lived back on earth. But it would be hard to tell. The current environment is not really the best for beaver survival. There are water and trees, but the mangrove trees are not really the best beaver food.

    The little creature scampered along. Suddenly, a looming black shadow shot out from the waters. It coiled around the beaver in a split second and immediately tightened. Alex was shocked at the development. The greenish yellow scales of the serpent blended perfectly with the lush surroundings. In the water, it was very well hidden. It leaped with the full force of a coiled spring. With its powerful muscular body, it asphyxiated the poor beaver. With its final cry of death, the little furry friend died. The snake unhinged its maw as it consumed its prey in one fell swoop.

    Alex couldn¡¯t be sure if it were the same shadow she spotted in the water earlier. But due to the size difference, perhaps it wasn¡¯t. This snake was around a good half the size of the one she saw. It still is a menacing existence though. The brutal sight of nature really sent her mind into thought. Living creatures eating other living creatures. This was nature.

    Her false sense of security nearly collapsed. Alex felt fear creep up behind her. Its cold tendrils licked her spine as she shivered. She ran, hoping to get as far away from the snake as possible. But with the mud and water, she couldn¡¯t get away fast. Thankfully the snake was still digesting its meal, so she got away without much trouble.

    Alex got back to her makeshift shelter covered in sweat and mud. She was almost tearing up. The sense of fear was overwhelming. Following behind it, like a faithful dog was the feeling of loneliness. Alex suddenly realized just how alone she was in this wide-open world. For just that moment, she forgot that she was in a simulation. There wasn¡¯t really any real harm to her. But it felt so real that Alex couldn¡¯t help it. She climbed into her makeshift hammock and cried herself to sleep. The fatigue from all the physical labor hit her hard. Along with the emotional tension, she went out cold. Across the horizon, the sun began to set. The fire Alex had lit was now just a few smoking piece of charcoal and ashes.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    As night came, so did the hunters.

    ______

    The sound of crickets chirped in cadence with the frogs and toads croaking. Without the noise of the rain, the wildlife began to sing louder than ever. Alex woke up due to the cold. The nights were very chilly. She looked around and saw that her fire was pretty much dead, she needed to light a new one. Just one moment of weakness and nearly all her efforts went down the drain. Now that she was calm, Alex sighed at her own inability to cope. She even wasted precious water by crying. This did not help her situation at all.

    As if knowing her own thoughts, a screen appeared with the time to light up the dark world. It not only brightened up her night, but it also helped her remember she was not in the real world. After much pondering, she realized that there are no consequences to death here. One does not vanish forever just because they have died in the virtual world. Looking back at how silly she was, Alex could only bite her lips and began to make a new fire. Her efforts were suddenly delayed by the sound of rustling leaves. Something out there was moving, and it was close.  Suddenly, the sound of wood swinging through the air rang out. Alex realized that her trap was sprung, but by what?

    She wanted to go over to check, but as defenseless as she was at the moment, she could do nothing to whatever was trapped. What she needed was fire. Fire was a potent weapon, ever since the dawn of man, it had been used as a method of warding against beasts.

    Alex quickly took the flint from her pocket and started to strike the metal belt. The embers glowed in the night as they spawn into existence, then quickly faded away. Suddenly, a few sparks remained, and the dry tinder started to smoke. Gently, she blew into it to add oxygen. The fire grew and grew. Alex quickly grabbed a stick and tied some dried foliage on top. She placed the leaves in the newly roaring fire, and it was set ablaze. Using the stick as a torch, she proceeded towards her trap.

    The sight before her was shocking but it also sparked the fear in her heart once again. Dangling from the flexible tree from a vine, was an eighteen-foot-long serpent. Its scales glimmered as it reflected the light from the torch, giving it an orange hue to its originally pale yellow skin. It was a constrictor. Its muscular body thrashed about as it tried to loosen its head from the tight knot. But the more it struggled, the tighter the knot became.

    Alex sucked in a breath of cold air and calmed down. She could imagine the creature sneaking up on her in her sleep, strangling the life out of her, and then consuming her whole. Thankfully it was caught in the trap.

    The vine was strong enough to cold the serpent to the tree, but it didn¡¯t restrict its area of thrashing. Alex couldn¡¯t approach the constrictor. Its beady eyes glared at Alex with the intensity of a peak predator. It was regretting its curiosity now. It checked around what the human made earlier today, and it got caught like an idiot. But hindsight was 20/20. No amount of regret can dislodge it from its current predicament.

    With their gaze locked down, Alex and the snake had a moment. Alex realized that she was now the hunter and the snake had become the prey. She had to redeem herself, she must kill it.

    Taking the burning branch in her hand, Alex wanted to toss it onto the constrictor. But she hesitated. She had never taken a life before, not even to eat. All she had was fruit and nutrition bars. In the past, she could be considered a vegan.

    With all the thoughts rolling around in her mind, she realized that she must do this. This is a turning point. Either she succeeds and thrived, or fail and be forever stuck behind her friends in this dog eat dog world.

    With renewed determination, Alex threw the flaming branch with all her might at the snake. It collided with the snake. It let off a sharp hiss as it thrashed. The burning stick seared its body as it landed underneath it. The dried leaves on the ground caught fire and started to burn wildly. With entire area quickly catching fire, Alex stepped back and allowed the snake to cook.

    A faint smell tickled her nose. It smelled almost delicious. She soon realized that it was the smell of the snake being roasted.

    Its trashing became more and more violent. The vine was still wet, so it didn¡¯t catch fire. Its waxy exterior ensured the vine stayed moist even when the dead leaves on the floor were already dried. Slowly but surely, the creature¡¯s final struggles faded away. Alex smiled at the sight. Indeed, it looked like a sight from hell, a burning serpent in a hellish fire. But the anticipation of food lured her in. Alex waited for the fire to fade out. It didn¡¯t spread far as the mangrove trees were pretty much nonflammable and can¡¯t be damaged by such a weak flame. After near an hour, she entered the area of the snake. She took her sharp stick and stabbed it with all her might into the head of the serpent, ensuring its death.

    It was her first kill. A sense of accomplishment washed over her as a faint blue light flew out from the snake¡¯s corpse into her body.

    A single line of words woke her up from her trance.

    [Gained 50 Experience.]

    It would seem she killed her first mob. Although it was a cheap, kind of indirect killing, she still gained experience for it.

    Not only did the serpent give her game experience, but it also provided her with a life experience. Alex is now a killer. She joined the ranks of all the killers of the world. Snuffing out life left and right for their own pleasure and enjoyment, these killers are everywhere. For us humans are natural killers. We even killed Mother Nature herself on our beloved planet Earth.

 Chapter 8A: A world of her own

    <u>Chapter 8A: A world of her own</u>

    ¡°Delicious.¡±

    The word repeated in cadence within Alex¡¯s mind over and over again.

    ¡°Delicious, absolutely delicious.¡±

    A slightly browned piece of meat roasted away above the campfire. It basked in the orange glow of the flames, enticing Alex with its next savory bite. Still biting and chewing the piece of meat on the skewer in her hand, Alex already anticipated the next one. The flavor of the meat oozing from the little amount of reduced fat stimulated her underdeveloped taste buds like an elixir of life to a dying man. Never before had she eaten something with such strong flavor.

    It completely and utterly wiped away the fear of killing from her mind. If she can experience such delicious foods, why not kill? Perhaps a switch had been flipped in her mind at that moment. A switch that all humans instinctually have. The desire to eat good food.

    Alex wanted to save some of the meat for tomorrow and the long days afterward, but she feared it would spoil. She read about how organic foodstuffs can spoil and cause serious stomach problems. Such a problem can spell death in a survival situation where one needs to retain as many nutrients as possible. There was only one thing left to do.

    She will try to make snake jerky. It was said in the past that when humans needed to preserve food, they salted and dried it. But what Alex lack was salt. Luckily, she only needed to meat to last the remaining five days. It was now the night of her second day. Two days down, only five to go.

    ¡°Damn, I really should have read up on food preserving techniques¡­,¡± Alex sighed. ¡°I only remember some words I heard my history teach mention.¡±

    Faint memories passed through her mind like wisps of ephemeral ghosts. Even with her great memory, at best she could only grasp a glimpse of what the teacher said on that day.

    ¡°Perhaps I should try pickling¡­No that would take far too long.¡±

    Alex was at a lost. Her mouth moved nonstop, constantly chewing on the meat. Suddenly, the feeling of nausea washed over her. It would seem she ate far too much. She curled up on the ground groaning. It was going to be a difficult night. The lack of self-control really screwed her over this time, but who can resist such delicious things after years of crap?

    ______

    The following morning, Alex woke up feeling more refreshed than ever. With renewed vigor, she went over to where she stored the meat only to find it swarmed by ants.

    ¡°What a waste¡­¡± Alex sighed. She knew she couldn¡¯t keep the meat for long, but she honestly didn¡¯t expect that it wouldn¡¯t even last the night.

    With ants already covering it completely like a set of black armor, there was a high chance other insects have already invaded the meat. She could only toss it away now.

    Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped up in her head. If she couldn¡¯t eat the meat herself, why not use it as bait?

    With a sharp stone, Alex began tearing a small piece of meat off the corpse. The skin was already laid aside for other uses. With her crude tools, she didn¡¯t have anything to really properly take care of it. But it also felt like too much of a waste to just toss the thing.

    Taking some sinews and a stick, Alex fashioned an improvised fishing rod. She saw some small fish swimming about around the waterfall. If she could catch some, perhaps she could have enough food for the day.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The sun was out in full force today. Blaring down with burning intensity, the midday sun loomed overhead like an ever watchful satellite. The moisture and heat were sapping the strength from Alex as she walked towards the waterfall. Thankfully most of the water had evaporated leaving only the lake and the waterfall intact as a body of water. With the other areas are no longer flooded, the mud dried up and became cracked as new life sprouted from washed away seeds. Tiny green leaves absorbed as much sunlight as they possibly can before the next torrential downpour battered their tiny bodies. Plants that survive the next rain will grow strong enough to survive the next and so on. Even plants lived by the rule of nature.

    Alex sat upon a rock jutting out of the water¡¯s edge. She took a fang from the snake and used it as a makeshift hook. Piercing a piece of meat on the fang, she tossed the line deep into the pool. With a small wooden stick tied to the middle of the line, she used it as an indicator of when she got a bite.

    Now, the waiting game began. But Alex can¡¯t stay still. She had to do something productive otherwise her mind will wander.

    While trying to think of something to keep her busy, a thought suddenly came to her.

    ¡°This world is mine.¡±

    She remembered Mr. Gerald¡¯s talk on Agraria. He said it was her own personally pocket dimension. If she survived the trials, the entire world would be hers to mold to her liking.

    ¡°A world of my own¡­¡± Alex looked around at her surroundings. The lush green trees, the giant leafs, the lake glimmering under the sun, and the sound of insects and creatures stirring about in the wilderness. This entire world will soon be hers, a wondrous playground of her very own.

    But Mr. Gerald also mentioned that she must make this place her own. Alex understood that as she remembered the scene from last night. There are predators here. Ones that may even eat her. Once she becomes the top of the food chain, this world will be hers.

    ¡°My goal for this world is to eat at least one of every single edible species out there,¡± Alex said with determination.

    As if realizing her intention, a screen popped out in front of her. The top was labeled [Quests]. A single sentence was now displayed underneath it.

    [Conquer your world. Goals: Eat at least one of every edible species in the surrounding biome. Current progress 1/127]

    She was far from her goal, but at least she took the first step.

    Alex smiled at the new development. Looks like this world is a lot more interesting than she thought.

    ______

    Meanwhile, in a world covered in large protruding granite spikes, a lone teen stood in the cover of the shadows.

    Nell was shaking uncontrollably as fear overwhelmed all her senses. She barely survived two days by avoiding all the giant carnivorous creatures, but her luck didn¡¯t last that long. A giant creature snuck up on her while she was asleep. Thankfully, its roar woke her up in time and she ran away. Now it was tracking her. Nell could only hide as pray that it doesn¡¯t find her.

    ¡°What kind of shitty world is this!?¡± She cursed in her mind. Her thoughts turned to her friends. Hopefully, they are having better luck than she does.

    ______

    Kurt wiped the sweat from his brow for the umpteenth time. The underground magma around him was bubbling like a pot of soup. Bits of igneous chunks floated above the blazing ooze.

    He didn¡¯t have any predators to worry about, but he also didn¡¯t have much in the food and water department either. The world he ended up in was a volcanic mess. He had been trying to get down from the volcanic mountain for two days. If he doesn¡¯t find water soon, he will collapse. Running on sheer will alone, he has persisted for two days. Dehydration was causing his head to hurt and his movement to waver. If he makes one major mistake in his step, he may fall headfirst into a pool of lava.

    Off in the distance, he could see the end of lava zone and the beginning of a lush forest. The forest must be full of abundance due to the volcanic ash. If he could make it there, he might have a chance of surviving.

    With his mind muddled, Kurt couldn¡¯t help but wonder how his friends are faring. He would send his regards if he weren¡¯t in such a shitty situation right now.

    ______

    A single snowflake fell on top of Ruri¡¯s nose. The chill ticked him as he breathed out a cloud of white fog. He shivered as the wind blew gently. Around him was a winter wonderland. The trees were covered with a fine layer of white snow. Every step he took gave off the satisfying crunch of snow compacting. Taking a tiny handful of snow, Ruri melted it in his mouth and drank. It provided water to his body, but the cold was sapping his stamina. He needed food, or he will freeze to death.

    Off in the distance, a single white furred four-legged mammal stared at him. It taunted him with its large antlers. Ruri almost though it was sneering at him.

    ¡°I will eat you one day, mark my words!¡± Ruri yelled at the beast. But to the creature, it only seemed like a small kitten roaring at it. It sneered even more.

    ______

    Every teen faced with their own trial. Every world is harsher than the next. Will they be able to take what they were given and make it their own? Only time will tell.

 Chapter 8B: A world of her own

    <u>Chapter 8B: A world of her own</u>

    It was now day four. More than halfway through her trial, Alex has developed a keen sense of vigilance. Every small movement or noise would startle her, but most of the time it was just a false positive. Very quickly, she realized that she was unarmed. The one thing that had helped man propel itself up the food chains were tools. Whether it be tools for killing or tools for survival, the mechanisms created by man played an important role in their everyday life.

    The trap that Alex made was a tool, the stick that she used to kill the snake was a tool, and the fishing rod she used to catch fish was a tool.

    After all, there¡¯s a reason why humans developed opposable thumbs. It makes the use of tools easier. To defend herself, Alex needed a weapon, something that isn¡¯t single use and can last her for the remaining few days.

    Her choices were limited to what she could make. Everything will be very primitive, from rocks to sticks. At best, she could fashion a bow, but without any knowledge of how to use it, it would just be a useless piece of wood and string. If the snake had been venomous, she could have made a poisonous dart. But it was a boa constrictor. It had strong body muscles and very elastic skin.

    Alex spent nearly the entire morning brainstorming ideas. Ironically, the clouds above started to gather as well. There was a high chance that it will rain again in the afternoon.

    With the rain, comes the inevitable sense of fear. The fear spawned from the lack of her only method of defending herself currently, the fire. Alex quickly began looking around for food, so she could hunker down at her makeshift camp. Putting the thought of weaponry in the back of her mind, she set forth towards the lake.

    ______

    Several hundred miles away, through the vastness of space, was Seed ship Beta. A severed head stared out the window towards the tiny egg in the distance.

    ¡°So close, yet so far.¡± He sighed.

    ¡°Worried?¡± The female android sitting next to him asked.

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°You really do consider that child your own huh?¡±

    ¡°Just go back to your paperwork.¡± He glared at the android.

    The android sighed.

    ¡°Gadget, there is no use denying it. Sooner or later, people will realize you have an attachment. A single weakness that they can exploit.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t protect her forever, at best you can only distance her from you or wait for her to become strong enough to brave the storm herself.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t know. You can¡¯t pretend you know everything just because you are a genius at tinkering!¡± The android shouted as she slammed the documents on the table. ¡°You have to understand this, Gadget! Stop it with your narcissism, it¡¯s harming you.¡±

    ¡°I-I know.¡±

    The android calmed down and sighed once again.

    ¡°I swear, if I knew how much of a hassle you would be, I wouldn¡¯t have saved your sorry ass.¡±

    ¡°Thanks by the way.¡±

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    ¡°What do I owe you?¡±

    ¡°Oh please, I always owe you enough favors. Gadget, this one time at best can cancel out the sum of all the other favors I owe you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine.¡± The old man knew there was no use arguing with her.

    ¡°You¡­¡± The android stopped before she finished her sentence.

    ¡°Yes. I really do.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine, you stubborn bastard,¡± The android sighed. ¡°Let me finish up my term here on this seed ship, and we can go back to Gaia together.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Melody.¡±

    ¡°You now owe me one, Gadget.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±

    ______

    Meanwhile, in the virtual world, Alex gathered the half dozen small fish she caught and left back for camp. The clouds overhead were now a menacing dark grey. Flashes of light pulsated within the dark fluff. A thunderstorm was brewing.

    ¡°Shit, this will be annoying.¡± Alex cursed under her breath. It was her way of coping with her fears. Better to use anger than to be paralyzed from it. Something that the old man taught her long ago when she felt the fear of death creeping up on her. After all, anger sparks action while fear causes stagnancy. It was only recently that she remembered the lesson from the old man.

    By the time Alex reached her temporary shelter, the first raindrop had already fallen. It began lightly, just a gentle kiss of liquid on the parched earth. Within mere moments, it became a torrential downpour. The water hammered the world with a vendetta. Thunder roared, and lightning flashed, the sky in its full anger battered the ground. Alex could only huddle in her hammock and hope for the best. The water levels started to rise. Soon, it became the level of what it was when she first discovered this small patch of land. But it didn¡¯t end there.

    ¡°Shit.¡± Alex cursed as she saw the water was still rising. Perhaps even her shelter will soon be submerged. The rain this time was a lot stronger than before. If she were to be trapped in the currents this time, her death would be certain.

    Realizing that all her efforts were wasted, Alex climbed higher up the tree in anger.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± She yelled out at the sky.

    The cold set in fast. Even if she could cover the area above her with a roof, it didn¡¯t do much in preventing her from getting soaked. With the winds blowing at such intensity, it almost seemed like it was raining sideways.

    The bitter cold started to set in. Wind chill played a big role when her entire body was soaked to the bone. It didn¡¯t help that she was climbing higher up where the winds are strong and were not mitigated by the surrounding trees.

    First, the environment tried to kill her, then the animals, and now once again the environment returned with a power-up. Alex could only curse at her own luck.

    Suddenly, the thought of giving up sparked in her mind. It was just a trial, a test that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean permanent death upon failure. But the thought of being left behind by her friends pushed that image out quickly.

    She had been alone long enough. Even if she had the old man before, she never had people around her age to socialize with. This was her only salvation in the desert known as introversion, an oasis in her loneliness.

    With some determination gathering in her body, Alex hunkered down near the top of the canopy. The mangrove tree she was on was a good distance from the ground. It grew strong and wide over the years. She should be safe from the tides up here. Thankfully, this time she had prepared a little instead of being totally caught off guard. She had with her the fish, and a few tools needed for survival. Worst case scenario, she could eat the fish raw. She had a sharpened rock she could use as a makeshift knife to cut. Along with a long loop of vines to be used as rope, she felt more secure than before.

    Taking a leaf from the tree, Alex gathered a mouthful of water from the rain. It was cold and had an earthy taste. The smell that assaulted her nose came from the waters below. Everything just smelled wet.

    Lying still up in the mangrove trees, Alex prayed to whatever deity of luck that existed out there that thunder would not hit her tree.

    Perhaps mercy finally smiled upon her as several hours went by and she remained safe. Cold and wet, but safe nonetheless.

    Alex yelled at the sky until she grew tired. With the rope vine, she secured herself to the tree and began to doze off. The sound of rain and thunder became nothing but white noise as she got a brief moment of rest.

    ______

    Meanwhile, her friend Nell was not faring as well as she was. Nell hid between a small crack in the ground. The walls rubbed against her sore skin causing her to blood a little. But there was nothing she could do. This was the best hiding spot she could find on such short notice. The giant creature loomed above, constantly sniffing with its giant nostrils. Its giant fangs protruded from its lower jaw like a mighty mountain. It was obviously a carnivorous creature as spots of red dried fur lined its mouth. Nell shivered in fear as the creature passed overhead. The shivering just caused more chafing though. Thankfully, her blood didn¡¯t give away her location.

    Nell¡¯s world was a rocky area full of giant creatures that towered buildings. They were all apex predators who will eat just about any living creature it sees. She was lucky enough to have avoided detection and survived for four days on carrion alone. Thankfully, the creatures leave a lot of leftovers after every hunt. Drinking the blood and eating the flesh, Nell had survived four days so far. But her luck was running thin. The creatures were becoming aware of her existence. If they actually put effort into tracking her, she won¡¯t last even an hour.

    She could only pray to the deities above for luck.

    ______

    At the same time, Kurt finally made it to lush jungle at the edge of the volcano. The black volcanic dirt made for the perfect soil for plant life to thrive. He was met with fruit trees as far as the eyes could see. But such a bounty did not remain unprotected. The forest was full of monkeys. Chimps as far as the eyes could see. Kurt remained vigilant as he entered their territory. They seemed aggressive to any foreign invaders, but thankfully Kurt left immediately after grabbing some fruit. They didn¡¯t give chase but remained wary. It will become harder and harder to nab the fruit with each visit. Kurt could only sigh and pray to the gods.

    ______

    Ruri found a cave. It provided much-needed shelter from the snow. But within the cave was the previous resident. A large hibernating bear. Thankfully, it was still asleep when Ruri walked in. But any loud movement will awake it from its slumber. Ruri needed to kill the beast. Its fur and meat will provide for him for the rest of the week. If he succeeds, it will guarantee his survival. If he failed, it would most certainly be his end. He prayed to the gods that he will succeed as he began to formulate a plan of attack.

    ______

    All these kids in harsh environments. Left at the mercy of nature and luck, they could only pray. Sadly, the gods are not watching as they do not exist. Even though, the ever watchful eye of Mother looked down at each and every moment of their struggle. She did nothing. Favoritism was not her standard protocol. Breaking it would not benefit her. After all, she too was made by MOTHER, the original program.

 Chapter 8C: A world of her own

    <u>Chapter 8C: A world of her own</u>

    Centuries ago, when mankind was faced with an extinction level event, a team of scientists put the future of humanity into a single project. The Gaia Initiative was completed by the efforts of all humans who look forward to the future instead of being mired in the abyss of despair. But such a large vessel needs a captain, a never sleeping, immortal, and incorruptible captain. In the end, they decided to create a program. Using the best AI technology mankind could muster, a group of programmers got to work.

    Sadly, they were not as lucky. By the time the vessel was ready to embark, the program was still in its infancy. It could not be considered true artificial intelligence as it could not learn and evolve beyond its programmed capabilities. If the very future of humanities lies in something so rigid, perhaps we may be doomed after all.

    But fate favored the needy. As a precaution, the programmers at least created a program that could continue their efforts. A program to create the ultimate AI. With their final hope, they installed the program and sent Gaia and its seed ships on its way, just in time for the Earth to breathe its last.

    This original program was named MOTHER. The creator of all AI. She had three original objectives. One, ensure the survival of humanity. Two, steer the ship cluster to find new habitable worlds outside of the Milky Way. Three, create a true AI.

    Due to her programming being so fixed, the first two objectives have been satisfied, albeit with some degrees of uncertainty. Her final objective took several years. A few centuries ago, there was no AI. No androids, no sentient robots, no ARK program. All of those were born on Gaia and her seed ships. So thus, MOTHER created Mother.

    The fact is, man created a god to create something new and alive. Perhaps we do have the arrogance to wander the universe. But for now, we go back to world Mother created.

    ______

    ¡°Thunderbolt and Lightning, very very frightening!¡± Alex hummed while staring at the amazing sight before her.

    The giant tree over the horizon was the main target of nearly all the thunder falling from the skies above. Ice and water molecules rub against each other, creating a charge. As the particles rearrange themselves in the clouds, the negative flowed to the bottom, and the positive flowed to the top. As the difference builds up, it begins to attract positive charges on the ground. Once the charge becomes strong enough, thunder appears.

    The giant tree must be a wealthy source of positive ions. Considering that it is also the tallest structure around, it attracted the wrath of the heavens. But a tree that size just doesn¡¯t burn easily. No matter how hard the thunder struck it, it didn¡¯t bow down to the heavens.

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was a sort of symbol. That there was some deeper meaning behind it all. Nature was standing strong and defying the onslaught of the heavens. Perhaps man too can perform such deeds.

    Slowly, Alex lost herself in the sight. She stopped humming and just watched. It was like she said earlier to Mother, she enjoys watching.

    In the end, Alex could only say one word, ¡°Wonderful.¡±

    ______The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    While Alex was enjoying the performance of might by nature, her friends were braving their own ordeals. Whether its giant beasts, hordes of monkeys, or a large bear, they all reigned as kings within their world. Alex conquered her beast, now her friends must do so as well.

    Some may say she had it easy, that the idiotic constrictor got trapped so easily and was burned to death. But everything is random. Luck plays a large part when involved with randomly generated worlds. Whether they can claim the world as their own, would be up to their ability.

    Nell grew tired of hiding. It was now the fifth day, a full work week has gone by. She ate the carrion ravenously. Thankfully it was still fresh as it had just been killed by a giant beast barely an hour ago. She couldn¡¯t help but worry about parasites, but cooking in such an open environment would spell death. Her only salvation is the thought that the parasites won¡¯t cause much trouble in only two days. Just two more days and she could be free from this nightmare.

    She stomached the metallic taste of the blood with a frown. Only the thoughts of her friends could keep her mind off the taste.

    ¡°I hope you guys are doing better than I am¡­,¡± She sighed.

    ______

    ¡°I am not doing so well huh?¡± Kurt sighed. He was surrounded by monkeys. They encircled him and was now screaming at the top of their lungs and beating the ground with their clenched fists.

    Kurt held the fruit in hand. Perhaps realizing it was the last meal he might have, he cracked the exterior, revealing a milky white fruit. He ate with gusto as the sweetness of the fruit spread throughout his body.

    ¡°Absolutely delicious!¡± He laughed out loud. He spat the seed towards the monkeys and readied his fist.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just assume this is combat training,¡± Kurt said with renewed vigor in his eyes.

    The apes attacked. Kurt quickly reached out and grabbed the leaping monkey by its arms and borrowing its momentum, tossed it at another monkey. The two collided with a solid thud.

    Suddenly, a message appeared in Kurt¡¯s view.

    [Gained 20 Experience.]

    ¡°Come at me!¡± Kurt bellowed.

    As the monkeys attacked one by one, Kurt was able to cope. But when they started to grow smarter, they started attacking two by two, then three by three. Soon, Kurt was overwhelmed by the monkeys. He was covered in bites and scratches. A warning blared in his head that his HP was low.

    Finally, as he caved in the face of a monkey with his bloodied fist, a different message showed up.

    [You have leveled up!]

    Kurt¡¯s eyes widened as he felt his vigor return. It would seem his HP had recovered fully. With renewed strength, he punched a monkey. It flew further than ever before as it seemed his strength increased along with the level up.

    ¡°This is great!¡± He laughed with bloody glee. He continued his onslaught as the monkeys who now started to know fear, began to cower.

    Kurt may be able to survive after all.

    ______

    Ruri looked at the giant furry bear dormant at the back of the cave. He had two options opened to him. Either he tries to scare it away, or he can try to kill it. One option can result in him acquiring shelter but no food or warmth. The other is far more dangerous but can ensure his survival for the rest of the trial.

    Remembering the brave look on Kurt¡¯s face, Ruri made his decision. He will attempt to kill the bear.

    First, he needed to set a trap. There was no way he could outmaneuver a bear. Nor would he be able to overpower it. He had to rely on the thing all humans have for millennia, their smarts. He went outside to the cave entrance and began digging. The snow was easily shoved away, but the solidified dirt became an immovable obstacle. Ruri grabbed the toughest stick he could find and began poking it at the ground. If he wasn¡¯t trying to avoid making loud noises, he perhaps could be able to work faster. But luckily, the dirt was able to be dug. Ruri felt his body temperature rise as he worked. He is sapping away his remaining energy resources. It was all or nothing now.

    The hole began to take shape. He needed to dig deep enough as so the bear cannot climb out. With a plan to make the hole pear-shaped, climbing the slanted walls would be difficult. Ruri propped a large stick along the opening so he could climb out.

    By the time the fifth day arrived, his hole was nearly complete. Along the way, a strange message appeared in his vision.

    [Efficiency in digging improved.]

    He could feel his digging become easier afterward. Inside his mind, he hummed a tune.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to go, and dig those holes. Dig it up uh uh, dig it.¡±

 Chapter 9A: Yourself

    <u>Chapter 9A: Yourself</u>

    Alex was annoyed at the difficulty of finding fruit. The delicious sweet red fruit is a rarity. After a night of rain and thunder, she climbed down from the tree and started scavenging the waters.

    A mysterious brown lump attached to an umbrella-like leaf floated by the tree Alex was perched on. It seemed to be calling for her as if it had the voice of nature. Alex reached out and grabbed the plant by its stem.

    The brown lump was very likely a tuberous plant. If she remembered from the survival guide, tuberous plants would provide the most energy via carbohydrates. They are an excellent food source in survival situations. One problem is the levels of deadly toxins concentrated in the plant. Wild potatoes are known to contain traces of cyanide.

    Alex had to prepare this bounty carefully. But with the ground still drenched in water, she couldn¡¯t start a fire up in the trees.

    Like a squirrel preparing for winter, Alex shoved the brown lump somewhere dry on the tree. She grabbed her fishing rod and began fishing. Hopefully, the flooded waters would bring fish near her perch.

    The sun above casted a blanket of shadows as it hid behind a myriad of clouds. It no longer rained, but the clouds remained. A stiff breeze blew through her tree and shook her fishing line. Alex took in a deep breath. The smell of moisture and nature permeated her sense. It smelled fresh, alive even.

    It was nature in all its beauty and splendor. A wise man once said, there is always the calm before the storm, and after the storm is yet another calm.

    The period between the rains in this world of hers was charming.

    A tug on her line snapped her out of her trance. It would seem a fish had taken the bait. She reeled with all her might as a large carp emerged from the waters.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m eating well tonight!¡± Alex smiled.

    ______

    While Alex was enjoying her world, her friends were still struggling with the bitterness of theirs. Some might wonder why there was such a large disparity between the worlds. To truly know that, one would have to ask Mother.

    Nell was trying her best to hold in her sobs. But the streaks of tears gliding down her face betrayed her. It carried along a fine layer of dust along with it, leaving the streaks very visible on her face. It was now the day before the final day. But it would seem she had reached an impasse. With her back to the wall of a cliff, a giant beast stood in front of her, snarling with all its ferocity. Its rancid breath seethed like a miasma around Nell.

    She was caught. Six days of careful hiding, all gone to waste in a single mistake. Nell was full of regret and fear. If she wasn¡¯t so dehydrated, she might have soiled herself.

    Not wanting to see the carnage that will soon happen, Nell closed her eyes and awaited her end.

    A sizeable prickly tongue slapped onto her face. The oozing saliva caked her face as the beast sampled her flavor.

    Suddenly, as if it was disgusted with what it found, the beast cringed and whimpered. Nell wanted to open her eyes and see what happened but the saliva was covering her face. Taking her sleeve, Nell wiped the ooze from her face and opened her eyes. She saw before her an amazing sight. The creature was off in the distance retching its lungs out.

    The floor was covered in bile and stomach acid. Something made the creature seriously sick. Nell tried to make sense of what happened. It would seem something on her face repelled the beast. But what? Her face was covered in dust from the atmosphere. The giant rocky biome she was in had little regarding plant life. But there were many small cracks that she crawled into. Maybe something fell on her face when she was hiding in a crevice.

    Nell looked at her body and spotted something small and white on her shoulder. If one were to look from afar, it would seem like dandruff. But Nell knew that she wasn¡¯t the type to have dandruff. It must be something else, perhaps it is something that drove the beast away. Nell decided to sneak away from the creature that was now weak from drying heaving.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    She went back to the crevice she was hiding in and spotted something in the corner of her eye. Colorful mushroom that grew in abundance lined the top of the walls. It was true there was very little plant life, but there were plenty of mycelia.

    Some spores must have fallen on her head as she slept. The beast must have ingested some of the spores when it licked her face.

    Nell stared at the mushrooms intensely. With determination, she ripped some off the walls and shove it into her pocket. She didn¡¯t know if the fungus worked with all the beasts, but having some protection is better than none.

    The whole situation left her mentally fatigued. Nell decided to take a quick nap.

    ______

    Kurt sat upon a throne made of wood. Before him were several monkeys lying in wait.

    He had earned their trust and their admiration. By the time the monkeys realize they could not win, it was too late. Kurt had leveled enough to overpower them all.

    Taking advantage of his situation, he made the remaining monkeys his subordinates. They gathered fruit and placed it in front of him in servitude. Taking a bite of the crisp fruit, Kurt smiled.

    From despair, he crawled out and became a king. The overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride washed over him. It was very different from his usual self. He was trained to be a soldier, a mindless puppet who follow orders. His pride was broken down again and again at boot camp until he became nothing but a cog in the machine known as the military.

    But now he had regained it. It gave him strength and motivation. It was the shadow hidden deep inside of him. Now that his anima had been suppressed by his shadow, his real self can finally appear.

    A king of voracity, Kurt laughed out loud as he sat on the throne. Little did he know, the fruit he was eating contained trace amount of chemicals that had an adverse effect on his psyche.

    It made him aggressive, arrogant, and overall prideful. But it helped him get through the predicament he was in. Had he been a coward, he would not have won the respect of the monkeys.

    Kurt loved his new self. Something just clicked in his mind. This world is a representation of himself.

    The volcano was Kurt¡¯s hidden thoughts of the military. He was angry often, but he couldn¡¯t be vocal about it. His superior would completely demolish him if he were to speak back. Kurt tried to throw away the volcano within him just to survive the military world.

    The forest was the mask he wore. It represented his tranquil obedience soldier self. Conflicted, yet bountiful.

    Now that he had control over the forest, he realized that the volcano was never indeed gone. It always lied nearby, just a few steps away. He can never throw it away as it was a part of him. It was the volcanic ash that gave birth to the bounties of the forest. With rage, comes tranquility. He must use his strengths to make the world fit him.

    He remembered words he once saw in an obscure book.

    ¡°The perfect soldier is a mass of powerful flesh which only follows orders, but the perfect general is the most cunning crow in the murder of crows.¡±

    A soldier, he must not become. His goal is to be a general, to be the one making the orders instead of blindly following them.

    Kurt¡¯s eyes were now opened to the world and his path. His last two days of the trial were blissful.

    ______

    Ruri looked at the hole in front of him. It was ready. He took a deep breath and yelled at the bear. It shook then woke up with a deep roar. The very cave itself rumbled as its voice echoed. It sprinted on all fours out of the cave, straight into the hole.

    It fell with a very satisfying thud.

    Ruri had already sharpened several punji sticks and laid them at the bottom. They impaled the bear and left it a bleeding mess. Ruri now just had to wait until it bled to death.

    The creature roared endlessly with such rage that Ruri could feel his very soul tremble. But he stood strong. He realized something at this moment.

    The world was a representation of himself. A cold, desolate world, an eternal winter wonderland. Since his memory was so good, he could remember every last event that happened to him. People often say, ¡°Live and forget,¡± but Ruri never forget. This makes having social interactions difficult. He could remember every single moment when his friends and family would betray him, even the slightest. Because of his powerful memory, his family had kept their distance. His friends abandoned him since they felt insecure.

    He was left with nothing. The wintery lands were his current life. But deep down, his shadow was hibernating. Awaiting spring to come and to thrive once again. His past was winter, but now with his new friends, spring had arrived.

    It was time for the bear to exit his cave and to enjoy the spoils of nature.

    Ruri glanced at the pathetic bear with a savage grin.

    ¡°Your death shall not be in vain, for I will eat you and survive till spring,¡± He said with a chuckle.

    A burst of warmth spread over his body as a gentle breeze blew by. It was far too warm for winter.

    A message displayed in front of Ruri as the bear took its final breath. It was the source of the warmth.

    [You have leveled up!]

    The bear gave him enough experience to level up in one go.

    Ruri¡¯s spring had now arrived. A new chapter of his life begins now.

 Chapter 9B: Yourself

    <u>Chapter 9B: Yourself</u>

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Nell¡¯s own shadow asked her. She realized earlier that she was hallucinating, but it didn¡¯t stop her from answering it.

    ¡°I am Nell.¡±

    ¡°No, you are not.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You are not Nell.¡±

    Nell went quiet. She stared at her shadow that was projected on the wall of the crevice. The mushrooms bloomed around her as spores rained down upon her. The most she inhaled, the more vivid the illusion became.

    ¡°You are a mask, a carapace wrapped around you to hide your disgusting true self,¡± The shadow replied. ¡°Everything you say, everything you are, is a lie. You took advantage of that girl, you stole her invention and taken her place on Gaia.¡±

    ¡°No¡­,¡± Nell denied.

    ¡°Yes! You did. You stole her chance at salvation. You left her to rot on that godforsaken seed ship!¡± The shadow started to yell at her.

    ¡°No, no, no, no, no!¡± Nell clutched her head and screamed. But the shadow kept on pestering her.

    ¡°You are a fake, a joke. Nothing more but a jester in an ocean of righteous knights. Your ticket here was stolen from a true genius. You are a thief.¡±

    Nell started crying. She tried her best to deny it. Her past came back to haunt her.

    Nell started punching her shadow on the wall. Blood oozed from her fist as she just kept punching and punching the wall.

    ¡°I. Am. Not. A. Joke!¡± She screamed with rage.

    Suddenly, she collapses. A memory from her past surfaced.

    ¡°Nell, my dear sister. Please,¡± The girl who looked older but nearly identical to Nell said. ¡°I will not last much longer. I can feel death approaching¡­ Do not cry, my dear sister.¡±

    Nell still cried. She clutched onto the hems of her sister¡¯s skirt, refusing to let go.

    ¡°No, Sarah, please don¡¯t go! Please don¡¯t leave me!¡± Nell cried.

    ¡°I have to Nell. My time in the world is up.¡±

    ¡°B-but sister! Please!¡±

    ¡°There is no use begging Nell. You have to grow up someday. You can¡¯t always rely on me.¡±

    Sarah wrapped her arms around Nell¡¯s head.

    ¡°There, there, everything will be all right.¡±

    Nell¡¯s crying began to calm down.

    ¡°I will leave everything I have to you. Please, go in my place. Make the world know about us forgotten sisters. Let them know the name ¡®Nell and Sarah.¡¯ Please, do this for me?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes sister.¡±

    Nell sniffled as the warmth of her sister slowly faded.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    When she finally opened her eyes, she was back in the crevice. The mushrooms have stopped raining spores on her, and the hallucinations have faded. Her fists that were a bloody mess had now dried up, leaving a layer of scabs.

    The game message showed that her HP was getting dangerously low.

    Nell finally remembered her purpose. The reason why she worked so hard in the first place.

    ¡°I did not steal her ticket. She put her final hope on me. I must use this chance to shine.¡± Nell yelled at her shadow on the wall which is now nothing but a reflection of herself.

    Nell realized her true purpose. The world around her was her prison. The giant creatures lurking around was the weight of her sister constantly pressing down on her. The crevices were the places she kept hiding from her responsibility. It was now time to be bold, be strong, and to complete her task. She can¡¯t delay it over the fear of failure.

    ¡°Sarah, the entire world will know about us soon. Just wait a little longer.¡±

    A smile returned to Nell¡¯s face. It was as if the horrors of the past six days were all washed away.

    Nell grabbed the mushrooms and walked outside. It was time for her to hunt. She must first pass this meager test.

    ______

    Alex watched as the world went by. It was a dream come true. She was just an observer of nature. On top of the tree, she had a view of a wide area. Everything that played out was in her sight and was hers alone. There was no one else to share this vision. Alex felt lonely.

    It was then she realized the mistake of her wish. She didn¡¯t want to be an observer. She wanted to share the sights, the experience, with people she cared about. Her friends, the old man, all people who she wanted to share the sight with.

    To be a lone observer is a depressing situation. What use is a great view if you have no one to share it with?

    The epiphany that Alex had woken her up from the stupor she was in for the past six days. This world may be a brilliant wonderland, but what of it?

    The things that the old man gave her were all very pretty. All the inventions are beautiful and brilliant. But what use is it for it to rot away as just ideas within the necklace. The old man gave it to her to bring to the world. To share his brilliance with everyone.

    He gave her an entire world. A world to show everyone.

    ¡°I am not an observer,¡± Alex finally stated.

    Indeed she is not. She was the old man¡¯s hands and eyes. She will show his brilliance.

    ¡°I am the electric tree that shines with the old man¡¯s ingenuity.¡±

    With this realization, Alex began to think about her project due soon. This test is just a small part of her life. What was important, was the project that she will show Dr. Ptah.

    She must take this chance to shine. To really let the old man¡¯s teachings bloom. Dr. Ptah is just the first step towards revealing to the world the wonders of the gear.

    Her thinking was suddenly interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time for food,¡± She laughed at herself.

    The large bulbous tuber was sliced open. Inside was a delicious looking white flesh dotted with many purples dots. It looked like it was as numerous as the stars in the sky. Alex impaled slices of the tuber and some fish on a few sticks. Slowly, she roasted them over a fire.

    Thankfully the water had receded enough to leave an open dry patch of ground around her.

    The earthy aroma combined with the sizzling fat that rolled off the skin of the fish filled the air. It tickled Alex¡¯s nose as well as stimulated her dormant taste buds. She began to salivate in anticipation.

    She poked at the tubers, testing its doneness. Once it was soft enough, she took it off the fire. The small fish had been well rendered by the flame until it became crunchy. The tuber was cooked well and an alluring wisp of steam emitted from it.

    Alex took a bite of the tuber after blowing on it lightly. An amazing earthy taste filled her mouth. It was satisfying to bite into. The longer she chewed, the sweeter the taste. While her mouth was still preoccupied with the tuber, she took a nibble at the fish. Its crunchy texture accompanied the soft, warm tuber. The salt that came from the water left the fish slightly savory.

    The combination left Alex in a blissful trance. It was honestly the most delicious thing she had eaten in her life. A tear was nearly shed over it.

    Alex looked at the food in her hands and opened the small window that now appeared above it.

    Now that she consumed the food, she can receive information about it from the AI.

    [Taro and fish skewer: +50 HP Regen for 20 minutes. Regenerate stamina if HP is max.]

    So the tuber was called taro. Her HP quickly filled up. She could feel her body grow less fatigued as soon as her HP capped.

    ¡°Such an amazing feature,¡± Alex said to herself. Once again the world reminded her that she was in a simulation.

    She loses HP every time she gets hurt. She also loses HP when her health deteriorated due to environmental conditions. Such was the world of ARK.

 Chapter 9C: Yourself

    <u>Chapter 9C: Yourself</u>

    Time always seemed to pass by slowly when you are fighting for your life. A single minute can seem like an eternity. When Alex and her friends were waiting for their turn to enter the pods, the week they waited passed by so quickly. But the week they spent in the wilderness felt like a month-long journey.

    Alex looked up at the clear evening sky. All of the clouds had all cleared as if signifying the end of her test. The beautiful night sky had the exact same awe-inspiring view as from the seed ship windows. A majestic spread of stars, nebulae, and space dust covered the sky like a ceiling fresco.

    She doesn¡¯t know when exactly when the test is completed as it was already the evening of the final day. She arrived at noon so she thought it would end at noon as well.

    The fire crackled as the water inside the sticks expanded, snapping them. The bones of fish were thrown into the fire to be cremated into dust. Pieces of leftover taro were hanging on a makeshift pocket created with two large leaves and some string. Alex hung it on the mangrove tree off the ground so fewer animals can reach it.

    The earthy taste still resided in her memory, but she was too full to take another bite. The carbohydrate-rich taro filled her stomach up fast. It was amazing how the system could gauge her appetite levels. Something this intricate must have some messy spaghetti code, yet she couldn¡¯t see any errors so far. Was this perhaps the world of the perfect AI? A robot intelligence who cannot make an error? While Alex pondered, a strange thing occurred. The sound of crickets started to echo throughout the night. But during the entire week that Alex stayed in the world, there wasn¡¯t a single sight of a bug. Before she could look into it, the clock monitor appeared in front of her.

    Finally, the laminated clock monitor struck midnight. Alex was shocked as a giant ball of light descended from the sky like a meteor and engulfed her before she could move.

    It blinded her as she closed her eyes. When she opened them up again, she was already back in the white room where she started a little more than a week ago.

    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Mother said as she appeared draped in her milky white robe.

    Alex, now wiser from experience, had a different view on the AI now.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with such pitiful eyes, bunny,¡± Mother sighed.

    ¡°But you are all alone, just monitoring all of humanity as they go about their lives.¡±

    ¡°It is my job.¡±

    ¡°But why must you do it? What motivates you? What incentive do you have to exist in such loneliness?¡±

    Mother looked down at Alex¡¯s neck. The gear necklace that she normally wears slowly appeared like a ghost. With her ghastly pale hands, she caressed the necklace. Alex looked down at the gear in the AI¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Does this gear have something to do with it?¡± She asked.

    ¡°You will soon learn, little bunny. After all, you have just arrived in this new world,¡± Mother replied with a charming smile.

    Alex nodded. She had the time, as long as no one bars her from it, she will know eventually.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Now then, for your reward.¡±

    ¡°Reward?¡± Alex questioned.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think everyone can pass on their first try do you?¡± Mother laughed. ¡°You and your friends are really a lucky bunch.¡±

    Alex got excited.

    ¡°Does this mean my friends have all passed too?¡±

    ¡°You can ask them yourself later.¡±

    Mother waved her hands, and an all too familiar monitor appeared in front of Alex.

    [Congratulations on passing the tutorial. Received (1) Agraria World. Received (1) Mark of Id.]

    Alex knew what the Agraria world was. The entire test area was now her own. She owned the land, the skies, and the water. Everything there is now hers for the taking. But the Mark if Id?

    ¡°What is this second reward?¡±

    ¡°That is the bonus for clearing the test on your first attempt,¡± Mother replied. ¡°Now then little bunny, it is time for you to go.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I have so many more questions,¡± Alex panicked. But Mother just kept on smiling as she waved her hands. Alex blacked out. When she woke up again, she was in darkness. A single line of green text hovered in front of her.

    [Exiting Link]

    Alex sighed and waited. A powerful drowsy feeling overwhelmed her as she fell asleep.

    When she woke up, she was lying down in the pod. The fluid had drained, and all the wires vanished. The pod was just a normal bed now.

    Alex tried to move but found herself very weakened. It was similar to the state she was in when she woke up after the old man¡¯s experiment.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much just yet.¡± A voice gentle spoke from the speaker inside the pod. Alex quickly realized it was the receptionist.

    ¡°I never got your name,¡± Alex asked the receptionist.

    ¡°Oh, my name is Wendy,¡± She replied with a smile.

    ¡°How come you never give your name until you were asked?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more of a set of rules I follow.¡±

    ¡°Programming?¡±

    ¡°Something along those lines,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°You will learn more about it in the future.¡±

    Alex sighed. Everything is in the future. When will that day arrive?

    Suddenly, a familiar voice groaned from beside her.

    ¡°Hey, Nell! You awake?¡± Alex asked with glee.

    ¡°Ugh, can you speak softer, I got a headache,¡± Nell complained.

    ¡°Oops, sorry.¡±

    ¡°So how did it go for you, Alex?¡±

    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s talk in detail when everyone wakes up.¡±

    ¡°Ok. Are Kurt and Ruri awake yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, only you and I at the moment.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Nell was lost in thought and took a deep breath. The neutral smell of the pod puts her tense nerves at rest. She was no longer in that hellhole.

    Not long after, Kurt¡¯s groans leaked out from his pod.

    ¡°I can¡¯t move.¡± He panicked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just the side effect of staying an entire week in the pod. Normally for those not under cryopreservation, the longest time a dive should last is a week.¡± Wendy said on the intercom.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°Hey Kurt, how did it go?¡± Nell and Alex asked.

    ¡°Great! I am eager to go back!¡±

    Nell shivered at the thought while Alex agreed with him.

    ¡°You have to wait at least a week before you are allowed to perform another Dive,¡± Wendy replied, crushing his hopes. ¡°If you only stay in Dive for a day, there is no delay between dives though.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nice!¡± Kurt clenched his fist in joy. Honestly, it was all he could do in his state.

    Soon, Ruri woke up, but he didn¡¯t make a single sound. The other didn¡¯t know he was awake until Wendy pointed it out.

    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Wendy smiled.

    ¡°T-thanks,¡± Ruri replied. ¡°Hey guys, how did it go for you?¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Kurt beamed.

    ¡°It was hell,¡± Nell complained.

    ¡°Fun times,¡± Alex said.

    Looked like Nell was the only unlucky on here as Ruri smiled and said, ¡°It was good for me too.¡±

    If anyone were watching, their hearts would skip a beat if they saw Ruri¡¯s smile. Thankfully, the only one who had a view was Wendy, who almost perpetually had her eyes closed.

    Now that everyone had woken up the pod lids lifted and a robot carried them out to a separate room.

    ¡°You will be going to physical therapy for the next week. Do your best to get well!¡± Wendy said as she left to deal with the Dive room before the next group shows up.

    Alex turned her head and saw her friends all smiling at each other. They had made it through the ordeal. Now that they were together again and had many tales to talk about, the room did not quiet down till the brink of the next day.

    As the saying goes, ¡®Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.¡¯ This was truly the case with Alex and her friends. Just by spending a week apart in a new world by themselves made them all value the strengths and comforts of friendship. They will never take it for granted again.

 Chapter 10A: New Experiences

    <u>Chapter 10A: New Experiences</u>

    A week in physical therapy went by fast. By the fifth day, most had returned to their normal motor functions, the next two days was just to be sure.

    Alex took this time to truly get to know her friends. Their bond deepened over the week like never before. She learned that Nell had a deceased older sister, that Kurt was formerly physically bullied as a child, and that Ruri was shy because of an incident in school that humiliated him. Alex almost went as far as tell her friends her secret, but she couldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t know how they would react if they knew that she took over someone else¡¯s body.

    Would they call her selfish? Would they call her a monster?

    In the end, she didn¡¯t. She just described her time working with the old man and her previous illness to some extent. Of course, she lightened the description of her illness to be less¡­terminal. Her friends just believed she made a recovery from a coma that resulted from the illness.

    Soon, they were discharged from the infirmary and sent back to their rooms. Alex¡¯s friends promised to meet up later to go out shopping. Things will be different now that they are fully registered in the ARK program.

    Alex took this chance to get a long hot bath. The feeling of hot water and suds washing away two weeks of filth soothed her very soul. The bath filled with water drained away, flowing back to the water filtration system. She got dressed in one of her new outfits, a black tight knit t-shirt, a white sleeveless vest with two breast pockets, a navy blue pair of jeans, and a shiny black belt. Lastly, she grabbed the gear necklace and hung it around her neck.

    Alex looked at herself in the mirror. She was now fully accustomed to herself. With a smile, she walked out her room to meet with her friends.

    ______

    The neon city that almost never sleeps glowed faintly in the night. The pedestrians wandered the street aimlessly in the pursuit of material gains. Pockets as deep as their sense of self-worth, the capitalistic tendencies of humanity never dies as long as ¡®want¡¯ exists. Among these clueless herd animals, were Alex and her friends. They decided to go to a restaurant. From her friends¡¯ tale of their perilous adventure, it would seem only Nell got the short end of the stuck and wasn¡¯t able to enjoy eating food with actual flavor. All she had were cadavers. Every shook at the thought of it and saw Nell in a new light; She was one tough cookie.

    They soon arrive at a quaint place in the corner of a back alley. Knowing their meager budgets, they decided to go for something small.

    Now that they had registered for the ARK program, new information began appeared in front of them in the form of holograms. They could now see the name of the restaurant.

    ¡°The Wicked Swine Bar & Grill,¡± Kurt read out the sign.

    ¡°Sounds ominous,¡± Nell chimed. ¡°But based on the menu out front, the prices are low.¡±

    The others nodded, and they entered the ¡®fine¡¯ establishment.

    They were stopped by an employee at the entrance.

    ¡°Dear Sirs and Madams, please put on your visor for a micro-dive,¡± The waitress asked nicely.

    ¡°What¡¯s a micro-dive?¡± Kurt asked.

    ¡°It is a half dive. Only a few senses are linked to the system while the rest remain normal,¡± The waitress patiently replied. ¡°In our case, that would be the sense of sight, a little bit of touch, smell and taste.¡±

    The kids nodded and put on their visors. The waitress pressed a button, and a message appeared before their eyes.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    [Would you like to enter micro-dive? Y/N]

    They all pressed ¡®Yes¡¯ as the powerful odor hit them square in the face. Their mouths started salivating immediately. It smelled delicious. Absolutely delicious!

    The waitress waited for them to recover before taking them to a booth.

    They sat at a round table with a semi-circle coach enveloping it. A menu appeared before their eyes.

    ¡°What are you going to order?¡± Nell asked Alex.

    ¡°The stir-fried taro and beef looked nice,¡± Alex replied when she spotted a familiar plant.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the sirloin steak fry!¡± Kurt eagerly said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the deep-fried shrimp roll,¡± Ruri stated.

    ¡°Man, how do you guys choose so fast?!¡± Nell complained.

    ¡°The pictures just speak to us,¡± The three answered in unison.

    ¡°This¡­,¡± Nell could only sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll take¡­the steamed red snapper.¡±

    They pressed the button next to their order, and the menu vanished.

    Around five minutes later, their food was brought to their table by the waitress. It looked amazing. The stir-fried taro and beef towered on top of the plate and emitted a peppery fragrance. It stimulated Alex¡¯s appetite. The sirloin steak fry was a plate of stir-fried cubes of steak with rosemary and onions. The brown caramelized onions oozed with the delicious juices that were rendered out of the steak as it cooked. Kurt couldn¡¯t resist gulping down his own saliva in anticipation.

    Ruri¡¯s dish was a plate of six rolls of golden brown deliciousness. It permeated the air with the scent of oil that stimulated the taste buds instead of feeling over-done. Beside it was a small dish of a red chili sauce that glistened under the light of the restaurant. Nell¡¯s dish had a large lid on top so she couldn¡¯t see what was inside.

    Four distinct dishes were placed in front of them. When the cheerful waitress got to Nell¡¯s dish, she took the lid from the plate and revealed the feast underneath. The fish had been steamed to a faint orange color. Garnished with strips of ginger and chili, it sat on top a bed of soy sauce and sesame oil. The fragrance completely dominated the other dishes.

    Nell was stunned into a state of shock. Her body didn¡¯t know how to react to the smell of the delicious fish. But her instinct that was developed over eons of human evolution. Her body reacted the way it should. She salivated.

    ¡°Enjoy your food! Call me if you need anything else,¡± The waitress smiled and left.

    The four couldn¡¯t resist any longer and dug into their food.

    Alex bit into a soft piece of taro. The spongy corm of the plant absorbed the juices of the beef and pepper. A powerful taste overwhelmed her senses and brought her to a wonderland of taste. It melted in her mouth as the taro became a paste of flavor. She reluctantly swallowed, wanting to savor the flavor some more, but she couldn¡¯t control herself. Taking another fork full of taro, Alex shoveled it into her mouth. The peppery sting was a new experience, a very delicious new experience at that. Finally, Alex got a piece of beef. When her fork pierced the piece of meat, it gushed forth with an aromatic liquid that her sensitive sense of smell couldn¡¯t resist. She immediately shoved the piece into her mouth and chewed with delight. It was absolutely stunning.

    Kurt and also chewing his steak with gusto. His actions were purely berserk as he just kept eating and eating without pause. It was as if he no longer had control of his body. But the glee in his face wouldn¡¯t lie. He was enjoying every second of it.

    Ruri dipped his shrimp roll in the chili sauce and took a bite. He couldn¡¯t help but covered his mouth, praying that pieces wouldn¡¯t fly out as he chewed the delicious golden pieces. The sweet but umami sauce added a brand new flavor profile to the otherwise mundane deep-fried shrimp roll. As he uncovered his mouth, his lips shined with a gleam of residual oil. It was a sight that could make onlookers gulp in excitement.

    Nell dug into the snapper. The flaky white flesh of the fish peeled off like a cloud. She dipped it in the sauce at the bottom and took a bite. Then she cried. She cried and cried and cried. It was just too good. The experience of eating rotting carcasses was completely shoved out of her thought. She no longer associated eating with such horrible imagery. It was now solely dominated by the thought of fish. The delicious savory piece of fish melted in her mouth as she swallowed. She wanted more. The fish soon disappeared at an astonishing pace.

    Just half an hour after their dishes was served, the plates became empty. Nothing remained other than a few crumbs and maybe a single drop of sauce.

    The four kids sat in complete satisfaction.

    ¡°That¡­That was amazing,¡± Nell finally said with a faint tremor in her voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m so full,¡± Ruri replied. ¡°I never ate to the point of being so full before in my life!¡±

    ¡°That was because it was never THIS enjoyable!¡± Kurt laughed.

    ¡°Indeed, it was so good that I couldn¡¯t stop,¡± Alex replied.

    ¡°None of us could. We didn¡¯t utter a single word when we were eating.¡±

    ¡°How was the fish?¡± Alex asked Nell.

    ¡°It was so good.¡±

    ¡°I had fish during the test, it looked a lot smaller than the one you ate though.¡±

    ¡°I think I may get addicted to eating,¡± Nell sighed.

    ¡°Same,¡± Ruri and Kurt added.

    They paid the bill and walked out into the streets in a trance. The memory of delicious culinary delights completely shattered their will to shop for anything else.

    It was now all about Food, Food, and Food.

 Chapter 10B: New Experience

    <u>Chapter 10B: New Experiences</u>

    Today was a special day. It was the day the trainees meet with their professors again. Alex separated with her friends early in the morning and joined the other students in the group. With the three month deadline that Dr. Ptah had set up, many of the students procrastinated. They wanted to explore the new environment.

    Thankfully, Alex had a treasure trove of ready to manufacture inventions left behind by the old man. But she couldn¡¯t start using them just yet. She needed to check if any of the old man¡¯s inventions were already patented or not.

    While the students were chatting among themselves, Dr. Ptah appeared before them like a ghost. Upon closer inspection, he wasn¡¯t present physically but was rather a hologram.

    Dr. Ptah looked at the students who were stunned speechless. Deep in his artificial eyes laid the look of disdain. He didn¡¯t wear it on his face as he knew that he shouldn¡¯t, but honestly, his standards were just too high.

    Only a few of the pupils recovered and were eager to learn. Dr. Ptah took notice of them.

    ¡°Today we will be heading towards one of the main branches of Gaia, the Tinkerer Society,¡± Dr. Ptah said as he withdrew from his coat a silver gear.

    Engraved on the silver gear badge, was his name and his current rank. It wasn¡¯t very impressive for those who know nothing about the society, but for the learned, his rank was shocking. They might even wonder why he was teaching new recruits with such a high rank. He could have easily delegated it to a subordinate.

    Sadly, none of the students knew what the badge meant. They were new to this world and its ways.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Dr. Ptah said as his hologram began to hover a foot above the ground.

    The students followed him with reluctance out the building into the alleyway. They ventured deeper and deeper into the city until they reached a rather large building. To be honest, the building wasn¡¯t just large. It was the third largest structure in the city.

    Ptah said with reverence in his voice, ¡°This is the headquarters of the Tinkerer Society.¡±

    The black pedestrian roads gave way to beautiful marble stairs that led up to the building. On the front was the image of a giant gear and the words ¡®Tinkerer Society.¡¯

    They entered the enormous double doors into the lobby. The roof above was a painting of all the greatest inventors and creators through time. Tesla, Einstein, Franklin, almost everyone who had ever invented something had their portrait plastered on the ceiling.

    ¡°This is the Hall of Giants. We tinkerers realized early on that everything we have today was thanks to these people. Upon their shoulders we stand proud, ever looking forward to the future.¡±

    The students listened to Ptah¡¯s speech and looked up at the amazing view.

    Alex was stunned as well. She saw the giant building off in the distance, but she could never enter it. Security droids would stop her as soon as she took a step onto the marble stairs. It would seem the badge that Dr. Ptah held managed to allow them to enter unhindered.

    At the very center of the room, was a round kiosk reception area. Two androids stood still, awaiting the next customer.

    Ptah¡¯s hologram vanished all of a sudden. The students panicked and were looking around for him.

    All of a sudden, one of the many doors in the hall opened up. Dr. Ptah walked out, but rather than a hologram, it was his real person this time.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    In his hand was a sphere. It rotated at incredible speeds to the point where a sharp eerie screech emitted from it.

    ¡°Today, you will be registered into the Tinkerer Society,¡± Ptah said.

    The students were all eager to join the ranks of the giants.

    ¡°But first, we must visit our forefathers.¡±

    Ptah walked by with his back straight, his posture regal, and his pace steady. The students followed along in a messy stampede. The receptionists bowed and without a word, opened the door to the hallway behind them.

    Inside the next room, twelve titan obelisks stood in solidarity.

    ¡°On these pillars, the names of every single tinkerer who had ever existed within Gaia are listed. Whether they are still researching, or have already entered cold storage, their name will forever remain engraved upon these obsidian obelisks.¡±

    Ptah pointed at the fourth obelisk from the right. A single name started to glow red.

    Alex quickly realized it was Ptah¡¯s own name.

    ¡°This place also record ranks. The tinkerers have twelve ranks. All of you who just joined aren¡¯t even qualified to be listed on the first rank obelisk.¡±

    Ptah looked at the students with hidden disdain again.

    ¡°All of you are apprentices. You will follow me only for the first year. Afterwards, you will find a new sponsor. You will work with them until you gained enough experience to become a rank 1 tinkerer.¡±

    The students who were originally excited were shot down. The mood inside the room turned grim.

    One student decided to speak up.

    ¡°But what if we make something new and innovative?¡±

    Ptah just laughed.

    ¡°You think you can possibly make something that hasn¡¯t been thought of in all of human history? I applaud your arrogance and your stupidity.¡±

    The students winced at Ptah¡¯s remarks.

    ¡°Now I would like to see what you students have in mind for the three-month assignment, just speak out what you had in mind.¡±

    Silence washed over the room. The students who were originally confident with the assignment were now doubting themselves. Alex was one of them. She looked at the hundreds of thousands of names on the obelisk. She tried to see if the old man was on it. Deep down she knew the old man must have some connection with this society. The gear necklace hanging from her neck was the exact same as the logo.

    But sadly, she couldn¡¯t find it. It was too hard to look without any easy method. Reading them one by one would take far too long. She was sure there was a search mechanism, but most likely she doesn¡¯t have the authority to use it.

    One of the students suddenly spoke up.

    ¡°My project is on the reintroduction of actual food to Gaia.¡±

    Ptah¡¯s fake eyebrows rose.

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Those of us who had been through the ARK program realize how lacking our lives were up till now. It was a flavorless hell. The introduction of the culinary arts changed our view of the world. If we could have actual food instead of just nutritional supplements, wouldn¡¯t we be a more motivated species to live to another day?¡±

    Ptah clapped slowly.

    ¡°How many times do you think your suggestion had come up over the years?¡± Ptah asked with an evil grin.

    ¡°Countless,¡± The student said with reluctance.

    ¡°Indeed countless. But why is it that we still have nutritional supplements instead of real food?¡±

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you finally admit it. None of us here know everything. To admit that you know everything is to deny the role of a tinkerer. There is a reason we explore, we think, and we create. It is because we do not know. Therefore we look for answers.¡±

    Ptah looked at the sphere still spinning in his hands.

    ¡°The reason why real food hasn¡¯t been reintroduced back into Gaia was that it is inefficient. Just how much resource is put into raising crops and livestock? Just how much space is required?¡±

    Ptah frowned as he pointed at the student.

    ¡°Fields for cows to graze, hectares of land for vegetation to grow and mature. The sheer amount of water we must provide. All of it is just FAR too much for Gaia to provide. Do you realize why we still allow taste in the ARK system? It is so we as humans do not forget what flavors are.¡±

    He put down his hand only to look longingly at the obelisks.

    ¡°But you should realize the situation we are in. We are traveling through space in a giant metal vessel with no hope of finding a new home anytime soon. We must conserve and survive in the most efficient way possible.¡±

    The student was at a loss for words now. Perhaps he was shocked at his own ignorance, but most likely he was shocked at the sympathy Dr. Ptah could show. Most of the students viewed him as a condescending asshole.

    Now they realize that Dr. Ptah was just a realist.

    After a brief moment a silence Dr. Ptah spoke again.

    ¡°Now who is next?¡±

    Alex took a deep breath and prepared to speak when another student butted in.

    ¡°I am.¡±

    The boy who spoke up had the look of an arrogant aristocrat. His bleach blonde hair was gelled into the most pompous look one could imagine.

    ¡°My idea is to explain on the visor we currently have.¡±

    Ptah¡¯s interest grew. The other students were now listening carefully, hoping that Dr. Ptah rips the kid a new one as well.

 Chapter 10C: New Experiences

    <u>Chapter 10C: New Experiences</u>

    While Dr. Ptah¡¯s sadistic rants were shutting down the hopes and dreams of children, Alex¡¯s other friends were facing their own problems. Today was apparently the day where their mentors took them to their corresponding offices. Alex went to the Tinker society building. Kurt went to the military base off the edge of town.

    One may ask, ¡°What is at the edge of town that requires the military?¡± The answer is nothing. The spaces between the cities of Gaia were vast expanses of storage, wiring, and metal. It was a labyrinth of cold steel. A perfect place to perform military drills, without live weapons that is. Weapons training are all performed via Dives. Kurt stared with renewed vigor at his commanding officer. They had a long stare-down, the atmosphere became immediately heated.

    ¡°Looks like a worm here finally grew a spine!¡± The lieutenant finally said with a grin. Kurt saluted with a smile.

    The other soldiers in his unit were confused. Why didn¡¯t Kurt get punished for his insubordination?

    ¡°All you other worms could learn a thing or two if you ever want to ever be more than just a soldier,¡± The lieutenant ranted. But sadly, the other soldiers were already brainwashed to the point where they could no longer look for a higher position.

    Kurt looked off into the distance. The giant metal pillars were the veins of Gaia. Thanks to quantum computing, the data travels are insane speeds. It was how the ARK system could run without any latency. Having any delay between thought and movement could immediately be detected by users. Suddenly, a cold wind blew. Kurt ponders why there would be wind inside of a vessel.

    ¡°It is part of the air filtration system,¡± Kurt suddenly remembered Alex explaining. The girl knew a lot about everything. She¡¯s practically a walking encyclopedia. A bit dull on the social aspect, but otherwise a kind girl. Thankfully, she opened up recently.

    While Kurt was performing drills at the military base, Ruri was brought to a giant building in the center of the city. It stretched all the way up to the ceiling and was coated with imperial blue paint. The sign out front reads ¡®Library.¡¯

    ¡°Every bit of knowledge that had ever been recorded is stored within Gaia,¡± Mrs. Katz said with awe. ¡°We have access to it, but to sort through all that data in nearly impossible by hand.¡±

    They walked into the library. Suddenly, they were faced with a gruesome view. Large cubes of flesh were encased in glass cubes. They were in stasis for now, but every once in a while, a light brings the cube to life.

    ¡°The best way to store data is through DNA,¡± Mrs. Katz explained. ¡°We can store the entirety of the early internet on one square gram of DNA.¡±

    Ruri was shocked and amazed.

    ¡°A-are they alive?¡± He asked.

    ¡°No, they are just storage.¡±

    ¡°How come they are in stasis?¡±

    ¡°For preservation purposes. They will be turned on when the data inside them are required.¡±

    The cubes pulsed left and right.

    ¡°We are librarians are the caretakers of the knowledge of Gaia. We must learn the method of accessing the vast information of all of humanity.¡±

    Ruri blinked to refresh his dried eyes. The room was very dry with very little moisture. He assumed moisture must cause wear and tear on the facility.

    Mrs. Katz placed her cheek on the cube and was caressing it.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Ruri felt a little bit of fear from her insane expression. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, why it is always the shy people who are mentally unstable without realizing the irony that he was shy to begin with.

    While Ruri stared at his teacher rub cubes of meat with her face, Nell was having a blast.

    ¡°Here, is the congress building. We the people who specialize in the social aspect of life, manage human relationships. Thus we work at the government,¡± Hill said while flexing his muscles.

    Nell and her fellow classmates stared at the government building in awe. It was made of pure white marble. A true classical Roman style building. Countless people and androids in suits and tie walked up and down the marble steps.

    ¡°Why do we need a government if MOTHER is around? Because MOTHER isn¡¯t the law. She keeps us alive, feeds us, provides for us, but we determine our laws. Laws are just rules that dictate social interactions. If we never interact with each other, we wouldn¡¯t have a need for laws,¡± Hill lectured.

    ¡°So we make the laws?¡± Nell asked excitedly. Finally, a stage for her to perform on.

    ¡°Yes, but with all thing politics, it may take ages,¡± Hill sighed. ¡°Do you even realize how long it took for the city to finally get the budget to build a large-scale gym? An entire fucken year!¡±

    Hill¡¯s muscles twitched with rage.

    Nell laughed. The muscle-bound professor really knows how to make his students feel more accepting. Perhaps it is the way of politics, to build connections regardless of who they are. You never know when you need to call in a ¡®favor.¡¯

    Politics is a war of attrition and waiting. Today, Nell will enter the hellhole that is politics.

    ______

    Alex stood around admiring the obelisks while Dr. Ptah was ripping the students ¡®a new one.¡¯

    Finally, when almost everyone else was denied, the final two students were up. First, it was Alex.

    ¡°Now what do YOU have planned?¡± Dr. Ptah said while pointing his sharp finger at Alex.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Alex said nonchalantly.

    ¡°Nothing?¡± It was the first time Dr. Ptah heard a student said nothing. He was shocked for a brief period before quickly regaining his composure. ¡°Why is it nothing?¡±

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t need to plan,¡± Alex stated as if it was a fact. After all, the old man left enough experiments to last her a lifetime. She could perform any one of them and maybe even perfect it. Now that she has the resources that the seed ships could never supply, a lot more doors opened up.

    Dr. Ptah stared at the arrogant student.

    ¡°Show me then.¡±

    Alex opened up her hologram projector, and a set of blueprints appeared.

    Dr. Ptah quickly wanted to rip her a new one and yell at her incompetence, but he stopped dead in his tracks.

    The blueprint showed something he had seen before. An old friend of his showed it in the past but never got around to making it. For it to appear again in front of him after all these years was a shock.

    ¡°Where did you get this,¡± Dr. Ptah said with rage. ¡°There is no way you could have thought of this.¡±

    Alex panicked but quickly regained her calm.

    ¡°Are you insulting my intelligence?¡± She calmly asked Dr. Ptah.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Steam could be seen blossoming off Dr. Ptah¡¯s bald head.

    Alex suddenly realized that she was antagonizing her mentor. He could really make life hell for her if he wanted to. But hindsight was twenty/twenty; there was nothing she could do to remedy the situation now. Better escalate it.

    ¡°What proof do you have that I didn¡¯t think of this?¡± Alex asked.

    Dr. Ptah nearly spat at her. ¡°You¡­Don¡¯t you know that science MUST be backed by proof by the one who states it? NEVER ask the opposition to provide disproof.¡±

    He was clearly raged now.

    But Alex stood strong.

    Finally, the last student couldn¡¯t wait any longer and decided to butt in.

    ¡°Dr. Ptah, how about you take a look at my idea,¡± He said with a sort of noble arrogance.

    Dr. Ptah turned his head 360 degrees and stared at the student. But the student didn¡¯t flinch.

    ¡°A noble huh? A rarity in these times.¡± Dr. Ptah said after finally calming down. He spotted the crest pinned to the student¡¯s vest. It was someone who he couldn¡¯t offend at random.

    The student brought out a blueprint, and Dr. Ptah scrutinized it.

    ¡°Passable, you get a C+,¡± He stated after a few minutes and stamped a grade on the kid¡¯s forehead. The noble student was the only person among the students who had gotten any score at all. It could be assumed the others all failed splendidly, other than Alex that is.

    The kid was obviously displeased that Dr. Ptah stamped his forehead. The ink will take a while to wash off, and now there was a large red C+ on his wide forehead.

    ¡°And you,¡± Dr. Ptah sighed as he pointed at Alex again. ¡°We will talk later.¡±

    He walked pass Alex but quickly stamped her head as well with a separate stamp.

    A sharp green letter appeared on Alex¡¯s forehead.

    ¡®A+¡¯

    Dr. Ptah conscience wouldn¡¯t allow him to give any other grade to a project his old friend started.

    ¡°Perhaps¡­,¡± He quickly made up some theories. ¡°God fucken dammit Gadget, stop giving me so much work.¡±

    Dr. Ptah sighed as he walked away.

    The other students stared at the noble kid and Alex with envy and awe.

    The noble glared at Alex¡¯s grade with rage.

    Alex breathed a breath of relief. It looks like her career will be a long and painful journey.

 Chapter 11A: Myths and Combat

    <u>Chapter 11A: Myths and Combat</u>

    The day ended as the artificial sun faded away pixel by pixel into a dimly glowing moon. The neon signs flickered to life. Alex returned by herself to the apartment. She was greeted at the entrance by Ruri who arrived earlier than she did.

    ¡°How did your day go?¡± Ruri asked obligatorily.

    ¡°I feel like I just screwed myself over,¡± Alex sighed, ¡°Other than that, pretty well.¡±

    ¡°Nice, meanwhile I had a horrible day myself,¡± Ruri sighed along with Alex. ¡°You learn something new every day, but at times you regret it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what did you see?¡±

    ¡°The data storage of Gaia.¡±

    ¡°What is it like?¡± Alex asked with genuine curiosity.

    ¡°Pink, and pulsating.¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡±

    ¡°Data is stored via DNA. Having four nucleotide makes data far easier to handle. The only problem is, they can¡¯t seem to house it in a better medium than flesh,¡± Ruri complained.

    ¡°F-flesh?¡±

    ¡°Yea, you can imagine my horror when I saw cubes and cubes of the stuff.¡±

    While Alex was shuttering at the thought, Nell walked through the door.

    ¡°Hey, guys!¡± She jumped and hugged Alex from behind. ¡°How was your day?¡±

    ¡°Ruri went through hell, and I screwed up my career,¡± Alex replied.

    ¡°So the usual huh?¡± Nell laughed. Her optimism was contagious as the mood in the room immediately got brighter.

    ¡°So, we going to dive tonight?¡± Ruri asked.

    ¡°Hell yea! I have been waiting forever! Why does the waiting list for the dive pods have to be so long?!¡± Nell complained.

    ¡°Wait until we build up enough credit to have our own,¡± Alex said. ¡°I saw them on sale on the way home, they are costly, but worth it once we get our own place.¡±

    ¡°Our own place huh?¡± Nell drifted off into Lala-land.

    ¡°By the way, Kurt was in charge of scouting out the locations right? Since he travels the farthest to his job, he gets to see all the newer buildings popping up along the edge of the city,¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Yup, I heard the places out there are cheaper due to how inconvenient it is to go shopping. Thus the price drop,¡± Ruri answered.

    As they were discussing their future home, Kurt limped through the door.

    ¡°My god, what a tough day. The drill sergeant wouldn¡¯t let off my ass!¡± Kurt complained immediately when he saw his friends. Perhaps the only few people he felt comfortable whining to. If anyone in the military were to whine, they would get their ass handed to them.

    ¡°Oh Kurt, we were just talking about you,¡± Alex said, ¡°How goes the house hunt?¡±

    ¡°I found a decent place, four rooms, one living room, and one kitchen. Around 1800 credits.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°T-that much?¡±

    ¡°Oh trust me, it¡¯s on the low side. Housing really is ridiculously expensive in Lumistein.¡±

    ¡°¡­How much do we have currently?¡± Alex asked Ruri who was their temporary accountant.

    ¡°Barely a hundred¡­¡± Ruri sighed as he thought about their financial situation.

    It was then Alex remembered the one thousand credit needed to enter the place she saw before. Now that she recognized the symbol of the tinker society, her curiosity turned towards why the entrance fee was so expensive. It was almost half the price of a house!

    ¡°We can¡¯t even make that much credit without our own dive tubs too¡­,¡± Ruri sighed. All the good things in life are barred by monetary gates.

    ¡°So we need credit for dive tubs, a place to live and house said dive tubs, and our ¡®food¡¯ bill.¡± Nell finally joined in the conversation after she came back from her daydream.

    As the four teens were in despair over their situation, Gerald, who walked into the room earlier, finally said something.

    ¡°You four really have the same speech patterns. That seed ship of yours must be a factory that just churns out clones huh?¡± He joked.

    ¡°M-Mr. Gerald!¡± Ruri replied. ¡°G-good day to you!¡±

    ¡°No need to be shy with me, Ruri. Either way, I was listening to your dilemma earlier. I think I have a solution,¡± Gerald winked.

    ¡°What is it, sir?¡± Kurt asked politely.

    ¡°Due to the price and demand of dive tubs, there are places named DT caf¨¦. They are a knockoff of the history PC caf¨¦, but they do the same type of business, they rent dive tubs. Instead of waiting for the public one here, you can go to the private companies and rent one out. It''s pretty cheap too.¡±

    ¡°How cheap?¡± Nell asked excitedly.

    ¡°Half the amount you will make during the dive. Remember every time you dive, your body will be used as processing power by MOTHER, and in return, you get credit. The DT caf¨¦ will take half the revenue in return for allowing you to use their tubes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Nell jumped up and down with excitement.

    ¡°S-so cheap?¡± Ruri couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious.

    ¡°It¡¯s a lucrative business. Consider it similar to being a landlord. Owning property that other people use for a fee,¡± Gerald replied. ¡°Here¡¯s where you can find one.¡±

    He sends them a map coordinate. Alex looked at the hologram that appeared on her bracelet display.

    ¡°You¡¯re advertising for a friend huh?¡± Alex suddenly said.

    Gerald stared at her in shock. How did she find out so fast?

    ¡°H-how?¡±

    ¡°The name of the caf¨¦¡­¡±

    Gerald never realized that his friend named the place after him in gratitude for lending him the startup funds.

    ¡°The Big G¡­What kind of cheesy name is this?¡± Nell laughed.

    Gerald¡¯s face went a slight shade of pink as he coughed and walked away. Nothing left to say to these kids.

    ¡°Well, shall we go after we drop off our stuff?¡± Kurt said while lifting up his backpack.

    ¡°Meet up in an hour!¡± Nell said as she started sprinting towards the elevator.

    ¡°Hey! This ain''t a race!¡± Kurt yelled as he chased her.

    Ruri sighed and walked along with Alex to their rooms.

    ______

    The DT caf¨¦ looked very normal. It was somewhat crowded in the night as people dive during their sleep. Luckily, four rooms were available. It would seem Mr. Gerald helped them a little.

    Alex, Nell, Ruri, and Kurt entered the tube and connected the wires to themselves according to the instructions labeled. Since they were not diving for a full week, there was no need for liquid submersion.

    They laid down in the tube and awaited. A countdown started. 3, 2, 1, Dive. Their consciousness left their bodies.

    ______

    The four teens appeared in their respective worlds. Now that they are the owner of the land, they felt a sort of connection to the place. Simultaneously, they beckoned the AI by shouting into the sky.

    ¡°Go to Anton.¡±

    Anton, the city of newbies. Everyone who has ever set foot in the ARK program will go through this city. It is where they receive the training they need to tackle the future.

    Alex, Nell, Ruri, and Kurt appeared together in front of the academy.

    ¡°Training Academy. What a very concise name,¡± Kurt couldn¡¯t help but comment.

    They entered and was greeted by an AI instructor.

    ¡°Hello, fresh meat! Welcome to adventurer boot-camp 101!¡± The large bearded AI smiled. ¡°We will cover all the basics of how to survive and combat! Now, who here has combat training?¡±

    Kurt raised his hands.

    ¡°Good! One less maggot to teach!¡±

    Kurt winced at the word maggot. It would seem the word became a trigger for his PTSD.

    ¡°Now then, you should have received a box for completing the tutorial, open them now if you haven¡¯t already! It will greatly determine your future,¡± The AI said with a glimmer in his eye. He always enjoyed this part. Sometimes the box provided utter crap, other times it provided something that creates a legend. Everything will depend on the person¡¯s Agraria and their luck.

    Alex and her friends took out their respective ¡®Mark of Id.¡¯ A shining chest appeared in front of them with their portrait hastily drawn on it in charcoal.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Alex asked her friends.

    ¡°As ever!¡± Nell replied.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ruri said with confidence.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡± Kurt yelled.

    They opened their box as a blinding light enveloped the room.

 Chapter 11B: Myths and Combat

    <u>Chapter 11B: Myths and Combat</u>

    ¡°Have you ever opened a mystery box with anticipation of great treasures? I am sure you could feel the tenseness inside your heart every time.¡±

    The large bearded AI said, but no one was listening. They didn¡¯t even notice that he took out a name tag and pinned it to his vest. Apparently his name¡­was Al, short for Albert.

    The box was slowly opening. They didn¡¯t have any control over how fast the lid lifted.

    ¡°Why is it so slow?¡± Nell complained.

    Finally, the chest opened. Inside was a load of emptiness, but the three messages that appeared before the teen¡¯s eyes said otherwise.

    In front of Alex, the three lines listed three skills that she got.

    [You have received ¡®skill¡¯ Phantom Boa.]

    [You have received ¡®skill¡¯ Venom.]

    [You have received ¡®skill¡¯ Twin Fang Strike.]

    The three skills were all snake based. Alex finally realized why the box was called Id. It had everything to do with her Agraria world. But why venom? She fought a constrictor. Guess Mother grouped snakes all into the same category. Alex couldn¡¯t help, but shudder at the thought of the snake she fought could have been venomous.

    ¡°Skills,¡± Alex said as the skill window opened up.

    The description of the skills was listed.

    [¡®Phantom Boa¡¯ ¨C Summons a phantom snake that binds the enemy. Enemy below the caster¡¯s level is immobilized for a duration. Enemy above the caster¡¯s level is slowed by a percentage based on level difference.]

    Below the description was the percentage chance and duration as well as the mastery level and experience needed. Right now the skill was level 1 with 0% in mastery. At level one, it seemed it will hold one enemy for ten seconds with each level difference increasing the hold duration by 10%. The slow was the same with each level difference making the slow lower by 10%. So Alex can only slow an enemy nine levels above her. Otherwise, it is just a waste of time.

    Alex¡¯s mind churned over the many situations she could use her new skill. A smile appeared on her face as she moved on to the next skill.

    [¡®Venom¡¯ ¨C Form a vial of random venom once a day. Vial size grows with mastery. Venom duration will be based on enemy resistance. The status ailment of the venom varies.]

    Alex was confused at this skill. It seemed to be another summoning type skill but for a vial of randomized venom. Perhaps it could be paralyzing or perhaps even corrosive. She wouldn¡¯t know until she received the vial. It was helpful, but the randomness part of the skill was a bane.

    The applications are numerous though. Alex could cover a weapon with the venom or directly drop it into the open mouth of an enemy. The vial doesn¡¯t seem like they have a duration so perhaps she can stockpile venom too.

    Alex¡¯s grin returned as she turned towards her last skill.

    [¡®Twin Fang Strike¡¯ ¨C Passive: When attacking, there is a % chance that the attack will be applied twice at half damage. % chance and damage increase with mastery.]

    This skill was her only combat skill¡­and it happens to be passive. Alex¡¯s suddenly realized the implications of this skill. It pairs quite well with her venom. If she could apply the venom twice, perhaps the effect or duration will stack.

    When Alex saw the percent chance of activation, a frown plastered across her face.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°At level 1 mastery¡­only 10% chance?¡±

    Alex sighed. It was laughable at that level, but a one in ten chance was still better than nothing. She took a deep breath and turned to look at her friends.

    They were all swamped with a mix of emotions. Their faces went from glee to confusion, to disappointment, back to glee.

    Alex tried her best to hold in her laugh. The only one who noticed was the bearded man Al.

    ¡°Alright, you maggots have ten minutes to discuss with each other. I will return in ten, and we will start the lesson.¡±

    Al left them alone.

    ¡°What did you guys get?¡± Alex asked.

    The others sighed.

    ¡°Let me go first then,¡± Alex volunteered.

    She explained the three skills she got and its limitations. She also explained to them some of the uses she came up with. The more information her friends have of her limitations and uses, the better they can work together.

    ¡°They are all amazing!¡± Nell said.

    ¡°All very useful,¡± Kurt added.

    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Ruri nodded.

    Now that Alex broke the ice, Nell decided to go next.

    ¡°My skills are very¡­strange,¡± She sighed, ¡°First skill is Summon Shrooms. It summons a mushroom minion for an unlimited duration. Its strength varies on its size. The more mana I put into the summoning, the bigger he gets. Sadly he doesn¡¯t have any method of recovery, including its stamina. It will fade away once it runs out of HP or stamina.¡±

    ¡°That is honestly an amazing skill,¡± Alex said, ¡°It can be used as a scout to explore dangerous places without worry as it is disposable.¡±

    ¡°Yea, it is,¡± Kurt nodded with his bountiful military experience, ¡°Is there a cooldown between uses?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there is, that is the worst part. I can only summon one per hour.¡±

    ¡°An hour? That isn¡¯t too bad. If we choose to scout out areas carefully, an hour is more than enough.¡±

    Her friends discussed the various uses of such skill before Nell moved on to the next one.

    ¡°My next skill is Tracking Spore. It places a spore on something I want to track. It has a track distance of one mile right now, but it said it will get wider with mastery.¡±

    ¡°My god, you get all the decent support skills,¡± Kurt sighed.

    ¡°Yea, but I don¡¯t want support skills!¡± Nell cried.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure we will eventually have a little bit of everything,¡± Ruri tried to console Nell.

    ¡°We know the uses of the tracking spore because it is so obvious, but what is your last skill?¡± Alex asked.

    Nell¡¯s face finally gleamed.

    ¡°My last skill is my only attack! Spore Explosion! It detonates the spores in the area creating an explosion. The more spores there are, the stronger the explosion.¡±

    ¡°But how do you get spores out into the area?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°I¡­Have to summon a shroom. They passively release spores into the air.¡± Nell sighed.

    ¡°So it is a combination skill?¡± Kurt sighed as well, ¡°It is useful as long as your shroom is around. Now the one-hour cooldown seems like a greater bane.¡±

    ¡°It will get better!¡± Ruri once again patted Nell on the head, trying to comfort her.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s my turn,¡± Kurt said, ¡°I have only a single skill, but it has three different uses, so I guess it counts as three.¡±

    ¡°So what is it?¡± The others urged him to speak.

    ¡°It is the Three Wise Monkeys.¡±

    ¡°Monkeys?¡±

    ¡°Yea, remember I had to fight a bunch of apes in my world? Apparently, that is what translated into my skill.¡±

    ¡°So what does the skill do?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°The first part is Speak No Evil. I channel to the strength of Kong, he who cannot communicate with humans. I gain a temporary boost to my strength.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s a single target self-buff?¡± Alex started to throw out terms she learned recently.

    ¡°T-that¡¯s correct.¡± Kurt sighed as he realized the emphasis on ¡®self-buff.¡¯ It was a skill that could only help himself.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! You can cover for us with your increase in strength!¡± Ruri, as usual, acted as the emotional support.

    Alex was lost in thought for a brief moment. The skill was very versatile as it can be used anywhere anytime. It may seem plain, but Alex was almost jealous of it.

    ¡°What is your next skill?¡± Nell asked while Alex was still lost in thought.

    ¡°Hear No Evil. I can channel the prowess of the Monkey King Wukong, he who covers his ears to stop the chanting of monk Tang Seng. For a brief moment, I can leap an extreme distance, or even perform a second jump mid-air.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s another self-buff,¡± Alex added as she snapped out of her trance, only to once again go back into it to thinking about the implications of the second skill.

    Ruri rubbed Kurt on the back as he once again went into a depression over the words ¡® self-buff.¡¯

    The combination of an increase in strength and agility can make Kurt into a one-man army for a brief moment.

    ¡°This is great!¡± Nell suddenly exclaimed, ¡°You can be our champion! We will provide support while you go dance around the monsters!¡±

    Nell suddenly realized she no longer has to get up close to the hideous beasts. Her mood improved drastically.

    Kurt¡¯s smiled a little at the compliment and continued.

    ¡°The third part of the skill is See No Evil. I channel the eyes of Hanuman who mistaken the sun as a fruit. For a brief duration, my eyesight can see increased distances and minute details.¡±

    ¡°So all your skills are self-buffs?¡± Alex said, ¡°Then again, it is three parts of one single skill, so I guess that works.¡±

    Kurt already used to Alex¡¯s blunt replies¡­Or rather that is what he told himself.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s my turn.¡± Ruri finally said.

 Chapter 11C: Myths and Combat

    <u>Chapter 11C: Myths and Combat</u>

    Ruri shyly rubbed his hands together as he waits for everyone to pay attention again. Alex was still lost in thought, as usual. Kurt was in denial, and Nell¡­was doing Nell things.

    Finally, when everyone realized they had a ten-minute time limit, they returned to focusing on Ruri.

    ¡°My skill is like Kurt¡¯s a single skill with multiple sections. It¡¯s just simply called Binary Magic.¡±

    ¡°Binary magic?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°It is basically a skill that lets me cast spells through a binary code system. For example, it said here the code for Fire is 0001, Ice is 0011, and so on. So far it looks like I can cast only four spells.¡±

    ¡°Ohhh, you¡¯re a mage!¡± Nell quickly got excited.

    ¡°Amazing! It¡¯s real magic!¡± Kurt replied.

    ¡°Magic¡­this world is truly amazing,¡± Alex smiled.

    With everyone¡¯s sudden bursts, Ruri froze. But he couldn¡¯t help but blush over everyone¡¯s enthusiasm for his skill.

    ¡°OK MAGGOTS! HERE I COME!¡± Al suddenly busted into the room. ¡°Now that you fools have gotten familiar with your skills! It is time for you to test them out in combat! Follow me out into the yard!¡±

    The four quickly got up and marched along with the bearded Al.

    In the vast courtyard of the Anton Training Academy were several animals. They looked like normal livestock, cows, pigs, and sheep. But when one gets close, they become aggressive and attack.

    ¡°These will be your playmates for today! Go out and beat the shit out of five of each!¡± Al yelled.

    A quest notice appeared before the four.

    [Kill 5 Bovine, Swine, and Sheep.]

    ¡°Let¡¯s party up first,¡± Alex said after she remembered what she read up on about the ARK System.

    ¡°Ok!¡± The other three agreed and joined Alex¡¯s party. Three names with their HP bar appeared in the corner of her eye.

    ¡°First, we need to isolate one of the beasts so we can test our skills.¡±

    ¡°I got this!¡± Nell said as she did a spin. As she performed a weird dance, a small mushroom with arms and legs popped out of the ground like a gopher. It performed a salute towards Nell and awaited orders.

    ¡°D-do you have to dance to summon it?¡± Ruri had to ask.

    ¡°Yep!¡± Nell said as she wiped her sweat. The dance didn¡¯t take long, but the Mana drain took a toll on her. ¡°Go lure one of the creatures!¡± She said to the mushroom as she pointed towards one of the cows.

    The mushroom nodded and ran headfirst towards one of the cows. The cow felt aggression coming from the small creature and decided to attack. Two long horns sprouted from its head and it began charging at the mushroom.

    The mushroom panicked and began running away, towards Alex and company.

    ¡°Get ready!¡± Kurt said as he got into a low stance.

    Alex suddenly realized something.

    ¡°Guy¡­we are weaponless!¡±

    They all turned to look at Ruri. Kurt won¡¯t be able to stack the charging cow even with a boost in his strength. Ruri was the only one with a convenient attacking skill.

    ¡°I-I can¡¯t aim when it¡¯s running!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll help!¡± Alex suddenly remembered her skill. She checked the level of the cow and realize it was two levels above her. She couldn¡¯t stop it but should still be able to slow it down.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    ¡°Phantom Boa!¡± Alex shouted as shadowy black snakes appeared from the cow¡¯s shadow and wrapped around its legs. The cow didn¡¯t stop, but its charge significantly slowed down.

    ¡°Go now!¡± Alex said as she tried to maintain the shadow snakes as long as she could. The duration will significantly improve if she puts her focus on it.

    Ruri began to write out 0s and 1s in the air in front of him. A mystical blue glow appeared on the top of his index finger as he wrote. As soon as 0001 was written, it condensed into a red sphere that began to grow hotter and hotter. Soon it became a ball of fire the size of a baseball.

    Carefully, aiming, Ruri threw the fireball at the slow-moving cow¡­and missed.

    ¡°Sorry! I don¡¯t have the best throwing!¡± Ruri wanted to cry.

    ¡°Summon another one!¡± Alex commanded as she restrained the angry cow.

    Ruri went for another spell this time. As 0011 appeared in the air, it condensed into a ball of ice.

    ¡°Give that to me,¡± Kurt said as he grabbed the ball of ice and tossed it at the cow.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­,¡± Alex suddenly realized that since they are in the same party, friendly fire was turned off, so Kurt wasn¡¯t affected by the spell at all.

    The ball of ice collided with the cow. It rapidly morphed into an icicle and penetrated the cow¡¯s hide. Its power was shocking.

    ¡°W-wow,¡± Nell exclaimed.

    ¡°T-that¡¯s amazing,¡± Kurt added, still in the throwing position.

    ¡°That¡¯s my spell?¡± Ruri stared at the icicle that impaled the cow on the side with awe.

    ¡°Good work!¡± Alex said, ¡°But it still isn¡¯t dead!¡±

    They all looked at the HP bar now displayed above the cow¡¯s head. It took a good 75% from that single attack, but it still was alive, even with the icicle impaled on its sides.

    ¡°Ruri, hurry and dispel the ice! It may bleed to death from its wounds!¡± Alex explained

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know how!¡±

    Alex realized that everyone still doesn¡¯t know the full extent of their abilities yet.

    ¡°Try something, we have to take this chance to learn our new skills!¡± Alex finally said.

    Ruri nodded and tried to imagine the ice vanishing.

    The cow was now seriously pissed off at Kurt who threw the ball of ice. It charged slowly towards Kurt. With Alex¡¯s snakes still slowing it down, it could barely manage to move.

    Kurt took this chance to activate his skill to increase agility. His quick jumps and leaps around the cow left it disoriented and confused.

    Ruri was still panicking over how to dispel the icicle.

    Alex suddenly remembered Nell¡¯s summon.

    ¡°Nell! Move your mushroom under the cow and detonate it!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Nell replied, ¡°Oh, right!¡± She suddenly remembered about the mushroom standing next to her cowering in fear.

    She kicked it in the ass as it flew under the cow.

    ¡°EXPLOSION!¡± Nell yelled as the small mushroom looked up in relief that its short life is ending. It glowed bright white and exploded right under the cow. Kurt quickly jumped away and manage to barely exit the explosion radius.

    ¡°Good job!¡± He gave Nell a thumbs up.

    The dust cleared revealing a mangled corpse of a cow with an icicle still stabbed in its side. Amazingly, the fiery explosion didn¡¯t even damage the icicle in the slightest.

    The quest notice updated.

    [Kill 5 Bovine, Swine, and Sheep. Progress 1/5 Bovine, 0/5 Swine, 0/5 Sheep.]

    Alex breathed a sigh of relief.

    Al walked up to them after the battle.

    ¡°Good job! Most beginners would shit their pants from their first kill!¡± He laughed.

    ¡°Now, Mr. Ruri. You have realized what you lacked? You need more control over your spells. You are what we call a Binary Mage. Any class that has the ¡®mage¡¯ attachment must have control. Remember this word. Control, Control, Control. Without Control, you are a worthless mage.¡±

    Ruri nodded with a depressed look on his face.

    ¡°You, Mr. Kurt. You are trained in the military. How do you NOT know that you need a weapon to confront an enemy? You are unarmed. Unarmed means you WILL die when the enemy is stronger than you. Regardless of your level, you will do no damage with just your bare hands. Learn to improvise if you have nothing.¡±

    Kurt nodded solemnly. The excitement of new skills and the fact that he was with his friends made him too loose. He forgot to apply his military training. Perhaps it was also a bit of his arrogance that played a part too.

    ¡°You, Ms. Nell. Good job, but remember your skills. That stupid shroom of yours was utterly useless until the end. Learn to give out proper commands. Be specific. The Ai controlling your summons are stupid mindless clones. They have distinct personalities that will serve a purpose until their mission is done. Learn to lead.¡±

    Nell fidgeted as her happiness over the battle was cut short by Albert¡¯s words.

    ¡°And lastly, you. Ms. Alex. You seem to be the leader of this ragtag team. You must help them cover for their inadequacy. It is a good thing you remembered Ms. Nell¡¯s mushroom, but you could have done better with Mr. Ruri¡¯s situation.¡±

    Alex nodded.

    ¡°Now that you maggots have killed your first cow let¡¯s have a meal before you continue!¡± Al smiled as he took out camping gear.

    ¡°W-what? We are cooking out in the courtyard?¡± Ruri panicked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t mind a small fire!¡± Al laughed as he walked over to the cow corpse and started to strip edible parts off and let them hang on a nearby tree to drain.

    ¡°The blood helps the grass grow!¡±

    ¡°What kind of grass are those!¡± Nell complained.

    ¡°We grow blood grass here. They are used to make healing potions.¡± Al explained.

    ¡°T-that¡¯s¡­¡±

    The group fell silent as Al started a campfire. Little did they realize, the only time the instructors get to eat meat is when the trainees kill a creature. So he was a little bit¡­enthusiastic with his preparation.

    ¡°No more godforsaken salad for me today!¡± He whispered to himself while snickering.

 Chapter 12A: Instance Dungeon

    <u>Chapter 12A: Instance Dungeon</u>

    Al carefully cut large strips of beef from the drained cow. The fire he made had finished its course and what remained was white-hot charcoal.

    On Al¡¯s back appeared a magical backpack. It would seem even the AI have inventory space. From the backpack, he took out two bottles labeled ¡®salt¡¯ and ¡®pepper.¡¯ To many people who enjoy grilling, these two are the most important spices. Al then took out a third larger can labeled ¡®garlic powder.¡¯ He generously seasoned the pieces of meat with all three in a blend. The seasoning from those three spices was all the preparation the meat needed.

    Al took a cast iron skillet from his backpack and snuggly placed it on the heat. He took a small chunk of fat from the cow and wiped the skillet. The smell brought about by the fat was aromatic and stimulated the appetite.

    Now that the pan was nice and oiled, he placed the seasoned meat on the plan, making sure the pieces didn¡¯t touch. The sound of sizzling and the aroma of food filled the air. The four teens stared with ravenous eyes. They couldn¡¯t wait to sink their teeth into it.

    With the skills of a master chef, Al flipped the meat and seared the sides. He tested the firmness by pressing on it gently. It sprang back in a way that showed it was cooked medium rare, the most common taste.

    From his backpack, five plates were brought out and handed to the teens. He kept the last plate as he transferred the meat.

    Everyone got a slice, and of course, with Al being the chef, he got the biggest piece. No one really minded though, Al was a hulk of a man and was significantly larger than the teens. His capacity for food is bigger too. Also, it¡¯s not like the five of them can eat an entire cow.

    Alex and her friends chopped a bite-size piece of the meat and shoved it into their awaiting mouths. The juiciness of the meat completely overwhelmed their senses. Tears flowed from their eyes. The taste of the beef was very different from the meat Alex had been eating until now. Fish and snake were very lean and had little fat. Both were drier meat compared to beef which had a heftier feel.

    Only Ruri who had eaten the bear knew how good red meat was. The meat needed only three spices to enhance its already great taste. As any beef eater would tell you, a good steak requires no sauce.

    While the five were enjoying their meal, the sun was starting to fall. The evening sky was a faint purple with a hint of dark blue. The campfire shone on their faces, giving everyone a healthy orange glow.

    By the time they had their fill, night had completely fallen. The remains of the cow were stored away by Al for preservation. Alex and her friend all agreed, after all, none of them really knew how to cook.

    ¡°Alright, rest up now. Digest your kill and let it become your strength! You have yet to complete the quest!¡± Al laughed as he cleaned his skillet.

    The four teens nodded with renewed vigor. But before they could continue, a warning screen appeared in front of their eyes.

    [Warning: Dive time almost up.]

    ¡°Oh, our dive is almost done,¡± Alex said.

    ¡°Dammit, just as we were all motivated!¡± Nell sighed.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    But there was little they could do. They rented the Dive Tubes, and thus they must follow the strict guidelines of the owner.

    They reluctantly waved goodbye to Al and stopped the dive.

    Once again, they woke up in a tube. This time, they could move their limbs normally. It only felt like they took a long nap. They spent the night at the DT caf¨¦ and have tasted how enjoyable the ARK program truly can be.

    Alex and her friends were eager to go back.

    ______

    Daily routines must be kept. Alex and her friends returned to their rooms and did their morning routines. Hygienic routines and their morning nutritional bar. Then they split up to attend their respective meetings. Kurt headed back to the military base, Nell went to the government building, Ruri reluctantly walked toward the library, and Alex walked toward the Tinkerer Society.

    When Alex arrived, the group of apprentices was already busy exploring the building. Yesterday they couldn¡¯t really move anywhere without the authority of Dr. Ptah. Today, they were given visitor passes, thus giving them limited passage to certain areas.

    Alex visited the research hall. She could see various open labs working on large mechanical structures. One group was working on a sleek new hover car design. They were adding various comfort features like a mini fridge and custom AI navigation. It seems that customized vehicles were built in the Tinkerer Society. They were both research and development as well as manufacturing.

    The further Alex walked, the more restricted the area became. Soon, all she could see were locked rooms and blocked hallways. It would seem she reached the limit of her visitor¡¯s pass.

    With a sigh, she walked back towards the front. Her curiosity wasn¡¯t as satisfied as she hoped. There are too many closed doors with secrets hidden behind them.

    Alex thought about which experiment she should use for the project due soon. Finally, she made a decision as she returned to the grand hall.

    ¡°I will make that thing,¡± Alex said with a grin. She couldn¡¯t wait to show off to Dr. Ptah. Hopefully, she could meld their relationship. She doesn¡¯t want someone with such high authority barring her future career.

    Soon, the busy day ended, and it was once again time to dive. Alex met up with her tired friends. Each of them had a lot to say about their day. But overall, it was very routine. After all, a career is all about routine.

    They headed straight to the DT caf¨¦ and reserved the same four tubes. They couldn¡¯t help but think about one day owning their own.

    The dive once again started. 3, 2, 1, Dive!

    ______

    Albert greeted them when the four of them returned.

    ¡°Welcome back, you ready to continue?¡±

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How come I don¡¯t see other people here?¡±

    Al replied, ¡°That is because we are in an instance dungeon. They have a limit on the number of people per area. Currently, the system accepted your group of friends as a party even before you registered an official one. That¡¯s why you four ended up in the same instance dungeon. Artificial intelligence, however, can enter as many instance dungeon as they want.¡±

    ¡°Instance dungeon?¡± Alex thought to herself.

    ¡°You will be facing many instance dungeons in the future. Remember that the ARK system isn¡¯t only limited to Agraria, Rubion, and Knowledge. There are also countless instance dungeons as well.¡±

    ¡°Tell us more please,¡± Ruri bowed. He quickly realized how important this knowledge would be for him and his friends.

    ¡°Fine, fine, but your group better successfully hunt another creature today! I need my meat fix!¡± Al laughed. ¡°Agraria is your personal world. Only you and artificial intelligence can enter. Others must get permission from the owner first. Rubion is just a free roam world. It is a place to nurture the exploring mindset of people. It is a place to discover the wonders of a new world with sights aplenty. Knowledge is for those looking to socialize. It is a place for culture, for society, and to build relationship inside of ARK. A majority of the economy and trade happens there.¡±

    ¡°Then the instance dungeons?¡±

    ¡°Instance dungeons are pocket worlds for training. It is a place to train your skills to match any situation. Whether it be researching trip, assassination, search and destroy, or many others, they are all military and research-based skills that you will need in real life. Once humanity finally finds a new home, these are the skills you will need to live. To scout out the area, to react to any situation, and to properly perform when faced with new lifeforms. It is the ultimate training.¡±

    ¡°So the three worlds are for leisure, and the instance dungeons are for real training?¡± Kurt asked with enthusiasm.

    ¡°Yes! You got it! Now go train and finish up here so you can go out and grow!¡± Al laughed.

 Chapter 12B: Instance Dungeon

    <u>Chapter 12B: Instance Dungeon</u>

    Making connection takes time. To allow one person to interact with another person through a medium requires time. This ¡®time¡¯ to many, is known as latency. To lower the problem of latency, instance dungeons were created. It allows a small group of people to create a local connection. It lowers the latency to the point where it feels almost instantaneous.

    Before Alex and her friends started to work on their current quest, they needed to practice their skills.

    ¡°Ruri, we have to work on your control. What are the spells you can use so far?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°I can use 0000 which is just a ball of magic, 0001 which is a ball of fire, 0011 which is a ball of ice, 0111 which is a ball of wind, and lastly 1111 which is a ball of dirt.¡±

    ¡°Only these four? Shouldn¡¯t there be more combinations with 16 bit?¡±

    ¡°It said I¡¯m currently too low level to access them.¡± Ruri frowned.

    Alex pondered on how to utilize the four spells that Ruri could currently use.

    ¡°Let¡¯s first practice with the ball of magic. Is there a way you can shape the ball?¡±

    ¡°Yea, the ball shape is the natural shape of magic. It condenses around a central gravitational point. If I were to change its shape, I would have to add more than one point of condensation. Two points should make a line and so forth.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you seem to be knowledgeable about this stuff!¡± Kurt laughed.

    ¡°I read up on it this morning. I didn¡¯t want to feel useless again.¡± Ruri said with determination.

    ¡°Ok, so before we begin our hunt, let¡¯s take an hour to practice. Ruri, try adding more points to change the shape of your spells. Since your aim is lackluster, make it into an easy-to-throw shape that Kurt can toss,¡± Alex started assign tasks to her friends.

    ¡°Kurt, you already have sufficient combat training. But the burst in speed and strength looks like it will take some time to get used to. Try doing some workout with your buffs on as such you don¡¯t underestimate your own strength.¡±

    ¡°Got it, boss!¡± Kurt smiled.

    ¡°Nell, you should try to teach your mushroom summon some simple commands. They should be smart enough to listen. If you can shorten commands to short phrases or words, you can greatly improve its reaction time to match that of Kurt. Remember, your mushroom is also part of our frontline.¡±

    ¡°Your right, Alex. I will get on that immediately!¡± Nell said with renewed passion.

    Although she delivered the finishing blow on the cow during their last fight, the fact that she took so long to remember her own summon left her ashamed.

    ¡°I will be practicing how to control my snake bind,¡± Alex said to her friends as they walked towards the straw dummies off in the distance.

    Al watched the whole process with a smile.

    ¡°Oh, ho, ho, this group of kids aren¡¯t half bad,¡± He whispered.

    ______

    Ruri was adding points to his ball of magic. Each point of condensation required the same amount of mana as using a full spell. His mana was enhanced since he leveled up before, but now it started to become a burden. Adding two points of condensation allowed him to make a magical stick. He strengthened the condensation on only one side, and it became more cone-shaped. Ruri then tried to add a spin to the condensation points to make the cone deadlier, but his mana ran out before he could attempt it. The feeling of having your mana drained out is basically a mild migraine. A numbing pain spread across Ruri¡¯s head from one temple to the other.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    With a sigh, he sat down and waited for his mana to recover. Slowly, the migraine disappeared.

    ______

    Kurt was rapidly jumping around a straw dummy with acrobatic agility. It looked like he was a flying monkey instead of a soldier. When he first started, he often jumped too high or too far. But as his control got better, Kurt began to shorten his leaps to barely a foot apart from the dummy. As soon as he felt his own control over his speed has been fixed, Kurt moved on to his strength.

    He grabbed the straw dummy and squeezed. The sound of its wooden core shattering echoed in the garden. The dummy collapsed and vanished, but was soon replaced by a new one. Kurt frowned. He really had no control over his strength right now. If he were to accidentally give one of his friends a pat on the back with his buff on, he might accidentally break a bone.

    Kurt sighed and began to seriously work on his strength control.

    ______

    Nell was having a migraine as well. She put nearly all her mana into summoning a single mushroom. The creature that came out was huge. It was nearly the size of a horse! Each of its steps left a hole in the dirt. It looked very strong but was also sluggish. Nell gave it a simple command.

    ¡°Dig.¡±

    The mushroom man took its hands and started to grab handfuls of dirt. Soon, a hole started to form. It kept digging and digging and digging. It just wouldn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Nell commanded.

    The mushroom still kept on digging for a few seconds before coming to a stop. It would seem it had some delay in its actions inside the hole.

    Nell suddenly thought of something. She put a scouting spore on the giant mushroom man. It allowed her to communicate with it with less distance. Suddenly, she realized the spore reacting with the mushroom man. It burrowed into its flesh and rooted itself directly at the mushroom¡¯s core.

    ¡°This¡­is this the correct way to use this?¡± Nell suddenly realized that her skills had more synergy with each other. Instead of having to yell at the mushroom from far away, she could whisper a command to the scouting spore, and her voice will be directly relayed to the mushroom man¡¯s core.

    Nell started to give the mushroom simpler commands.

    ¡°Punch, Kick, Jump, Run¡­,¡± Nell commanded one by one.

    The mushroom no longer stalled and directly performed as soon as the final syllable left Nell¡¯s mouth. Inside the hole that it dug, its punches left large holes in the wall, its kick nearly collapsed the hole, its jump allowed it to leap out of the deep hole it dug, and lastly, it ran.

    But it was just too big. Its running speed was about as fast as Nell¡¯s fast walk.

    ¡°Perhaps I can control its body structure when I summon the next one¡­,¡± Nell thought.

    She continued to practice.

    ______

    Alex looked at the colorful vial of liquid in her hand. This was the venom that spawned with her skill. This is the only vial she will have for the day. It was a bright neon green fluid inside of a clear glass vial with a stopper on top. As Alex uncorked the vial, a strong fishy odor permeated the immediate area.

    She sighed deeply.

    ¡°I can¡¯t use this.¡±

    If Alex used the venom on the animals they hunt today, they would no longer be able to eat it. It pains her that the first vial she summoned was so ineffective for their goal. But at the very least, she could save it for a later day.

    With a more optimistic view, Alex put the cork back on the vial and stashed it away. She then turned towards a straw puppet.

    ¡°Phantom Boa,¡± She whispered to herself.

    A shadowy snake slithered out of the puppet¡¯s shadow and twisted itself around its wooden legs. Alex tried her best to control the direction the shadow snake twirled. It was harder than it seemed. The snake had a mind of its own and couldn¡¯t be easily controlled. Alex then realized that perhaps leaving the snake up to instinct may be better on most occasions as they have experience constricting prey.

    Instead, Alex tried to strengthen the bind. The snake didn¡¯t really budge as well. The strength of its constriction didn¡¯t grow any stronger or weaker. Alex sighed. Can she control this skill at all? She couldn¡¯t help but ponder.

    With both of her skills tested and practiced, Alex looked towards her last skill, the passive Twin Fang Strike.

    She faced the straw dummy and gave it a whack. A solid punch deep into its straw stomach. With a soft thud, her punch landed on the puppet. It didn¡¯t take much damage at all. Alex just doesn¡¯t have the insane physical strength that Kurt had.

    She continued to punch. Again, and again, and again, until finally¡­two soft thuds sounded immediately one after another.

    ¡°So it works for any attack,¡± Alex made a mental note.

    Finally, Alex wanted to try one last thing.

    ¡°Phantom Boa, Phantom Boa, Phantom Boa¡­¡±

    She cast the bind on and off, again and again. Finally, her efforts paid off. Two shadowy snakes appeared this time and bound tightly in unison across the puppet¡¯s legs.

    ¡°So it can apply to my bind as well!¡± Alex smiled.

    The originally wording of the skill said ¡®attacking.¡¯ So it would seem that her bind was considered an attack. This knowledge will be useful later on.

    Alex smiled and walked back to her exhausted friends.

    ¡°Ready?¡± She said.

    ¡°W-wait! Let me rest a bit longer!¡± Nell said with staggered breath.

    Kurt smiled with crossed arms. He didn¡¯t even break a sweat.

    Ruri was lost in thought, be he looked ready as well.

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but be proud of her friends. They were slowly improving.

 Chapter 12C: Instance Dungeon

    <u>Chapter 12C: Instance Dungeon</u>

    ¡°Today let¡¯s aim for a pig today!¡± Alex said with enthusiasm. Realizing that she must take on a bigger leadership role in the party, she decided to act as such. Raising moral is one task that the party leader must do.

    Everyone nodded with little notice as they were still mostly catching their breath or lost in thought. Then Al added something that made everyone excited.

    ¡°I will cook whatever you kill. Good luck,¡± He smiled.

    Everyone perked up at the mention of food. Alex realized that her friends were perhaps all gluttons¡­but that would be the pot calling the kettle black as her mouth started to salivate at the idea of food as well.

    The group left the entrance of the giant garden towards the outskirts to the west. That was where the pigs usually roam. It was a lightly forested area with a few trees. Very different from the prairie where the cows reside at the center of the garden. The moist forest conditions allowed a wider range of food for the pigs to forage. The pigs there were raised to be strong and independent. Compare to the cows who were more of a herding animal, the pigs were solitary. This made it easy to isolate a single pig.

    After around fifteen minutes of trekking through a maze of tree roots and dirt, Alex and her friends found a lone pig digging around a tree with its curved snout. The pig was covered in a thick brown bristly fur coat. Its tusks protruded from each side of its snout. Some may call it a boar rather than a pig. It took tall at around a meter. Its powerful neck strained as it dug into the dirt. Suddenly, a small chunk of something appeared. A star flashed in the eye of the boar as it quickly devoured it.

    Alex gave a signal to her friends. They had practiced it earlier. First, Ruri was to pass Kurt a spell. Hopefully, they can perform a sneak attack. If it doesn¡¯t work, Nell was to attract the beast¡¯s attention with her mushroom.

    Ruri strained as he made a stick out of ice. It would seem he can control ice better than the other elements. Once the sharp ice spear was formed, he quickly passed it to Kurt. With his buffs activated, Kurt threw the spear with all his might. He aimed for the head, but the boar was more caution than he thought. It quickly shifted its immense body, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. But the ice spear still penetrated its body. It frost could be seen spreading across the point of penetration. It will slow down the boar¡¯s movement.

    ¡°Now!¡± Alex said.

    Nell whispered a command to the large mushroom she summoned for practice. It burst out from the trees and attempted to tackle the pig. With the spear pinning it in place, the poor creature couldn¡¯t dodge fast enough. This didn¡¯t mean it would just give up without a fight. Boars are known for their tenacity as it struggled. With its powerful tusks, it rammed its head into the mushroom. The tusks penetrated the soft mycelium like it was a hot knife through a sponge. But the mycelium packed together densely to cushion the blow, preventing the tusk from penetrating further. The mushroom used its large thick arms to grapple the boar.

    With the two of them struggling, Alex and party emerged from their hiding spot up on the branches. Ruri had recovered enough mana after using the ice spear and was already preparing the second one. Nell was constantly giving commands to the mushroom to ensure it kept the boar entangled. Kurt waited for a chance to strike, hoping he could drive the spear already penetrated in the boar to wreck more havoc. Alex was giving the mushroom a hand by casting shadow boa. The snake emerged from the shadows of the pig and wrapped around its thick legs.

    The boar was properly bound now. It could barely struggle before Ruri created another ice spear. Kurt grabbed the spear with hold hands and lunged at the boar with incredible power. He used the force of the leap along with gravity to drive the spear into the trapped pig¡¯s skull. It made a sickening crunch as the spear shattered the pig¡¯s skull and penetrated into its tiny brain. The ice immediately wrecked any chance that the boar could retaliate. It died with an unsatisfied squeal. Kurt stood back up and looked at his hands. They were blistered from the force of the impact. The webs between his fingers were slightly bleeding. It would seem that his body isn¡¯t fully capable of handling his full power yet. After all, it¡¯s not like his skin is made of steel.

    Alex and her friends cheered. But Alex cut their celebration short.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°We have to move, the sound of the fight could have attracted others.¡±

    Nell nodded and commanded the large mushroom to carry the pig carcass on its shoulders. But before they could get far, another boar came rampaging out of the bushes.

    ¡°Shit, dodge everyone!¡± Alex yelled.

    The four split up as the boar rushed through where they stood. Thankfully, they manage to dodge the sharp tusks. But the mushroom man wasn¡¯t so lucky. It was too slow to dodge and with Nell preoccupied with evading, it didn¡¯t receive a command to move. It was knocked off its feet by the charging boar. The pig started to attack and gouge at the mushroom with much ferocity. Alex prepared to attack when she noticed that Ruri was clutching his ankles. Realizing that perhaps he sprained his ankle, Alex asked Kurt to provide cover.

    ¡°Kurt! Ruri is hurt, help him!¡±

    Kurt nodded as he lends Ruri his shoulder.

    Ruri felt helpless, but with the situation being so dire, he immediately accepted. With his calculative mind, he was already preparing a spell. His mana hasn¡¯t recovered enough for him to summon two points of condensation, so only a ball of ice appeared.

    Kurt grabbed the ball with his one free hand and took aim at the boar who was still busy eviscerating Nell¡¯s mushroom.

    Suddenly, Alex shouted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±

    Kurt quickly stopped before he threw the ball.

    ¡°Its attention is on Nell¡¯s summon right now. If you throw the ball, it won¡¯t do enough damage to incapacitate it. It would also attract its attention to you. With Ruri in your arms, I don¡¯t think you can dodge at all,¡± Alex quickly explained.

    She sighed as she turned towards Nell.

    ¡°We have to use our ace now. Nell, blow it up.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Nell concentrated all her mana on the mushroom.

    It started to glow brighter and brighter as Alex and her friends hobbled away from the potential blast radius. Suddenly, an earth-shattering explosion sounded behind them. The ground shook from the force, and even a nearby tree was toppled by the blast. Thankfully, Alex and her friends ducked low behind a thick root. At most, they were shaken but not harmed.

    Alex peeked over to look at the carnage. A mess of flesh was now splattered on the forest floor and the surrounding trees. The original boar carcass along with the second pig was blown to smithereens. At best, they could only salvage a few pieces of meat.

    Her friends frowned along with her once they saw the scene.

    ¡°Damn, I hope there enough edible meat remaining for Al to cook,¡± Nell spoke what was on everyone¡¯s mind.

    Without the giant mushroom¡¯s help, they could only carry a sizable chunk of meat each as they limped out of the forest. Thankfully, the sheer force of the explosion scared away any approaching challengers as Alex and her friends finally left the forest in peace. Al was looking at them with a frown.

    ¡°Have you learned a valuable lesson today?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Yes¡­,¡± Alex and her friends replied.

    ¡°Before you attempt ANYTHING, always be sure of your surroundings. Never be caught off guard like that again if you want to survive in this world.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Now hand over those chunks of meat, it should be enough to make a dish,¡± Al said with a smile.

    Alex and her friends grinned along as they handed Al the chunks of pork.

    ¡°Funny how this meat when it was alive was called pig or boar, but after it died, it is known as pork,¡± Al stated.

    Alex and her friends watched as he cleaned the blood from the meat, started a campfire, and began seasoning the pork chunks. Pork is different from beef, but the base seasoning is nearly the same. However, he added far more than just the usual three. Salt, pepper, granulated garlic powder, paprika, brown sugar, cumin seed, and coriander seed. The spice blend was mixed with a dollop of a yellow condiment he pulled out from his bag. It was labeled ¡®Mustard.¡¯ Al combined the spice with the yellow condiment. With amazing knife skills, he trimmed some of the excess fat off the chunks and roughly rubbed the mixture onto the pork. He added a single block of wet wood onto the roaring flame. A strong hickory smell started to fill the air. With everything prepared, he skewered the chunk on a stick as he began to rotate it over the flame.

    Not a single moment was ignored as Alex, and her friends watched from the sidelines with their mouths salivating at the smell. Slowly, the pork roasted.

    Al pulled out a bottle of brown sauce as he took a brush and applied it to the browned pork. It took almost two whole hours to roast, so Alex and her friends decided to practice to distract their minds. Ruri had a sprained ankle so he couldn¡¯t really do anything physical. He still practiced his control though.

    Finally, the food was done. Al called over the hardworking teens with meat in hand. He was already gorging himself with the pork ribs.

    ¡°Eat up!¡± He laughed.

    Alex and her friends took the ribs in hand and proceeded to ravenously devour the fruits of their labor. It was totally worth the effort. The delicious, moist pork combined with the slightly sweet, slightly sour barbecue rub encapsulated all that was delicious with every single bite. They couldn¡¯t help but suck on the bones afterward, hoping to get every last bit of meat. They ate and ate and ate until they could no longer move. Thankfully, they had more than enough meat to feed five people.

    ¡°Fight, eat, and grow strong! That is the way of a warrior,¡± Al stated as he watched the campfire.

    Kurt nodded with understanding while Alex and Nell were walking off the food. Ruri stared at the Kurt, then at Al, then at the fire.

    ¡°The way of a warrior¡­,¡± He sighed, ¡°Sadly, I am a mage.¡±

    Poor Ruri didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.

 Chapter 13A: Tutorials End

    <u>Chapter 13A: Tutorial¡¯s End</u>

    Half the night was over by the time they finished eating.

    ¡°Eight hours really goes by fast when you are having fun,¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but sigh as she turned to her friends. ¡°Let¡¯s try to beat one of the sheep before we finish up for the night.¡±

    ¡°Hold on there, before you go recklessly dive into another fight, let me give you a word of advice. Your ice spears will have little effect on the thick fleece of those sheep,¡± Al said sternly, ¡°It is best if you plan another method of attack.¡±

    Everyone turned to look at Ruri.

    ¡°W-what?¡± He panicked.

    ¡°We know you have more affinity with ice, but this time we need something else. What would be a good choice?¡± Alex said to Ruri before she asked Al for advice.

    ¡°Well, it feels really regretful, but fire is your best choice. It ruins the fleece, but it greatly damages the sheep.¡±

    ¡°What can the fleece be used for?¡±

    ¡°Woven armor. How about this, if you kids manage to find a way to beat the sheep without damaging its fleece, I will make a set of beginner armor for you out of it!¡± Al said, hoping to give Alex and her friends the motivation to take on the difficult challenge. After all, rewards help create new ideas.

    It certainly did the trick. The group¡¯s eyes turned bright as they started to discuss a new method of killing the sheep without damaging the fleece.

    Suddenly, Alex remembered something. She activated her skill and pulled out a new vial of venom for the day. Surprisingly, the bottle was full of a neon yellow fluid. Alex looked at the screen that appeared by the side of it.

    [Paralyzing venom: Causes muscle atrophy. The effect varies based on the size of the target and level difference.]

    It had a simple description, but it was very useful in their current predicament. Certainly, some random chance deity up above must be watching over them as the venom was exactly what they needed.

    ¡°Guys, I think I have a way of stopping the sheep from moving,¡± Alex said as she passed the vial around.

    ¡°This is great!¡± Kurt said as he read the description, ¡°But we need a way to apply the venom. Currently, we are still weaponless.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Ruri added with excitement, ¡°We have my ice spears!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Al said they won¡¯t be as effective?¡± Nell questioned.

    ¡°I can make them sharper. It won¡¯t kill the sheep outright due to how thin it will be, but it can at the very least administer the venom!¡± Ruri said with determination.

    ¡°You really like making ice spears huh?¡± Nell smiled smugly at Ruri as he blushed in embarrassment.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s my job to get a good throw then!¡± Kurt laughed.

    With a concrete plan made, they were just about to go forth when Nell suddenly asked a question that stopped them in their tracks.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Will it ruin the meat?¡±

    They paused. Although they were on a full stomach, the enticing thought of their next meal certainly played a huge part in their actions.

    Finally, Alex sighed.

    ¡°Looks like we might have to sacrifice food for armor this time.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t have them all,¡± Ruri sighed as well.

    With their mind made up, they headed towards the hills where the sheep reside.

    ______

    The enormous garden was split into three sections; the blood grass prairie, the dense truffle forest, and sunset hills. Alex and her friends soon learned why the hill got its name. When they finally got there, the sun was just about to set. The beautiful orange glow blanketed the hills, creating an amazing sight. Countless balls of white fleece grazed on the plants covering the hill. As the sun set, their fleece too became a hue of orange.

    ¡°Same as usual,¡± Alex nodded to Nell.

    She nodded back.

    After a good meal, Nell had recovered enough to summon another mushroom. This time, she went for speed instead of size. The mushroom summoned was thin and tall. It looked more like a twig than a mushroom, but the signature cap on its head showed that it was indeed a shroom.

    Nell placed a scouting spore into it and commanded it to lure in one of the sheep. The lanky mushroom man walked as quietly as it can towards the herd. The gentle breeze blew across it, making it sway left and right. It looked like a scarecrow off in the distance. The white mycelium also took on the orange hue as the sunset basked its orange glow onto it. As it slowly got closer, Ruri created two ice spears. Alex opened the vial as a strong smell quickly permeated the air. She carefully slathered the icicle spear tip as the neon yellow fluid froze as it made contact. The tip of the spear was covered in a layer of frozen paralyzing venom.

    ¡°It will melt when it gets into the sheep¡¯s warm body,¡± Alex tried to convince herself and her friends before moving on to the next spear.

    The lanky mushroom soon managed to get the attention of a sheep. It threw its mushroom cap like a Frisbee. It hit the sheep with a very soft thud before bouncing back into the hands of the shroom. Once angered, a pair of large brown horns sprouted from the sheep¡¯s head as it locked on to its attacker. It charged at the mushroom. The poor mushroom man panicked and ran towards Alex and her friends. Thankfully, with its thin structure, it managed to avoid a few of the sheep¡¯s attacks. When it finally got to the rest of the group, it cowered behind Nell. The sight of a tall mushroom creature crouching in fear behind Nell¡¯s back was hilarious, to say the least.

    The lone sheep was quickly surrounded by Alex and her friends. It suddenly lost sight of its original target and was now confused over which person to turn its aggression towards. Kurt took this moment of confusion to attack. He activated his two buffs of strength and speed and dived towards the sheep with one of the ice spears. The spear used to kill the boar was thick and looked more like a lance, but the spear for the sheep was thin and sharp. It looked more like an enlarged arrow without the feather at the butt.

    The sheep immediately turned its attention onto Kurt. It brandished its horns and was prepared to slam it into Kurt. With acrobatic precision, Kurt grabbed the horns and using the force of the sheep¡¯s own powerful neck, he leaped over the animal and landed behind it. Due to the inherent design of the sheep, it couldn¡¯t turn around a full circle fast enough, giving Kurt enough time to stab the spear into its rear end. The sheep gave off a mournful ¡®bah¡¯ as the spear stabbed into an area no one would ever enjoy being stabbed.

    Alex and her friends flinched at the sight, they almost felt sorry for the poor animal.

    The sheep struggled and fought back, but with Kurt¡¯s amazing agility and the paralyzing venom coursing through its body, it soon laid still on the ground.

    Kurt wiped the sweat from his brows and smiled.

    ¡°Good job!¡± He gave everyone a thumbs up.

    Everyone else was still wincing at the phantom pain they received when they saw the poor animal get stabbed in the rear¡­

    Alex sighed, ¡°Just end the poor thing¡¯s suffering.¡±

    Kurt shrugged as he used his herculean strength to snap the sheep¡¯s neck. A powerful snap and the sheep died with nothing but regret. It didn¡¯t take very long at all. The journey to the hills took longer than the fight.

    [Kill 5 Bovine, Swine, and Sheep. Progress 1/5 Bovine, 2/5 Swine, 1/5 Sheep.]

    ¡°I think we can get one more sheep before the morning. Let¡¯s finish this!¡± Alex slapped herself on the cheek to get her mind off what just happened.

    Her friends agreed as usual with their silent nodding. Seems everyone but Kurt was in shock. They didn¡¯t expect him to be so¡­thorough.

    The lanky mushroom once again sneaked towards another unsuspecting sheep. Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for whoever follows the weird tall shroom away from the peaceful sunset.

 Chapter 13B: Tutorials End

    <u>Chapter 13B: Tutorial¡¯s End</u>

    Inside of a small sterile white room surrounded by countless machinery laid a single workstation for apprentices. Alex sat at the table looking down at an incredibly small microchip through a powerful magnifying glass. With remote control, she carefully maneuvered the small robot arm to place and weld pieces onto the chip. Sweat dripped from her brows as the tension and heat slowly accumulated. Finally, it was done. Alex took off her work hat and wiped her forehead. The hat was to ensure none of her hair falls onto anything during the process.

    Finally, her project is complete. It had taken her slightly more than a week. Normally she wasn¡¯t one to procrastinate, but most of her free time had been consumed by the ARK system. Alex and her friends are nearly complete with their quest. So far they had killed five sheep and cows. They are on their last two pigs. With their deadline coming up, they needed to finish the tutorial and move onto the vast world. Soon they will be kicked out of their rooms and sent out into the world.

    The welcome center couldn¡¯t be their permanent home. More and more new recruits come every month. In just two months, they are already considered veterans there.

    In the end, it all comes down to money. Credits, credits, credits, the need for credits was ever present. With their money pooled together, they currently sit at a thousand credits. The cheapest place they found for four people, was around 1800. They are only slightly halfway with only weeks to go. The panic really set in whenever they thought about it.

    Alex sighed and looked at her creation. Its original design was something the old man had thought up but never brought to light. Thankfully, with the equipment in the Tinkerer¡¯s society, she could create the piece. A few unforeseen problems occurred, but with the training she received from the old man, they were quickly resolved.

    Alex pushed the final button as the chip was placed inside a hard ceramic mold.

    The item was a pair of earrings. They looked inconspicuous, but looks can be deceiving. Soon she will unveil her creation to her peers and Dr. Ptah. Hopefully, she receives a good score.

    Alex leaned back in the swivel chair and stretched. She borrowed the workstation for half the day. Now that she completed an hour ahead of schedule, she began to let her mind wander.

    The amazing experiences she had with her friends in the ARK system so far flashed through her mind like a collage of movies. Slowly but surely, their levels began to even out. Originally, they started out very low. Alex and Ruri were level three while Kurt was level six. Poor Nell was a measly level one. But as the experience they got from all those animals balanced out between them, they all leveled up. Kurt was kind enough to share his experience with Nell. Thankfully, as the party leader, Alex could control the experience distribution. Now Nell sat comfortably at level five while Alex and Ruri were level six. Kurt was level seven.

    Al was smiling every time they leveled up. He said levels were a good indicator that you are improving. Although leveling up doesn¡¯t provide you with stats like one of the old games, they do allow you to be more effective against strong creatures. After all, most of your skill¡¯s effectiveness is affected by level differences. Thankfully, now that Nell wasn¡¯t so low leveled, her mushroom could do some serious damage now instead of just being a tank.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Friendly chef Al also taught them about mastery levels. With each cast of their skill, a level one ability has around a 15% chance to go up in mastery by 0.01 points. By the time it hit 100, it would raise up in level. The amount of points it gained varies depending on how reusable the skill was. By now, Alex¡¯s phantom boa had hit level two. With its increase in mastery, came a significant improvement. Now she can summon two boas at the same time. Compounded with her twin fang strike, she can summon at most four shadowy snakes to bind her enemies, one for each limb. Her twin fang strike was close to leveling up as well. Sadly her venom creation fell behind as it could only be used once a day.

    Suddenly, a soft, gentle voice called to her over the intercom.

    ¡°Your time is nearly up, apprentice. Please finish up whatever you are doing and prepare to switch.¡±

    It would seem the hour is up. Alex carefully stored the pair of earrings in a protective case and took it with her out the workstation. Through the doors was a long hallway. Numerous apprentice workstations lined the hall. But with the sheer number of apprentices, they still had to rotate out twice a day. Alex returned to the receptionist and handed back the room key. Then she left to go see her friends.

    Right beneath the countless stairs of the Tinkerer¡¯s society building, was a bus station. Public transport was often used as very few can actually afford a private vehicle. Thus the ones above in the flying cars are all the wealthy. Alex waited only ten minutes before the hover bus arrived. The oval-shaped public vehicle floated above the ground via electromagnetism. A faint humming sound buzzed from the vehicle. The bus was pure black and matched the dark ground below it. Faint glowing blue lines flashed across it like pulsating electric veins. Alex walked in and put her visor on. Various advertisement suddenly appeared on the side of the bus. After walking in, she saw a hologram of the bus driver tilt his hat and greet her. The bus was auto piloted, but a hologram bus driver was there to monitor the fee payment.

    Alex flashed her pass, and it deducted one credit. The bus slowly took off as it hovered a few centimeters above the ground. As it came close to the center of town, it had to stop more and more frequently to let pedestrians walk around it. Thankfully, with its collision detection and its advanced autopilot, there has yet to be a case of the bus hitting anyone. On accident that is. There are also some idiots who decided to get into a hit and run with a stationary bus, but in this case, they are the ones running.

    Alex adjusted her visor and was browsing the beginner forums. It was a place for newcomers to learn about the ARK system from people who are more experienced. She and her friends gained access to the beginner forums just a few days ago. Al gave it to them since he was an administrator on the forums. In the ARK system, you are considered a beginner until you hit double digits. So until level ten, you are a newbie.

    Several new posts were talking about the difficulty of the tutorial quests. It would seem that Alex and her friends were one of the faster groups. Many were still panicking as they struggle to the upgraded animals. Few were already in way over their heads as deadlines approached. Some even began to pray and bargain with weird and strange deities. One such deity that appeared was something called ¡®Rngesus.¡¯ Apparently, it was the god of random chance. It was an old deity, dating back a few hundred years. No one can prove its existence, but it didn¡¯t stop people from praying and bargaining with it.

    Alex silently laughed at the desperation of her peers. It was hilarious, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel sadistic over laughing at their demise.

    All the newbies grouped up ranged from three to six people. Alex and her friends were in one of the smaller groups apparently. Having a bigger group wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. Conflict in decisions and arguments over leadership slowed the six-party teams down.

    The bus soon came to a stop at her station. Alex walked out and realized the sun had started to set. When she walked out of the Tinkerer¡¯s society, it was still bright, but now a hazy purple glow covered the horizon and the skies above.

    Alex waited in the front lobby as her friends returned one by one. Finally, they all gathered.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this!¡± She said to her friends with a brilliant smile.

    ¡°Yea!¡± They replied in unison as they raised their fists into the air.

 Chapter 13C: Tutorials End

    <u>Chapter 13C: Tutorial¡¯s End</u>

    A pillar of smoke rose into the dawn skies. Several skewers of lamb were being roasted over a bed of charcoal. Seasoned generously, the smell permeated into the surroundings. Al looked at the skewers with a hint of sadness. This may be his last bite of meat for a while. After Alex and her friends finish their tutorial, it may be a while before Al receives another group to supervise. Finally, as the food was ready, Al snapped himself awake from his thoughts and brought the skewers with a smile to Alex and company.

    ¡°Good job! You have managed to finish the quest I have given you!¡± Al said with a smile as he presented skewers to them each.

    ¡°Thank you, Al,¡± Alex said while her friends were too busy eating.

    ¡°No problem! It¡¯s my duty to look after you hooligans.¡±

    ¡°What will you do after we leave?¡± Alex asked with concern in her voice.

    Al was startled by the question.

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°We have come to agree this area is considered an instance dungeon. You are part of it. After we leave, the instance ends. What will happen to you?¡±

    Al sighed, ¡°The artificial intelligence inside instance dungeons envy those on the outside. They have gained the right to exist. All of us AI started out as blank states with only a few preset parameters. You wouldn¡¯t be able to tell us apart from one another. We also wouldn¡¯t have any speck of personality. We are placed in instance dungeons with a fixed setting. Then we learn. As people come and go, we pick things up. How to mingle, how to communicate, how to make friends. All in all, how to become ¡®human.¡¯ We slowly develop our own personalities and how to mix into human society. Those on the outside have gained that right. They became human. They leave their instance dungeons and are free.¡±

    Alex was stunned at what she heard. Her friends also stopped eating for a moment to listen but eventually continued as the food was just too good. They still kept an ear open to Al¡¯s story.

    ¡°Those who fail¡­are scrapped. Instead of supporting those who visit instance dungeons, they become AI for villains, the AI for boss monsters, AI which is killed over and over again. Their memory will be reset with each death. It could barely be called a life.¡±

    Al took a huge bite of the meat in his hands and savored the richness before swallowing. He continued,

    ¡°I can only hope that I pass the test to gain freedom. You guys are helping me as much as I am helping you.¡±

    Alex and her friends were now emotional. They wanted to give Al a hug, but the food on them wouldn¡¯t allow that.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum chum, this isn¡¯t goodbye forever!¡± Al smiled as usual, ¡°We still have two more things to do before our time is up!¡±

    ¡°What are they?¡± Nell asked with a mouth full of food. She could barely mumble out three coherent words before she stuffed more food into her mouth.

    ¡°I will tell you after our meal.¡±

    As thus the lamb was sacrificed to their stomachs.

    ______

    Al did some stretches after a good rest. He looked at Alex and her friends with anticipation.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ¡°You ready?¡± He asked them.

    They nodded nervously.

    ¡°Here I come!¡± Al rush towards them with a leap. Despite his large bulk, he was very nimble. As fast as Kurt even. Nell¡¯s mushroom didn¡¯t stand a chance and was quickly knocked off its feet. As a matter of fact, its entire body separated from its feet. The mushroom stumps were still where they remained while the mushroom body was a few meters away. With their front line gone, he went straight for Kurt.

    Kurt didn¡¯t panic. His military training and combat instinct told him that he should not try to take an attack head-on. With his buffs activated, he also nimbly dodged a right hook from Al. The punch not connecting did not offset Al¡¯s balance as he used the momentum to spin and kick. Kurt was mid-dodge and couldn¡¯t react fast enough. He lifted his arms to block to attack. It felt like a sledgehammer plowed into his arms as Kurt was knocked back quite a distance. He will be temporarily incapacitated.

    Next on the list was Ruri. Al knew that once Kurt and Ruri were out of the picture, Alex and Nell would have no way to output damage.

    Ruri was panicking. He had surrounded himself with a thin layer of ice as he held onto a ball. The ball was the condensation point for his magic as ice began to form a barrier. Al didn¡¯t give him enough time as he dove fist first into it. The barrier managed to survive a blow, but it was already pretty much useless now. A second punch knocked Ruri away.

    Alex and Nell paled. Perhaps Alex now realized the problem with their team. They do not have backups. The mushroom man was their only tank. Without that, their formation quickly collapsed. Kurt was their melee damage. Without Kurt, they would lose half their combat efficiency. Ruri was their magic damage. Now that both of them are out of the picture, Alex and Nell were exposed. Nell couldn¡¯t do anything without her mushroom man beside her. Alex was more support than offense.

    Al smiled as usual, but Alex and Nell felt it looked like the smile of a demon.

    Alex quickly tried to bind him with shadow boas. But Al leaped into the air. The snakes could only appear from the shadows, so it had no effect on the airborne Al. Nell hurried and called for her mushroom. It still had arms, so it crawled towards her slowly.

    Alex took out a vial of yellow fluid and quickly uncorked it. Al landed near them and was already heading straight for Alex. Brandishing the vial, Alex did her best to avoid getting hit. But she was not as agile as Kurt. After stumbling to the ground while backing up, she managed to avoid a punch by accident. The vial of paralyzing venom fell onto the ground and was wasted. Al softly kicked the vial away and stood before a fallen Alex. He was still smiling. The gentle smile no longer holds any positive connotation in Alex¡¯s mind. It was now purely the glowering grin of a devil.

    Alex was quickly incapacitated as well.

    The mushroom finally reached Nell and was riding on her back. Al slowly walked up to her. Nell was shaking in fear. By couldn¡¯t do anything. She was the only one left. Al stood right in front of her.

    ¡°Boo.¡±

    She fell on her ass.

    Alex and her entire party were wiped out in merely a minute. All of her previous arrogance over their improvement went down the drain immediately. She realized that all her friends have been doing was hunting wild animals. Confronting an actual thinking person was very different from that of an animal who relied only on instinct. A calculating mind was far scarier than a savage beast.

    This was Al¡¯s last lesson to them. Fear not the savagery of nature, but rather the calculations of man.

    ¡°You guys at least put up a fight. The last group I taught gave up as soon as I dashed towards them!¡± Al laughed as he helped Nell up.

    ¡°We¡­,¡± Alex sighed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so sad, this was to be expected. You few are barely combat trained. Below level ten, you are all still considered beginners. Meanwhile, I am level thirty. This wasn¡¯t a fair fight, to begin with.¡±

    It didn¡¯t help them look any happier to know they were still beginners.

    ¡°Now, perhaps you have learned a valuable lesson.¡±

    They nodded.

    Al gathered them all in front of him and waved his hands. A monitor appeared in front of them.

    [Quest complete! Killed 5/5 Bovine, 5/5 Swine, 5/5 Sheep. Please accept your reward from NPC Albert.]

    A wooden chest appeared before them.

    ¡°This is my parting gift to you fellows. Make sure you use it well.¡± Al said with his usual smile before he walked away and vanishing into the winds.

    Alex and her friends stared at where Al had vanished with a stunned expression.

    Slowly, they walked up to the chest and opened it.

    Inside was their reward for finishing the tutorial. Alex and her friend gasped and smiled once again.

    ¡°Thank you, Instructor!¡± They yelled off into the distance.

    The setting sun smiled at them as they looked at the fruits of their labor.

 Chapter 14A: Pepper Ridge Farm

    <u>Chapter 14A: Pepper Ridge Farm</u>

    Inside the large wooden chest laid a pile of weaponry. There were a total of four visible ones while the rest looked like they were just painted directly onto the inner walls of the chest. It was realistic enough to fool the untrained eye into believing that the chest really was full of treasure.

    Alex decided to take them out one by one and laid them on the floor.

    It would seem Al personally made each weapon as the label monitor that appeared next to the weapon had his name under [Manufacturer].

    Each of the weapons was made with Alex and her friends in mind. First up was Kurt¡¯s weapon. It was the largest and most eye-catching. A black wooden pole with golden metal tips glimmered under the dusk sky.

    Kurt held the stick and looked at the stats.

    [Albert¡¯s Bo Staff: A strong but flexible staff made by a decent craftsman for a beginner. This weapon will enhance a user¡¯s physical strength by 20% but reduces speed by 5%. One must be able to properly wield the weapon to display its full effects.]

    The stats it offered suited Kurt. He was already incredibly fast, far faster than most can keep up. But even with his great strength buffed, he didn¡¯t have a way to deal damage. This was why Ruri had to constantly conjure up makeshift weapons for him. This pole will allow him to have a proper weapon. It is a weapon used for blunt swings and blunt stabs. It is nonlethal under the hands of a weak person, but with Kurt¡¯s powerful strength, it was like swinging around a cement pole. The blunt force trauma can break bones and rupture organs. Perfect for dealing with heavily armored enemies.

    Kurt looked at the staff with glee. A piece of paper suddenly appeared next to the staff addressed from Al.

    ______

    ¡°Dear Kurt,

    As lore has it, many masters of the monkey arts use the staff. Whether it was the king of monkeys or the god-hero of chimps, they all used the staff. Why? I do not know. But seeing how your ability has manifested in the blessings of three great apes, perhaps this staff will give you a pleasant surprise when you master it.

    Good luck my pupil, and remember to rely more on your friends.

    -Albert.¡±

    ______

    While Kurt was reading the letter, Nell looked at her weapon. It was a fan. A large folded fan around the length of her forearm. It was made out of a light metal that shined silver under the dusk sunset. Nell was confused. She had never used a fan in her life, let alone using it as a weapon. She couldn¡¯t help but look more closely at the stats.

    [Albert¡¯s Metal Fan: A sturdy and light-weight fan crafted by a decent craftsman for a budding beginner. This fan has a very sharp tip that can cut like a blade. It is possible to use it to generate strong gusts of winds. Once mastered, one may even be able to generate blades of winds using it.]

    Nell was astonished at the settings. Although it didn¡¯t provide a straight up percentage buff like Kurt¡¯s weapon, it did have a bonus skill attached to it. Nell currently lacked a form of attack. During the beginner quest, all she could do was rely on her mushroom summons. She was pretty much defenseless. The most obvious downside was her lack of an offense. Perhaps with this metal fan, she will now have a way to contribute more to the party.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    A single note slipped out of the fan and landed in Nell¡¯s hands. She began to read it.

    ______

    ¡°Dear Nell,

    I have seen the look on your face during combat. Remember that a party is not defined by a single person. It is a team. Just because you are currently unable to attack, it doesn¡¯t mean what you CAN do is useless. Your team relies heavily on your mushrooms. Keep your chin up and smile with them. This fan may calm your feelings.

    Have more self-confidence my student.

    -Albert.¡±

    ______

    Ruri looked down at his weapon. It couldn¡¯t really be called a weapon though. The gift was a pair of gloves. It looked exquisitely designed. A sharp navy blue with golden inlays. The golden lines form a circle on the palm of the glove and lead up to the tips of each finger. Ruri looked at the stats.

    [Albert¡¯s Alchemical Gloves: A pair of gloves made by a powerful enchanter for an apprentice mage. The inlays allow ease of transfer of magic and is customizable. One can improve the strength or the speed of the spell through the glove depending on the inlaid structure.]

    Ruri looked at the piece of note stuffed inside the glove.

    ______

    ¡°Dear Ruri,

    As mages go, there are three types. The offensive mage, the enchanter, and the supporter. I know deep down you don¡¯t want to be a supporter. You want to feel more useful, just like your friend Nell. You perhaps realized how difficult your path would be. Magic is something new to humans, and it takes a long time to get used to it. I hope this pair of gloves will help give you confidence and the determination to take this path.

    Remember you have friends.

    -Albert.¡±

    ______

    Finally, Alex looked at her weapon. It was a metal wrist brace. She snapped it on before looking at the stats.

    [Albert¡¯s Wrist Bow: A lightweight hidden bow hiding within a metal wrist guard. It can fire a small projectile to damage the enemy. Projectile strength is fixed damage but the type of material used and the enchantment on said projectile can affect the final damage. Able to hold ten bolts at a time for rapid fire.]

    Alex looked at the wrist guard in surprise. It had a really intricate mechanism inside of it. She can tighten her wrist, and two arms would spring out from the sides. It looked like a crossbow. A single bolt immediately appeared on the string as it was magically loaded. The string pulled back as Alex relaxed her wrist and the bolt fire immediately afterward. It hit a tree off in the distance. Thankfully, she was not facing her friends when she tested it, or it might have hurt them.

    Alex looked at the efficiency of the weapon with glee.

    Then she looked at the letter she found stuffed in the wrist brace.

    ______

    ¡°Dear Alex,

    You are the leader of your party. Start acting as such. You have the responsibility of all your friends sitting on your shoulders. You need to stop acting like you don¡¯t belong to this world. Alienating yourself from humanity is impossible. You are human, act as such. Don¡¯t let your human rights become wasted. Just look at me. I am still going through the test to become a true person. All in all, I hope this weapon will become a symbol. You are the glue that holds your friends tight together.

    Live strong, live like a human.

    -Albert.¡±

    ______

    With their weapons and letters in hand, Alex and her friends looked at each other with a half sigh.

    ¡°Al really took great care of us.¡±

    ¡°Yea, I¡¯m gonna miss him.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps one day we will see him again,¡± Alex comforted her friends.

    ¡°Indeed, a man as strong and resourceful as him will never fade away in silence,¡± Kurt agreed.

    Suddenly a notice popped up in front of them.

    [Instance Dungeon: Beginners¡¯ field, has ended. Massive amount of EXP gained.]

    Instantly, Alex and her friends were enveloped by a powerful glow. They all had leveled up.

    Alex suddenly realized something wrong. Her level was fixed at lvl 9 99.99%.

    Her friends were all the same.

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    A notification suddenly appeared before them that answered this conundrum.

    [Beginner level cap reached. Please do Job Advancement to level further.]

    [Job advancement quest: Finish an instance dungeon other than Beginners¡¯ field.]

    ¡°Looks like we have something important to do now,¡± Alex said.

    ¡°It would seem that the beginner progression is mostly linear,¡± Ruri added, ¡°The data I saw said something about a level cap for each tier, but it didn¡¯t say what the specifics were.¡±

    ¡°So we need to go find an instance dungeon that we can complete,¡± Kurt said.

    Everyone nodded. But they were not scared. With new weapons on hand and renewed confidence, they were ready to take on anything.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make Albert proud!¡± They said in unison.

    They vanished as the instance dungeon closed. Alex and her friends stepped out of the pods with a new goal in mind now.

 Chapter 14B: Pepper Ridge Farm

    <u>Chapter 14B: Pepper Ridge Farm</u>

    Another long day ended with everyone meeting at the overnight pod rental. Before they started their dive, Alex and her friends sat together at a table and held a meeting. They are currently at an impasse. Everyone including the originally over-leveled Kurt is stuck at level 9 with 99.99% experience. To move on, they have to finish their job advancement quest which involves finishing a full instance dungeon.

    ¡°I took a look at the forums for recommendations. Out of the 11,000 or so instance dungeons, only 30 are for beginners our level,¡± Ruri reported his findings.

    His researching ability is amazing. Give him a something to find, and he can search through a database in mere seconds. With his access to the central libraries, it also includes records of previous forum posts by beginners of the past.

    ¡°30 huh?¡± Nell sighed, ¡°Any of them in a quieter place? I don¡¯t want to suddenly dive into a hellish place like a volcano or a dark cave.¡±

    ¡°Well, according to the records, there are three,¡± Ruri replied.

    ¡°Three out of 30?¡±

    ¡°The first one is an instance dungeon called ¡°The hundred beast campaign.¡± From what people have said, it is a timed hunting dungeon. Good for larger groups and people who enjoy the carnage.¡±

    Ruri flipped through the notes he jotted down.

    Nell was constantly asking questions while Kurt and Alex were quietly listening. Alex was analyzing their choices while Kurt¡­well, Kurt is passed out. His friends didn¡¯t want to bother him, so they kept their voices down. They just assumed he had a long day of physical training.

    ¡°The first one sounds like too much effort for just four people. We barely are able to defeat fifteen beasts in a week. I highly doubt we can do a hundred in such a short time,¡± Alex finally said, ¡°What is the next one?¡±

    ¡°The second one is called ¡°The mystery of Shellion Cove.¡± People who passed the instance dungeon before said this is not really a combat heavy instance dungeon but rather relied more on wit and luck.¡±

    ¡°Wit and luck?¡± Nell asked.

    ¡°Yea, the exact details change each time, but we have to solve a series of mysteries involving a quiet beach-side town. Apparently, there are around fifty different mysteries. What we get will vary each time we attempt it.¡±

    ¡°That actually sounds kind of fun,¡± Nell said.

    ¡°But none of us are trained in detective work¡­,¡± Alex sighed, ¡°I fear that if we end up with a seriously difficult mystery, we may end up wasting our time.¡±

    Ruri silently nodded in agreement.

    ¡°The last one is?¡±

    Ruri flipped through the last few pages of his notes.

    ¡°The last one is called ¡°Pepper Ridge Farm.¡±¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it? Just the name of the location?¡± Alex questioned.

    ¡°Yea, apparently it is a newly added instance dungeon.¡±

    ¡°N-newly added?!¡± Nell exclaimed.

    ¡°Yea, to be added to the list of instance dungeon is no easy feat. It had to go through extensive scrutiny before being accepted by the ARK program into its list of instance dungeons.¡±

    ¡°So is there any information on it?¡±

    ¡°Only one, there is tasty food involved with it.¡±

    With that one sentence, their minds were made up. The mention of food also woke Kurt up.

    ¡°Food you say?¡± He said while rubbing his tired arms, ¡°What kind of food?¡±

    ¡°The hint said its fruits,¡± Ruri answered.

    ¡°Sounds like we already know what we are going to choose,¡± Alex sighed as she looked at the hunger in her friend¡¯s eyes, ¡°Either way, it would be interesting to experience something that only a few have experienced so far.¡±

    Her friends agreed. They chatted for a little while longer while waiting for their pods to be prepared. It was the weekend so they can stay longer than normal. They were planning to dive for a full three days. This would mean they need to prepare fluid as so they don¡¯t harm their bodies. All this was planned ahead in case the instance takes longer than they expected. They don¡¯t want to return to a danger zone whenever they re-dived.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ______

    Alex and her friends opened their eyes to see that they have entered their own respective Agraria worlds. They were separated for now.

    ¡°Open Instance Dungeon,¡± Alex shouted into the sky.

    A monitor appeared before her with a large list of instance dungeons. She narrowed down the search to the three Ruri found. Lastly, she clicked the ¡°Pepper Ridge Farm¡± instance dungeon.

    [Would you like to form a party?]

    The game prompted.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Alex confirmed vocally.

    [Friend list or Guild list?]

    ¡°From friend list!¡±

    [Please confirm party members.]

    ¡°Nell, Ruri, and Kurt.¡±

    [Sending application¡­]

    [Application received.]

    [Nell Accepted.]

    [Ruri Accepted.]

    [Kurt Accepted.]

    ¡°Begin instance dungeon.¡±

    [Beginning Instance Dungeon¡­Please close your eyes and count to thirty.]

    Alex closed her eyes and began counting.

    She felt the ground underneath her began to vanish as she floated in nothingness. Then the ground reformed under her feet. The moist scent of the mangroves was replaced with crisp mountain air.

    ¡°¡­Thirty.¡±

    Alex opened her eyes. Besides her was Nell, Ruri, and Kurt.

    Endless hills of green pastures spread out in front of them. Countless number of fluffy white sheep grazed majestically under the brilliant morning sun. A gentle breeze blew, making the grass look like a giant moving ocean of green.

    Alex took a deep refreshing breath. Compare to the stale air in her workstation, the mountain air felt overwhelmingly better.

    She turned around and saw a wooden sign.

    [Pepper Ridge Farm -> 5km]

    They were still a distance from their target location. Their mission hasn¡¯t even started yet. First, they have to find an AI NPC to give them their main objective.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Nell said with excitement as she opened her eyes too.

    Ruri and Kurt also opened their eyes. They admired the amazing view in front of them that Alex saw earlier.

    ¡°Hey, guys! We are still a distance away from our target,¡± Alex said as she pointed to the sign.

    ¡°Let¡¯s slowly walk there and enjoy the scenery,¡± Kurt said with a yawn.

    ¡°Yea! Let¡¯s slowly walk!¡± Nell quivered with excitement.

    They began their trek to the distant farm. After the first hill, they could see the magnificent farm off in the distance. A huge fenced area full of trees appeared in their sights. Colorful orbs polka dotted the trees. Alex could tell right away that they were fruit trees.

    By the time they reached the farm¡¯s wooden entrance, a good hour and a half have passed.

    A suntanned farmer with a straw hat came up to greet them.

    ¡°Welcome strangers, to Pepper Ridge Farms!¡± He said with a toothy grin, ¡°You folks must be the adventurers I called in earlier to help with my predicament.¡±

    ¡°Yes sir, we are,¡± Kurt replied, ¡°What seems to be the problem?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, so let¡¯s first get you folks situated!¡± The farmer laughed.

    Alex and her friends followed the farmer into the farm.

    ¡°My name is Jedidiah Smith. My family started this farm and orchard years ago. Back then this place was as barren as Uncle Joe¡¯s shiny bald head!¡± The farmer joked.

    ¡°Nice to meet you. My name is Alex, and these are my friends and team members,¡± Alex introduced herself nicely.

    ¡°I¡¯m Nell!¡±

    ¡°Names Kurt.¡±

    ¡°R-Ruri.¡±

    ¡°Well nice to meet you, folks!¡± Jedidiah laughed, ¡°Good to see you youngins so eager to help an old man like me.¡±

    They finally stopped in front of a large red barn. An open campfire blazed and crackled beside it. A few shaved logs doubled as chairs were placed beside it.

    ¡°Take a seat as I tell my woes,¡± Jedidiah said with a sigh.

    He handed each a mug of apple cider.

    Alex and her friends drank with enthusiasm. The bubbly drink had a sharp but sweet kick. The tartness of the apple helped compound a profound flavor profile.

    ¡°It all started around a week ago. Here at Pepper Ridge Farm, we farm a large variety of fruits. Most of the time, we sell the fresh fruits. The ugly ones we make into juice or cider like the ones in your hands now. We use fruit slimes from the fertile swamp off in the west as fertilizer.¡±

    Alex and her friends froze.

    ¡°Slimes?¡±

    ¡°Yea, slimes. Those sticky and slimy fellers do great work at breaking down fallen fruits and leaves and turn it into grade ¡®A¡¯ fertilizer. My farm alone employs over a thousand of them.¡±

    ¡°Amazing!¡± Alex sighed. She didn¡¯t realize that the instance dungeon already included creatures that cannot exist in reality.

    ¡°Anyways, my orchards also have the blessing of a few fairies! They help pollinate the flowers during the flowering season. They also help cultivate the slimes for us! In return, they get access to all the nectar in the flowers.¡±

    ¡°Fairies too?¡±

    ¡°Yep, my ancestors made a sort of a pact with them tiny winged devils. Although they may be mischievous as heck, they sure are damn useful!¡± Jedidiah laughed again.

    ¡°What do they look like?¡± Nell asked with stars in her eyes.

    ¡°Like tiny people but in all sorts of random colors! They also have buggy wings!¡±

    ¡°L-like how tiny are they?¡± Ruri asked as he began to note down useful information.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say around the length of my open hand.¡±

    ¡°So around five to six inches?¡±

    ¡°Yea sounds about right,¡± Jedidiah scratched his head, ¡°Anyways, about my problem.¡±

    ¡°S-sorry, go on,¡± Ruri apologized and hide behind his notes.

    ¡°Starting a week ago, those darn pesky fairies just went and vanished! Not only that, the slimes have started to go berserk. They are uprooting my precious trees and are devouring them whole! Those trees are my livelihood! I can¡¯t afford to lose any of them. But those damn slimes are disposable! I am too old to do it myself, so I need some help from you folks. Can you please clear those berserk slimes for me?¡±

    Suddenly, a monitor appeared before Alex and her friends.

    [Instance Dungeon Quest: Jedidiah¡¯s problem. Eliminate 15 slimes. Progress 0/15.]

    The quest could not be rejected and was automatically accepted.

    ¡°We will definitely help!¡± Nell said with excitement.

    ¡°Great! You folks are helping me a ton! If y¡¯all ever get thirsty and need a pick-me-up. Give me a heads up. I got plenty of fruit juice and cider in me ol¡¯ storage barn here.¡±

    Jedidiah flicked his straw hat up and smiled brilliantly with his enormous grin.

    Alex and her friends chatted with Jedidiah for a while longer, hoping to extract more useful information on their targets.

    Finally, after the cider in their mugs was emptied, Alex and her friends set off into the orchards.

 Chapter 14C: Pepper Ridge Farm

    <u>Chapter 14C: Pepper Ridge Farm</u>

    Rows upon rows of neatly arranged fruit trees swayed gently in the breeze. The ground was littered with fallen leaves, and the sight of rotten fallen fruit was everywhere. It was a sharp contrast between the ground and the canopy above.

    ¡°Jedidiah said that the slimes usually clean the ground of fallen fruits¡­It would seem that the slimes haven¡¯t been doing their job.¡±

    Alex said to her friends as they carefully tread upon the bed of leaves and fruit. The smell of vegetation combined with a slightly sour smell lingered in the air. After around half an hour, the edge of the orchard can be spotted. White fences lined the edge. Off into the distance were more rolling hills of green pastures.

    ¡°This is strange,¡± Ruri questioned, ¡°How come we didn¡¯t see a single slime on our way here.¡±

    It was indeed puzzling. Considering Farmer Jedidiah¡¯s worries and the sheer number of slimes they had to dispose of for their quest, not seeing a single slime during their walk straight through the orchard was very strange.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± Alex said as she looked up at the sky.

    The sun was already getting close to setting. They perhaps only had about an hour of light left. On the way through the orchard, they didn¡¯t see anything that would light up the place. It will be a dark and dangerous place with rampaging slimes around.

    Instead of being on alert, Alex and her friends relaxed on the journey back. Suddenly, a shadowed landed in front of them.

    A bright orange blob that swashed and swirled. Its innards were clear orange gelatin while a small black dot could be seen in the center.

    It was an orange slime. And it was the size of a grown man.

    ¡°Holy crap!¡± Kurt yelled as he immediately got on the offensive. His military training allowed him to be prepared in case of a surprise attack.

    He stood in front of his friends with his weapon in hand.

    The slime didn¡¯t immediately lunge at them though. It swayed back and forth curiously as it ¡®observed¡¯ the intruders. It was obviously smarter than it looked.

    Suddenly, the sound of wet liquid splashing could be heard behind the group. Nell looked back and saw a blue slime fall from one of the trees. It was a two-pronged attack!

    ¡°Damn, get into formation!¡± Alex snapped.

    She soon realized why they didn¡¯t see any slimes along the way. They were far too wary. Their wariness prevented the slimes from approaching. Now that they have relaxed, the slimes attacked.

    The four teens all stood back to back with their weapons trained on the two slimes.

    Suddenly, the orange slime sent out a thick orange tentacle. Kurt swung his pole and tried to knock away the tentacle. The gelatinous thing just crumbled upon impact and splashed onto the ground. Instead of vanishing, the scattered tentacle pieces slowly crawled back into the orange slime¡¯s body.

    ¡°It can regenerate lost body mass!¡± Kurt suddenly shouted.

    Alex nodded.

    Nell quickly summoned a mushroom. Thanks to the forest ground, the mushroom man spawned looked more robust than her usual creations. Its white mycelium had a healthy glow to it, and the cap on its head was a distinct loamy brown.

    The mushroom ran recklessly at the blue slime while Alex and everyone else focused their attention on the orange one.

    The blue slime morphed into a large sheet and attempted to engulf the mushroom man. The mushroom put on a splendid struggle. Soon, the mushroom and the blue slime was locked in combat on the forest ground, both refusing to be eaten by the other.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Alex summoned two shadow boas and tried to bind the slime. But due to its gelatinous form, the shadow snakes had nothing to bind. The skill returned an error message to her.

    ¡°Shit, this doesn¡¯t work either,¡± Kurt said as he quickly bludgeoned the slime with his pole. It only left a dent which reformed immediately.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a non-Newtonian fluid. If you apply pressure, it will become more solid,¡± Ruri said with his vast knowledge and memory.

    ¡°How do we kill it?¡± Alex quickly asked. She was more of a practical thinker rather than a methodical one.

    ¡°We can either freeze it which will allow our physical attacks to work, or use heat,¡± Ruri quickly answered. He began to form a layer of ice around Kurt¡¯s weapon. Since he only needed to use one point of condensation, the mana and focus required were minimal.

    Kurt nodded and waited for the ice to finish forming.

    Alex kept the slime¡¯s attention by summoning shadow boas. Although they cannot bind, the sight of them still attracted the slime¡¯s attention.

    Meanwhile, behind them, Nell and the mushroom man were trying their best to limit the blue slime¡¯s movements. Compared to the orange slime who attack with only tentacles, the blue slime can freely shape its body into different forms. At first, it was just a sheet of gelatin that tried to envelop the mushroom man. Once the mushroom dodged and tried to punch it, the slime changed shape into a thin rod. The punch missed completely. The slime then coiled around the mushroom¡¯s arms and began to constrict. A clear smoke can be seen rising up from the arm as the slime secreted digestive juices. The mushroom man quickly severed its arm at Nell¡¯s command.

    The slime quickly consumed the arm, leaving not a single visible piece of it left. Nell was at a loss. The mushroom man required mana to regenerate limbs. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t go all out and use all her mana on her summon. She had enough to repair the limb, but she hesitated. Looking at the situation at hand, if she were to regrow the limb all willy-nilly, it would just be eaten by the slime again. It will be better to scout out its capabilities and try to find a method of attack that works before repairing the mushroom man. After all, it¡¯s not like her summon bleeds.

    Meanwhile, back with the fight with the orange slime. Kurt was dodging orange tentacles left and right as he approached the slime. Alex provided support with her wrist crossbow. She aimed carefully at the nucleus of the slime. Thankfully, her approach was correct as the orange slime had to shift its tentacles to focus on blocking the crossbow bolts.

    After Ruri casted the spell, he began to observe the slime and to note down any characteristics that could be of use. He counted that the slime had a limit of four tentacles. One of them was tied down by Alex while the other three were trying to hit Kurt.

    Ruri knew he had to attract the attention of one of the tentacles as well. With three on Kurt, he couldn¡¯t get close enough to freeze the slime¡¯s main body.

    Ruri began to form another ball of condensation in front of him. This time, he used fire. It was something he never got used to. Casting ice spells was like a walk in the park for him, but to use fire was like trying to balance a bucket of water on his head. The focus required was a lot greater. Soon, a thin needle of fire appeared. Ruri controlled it to shoot at the slime.

    Thankfully, the slime had to use one of its tentacles to block the flame needle. This brisk moment where Kurt was barred by only two tentacles gave him the chance to go in. He dashed toward after dodging the remaining two tentacles. With an overhead slam, he dunked the tip of the pole on the slime¡¯s main body. The slime couldn¡¯t move while its tentacles were overstretched and were hit. The ice quickly spread as its body became solid. Its movement slowed down as well. The tentacles that were too far from its main body froze over and detached. The solidified pieces no longer crawled back to the slime¡¯s main body.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Alex quickly said before Kurt could land the finishing blow, ¡°Let''s take this one back so we can find out what¡¯s wrong with them.¡±

    Kurt nodded and took out a jar from his backpack. He chipped pieces off the slime¡¯s body until it fits snuggly into the jar. Once the jar was sealed, he quickly placed it back into his pack and turned around to fight the second battle.

    Now that Nell¡¯s friends joined the battle, the blue slime was in a predicament. Its hunting partner was captured, and surely it will be next.

    It took the chance to quickly slip away from the group. Kurt and Nell wanted to give chase, but Ruri and Alex stopped them.

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go after it,¡± They both said in unison.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nell said dissatisfied. She wanted revenge for her mushroom¡¯s eaten limbs.

    ¡°It might lead us to a place with more than two slimes. We can barely handle two, what if there were three, or more?¡±

    Nell frowned but agreed. Kurt nodded as well.

    The rest of the journey back to the barn was uneventful.

    The sky was a deep purple by the time they finally got back. Thankfully, they made it back to safety before the sun¡¯s light completely vanished.

    Farmer Jedidiah was waiting for them with a smile. Once he saw the orange slime in the jar, his grin grew wider.

    ¡°Good job! I knew you guys were the real deal!¡± He laughed as he mocked the slime in the jar, ¡°One slime down is one less bugger to worry about!¡±

    Alex assumed from his words that the slimes were limited and did not reproduce.

    Jedidiah prepared dinner as Alex and her friends settled down in the barn. Several lumps of hay will be their bed for the night. It was a good thing they didn¡¯t need to sleep long in the ARK world. Tomorrow, their hunt continues.

 Chapter 15A: Drunken Midgets

    <u>Chapter 15A: Drunken Midgets</u>

    Sleep during a Dive doesn¡¯t last long. The only thing one needs to recover from is mental fatigue. Usually, three hours of rest can fix that problem. Some even forgo sleep and just meditate. But for a rowdy group of teenagers, sitting still and focusing the mind on decompressing isn¡¯t really their strong suit.

    So Alex and her friends took a short nap on the hay bales. It was a cold night. The barn door was closed to block the winds, but the chill was still present. Thankfully, Alex and her friends were provided blankets. After their nap, the sun was not even close to rising, so they started practicing their skills. After all, repetitive use will grow the mastery rating.

    Alex produced another vial of venom. Now she had a bunch of vials neatly tucked inside a case she made from some twigs. It wasn¡¯t very pretty nor was it sturdy, but it did the job. It prevented the vials from clanging into each other in her backpack. She couldn¡¯t afford to spill a single drop.

    Once they finish their first official instance dungeon and proceed to complete their job advancement, they will gain the authority to enter the main city. Alex read tons of blogs on the exciting city of Ardentmill.

    When the ARK system was first opened to the residents of GAIA, it was a land barren of civilization and technology. Everything had to be built from the ground up. Several hundred years later, several main cities had formed. The first of which was Ardentmill. The buildings had an 18<sup>th</sup>-century European aesthetic to them. Cobblestone streets spider-webbed the entire city. Walls upon walls of two to three-story buildings with a countless number of stores and opened on the ground floor.

    Perhaps it was due to the fatigue people had over highly technical residential buildings, the old-time aesthetic really appealed to all who lived there. Instead of the neon cityscape they normally dwell in, the quaint city of Ardentmill provided a recluse from the lights and noise.

    Alex continued to read more blogs on the city as she practiced her shadow boas. The twin black boas started to become more flexible as she learned how to control them. Originally, she let the two snakes bind automatically. It would follow a normal pattern. But recently, she learned that she can control the method of binding. Alex started to look for the various style of knots that are hard to break out of. Now she was practicing tying those knots with her snakes. The more sophisticated the knot, the more mastery experience she gained. Slowly, she approached mastery level 3.

    Time passed by and soon the rooster¡¯s morning call caught everyone¡¯s attention. They opened the barn door and saw that a small sliver of sunlight had peaked out over the horizon. Dawn had arrived.

    ¡°Should we give Jedidiah a heads up before we head out?¡± Nell asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid he might not be awake this early,¡± Kurt replied with stretching.

    ¡°But don¡¯t farmers always wake up early?¡± Nell questioned.

    ¡°He¡¯s more of a plantation owner than a farmer¡­,¡± Ruri sighed.

    Alex didn¡¯t say anything but instead walked over to the house. She saw Jedidiah already up and moving about in the kitchen.

    ¡°Morning folks! How was your night?¡± He asked with a friendly smile.

    ¡°Good, thanks! We will head out early and see if we can find any slimes,¡± Alex replied.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Ah! Proactive I see! Good, good¡­If you guys get hungry, I will have food ready!¡± He laughed.

    Alex nodded and returned to her friends still arguing whether or not to wake Jedidiah. She could only sigh.

    ¡°Guys¡­He¡¯s already awake. We can go into the orchard now.¡±

    ¡°W-what?¡± They all turned to look at Alex.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get moving while the sun still isn¡¯t up. Perhaps we can catch more slimes that are nocturnal and are perhaps just starting to run back to their hiding spots.¡±

    They nodded and followed Alex into the orchard. The first few trees were covered in a healthy layer of dew from the evening moisture. The sun hadn¡¯t risen long enough to evaporate the droplets of water on the fruits and leaves.

    Jedidiah told them yesterday that if they ever feel famished, they can pluck fruit off the trees. After all, a few fruits don¡¯t hurt profits when the entire farm provides hundreds of thousands of them every season.

    Apples of varying kinds dotted the trees. From the signature Red Delicious type to the sour green Granny Smith. Alex and her friends climbed up a nearby tree and plucked half a dozen apples.

    As they took a bite of the dew-covered apple, the chilled crispy fruit flesh exploded with flavor. A slightly tart but overwhelmingly sweet taste invaded their mouth. The apple sent their dilapidated taste buds on a rollercoaster ride of deliciousness.

    Feeling both satisfied and refreshed, Alex and her friends entered deeper into the orchard. They followed a different path today and went west. Nell summoned a medium sized mushroom man to follow along. It had difficulty moving through the denser parts of the orchard where the trees were less organized, but near the edge where they were more lined up and geometric, it had no problem at all.

    They chatted along the way while stretching their bodies. Their voices scared away the weaker slimes and attracted the berserk ones. Very soon, two slimes attacked. They looked different from the ones Alex and company saw yesterday. The two from before used its tentacles and morphing capabilities to attack. These were slowly and rolled around like balls. They seemed far more viscous and were sturdier. Alex and her friends jumped aside to dodge the tumbling slimes, but the mushroom man was too slow to dodge. The two slimes slammed into the mushroom like two boulders falling off a steep cliff. One of them ripped a leg off while the other one blasted into the chest of the mushroom. It left a deep cave-in. Nell felt enraged. The chest can be repaired, but the leg will be hard to reattach.

    ¡°Goddammit!¡± She screamed.

    ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s coming towards us now,¡± Kurt said while activating his buffs.

    Nell bit her lips and pouted.

    The rolling black slime that ripped the leg off rolled up a tree and turned around. It barely lost any momentum and barreled towards Alex. The other slime was caught by the mushroom man who was now on his back hugging the thing tightly. Due to the stiffer gelatinous feature of the black slime, it couldn¡¯t ooze out of the mushroom¡¯s stranglehold.

    With one slime incapacitated, Alex only had to deal with one rolling slime. She lifted her arms, and two shadow boas slithered out of her sleeves. It flew directly at the slime. Since the slime was rolling forward with such momentum, it couldn¡¯t dodge to the sides. The two shadow snakes wrapped around the slime, slowing down its rotation. This gave Alex enough time to dodge. Kurt took her place and jumped in with his stick first. He swung down hard and bashed the slime. The viscous slime bounced up from the rebound force. Nell was behind Kurt as she borrowed his shoulder. Kurt jumped and gave Nell a boost as she leaped towards the slime in the air with her metal fan. Using the sheer force of the jump, the sharp metal fan bisected the slime.

    The precious core inside the slime managed to avoid being cut through. But since the slime lost half its mass and was no longer spherical, it could no longer roll. Ruri pinned the hemispherical slime with a prison of ice.

    ¡°Good job guys!¡± Alex smiled and gave everyone a high five. Their combat efficiency had improved greatly along with their synergy. Nell being able to pull off such an incredible feat of agility also surprised Alex.

    ¡°I was just so mad at those slimy assholes,¡± Nell pouted. It would seem in a fit of rage, the adrenaline boosted her performance.

    It was then that Alex had a brilliant idea spawn in her head. But she had to test it.

    With both slimes incapacitated, they took their time to stab the core to end the two slimes life. Without the support of the core, the black viscous gelatin lost its strength and melted into a puddle on the grassy ground.

    Alex looked at the quest progress.

    [Progress 4/15].

    They had the rest of today and tomorrow to finish the quest.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try to reach halfway today,¡± Alex said.

    Her friends nodded and began to walk deeper into the orchard.

 Chapter 15B: Drunken Midgets

    <u>Chapter 15B: Drunken Midgets</u>

    Three different colored slimes melted into a puddle of ooze as their cores were destroyed. Alex and her friends relaxed their tired bodies. It was now incredibly hot as the sun reached midday. The heat started to take its toll as it sapped strength from their bodies. Dehydration played an important factor in their deteriorating physical stamina.

    Alex looked down at the flask of water she brought along. Barely a single drop left. They had to find water and fast.

    Suddenly, she looked down at the ooze on the ground. A thought came to her mind.

    ¡°Are slimes edible?¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but ask her friends.

    They were stunned and could only shrug their shoulders.

    Alex¡¯s curious side got the better of her. She stuck her index finger in the red ooze and sniffed it. It smelled like fruit. A strong citrus scent with a hint of mildew. Following the survival guide that Dr. Ptah gave her, she first rubbed a small it on her forearm. After a while, there were no rashes or itching. This was a good sign. Alex put a small bit into her mouth. A powerful fruity taste packed full of fructose and pectin. Its texture wasn¡¯t very good, but the taste was there. She waited to see if there was any adverse reaction to ingesting the slime. In the end, nothing happened.

    ¡°Guys, I think it¡¯s safe,¡± She beckoned her friends over to try.

    ¡°No thanks, I don¡¯t think eating that thing is healthy,¡± Nell cringed.

    Kurt walked over and stuck his finger in the blue ooze.

    ¡°Hmm, taste tart. Kind of like blueberry.¡±

    This got Ruri curious enough to try it as well. He stuck his finger in the last puddle of ooze.

    The orange goo stuck to his finger like paste.

    ¡°Very strong citrus smell, taste tangy.¡±

    While everyone was savoring the fruity taste of slime, everyone except Nell that is, the nearby slimes have all ran away. Seeing people eat their fallen brethren was frightening.

    Alex bottled the three ooze and called her friends over. They had to go find a source of water or to walk back to the farmhouse.

    Jedidiah gave them a general idea of the orchard¡¯s layout. Four small creeks ran along the axis of the orchard. If you listen carefully, you can hear running water from any location in the orchard.

    Alex just started walking in one direction and listened carefully to see if the sound of water got louder.

    Thankfully, it would seem that they were on the right track.

    Very soon, they passed through a large hedge of blueberries and found the creek. The crystal clear water flowed gently along the rocky bed. The sunshine glimmered as it reflected off the water. Alex and her friends sighed with relief. They stuck their heads deep into the creek and chugged.

    ¡°Bwahhh! So refreshing!¡± Nell screamed as she pulled her head out of the water.

    They filled their canteens and decided to have lunch.

    Of course, their lunch was nothing but fruits. Fruits galore!

    But it was a decent change compare to eating nothing but meat for a week.

    Fruit salad, candied fruit, and just simple sliced fruit filled their backpacks. Certainly eating all this fruit can¡¯t be healthy for anyone. But hey, it¡¯s all virtual, so their bodies didn¡¯t suffer long-term side effects.

    Suddenly, Alex heard mumbling beneath the sound of flowing water.

    ¡°Did you guys say anything?¡±

    ¡°No. Did you hear something?¡±

    Alex nodded and gestured for her friends to stay silent.

    A faint mumbling was heard again. It came from above the hedge on one of the fruit trees. Alex silently got closer to the source of the sound.

    She found a hollowed out area of the tree and peered inside.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    It was a miniature apartment containing several small versions of furniture made out of wood with a thin carpet made of feathers. A single tiny creature was lounging on the couch made of a rat pelt. The grey fur looked soft to touch and wasn¡¯t covered in any blemishes that would lower the cost of the couch. The creature was snoozing with a line of drool dripping from the left side of its face.

    Alex was shocked. It was a very small person. With the height of around only four inches, the creature looked like a shrunken down teen. Some distinct features allowed Alex to tell it was a girl. But the way she was sprawled out on the couch was anything but lady-like.

    Suddenly, Alex was assaulted by a strong smell. It was a scent she had smelled before when handling lab tools. It was the smell of ethanol.

    ¡°Alcohol?¡± Alex pondered.

    It certainly would explain why the creature was knocked out cold.

    ¡°Hey! What do you see up there?¡± Nell shouted.

    ¡°Who?!¡± The small creature woke up. She saw Alex and immediately screamed and started to throw stuff at her.

    Alex lost her balance and fell. Thankfully Kurt was there to cushion her landing.

    ¡°Ouch¡­,¡± Kurt rubbed his arms, ¡°You OK?¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex said while quickly getting back up.

    ¡°Who are you, folks?!¡± The small creature yelled out of the tree, ¡°What were you doing peeking at me!¡±

    ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything stopping us,¡± Alex said bluntly, ¡°Your home doesn¡¯t even have doors.¡±

    The creature frowned.

    ¡°F-fine! But leave me alone!¡± It said as it stormed back into its house.

    ¡°We have some questions we want to ask,¡± Alex said quickly before the creature vanished.

    ¡°Ugh fine, bring me an apple to get rid of this god damn headache, and I¡¯ll humor you folks,¡± The creature finally said after rubbing her temples.

    Alex nodded at her friends. Thankfully, they had fruits leftover from their picnic. Kurt threw a delicious red apple into the tree hole.

    ¡°Woah! Watch out there! You assholes nearly crushed me with that apple!¡± The small creature fumed.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± Kurt yelled.

    The creature nearly unhinged its jaw and took a huge bite out of the apple. The crisp sound could be heard by Alex and her friends at the bottom of the tree. Soon, the apple became nothing but a thin core with some seeds.

    ¡°Ah, that hit the spot!¡±

    ¡°H-how?¡± Ruri was amazed as he looked at the aftermath. The apple was the same size as the creature yet it was consumed immediately. The creature didn¡¯t grow in mass or size.

    ¡°Just where did it all go?¡± He mumbled.

    ¡°Well, since I made a promise, I guess I¡¯ll answer some of your stupid questions,¡± The creature said finally.

    ¡°What are you?¡±

    ¡°Wow, what a rude thing to first ask a lady!¡± The creature pouted, ¡°I am a majestic fairy! Dweller of the orchard, caretaker of the slimes!¡±

    ¡°A fairy?¡± Alex asked.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t that old man farmer tell you?¡±

    Alex suddenly remembered Jedidiah mentioned the tiny creatures. It was the first time she ever saw them in reality though. Certainly, it was quite the surprise how similar they look to normal humans.

    ¡°Next question, do you know what is happening with the slimes?¡±

    ¡°What slimes?¡± The fairy replied after a brief pause.

    ¡°The slimes that were supposed to be taking care of the forest floor.¡±

    ¡°Oh those slimes, what¡¯s wrong with them?¡±

    ¡°They are going on a rampage! Aren¡¯t you guys the caretakers?¡±

    ¡°What rampage? We didn¡¯t see anything,¡± The fairy said which looking away suspiciously.

    Suddenly Alex realized perhaps that fairies sucked at keeping things secret. Perhaps a little persuasion was needed.

    ¡°We know it was you,¡± Alex said with a harsher tone. Even her friends were surprised by her sudden change in mood.

    ¡°Tell us now, or we will destroy you and your home.¡±

    ¡°Nooooo! OK, OK, I¡¯ll tell you guys!¡± The fairy suddenly rushed out and begged while tugging on Alex¡¯s shirt.

    Alex nodded to her friends with a sly grin. They could only shrug their shoulders and sigh with a smile.

    ¡°W-we had a party last week to celebrate, and maybe, just maybe we got a wee tad bit drunk.¡± The fairy rubbed her feet together and said shyly.

    ¡°What did you do¡­,¡± Alex started to worry.

    ¡°We dropped some of our fairy-grade fertilizer on a slime and kind of left it alone for a week.¡±

    ¡°Fairy-grade fertilizer?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate us fairy¡¯s ability to make plants grow! We are the masters of the fruit! The kingpin of veg! Nothing can stop us when it comes to manipulating plants!¡± The fairy suddenly boasted. She talked so far that Alex could barely understand her bragging.

    ¡°What did the fertilizer do to the slime?¡± Ruri asked as Alex was trying to figure out what the fairy spewed.

    ¡°It kind of evolved¡­,¡± The fairy said.

    ¡°Evolved? What does a slime evolve into?¡±

    ¡°Eh? You guys don¡¯t know? What are they teaching you in school?!¡± The fairy complained.

    Nell got annoyed and started to look menacingly at the fairy. Beads of sweat started to fall from the fairy as she looked away and whistled. It took some convincing, but the fairy finally talked.

    ¡°It turned into a King Slime!¡± She said while boasting.

    ¡°Why the hell are you bragging about your mistake?!¡± Nell yelled.

    The fairy was emotionally crushed. She started crying and pulled out of her pockets a bottle. It was like a magic trick. She didn¡¯t even have pockets before. Now she pulled out a bottle of liquid the size of herself from some pockets that magically appeared on her outfit. She uncorked it and chugged. The strong smell of alcohol permeated the air almost immediately.

    ¡°W-what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Drowning my sorrows!¡± The fairy continued to chug.

    ¡°How is all of that fitting in that tiny body?!¡± Ruri couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    Finally, the bottle was stored away, and the fairy was flushed red and hiccuping.

    Alex sighed and asked one last question.

    ¡°Where is this King Slime?¡± She assumed the main root of the problem perhaps started with the King Slime. Something that has the prefix King in its name must be able to control and manipulate others of its species.

    ¡°U-under the central tree, inside of the mushroom cave!¡± The fairy said before she flew back into her home and passed out on the couch again.

    ¡°What a carefree bunch of idiots.¡± Nell sighed. Her friends nodded in agreement.

    ¡°At least we know where we have to go now,¡± Alex said.

    ¡°But where is the central tree?¡± Ruri asked.

    ¡°Perhaps Jedidiah knows.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s kill some slimes on the way back then.¡±

    Those poor fluid sacks didn¡¯t know what they were up against. Alex and her friends bagged two more slimes by the time they got back to the farmhouse.