《The Three Faces of Null》 Prologue In a universe, within this universe, laid a vast world. So vast is this world that it is said to be as big as quarter a star. Some say it is the biggest planet in this universe, while others claim it is smaller than a star. However, for those who could find the truth, size never mattered. This world was home to a variety of creatures. Many of these creatures had distinguished themselves, but in a world the size of a smaller star, none of them had truly conquered the planet. Each creature was so powerful in its own way that they would always hinder each other¡¯s attempts at conquering, maintaining a delicate balance. One of the most powerful of these creatures were the HUMAS.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. This particular race was incredibly intelligent and powerful. Many believed they were the closest to conquering the world. With their intellect, they secured a place at the top of the food chain, making them a race of hunters rather than mere prey. But it was just in the recent few millennia that their peaceful nature drastically changed, leading to more conquering and violence than the act of acquiring knowledge they are known for all over the world. This has brought upon the wrath of a ¡®being¡¯ they have only ever speculated existed. 1-THE END In space, three ¡®beings¡¯ could be seen doing what could only be described as looking down on the world. The world, as big as some stars, made them appear small, not even comparable to specks of dust in comparison to its sheer size. Yet, the world rumbled, trembling in fear at their presence. All beings within the planet were left in a state of confusion and fear. As if sensing a signal, the weaker creatures hid while the stronger ones heightened their awareness to ensure the safety of their people. A never-before-seen event was about to unfold, and its outcome, whether a great disaster or a great boon, was already known by these ¡®beings¡¯. Suddenly, they dropped as if commanding the force that held them up to stop. They descended so rapidly that the very planet they were on lost sight of them. Then, ¡®BOOOOOOOOMMMM¡¯¡ªa massive crater formed, one that the planet believed would take several million years to heal. They had landed in the heart of ¡®Birnin ilimi,¡¯ the city of¡­¡±. 2-THE BEGINNING ¡°¡®BEEEEMMM¡¯, the sound of a portal could be heard, and a young man walked out of it. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with blue hair and dark blue pupils. Seemingly conflicted, he did not acknowledge the being standing before him. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the words seemed to draw him out of his thoughts, making him realize that he was back home. He took in the breeze and looked around, admiring the beauty of the room that he had never really noticed or cared about, having been In similar rooms countless times before. He looked at the person in front of him and replied, ¡°Sorry, I was a little lost in thought.¡± The woman in front of him was so beautiful that she seemed unreal, but so was he, along with every other HUMAS on their continent, ¡®Duniyar ilimi¡¯.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Still standing and without taking a seat, he spoke to the person in front of him, who was a baut, or rather an android. It had become increasingly difficult to distinguish between androids and HUMAS nowadays, as many HUMAS had become cyborgs, further blurring the lines. He shares his findings and experiences in the world he has just entered, describing how terrible it was.¡± 3-IN SEARCH In an attempt to satisfy their curiosity, the race of HUMAS were quite daring and often foolish. However, this innate instinct could not be satiated, leading them to seek more knowledge. The more they discovered, the greater their hunger for knowledge grew. Consequently, many of them perished. Their willingness to take risks for even the smallest piece of information was unimaginable to the other creatures of this world. Their fearlessness was as tangible as it was enticing. The HUMAS race was not known for their strength, but rather for their adaptability and survival skills. It seemed that the world and fate favored them. However, this did not prevent other races from preying on them. Their bravery often turned into foolishness, making them a desirable target for others. Nevertheless, the HUMAS would do anything in their power to survive, especially if they possessed information unknown to the rest. Gradually, as their knowledge expanded, so did their race. They became a group that pursued knowledge to such an extent that morals became meaningless.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°They found that to continuously improve, they needed to experiment. And they did this not by using their neighbors (other races), but by using themselves. They saw it as honorable to lead to the discovery of more information, so they volunteered themselves without force or influence. However, a problem arose. 4-THE DESTROYED WORLD ¡®BEEEEMMM¡¯, a portal opens in what seems like a desert. Sand stretches to what seems like infinity, and a person with dark blue eyes and blue hair emerges. He looks completely out of place in the desert, with clean clothes and no face covering to protect from the continuous dust cloud. Despite spending a few minutes in the same spot, his clothes show no signs of dust. As he takes a step forward, the portal behind him finally closes, leaving him to await what this dusty world will reveal. With each step, he travels several hundred kilometers, scanning his surroundings. Despite searching over ten thousand kilometers, he doesn¡¯t sense anything on his radar. The extreme heat of the planet surprises him, as it affects the radar. This effect is only known on one other planet to the HUMAS. Due to this, the world is very popular, and many people have visited. He once went to that world covered in lava; it was the hottest world known. The world was so hot that even with the futuristic tech of the HUMAS and magic, they couldn¡¯t spend more than a few hours in the world before crashing. Something was seriously wrong with this world, so he decided to max out his defense system. The fact that he had not spotted any sign of water, not even a drop, made him believe this world was probably deserted. Until he saw a sign of life, though very tiny and weak. Life was life, and that was enough for him, so he bolted to the place. 5 -IN SEARCH 2 The problem was ¡®pain¡¯. This was a serious issue because they all hated pain, and it was certain that pain would occur. This was one of the reasons why they decided to use races that caused them the most pain, although it was shameful to them. They accepted it as a consequence to gain more information. They had no choice but to adapt. However, what seemed like a simple thing to HUMAS turned into hell for all the other races that had harassed the HUMAS. As fate would have it, they were perfect for the experiment that the HUMAS were conducting. Since the HUMAS themselves were weak, they could only use races that were equal to or weaker than them. Even so, these races were still better experimental subjects than the HUMAS themselves. They divided all the races they knew and realized that the truly strong races never harassed or killed them unless they were truly annoyed. This often happened since the strong races were the ones with more information.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. It seems that the stronger races saw it as beneath them to intentionally mess with the weaker races, but this didn¡¯t matter to the HUMAS. The only reason they didn¡¯t experiment on the stronger races was simply because they were too strong for their current capabilities. Through their experiments, the HUMAS discovered that certain races were better subjects than others, leading to the specialization of subjects. 6-THE SUBJECT MI12 My name is Miret. I am a member of the Meekat race and also a subject named Special MI124. This is the name given to me by my captors. Not a day passes that I don''t think about how, why did the delicious easy prey suddenly become so aggressive and wicked? I can barely remember, but I am sure most of the other creatures of my race, or any other race for that matter, can barely remember life outside of this torment. We are called, as they sing us praises, as they cut us in half and just put or remove whatever they want from our bodies, and then stitch us back up. Even if we are near death because of their stupid experiments, they still desperately try to save us to use us for another day. Why won''t you just let us die?Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The past, which I can barely remember, is all that keeps me sane... hahahaha, at least not as insane as the other subjects. Some, no, most of us have lost our willpower and are just praying to be among the lucky ones who die due to a mishap or experiment. I have seen many of my friends separated from me. Some were among the lucky ones and are now dead. I am so, so, so, so, so jealous. If only I were among them. Why am I so unlucky? I want to scream my frustration, but I fear disturbing my captors. The fate of those who disturb the captors is not pleasant. They are used for experiments more regularly and later given to the captor¡¯s younger ones. No fate could be worse than that. 7-THE CHERISHED MEMORY The captors¡¯ children are the ones I fear the most. All captives who have experienced their wrath fear them too. There was a time when I used to make noise and disturb the captors, acting out in riot, rampage, and rebellion. I had just been captured and didn¡¯t understand the looks in the eyes of my fellow captives. They showed no signs of willingness to fight or rebel, only pity for my actions. I hated the way they looked at me, with eyes that contained no will yet dared to show me such pity. Even though there were creatures among my fellow captives who could easily kill me, they couldn¡¯t because our cages were far apart and they lacked the will to do anything in the first place. This only fueled my foolishness.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I would shout insults at all these creatures, both stronger and weaker than me, and I made sure they knew I was insulting them. But why didn¡¯t they stop me? Why¡­ oh, they did try, but I was too much of a fool to realize the hole I was digging for myself. My first experiment as a newcomer taught me how to feel fear. I could not open my mouth for a whole month, or it could have been more. I guess I have lost my perception of time. Even my hunger couldn¡¯t make me forget this horror of being ripped apart and sewn over and over again. Who would have known that the captors¡¯ experiments don¡¯t last a few hours or minutes? No, they lasted weeks. 8 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 2 I never knew that the experiment of my captors would be so agonizing. He felt every tiny tear of his skin, organ to an unreal level. He was never this sensitive to pain, so why? He had been ruminating over the thought obsessively, and as if to reward him for his obsession, the answer appeared in front of him in the form of a captor coming to check on him. He felt so much fear for the first, no, second time in his life. At this moment, he would realize that fear could choke one to death. He could not breathe. This pressure. Is this the day I die? Even when he tried opening his mouth, since his nostrils refused to work, it wouldn¡¯t open, not in front of one of his captors. What if he was displeased? And what is happening? They had left him for a Whole month without disturbing him. Did his refusal to open his mouth annoy them or had he done something to gain their displeasure? Then he should beg, but... he could not move a single fiber of his being. All he could do was stare. He felt that his act of looking directly into his captor¡¯s eye was the stupidest mistake he had ever made, but what could he do when he couldn¡¯t move?Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! 9 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 3 ¡°Subject MI124, how are you feeling?¡± the man in front of my cage asked me. Was I supposed to answer him? My mind raced, pondering this thought. I tried to answer, I really tried, but my stupid mouth would not open. Sweat poured down my body, and even my fur couldn¡¯t hide this fact. All I could do was gulp as tears started falling from my eyes, anticipating the punishment I would receive for not answering promptly. This is what happens at home¡­ home? What home? Before my mind could wander any further, he stated, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten or drunk anything in three months, so I ask, how do you feel?¡±¡±What? Three months? How am I still alive?¡± I thought. ¡°You¡¯re probably thinking that¡¯s impossible, well, that is to be expected,¡± he paused, his eyes now questioning, as if asking if I had anything to add. And¡­ a look of interest. ¡°Please, do not be interested in me!¡± I screamed in my mind.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°For a race that is known to survive solely on constant eating, this is really unexpected. You managed to survive three months without food, which is surprising considering we have learned from another subject of your race that they become very hungry after not eating for a week and die after three weeks of not eating at most. We even tested this to confirm.¡± He paused once more, seemingly aware that his words were echoing in my mind. ¡®I already know how long we can survive without food. I come from the same race, so I am not that stupid. But they tested it.¡¯ I felt a shiver and pity for the poor subject used in that experiment. For reasons unknown to me, my thoughts were becoming bolder, although I knew I could never express them. It felt like they were not here to harm me; rather, it was almost as if I was going to receive praise. 10 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 4 ¡°To have survived that long, we are impressed. Although we had considered leaving you to discover your true limits, we have decided against pushing you that far, as your body is already slowly breaking down. It may still take a while before you finally die, perhaps another month or two.¡± After hearing this, I felt a sense of relief, knowing that I wouldn¡¯t be punished. However, my tranquility was shattered when something unimaginable happened ¨C he smiled. At that moment, I knew that my suffering had only just begun. A single word echoed in my mind: ¡°yet.¡± His smile was not kind; it resembled that of a mad being or a deranged creature. How do I know? Because I have seen this smile before, even on multiple occasions. Whenever our elder smiled, even the elder, elders¡­ I don¡¯t know what that is, but I do know they have this sickening smile to them. I have also witnessed a similar smile on some members of the strong race, but none could compare to the one I just saw.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Do not fear, you have granted us new and unique information. Now, not only do we know that one could temper their body through hunger, but also the fact that true despair can help one surpass a psychological limit placed on them.¡± ¡°A psychological limit?¡± I muttered, and shut my mouth. I didn¡¯t even know when my mouth opened, but the captor didn¡¯t seem to care and simply continued. ¡°Yes, a psychological limit. Your race has placed a limit on themselves. It is not something abnormal. In fact, we assume that all beings have a psychological limit preventing them from achieving their full potential.¡± ¡°Though the limit on your race is just on an abnormal level. Surely, from what we have gathered from you and other subjects of your race, the meekat race should last at least more than a month without any intake and at most a month and a half before death. But your race members die at the third week of hunger. Why is that?¡± 11 -THE LOCAL In a seemingly endless desert, something could be seen flashing from one point to another. A face turned towards the direction from which the speeding object was coming, but whatever it sensed or felt seemed to have stopped. "Gsjbsjbekbzub," it murmured before turning away. ¡®We are the only living thing on this planet right?¡¯ "So these are the creatures producing the weak signal," the young man thought. They resemble us in physique, but with long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, and long hairy ears that protect their eyes from sand and sunlight. They have a white coat (fur) that surrounds their bodies, reflecting the sunlight during the day, and long dark legs that help absorb heat during cold desert mornings and nights. I obtained all this information from my AI, which scanned them without their knowledge. ¡°I have been following them for a while now, making sure to stay far behind. I would have come to this area eventually if I hadn¡¯t gotten bored, but what I found by following the ¡®locals¡¯ was a slightly larger pond. However, through my senses, I instantly knew that the pond was very deep, although not too large or wide. The water was beyond description; there are literally no words to describe just how filthy and disgusting the water looked. As they poured into it, the only thing they carried, which were several clay buckets. From my sight alone, it felt like thick mud, but they were not disgusted and used what seemed like an out-of-shape piece of bowl, also made of clay, to pack the liquid. They were professionals at this.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡®The clay was without a doubt special; I will take some of it back with me,¡¯ I concluded. I took a look at the terrible liquid being poured and decided that I wouldn¡¯t even use my AI to touch it. After a few minutes of pouring, their buckets were nearly full, all fifteen of them, with each bucket carried by a single local. As they started their journey in reverse to where they came from, the sun began to set. I wondered how they would survive the night. 12 -THE LOCALS 2 With the setting of the sun came immense cold, and I wondered how the locals were going to deal with it. On their journey back, they made a stop at a cave. The inside was more like a deep tunnel running very deep into the ground, with many passages leading to different chambers. Choosing one, they used larger rocks to block the exit, keeping themselves locked in that particular chamber. While they were sleeping together in a circle, I mapped the entire cave and waited for nightfall. However, I discovered that certain chambers of the cave were completely plastered with the same clay used to make the buckets and bowls, including the one they were sleeping in. Clay has the characteristic of getting stronger the more it is heated up. Additionally, clay is known for its thermal insulation and heat retention properties. But I have to say, the clay of this world must be super strong. The cold of the night reached -256 degrees Fahrenheit, yet the chamber, instead of being cold or hot, it was simply cool, perfect for the locals. As I, who am staying outside, feel the full brunt of the cold, this is nothing to me as a being that can traverse space. As I waited, the night passed, and I sent every piece of information I knew about this planet back home. I saw them wake up very early in the morning, pulling the rocks away and arranging everything back cleanly. That is really surprising, but not as surprising as them not even drinking their liquid; rather, they just picked it up, came out of the cave, and continued their journey.Stolen novel; please report. A few things came to mind. One, they were saving it for the rest of their people when they reached their destination. Two, it wasn''t drinkable, and they would have it purified when they reached their destination. Three, it was not drinkable and simply a material that was useful for something else. 13 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 5 ¡°The reason is quite simple: the answer is ¡®Racial Desire.¡¯ We have come to believe that just as we sought information to any length, your race also sought a satisfied stomach or, should I say, hated hunger to any length as well. You have really done well, do you know that? We only figured this out after your second month of fasting. We saw how slowly and efficiently your body actually used nutrients to keep you alive, and this was the same for others. We noticed that your race seems to always die with a healthy body. Your bodies still had enough strength to continue on, but the very desire to eat seems¡­ ¡®Why? Why are you telling me all this?¡¯ I thought internally as I kept my eyes on him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°A simple question, the answer is ¡°Your Reward.¡± Though now that we know your race¡¯s innate desire is food, we shall still grant you splendid meals. But your first reward will be information, for there is no greater reward than that¡± ¡®Can you read thoughts?¡¯ I tried to confirm if my mouth was somehow opening without me being aware, or if he could read my thoughts. That in itself was a dangerous thought. ¡°¡­¡± This time there was no answer, rather there was silence, and it was nerve-racking. ¡°No,¡± it looks like he took his time to see whether to give me that information or not. So, he can¡¯t read minds. That is great, but how?¡± I can tell what is on your mind in summary, but not the full detail. Now, do not interrupt me again until I finish.¡± He said and continued. He kept speaking without moving from the same spot and left after he was through without even looking back, the summary. 14 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 5 It seems that we meerkats are disturbed by a cruel fate. The desire to never have an empty stomach was so strong that it disturbed our ability to use the strength that was still contained in our bodies. It only grew stronger as more days passed, making us truly seem weak, like creatures that haven¡¯t eaten for months and are close to their limit. In truth, we were just at our limit of resistance. When we reached the third week of complete starvation, we experienced an attack, like a stroke, from this obsessive desire, leading to death. According to the captor, it wasn¡¯t something that was hard to deal with, just a bit of self-control. ¡°I think whatever is called the elders have survived longer than even 5 weeks of starvation. Maybe that¡¯s what makes them the elders, I guess.¡± But the belief that it was natural and not something to resist is what leads to death. He said, "If every creature was to let its innate desire control it, the world would be in complete ruins, you were only able to conquer yours without even acknowledging its existence. Fear and despair made you forget hunger.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. I sat there, ruminating on all I had heard today. So this hell brought about an amazing opportunity for me. What a terrible joke, yet terrible jokes are usually the most true. I do not know why, but I felt proud. I had achieved something great without a doubt. If not, the captors wouldn¡¯t have praised me so much. I hope the second reward is not also information. These information maniacs better bring me some good food. Though I thought this to myself, I would never think of it in front of a captor. And suddenly, the whole world went black. 15 -THE CHEISHED MEMORY 6 I opened my eyes lazily and yawned, putting on full display my very sharp row of teeth. I looked around and realized this place was different. The moment that thought entered my mind, all my sleepiness was gone, or at the very least suppressed to an acceptable level. ¡®What is going on?¡¯ This space was far wider than my former cage. I¡¯m sure that eight meekats could comfortably stay in this room, even with our height being6.43, almost2 meters high. This was really something. If this was the reward, I must say I am very, very unsatisfied. What the hell is wrong with this maniac? I don¡¯t need a new cage. I haven¡¯t eaten in three months. Once I confirmed it was indeed a new cage by simply looking up and seeing the name MI123, I noticed something was in front of it this time, but that doesn¡¯t really matter. And I was taken by sleep again¡­ I think.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Walking up to see the ceiling of my new cage, I had a dream. What happened in it, I can¡¯t remember, so I stayed like that, staring, trying to remember. The dream was amazing, wonderful beyond description to me, but I couldn¡¯t even remember why it was. It was just so abstract. Nnff, nnff, some good entered my nose and my hunger that I had forgotten came at me like a storm. My body moved on its own and jumped into the delicious meal that was hot and fresh inside my cage. I devoured it like never before, licking the very floor sparkling clean of all the remnants of food on it. Haaa, that was delicious! Without a doubt, it was the best meal I have ever eaten in my life. My stomach felt so full, I was sure it would burst out if I made any inconvenient or sudden movement. And so, I fell asleep once more. 16 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 8 ¡°Wakey wakey, you really are an amazing sleeper, you know? Hey, I said wake up!¡± (booom) ¡°Ooohh, so spooky.¡± When my eyes were awake again, I looked at my left hand and noticed it was clenched into a fist. It slammed into the floor, and only one thing was on my mind: ¡®What the hell woke me up?¡¯ I had the same dream as before, or maybe it was more like a continuation. Now that I am awake, I can¡¯t remember anything. I should kill whatever woke me up, but instead, I did my best to try and fall asleep again. Even though I don¡¯t remember, I know I don¡¯t want to wake up from that amazing dream, but¡­ ¡°Are you awake yet? I just saw your hand hit the floor, so I know you¡¯re awake, hey, hey!¡± ¡°SHUT YOUR ************* MOUTH, YOU ****************!¡± I continued, yelling every insult I knew, both in the common language and the meekat tongue, until I was completely out of breath.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Whoa, I didn¡¯t know you enjoyed sleep that much. Sorry, weak one, my fault. But still, who the hell do you think you are?" With these words, I was sure without a doubt that my brain went into overdrive. ¡°Is it a captor? But they didn¡¯t disturb me before, and if they wanted to, there¡¯s no way they would say ¡®wakey wakey.¡¯ That only means it is another creature, a captive.¡± As soon as I came to this conclusion, I stood up from the floor I was lying on and looked in the direction the voice came from (I was at the right side of my cage, that is to say, my left). I was a few feet away from my jail bars, and they looked closer, with less space between them compared to my former jail bars. I looked through their narrow space to see the creature who had been calling out to me, and I froze. ¡°A member of the weak races!¡± Though that may not sound powerful, compared to me, who is a member of the weakest races category, it was like a lion to a rat. 17 -THE LOCALS It could be any one of the three theories, but I would choose either one or two, maybe even both. The only way it wasn¡¯t them is if they survived on air or something in the atmosphere, or if they did not need anything to survive, which I highly doubt since I have already surveyed most of the world. This world consists of two supercontinents, and on each, there are only three of those ponds. Though they are very deep, they are also very far apart. So far, in fact, that they could be said to be at the edges of the continents they are on. Although I have found their residents, they truly are among the only few living beings on this world. By scanning their internal body structure, it is evident that they must survive on this liquid or they have developed a unique mechanism for survival. That was my conclusion. My AI¡¯s conclusion was that both options one and two were potential choices. It didn¡¯t believe they possessed a unique survival mechanism, based on scanning their soul strength. However, it should be noted that soul strength can never be accurately measured; it will always be an estimation. There have been rare instances when weak soul strength gave birth to TAMA.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. They continued their journey and engaged in a mundane conversation about their people back home. How could I understand them? I am a HUMAS; we can read minds, but we surpassed that limit millennia ago. We can discern your words from your very intent as you speak, and our AI makes it even easier by simply translating everything you say using the same method. However, theirs was more advanced as they utilized your soul¡¯s intent, and the soul can never deceive. Their speed was impressive; they were at least at the ''Ari-king stage.¡¯ After a few more days of stopping at similar caves to rest at night, they finally reached their home. I am a little excited to see it again. 18 -THE VILLAGE They stopped at the front of a very small cave compared to their sickly-looking bodies. The entrance was very narrow, and they had to forcefully squeeze themselves to gain entry. But not before scanning the area for a few minutes. The bucket of liquid easily passed through the small entry point of the cave. On the other side, the cave was massive, similar to the previous ones, with different chambers. They all entered one chamber, seemingly wanting to sleep as usual. However, this time was different. As I followed them from behind and watched their every action through my Nano camera, I saw that they used boulders as doors. And this was the biggest one yet. It took the strength of five ¡®Ari-king stage¡¯ beings to move the rock in the chamber. The rock must contain a very dense mineral; otherwise, why would it require the strength of five of them to move it? Before they could pull the boulder shut, I passed them and entered the new tunnel. It was massive.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°From the excitement of being so close to their home, they started running at a higher speed, but the speed shown was still within the ¡®Ari-king stage.¡¯ I followed them, only a few meters behind, as they passed through and arrived home. Imagine stepping into a magnificent cavern that captivates your senses with its breathtaking beauty. The walls of this cave are adorned with a mesmerizing display of multiple colors, creating an enchanting design that seems to come alive. Each hue blends seamlessly with the next, forming a harmonious symphony of vibrant shades. As my eyes explore the cave, they are drawn to the glistening stones that embellish the walls. These stones, carefully placed by both nature and these creatures, add a touch of elegance and sparkle to the already stunning surroundings. They reflect the soft glow of the cave¡¯s light, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that dances across the walls. The combination of the painted walls and the shimmering stones creates an otherworldly atmosphere, as if you¡¯ve stepped into a hidden realm of magic and wonder. The cave becomes a work of art, where nature¡¯s beauty intertwines with these creatures'' creativity. 19 -THE VILLAGE 2 As I walked through the cave, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe and tranquility. The colors and glittering stones created a serene ambiance, transporting me to a place of peace and harmony. It¡¯s a testament to the beauty that can be found when nature and artistry come together in perfect harmony. The large village huts you described have a weird but unique design made entirely of clay. These huts are not only functional but also visually stunning. Each hut is crafted with intricate details, showcasing the creativity and skill of the village artisans. What makes these huts truly special is the use of different beautiful colors of clay. Like the walls of the cave, the vibrant hues range from earthy tones to bright and bold shades, creating a visually striking contrast against the natural surroundings. The clay is carefully molded and shaped to form walls, roofs, and intricate patterns, adding depth and texture to the overall design. To further enhance the aesthetic appeal, the huts are adorned with hand-painted motifs and symbols that hold cultural significance. These decorative elements add a touch of elegance and uniqueness to the huts, making them stand out even more. After freeing myself from the awe of the moment, I observe the rest of the locals, who all appear similar. However, having been with the ¡®desert squad¡¯ and with my AI, I can discern a few distinct differences among them. They rush to welcome the ¡®desert squad¡¯ and promptly relieve them of the burden they are carrying¡ªthe bucket of liquid. They cheer and praise loudly, creating an atmosphere filled with happiness.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. 20 - THE DETERMINED My name is Aleazm. The meaning, I do not know. I am the leader of the Holy Water receiving team, but on this expedition, I sensed something for the first time in a long while. I do not know, maybe I was mistaken, but I felt the sand being pushed in at certain intervals, and the direction of whatever was pushing the sand was coming towards our path. However, the sand suddenly stopped being pushed, and whatever was moving had stopped. I was highly annoyed, even disappointed. I guess I just wanted to know if there was any other life on this planet, even at the cost of my life. I warned the others to remain on high alert, but nothing happened. I didn¡¯t even sense anything like that again. Do you know, there is a difference when the sand is being pushed or pulled, carried around by the wind, and when it is moved by a living thing? I can clearly distinguish between the two, and that¡¯s how we avoid sandstorms and strong winds. My doubts were cleared because I could sense something other than the wind or rocks falling.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. We easily reached the ¡®Well of Hope¡¯ and returned home safely. Nothing felt off, and my instincts didn¡¯t sense any distress or danger. However, I intentionally led the team to take a slight detour, which kept us in the desert longer than usual. Home is probably starting to worry by now. I guess I was just being paranoid, but even then, my team followed. I have proven my worth on many occasions. After lifting the gate and entering the tunnel, many of the members dropped their guard. The younger ones, who were on only their second or third expedition, started sprinting with infectious happiness. This caused the entire team to sprint with them. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel like a beacon of salvation. The beauty of our home was before us; we had arrived. 21 - THE DETERMINED 2 All I could feel was pride. This is our home. It took years to make our home this beautiful, even when I was young. It wasn¡¯t even this beautiful back then; it was just plain. But over the years, this masterpiece was built. I know from the elders that we never really had a place to call home before I was born. We just moved from place to place. Only the chief and the great elders know what happened that made the world become a nightmare. But even in nightmares, I guess if you search hard enough, you can find light. The whole village rushed out to welcome us, relieved to see that all of us are fine since we came home later than usual. I would go and give my report to the chief immediately, but first, just for a few minutes, I wanted to enjoy this view. I see the young who have no idea how the world outside looks, as they try to get the members of the team to tell them. Curiosity is good.The disappointment that shows on their faces when they come of strength and finally see the world is very painful for my heart, though I guess that¡¯s how my predecessor felt when I looked at the outside world for the first time. I remember being very disappointed; it wasn¡¯t even half as beautiful as the cave. There have been weirdos who remained excited, but it didn¡¯t last when they saw and felt the horror the desert had to offer.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I think this view is enough. I should go and give the chief the report before he sends someone to find me. I leave with a group who have been waiting; they had collected the buckets, and as I moved, they followed. The chief¡¯s hut is not any different from the others. When our predecessors were building, they considered quality and quantity rather than any hierarchy. The house was still at the extreme end, so I guess it still stood out. As I entered the building, I recalled all that happened; the push in the sand that day worries me. 22 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 9 ¡°Yeah, that is right, I am your superior! Hahahaha,¡± he said The next second, I lost all interest in this fool and scoffed at him. ¡°Hey! Did you, hey! Where are you going? Come back!¡± This is stupid, so I just went deeper into my cage. The only reason he could see me was because of his good eyesight, even though our cages were a few meters apart but diagonally facing each other. I had nothing to fear from this creature; he couldn¡¯t harm me even if he wanted to. But that is when something hit me. Unlike the rest of the other creatures I have seen until now, this one still had a will. ¡®How amazing! I guess being part of the weak races gives you that.¡¯ But I am pretty sure I saw other members of the weak race from my other cage, and they were also will-less.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. I went back to the right side of my cage, just close enough that from his angle he could see me. ¡°I am sorry for my former rudeness,¡± I said, bowing my head slightly. It wasn¡¯t because of his strength that I didn¡¯t fully bow, but rather because he still possessed a will that I now lack. All I want to do now¡­ is to sleep and never wake up. ¡°I accept your apology, but you must really be hot stuff for them to like you so much,¡± he said. ¡°What does ¡®hot stuff¡¯ mean?¡± I asked, and I could swear that he muttered ¡°so dumb¡± under his breath. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have apologized and should simply try to sleep, but I have a feeling he would continue to disturb me, ensuring I am unable to rest. ¡°It means important. You must be special for them to bring you here and provide you with so much food. So, what did you do to get their attention?¡± I don¡¯t want to answer, but (sigh). ¡°I conquered my Racial Desire.¡± 23 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 10 There was an unexpected silence, and then. ¡°If you are joking, it is not funny.¡± His tone completely changed. Before, it was simply playful and unserious, but now it became cold and dead serious. The atmosphere seemed to react, becoming tense. I didn¡¯t feel like we were separated by distance and literal cages; I felt like he was in front of me, with those sharp eyes staring straight at me, pressuring me to answer. ¡®What is up with this *****, it isn¡¯t even a big deal,¡¯ I thought. Well, that¡¯s what that captor said, right? You only need a little bit of self-control (Chapter12).¡¯ Remembering this, most of the pressure I felt vanished, and I looked at him. Though I had seen him before, only now do I see the creature questioning me in his true majesty, standing directly in front of the bars. Standing more than2 meters high, with claws that seem like they could cut down every obstacle, including the bars in front of it (even though they couldn¡¯t even scrape it), his fur was rusty red on his head, sides, and limbs, with a paler stomach or underbelly. His tail is black, long, and bushy, as it curled around his right leg.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°I am not,¡± I answered, irritated. I continued, ¡°What is all this stupid pressure? Are you trying to harass me? Or are you saying this is impossible for me because I am a member of the weakest race!¡± By the end of the questioning, I was yelling. I guess that was my attempt at trying to free myself from his intimidation. (Sigh) ¡°What a fool,¡± he said very clearly and continued without giving me any chance to interject. ¡°First, sorry for the pressure. Second, I wasn¡¯t. And third, yes, it is supposed to be impossible for a member of the weakest race category to be able to conquer their desire¡­ but I believe you. There is no way you even knew there was something called Racial Desire before you became a captive. ¡°But let me tell you one thing¡­ Overcoming racial desire is much more challenging than you might imagine.¡± 24 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 11 ¡°LIES!¡± I screamed at the top of my voice. Without a doubt, the captors would have heard me and would be coming soon to check on me. That is what happens when noise is made. They visited me a lot when I was just captured, so stupid and na?ve. ¡°The captor said that all that was needed to conquer once Racial Desire was a little self-control.¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± ¡°Stop laughing!¡± I shouted once more. ¡°Shut up, you idiot!¡± he roared in anger. ¡°If it was so easy to conquer, why haven¡¯t the HUMAS conquered theirs?¡± Those words hit straight home, but he didn¡¯t stop. ¡°If so, why is it that I had never heard of Racial Desire until I got captured? Me, a member of the weak race. There was no way my entire race didn¡¯t know and still don¡¯t for sure. How could you?¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°What he is saying is correct,¡± a voice said. I recognized it, but when I looked at the creature that was lecturing me to see if he knew when the captor arrived. But the clear shock in his eyes told me all I needed to know. ¡°Only members of the strongest race category and above know of Racial Desires, well except for us, the HUMAS race, and who we choose to share it with ¨C you, the special subjects.¡± ¡°For your intelligence subject, IQ120, we have decided to reward you¡­ with more information.¡± ¡®How?¡¯ IQ120 thought. It was common knowledge among the races that the HUMAS weren¡¯t that powerful or stealthy. I am a member of the Jakal race; we never let our guard down. Well, maybe not never, or I wouldn¡¯t have been captured. ¡®Have I gotten less cautious?¡¯ ¡°Yes, you have. You may not realize, but sitting around all day and night doing nothing tends to dull the mind,¡± the captor said, facing the creature I now know as IQ120. But his mouth wasn¡¯t open, so I am guessing he read the summary of his thoughts. ¡°That aside, MI123, you have failed terribly on such a simple test. You should question things more and have a little trust in your own brain. If you had, you would have seen how big of a feat what you accomplished was.¡± 25 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 12 ¡°So he intentionally lied to me. He said it was to test me, right? And I failed, so is there some kind of punishment?¡± As I thought this, sweat started to accumulate around my body. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he answering? He knows the summary of my thoughts, right?!¡± I screamed in my mind. ¡°You know, you should really learn to speak with your mouth. It makes everything easier rather than reading your thoughts,¡± he stated annoyingly. I gulped down so much saliva at that moment, it left my mouth dry. ¡°I am also speaking like this so that IQ120 can hear. He did help in the test. I was going to come and ask you questions myself and see if you would pass or fail when you woke up. But since he (IQ120) has already solved that for me, all I need to do is come and tell you your gain if you had passed.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°IQ120, your thoughts are disturbing my mind. Stop them and listen to me,¡± he said without even looking at him. ¡°So your benefit was transferred, IQ120, and you are preparing yourself for your second experiment.¡± Like the snapping of a rope, something snapped within me. Maybe it was my mind, but I knew right then and there that I had to change this man¡¯s thoughts. I couldn¡¯t go through another experiment, not now, not ever. I wondered if my benefit was the reason for the delay in my experiment, or if it was something else. I looked at my captor and all I saw was irritation. I tried to gulp down saliva to calm myself, but there was nothing to swallow. I managed to barely say, ¡°Was my benefit the reason for the delay in my experiment?¡±¡±Yes, it was the benefit. It was meant to help you adjust better to the changes in your body. But not only did you fail, you have ten seconds left before you fail your next test.¡± 26 -THE CHERISHED MEMORY 13 ¡°As soon as I heard the word ¡®Yes,¡¯ all my senses seemed to forget about my captor and focused on the person responsible for my failure. If this person hadn¡¯t woken me up, maybe I would have found the right answer when I woke up. Meanwhile, I noticed the captor counting, ¡®Six, seven, eig¡­¡¯ Why is the captor counting? From the corner of my eye, I see that bastard shaking his head in disappointment. ¡®Ten,¡¯ he finally says. Confused, I look at the captor, wondering what he was counting for me. Instinctively, I looked at the bastard as if asking for help, but all I received was a fiendish smile. ¡®Sigh¡­ I really have tried for you, but you have failed the second test also.¡¯ I wanted to say something, but the look he gave me commanded absolute silence and attention. ¡®I am confused.¡¯ Well, if I can¡¯t talk outside, I might as well talk in my mind. It seems to become a little safe zone for me, even from the captor¡­ just a little.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°So, do I receive another benefit for the second test?¡± IQ120 asked, accompanied by a strange laugh. My anger surged once again. This guy is lucky we¡¯re separated by bars and distance. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t help in the second test. No one can help you in the second one; it¡¯s an observation test,¡± he said, still staring directly into my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s meant to see if he would notice any changes in his body within a few minutes of waking up.¡± He continued, ¡±Your benefits will be introduced to you by your observer,¡± still maintaining eye contact. ¡°As for you, MI123, here are your punishments: you will be assigned to a ¡®starter¡¯ and must provide them with full assistance in their wishes. Only after that will you have your second experiment.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but think, ''Well, isn¡¯t that just my luck? Not only do I have to endure these bizarre tests, but now I¡¯m a personal genie for someone else? Talk about adding insult to injury. I guess¡­ wait, what is a genie?'' 27 - THE CHERISHED MEMORY 14 Of course, I wouldn¡¯t dare to think that in front of the captor. But after he was gone and I was sure he was, these thoughts entered my mind. However, I have noticed something about my memories. It is almost as if they are incomplete. I have recalled saying things like ¡®elder,¡¯ ¡®elders,¡¯ ¡®home,¡¯ and now ¡®genie.¡¯ What do these things mean? I still don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think the captors did anything to my memories. Should I ask them? Will I receive praise or punishment? Considering that this may be new information, I am sure they could give me more time before my second experiment or even decide not to go through with it¡­ probably. I just have to tell them everything about me, right? That¡¯s what the experiments are for. But am I not delaying the inevitable? I wonder if I should ask that bastard when he had his last experiment. But I don¡¯t want to see him or even think about talking to him.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I am deep inside my cell where that bastard can¡¯t see me, but I can still hear his laughter. I¡¯m furious with myself for losing my reward to that fool. But isn¡¯t it normal to trust everything the captor says? Well, he did mention something about me being a special subject now. That¡¯s what¡¯s written in front of my name in this new cell, and I have to start using my brain¡­ eh. I wonder when this ¡®starter¡¯ will arrive. I hope they stay for a long time before leaving. I can¡¯t imagine anything more painful or horrifying than an experiment, though. As I was lost in these thoughts, two Humas approaching: one was a child, the other an adult." 28 - THE CHERISHED MEMORY 15 ¡°Hi there, my name is Kiko and I will be your guide from today.¡± Unlike my captor, or should I say observer, I had noticed them long before they stood in front of my cage. I turned to see who I believed would be observing me for some time before the captor returned. If they were only here to inform me or take me for an experiment, I would rather never see them again. To my surprise, it was a child captor. ¡°A female,¡± I thought, ¡°she is really small,¡± at least compared to the new me who stood over2 meters tall now. ¡°You have too many thoughts. Can you limit them so I can better understand you, or just speak with your mouth?¡± she said. I felt a surge of anger. How could such a tiny thing not show fear or respect in front of me? Forget the old me, what about this new and improved version? I didn¡¯t know how strong I was, but I could feel power coursing through me, even though I knew it was merely my delusion to think I could do anything with that power. I couldn¡¯t even dent the floor, but she¡¯s just a child. Naturally, she must be weaker than me, right?Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. I stood before her, separated only by my bars, still angry inside. But then someone came into my view. It was an adult captor, but also female, and all my anger was forgotten. Walking towards the side of the child, I involuntarily held my breath. This wasn¡¯t a captor I was familiar with. I couldn¡¯t afford the risk of them dragging me for an experiment, But also¡­ ¡°MI124, this will be your ¡®starter¡¯ from now on. You are to help her with everything she may need, without complaint. We will be watching to grade you both.¡± She turned to the girl, who nodded in understanding. The adult captor then turned to me, and my head moved without my control. The pressure, the feeling that everything I do in front of them will produce no results without their permission. It¡¯s the same feeling as my observer. The child gives me an instinctual warning of a high-level threat, but in front of an adult, it seems to quiet down. 29 - AN ANXIOUS HOME As I pushed through the vines serving as the door and entered, I met the chief''s secretary. He bowed his head to show his respect and informed me that they were all waiting for me. I nodded in response and let out a deep sigh. ¡°Have we been gone for that long, Hisho?¡± I asked wearily. ¡°Yes, you were. When you didn¡¯t arrive on the expected date, the night was sleepless for almost everyone. We managed to calm the children, but the young and adults were restless. The next day, we discovered they had already prepared themselves for an expedition to find you,¡± Hisho explained. It took the chief¡¯s authority to calm everyone down and convince them to be patient and have faith. After all, you were with them,¡± he continued, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Damn, he had to use his authority. He hates that¡­ all chiefs do,¡± I thought, another sigh escaping my mouth. ¡°General Aleazm, please do not worry. We all trust that you had valid reasons for the delay, and with all the members of your team returning safely, it is clear that our faith in you was justified,¡± he said reassuringly. He then turned to guide me, and as we approached the door, two warriors stood guard, bowing to show their respect. One of them moved the smooth, rectangular rock that was blocking the way, allowing me and the secretary to pass, while the other warrior remained on guard. We continued walking until we reached another stone wall. This time, a crystal was needed to open it, which the secretary used. Finally, we entered a small cavern that was filled with grass, resembling a grassland. The secretary left my side and joined the chief, who was seated in the center of the grass, while others formed a semi-circle around him, all facing me. ¡°With a calm voice, the chief spoke, ¡®Welcome home, Aleazm.¡¯¡± 30 - THE ASSEMBLY ¡°Hah, it has really been a long time since everyone gathered like this. I don¡¯t know if I should be happy or annoyed,¡± I thought to myself. Bowing my head as a greeting to all the people in the cavern, including those hidden from view, I walked ahead a little and sat a few meters opposite the chief. With everyone having a clear view of me, I began to explain everything that had transpired and emphasized the abnormality I felt in the sand that day. As I was explaining, I couldn¡¯t help but think how normally it would just be the chief and I having this discussion, with no need for it to take place in this inner cavern hidden beneath his hut. However, it was necessary, as I was seriously concerned about the unexplainable happening. ¡°Is that all?¡± the chief asked when I finished. I nodded to show that I was done. ¡°Then I allow everyone who would like to ask Aleazm any questions to raise their arms," the chief announced. Two people raised their arms.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°All the individuals in this room held significant power and status within the Village. They were members of the governing body, acting as spokespeople for the people and ensuring the village¡¯s peace. At the top of the cavern, hidden from view, resided the esteemed elders. These elders consisted of former chiefs, chieftesses, and other former spokespeople who were still alive. Their knowledge and experience were invaluable, although they mostly observed without interfering. However, given the unique circumstances, they were present today as their wisdom was needed. Among those present, two individuals raised their hands. Waka, the spokesperson for the youth and children, and Joheki, the second general responsible for defending their home. The chief acknowledged the general first, prompting Waka to lower his hands. ¡°Did you take a new path to return home?¡± the chief calmly inquired. Everyone looked at me, waiting for my response. It was a thought-provoking question, making me question the reality of what I had experienced and whether it could have followed us back home. If I had indeed taken a completely different path to return home, it would mean that our original evacuation plan, which involved splitting into small groups and heading in various directions to different areas while we the generals fought the enemy, would still be intact. 31 – THE ASSEMBLY 2 There was silence as everyone still awaited my answer. ¡®Did he not think of that?¡¯ the spokesperson for women, Kedi, thought. ¡®I can¡¯t really blame him. If he didn¡¯t think of that, the stress his mind would have been in, having to care for the other members over something that could most likely be as strong, if not stronger, than him without even being able to sense it,'' the spokesperson for men, Toko, thought. ¡°Did you forget that, Aleazm?¡± the Chief spoke. ¡®He mostly likely did?¡¯ the one in charge of distribution of resources and food, Mul, thought. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I replied, giving a wide smile with a little chuckle. Sighs of relief could be heard. ¡°This is serious, Aleazm. You shouldn¡¯t joke around too much,¡± Joheki started with a smile on his face.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. With that, they knew that their original evacuation plan was intact. However, the fact still remains that there is a being out there with the ability to make themselves invisible to the senses of a general. This was not something to be taken lightly. But first, ¡°Waka, you had a question,¡± the chief called out. ¡°Yes, sir. My statement is irrelevant with the answer that Sir Aleazm has given, but I still suggest that we start The Test of Strength by the end of tomorrow,¡± he said. ¡°Umm, a reasonable proposal. All those who are opposing, please raise your hands.¡± There were hands raised by Kedi, Mul, and Toko, while Joheki and Aleazm¡¯s hands were not raised. ¡°Kedi, what is your reason?¡± the chief said. ¡°Though, with a potentially powerful unknown enemy or friend at our hand, I see why. But even if Waka forgot, the two generals should know very well all the preparation made after a new batch of water from the ¡®Well of Hope¡¯ is received. And we have babies coming as well this time. We need the manpower.¡± Kedi looked at both Mul and Toko, who were nodding along with her words. Then she turned her gaze towards Joheki. ¡°Isn¡¯t Waka supposed to be the impulsive one? Even if you fear what this unknown could do, a being that can evade Aleazm¡¯s senses could very well be at the chief¡¯s level. What are cannon folders going to do against that?¡± 32 – THE ASSEMBLY 3 Turning her gaze to Aleazm, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how terrifying it was to potentially have someone as powerful as the chief suddenly appear when you had taken more youngsters with you than usual.¡± These words made everyone look at Waka, as he was the one who suggested it. He looked to the side to avoid Aleazm¡¯s glare, thinking, ¡®This is terrifying.¡¯ Turning her gaze back to Aleazm, she continued, ¡°Well, at the time, most of us thought it was a good idea, even though you objected. Our vote outnumbered yours. No one expected this sudden appearance, this was the first time in a very long time that this has occurred, the last sighting or sensing of another living creature on the surface happened before our grandparents were even born.¡± She paused and then asked, ¡®Do you have something to add?¡¯ She questioned Waka, and from the annoyed gaze he was giving her, it was clear that he did. ¡®You called us cannon fodder,¡¯ Waka said. ¡®What?¡¯This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You called us cannon fodder, but we are not cannon fodder,¡± he repeated. Laughter erupted throughout the assembly, with everyone except Waka, even Kedi struggling to hold back her amusement. ¡°Are you children not mere fodder in front of the Chief?¡± Kedi began, trying to regain her composure. ¡°We are not fodder, and we are not children. If we were to unite, we would defeat the Chief!¡± Waka shouted defiantly. ¡°Wow, so you actually believe that you could defeat me?¡± the Chief responded, though his smiling face didn¡¯t truly reflect a genuine smile. ¡°Ugh¡­ not alone, of course, but if just if all the youth were to face you, there is no way we would lose¡± Waka stated confidently ¡°That¡¯s just cute¡± Toko said prompting another round of laughter from the assembly ¡°Wait, wait, wait, so you all believe, if we, like all the youths in this village including those in both the defense and retrieval division we would lose against the Chief, with all our combined strength, you know I am a youth has well right¡± ¡°Yes we know, Waka, your generation has produced a lot more powerful youngster than we thought but you all still no match for the chief, you might beat us the Generals but that is only a ¡°might¡± even with all your combined strength but the Chief, you would without a doubt lose ¡± Joheki said 33 - POWER LEVELS ¡°I finally get it,¡± the young man said. Within the cave, the interference from the outside world was not as powerful, allowing him to now gauge the strength of the locals in this world. There are a total of six ranks of power known to the Humas race, although the sixth rank is only speculative, many in my race believe it to be real. We have: - Dust (Hokori): They are the weakest of the weak, with six subcategories ranging from weakest to strongest: weakest category, weaker category3, weak category4, strong category5, stronger category6, strongest category. - Ant (Ari): They have three stages:1) worker,2) soldier,3) king/queen. - Giants (Juda): This is where things get serious. They are powerful creatures who, at the ¡°Emperor¡± stage, can change and control the very world around them within a small area. There are three stages:1) lesser giant,2) pseudo giant,3) Emperor. - Mountains (San): They pose hazards to those who walk on them, and their mere presence has a significant impact on the surrounding environment, forcing the world to adapt accordingly. The concept of mountains can be divided into three stages:1) Legend,2) Myth, and3) Titan.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. - Calamity (Jaenan): These beings are incredibly powerful and have the ability to shape the world. When a calamity passes through a particular area, it can transform it into a beautiful forest, a gigantic lake, or even a massive lava pit, depending on the nature of its power. The presence of a calamity brings both destruction and great benefits. When a calamity passes through an area, it generates a tremendous amount of energy, leading to the formation of rare crops and minerals within that region. As a result, it becomes a haven for those who share a similar nature of power. The stages of calamities are divided into three categories:1) Demon,2) Devil, and3) Fallen. The last stage is referred to as ¡°unknown,¡± and although there is only one known entity that is said to have reached that stage, it is believed to have been sealed. This raises the question of how the most powerful being on the planet could be sealed if it is truly the strongest. Some speculate that this rank of power also has stages, and the being in question had just reached that stage. However, this theory is not widely believed. Even a beginning Juda Rank would swipe the floor using an entire group consisting of eight Ari: peak king stage. Similarly, when ranks increase, the power gap widens to a ridiculous level. The second strongest being in their world, who fought against the highest power, wasn¡¯t even at the Jaenan: peak devil stage yet. So, how was the highest power in the world defeated? The most accepted theory is that there is a being even more powerful than the highest rank, but this being simply doesn¡¯t want to be known. 34 – POWER LEVELS IN THE VILLAGE In a village that existed in a world devastated by ruins and wastelands, with only a few sources of sustenance remaining, the people displayed remarkable strength. The children varied in their level of strength, ranging from beginner to mid and peak of the stronger and strongest stages of the Hokori rank. This variation was due to differences in talent, hard work, or natural intuition. Among the non-combat oriented adults I observed, they fell into the Ari rank, ranging between workers to soldiers stages. On the other hand, the young individuals in the retrieval and defense divisions, referred to as the ¡®Ari: King/Queen¡¯ stage, were mostly present. However, there were four exceptions, two females and two males, who coincidentally were all at the Juda rank: pseudo giant mid stage. Surprisingly, they were even stronger than the elites who participated in the retrieval expedition, all of whom were at the Juda rank: lesser giant mid or peak stage. I also observed several other groups within their police division. It seems that the majority of their division is made up of individuals at the Ari level, either at their peak or mid-level. However, I noticed that there were more individuals at their peak level rather than mid-level. It appeared that reaching the peak level was the highest point most individuals could achieve, although some still had the potential to evolve even further to the Juda level. In every group, except for the non-combat adults and children, there were exceptions. The person I believe to be the head of the police was at the Juda level, specifically a pseudo-giant at their peak. In addition to this exception, there were special co-op units consisting of individuals who were at least at the Juda mid-level. Some of them acted like normal locals, which I assume happens when there is no real enemy to fight. These units were under the command of Aleazm, Joheki, and the chief, serving as special soldiers.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Lastly, there is another group known as the ¡°filler.¡± However, I haven¡¯t been able to gather much information about them yet. It appears that Aleazm is finally on the move. Although I cannot sense the chief he is thinking about, I must admit that the view from here is truly breathtaking. I command my AI to continue scanning the entire underground system and the locals, while I follow Aleazm as he enters the chief¡¯s home. I must say, the Chief¡¯s home in the village is exactly as one would expect. The interior is adorned with strategically placed glistening stones, providing ample light throughout the house. We found ourselves in an open space, where small patches of grass were thoughtfully positioned, adding to the charm of what I believe to be the welcoming area. Traditional artworks, symbols, and artifacts representing their cultural heritage and historical significance adorned the walls. Some of these artifacts are incredibly old, possibly predating the world¡¯s transformation into a wasteland. Despite the harsh conditions, the artistic spirit of this community has not waned. I also noticed various artifacts, including weapons such as spears and large blades, hanging on the walls. However, they no longer serve a practical purpose in combat and are now more like decorative relics. Following someone he referred to as Hisho, the secretary of the chief and the only person in the welcoming area and he is a Juda: Emperor peak rank. 35 – THE ASSEMBLY 4 As they spoke and walked through a passage leading to another part of the house, I noticed how the passage split into other passages at different junctions. However, we continued on the straight path and I sensed that two Juda, pseudo giant peak ranks, were ahead. But that didn¡¯t really interest me. What intrigued me was the fact that there was someone in this small village who had Authority, and based on the conversation between Aleazm and Hisho, it seemed to be the chief. I wondered where the meeting was taking place because I couldn¡¯t sense any of the expected participants or the location. However, I continued to follow and remain patient. Along the way, we encountered the two guards whom we passed, entering a new passage. This area didn¡¯t appear to be a hidden place, but rather a respected area exclusively reserved for members of the Assembly. As we confronted a wall made of minerals blocking our path, I finally understood what had been obstructing my perception. The secretary used a unique crystal to open the wall. I questioned whether this was the result of natural occurrence or their artistic skill. If it was their creation, they were unaware of how impressive it was to block my perception, enhanced by my AI. What an achievement! To my surprise, the wall moved, revealing a hidden passage on the left side. I sensed a different level of power emanating from within. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes ¨C two individuals with the rank of San: myth, and not only that, an even more astonishing sight awaited me.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. In this small village, I had just discovered a San: Titan rank, something I had previously considered impossible. My surprises didn¡¯t stop there, as this place is similar to the surface but has even more disruptive energy. However, it was still tranquil and simple. A plain grassland, but also a rarity in Worlds, it was a Sacred land. ¡­.. ¡°It¡¯s not a might, you can¡¯t even beat us, the Generals,¡± said Aleazm. ¡°What?¡± Waka stated angrily and coldly. He took using the Chief¡¯s power as an insult, knowing that the Chief¡¯s power was beyond his understanding, but not the Generals¡¯. Even though he was the youngest member in the Assembly, he was also incredibly strong. Becoming a member of the Assembly wasn¡¯t just about being voted in by the people; it also required the strength to defend that vote. Every single member of the Assembly was a monster in their own right. If they were going to act like this, he was ready to fight them right here to prove his strength. Well, not here in the sanctuary, but he was ready to go anytime. ¡°Calm yourself, Waka. You would only win if you all combined into one being and faced us, or if you had perfect or near-perfect synchronization in battle, both of which you youths lack. If all of you were to fight as one, some of you would make mistakes and undoubtedly hold back the more powerful among you. For example, if Jude, Nake, and Dani were to fight alongside you, with their limited combat experience and strength, even if Dan was there, he may have strength but lacks the same level of experience, even with his skill. Wouldn¡¯t he hold you back from going all out? And do you believe we wouldn¡¯t take advantage of that? We would pick you guys off in twos or threes until there is no one left.¡± Aleazm said without a hint of mercy in his voice. 36 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 16 My senses quieted down, as if telling me I had no chance at all, as if there was no point in being prepared for battle, as if trying their best to ignore their existence. There is an unsaid truth in this world, often untaught but only truly believed and understood through experience: a being you can¡¯t sense is not weaker than you. No, it is infinitely more powerful than you, and you could never hope to win in a fair fight. I myself only came to know this truth in this hell. Even in the face of an elder, at least one I could sense, I could feel the vast gap in strength. How do I know this? Even I am not sure, but I do, and without a doubt, I believe it is true for all other beings as well¡­ weird. The observer''s movement brought me back to reality as I realized she was leaving. I noticed the direction she was coming from when she approached me and the child ¨C the IQ120 cage. Was she just passing by or did she come to inform him about his¡­ reward? The thought made my expression darken. ¡®Oh, it¡¯s because of that,'' Kiko thought, relieved that she wasn¡¯t the reason for his sudden change in mood. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll try to make this as fun as possible for both of us,¡± Kiko said, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. ¡°No need,¡± I replied, feeling irritated, before turning around to retreat into my own thoughts.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°If you cooperate well, you could receive an even better reward than the one you lost!¡± she exclaimed. I paused, realizing that he was now paying attention to her. ¡°Remember, we will be graded, and if you comply with me, then you can get what you want, and I can also pass my test. It¡¯s a win-win for both of us,¡± he looked at me in rage. ¡°You and me,¡± I wondered what was wrong with saying ¡®us.¡¯ His rage seemed to reduce when I corrected myself. ¡°So, do you want to start today or tomorrow?¡± I asked. ¡°You know if we start tod-¡° Before I could finish speaking, he continued moving forward into his cell. I guess we start tomorrow then. I would have loved to start today. What is wrong with this subject? This is my first time with a subject. My seniors did say that subjects could be a little aggressive at first, but they later become docile. ¡®Starting a day before the official starting date to work with a subject earns you a bonus. However, as I look at his back, which is getting farther away, I realize I won¡¯t be receiving that bonus,¡¯ I thought to myself. ¡°He is a special subject,¡± she said, glancing at another cell a few meters away, ¡°IQ120 cell, another special subject. Maybe they are just more aggressive. I put in a lot of effort to secure a special subject for my first-ever experiment, and I can¡¯t afford to fail this test.¡± Staring at the back of my partner, who is now deep in his cell, I think to myself, ¡®I will try to be patient and kind.¡¯ One of the seniors mentioned that it works and leads to better grades¡­ but if it doesn¡¯t, there is always option two.¡¯ With these thoughts in mind, she left, eagerly anticipating tomorrow. ¡­.. I watched it all unfold, and at this point¡­ all I can feel is pity for the stupid idiot that is MI123.Why is this dude just so unfortunate¡­ well he also fortunate but seriously. I can¡¯t believe he has a special subject got himself into a test with the Captors youngsters. 37 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 17 ¡°Hey! Hey! HEY!!¡± IQ120 shouted. ¡°What is your problem? If you want to implicate yourself, do it alone.¡± I swear, I didn¡¯t want to respond to the bastard, but he isn¡¯t giving up. Somehow, his voice reaches me even when I am at the deepest end of my cell, blocking my ears with my hands! It''s as if his voice has some kind of power, compelling me to listen. A very annoying power, for sure. And even now that I reply, it¡¯s only a whisper filled with annoyance and irritation. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re awake,¡± IQ120 said. So, that¡¯s what the constant disturbance was for. He couldn¡¯t tell if I was awake or not, and he could hear me from here. Well, I''m not that far away. ¡°I simply wanted to advise you about the starter,¡± IQ120 continued. ¡°What do you want? To rub it in my face?¡± I replied. ¡°No, you fool. There is a special subject, and we have certain privileges. One of them is not being a starter experimental subject partner. I wasn¡¯t sure before who a starter is, but-¡± ¡°Then why have I been chosen as one?¡± I interrupted him. I wanted to disregard what he said, but I remembered that he was still my senior. Being both a captive and a special subject, I didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he is also smart, but- ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me, fool,¡± IQ120 exclaimed, irritated. ¡°Why are you even helping me? We are not even of the same race,¡± I interrupted him again, needing to understand his motives. ¡°It¡¯s widely accepted that members of the same race can help each other, but different races? That¡¯s a different story, especially considering that I am in a lower category than him. In this world, I belong to the weakest category of race. The strong either ignore the weaker ones, destroy them, or exploit them in some way. This even happens within the same race. So, why would someone from a different race and a stronger category help someone like me?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± I muttered, this time speaking aloud instead of whispering, even though I remained in the deepest part of my cell. ¡°You¡¯re not going to answer,¡± I continued, my voice filled with frustration. Despite not moving from where I stood, I wanted a response. ¡°You just arrived, didn¡¯t you? If you can¡¯t even ask me that question, it means you haven¡¯t been here for long as a captive,¡± IQ120 stated. There was a brief pause, as if waiting for my reply. ¡°Well, even if you don¡¯t confirm my suspicion, I still believe I am right. I have observed it from the way you act in front of the captors. The fact that you didn¡¯t know he was your observer, something that is told to you after your third experimentation, says a lot. You are an extremely lucky and fortunate person, unlike me, unlike us.¡±He paused again, but this time it wasn¡¯t for a reply. It seemed like a way to comfort himself. ¡°You are not the first person to live in that cell. There have been seven others that I know of, probably even more before I became a special subject. The thing is, being a special subject isn¡¯t always good. We tend to die faster than normal subjects. As specials, we are put through stupid tests, like yours, and some are even worse, determined by which kind of captor you are blessed with as your observer." ¡°The first of the seven, we were friends as normal subjects, and luckily we both became special subjects at almost the same time¡­ This, this has been my cell for a very long time,¡± he said with a bit of nostalgia. ¡°He was someone I cared about; we were members of the same race, but he couldn¡¯t survive more than two experiments.¡± I felt his voice turn very cold and sad. 38 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 18 ¡°The experiments that special subjects are subjected to are far worse than anything a normal subject can ever experience,¡± IQ120 stated. ¡°You are special, right? If your treatment is special, your food is special. It is only right for your experiment to be special,¡± a captor once told me. I felt his pain, his grief from the words he said, how he said it. I felt like he didn¡¯t want to share it but thought he had no choice. Was it to accomplish what? To save me? Why? Was it because of a promise? Or was he tired of seeing other subjects die? Or had he simply been forced to learn kindness towards other races in this hell? ¡°The second, also a member of my race, died during a test to confirm an ability they speculated she had. Even after we both begged and cried that she didn¡¯t possess that ability, they didn¡¯t let her go.¡± Another pause. It''s almost like he wanted to give each a moment of silence, I thought. ¡°She was my love, my everything, the only good I believed came from this hell, yet this hell took her away. You might not know, but in my race, when we love or find a partner, we go all in. And once that partner dies, for the male, we could never find the heart to love another.¡± ¡°The third went through what you are going to go through and died. So did the fourth, the fifth, and sixth before the captors banned their young from experimenting on special subjects. They all died at the hands of a starter. The seventh, um¡­¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°What?¡± I exclaimed, but he either didn¡¯t hear me, which is not possible since he could hear my whispers, or he ignored my yell. ¡°I don¡¯t want to share how he died¡­ But the thing is, for a starter, a Captor young, to be appointed to you with how much you should be valued or we think you are valued, isn¡¯t true. The truth is that the value estimation I thought the captors place on you isn¡¯t correct.¡± ¡°I am deeply concerned, even though you and I are not of the same race. However, the third, fifth, and sixth individuals were also not of the same race. When the third person died, I didn¡¯t really care or convinced myself that I didn¡¯t care. Even now, I¡¯m not entirely sure¡­ but what I do know is that I felt immense grief when the fourth, fifth, and sixth individuals died.¡± He let out a deep sigh, and I could almost feel the weight of it from where I stood. ¡°I simply don¡¯t want to keep witnessing people die,¡± he said, his voice starting to rise to an almost maniacal level. ¡°Why do you just leave me alone in this hell and move on? What is wrong with you? Stay with me to help me calm my insanity, if not for that¡­¡± His voice suddenly became emotional and terrifyingly cold. ¡°Stay and suffer with me until it is my turn to pass away.¡± He didn¡¯t fear death, nor did he fear the Captor. He simply wanted peace. How many experiments has he been through, and what has he witnessed¡­ to become like this. 39 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 19 He was tired of being the last man standing. He wanted to fall, even though he clearly stated that he didn¡¯t care for me because of my health. But still, if he did die, even with all the anger and hate, he wouldn''t be able to get his revenge. Death is the end of all, right? But then, the thought of revenge against the captors came to mind. It was a thought I had never had and never thought I would have after the first experiment. And like a forgotten memory, the only thought I had when I was first captured was anger. My anger bloomed once again, and I asked, ¡°Do you hate them?¡± He replied, ¡°No, not anymore though, you may not understand, but after staying in this hell for so long, to be honest, I have gotten attached to it.¡± I responded, ¡°I can never miss this place,¡± without any doubts in my mind. ¡°You have no idea how long you¡¯ll be here or if you¡¯ll ever escape. The most likely outcome is death at the hands of a captor during an experiment. You¡¯ll come to realize that even hate fades with time, requiring something to reignite it and keep it ablaze. But what is hate when you lack the power to fight? Do you understand that, or do I need to explain it to you as well?¡± he said calmly. ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± I replied, turning around to gaze at the distant bars of my cell.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°You can¡¯t sense them either, can you? Even though you¡¯re considered weak category,¡± I said, pondering just how powerful the adult captors were. ¡°Yes, despite being in the weak category, I can¡¯t sense their strength. It simply means I have no chance in a fair fight. Unlike you, I¡¯ve encountered numerous adult captors, hundreds even, and I don¡¯t stand a chance against any of them.¡± ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be enough to stop you; it won¡¯t stop my hate.¡± ¡°Hahahhahahh.¡± His laugh was loud and maniacal in nature. Before I could get mad and retort, the next words he said left me speechless. ¡°You, who couldn¡¯t eat or speak for five months after just going through one experiment. What a JOKE.¡± ¡°The captor who introduced the starter to you was my observer, and I asked for information on you as my information reward. I was very interested in knowing more about you, but when I saw the child, I knew I wanted this information even more. You are a weakling, not even half as mentally strong as I took you to be. It took only a single normal subject experiment to completely break your mind." ¡°And you believe your hate would last? It wouldn¡¯t even last half as long as mine. My loathe for the captors continued to grow until it became simple hopelessness. No one is completely able to save us, and¡­ in more than one way, there isn¡¯t anything wrong with what they are even doing." I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. I wanted to reject it loudly, but it seemed that he wasn¡¯t open to that today. Before I could respond, he said, ¡°What did you do to your own kind and other races in the weakest category, like you, when you were free?¡± He paused for a moment and then continued, ¡°What did you or your kind do to the captors before they captured you?¡± 40 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 20 The captors, actually I have no idea what their race is called¡­ Well, until IQ120 told me. The Humas race was considered the weakest in this world. They were so weak and reproduced at a good rate, making them the perfect prey for even other members of the weakest race category. I was taught this by someone, although I don¡¯t know who exactly. I do know that when the Humas race was becoming scarce or when they fell ill, members of the weakest race would gather and do everything they could to save them. It¡¯s almost like cattle farming, as some races from the weak category would have their own Humas that they raised as personal food. I was taught that their taste was exquisite, so I embarked on a journey to taste it for myself. The first Humas I ate was a child, right in front of an adult. At the time, I felt a complete sense of horror and terror in the adult¡¯s eyes, which only added to the already delicious meal. As for the adult, I cooked him alive and even added a bit of salt, but I didn¡¯t finish him. At the time, the Human race had become increasingly hard to find, almost impossible to catch or kill, for decades before I was even born, and so their meat had become a very expensive commodity. I believed I had won the lottery. The two I killed were already seriously injured and weakened from fighting several members of the weak race, people I don¡¯t stand a chance against. Why didn¡¯t I think to report that? I really was a fool.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I guess when the male child Human entered my mouth, all my senses offed. I wonder, was it since then or when Humans became rare that they had gained strength and started all this? I pondered this as I stared at the walls of my cell. It was only common sense to assume that we would never have a savior and that we were all paying for what we had started,¡± I thought. I looked at my bar, even the higher category were anything but nice to the lower category, they were ruthless and destructive¡­ was IQ120 like that too? If I recall correctly, although I¡¯m not entirely certain about the accuracy of my memory due to its gaps, the individual to whom I sold the remaining Human meat was someone classified as a weak category. ¡°Ohh! Suddenly, my memory has been restored some of its gaps. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t want to report the battle between the two Humans to the elders¡­ elders, well, whatever. It was because that person specifically instructed me not to disclose it to anyone. His power was so immense that my mind simply submitted to him. I can''t help but wonder who is stronger between him and IQ120.¡± As I examine my own body, I ponder how much strength I possess now. ¡°You are right,¡± I said, taking a few minutes to contemplate what I had just been told. We all did terrible things to each other, and the torment within our different races never ceased unless a race was on the brink of extinction. That¡¯s when individuals of the strongest category stepped in. Since no one wanted to associate with them or get on their bad side, we all had to learn some restraint. The only other option was to become strong enough to protect ourselves and our fellow race members. 41 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 21 ¡°The fact that they became so powerful on their own is very hard to believe,¡± IQ120 said. ¡°It really is. Maybe they got help,¡± I replied. ¡°It is a possibility, but I doubt it. If they saw potential in the humas, then¡­¡± IQ120 trailed off. I scoffed. ¡°What potential? Their ability to torture other creatures?¡± I replied sarcastically. ¡°No, fool. Their ability to gather information,¡± IQ120 explained. I didn¡¯t reply, as I thought about the humans¡¯ ability to gather information. ¡°They have the ability to gather information?¡± I asked doubtfully. The only ability I could believe the humans had was the ability to torment others. ¡°How young are you? Seventy-five?¡± IQ120 asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see a reason to tell you,¡± I replied. ¡°Okay, okay. Were you around during the era of Delish, or were you not born yet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about this era of Delish you¡¯re talking about, but what a stupid name to name an entire era,¡± I told him. I find the name stupid. ¡°Whatever, the fact you don¡¯t even know is that you were born far after the era. Those who came after were constantly bragged to and insulted for coming late,¡± he said.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°The era was probably the most beautiful and unique era in the entire history of all categories. It is called the happiest time for most Hokori, by the strongest category, which shows that even the they enjoy the era. The only ones who weren¡¯t happy were the Humas. They were the reason for the joy of that era, suddenly or maybe not, they star-¡± ¡°Is this going to be a long story?¡± I interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, it may or may not be long,¡± he replied. ¡°You said ¡®maybe not,¡¯ how can you be sure? Did you witness their transformation?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve noticed that nothing happens suddenly. There is always something that causes a change, and whether the change occurs spontaneously or gradually, it all takes time in the end. They started seeking knowledge with an almost addictive obsession. They would do anything for even the most trivial piece of information. Despite being deceived and killed multiple times, they still accepted it. Some managed to escape, but it didn¡¯t deter their insane enthusiasm. They continued to be killed, haunted, and deceived. We all discovered that their flesh tasted exquisite and unique, and the higher category became aware of this. They placed bounties on their meat, and the Humas even offered themselves up to be eaten in exchange for knowledge. After a hundred years, they suddenly started vanishing. All the Humas who willingly offered themselves to produce more of their kind for consumption disappeared. Entire groups of Humas continued to vanish after a few more decades. They had become extremely rare to find, and¡­ You know, there were times when people would see them and try to attack or hunt them, but guess what? Those people were the ones who ended up being ripped apart. The ones who managed to escape didn¡¯t do so because they were capable of escaping; it was simply because they were allowed to leave. Nowadays, you can never find a Humas alone. If you ever come across a single Humas, run or be on high alert because there are more of them around. However, I don¡¯t think that will matter anymore considering how powerful they have become.¡± 42 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 22 ¡°So you¡¯re just an old geezer,¡± I said with a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s what you take away from everything I¡¯ve said?¡± IQ120 replied, his voice filled with defeat. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly what I understood,¡± I said. ¡°So the reason we went on this history lesson was because of the starter child,¡± I continued. ¡°For my sake, if not yours, use your brain and cooperate. Don¡¯t act like the fool you did when you first met her. She doesn¡¯t have complete control over you since it¡¯s a test for both of you.¡± He paused. ¡°Make the most of your time with her to strengthen your mind as much as you can. Learn as much as you can because, in the end, it will come eventually, no matter how long you try to delay it. Your special experiment day and more tests are approaching, Mr. Special Among Special Subjects,¡± IQ120 said. His voice trailed off at the end, as if he was falling asleep. ¡°Are you going to sleep?¡± I asked. After a few seconds without any reply, I assumed he had gone to bed. So all I had to do was wait for tomorrow. With that thought, I too was taken by sleep. ¡­ ¡®So today is the D-Day. I would have loved for it to have been yesterday, but my partner wasn¡¯t going for it,'' Kiko thought as she was on her way to meet her experiment partner.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡®I still can¡¯t believe that I actually won, and the reward was having a special subject as my first experiment partner. I am so lucky,'' her thoughts continued. ¡°I asked a few of my seniors what they did to make their subjects more cooperative, especially those with a good record while using less brutal methods. As one can assume, there were very few in number, but they mostly gave the same advice: reduce the sensitivity meter of the subject to make them feel less pain. However, pain measurements and the subject¡¯s resistance to pain are also tested. They told me to explain to the subject, letting them know when I intend to increase the sensitivity meter so they can brace themselves for the pain. I was also advised to provide praise to the subject when they are successful, even if it''s just a small part of the experiment. However, it¡¯s important to avoid excessive praise as it can have negative consequences. Creating a sense of assurance and stability with the subject is crucial, as it increases the likelihood of achieving a high score, even if you don¡¯t complete half of the experiment within the allotted time. The subject is more likely to willingly provide you with all the information you need, although the use of brutal methods may be more effective in this regard. The less brutal approach may result in the subject requesting your assistance at a later time, and you are more likely to become an observer before others when you reach that stage of strength. On the other hand, those who use brutal methods often have to wait a long time before being assigned a personal subject. That was the main objective for those who used the less brutal method: to become an observer faster. Observers have even greater access to information compared to starters, and information is something the entire human race has always desired. That¡¯s why she wanted to pass this test, as passing it would grant her more information. Not only had she been successful in her first subject experiment, but she had also been assigned a special subject.¡¯ ¡°I have arrived,¡± she said, wearing a pleasant smile on her face. 43 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 23 ¡°I think the story of IQ120 has made me nervous,¡± I pondered, my mind filled with apprehension. The thought of young individuals continuing to harm the subjects troubled me. Shouldn¡¯t there have been adult supervisors nearby? I distinctly remembered my first experiment in this terrible place. There were assistants or knowledgeable people present, and they were guided by more experienced individuals. It was during this time that I was still trying to act tough, attempting to ignore the pain. However, before my brain was overwhelmed with agony a few seconds later, I couldn¡¯t recall anything else. The memory was one I didn¡¯t want to remember, as it served as a reminder of my own foolishness. She mentioned that we would be monitored and evaluated, so perhaps the adults would be around. Uncertain of when I fell asleep, I knew it wasn¡¯t long after I assumed IQ120 had fallen asleep as well. ¡­ I heard someone call my name, not my assigned name MI124, but rather ¡®Miret,¡¯ I woke up feeling tired. I immediately realized that I wasn¡¯t in my usual cell, and more importantly, I was only dreaming. The calling of my real name was just a delusion. It saddened me a little because I quite like my real name, ¡®Miret.¡¯ It¡¯s even cooler to pronounce than MI124. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what IQ120¡¯s real name is. If I survive this ordeal, I¡¯ll try to get closer to him and ask him about it. Taking my time to look around, I realized I was in a large, completely white hall. It was just an empty space, with several doors scattered throughout. These doors probably led back to my cell or the experimentation site. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Suddenly, I heard a distinct sound: ¡®krr klick¡­ thump.¡¯ One of the doors directly in front of me opened, and she entered. However, she was still quite far away, as I was positioned in the center of the hall. ¡°Good morning, I have arrived,¡± she said with a pleased smile on her face. She walked towards me seemingly unguarded, and to my surprise, this time there were no bars separating us. ¡°You know, I thought you were ignoring me when I first arrived at your cell. I had to ask an adult to check on you for me,¡± she said. ¡°Hmm¡­ welcome to our chamber. Here, we will conduct various experiments together, right? What is your name?¡± she asked. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she afraid?¡± I wondered, feeling certain that she was stronger than me. My instincts screamed at me, reminding me of her power. But wasn¡¯t she being too careless? Did that mean I was truly that weak to her? Despite my doubts, my instincts refused to believe that I had no chance at all. Distressed by my own thoughts, I struggled to fully understand her questions, even though I knew she had said something. As I looked at her, I realized she wasn¡¯t that far away from me anymore. If I waited a little longer, she would be within reach of my claws, allowing me to strike at her head and throat simultaneously. Lost in my fantasy, I had forgotten that Humas could read minds. Or perhaps I deluded myself into thinking that the young ones couldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t comprehend how she was moving towards me so quickly, and my mind chose to ignore it. I ignored the fact that even in this vast space, with a radius of over100 meters, she was only a few meters away from me without running or jogging. She was simply strolling. 44 – THE CHERISHED MEMORY 24 Before I could make what might be the worst decision of my life, if I hadn¡¯t already, she spoke again. This time, her words reached my ears. ¡°What is your name?¡± she asked. ¡°Mi- no, MI124¡­ no, special subject MI124,¡± he stammered. He almost slipped and said ¡°Miret,¡± wondering if it would have resulted in failure. It was only now that he noticed, perhaps for the first time, that she was wearing clothes. And not just any clothes, but a nice outfit. She had on a knee-length white cloth with long sleeves and a collared neckline. The cloth was open and adorned with stones on the sides, though he wasn¡¯t sure what this type of clothing was called (maybe a lab coat). Underneath, she wore a white shirt with beautiful flowery designs, perfectly matching a white skirt with the same design. It was a complementary ensemble, hidden beneath the coat. He realized that the adult, too, must have been wearing clothes all along. However, he had been too scared or preoccupied with other thoughts to ever pay attention to such trivial details. ¡°I used to believe that only creatures in the strong category or above wore clothing as a way to distinguish themselves from barbarians. So, adults were in the strong category, but if someone with an IQ of120 belonged to the weak category, he would be able to detect the gap in strength. Maybe they were in the stronger or even strongest category in terms of strength. In that case, we would have no chance at all.¡± As I thought this, my mouth went dry and I swallowed hard. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°You are really smart, you know that. I forgive your initial thought, but if you ever think about it again, we will have a problem,¡± she said. ¡®Uh, when did she get so close to me without me realizing?¡¯ I wondered. ¡°So your name is Miret, what a unique name. Thanks for complimenting my dress, Miret. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was appropriate for the occasion, though.¡± ¡°She can also read minds,¡± I thought, feeling scared. I was afraid that she would tell the adult captors, and I would be in serious trouble. I was still underestimating her. ¡°Flowers,¡± the word slipped out of my mouth without my consent. She followed my gaze and noticed my focus on her clothes. ¡°Ah!¡± she suddenly screamed, startling me more than a little. ¡­ ¡®This pervert,¡¯ I playfully thought, using my hands to cover my chest and lower region, even though I was already perfectly covered. ¡°Hahahhaha,¡± I couldn¡¯t contain my laughter as I watched him fall down in fear, looking confused and worried. It took him a few seconds to realize I was just messing with him. I don¡¯t think he liked it, but anyway¡­ ¡°Do you want to see flowers, trees, nature? If you promise to cooperate with me, I promise to show them to you.¡± ¡®In the end, who would fall for that trick?¡¯ he thought, acting smug. ¡®After the experiment, you wouldn¡¯t even remember the deal¡­ and who would even want to see flowers anyway?¡¯ I think he was taking advantage of the fact that I could read his mind. However, I could also tell that he was lying. He actually wanted to see the sky, grass, and nature. He had only been here for a few months, and he was already missing home like a child. But the question remained, shall I grant your silly wish? 45 – A DECISION MADE ¡°So what, you think we would just stand there and let you pick us off?¡± Waka replied, his voice dripping with coldness. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Waka,¡± the chief interjected, his tone stern. ¡°Remember, one day you could be the new chief or a general. Be mindful of your words.¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s get back to where we left off,¡± the chief continued. ¡°Okay, I don¡¯t think I need to add more, but let¡¯s even say we don¡¯t have children coming. There¡¯s also the issue with the fillers. The water from the ¡®Well of Hope¡¯ is something we should never play with,¡± she finished. ¡°What if the creature followed you in? We should have sensed it. If not, that would mean the being is either as strong or stronger than the chief and the grand elder,¡± Joheki said. His words seemed to resonate with everyone except for a young man sitting on the grass a few meters away. As he heard those words, a smile formed on his face. ¡°This thought had crossed the minds of everyone present, but only Joheki had voiced it,¡± he said. He believed they should prepare for the worst, and this sentiment echoed in the chief¡¯s mind as well. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Or it could have been a passerby,¡± the chief said, looking at Aleazm as he made the comment. He was trying to lighten the mood, but his joke fell flat. No one believed that Aleazm wouldn¡¯t be able to distinguish between a living and non-living thing, even if the only living beings he had ever seen were themselves. ¡°Haha¡­ We have me and the grand elder. If even we can¡¯t defeat this unknown entity, then we all lose and face certain death. But neither of us is weak,¡± the chief declared. ¡°We are strong, just like the world we hope to create, and like all the obstacles our past elders have conquered for us. We shall conquer this threat and protect our oasis,¡± he said with unwavering determination in his voice. ¡°Do you truly believe that Khan?¡± Mul said, addressing the Chief by his name. This didn¡¯t seem to surprise anyone. ¡°I do, Mul. It is known that the more powerful one becomes, the less interest one has in those weaker than them, even if they are from the same group. Aleazm probably noticed this, and his interest would be in me, the grand elder, and all the members of the assembly, whether old or young. We would serve as a distraction and draw the battle away, so that the others won¡¯t be affected and, if needed, sacrificed for them.¡± ¡°Then we have a lot to do, don¡¯t we?¡± Mul said, standing up. ¡°Yes, we do,¡± the Chief replied, looking up. ¡°I don¡¯t think they have anything to add,¡± Tada said, referring to the elders in the deeper layers of the cavern. He also stood up to leave. Aleazm, Joheki, and Kedi joined Mul and Tada, leaving Waka, who was surprised by this turn of events, with the Chief. Waka had thought that maybe the Chief wanted to have a private talk with the elders, and he just didn¡¯t catch the signal. But this time, that wasn¡¯t the case. 46 – UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY It has happened a few times where he didn¡¯t realize it was time to leave, so he would stay back. Then, everyone would look at him strangely, and to be honest, it was always embarrassing. Feeling a bit foolish for not catching the signal, he attempted to join the rest. Annoyed, he wondered who was the idiot that made the rule to end all meetings done with words in silence. He found it dumb, especially since they called him immature and stupid, yet they followed that rule. As he added this to the list of things he would change if he became the Chief or advocated for a change when he became a General, he was interrupted by the Chief''s expression. The look in the Chief¡¯s eyes made him sit back down. Now, with almost everyone gone and only the two of them remaining, he couldn¡¯t even sense the presence of the elders. He wondered if he had done something wrong or if he had a crucial role to play in the upcoming battle. Most likely, it was the latter. But was it really necessary for everyone to leave? I¡¯m a little scared being alone with the chief, especially since I just joked about his power a few minutes ago. ¡­ (Young man¡¯s point of view) ¡°Add me to the equation now, I am literally right here with both of you,¡± I thought as I listened in on the ¡°serious¡± conversation between Chief Khan and the Youth representative, Waka. And let me tell you, it was¡­ boring.I also overheard the conversation between the grand elder and someone else, and guess what? Equally boring and predictable. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. They were discussing how the next chief would be chosen if something were to happen to the current leaders of the village. The talk was filled with emotion and seriousness, but to me, just a bystander, it was so funny that I struggled to hold back my laughter. I had to be careful not to let my amusement slip out, as it would make these serious actors aware of my presence. Sure, I could create a barrier around me and laugh as loudly as I wanted, without them hearing me, but where¡¯s the fun in that. It is almost as if these locals are aware of my presence, the fact that they are preparing so much, that maybe a stronger creature is around is so shocking, even has the creature they are talking about to be honest I am impressed. The fact that the Aleazm guy didn¡¯t take my stepping into the sand for granted is something already impressive. They are preparing so much for something most would have dismissed. I now understand why the people in this world are so strong. There are three reasons for this. Firstly, the harshness of this world is a major factor. If children are born less than the Hokori: strong category, they would not survive more than a few minutes here. They might only survive a few hours because they are kept in this special underground area. When I mention a special area, I am not referring to this sanctuary. This sanctuary is not just special, it is sacred. Secondly, the entire underground system in this area is massive, larger than an entire city. It is an area of authority, with more than five domains overlapping each other, of course it was special. This is not a common occurrence in my world, so seeing it here is truly impressive. Even my AI, for the first time since coming to this world, was impressed. I could sense the excitement in the locals, as they are eager to fight something different from themselves. I will do my best not to disappoint and put on a showdown of a lifetime for all of you. 47 – DOMAIN FORMATION The concept of overlapping domains can be understood quite simply. It is comparable to a solar system, where the Titan domain acts as the sun, holding all the other domains together. However, in this domain system, a domain, which represents a world, can appear or vanish, switch areas, and its size can be controlled within certain limits. Similar to four galaxies within a single giant Galaxy. Aleazm¡¯s domain, has the one with the most outing experience among the others. It is carried with him when he is not at home. Just like in a solar system or a galaxy, each world is different yet similar. The same applies to domains. They are all formed in a similar manner but differ in some aspects. Most domains are so alike that the only distinguishing factors are their size and nature. It isn¡¯t impossible to leave one¡¯s domain in a spot. Even if someone is physically distant, they can still control their domain, much like a king can govern a nation even when not present. However, there are certain limitations. Orders given from afar may take time to reach the intended destination and could be interrupted, tampered with, or have their content changed by enemies along the way. This is unlike the situation where the king is physically present in his kingdom, where he has more immediate control and influence. Additionally, the further one is from their domain, the more energy is required to sustain its existence. There is also a time delay, which can be a matter of seconds depending on the distance between the person and their domain, but this might as well be giving the enemies years to plan. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. A domain refers to the act of creating a kingdom or a world. The process of forming a domain begins at the Juda: pseudo-giant level, and it is crucial for advancement. To comprehend the concept of a domain, one must first understand ¡®Nature or element.¡¯ This refers to the elements that an individual can control from birth, as every living being is born with a nature. It is possible for someone to have multiple natures. Your nature is the foundation of any domain, representing various elements such as fire, water, earth, lava, and air. Nature comes in countless forms, but when compared to the number of living things in a single planet, a solar system, or a galaxy, the variations of nature are limited. Therefore, when two users with similar domains and energy levels face off, the winner is determined by their skill, creativity, and possession of a TAMA. There are two methods of creating a domain. The first involves using your energy to create it, while the second entails stealing resources from the world to form your domain. The latter method is preferred by most beings in existence. In contrast, when you fight using energy that is not from your domain or when it is inactive, there is a risk of being harmed by your own attacks. However, attacks produced from your active domain pose no harm to you. The latter method, unlike the first, involves a water nature user going to a lake to transform it into their domain. In this process, they would need to continuously refine the lake using their energy, soul power, and mental strength. This refinement continues until the user and the lake¡¯s energy become indistinguishable from each other. However, this task can be quite demanding and may take several days, months, or even years to accomplish.