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Chapter 89: Total Atomic Annihilation.
🕑 Added 2024-08-23 12:57:12 +0000 UTCChapter 89: Total Atomic Annihilation.
“I feel like I’ve been scammed.” I told Mr. Seahorse. Purposely making sure to show a somewhat displeased expression, without showing any hint of aggression. Lest he turn my insides into my outsides.
Again.
‘Damn it. This is way harder than I expected. Gotta make sure he picks up on the social cues I’m purposely making without going to extremes. But I feel like I have to go to comedic extremes because he can’t seem to grasp how human faces and body language work. Ugh. Say what you want about Granny and Orphan Maker and Peachy, but they were all very good at picking up on stuff. So was the Drake, for that matter.’
I wasn’t entirely sure he’d pick up on my feebly monkey-brained attempts at guilt-tripping him, but I had to try at this point. Meanwhile I also wanted to make sure he didn’t get any whiff of violent undertones.
The goal was to get a bit more leverage, after all. Not to end up smeared on the walls like a post-modern art piece. From what I had seen of the creature, he seemed to have some basic sense of honor, after a fashion. Where he would feel the need to make things ‘Fair’ in heavy quotation marks. Or, at least, to a point where he deemed the transaction as fair.
The chances weren’t looking good, but I figured I may as well try.
The deal was, more or less fair as it was, but the difference in our negotiating position was self-evident. Since I was guilty of all the transgressions the System accused me of, while he was apparently quite the trusted figure in the eyes of whatever entity or entities pulled the strings. As such, he had access to the same kind of special contracts System vendors operated under.
‘A factor Sarcophagus Solomon was aware of, but never had access to due to how relatively young he’d been by multiversal standards. Meanwhile, the Drake never even bothered pretending to be a good little rule follower. The other me knew there was a structure in place for exchanging services, but he went to the Drake anyways. Though I’m not sure I blame him. Nothing short of the Drake’s powers could have gotten him his body back. There would have been nothing for him if he got Enhancer and no other Shifter could have helped at that stage. That, and this guy definitely would have killed Coffin Sully if it meant keeping the Drake from another Type.’
I looked over the contract again. Noting the rather stark unevenness on the delivery of services.
System Contract: Exchange of Services.
Solomon Carter agrees to:
Use his abilities [Solomon’s Limited Omniscience X] and [Solomon’s Inexorable Presence X] on Hazimon the Dragon with the express purpose of granting the beneficiary a second Type and whatever levels, memories and abilities might come with the Type.
Refrain from using any other abilities to influence the beneficiary during the time the beneficiary is exposed while enacting the transaction.
Refrain from knowingly breaking any more rules of the Tutorial.
Refrain from knowingly targeting the beneficiary with [Solomon’s Limited Omniscience X] outside of the aforementioned enlightening event.
Refrain from knowingly targeting Kanari with any offensive or mind-altering Telepath abilities within a period of fifty standard human years, with the exception of such circumstances where Solomon Carter is providing tutelage on behalf of the beneficiary.
Refrain from knowingly aiding the third party, Seeking Drake in any capacity for one standard human year following this transaction.
Use his knowledge and personal experiences to teach the beneficiary how to best make use of their acquired abilities in good faith and without deception or omission.
Use his abilities [Solomon’s Limited Omniscience X] and [Solomon’s Inexorable Presence X] on up to five other Users designated by Hazimon the Dragon with the purpose of providing tutelage within a period of fifty standard human years.
The period of tutelage will end after one standard human year following this transaction, but may be automatically extended up to five years. Automatic extensions will occur as long as the beneficiary pays the tribute of 2 billion store tokens per year before the expiration of the period of tutelage.
These agreements are all witnessed by a System-approved High Enforcer and are subject to direct System Intervention. Each party will receive System warnings if they are about to break their side of the bargain.
The aforementioned clauses may not be broken, on pain of total atomic annihilation.
Hazimon the Dragon agrees to:
De-activate his ability [Redacted] so that Solomon Carter may affect him with [Solomon’s Limited Omniscience X] during a tutelage event.
Allow Solomon Carter to copy and absorb a portion of their memories within a period of one standard human year.
Allow Solomon Carter to copy and absorb a portion of their memories immediately as soon as the Seeking Drake is destroyed.
Use his personal knowledge and experiences to provide tutelage to Solomon Carter on matters regarding the Enhancer Type for as long as the Human Tutorial is ongoing.
Refrain from knowingly killing Solomon Carter for the duration of one standard human year.
Refrain from knowingly harming Humans for a duration of fifty standard human years.
These agreements are all witnessed by a System-approved High Enforcer and are subject to direct System Intervention. Each party will receive System warnings if they are about to break their side of the bargain.
The aforementioned clauses may not be broken, on pain of total atomic annihilation.
There was a lot of the dreaded lawyer-tongue about the whole thing, but a few pointers stood out above the rest. To start with, the fact that I would be giving my new prof another Type immediately whilst he didn’t have to do (Gnome) for a good long time.
Aside from that, there was the clause about me not hurting other Kenari. Not completely unreasonable, since it did mention I had to knowingly break the rule to run afoul of it and he was matching the sentiment with a clause to not attack humanity. But it did leave a sour taste in my tongue all the same. Because, while I was more or less the strongest human alive, his species had at least three other powerhouses at or near the 8th Tier. Meaning that Hazimon here could simply sit back and relax if we came into conflict. Secure in the knowledge that his granddaughter could raze a few hundred earths within a casual afternoon and there'd be nothing anyone else could do about it.
That fact led me to some other funny pointers.
Like the one stating that I would have to teach five more people he designated and that I would have to teach him and them for up to five (Gnome)ing years, while he’d be teaching me for the duration of the Tutorial. That is, for four measly months.
Finally, there was that interesting clause at the end. Rearing its head like a viper ready to strike.
“Total atomic annihilation.” I repeated.
Recalling them how Granny Golden had explained her particular situation to me when we'd first met.
"It is a standard method of assuring each party follows through." Hazimon explained. His tone steady and even a little respectful.
"I admit, I am not a fan of it either, but it is part of becoming any kind of System representative, such as a Vendor or an Enforcer. It must be this way to ensure the integrity of those that represent the System and its interests. The former cannot lie or cheat or attack those that annoy them. Nor can they give items away for free, though there is some leeway with services and personal advice. The latter cannot knowingly lie or cheat as well, though they are allowed to attack or even kill repeated rule-breakers. Or, in contrast, they can provide material rewards to communities of Students after they themselves have handled the rule breaker in question."
He began blowing bubbles out of his tubular mouth as he paced. Looking oddly human in his body language while also coming across as completely alien by soft cute squeaks he made.
'I don't think he realizes how funny those are.' I thought to myself. 'I think he might be trying to come across as wise or leaned. Like a mentor. But all I'm getting is a lifelike animatronic in a water park.'
"The point is that we in positions of authority are not supposed to be taking advantage of our juniors. Not matter how very tempting it might be. Case in point, there is a gnomish merchant on your parent's Instance, but he was not allowed to indiscriminately butcher up and coming prospects. Nor was he allowed to cheat the Students there into unfavorable deals or pit them against each other so they tore themselves apart. Despite his current government's plans of conquering worlds from newly integrated species. Instead, he did his job honorably. Otherwise, he would have been disintegrated. Again, because the one commonality we all share, is that the System wishes for us to become stronger. To grow into the best version of us that we may become."
I had to clamp my mouth shut after that. Thanking the Drake once more for me being so in-control of my own body and its expressions.
'There is no way that Mittens would ever leave a gnome alive. None of my intruders would have done so. None of them would have even considered it. How come I didn't get a notification if Mittens broke that ru... oh. Ooooohhhh. I see. I didn't break the rules by killing that gnome on the islands. Anezka did. Which is odd, because she is very much still possessed and the System, as far as Coffin Sully knew, counted that as being the fault of the possessor. Is it because I was in a different Instance and not actively calling the shots?'
That was a new piece of information that might prove valuable, despite it only applying within the Tutorial.
Of course, Hazimon didn't necessarily need to know either. Whomever had been dispatched to deal with Mittens after the fact had obviously not made it back to report, so there was a good chance I had an ace my new mentor didn't know about.
Not that I was planning on double crossing him in any way of course. But, if he happened to double cross me first...
"I understand." I told him with a suitably humble tone. "The System is, as far as I've seen, generally benevolent. In that it seems to care about equity to some degree and prioritizes us helping in the worlds that our species inhabit. Though it doesn't go so far as to actually stop intergalactic wars for some reason. It needs a way to ensure its trusted faces act with professionalism and that they're at least pretending to be impartial."
"Quite so. Especially with your choice of words towards the end there." He confirmed. "Complete impartiality will always be a pipe dream. We are simply too different among our own species for that. Never mind how unique we are across species. Even those that genuinely try their very best to live up to the ideals of the divines generally fall short to some small degree. It is unavoidable, since none of us, even the enlightened divines are perfect. So, the System demands that a certain standard be met. Not perfection or anything near it, but a series of hard lines everyone can understand. With suitable punishments for transgressors, since they are generally parties with more influence and standing than whomever is providing the primary service."
I hesitated at that. Seeing an opportunity to confirm some of the other Solomon's theories.
"About that, a friend of mine had some theories as to what the System was. Sadly, he passed without being able to confirm any of them but..."
"But you figured you may as well try to gleam information out of me." The Dragon finished. "Tell me, what does you ability, this [Omniscience], tell you?"
"That is both there and not there." I answered. My mind touching a variety of strings along the cobweb to eek out blurry images of the past, present and future, in spite of the Dragon's obscuring presence.
"That it is a mostly Telepathic construct being forced on me and everybody else here. That it is connected to something or someone unfathomable beyond the veil. That it is a more advanced version of what I can do with [Omniscience], mixed with my inexorable presence. I..."
I hesitated, but looked back at the contract I was going to sign anyways.
'Might as well act in good faith now, if it means I might get valuable insights.'
"I feel different, when using the ability at its highest potential. I feel as if I am everywhere and nowhere at once. As if I am no longer flesh and blood, but a part of every living being's mind. Privy to all their thoughts and insecurities as I feel every fraction of every second that they experience drag on and on and on unto eternity. Their nerves singing as I dance along them and their perceptions of their reality slowing as I meld myself into all that they are, all that they have been and all that they could be. Back on earth, back when I combined the ability again, I saw things I never saw before. Birthdays see from the perspectives of the one celebrating and all those present. I could be at a party that happened three or five years ago in some distant memory and rejoice at a child's innocent cheers, while also feeling the dread his parents felt when they considered their divorce. The sadness the grandparents felt watching it happen. The envy one of the cousins felt, since their own parents had been too drunk to throw them a birthday party when they should have had one."
The Dragon nodded along. Still blowing small bubbles here and there.
"It sounds chaotic."
"It is. Absolutely chaotic. An endless stream of moments bleeding into the next from innumerable perspectives. I was the owl hunting the rabbit to feed her hatchlings and the rabbit fleeing for the sake of the bunnies in her womb. I felt the wind whistling past my feathers as my eyes beheld motion in the darkness. I knew that I was silent and deadly and hungry and that my babies were hungry too. The rabbit's life or that of its unborn brood did not register to me from the owl's eyes. At the same time I felt the cold of the evening wind buffeting against my fur as the rabbit. I felt my ears twitching as they didn't catch anything, even though an ill feeling crawled up my spine. I saw the owl, and myself in the owl. I felt my heart pounding against my chest as all my muscles burned. My legs kicking the ground over and over and over in an effort to get away. I felt the strike of the beak and the panic that it brought, as well as the relief and joy her hunter felt. Only to be replaced by fury as it saw the serpent leaving her nest. Her fangs dripping with the blood of the owl's young. Yet I also felt the snake and the chicks it ate. The ants crawling on the ground beside a small brook and the tadpoles growing in those waters. The piglets splashing nearby and the mountain lion stalking them. All of them living the same minutes from their own perspectives. Their own minds only knowing their side of things. Merging those abilities, feeling the way thoughts and impressions were shared across entire worlds and how each and every feeling affected the veil, is something so dissimilar from the life I had led when I shut it all out, that I felt as though I would lose myself. That I would forget who I was."
"But you didn't." Hazimon prompted. His gait slowing down as he listened to me with his full attention.
"No. I didn't." I confirmed. "I was still myself, but more. I wasn't spreading myself thin over a large group. I was placing a little seed of psionic potential inside each being and then relaying the signal when that seed grew. Each purple and gold ember making the cobweb come alight with unreal flames. I went from a piece of burning kindling, to a forest fire, to a blazing, shining sun as I covered the earth. I was more with all of them under my influence. I was eternal and unflinching. So much higher than any one person that it wasn't even funny. That version of me, felt everything. Saw everything. Knew everything. While realizing that it itself was being affected by an even higher power."
I stared into his beady, ruby-red eyes.
"That is what the System is. At least partly. It is a psionic construct placed by someone with such power that I cannot even imagine." I paused once more, before continuing. "Where my reserves are vast, these reserves are limitless. Which shouldn't be possible."
"And yet it is." Hazimon confirmed. "This ability of yours is much more impressive than I first realized. That alone should have been more than enough for your friend. It is a much better explanation that most young masters will get."
"So, how right is it?" I pressed.
"Very much on point." Hazimon spoke once more. His crimson eyes seeming to gleam in the unnatural light coming from the crystals above us.
"The System is an artificial thing. Imposed on us mere mortals by the ascended divines. It is their prerogative to protect sentient forms of life, while also not restricting their freedoms whenever possible."
"Odd route to take for benevolent overlords who place so much value on life."
The Dragon's face, if it could be called a face, twitched. The motion being so faint that I would not have caught it without [Protean Form] improving my eyes.
"I have only ever had the pleasure to speak with two divines up until this point, Solomon Carter. I can assure you, while their actions could be interpreted as benevolent from where we're standing, they are anything but. Their, outlooks, seem to change a great deal after undergoing those transformations into gestalt entities. I will not say more, save to warn you that worshiping them is a dead end. They might be nigh omnipotent and more omniscient than you by leaps and bounds, yet they remain very, very mortal in the way they handle such immeasurable might."
'You make it sound like a bad thing.' I thought. 'If what you say is true, then it's a reason to celebrate. After all, I have never known how a gestalt entity might feel, but I sure as (Gnome) know how someone that is worshiped against their will feels.'
"Okay." I said instead. "I understand that the System tries to make deals equitable and that it will bring the hammer down on either of us if we break out terms. However, that doesn't change the fact that these terms suck."
The Dragon quirked his head.
Apparently not caring too much that Mittens was starting to get real annoyed with him. Anezka's monstrous form pacing back and forth whilst staring at his exposed neck like a tiger. A thin line of drool dripping from each of Mitten's three tongues as those slitted eyes tracked the bipedal seahorse man.
"I don't believe those words were translated correctly. What does suction have to do with the terms?"
"That they aren't fair. You are obviously getting as lot more out of this." I argued.
Again sending messages to Mittens to make sure he didn't leap at the Savant and get himself banished. While it wouldn't do much beyond annoying him, Anezka and Halkon would be killed.
And I still had uses for them.
"Very well, what would you like to add?"
I blinked, or would have blinked if my body was still capable of such physical reactions to surprise.
"Just like that? No dancing around the issue or telling me I'm getting enough as is because you're so much better? No telling me I'm an idiot for not seeing things your way?"
The Dragon actually laughed at that.
"There are few Savants out there, child. Fewer still that share our level or prowess. If I am to get what I want, which is an ally, it is best to act with dignity and good faith. If I wanted to trick or coerce you, I wouldn't have offered a System-backed contract in the first place. Though, I do understand where your reaction is coming from."
He stopped laughing.
"But I am not the Seeking Drake."
"So, what did you end up agreeing to?" Dusty asked as we walked.
"I extended the time of my tutoring sessions for one. Past the Tutorial and for as long as I'm tutoring him. Then I got another clause that he would teach an additional person if he chose to extend my own contract by paying me off, so long as the Drake had been dealt with beforehand."
"And you think the Drake will have been dealt with beforehand?" Slab asked. His brows furrowing.
"Oh, absolutely." I said. "I already foresaw several futures in which I killed him. Without Mr. Seahorse's help to boot. He may be some unimaginable horror that can endlessly regenerate as long as he has Psy, but that's just it. He can only do that as long as he has Psy."
I wagged my finger in the cavern air.
"And it just so happens that I have, or I'll soon have more. Like, way more. Those multipliers really do stack up like crazy. I've already got three more Titles than he does and that number will only increase the more I get used to Shifter and what I can do with the new Type. Not to mention the fact that I don't even need to be there to fight him. I have Intruders for that."
"Mittens is here!" Yelled my kitten with Anezka's monstrous voice. "Mittens does swear! Mittens foretells! The Drake is a stinky ne'er-do-well!"
"That he is Mittens. That he is." I agreed.
'D....ie. Ple...se....le...t....e....ie.' A faint mind called out to me from Mittens' hip and I turned to see the quivering flesh of Halkon.
Still very much alive despite his brain turning to mush.
I stared at him, in much the same manner that owl I had used as an example stared at her prey. My eyes devoid of the usual empathy I reserved for my fellow human beings.
'No.' I answered him. 'Not only did you behave like a gnome, you did so against my parents. Death is too good for you, Halkon. And it will remain out of your reach until you atone for all the crimes you've committed. I'm sure we both know that will take a while, so do try and keep yourself comfortable. Though, let it never be said that I inflict unnecessary suffering. I can be insensitive, but I am not Mittens.'
I reached out to touch him and felt his flesh scream. His cells trying to resist in vain as I re-shaped his organs into human proportions and then further, into those that Anezka currently possessed.
Then I [Dominated] him for good measure. Before blasting him with a healthy dose of my boost.
"Pick him up." I told Mittens. "And make sure he doesn't hit his head against anything while he is convulsing. I want him going back to his world a changed man. Someone ready to free it from slavery."
"Mittens is here! Mittens is near! Mittens wants his spine as a makeshift spear!"
"No!" I snapped. Wagging my finger at him. "Bad Mittens! Bad! If we're going to wok together then you need to stick to the mission. No torturing people! Only gnomes are okay because they're not people. No more catnip for you until you learn some restraint. And no backrubs or head pats either."
Mittens mewled sadly. Anezka's eyes welling up with tears.
"But Mittens loves backrubs and head pats!"
"Then you need to be less bloodthirsty. Like a good kitten."
Slab intervened then. Leaning over me as he sent a [Message] of his own.
'Are you sure it is wise to antagonize the, uh. Intruder?'
"It's fine." I answered out loud. "Mittens has gone without discipline long enough. He needs to know there are boundaries when talking to people. Otherwise, he's bound to stab someone sooner rather than later. I should know, I've seen it happen within my cobweb hundreds of times."
Mittens felt downcast. Anezka's possessed visage drooping as he deflated.
"Mittens is sorry. Mittens only wanted you to be happy. Mittens will be good."
I searched the cobweb and saw that he meant it. Not to a large degree, since violence was more or less ingrained into the very building blocks of his being as an Intruder, but the self-restraint that came with my admonition would be nice,
"I forgive you Mittens." I said warmly. "I love you too. And, speaking honestly. I really did miss you, since, that night."
Anezka's face nodded.
"Mittens remembers the sadness. Mittens remembers the pain. Mittens is sorry he hid."
He paused for another second, before adding.
"But Mittens was really happy that you were okay."
Comments
ReadinGator
They first ascended created the System when they first ascended, and the rest choose whether to maintain it or not. I won't spoil more right now, as I'm trying to build up to it in the story.
ReadinGator
He does. Sully's Kitten growing up was called Mittens. When he and his family escaped to the fortified shelter, they couldn't find him. The expected outcome ensued. The Mittens we have now is young Sully's answer to losing his kitten back then.
Arrogant Dreamer
So can the ascended ones even affect/manipulate the system, or are they basically administrators with superuser access?
Leonard Marchant
Wait, mittens has a backstory?
