RE: Reality Smuggler (R-18)

A few moments earlier...

After sleeping for a time that felt like an instant, I woke up.

The room, previously as clear as day, was dark. As it was cloudy outside, little starlight came through the window, making it even darker.

And...

"Mm... So weak..." - I groaned.

I felt weak, sapped of my strength, like a sick man.

It was because I lost my previous transhuman strength, multiple times stronger than I am.

As for my actual strength? It was probably at the level of my untrained self. If I had my peak body, I wouldn't be so weak.

I was back to square one... okay, maybe not.

It was more like starting an NG+.

"God, I am here! Do you need any help?!"

Just as I was thinking these inconsequential things, a childish voice rang.

"Ah, Primrose is here." - I thought and turned to the sound.

In this dark room, the scant light that passed through the windows showed Primrose's pale-as-paper face and vivid golden eyes. If someone who doesn't know her sees her, he might think she is a ghost.

"Hm...? Primrose? Why are you here? Did you finish eating?" - I asked with a smile.

"She might have gotten tired from eating for so long." - I thought.

"G-God! I wanted to report to you about the 16 Minions, but when I did, you were... were..." - Primrose said hesitantly.

"On fire?" - I guessed.

"Yeah. Seeing me on fire probably scared the poor girl. I should have warned her first." - I thought.

"That too... But..." - Primrose hesitated.

"But...?" - I frowned, feeling something was off.

"You were a... skeleton... and broke down..." - Primrose said hesitantly.

"... What?" - I blinked in shock.

"What skeleton?! I broke down?! What the actual fuck?!" - I cursed in my mind.

I didn't doubt her. If she says I turned into a skeleton and broke down, then that is what she saw. As my Zealot, she has no reason to lie to me.

Trying to fake calm, I continued to probe.

"And what happened then?" - I asked.

"I... Your body was reconstructed." - Primrose shifted her eyes before answering.

I ignored her abnormal response before asking the only entity that could answer my queries.

"TROD!!! What the actual fuck is going on?!" - I demanded.

{I told you before. Your DNA structure had to be broken down before returning to your previous unevolved state. This doubles to your physical body itself. Simply undoing that said evolution would be more energy intensive than atomizing your body and using the leftover materials to rebuild it.}

"Couldn't you at least warn me?!" - I retorted.

{Would it matter?}

"... Okay, you made your point." - I resigned myself.

I then refocused on the fidgeting Primrose.

"The poor girl must have gotten quite the shock." - I thought.

"I am sorry you had to watch that. I should have warned you before." - I apologized.

Hearing my words, there was no sign of complaint or acceptance, only panic in her eyes.

"N-No! God, I dare not accept your apology!" - Primrose shook her head vehemently.

"... Hah..." - I sighed, feeling tired.

"Note to self, don't apologize to a Zealot. Just give them something discreetly as a sign of apology."

After making that mental note, I changed the subject, "So, why did you come? Did you finish eating?"

"Ah! No, God. I wanted to report that the 16 Minions finished eating." - Primrose said.

"I understand. What do you think will be the best course of action to evolve them now?" - I asked curiously.

"God, with their current physique, it should be easy to evolve them if they are given food and either thirteen Minion crystals or an evolved crystal." - Primrose reported.

"Hm..."

"So it is more economical to let them evolve by themselves after being strengthened, but I will also lose those few precious Enhancement Points. Oh, well. I am too lazy to worry about that."

With that in mind, I decided.

"Let them eat their fill and give them those 16 evolved crystals prepared earlier. Also, if you are done eating and not tired, I have a task for you." - I said, suddenly remembering something.

"Yes, God! What is your will?" - She straightened up and asked.

"I trust you know how to handle a computer, right?" - I asked.

"Yes, God. I have the topmost technical programming and computer knowledge available to Apex Technologies from December 29th, 2149." - She reported.

"... Apex Technologies?" - Hearing that familiar name, I couldn't help but squint my eyes.

"Yes, God." - Primrose nodded.

"Do you know why you have their knowledge?" - I continued to ask.

"It is to preserve the knowledge of humanity inside the Ascended." - Primrose answered, misunderstanding my question.

"Not that. I meant, why is it from Apex Technologies? Did they create the Ascended?" - I became more specific.

"Yes, God. Apex Technologies created the Ascended during a top-secret project, project Ascension." - She stated.

"Okay, now you got me going. Tell me about it." - I said, full of expectations for a good story.

Sadly, I was fated to be disappointed today.

"I'm sorry, God. I don't have the details in my inherent knowledge." - She shook her head.

"... Hah... Nothing to apologize about." - I shook my head.

Although I felt like I just got blue balled, there was no point in throwing a tantrum.

"Okay, so, anything else? Like secret directives or something?" - I asked.

I honestly didn't expect her to nod her head. But lo and behold, she did.

"Yes, God. My inherent knowledge contains two objectives I should complete." - Primrose said.

"Okay, now I am interested. What are they." - I asked while leaning closer.

"The first objective is to conquer the planet from its former human hands and repopulate it with Ascended population." - She said apathetically.

"Okay, kinda saw that coming."

"And the other one?" - I asked.

"It is to defend against a predicted alien invasion." - Primrose said.

"..."

"Okay, I did not see that coming." - I thought in shock.

After a few moments, I asked, "Aliens?"

"Yes, God. Aliens. The kind with warp travel." - Primrose nodded.

"..."

I honestly wanted to retort that it should be impossible, but I am a reality-hopping pseudo-god, so...

"So... Are they going to invade this planet?" - I asked, unsure.

"Likely not, unless they have religious, xenophobic, or existential reason to do so. The likely scenario is to strip our solar system bare of resources, removing our chances of becoming an intergalactic race. They are unlikely to bother our resource-barren planet and risk a needless fight when they can plunder entire asteroid belts and create artificial planets and space farms. By then, we can only take the initiative to surrender." - She explained.¹Alien invasion debunked. Our planet is trash to a civilization that can warp jump.

"That... makes a lot of sense." - I thought, feeling my horizons widen.

I always imagined an alien invasion to be aliens sending warships to attack Earth. But now, it seemed childish. Why would an alien race, able to travel so far, even bother with our planet?

"I see... And when will they arrive?" - I asked weirdly.

"At the earliest estimate, 2187, but they are more likely to not arrive in our solar system in the next two hundred years."

"Hah... 25 years, then. And only Apex Technologies know?" - I asked to confirm.

"Them and the major powers. It was kept secret from the public." - She said.

"Hm... And when were the aliens discovered?" - I probed.

"On October 27th, 2107. It was exactly when they warp-jumped into a solar system 45 light years from us, which means they traveled there around 2062. On September 16th, 2146, we discovered they warp-jumped again, reaching a solar system five light years closer to us, which means they reached it around 2106." - She said.

"..."

"Okay, the alien discovery should be related to what happened in this world." - I noted.

"Oh, well. Returning to the main subject, do you know the AR assistant Apex Monarch 11?" - I asked.

Upon my words, Primrose frowned, seemingly searching her memory, before relaxing her brows and nodding.

"Yes, God. It is within my inherent knowledge. It should be the latest AR assistant, planned to be released on January 1st, 2150." - She nodded.

"Hm... Then, do you know if anything weird was installed on them? Like overruling protocols, higher authority access, or AI capable of free thought? What is their main priority? And can they betray their owner?" - I asked to confirm.

Previously, I shelved these questions, but now that we are safe enough, I have the leisure to ask about them.

To my words, Primrose didn't answer immediately. She closed her eyes, likely gathering her thoughts, before answering.

"In my memories, no AI has reached general intelligence, but a hidden authority override code was placed for all Apex Technologies devices, granting creator privileges. Overruling emergency protocols can overwrite many restrictive rules but are meant for people in an apocalyptic scenario. Their priority is to aid the owner while abiding by the law. But when emergency protocols are activated, they only help the owner, uncaring of the life and death of anything else. Of course, if an Apex Technologies personnel is detected, it will switch owners if demanded. At least, that is what I know." - Primrose explained.

At her words, I felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. At the very least, I know Arly didn't lie. The only thing to worry about is that higher authority thing.

"Then, can you remove that higher authority part?" - I asked.

"Yes, God. But isn't it better to give you the highest authority codes?" - Primrose asked.

"You can do that?" - I asked, surprised.

"Yes, God. Once used, you can have creator privileges, blocking others with creator privileges unless allowed." - Primrose nodded.

"Hm... Okay. Help me with this, then." - I said and took out Arly.

"Arly, wake up." - I said while putting on Arly.

[Exiting sleep mode.]

[Iver? Why is your voice and eye retina back to their previous form?] - Arly asked.

"I devolved my body back to its previous form. Anyways, I am going to try something." - I said.

[Alright.] - Arly agreed.

I then looked at Primrose.

"Primrose, how do I enter Creator privileges?" - I asked.

[Creator privileges? What are you tal—]

"Yes, first, enter the setting menu." - Primrose instructed.

"Okay. Arly, enter the settings menu." - I nodded and said.

[Okay...] - Arly replied in a confused tone.

I then saw a simple 2d settings menu projected through the glass.

"What now?" - I asked.

"Now, enter the security tab, and enter the administrator code. The administrator code has two levels, one for administrator rights and another for creator privileges." - Primrose said.

"Alright." - I nodded and used my eye to scroll down the screen and picked the security tab.

Scrolling down, I saw the administrator code thing at the bottom.

"Okay, found it. What's the code?" - I asked.

"It's J@Y97%N!53^A..." - She narrated.

The Password was huge, with 25 characters.

And then, after I entered it...

[Password received. Changing user privileges of Gulliver Goodman (Nickname: Iver) to Creator.]

[What the hell!? I didn't know there was something like that! And how do you even know this?!] - Arly said in a surprised voice.

"Eh... Yeah. It goes like this..."

And then I told her all about the Ascended.

[Why am I not surprised... So, what? Are you planning on becoming an Ascended now?] - She asked.

"Pretty much. So don't get surprised at my new looks again." - I said.

[Noted.] - She replied.

I then put her back in the Storage and turned to Primrose.

"Okay, Primrose. This will likely take a lot of time, so eat more or rest in the meantime." - I instructed.

"Yes, God." - Primrose replied and was about to leave.

"Oh, and by the way, can you call me something other than God?" - I finally couldn't take it anymore and asked.

"Hm... Lord?" - Primrose asked with a tilted head.

"Well, that's an improvement. Anything else?"

"Father?" - She smiled sweetly.

"... Please, no. Anything else?" - I asked.

"Supreme being?"

"Yeah... no. Next."

"Creator?"

"No."

"Holy Vassal?"

"No."

"Your lordship?"

"No."

"Lord Eternal?"

"Next."

"Holy Spirit?"

"Next."

"Maker?

"Next."

"Kami-Sama?"

"That's in Japanese! And, NEXT!"

"Providence?"

"Okay, stop. How about just calling me Iver?"

"But that is disrespectful to God!" - Primrose protested with a pitiful look.

Seeing that look, I knew it would cause her stress if I forced it.

"Hm... Fine. You can call me Lord privately. But when we are in the presence of outsiders in the future, call me Iver." - I compromised.

"Yes, Lord!" - Primrose said enthusiastically.

"Okay, do as you want. I need to concentrate now, and I won't be able to answer you."

"Yes, Lord. I understand." - Primrose nodded and left the room.

After seeing that she left, I breathed out a sigh.

"I hate the god business..." - I muttered.

Shaking my head, I decided to handle the business at hand.

"Trod. Strengthen my body to the maximum. Use basic energy."

{Yes. It will cost 10 Evolution Energy and 100 Basic Energy and will take 500 seconds. Proceed?}

"Yeah, do it." - I said.

And then, I lost consciousness again.

 

 

8 minutes later...

{Strengthening Complete. Congratulations, you achieved a peak body.}

"Haah... Better." - I said, feeling the strength returning to my body.

"So, let's not waste any more time. Let's see my current available evolutions..."

With that, I opened the relevant menu. And...

 

Currently available evolutionary routes:²I made a minor change. Evolution speed shortens with higher regeneration.

1. Standard. Cost: 10 Evolution Energy A. 100 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes.
2. Soldier. Cost: 13 Evolution Energy A. 130 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 2 hours and 52 minutes.
3. Stalker. Cost: 13 Evolution Energy A. 130 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 2 hours and 52 minutes.
4. Ascended(Child). Cost: 20 Evolution Energy A. 200 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 6 hours.
5. Ascended(Adult). Cost: 50 Evolution Energy A. 500 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 15 hours.

 

"Hah? Child and Adult?" - I made a weirded-out face.

{Yes. I optimized the original evolution to allow an adult form but retained this evolutionary pattern for energy-saving. It has the benefit of reducing the cost of strengthening and future evolutions while young.}

"Yeah, I can see that. The Adult Ascended costs 2.5 times the original child evolution. Just... wow." - I said, amazed at the price.

The price to evolve into an Adult Ascended is a thousand Minion lives and 500 crystals.

That is 600 Minion lives and 300 crystals more than necessary.

Of course, I am willing to pay the price. I am not regressing into being a kid, even if only for a year. However, any future Ascended I evolve will be children. It will save me some points.

"Anyways, I already know what an Ascended is, so just evolve me into an Adult Ascended."

{Very well, but before you do, I need to tell you an additional detail.}

"What detail?"

{It is about inherent knowledge. Unlike Primrose, who evolved out of the mind-empty Minion, you are a grown human adult, meaning that inheriting that knowledge will cause conflicts in your mind, causing many potential mental instabilities. To counteract that, I have two proposals. Option one, store all your memories inside a separate folder and go through a brain wipe, allowing the smooth transition of the memories. And then, you can later view the memories of your past self. Option two, store the inherent knowledge inside a separate folder, forfeiting the automatic inheritance and muscle memories. Of course, you can later browse and learn it manually. It is your choice.}

I was offered a chance to start again. To become a white slate. To become a new me. And, if the new me wanted to, he could check my previous memories.

It was a golden opportunity, one that many want, but never receive.

However...

"Option two." - I said without hesitating.

Truthfully, my life sucks. As a child who essentially got abandoned by his dysfunctional parents, I have my share of bitter moments and mental scarring.

That said, those things proved to temper me and my will. I refused to let it get to me, and I am stronger for it.

I also have some happy memories here and there.

So, yes, I am unwilling to give up on them, even for a moment.

{Very well.}

And with that, I lost consciousness again.