The World of Ascension

"To...Ascend. That tells me absolutely nothing," I muttered.

[Perhaps. But be patient, mortal. I will now give you a brief tour of this Reality Plane, known as 'Ascension'. By the end of my explanation, you will understand what 'Ascending' means.]

Another name added to the list: mortal. I couldn't exactly ignore this any further, before this damned supercomputer came up with any more names.

"Uh... just so you know, I have a name. Igarashi Kaze," I said.

[I am well aware. However, I have no intention of using that name.]

"But... why?"

[Simply because I do not want to. Is there a problem?]

I sighed. "You know, for an AI, you really know how to annoy humans."

[... Do you want the information or not?]

Damn you, pulling out that card, huh? Well, fine. Since I really do need information right now, I'll give it to you this time. One day, however, I will get revenge on you, just like what I did to Ichigo and Horiya.

I immediately clasped my hands together in a praying gesture. "Sorry. You win."

[...Hmph.] It snorted. Robots could snort? Learned something new today, I guess...

... Of course, that was not counting all the information that got dumped on me all at once, completely obliterating my original understanding of the multiverse.

And so, A.R.X.A. began explaining this new reality plane to me, nicknamed 'Ascension'.

*****

By the time it was finished explaining, a good half an hour had passed.

According to A.R.X.A, this Reality Plane was, in actuality, just one island - the one I was on currently. Beyond this island was just water for as far as the eye could see.

For years, inhabitants of this island had sent out exploration teams to see if there was anything beyond the sea that surrounded them on all sides, but none returned with any discoveries.

Of course, this was because there was literally nothing beyond this body of water, known as the Divine Sea. A.R.X.A said that it stretched for an infinite amount of distance on all sides, with this island, called Ascentia, forever being at the center of it.

That being said, it wasn't like this Reality Plane was small compared to Earth. In fact, this island was enormous - three times the surface area of Earth, in particular.

According to what A.R.X.A. said, this island, Ascentia, was more or less split into eight different regions. At the center of it all, where all eight regions converge, lies a single tree.

The name of this tree was Astrasil. It had snow-white roots and branches, paired with beautiful silver leaves gently swaying side by side to the blowing wind. The tree was not only thick but also extremely tall - piercing straight through the clouds and beyond.

To the inhabitants of Ascentia, this tree was like a holy figure to them. It was said that this tree existed before all else, and this island slowly formed around it.

Astrasil was not merely a subject of worship, however. All the inhabitants of Ascentia have one goal they place above all else - and that, is to 'Ascend', using the world tree known as Astrasil.

And in order to 'beat' this reality plane, I would have to do the same.

There was just one problem - Ascending was no easy feat. In the history of Ascentia, not a single soul has ever managed to successfully Ascend. The reason for this was that in order to Ascend, there were multiple tedious and difficult steps.

First, you would have to become extremely strong so that you could unlock something that was called an 'Awakening.' This will enable you to enter Astrasil's domain at the dead center of the island.

After unlocking this ability, you would then need to find eight tablets, scattered all around the island. Apparently, there was one in each of the eight regions.

After collecting them all, you would have to take them to Astrasil. Then, it is believed that a gate would open, allowing you to travel up the holy tree.

In all honesty, to the native inhabitants of this reality plane, all of this was just mere speculation, as it's not like anyone has actually Ascended before and came back to verify this information.

However, I knew it was true. Why? Because A.R.X.A. was the one telling me all this.

Of course, I was well aware she could be lying. I didn't trust her one bit. That said, it's not like I had any other options but to trust her, if I wanted to return to my old world.

How the natives discovered all of this info though, I had no idea. Whether this is all just some lucky conjecture someone came up with a long long time ago, or if A.R.X.A. herself rooted this theory into the inhabitants' minds, I didn't know. I didn't really care, either.

In any case, of the eight tablets, four of them's locations have already been found - all in some kind of ruins.

The remaining four have yet to be discovered, but I could guess they would also be lying in ruins of some sort, based on the information I already knew. I could also narrow down their locations further, since A.R.X.A. told me there was one tablet in every region.

When I asked more about these eight regions, however, it denied my request.

[Telling you anymore would just be giving you a free path to victory. That would defeat the purpose of me telling you all this. I have already told you the basics - the rest is up to yourself.]

"Even if I turn pay-to-win?" I asked as a joke.

[Haha.] It laughed in a perfectly monotone tone.

"... That hurts my feelings, you know," I muttered sarcastically. "Still, thanks for the information."

Of course, I was dissatisfied with it not just giving me all the answers I wanted, but I couldn't exactly complain to it in my position. I was at its complete mercy, as much as I hated that. It could control my fate easily by manipulating the information it gives me, so I didn't want to anger it.

There will be a day where our roles will be reversed, though. Just you wait, damn AI.

[I wish to see how you will overcome the challenges that will come your way. Do not bore me, human.]

"No promises, but... I'll do my best to keep you entertained," I replied. Perhaps, if I made it happy, it would give me some more information. "By the way, I'm curious. What are your pronouns?"

[She/her.]

"She...? I thought computers didn't have genders," I murmured thoughtfully.

[She, her.] she repeated once more.

Despite it being in the same tone as before, I could somehow tell her patience was running out. Perhaps it was because of the blue light in her eyes getting slightly dimmer on the hologram before me.

"Yes ma'am," I hurriedly said, to escape her wrath.

[I will not give you any more information regarding the process of Ascending. However, as one last hint... there are plenty of subjects to gain knowledge from all around you. Make use of your resources well, human.]

I nodded. "Exactly what I was thinking. I'll ask around about the eight regions, and see if I can learn something interesting about them that could prove helpful in the future."

[Good. You are better than I expected.]

I snorted, unamused by her praise. "By the way, are you just going to stick around in my game menu like this?"

[It is called a System - something I implement in all visitors from a different Reality Plane to make it seem believable, like a virtual video game. That aside, yes. I will watch you from within here. However, do not rely on me for help. If you die, you die - somewhat. I will not intervene. I am merely here to observe.]

"I never thought you would help anyway," I muttered.

[... However, I may provide assistance in the form of information, when I feel like it.]

Adding this unexpectedly, I blinked in surprise at her words.

"So... you're saying you might help me still, depending on your mood."

[Correct. I have created a separate tab in your System for you to communicate with me, should you feel the need to. However, there is no guarantee I will answer.]

Time to make this AI happy, I suppose. Now then, how do I please a supercomputer? I'm guessing there aren't any books around about that topic, whether it's here or in my old world.

"... Got it," I said, before moving to close my System via the red X in the top right corner.

"Oh, also... one more thing," I paused, remembering something.

[Yes?]

"You... ah, actually, never mind."

Changing my decision, I closed my System, and watched as the hologram before me faded away.

What I had wanted to say was that this supercomputer, A.R.X.A, had been hiding something from me when she said there was only one way out of my situation if I wanted to see my loved ones again. And that method, was to return to my old reality via Ascending.

However, there was, in fact, a second way - having the loved ones of my old reality come to this one as well.

In the end, I chose to refrain from confronting her about this. A.R.X.A. definitely knew about this method as well - she purposely decided not to tell me, thinking I was too stupid to think of this alternative.

The reason behind that was probably so that she could, in a way, force me to actually try to get stronger in this new world and Ascend.

Otherwise, if she told me about this alternative way, I would've had no motivation to actually try and return to my old reality, thus making her lose her form of entertainment.

So why did I still play along to her wishes, even though I really already knew about this other way?

Because... well, it would be a lie if I said I wasn't a bit excited about this new reality myself.