The Unwelcomed Gift (3)
<So... this thing, whatever it is, is not trying to harm me based on the interaction we had until now…>
He paused.
<That might be obvious, but I read plenty of books where friends and lovers betrayed each other. If that kind relationship can broken, the one between me this thing too.>
Erik pondered the situation carefully. He couldn't deny the potential benefits. If this technology was truly meant to strengthen him, he had to take advantage of it.
<Besides, I can rule out a troublesome ability this thing might have had. Mind control. If it had such power, would already fried my brain and taken control over me.>
Erik observed the list of available powers.
<Device Manipulation… It should allow me to control devices, but it doesn't specify what kind.>
Erik glanced back at his phone.
<But the answer is pretty straightforward.>
The list showed multiple locked abilities, and two others were available besides device manipulation.
<Analysis and Brain Information Injector. According to the explanation, first would allow me get information easily about many things.>
Erik was still curious about the how, though. <Does this thing have a sort of database? Maybe it analyzes stuff on molecular level... Who knows…>
"Hey… Uh… System. Can you tell me what these powers exactly do? How are they meant to be used?"
[The analysis is a function that gives information about the surroundings to the host. It is activated by looking at things and willing a window to appear.]
"Uh… Right… A little bit vague, but ok. What about the Brain Information Injector? The description says, 'It allows to inject information into the brain.' But how does it work?"
[The exact way in which the powers work cannot be comprehended by the user. As for the brain information injector, it works with data. The host must touch a device, and information stored on the said device will be uploaded into the brain. This will help the user grow his knowledge, and it will help the biological supercomputer gather information for better functioning. As usual, the powers work by willing them to work.]
"Yeah… Sorry for being too stupid to understand how this works."
[No problem.]
"I wasn't—Anyway…"
After reading the biological supercomputer's explanation, Erik immediately tested the analysis power. He focused on his computer and willed the analysis to appear. Instantly, a virtual screen materialized before his eyes—invisible to others, yet crystal clear to him.
Erik Romano's computer.
Two years of life.
Builder: Klinio Corp.
Operating System: Linux 60.0.1
(...)
A wealth of information about the computer appeared before Erik's eyes. Some details were unfamiliar even to him. He marveled at how the supercomputer could access such data.
<It must use some advanced scanning technology or data analysis algorithms. I don't really understand how it works, but it's impressive.>
He paused.
"Well, I saw how the analysis power works. What about the other? The interface says that I must touch the object I want the information from."
Erik extended his hand and touched the computer.
[Device found: Erik's personal computer. Do you want to connect to it?]
"Yes."
[Connection to the device complete.]
<I want to inject information,> the young man thought. Then a list of multiple books appeared in a window before Erik.
—
List of available information:
-Computer characteristics.
-Computer assembly guide.
...
...
...
-Heirs and horses.
-Lions and hunters.
-Strife of the night.
-Success of the land.
-Decay without sin.
-Determination of reality.
—
The last entries were titles of books Erik had already read and stored on his device.
"So, I have to choose among these, and then the book's content will be downloaded into my brain?"
[Yes,]
"All right, inject Decay without Sins; I love that book."
After saying so, Erik felt an incredible rush of energy flowing through his body and mind. As time passed, he gained actual knowledge—not just random facts, but the book's entire content. He had truly learned it all.
Having read the book already, he knew what the novel talked about, and it was the same as the information he just got.
The difference was that this time he could recall line after line, every description, every character, every paragraph.
<No more study for me!>
After the process ended, Erik was ecstatic. For once in his life, fortune had smiled upon him.
[I suggest the user check the available daily quests.]
"Daily quests? Really? Is this the way you thought about making me stronger?"
The biological supercomputer didn't reply to that question. Instead, it went on telling Erik how the quest system worked.
[The quest system allows for you to get a quest and, at their completion, gain rewards.]
"What are these rewards, and how can you even get them?"
Erik was already seeing the biological supercomputer giving him a new phone. He didn't really think that would happen, but it would have been a cool feature.
<No, it will most likely give me something related to the system itself, not fancy stuff…>
The system didn't reply to Erik's second question, but answered the first.
[The rewards range from experience to DNA points, unlock new features, and gather the required energy to strengthen DNA or the brain crystal through the two related powers. The host can choose how to strengthen the DNA through the information screen. The procedure to access it is always the same.]
"Yeah… I figured you wouldn't reply. I'm too stupid, right?"
[Correct.]
"You mother—"
Erik could do nothing but sigh.
The young man then wished to see the information screen. It was simple as the first time he did it some minutes earlier.
Erik carefully studied the screen. After a moment of scrutiny, he reached a conclusion.
(A.N: The screen is the same as in the previous chapter. It would have been redundant to place it here again.)
"This screen summarizes my physical attributes. It displays my muscle strength, intelligence, and other characteristics. But... Is my mana really only at ten? I guess that's why I have an F-ranked power."
The young man inspected the screen.
<Once experience reaches 100, and if this works like in video games, I should level up gain attribute points can use to increase my attributes.>
As curious as he was, Erik wondered what this experience truly was and what these stats affected.
Strength likely measured physical prowess, while intelligence reflected cognitive abilities such as thinking speed, overall smarts, and memory capacity. Dexterity was probably related to bodily coordination and ease of movement.
Erik asked the biological supercomputer to clarify that, and it confirmed his assumptions.
<I'm not so stupid anymore... uh?>
The system didn't reply.
<Well then, I should probably check this quest page, or whatever it is.>
"Quests," the young man said, and a screen appeared before his eyes.
[Quests List]
Daily Quests:
Eating Habits
Rewards: 10 Experience, 10 DNA points
Penalty: None
Task: Eat a healthy meal.
Accept | Refuse
Physical Training
Rewards: 10 Experience, 10 DNA points
Penalty: None
Task: Train for at least one hour (choose any exercise).
Accept | Refuse
—
<That's it? Eat something healthy and train for an hour? I thought would get some cool quest like slay a hundred thaids…>
Of course, Erik was joking.
<I should have time for one of them…>
He went to the kitchen to prepare something to eat. He cried a little when he saw his almost empty fridge, but despite not having that much to eat, there was still something that could be considered healthy.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
With that announcement only he could hear, he also gained ten experience points.
<The quest can be made just once a day, meaning I will only able to get twenty experience points day until some better comes along. In five days should level up and little stronger.>
Erik snickered. He wanted badly to ask the biological supercomputer how he could get new quests, but since he expected the system to insult him again, he refrained.
<Nevermind, when the time comes, I will ask about it.>
As Erik lived through all of this, he marveled at how such technology could exist. Even in an era where humanity had mastered gravity defiance and even implemented it into cars and trains, this level of advancement seemed impossible.
<Whoever created this biological supercomputer must have been a true genius.>
What astounded Erik most was the device's ability to interact with mana—a feat considered impossible by modern science.
The field of mana research was still a mystery to humans, despite the ethereal substance having appeared for centuries.
Yet, the creators of this supercomputer seemed to have a great understanding of it, to the point they created this marvel of technology that didn't stop reminding him he was stupid.
<I won't be for long….>
Yet, this raised perplexing questions: Who were these guys? What was their reason for making the biological supercomputer? The system had hinted at its goal, to make him stronger, but did this goal align to that of its creators?
<I won't get an answer thinking about it…>
He stopped thinking for some minutes, overloaded as he was by everything that was happening.
"Computer," Erik asked, his curiosity piqued, "can you explain what experience actually is?"
[Experience is simply mana accumulated into my system. Once mana is enough, I will then use it to modify your DNA based on your preference. The reason I named it experience was to distinguish it from the mana that directly comes from your brain crystal, and for other reasons I won't disclose now.]
"That makes sense," Erik said, annoyed by the fact the system openly said it was hiding things from him.
<I should not trust this thing too much... Damn, it can even read my mind; is probably listening to all I'm saying.>
Erik spent the next few hours trying to understand the biological supercomputer and its connection to the Sinister Cold, as his father had mentioned, but it gave Erik no useful information about the strange disease; its knowledge was limited to what Erik already knew, for some reason.
That wasn't all. Erik asked it if there was a way for him to remove it. The system explained there wasn't one not involving Erik's death, explaining that, when he died, his brain and brain crystal would be merged, transforming him into a biological supercomputer. In this new form, he would need to find a host and replicate.
It seemed the computer's primary purpose was to enhance individuals, that was, as he inferred, but like any living entity, it also had a secondary goal of replication.
This made him really think about the things name. 'Biological' Supercomputer.
<I guess the name isn't casual…>
Erik took time to process the day's revelations. The prospect of becoming a weird biological computer, and a super one at that, might terrify others, but he wasn't really bothered by it.
<I would be dead when that happens.>
Yet, a thought nagged at him—would he be free?
Erik then went to bed. The following day, he had to attend both school and work. He couldn't afford to miss either of them, especially not the second one.
<Mr. Fox will kill me for real if I skip work again…>
…
…
…
Erik woke up early, feeling exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot; he hadn't slept well, and unsettling dreams had plagued him.
<Another nice day...>
He checked his list of daily quests and noticed the eating habits one had reset. Seizing the opportunity, he prepared and ate a meal, simultaneously completing the quest.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
He hastily dressed, made his bed, and left the house. Despite the unpleasant people living in it, New Alexandria remained a stunning city.
Erik walked down the street until he reached the main square. A grand fountain stood there, a popular gathering spot for citizens during the evenings, and almost never devoid of people.
<Mother fuckers… I hope you power-obsessed bastards all die…>
Nearby, a small park brimmed with trees and flowers. People sipped their coffee while gazing at the sky or, at night, admiring the stars.
Facing the park stood a statue of a man with his head held high, exuding pride and strength. A plaque beside the sculpture revealed his identity.
Erik quickly read the inscription: "Solomon Judd, Saviour of humanity."
The man was the first and only X-ranked individual on the Ferebitz scale at that, meaning he had a ton of mana. Though his exact rank remained undisclosed, his achievements testified to his immense power. Since Solomon Judd, no one else got a brain crystal so fat as to be given the X rank.
The man wasn't just brimming with man. Apparently, he had almost reached the α rank. Many speculated he had a secret technique to increase his neural links' number.
Most of the people nowadays were at the η rank, around the midpoint of the scale. Forming neural links was no simple feat; it was a grueling process that demanded years of intense training.
Even today, Solomon Judd was considered the most powerful figure in human history. His abilities were those that allowed humanity to make a stand in Mannard. He was the one who killed most of the thaids on the continent, a feat that required him decades.
He also tried to free Mur for years, with expeditions to eradicate the thaids there departing each month.
None of them returned.
Judd had the insane idea to join one of such expeditions, and like everybody else, he never returned to Mannard.
No one knew what happened back then, but the man's absence ended up with humanity splitting into seven nations.
New Alexandria, Erik's home city, was the capital of Frant, one of the seven nations. Situated on the west of the Mannard continent, with coasts everywhere but the east, where the Eldraith Mountain range, home to the most vicious and powerful thaids, was.
The city was divided into three districts: Northern, Eastern, and Western. In truth, there was another district, the southern one, but that was basically an extension of the eastern one.
Each district had unique characteristics and varied population densities. The northern district was a hub of commerce and industry, teemed with shops of all kinds, including farms. It was primarily populated by adults, most of whom were shop owners and farmers. Though the citizens still lived in the eastern part of the city.
This was the residential area of the city. Here, most of the people around were children and elderly residents who didn't move north to work.
This district was also the go-to place for entertainment. With its abundance of bars, restaurants, clubs, theaters, and cinemas, it was the heart of the city's nightlife and cultural scene.
One might have considered them shops of different kinds, and indeed they were; it was just that their nature, or better, what they did with their service, was different to what was done on the north.
This was also the place where the disparity between rich and poor was the most clear. There were areas where the buildings were so rundown they almost collapsed. Those were the buildings in which the poor lived. On the opposite side, there were areas so rich and lavish as to look taken out of fairy tales.
It was where the wealthy lived. It wasn't uncommon to see beggars walking around the streets, asking for money, but it was almost impossible to see a rich man, or woman, walking through the street.
<They usually sue limos.>
The western part mainly comprised academic and military facilities, and Erik didn't venture there often outside of school hours. It was there that his high school was located.
After a fifteen-minute walk, Erik reached the train station and boarded one. It didn't take much for him to arrive at school, where another nightmarish day was going to start.