Pre-Birth Simulation

New Years Eve Tertius Year 368 

[ Capital of the Astral Empire - Aion City ]

[ Astral Institute of Technology (Minutes Before The Awakening) ]

<< PRINCESS SOPHIA ASTRAL'S POINT OF VIEW >>

"Status Check please… Aerial"

A gentle voice echoed in the laboratory.

The glass encapsulating the Prince's lineage chamber reflected a calm angelic doll-like face.

Perched upon the bridge of a sculpted nose was a frameless pair of glasses trying its best to hinder a set of dazzling whitish-silver eyes, but to no avail.

On each glass was a cluster of numbers only the wearer could decipher.

Princess Sophia stood there focused.

There was a serenity veiling a sense of deserved arrogance in her gaze, her opalescent irises flaunted a calm confidence of undeniable wisdom.

"The Prince has successfully concluded the Pre-Birth Simulation…"

"All systems clear…"

"Biometrics stable…"

"The Awakening will commence in 28 minutes 52 seconds.."

A pale, sickly looking girl replied.

She had tired eyes which seemed to have lost the light of day.

Two gray eye bags hung like medals of her tireless work.

Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, but even with the dark circles under her eyes, she was still undeniably attractive.

She wore a white lab coat over a simple blouse and slacks, her slim figure accentuated by the tailored cut of her clothes.

This was one of the leading researchers of the Lineage Department, Dr. Aerial Daimona.

Aerial was a classmate of Princess Sophia, one of the few who managed to keep up with Astral's genius youngest princess.

If she had been born in any other generation, Aerial's trophy cabinet of academic achievements wouldn't be littered with runner-up certificates.

Thankfully, she wasn't one to revere the vanities of fame.

Born out of Daimona Nobility, a family abundant with talent in the medical field and the art of poison-making, she was accustomed to never being the smartest in the room.

In fact, she felt a deep sense of pride when Princess Sophia recruited her to join the [ Lineage Research Project ].

The way of natural pregnancy was considered archaic.

The concept of having a baby grow in a physical womb was practiced only by the primitive or extremely poor.

It afflicted the less affluent with a plethora of inconveniences and restrictions.

Of course, the carnal pleasures of sexual intercourse transcended any technological development, however, actually having offspring was another matter altogether.

The diversity of sentient beings in Tertius required a more scientific approach to fulfill the needs of interspecies romance.

Tertiuan Nobility or higher life forms in general produced offspring mainly by having parents fragment a piece of their existence cores and fusing them in a lineage chamber.

This would weaken the parents temporarily, the adverse effects proportional to the strength of their core.

However, the benefits were worth it.

The Lineage chamber allowed for an optimal incubation environment and opened the doors to the application of a multitude of technological marvels like...

The [ Pre-Birth Simulation ].

The Lineage Research Project was commissioned by Emperor Aion Teleos himself.

The main objective of the project was to create a program where mental faculties still in the early stages of development could support a Pre-Birth Simulation(PBS).

The PBS world was called Earth, the simulation was based on the remnants of historical records of a simpler time.

It was also designed to simulate early civilizations born after an Apocalyptic mass-extinction cataclysm.

The civilization simulated was barbaric and simplistic in nature which meant that the bandwidth required was within the constraints of this budding technology.

Peaceful and simpler times also ensured the psychological welfare of the growing fetus.

The fears of data overload from an over-futuristic simulation and the risk of maniacal tendencies stemming from tribal practices or war balanced each other out.

The compromise was a world where the subject could experience menial psychological trials without lacking basic necessities.

The [ Pre-Birth Simulation ] would accelerate the growth of a fetus's physical brain and cognitive functions.

More importantly, were the benefits gained from having lived an entire life-time before even being born into the world.

In a world of cultivators striving to be the best, every moment counted and this would give Astralians an undeniable head start the moment they are awakened.

This was a revolutionary innovation which would speed up the evolution of the human species by several orders of magnitude.

"Approximately 20 minutes to the New Years boys and girls! We're approaching the finish line soon! I'll make sure my baby brother makes it up to all of us for working over time through the New Years!"

Princess Sophia joked, inciting soft laughter across the Lab.

Princess Sophia was known by most as a kind, friendly and cordial person.

She was an entrancing beauty which emanated an almost angelic aura of amiability.

However, while Sophia wore the white robes of a studious researcher and academician within these walls, those who were more familiar with her knew that she had another side.

Unknown to most of the researchers in the lab, she was Astral's Governess of Finance and the Head of the Astral Merchants' Guild.

Under her warm demeanor was a devious, shrewd business genius.

Sophia was in name, the Head of A.I.T. as well, but juggling her many responsibilities usually left little time for her to delve much into research.

However, a few years ago, she cleared her schedule in preparation of guiding her baby brother into the world.

*HISSSSSS*

The mechanical hiss of the sliding lab door echoed within the lab.

Sophia turned to see her long-time colleague, Dr. Steel, pace slowly into the lab.

She walked toward him and gave a bright smile.

"Thanks for coming in to help out with the awakening, especially on New Years Eve Dr. Steel."

Sophia said as she stretched her arm forward for a handshake.

"It's not like I have anything better to do…"

Dr. Steel replied, shaking her hand and walking right past her after a quick Astralian salute.

Just in that moment, Sophia's eyes widened.

Eyes agape, the silver in her irises glowed a mystical and regal white.

After a strong pulsation within her consciousness, a vision appeared in her mind.

====================

<< PRINCESS SOPHIA'S VISION >>

The lab was flashing red as if to signal an emergency.

In the middle of the scene was Dr.Steel...

He was sneakily tearing off the skin encasing his right hand, revealing the shine of metal prosthetics.

An external interface slowly protruded out of his palm, attempting to connect to the main systems...

=====================

A powerful surge of dimensional energy coursed through Sophia, and the silvery glow of her eyes dissipated

Her gaze immediately turned cold.

The eyes of an angel darkening to a malicious gray, like prowling clouds in a thunderstorm.

Without warning, her killing intent burst forth, causing everyone in the lab to turn and face her.

The air was sucked out of their lungs, as though an oppressive beast had descended upon them.

"ARGHHH !!!"

Dr. Steel let out a deafening scream, collapsing to the ground as if an invisible mountain had crushed him.

His lab coat tore apart under the pressure.

But it was what was happening to the right side of his body that sent chills down everyone's spines.

From his chest to his fingertips, his right arm began to contort and twist, struggling against the overwhelming force of gravity that threatened to crush it into nothingness.

A metallic prosthetic arm was revealed, now marred with scratches and dents.

Its joints strained and creaked, the servos within them screaming in protest as they strained against the pull of an invisible gravitational force that affected only him.

Its metallic gleam started denting into itself as if it were being crushed by an invisible hydraulic press.

As the seconds passed...

This cyborg of a man slowly caved into himself, streams of crimson excreted from all of his orifices in his body.

The echoes of bellowing pain dissipated only when what was left of him finally fell limply on the ground.

It was as if everything under his skin had been smashed into smithereens-

A flattened chuck of scrap metal was all that remained of his whole right arm.

At that moment, all that was left of the laboratory was a stifling silence...

Soon, the choking aura which had been like a claw on everyone's throat subsided.

Sophia's flailing long silver hair fell neatly back in place...

Amidst the terrified and awe struck gazes, she turned around and smiled sweetly, politely saying,

"Please have the guards clear the filth.."

Everyone stood frozen.

Some with their mouths wide open in shock.

Aerial was the first to snap out of it, her previously lifeless eyes now filled with a mixture of fear and admiration.

Nothing else had to be said, it was clear that Dr.Steel was a Technian operative sent to sabotage the Prince's birth.

While panic and hysteria might have been expected, Sophia's sudden outburst left everyone baffled and in fear of acting inappropriately in front of the suddenly domineering Astralian Princess.

It was this day that ingrained a spine-chilling reminder that no matter how amiable Sophia may seem...

She was an Astral - and no one messes with the Astrals.