Mythical Alter Beasts

"Don't worry. This is safe."

That was what the beautiful woman said to Joshua when she saw how nervous he was that the color of his face was as white as the walls.

"Do you really need to strap me this tight?" A trembling voice came out of Joshua's mouth.

"It is for your own good. We don't want you to suddenly run away and hurt yourself if you panic."

Looking at the woman's tantalizing eyes that contained excitement he could not describe, Joshua gulped nervously.

With the smile on her face, the woman drew closer to Joshua. Her red luscious lips were so inviting that Joshua could not help but focus his eyes on them. Further down, Joshua could even see a deep valley between the two white mountains peeking from the window of her collar.

As the woman reached her mesmerizing hands to him, Joshua's heart pounded violently in his chest.

Preparing his young heart for what was going to happen, Joshua watched as the beautiful woman put her hands on his head... and fixed the headgear that was connected to a complicated machine with lots of processing units.

"..."

"..."

Joshua quietly stared at the woman. The woman also looked at him. Then, she gave him a sweet smile and turned her back leaving a young man in his broken fantasy.

(Do you really need to be that excited?! I'm so nervous I'm thinking of inappropriate things! Whatever. As long as I get my pay, I don't care what you put on my head. Just make sure I'm still alive afterward!)

To lessen his nervousness, Joshua thought of the reason why he was here.

For Joshua Perez, his life could be considered excellent. He was born in a well-off family and studied in private schools. He had a lot of friends as well as loving and caring parents. As the only child, he did not lack anything and was even given more.

After living this way, Joshua developed a positive view of life and a cheerful personality.

It was excellent... until Joshua's father died in an accident. While they were grieving, another incident blew them hard. They found out that his father's business was actually deep in debt.

The insurance money and their possessions were just enough to pay the debt leaving Joshua and his mother some money and other things they own.

What happened to them caused Joshua to realize the harshness of life.

Joshua and his mother then lived in a small rented house. He wanted to stop studying to help his mother to earn money, but she insisted that he should not stop.

Looking at his mother who was still trying to do her best for them, Joshua realized that even though life was harsh, there were still things that would not make someone give up.

However, life was hard for a woman grieving for her husband and not used to working. A few months later, Joshua watched as his mother died on a hospital bed. He still remembered her last words as she looked at him with regret and apology.

"Live, Josh. Do not give up on living!"

Joshua wanted to give up, but remembering his promise to his mother, he chose to live. Maintaining his positivity, his first plan was to finish studying. Finding a job to support his study was not easy. He did not want to give up, so he took jobs as long as they paid him.

(Like now.)

Strapped on an inclined seat, Joshua observed his surroundings. He was in a laboratory of a well-known tech company in his country. There were a lot of complicated computers around him that would be used for the test. People were busy connecting, fixing, and typing in those computers.

Some wore lab coats, others looked like technicians, but there were also those who wore business suits who looked like the bosses of the company. They were observing Joshua with a resilient glass wall between them. They were there to witness the result of their investment in a new technology that would make the tech company the forefront of advanced technology.

The new technology allowed a person to connect his brain to a computer system and to control the system with just a thought with the help of an artificial intelligence. The AI would receive the thought of the user and execute the command. In this way, the user would not have to burden his brain with lots of data, and the command would be fast and smooth.

It was the result of the researchers' and programmers' long-time research. After testing the effects of the connection to animal test subjects, it then reached the stage of human testing.

And for this round of testing, Joshua was obviously a volunteer.

…

"Let's begin the test now."

After all the preparation was done, the head researcher signaled the beginning of the test. The programs that were needed were started. A screen showing the percentage of connection appeared.

Joshua felt the headgear produced a wave that entered his head. He felt like his mind was drawn somewhere. It was connecting to something, and the sensation could not be fully explained. As time passed, the connection reached its completion.

"How does it feel, Joshua?"

Joshua heard the question of the head researcher, but it took Joshua some time to answer.

"This feels… amazing! It's like my brain is connected to something, but I can't really explain what is really happening!"

Joshua's voice was full of excitement. This experience was very magical for him, and he could not really explain his thoughts.

"Ok. Try to explore the computer system. The AI will support you in understanding your connection to the system."

Joshua did what the head researcher told him. He first tried to communicate with the AI in his mind.

- Hey AI. Are you there?

[Yes, User.]

- I'm Joshua. So what should I do now?

[Registering user name Joshua… Registration completed.]

[User Joshua only needs to think of the command, and the AI will help you to execute it.]

- Whoa, it registered my name! So, I just have to think of it? That's easy, huh.

Joshua looked at the visor screen in front of him and thought of what to do. As he exercised his thought in controlling the programs in the system, a sudden change happened.

…

Like a clap of thunder, a blare of alarm was heard in the laboratory.

"W-what's happening?" The head researcher's panic was obvious in his voice. Everyone was alarmed by what was happening.

"Sir, we're being hacked! Our firewalls are crumbling! The hackers released a virus, and our security system can't keep up with it!"

Hearing the cause of the anomaly, the researchers were worried about the effect of this hacking on their test.

"Stop the test! Disconnect the subject from the system! You do it fast! Someone is hacking our system and it's already obvious what their goal is!"

What the head researcher said made everyone realized the consequence of what was happening. The hacking happened during the test. If something happened to the test subject because of this, the responsibility would be on the company.

In this country, human testing of new technologies should adhere to the law. That was why human testing could only proceed after a thorough study and providing proof that the risks involved would be manageable. It should be the case this time, but because of the hacking, something dangerous could happen!

Regardless of the reason, it would show that there was a danger in the technology. If someone publicized it, a scandal could happen, and the consequence would not be good for the company!

"Damn opportunists!" The head researcher cursed as he thought of their rival companies.

"Sir, we can't shut down the programs! The virus already infiltrated our system! Our accounts are blocked, and a new program command is being initiated! We don't know what it will do, but it's not good!"

"Of course, it's not good! Find a way to stop it! Shut the power down! Cut off the wires! Just do something!"

The head researcher was already panicking and was desperate to stop the test.

At this time, the room was suddenly closed by the emergency reinforced shutters. These shutters were supposed to be there if there was an accident during the test to protect the observers and researchers. This was a protocol in every lab regardless of the risk involved.

However, this change already made the dangerous situation hopeless. A despairing silence enveloped the room.

…

While all this happened, Joshua was also panicking. When the alarm sounded, he asked the AI and learned what was happening.

The AI was not equipped for this event because its primary use was to scan the thought of the user and for this test, a simple logical program of analysis and control was provided. It could not match the complexity of the virus program.

The AI could also not disengage the connection because it was not programmed to do it. An artificial intelligence was still limited by its program. So, it was as useless as Joshua right now.

"Why did they strap me this tight? I can't free myself even if I'm using all my strength! The AI said that forcefully removing the headgear has some risks, but at least I will not die!"

Joshua was shouting. His voice contained his fear and unwillingness to accept the situation. He was shaking his body and head to get free or loosen the headgear while praying that he would be saved.

Suddenly, Joshua felt a change in his connection with the computer system.

Before, Joshua felt like his mind was being drawn to the system, but this time, he felt like something was being stuffed in his head. As time passed, the feeling grew stronger until it was so painful that Joshua could not suppress his shouts.

The new program the virus initiated reversed the flow of the connection between Joshua and the computer system. Instead of receiving data from Joshua, the system sent data to his brain. The amount was massive that his brain was being fried!

Joshua would not be able to take it. He would die!

"No! I can't die here! I promised Mom that I will live! I must live! Whatever it takes! No! I must endure! I should not give up! The longer I endure the higher the chance of being saved! Someone! Please save me! God! Anyone! Please!"

Joshua's shouts full of desperation reverberated on the white walls of the room.

However, no one saved him…

With a loud shout containing all his despair and unwillingness, Joshua stopped moving.

…

Darkness.

That was what Joshua was experiencing at the moment. In that darkness, he continued to shout, "Endure! I must live!"

The only voice in this infinite void continued with unwillingness and hope. Then, suddenly another voice was heard.

"No! I can't die here! There are still things I want to do! My father died for me! To protect me! I don't want his death to be in vain!"

That second voice echoed in the darkness. It sounded faint like it would be gone anytime, but it held on. It was still hoping for a miracle.

And in this endless void, a miracle happened.

Joshua heard the voice. He sensed it. When he looked with great difficulty, he saw a star not far away from him. The star flickered weakly like it would lose its light anytime.

At the same time that Joshua saw the flickering star, the owner of the second voice also saw a star. The star burned with abandonment like exhausting all its energy, but it still could unleash an incomparable will.

The two stars aligned, and the legend began…