Beyond Human

CG Chapter 2: Beyond Human

Noor wasted no time before using the robotic arms to cut Tom's hair. Tom relied on this robotic barber because he lacked time to visit a real one, as he needed to devote all his time to work.

Little did he know that one day, this same invention would be used for a surgery that would decide his life and fate.

After removing Tom's hair, Noor started cutting into his skull using the laser robotic hands to remove multiple layers of skin.

She continued by making an incision into the parietal region of the head. The surgery had to be done quickly to ensure that the host would accept the AI chip. Noor didn't hesitate as she placed the chip inside his head.

Now the difficult part of the surgery will take place.

Although Noor won't fight against Tom's consciousness and soul for supremacy, it is still a risk to have two consciousnesses in one body, especially if that body is a mortal human body that doesn't have the capacity to hold more than one consciousness.

Their situation can be compared to an overfilled jar, increasing the risk of it breaking.

…

Opening his eyes, Tom thought that the surgery had succeeded. He laughed with a smile that extended from one cheek to the other. But when he looked around, he noticed that what he was standing on was not solid ground but water.

Not long after that, he saw another person in that space, a beautiful young girl in a white dress.

"Who… who are you?" Tom stammered.

[Master, it's me, Noor.]

The young girl replied.

As he looked at his unfamiliar surroundings, Tom thought of the most ridiculous yet rational conclusion. This place he was standing in was where the consciousness of living beings resided, and it was also where his own consciousness lay.

Tom didn't know at that time that this place was called the soul sea in some martial arts and cultivation worlds, although that can't be said to be the only name it had.

But regardless of the name, one thing was common among all these worlds: this place was a person's most vulnerable space

Noticing that his soul sea was crumbling into pieces, Tom understood that he didn't have time to think about this enormous discovery. The sky was about to shatter on him.

So Tom ordered Noor to hurry, "Begin the true consciousness merge."

Noor replied with a quick and determined,

[YES]

As Noor rushed towards him, their energies connected in a powerful surge of light and consciousness. In that moment of convergence, Tom felt excruciating pain, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

It was as if every fiber of his being was being torn apart and reassembled simultaneously. The agony surpassed the intensity of a bullet wound or the sting of any venomous creature.

Tom's cries and wails didn't stop for hours. He screamed and shrieked, all alone, not having the only person who had accompanied him for most of his later life with him.

Regardless of the pain, Tom stayed awake, feeling that if he gave up, he would lose everything he had been working on. Although significant, the pain he was suffering now couldn't be compared to the pain he had suffered his whole life because of his illness.

…

After all those hours of misery, Tom finally awoke.

Once he woke up, he noticed blood on his upper lip, thinking that something might have gone wrong during the surgery, he quickly touched it.

When the sudden moment of panic passed, he noticed that the blood was dry, meaning that it was from the early parts of the surgery.

Now that he had merged with Noor, he wondered how he would be able to contact her, so he did the first thing that came to his mind.

He said her name aloud, "Noor, are you there?"

Noor communicated with an entirely robotic voice that didn't have even a hint of warmth.

[Master Noor is here.]

Tom asked her about his body condition, the trash body that was the cause of why he underwent such a hellish surgery.

Noor asked.

[How would you like me to display your bodily condition?]

Tom was a big fan of games and novels. They were his only escape from the pain he felt in his life.

So he said without a second thought, "Show it to me through a game screen."

Noor did just that as she projected the stats through his eyes.

Host stats Before the surgery:

[Name: Thomas Blackwood]

[Gender: Male]

[Species: Homo Sapiens]

[Health: 33/100]

[Strength: 0.6]

[Agility: 0.7]

[Intelligence: 1.5]

Host stats After the surgery:

[Name: Thomas Blackwood]

[Gender: Male]

[Species: Homo Sapiens]

[Health: 120/120]

[Strength: 1.3]

[Agility: 1.4]

[Intelligence: 1.6]

The AI chip, in combination with advanced nanotechnology, is capable of orchestrating a highly targeted and rapid healing process.

It first analyzed Tom's bodily condition and identified all the areas that required repair and improvement. Then, it created and deployed specialized nanomachines that acted as agents of change.

However, it's important to note that the process has its limitations. While the chip significantly improved Tom's health, strength, and agility, there appears to be a cap on how much it can enhance his physical attributes.