Cosmic Store

[Absorbing the Cosmic Essence stored in Pyrium Steel Crate...]

Cosmic Essence, based on what Grey was currently seeing, was similar to chunks of ores with spiraling and glimmering blurry stars contained within.

It was majestically formed, like an abstract painting stored within a piece of precious gem begged to be immortalized ethereally.

[Absorbing the Cosmic Essence stored in Pyrium Steel Crate...]

[Notice!]

Even though Grey clearly recalled and confirmed that he asked Kesha to disable the [Notice] prompt, the latter occasionally utilized it whenever she wanted to cut off his contemplating self.

For her, she believed that it was an act of respect; to not startle and suddenly break Grey's reverie.

[Grey, the Cosmic Essence are in the solid state. Upon its dissipation, and when your Jellyner head-body absorbs it, the amount will then be reflected to your Pyrus Window.]

In the midst of this echoing silence, Kesha began to explain what Grey needed to remember, no matter how trivial it might sound.

For example, the Artificial Intelligence attached to his soul informed the alien head how long until his Floater's Jelly Legs would retreat within his head-body.

Apart from this, Kesha also mentioned the natural ways to collect Cosmic Essence besides selling some cosmic materials to legitimate dimensional merchants traveling in a higher-layered universe within the Pyrusverse, which by meeting them, considering Grey's puny yet abnormal existence, was tantamount to death.

After all, a species called Floater without serving a Deicand, a free alien head, would be deemed as a defective product and must either be destroyed or recycled.

Moreover, possessing the mysterious [Pyrus Heart] would greatly put him at risk since it was the only way for low-tiered civilizations, Type-1 and Type-2, to unlock the Cosmic Evolutionary Tree, which would open the species' infinite potential.

Listening to everything that felt like an eternity, Grey absorbed the barrage of information and assorted it in his nonexistent heart.

Through this conversation, Grey then sensed that it might be the time for him to ask for certain truths regarding his peculiar otherworldly experience called reincarnation.

'Tell me what happened, Kesha...'

The enigmatic Artificial Intelligence sensed the indication behind Grey's question, prompting her to fall into contemplation.

After some time, Kesha showed him the recorded system's log upon being reincarnated as a head into wherever they were at this very moment. Specifically, Kesha focused on the information tied to Grey's soul.

[The Pyrusverse has confirmed the Type-4 intelligence imprinted in your soul!]

Waiting for Kesha's next words, Grey didn't let his guard down as his jelly-like head-body concentratedly stored the chunks of solid-state currency of the Pyrusverse vast expanse.

[Grey, as you can see based on this system's message, I actually belong to a Type-4 Civilization; specifically, I am not what you thought to be a man-made Artificial Intelligence.]

Kesha then added,

[Concerning my species... I am what you call a Deicand.]

'H–Huh? Wh–what do you mean you're a Deicand? I mean I don't know yet what it means to be one apart that I, as a Floater, are meant to be their slave.' Grey absorbed Kesha's words, but then, her next one rang through his very soul.

[Grey, a Deicand is also known as a God Candidate...]

'Wh–what? God Candidate? What does that even mean?' Grey's voice depicted more confusion than conflict.

Because of the profound discovery that spanned thousands of years, which referred to Soul Preservation, all religions in his previous world were buried and knocked into total oblivion.

The holy texts, holy books, holy images, and statues; and any records and traces about the existence called divine beings; gods and goddesses, had been burned into nothingness.

After all, Soul Preservation destroyed the notion of divine salvation, which stated that:

If humanity could preserve their own souls, the heavens were no longer needed.

With that said, even though Grey was aware of the existence of religions and deities; divine intervention, and divine beings because of ancient history lessons, it could be said that he was ignorant of whatever these things about the heavens truly meant.

[Grey, let us find a shelter first. There are many things I would like you to know, but this place isn't just right.]

Noticing the seriousness in Kesha's voice, Grey inwardly nodded.

'O–Okay, I'll finish this, and let's proceed with whatever's next.'

[Absorbing the Cosmic Essence stored in Pyrium Steel Crate...]

[Cosmic Essence (x33) has been obtained.]

[Cosmic Essence (x33) has been obtained.]

***

Cosmic Essence: 10,032

[Grey, would you like to unlock the Cosmic Store?]

After finishing the absorption of Cosmic Essence contained in one Pyrium Steel Crate, Kesha's voice resounded in his mind.

'Will the amount I've absorbed be enough to unlock it?' Grey asked, his head-body began floating aimlessly again after three minutes within the vast storage room.

[Yes, 10,000 would be the cost, would you like to unlock it?]

'I see. Okay, Kesha. You can proceed.'

Grey still was not used to his current predicament like how the sentient system works; his only experience was being within the Quantum Soul Entanglement Laboratory while donning the advanced technology, [Axion Glasses], to share his senses with Kesha during those times.

[You have unlocked the Cosmic Store.]

[Ten thousand (10,000) Cosmic Essence has been spent.]

[You have obtained an achievement, Floater's First Will.]

'Huh? Achievement? Is there such a thing like that?' Grey rhetorically asked while still purposelessly drifting to nowhere.

[Grey, it's from the benefits of having the Pyrus Heart. If you notice, some system messages are not actually my doing, okay?]

Apart from the infinite potential of evolution that Grey would have after hopping to the last layer of Pyrusverse, Kesha proceeded to explain some depths in regards to the Pyrus Heart.

[You see, Pyrus Heart can be taken as another form of Artificial Intelligence, though it's not exactly the same. If I am not here with you, you would still hear the system's voice but monotonously so, I'm afraid.

[On the other hand, the reason we have to hop to another layer of Pyrusverse is to unlock the Cosmic Evolutionary Tree because, just as I said before, Pyrus Heart offers lower-tiered species the hope for grand evolution.

[However, this would only be in effect if the possessor of Pyrus Heart thrives in the 9th Layer of Pyrusverse, at the very least.]

Kesha further explained the benefits of having the Pyrus Heart, as well as the layers of the Pyrusverse.

According to the Pyrus Archive, there were nine (9) layers of Pyrusverse, with the weakest being the ninth, where each world was either ruled by a Deicand or waiting to be ruled by one.

What's more, every Deicand's home was located in the sixth (6th) Layer of Pyrusverse. However, as a Deicand with lower dimensionality, Kesha was unable to gather information from the 4th to the highest layer of the universe.

'I see. My mind's going to get burned because of everything you've just said. I'll take note of everything, but first, let me check the Cosmic Store.' Grey muttered.

Thump.

Occasionally hitting the mysterious metals of this ruined ship, Kesha's serene voice resounded, [Okay, Grey.]

[Opening the Cosmic Store...]

***

Through the gray screen appearing in Grey's mind, there were categories and availabilities. Seeing his contemplating self, Kesha then suggested, [Grey, let's check the Type-1 store first.]

'Okay, let's do just that.'

[Cosmic Store: Type-1]

Type-1 Store Description (via. Cosmic Feather): It is the store that would benefit any species belonging to Type-1 Civilization, but remember to spend wisely since Type-1 Civilizations are the cannon fodder of the Pyrusverse.

'What's with that mocking description?' Grey thought.

[It just means that a Type-1 Species finds it hard to collect Cosmic Essence, so the least you can do is to spend it wisely.] Kesha reminded him.

With this, Grey just browsed the gray screen in silence.

'Uh, Kesha, is there a filter function? Like to quickly find any Floater-related products. This is just too damn many that it'll take forever to check it all.'

Kesha just inwardly smiled, which Grey felt through his soul.

[Filtering the Cosmic Store: Type-1.]

[Filter: [Floater's Individuality] has been applied.]

[Result: 342 items out of 111,111,111 has been found.]

[Filter: [Serum] has been applied.]

[Result: 16 items out of 111,111,111 has been found.]

——————————

[Cosmic Store: Type-1 (Filtered)]

[1] Serum of Sentience

[2] Serum of Humansil Biology

[3] Serum of Symmetry

...

[16] Serum of Fated Evil

——————————

'What's with these serums' names?' Grey mumbled, finding it quite unexpected that these products were truly for the Floater's sake.

[Notice!]

[Grey, just to remind you, you are probably the only Floater in existence that gained true sentience because of different circumstances since the Type-1 products for Floaters are meant for any Deicand to purchase.]

'I see. But what's with these descriptions and costs? I'm financially broke as hell!' Grey grumbled.

[You mean cosmically?] Kesha giggled.

'Whatever, whatever.' Grey then checked every serum's description.

[Serum of Sentience]

Type-1 Product Description (via. Cosmic Feather): Upon its usage, the Floater serving the Deicand will have true sentience; with no knowledge about good and evil but only a pure neutral soul.

Cosmic Essence Cost: 7,000,000

[Serum of Humansil Biology]

Type-1 Product Description (via. Cosmic Feather): Upon its usage, the Floater's physique will be reshaped similar to that of a Humansil; with the latter's holistic biology.

Cosmic Essence Cost: 16,000,000

[Serum of Symmetry]

Type-1 Product Description (via. Cosmic Feather): Upon its usage, the Floater's physique will be freed from any deformation and imbalance.

Usage Restriction: This can only be used if the Floater has gained the Humansil Biology.

Cosmic Essence Cost: 20,000,000

...

[Serum of Fated Evil]

Type-1 Product Description (via. Cosmic Feather): Upon its usage, the Floater's fate will cause it to become evil.

Usage Restrictions: This can only be used if the Floater has gained true sentience, Humansil Biology, and a symmetrical body.

Cosmic Essence Cost: 666

Upon reading everything, what caught Grey's interest that would seem to provide him control over his own mobility was the [Serum of Humansil Biology].

However, there was a question that arose in his mind.

'Kesha... Do you know what's a Humansil?'

Kesha fell silent before asking something unrelated, [Grey, apart from surviving caused by human instincts, do you have a goal?]

'Uh, Kesha? What's with your serious tone and sudden question?' Grey asked, which also prompted him to realize that until this moment, he was someone who seemed to have just gone to the flow of his surrounding circumstances; without aim, without a clear goal in mind.

[...]

Sensing the deep silence of this Artificial Intelligence or not, Grey contemplated.

'To be honest, if you didn't ask me such a question, I think I would have already lost sight of what's ahead. Even though it's unknown, and I cannot rationally think through these moments, if it's possible... can I still go back to my previous world?

'Even just from afar... I–I still want to see my Mom, Dad, and my little sister...'

This was the only time that he was reminded of his family due to the unprecedented situation that overshadowed their existence.

[Notice!]

[Grey... There's something you need to know. Truth be told-]

"A Floater!? H–how, cough!"

At that moment, a womanly voice echoed within the storage room where Grey was aimlessly hovering.

However, what was surprising about this existence appearing from nowhere was not the presence of the Floater, as every one of its kind was floating to nothingness after the Deicand pod crashed, but rather the fact that this Deicand sensed that Grey possessed true sentience.

[Grey, be alert! Even though she's injured, this Deicand's still a Deicand!]

But this woman's next words, whose blurred appearance was similar to a ghost flickering towards oblivion, caught Grey off-guard.

"It just gained true sentience, maybe by accident, but not the other serums! I–I have to check the remaining simulations first! Those goddamn Simulathefs!"

This woman God Candidate then turned her gaze to Grey.

"You, Slave Head, follow me!"