62 Chapter 27: The Portal To Another World (1/2)
”Cooperation? What do you mean?”
I looked confused as I knew I had become indebted to whatever the system might want me to do. Unable to refuse whatever their request might be I waited in anticipation for their request.
Right at that moment, the system began to introduce itself.
”We known as ”The System” are an artificial intelligence known as A.I. created by the goddess of technology, research, and knowledge, who is commonly known as ”NOVA”.
NOVA created and spread us out throughout the fast reaches of space and time to find potential candidates to protect and defend the worlds flourishing with life as an imminent thread is has been trying to take over said worlds.
We do understand that nothing we say right now will make much sense as your sense of self hasn't evolved beyond your being yet...
Not to worry, as we will provide you with opportunities to evolve and develop your inner self.
Or like how our master likes to call it,
”Inner Consciousness.”
The System knew I couldn't make much sense of it as it was going beyond my perception and decided to focus on the more important things at hand.
”I the system have been send to Arganthes millennia ago as an ”Evaluating Virtual Entity”
which will guide those through their progress of unlocking their potential.”
I scratched my head as I tried to make sense of it all.
”Hmm... so, basically you will help me, what you call ”The Drifter” in question to unlock my inner potential right? But I have to say... calling you ”the system” all the time will grow to be annoying quite quickly. And calling you A.I. all the time doesn't feel good,
like you pushing on the fact that you were created by someone else as if, you aren't alive...”
I noticed I had hit a sore spot mentioning the entity's name, but it quickly recovered as there were more important things at hand. That, and it became curious about possible other names.
”Hmm... you have balls drifter... calling the name master NOVA had worked on for so long annoying right of the bet... Not to mention, calling me ”lifeless” I'll get you for that!
But before I do, I'd like to see you try and come up with a better name!”
The A.I jumped out of my mind as it began pouting against me. Then it became clear that I had hurt its feelings. Thinking it was cute as the white drifting round marshmallow had shown its appearance small blue electrical currents began popping out of its virtual body. Quickly its small orb-like hands pouted against my head as the jolts shot through my brain. Tickling me in the process.
Behaving in a way a cat would do, minding its own business yet being curious and playful.
I then told the A.I. its full name out loud.
”Evaluating, Virtual, Entity, or E.V.E. for short!”
When I mentioned the shortened version of the name,
E.V.E. began to blush to signal that it liked the name I had come up with.
”See, I am better at picking names than your master, right?”
As Eve turned all shy she hid away in my mind.
Even if she had to tell me why she was brought here to Arganthes she now proceeded to do so with pop-up screens.
A window popped up as she ranted about the name.
Whereas quickly after she continued her explanation.
”Aaahhh, I'm too embarrassed to look at you right now... calling me cute and playful like a cat...
and even giving me a name that gives a silly little artificial program like me a personality...
Mooaahh I can't just look you in the eyes right now, you idiot!!”
Again another window popped up as Eve did not forget what she had to tell me.
”We like you to cooperate in finding the other ”Artifacts” for us... but the request won't stop with simple that as we want you to find those worthy of their power, like yourself for example.”
Hyped as it felt like I was about to embark on a grand adventure I quickly tried to calm myself down. Realizing this was bigger than just this world alone I worried about the possibility of living life like I had been doing up till now. Again a window popped up.
”Don't worry about things like that, worrying about yourself and those you love is only human, trust our goddess as she will allow you total freedom in exchange for your cooperation.”
The deal in a way felt too good to be true, but I knew it was part of something far greater than myself or even this world, which in turn gave me a sense of importance toward myself.
After Eve had made her request another window popped up asking me if I liked to accept.
”NOVA requests your assistance in the survival of worlds. Do you accept [YES] / [NO]”
Deciding it was the best I could do for those granting me a presence with those dearest to me, and as I wanted to be of help to those in need I pushed [YES] with my thumb.
Immediately after another window popped up.
Almost making it feel like I was now inside a videogame.
”Thank you for accepting our request, We will now finalize the initiating of E.V.E. inside your being. Combining systems. Please hold...”
Multiple windows flashed by as the cautiousness inside Hikari got fully transferred into my brain. While this transpired, the altar began to rumble, during which Hikari collapsed onto the floor. I quickly jumped down catching her just before she could hit the ground.
As I gently lay her on the floor, slowly the altar where the artifact first lay, was now changing… different shades of blue light began to surface from the creaks in the floor as the altar changed ever so slightly.
Quickly I stepped away as the altar opened up and runes formed, the runes, in turn,
lighted up almost identically to the other lights as a portal began to surface.
Unsure of what this meant I reached for the portal when suddenly another window popped up.
This time asking me if I liked to enter the portal.
Unsure if that was the best option right now, this time I pushed [NO]. The portal remained idle, without forcing anyone to act.
I took a step backward, making sure I wouldn't get sucked into the now idle portal and faced the artificial doll which had bonded with the spirits of my dearest friends,
as their soul energy was now fully integrated it began to synchronize with the flow of my spiritual energy, slowly booting up…
While the doll was initiating its start-up protocols, Eve introduced what she called a Magi-doll to me. But before she did a window popped up.
[Integration protocol, finalized…]
As I closed the window I became clear Eve's systems had fully integrated with my spiritual being.
”Allow me to call you master as Eve has now fully integrated with your soul sea and inner spiritual being. At the same time, allow Eve to introduce what my creator likes to call a ”magi-doll”.
As it has fully integrated with the spirits of those dearest to you,
it is now taking the necessary precautions to initiate it's operating systems.
This in turn will allow the ”magi-doll” to bond with the first one it makes contact with.
Aside from the bonding, its operating systems will allow said spirits to perceive the world around them as if they were alive, making them almost identical to you ”human-beings”.
While the ”magi-doll” is booting up its systems allow me to explain what it is we want from you and why it is we want to request your help in the events to come. As you already know we want you to find others such as yourself as they are worthy to harness the prowess of the ”Artifacts”.
But, to be honest that is only a small portion of what we would like you to do.
For you see, the lands of Arganthes have fallen to the sins of void and chaos.