Chapter 1: Stuck

-Kaden-

I was having the weirdest dream. My dad had died, vaporized in the stellar nova he instigated to destroy the Future Ubiquitous Control Kinematics Base. FUCK, MY DAD HAD DIED! I woke startled, sweat dripping from my forehead. I remembered what had happened. My dad was dead, my mom was already imprisoned or tortured, and I was stuck in a pod onboard the Emperor's new supership.

I tried to move, to escape this metal tomb. However, I was stuck and fully embedded into the metallic structure that made up the pod. Suddenly a blue diagram snapped up before my eyes, and the words "Final upload package scan initiated," and a warm feeling passed through my body. What did that mean? I thought back to what my dad said right before he ejected my pod and blew gravity charges setting off the system's star. O shit! He gave me the immortal upgrade package intended for the Emperor.

The warm feeling passing through my body stopped, and a green box popped up on display:

System configuration online, the entire nano integration process has been completed

"Shit," I thought. Did that mean I had been unconscious for the last ten years? Suddenly a voice spoke. It said, "Greetings! This is the ships' A.I."

The A.I. started to ramble, "I was set to hide you from the Empire while maintaining as much distance as possible until your upgrade package fully came online. However, there was a problem. The new space-time modulating Multiverse phase drive was not calibrated before I had to use it to escape. We did jump to a random multiverse. However, it appears that we appeared inside a planet instead of space. Part of the hull has merged with the planet's core. I'm afraid if we leave, the core will become destabilized, which will destroy this planet. I have been scanning for life, and it does appear that there are humans with similar biological makeup on the surface. Therefore I strongly recommend coming up with a fix for the planet's core before we attempt to leave."

"Well, that's just fantastic," I grumbled. "Is there any way to at least get me out of this metal pod?" The stupid A.I. ignored me and continued to ramble. "Additionally, I am detecting unusual energy patterns with my quantum sensors. The laws of physics may be different here. Even your electromagnetic field has been behaving differently than is standard for Kaolin Empire citizens. I suggest that I use a low-powered laser to cut a hole to the surface. You could then explore and attempt to categorize the differences in how reality works here. Once I understand this universe's scientific laws, I should be able to use my nanites to replace the planet's core so we can leave here without destroying the whole place.

"Well, before that," I replied, "I should give you a name. A.I. is a little lame. ALSO, GET ME OUT OF THIS POD!" The metal peeled back, and I finally got to sit up. "You have a lot of power. I think I'll call you Armageddon!" "Nice nice," Armageddon replied and started cutting a path to the surface. Suddenly a screen popped up in my vision "WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM! CLASSIFYING…

CHARACTER SELECTED!

Name

Brian

Race

TechnoHuman

Str

100/no max detected

Int

50/no max detected

Manna

.001/no max detected

Racial ability

Immortal

CHARACTER SELECTED!

Name

Armageddon-servant of Brian

Race

Ancient Dungeon (LIMITED TO DOMAIN)

Str

Infinite

Int

Infinite

Manna

No Manna ability

Racial ability

Nanite fabrication

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU SURVIVED THE PROCESS. ENJOY YOUR NEW CONNECTION TO THE GREATER SYSTEM! BECOME STRONG SO THAT WE CAN FARM YOUR SOUL! #$##$ don't say tha..."

The Armageddon spoke, "Well, it seems the laws of reality are very different here indeed, or perhaps this greater system is available everywhere, but we didn't know about it? Let's make the best of it. Get out there and explore!" I grumbled about annoying aliens who think they can mess with people without consequences.

Maybe this system would be a good thing, but no one asked me for my consent. I would defiantly spank these aliens for "Starting the process" that resulted in this character sheet thing. However, first things first. I explored the new HUD that had accompanied the initial character sheet. I was already familiar with such systems as my imperial nano upgrade package had its own HUD with various body enhancements options. I clicked on a tab for character advancement:

Character Advancement

Description

Typical Requirements

End Goal

Difficulty

Path of chaos (unique)

Pillage and destroy to gain manna

Demon lord

Extreme (requires living)

Path of strength

Train the physical body

Warrior king

Hard

Path of intelligence

Train the mind

Arch-Mage

Hard

Path of immortality (unique)

ERROR

ERROR

ERROR*&^*&

Path of cultivation

Cultivate a balanced body, mind, spirit

rise to a higher plane/unknown

Extreme (requires overcoming)

Path of crafting

Learn the arts of ruin making and inscribing

Extreme wealth

Normal

There were many exciting options, but I immediately cut out most of them. Thanks to the Imperial upgrade package, I was already immortal, so that one was out. The Armageddon could make most anything I could think of using nanites, so crafting was out. I wasn't an evil person, so chaos was out. The obvious choice was the path of cultivation. However, seeing that my manna was only .001, this would be a real struggle for me. I supposed that I would get there eventually because I literally had all the time in the world. I clicked on "Path of Cultivation." The system alerted me, "WARNING YOUR CHOICE WILL BE FINAL. ADDITIONAL WARNING LESS than .1% OF ALL PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS CHOICE" I clicked the warnings away and hit "CONFIRM."

--SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT LOCAL—THERE IS A NEW CULTIVATOR BORN. FIND AND DESTROY TO BECOME IMMORTAL!

"What the fuck” I shouted. There had been no warning about being targeted for this choice! "Yo Armageddon," I said. "Looks like I'm a mark now. Please launch a few orbital satellites before I go up to the surface. Make sure they have orbital strike capability, in case I have to defend myself!"." Sure thing," The Armageddon replied. "These little alien noobs don't know who they're messing with. Let's learn, beat this system, and get out of here, preferably without destroying their planet. Preemptive strikes are now authorized!" I pulled up my HUD and looked for the stats tab:

Stats

Category

Description

Skill

Body

Permanent bone structure augment (UNKNOWN MATERIAL)

Immortal/regeneration when damaged

Mind

Memory bank augment/link to CPU

Photographic Memory

Spirit

1%

YOU'RE A NOOBIE. DON'T GET POSSESSED!

Kung fu

Skill transferred from origin

Master

Manna Use

Ability to manipulate manna and cast spells

GO GET SOME MANA FIRST!

Path of cultivation

Overcome, and you can rule the mortals

0%

Close Combat

Hydraulic blades attached to the bone structure in your forearms

Cut through most materials with your fancy atom-sized blades

Ranged Combat

Orbital Strike--Choose between a kinetic strike or laser

Did that city block annoy you?

There were some worrying aspects described in my stats. Spirit looked very disturbing. Was it possible for someone to "Possess" me and use me like a drone? I told the Armageddon, "Hey you. Something is disturbing about "Spirit" listed in my stats. Please monitor the CPU in my Imperial Upgrade Package. If I start exhibiting odd behaviors, take action to break whatever link is causing me to act differently. If you can't break the connection, smother me in nanites and carry me back to the ship while you figure it out!" "Sure, sure," replied the Armageddon, sounding absent-minded. I knew he was a sentient A.I. He must be examining his stats. "Anyway, I'm headed up to the surface now. I'll stay in touch through the satellite network you set up!"