(Chaos, January 2nd, 2037, Day 366)

Midnight, one year after the Cultivation began, and what’s left of Humanity has thrived on Earth. Monsters have spawned but my ability to assist and help everyone that was left allowed those humans that wanted, a chance to level and earn experience. In fact, I’d even helped a couple of small groups make it to Grade 9 Level 2 or about level 92 as compared to the monsters. Why the monsters had a straight linear leveling system and normal humans different had been bugging me so I’d deep-dived into both the Universal and Cosmic access areas of my interface.

It seemed that during “The Change” 8.56 E696 years ago a plethora of modifications had been instituted by just about as many people that could make those changes. It almost looked like one of the laws congresses would work on were various committees got together and decided what the best way to do something was, then tried to pass it through only to have someone else come along and change it afterward. When I reviewed the changelog and looked at the original code things had been much simpler before the changes. Also, the change notes that were left indicated that the changes made were supposed to ensure that any changes would be easily understood and the calculations used to determine things like damage and such would not become too cumbersome. The last time I’d looked at my own attributes they had all been over 4.4 billion. If I sneezed too hard I’d destroy a building, I didn’t see how any claim that the changes made things easier to understand could be true.

Even before the change, I’d still been part of a system that had been modified. The original system had been much simpler. Mortals had levels. When they reached a certain level in specific classes that was it. There was no more growth. Even spellcasters were severely limited. Then someone had decided that creatures that could live forever should be able to level forever, and a change had been made. Then some bleeding hearts had complained that this class was too powerful or that class was underpowered and more changes had been made. Except that originally there had been no classes. Someone had complained that certain combinations of abilities should get benefits. Healers for the Gods should have an easier time healing, except there were no Gods. That argument had created the classes. Then a system was added to allow progression to effective Godhood, except how powerful was that exactly? From the changelog, I deduced that the arguments that were taking place had gone on for millennia. Changes would be made then they’d watch to see how things worked out.

As I’d continued to explore the changelog and learn about what had been tried before and what could possibly be done I reviewed the RPGs I’d played and realized that some bleed through must have happened as ideas in some of those games were apparent in the changelog and some of the class names looked familiar as well. Also, if I went really far back to make any changes there was a strong possibility that the changes would be undone and everything would stay the same or they would take and some of the things that had happened would change me. I had continued my research waiting to try anything until I was sure, except now it was Midnight on the 2nd of January and in 6 years the Cultivation would end. I was pretty sure I needed to be on planet Earth when that happened so I was preparing to head there. Of course, my level was now considered that of a level 5 Demi-God, well above any Syndicate member I’d come across. If I was being honest with myself, I was looking forward to my confrontation as well as the Judgement I was about to levy on the Syndicate. Of course, that might bring down the wrath of other Divines, then again I hadn’t seen a one since I started getting involved.

With six hours left to go, I concentrated and focused my will on opening a hand-sized portal 1.91 E7457 years into the past. The portal opened and stabilized, a junction between two times in chaos, and I sent through a nanite swarm with very specific orders this time; Replicate in all but organic matter, watch and record, and do not interact with anyone except me. To guarantee that I’d created an algorithmic code that would be almost impossible to replicate or come across in the natural world. Of course, we’re talking about a Cosmos that spanned an insane number of years so there was a possibility that it could be subverted but I tried to make sure that wasn’t going to happen. I closed the portal activated every defense I had and teleported into geosynchronous orbit above North America.

As I suspected, as soon as I appeared multiple actions were taken against me. An Antimagic shell wrapped around me which my nanites destroyed even as it formed. Then ships appeared and weapons that could destroy stars were targeted at me and fired only to watch any weapon they fired disintegrate and any beam weapon they fire attenuate as my nanites absorbed and dispersed the energy elsewhere close by. Once the Syndicate realized their fleet was useless they sent an assassin against me. I didn’t even bother dodging. The rank disparity between us ensured that anything he could do to me would be healed almost immediately.

To make a more profound point that I hoped the Syndicate would understand I teleported down to Chile in South America right where highway C-470 came right up to the Pacific Ocean. It was relatively deserted and reminded me of Clovis, well, except for the Ocean being right there but remote, desolate, and oh yeah the equivalent of a level 900,000 Kraken had decided to come inland right there. In that convoluted system, they were using it was a Rank 9, Tier 10, Category 10, Division 10, Grade 10, Level 10 monster. Yeah, I was going to need to change that crap.

The one thing about having nanites in play for so long was that almost every creature that existed, not including how far back I’d sent the nanites just now. Angels and Demons that did not take the time to cleanse themselves, which usually meant that most Angels didn’t have nanites in them but the demons and devils, well they were idiots. Anyway, I could control each and every monster in existence as soon as it spawned and my nanites infiltrated it. Divines and Gods were hit and miss, though Apolyn and Elisa both had my nanites in them. My nanites had millennia to fine-tune and explore each creature’s nervous system. As I teleported down to Chilie and a Monster that was far too powerful for normal cultivation looked down on me, it froze and I waited.

I watched as Syndicate Headquarters watched me. I was allowing the nanites to see me again after all. I waited five minutes to make sure no one was coming then opened a portal and sent the Kraken off to one of the many worlds that existed were creatures of its levels and size were if not common, expected. I had no reason to kill it, nor did I want to. In fact. I set up a protocol that would have any creature over level 100 that appeared controlled and sent off to either a planet or labyrinth where it could exist and thrive normally. Natural Selection and all that. I checked my Divinity Points to make sure I wasn’t taking any hits in that area and was pleasantly surprised when I received a small boost to my 1 Divinity Point per second now that I was out of Raw Chaos. At this rate, it would be a really long time before I leveled again. I didn’t know if I liked being a Divine but right now it looked like I had no choice but to accept the promotion so I could try to fix what was wrong with the system.

Once I was sure the Syndicate wouldn’t try anything again while I was on the planet I floated up into the air and headed towards Colorado Springs. As I flew north I passed over small towns that had been overgrown or outright destroyed. Larger cities that did not have a sanctuary had become overgrown with vegetation and monsters that had moved in. As I flew over Central America I even noticed an entrance to the Labyrinth that had formed at the heart of Mexico City. The mana density in that area must be off the charts. I double-checked the history of the safe zones that were nearby and noted that the monster density right outside the safe zone was much higher than everywhere else on the planet. The people in the two safe zones that were close by had not ventured out in the last three months since the Labyrinth entrance had formed. As I was reviewing the history of the area I noted that I’d had to intervene a couple of times, well my copies had and after that had informed everyone that to go outside the safe areas was too dangerous. To sweeten their disappointment my copies had been keeping those two safe areas in an almost perpetual state of Celebration. In fact, a few of the women had even become pregnant.

I realized I must have been focusing on the changelog a little too much and reviewed the other 2998 safe zones to make sure there had been no other problems. While I was doing that I had an idea and set my nanites and portals to task. Five hours should be just about long enough.

I flew into the safe area of Colorado Springs and phased through the mountain to Admiral Ainsworth’s family quarters. It wasn’t huge but it was nice I knocked on the door and waited. A minute later the Admiral opened the door and looked out.

“Adam, what can I do for you?” he asked

“Not much, I just stopped by to let you know the real me is back in the area.”

“You do seem slightly different?”

“You could say that. I’ve had to lay low to avoid the Syndicate, I didn’t want them figuring out what I was up to.”

“What were you up to?”

“No good, as usual,” I say with a laugh

“Only four hours to go until it’s been one year. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen?”

“Not exactly but those that survive are given a choice to remain on their planet or join the Syndicate. As most of the survivors didn’t actually work to the level I’d recommend that everyone accept their offer. From what I’ve been able to determine they immediately ship the survivors off the planet to a more habitable area where everyone goes through the Syndicates version of immigration. Once that’s done everyone is given the choice on what they want to do next and where they want to go.”

“What about the women and children you saved.”

“They’ll be wherever you all are shipped off to and help with the adjustment as they’ve had a year to go through it themselves. I wasn’t powerful enough to save everyone but a majority of the women and children will get to see their husbands and fathers again.”

“Would you like to come in and have a drink? Everyone is up, we’re watching the clock run down.”

“Sure, I’ve been kind of out in the middle of nowhere for the last year. While I was able to keep track of everything through my doppelgangers it wasn’t the same thing,” I said

The admiral led me into a small room where his wife, kids, and mom were watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” I have to give credit to the classics.

“What are you drinking?” the Admiral asked.

“Whatever your drinking is fine,” I said

The Admiral went to their fridge and pulled out two beers and handed me one. “Thank you?” I said

“You’re welcome, have a seat and we’ll finish the movie”

The next four hours went by. We finished the movie, then played a couple of rounds of hearts with his kids as we all watched the timer wind down. When we were finished we all grabbed another drink and went to sit down. For the last two days, my copies had been walking around telling everyone to accept the Syndicate’s offer when it came. There was nothing more I could do. As I was thinking about that and sipping on my beer the Admiral asked, “So Adam, what are you going to do?”

I contemplated my answer because I knew I was being watched and said, “First things first, I’m going to get a payday from the wager I made on myself back when this started. If there are any problems with that I’m going to make a formal request to the authority that even the Syndicate answers to?

“Who’s that?”

“Better not to say out loud. It’s one of those super-secret organizations that exist yet don’t exist. Let’s just say that I know the Syndicate is watching everything I say, isn’t that right Apolyn, Elisa, and Beaezul?” I watched through my nanites as all three of their faces showed shock. “Anyway, once I get my payday, and the survivors of humanity are settled in their new homes I’ll probably go about my business, doing what I do?”

“And what do you do?”

“Well, it’s kind of complicated but it looks like the powers that be like it when I put things right, though the last time I fixed something, I didn’t fix it all the way. Right now I’m researching what I can do to correct that mistake.”

“What level are you playing at Adam?”

“If you mean, will what I do affect the governments of Earth? Maybe, not really sure, I don’t know are all good answers.”

“Hmm,” the Admiral mused then said, “well regardless before this gets started I’d like to say thank you for saving my mom, wife, and children a year ago.”

“You’re quite welcome, Admiral. Don’t worry about trying to pay me back. Just pay it forward. If you have the opportunity to help someone just do it. I don’t keep track of debts like that, especially when what I’m doing is right.” I checked my clock and then said “One Minute”

We waited in silence for the announcement both dreading and looking forward to it. At exactly 6 am MST the Syndicate was as good as their word

Congratulations! You have survived for a year on your planet during a Cultivation. We know it was hard for you at times but a deal is a deal. Wagers will be paid out as soon as you make your choice. There are only two choices. Remain on Earth and continue to level and kill monsters or join the Syndicate and be whisked away to our closest immigration site. I should note that the Syndicates version of immigration is not the standard Earth version of this process. Think more vacation in the Bahamas with classes and introduction to the galactic and in some cases Universal community that exists across multiple dimensions.

Would you like to stay on Earth or Join the Syndicate?

I chose to stay on Earth as I watched every other human on Earth accept the offer to join the Syndicate. Good. Next, using my nanites I transferred 1 million credits into each survivor’s account, every single man, woman, and child. I made sure they each had the funds they’d need to survive and thrive in this syndicate world. Then I checked my interface to see if I’d been paid and found a Prompt waiting for me.

Johnathan Bennard please report to the nearest Gambler’s Network office to discuss your wager.

I figured something like this was going to happen. I reviewed my nanites and realized that the closest Gamblers Network office was at the Headquarters located in the singularity at the center of the Milky Way. I teleported to the steps that led into the building. Except for a single light above the door, there was nothing and no one around. I walked up to the door, opened it, and stepped through to find myself inside a bustling metropolis of moving vehicles, buildings, and creatures. Lots of creatures. I looked over to my left where Apolyn, Elisa, and Beaezul were standing.

“So this is the mortal that has been causing us so much trouble,” Apolyn said as he moved and tried to punch me in the head. I thought about letting him see just how outclassed he was but decided against it. When he was halfway to me, the nanites in his legs locked up and I moved just enough so that he flew passed me tumbling off into the distance. After he’d finally stopped moving. I had the nanites in his system pick him up and move him back over to stand beside me. As I looked at the other two. Neither moved so I turned my attention back to Apolyn, making a show of dusting him off and casting a heal spell that repaired any damage to him.

“Hey there Apolyn, I thought we should finally meet. I mean seriously I’m a huge fan. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here today. Also, attacking one of your biggest fans before he even gets to gush over meeting you, what kind of god does that?” I asked as I released him from his paralysis

Apolyn sputtered for a minute then said, “What?”

“Yep, your number one fan right here. You can’t remember but an action you took in an alternate timeline or another Universe, not sure which, allowed me to become the man I am today. If not for you I wouldn’t be standing here.” I said

“You’re lying,” Apolyn declared.

“By all that was, is, and can be and the entropy that swallows it all back into Chaos I swear to you that if not for you I would not be standing here”

“He’s telling the Truth,” Elisa said as she glared at Apolyn

“All his fault,” Beaezul snickered “That’s too perfect.”

I looked over the three, “Now if you’ll excuse me I need to head into the Gambler’s network and sort out this wager I made on myself.”

Apolyn watched me go as he walked over to Elisa and Beaezul and said, “I have no idea what he’s talking about”

“Yet he told the truth when he stated his claim,” Elisa said.

I stopped listening as I came up to a building with a sign with two six-sided dice showing sixes and the ‘Gambler’s Network’ printed on the doorway above. I stepped through the door and found myself in a queue line leading up to teller booths, much like you’d find in a casino. Which seemed appropriate as off through an entrance to my right I could see a casino floor that stretched off into the distance. It looked like I’d be in line for a while as at least 100 other creatures of all types were in line before me. Hill Giants, Elves, Gnomes, something that looked like a Xenomorph from the movie Alien, even a Predator. Also, humans, dwarves a succubus that was exquisitely beautiful, even if she was a demon. It looked like creatures from all walks of life were members of the Gamblers Network. This next part should be interesting.