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2024-10-29 19:42:56The years flew by.
Winter chilled his empty wallet. Spring renewed his spirits. Summer kissed his cheeks good luck. Come autumn, he was ready for the promised harvest — and so were QiE-Novel.
The world shifted rapidly around Murpheus, and he struggled to catch up with its flow. If 2020 to 2025 could be classed as “The Advent of AI”, then come 2027 — they had already arrived.
“Introducing LACIE — Limitless Artificial Creator & Intelligent Editor. The future is right here, on QiE-Novel!”
Having just ended a short mourning workout, Murphy logged on to his dashboard and prepared for the daily grind, only to be greeted by a system advert.
Curious, he clicked for more details.
“Dear creators, we are happy to announce that we’ve partnered with our parent-company to deliver an immense opportunity to you after this Fall’s Soul Contest.
“LACIE will be paired up with the top 100 contestants and serve as your personal assistant over the next year, helping you edit your work.
“Trained on the vast library of our best web novels, it’s a highly skilled language model that can detect errors, plot holes, and even suggest fixes and trace a road map for your novel!
“We are happy to announce that the results of our hidden tests for the past year have paid off, and we are ready to do a limited roll-out of its features.
“As the best of the best, you will be given the rare opportunity to guide it as it steps up on the stage, bringing QiE-Novel to whole new reaches!”
Not the worst marketing speech to wake up to. It was inspiring, and presented authors with the opportunity of a lifetime, at least on paper.
The truth was far grimmer, however.
As of 2024, the writers were still on strike across modern cities in the Western world. What started as a localized Hollywood strike against AI soon became widespread, with vocal pyres lit up in each industry.
The people were afraid, and rightfully so. With each small new development in the microchip industry and semiconductor development, AI got cheaper and better.
It was an undeniable reality at this point. They were out to replace them.
By 2025, the first ever series of quantum supercomputers was released on the market, and that became the final straw.
Companies were roused like bees, outbidding each other in an effort to be the first to nab a device powerful enough to run a cheap intelligence for them.
One by one, month by month, more and more layoffs set in motion a tidal wave that rocked civilization at its core. Before long, it wasn’t just writers on strike, but it was too late.
Fortunately for Murphy, he was in a cult. He didn’t need to question the arrival of the overlords nor have any fears. He had signed a contract that was effective for as long as he continued to write.
Somewhat ironically, the chains that bound him in the past became the sole way to secure his future in an industry rife with open piracy and an ever-increasing competition.
“This is exciting,” he beamed as he read through the technical specifications, “With LACIE, I should be able to ramp up my schedule to at least 4 chapters a day!”
While not seeming like a lot, 4 chapters a day entailed work just short of 6000 words. It was sheer insanity, something a traditional writer would scoff at as impossible.
Not on QiE-Novel, however. Here, each chapter sold like fresh baked baguettes in morning, even as they were only baked with water and salt. It was no premium work, but the readers were accustomed to never skipping a day.
Having lived in Paris for the past decade, Murphy of course wouldn’t slander the French holy bread. The point conveyed, was that simplicity and base tastes were sometimes enough to satisfy someone. Over time, you could even tell yourself it was good.
It didn’t matter if the work didn’t last under scrutiny and rotted in two days’ time, as long as enough people consumed it and it was profitable, it would become a staple.
In that ecosystem, having LACIE was a welcome expansion in productivity. As someone at the top, Murpheus didn’t need to concern himself with how much the gap would widen between him and the new writers.
In truth, this AI had already become an insurmountable obstacle. While he could pump and dump 4 chapters a day and ensure their quality thanks to its service, your average starter would barely cobble up 700 words a day of the same quality.
Pair that up with the existing fanbase and promotion on his side, and he could ensure their works never saw the light of day.
Therein lay the excitement.
As a top contestant of the Fall Soul contest, he had become infallible.
« LACIE: Greetings, Morpheus. Congratulations on becoming a BETA tester of our personal editor program. From now on, I will assist you with your work! I will begin by analyzing your current novels, please wait... »
“Whoa,” he mused as a notification popped on his dashboard, “That was fast.”
“Hey, Lacie,” he typed in response, “Don’t I need to annex a consent form or something?”
« LACIE: According to Clause 4.4 of the contract you’ve signed in 2023, “Party B shall cooperate and participate in any promotional event organized by QiE-Novel or its affiliates, and provide any material for such purpose as required by party A.” »
“That doesn’t sound right,” he scratched his chin, doubtful this fell in that category. Alas, it’s not like he could contest anything his masters said, so he instead typed a thank you.
Over time, he revisited the contract, and found out just why they called it a draconian slave collar and a cult.
You see… in the QiE-Novel contract there was this little article called “No slander and competition”, though behind its well-rounded 3.3 clause hid the true lock.
“Both parties undertake not to damage the other party, and shall not publish any statements that may cause others to have a negative impression of, or have any negative effect on the other party.”
If it seems too liberal for one’s liking, then it’s because it was. In essence, QiE-Novel could use any message or complaint an author made about the website, and use it as a means to invoke a breach of contract.
It effectively muzzled the entirety of their contracted workforce, not too atypical of a Chinese big corp, but unsettling nonetheless. By ensuring they could never say a bad thing about them, they preserved a pristine image, even as underneath lay nothing but a cage.
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An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 10 - Disappointment
Another two years passed. « LACIE: Hello Murpheus, I am saddened to announce that our cooperation hereby ends, as you have failed to qualify for a top 100 position. Better luck next year! » “This is bullshit!” he raged, slamming a fist against the desk and sending the monitor inches in the air. As it turned out, the sweet fruit that was promised to uplift creators to new heights, was nothing but a poisoned dagger. They readily put it to their own throat and helped align the blade to their artery. “Fuckers! How can you make an AI compete in the Soul Contest? 35 of the entries qualified for top 100!” His rage was deafening in the isolated apartment, but silent in its reach. He could never make his complaints heard, not even to his own peers. He trusted none of them. I mean… how could he? The culture was teeming with animosity and competition, with writers not too shy from using underhanded tactics to get a one-up on the others. If they ratted them out to QiE-Novel and they los
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 11 - Rage Against the Machine
Fire — the hallmark of humanity’s rise. Across the streets of Paris, flames burned as well. Not as a celebration of civilization, but a requiem for its downfall. Roars borne of deep angst, the voice of a million people — united as one. Their blood aboil — hotter than the scattered pyres — the crowds chanted with every fiber of their being. Even so, they were unheard.The largest protest ever, unseen by their sworn leaders. The fires they lit could very well be seen from space, yet the world’s elite pretended all was normal. But, it wasn’t. The sudden upsurge in use of artificial intelligence across every economical sector resulted in the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs, all but overnight.What was meant to be the next step in uplifting humanity had all but resulted in its imminent collapse. The economy crumbled, setting the timer for a great reset.No one had an answer.Not the politicians, not your everyday people, and certainly not Murphy.He too joined in the riots
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 12 - Struggles
A sealed biodegradable container. That’s all his friend amounted to. A bored employee handed him the package and some papers over the counter. That was all there was to Nella’s departure. No different from picking up a package from the postal office, he signed off the cremated remains and went home. “Is this the value of life?” Holding the container in one hand, he found it shaking again. The ashes themselves were almost weightless, but the guilt was heavy like lead. He had to use the other hand to steady it, but there was nothing he could do about his broken heart. He wept. This time in the open, unashamed at the quizzical glances directed his way. He was so done with the world, he didn’t even bother to want to hide in that instant. It was only when his ride arrived that he snapped out of it, and in another dazed flash found himself home again. Ascending the stairs with weak limbs, he sighed, but found no relief in that either. Just as he came up to the door, he stumbled on
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Author's Note
Welcome everyone. I felt compelled to add some info on where I intend to take this novel. Half a dozen tags and a 70 word synopsis may not accurately capture what this book strives to represent. Let me preface this by saying this book is somewhat loosely inspired from real life events =) If you already intend to read the book in its entirety -- feel free to skip this. > Novel Structure:I intend the novel to be short, so it will likely end around 80,000 words ~ 75 chapters. (Free) Arc I (1-8) will cover Murphy's start as a webnovelist, culminating in him signing a contract with a certain very popular website ;) (Free) Arc II (9-20b) depicts a society crumbling into a cyberpunk-ish dystopia. AI plays a pivotal role in undermining civilization, and Murphy is caught at the forefront of it all. (Paid) Arc III (Ch 21 onwards) is where the MC reincarnates. He unveils his inherent magical abilities and goes back in time along with his system. There are 7 arcs planned in total as of th
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 13 - A New Hope
After spending the afternoon together, Murphy got to know Nella better than he did when she was alive. Though they were friends, he tended to keep a boundary around him at all times. The old man was on the brink, and Murphy didn’t have the heart to let him deal with it alone. So, despite very unwilling to deal with the understated awkwardness, he could only grit his teeth and comfort the man. A few drinks in, and they were sharing fond memories of her. Another few drinks later, and both men had to stifle their tears to avoid making the situation even more unbearable. By the time he was out, the old man was passed out, and Murphy had decided to stay in Romania. He couldn’t pin down a logical reason for it. Granted, it was very cheap and picturesque in the mountains, but there were a hundred other places just as good. Booking the cheapest cabin hotel, Morpheus felt his dreams stir that night. For the first time in what felt like decades, the doors leading to the ethereal realm he
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 14 - NeuraBlink
NeuraBlink was a tantalizing offer, one he couldn’t afford to turn down if he ever wanted to make it. At the time, even with the risks carried by its beta release, it promised to offer him the perfect solution to all of his problems. The most significant advantage LACIE had over him was speed. It could unravel thousands of chapters in an instant. What held it back was the fact that it still needed a cursory review from editors before it could be pushed out. If Morpheus could employ his mere thoughts to construct his dreams, then it wouldn’t be impossible to overtake the AI and reclaim his top spot. Even without a supercomputer, he had his mind. The human psyche remained largely unexplored, even as they made huge advances in the technological fields. That unknown and unused potential gave him hope for humanity. That was the dream shared by the creators of the implant as well. Seeing the downfall of humanity as imminent, they sought to meld technology a
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 15 - Surgery
Time passed fleetingly at first, but then the wait became excruciating. The day of the surgery approached, one slow hour at a time. He lingered around Cluj in the meanwhile, relaxing in nature’s embrace. He trekked through the woods that became less and less welcoming to humans, and marveled at the rebellious Carpathian peaks piercing towards the occluded sky. Without a laptop, Murphy couldn’t publish anything new, so he had ample time to roam and explore. He considered writing in a cafe or from his phone, but couldn’t really get into it. His vacation was awe inspiring at first, but got seriously tedious after a few days. He became anxious in his steps, and no longer had eyes to admire Gaia’s figure. His pre-scheduled chapters were dwindling down one at a time, and before long he’d lose his publishing streak. That would be an unimaginable setback for his career. It wasn’t dubbed a slave contract for nothing, after all. Writers were incentivize
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 16 - Darkness
A tremor rocked through the chair, one he felt even with the anesthesia in full effect.He couldn’t see or feel much of anything, but the scrappy ringing in his ears surely meant something had exploded.He tried to open his mouth and ask, but choked on dust and ash instead.His vision black, his restricted touch dulled to the extreme and his ear drums blown, he found himself deprived of all his senses.Panic ensued.His breathing grew labored and his lungs moved with force, but it did little to alleviate the mounting stress.The dust in the room made it hard to breathe, but he had no option but to fill his lungs with it if he wanted to live.Time passed at a crawling pace, but eventually he felt his senses return to him. He felt a thick layer of dust caked on his face like cement, no doubt mixed in with his sweat.He moved a thumb at first, and then his whole hand, but the shackles woul
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- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Final Words
Thank you to whoever made it this far :) I'll revise this at a later date, after I proof read and edit the book once or twice.At that point, it will be marked as complete and I will bid farewell to the site. Though I am glad to have accrued some readers, and met many peers among authors, it has been a tad underwhelming. Unable and unwilling to say anything more, I'll simply address some gratitude to Helen Bold.She's an excellent editor and author on the site, and has been the reason I delivered this book to you.Consider checking out her books. As for myself, I do have other book(s) published.I can't share links, but you can search for my name and they should appear. Alternatively, just add me on Discord, and I'll help you find your way. Thank you again to everyone who's given this a chance,As always, your attention has been a blessing.~Raven
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 73 - Epilogue
- — ✎ — - The five year anniversary of Murphy’s vow was finally upon him, but he had long since completed his promise. No later than a year after the final battle, he successfully unsealed his seventh gate. That came largely as a result of his success in that battle, and the fruits he claimed in its aftermath. Specifically, he salvaged Erebus’ consciousness. Once it was in his dream realm, he had all the time he needed to crack it. Other than being the de facto leader of Physis Nomos, the old man had dipped his toes in all kinds of criminal enterprises over the years. His psychic powers made him the perfect assassin. Lethal, traceless, silent. By reliving through his memories, Murphy salvaged hundreds of interesting connections, and tasked the Chainbreakers to follow up and unearth those leads. The cases they unveiled had all but quaked the world. From businessmen in Asia, to politicians in the deep state of the US, people from all over the world were incriminated. Proof w
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 72 - Final Battle
Murphy had no time to curse as the earth dragged him back to its hard embrace. He was strangely familiar with this sensation, and knew exactly what the outcome of such a fall was. Alas, now was not the time to reminisce about his jump from the bridge…Erebus and his goons expected him to splatter across the ground, and even took steps to avoid the impact area. Yet, they were in for a surprise of their own, because despite appearing panicked and flailing his arms like a desperate duck, Murphy was anything but.When he was merely a second from impact, Murphy suddenly spread his psyche and willed himself to slow down.A sudden force shrouded the area, allowing Murphy to veer directly towards the bodyguards accompanying Erebus. Before those two could react, and too busy managing the hostages, Murphy made landfall next to them.His fists coated in fire struck the first one in the chest, eviscerating organs and bone alike. The other panicked, hand reaching for his gun, yet a mere glance ha
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 71 - Erebus
Murphy paid no heed to the retinal text, and was far more preoccupied with Eleanor falling. His stretched out hand clasped, guiding his intent and will from afar.His psyche took form, his psychokinesis pushed to its next step, and she was suspended mid-air! He had achieved similar things with immaterial objects like a pen, but never a human.Luckily, her psyche was sapped by the curse and couldn’t resist. This allowed him to control her easily, or he would have been doomed to fail.She flew in the air, eyes squinted in horror once she realized what might befall her. The sensation of flying around eventually stopped, and she tentatively opened her eyes once she felt Murphy’s arms wind tightly around her.Murphy hugged her, bottling up a dozen curses and reproaches that could only wait for later. He was angry, but he was terrified even more.“Y-you’re crazy—” he bit his lips, leaving the rest of the accusation unsaid. “I’m sorry,” she offered plainly, before bursting into tears of her
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 70 - Sixth Gate
When Murphy snuck back on the ship, he was surprised to see Eleanor awake. Hands on her waist, she waited by the docking area and made sure he saw her pout.“Not even halfway through our honeymoon, and you’re already tired of me?” she joked and huffed, “I didn’t expect you to find someone else so quickly…”“Guilty as charged,” he grinned in response, “I figured since I scored the most beautiful woman on the planet, I might be lucky enough with the second…”“Compliments won’t get you out of this one, darling.” Ellie turned serious, “What were you up to?”“Kind of a long story… I didn’t want to sour our happiness, but it seems there’s no rest for the wicked.”“Sure, I’ll make some coffee. Tell me all about it.”“Tea for me,” he interjected as he reattached the boat to the yacht and trailed along to the lounge.A few minutes later, Eleanor sat in her rightful place, serving him tea while she drank coffee on his lap. They indulged the warm drinks in silence, but eventually Murphy gathere
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 69 - System Embryo
Murphy tried to focus on Erebus, but his visions didn’t become any clearer. He could not see past the darkness, try as he might to muster his power.Eventually, the revelations shattered as a whole, his psychic reserves almost exhausted. He could only cut his losses and sigh in regret.‘I was this close!’ Murphy struck the edge of his marble throne, shattering the armrest to pieces. It was only then that he was reminded it was a mere dream, and a terrified child was staring at him in fear.“Fear not, Asen,” he tried to comfort, but the fire in his eyes didn’t make him sound very convincing.It was only when the boy outright started crying that Murphy realized his folly and doused the inner flame, regaining a more calm demeanor. “I’m sorry,” he lifted the boy off the ground, and brought him someplace nicer in that same instant, “Don’t cry any longer… I won’t hurt you. I promise.”“I know,” the sniveling boy replied amidst tears, “That’s… not… why I’m crying…”“Then?”“I just… don’t wa
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 68 - Horrid Revelations
“What is this? Why can’t I see their faces?” the boy asked, clutching at the hem of Morpheus’ robe. “You don’t seem them because they don’t exist, not in this reality. Now watch, young Asen.”A scene played out before them like a three dimensional movie, and the two of them relived the hospital encounter. A teenager walked in, his face redacted and replaced by a simplified smug emoji. Their words were clear, however, as was the part where he mind controlled Eleanor to explode in a crowd. He shuffled backwards afterwards, depicting the woman strapped to a chair while a family of three watched.“Why are you showing me these evil people?” Asen questioned, his adorable young mind clearly perceiving things in black and white.“So you don’t become like them.”“I would never!” the boy denied vehemently, “My mother says bad people can’t go to heaven.”“What if there was no hell, young Asen?” Murphy questioned rhetorically, “If there was no heaven to yearn for, and no judgement in an afterli
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 67 - Asen
Murphy grabbed the phone and looked closely at the picture, his frown deepening. That boy was the same psychic who mind controlled Eleanor in the future, but right now he was merely a prepubescent pup. “How old is he now?” Murphy asked, his voice showing some conflict as he indicated the photo. “He’s only 13!” the nurse replied and fell to the ground as well, clinging to life with her whole being, “Please, our son is still young… We’ll stop doing this… Just—““Silence!” Murphy boomed, sending a telekinetic blast that flipped the woman over and sent her careening against the wall.The doctor winced, but didn’t dare move to help his wife. They just stared at the ground and hoped someone would come save them. As for the monster, he continued to stare at the picture, flames dancing in his eyes.‘Should I kill him now?’ he asked himself repeatedly, unsure how to proceed. On one hand, he burned with righteous indignation, having been blinded and robbed of his life. Ellie had it even wors
- An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead
Ch 66 - Dilemma
A black SUV stopped at the side of a small family clinic in Burgas. The city CCTVs monitoring the streets tracked the vehicle all the way from the suburbs. A single driver got out, opened the trunk and retrieved a duffel bag, then walked to the rear doors of the clinic. The surveillance cut off at that point, a sudden glitch in the system causing the camera to malfunction and stop recording. By the time it was turned back on, the vehicle was long gone. Coincidentally, it had been reported as stolen that same night.Murphy blinked, dismissing the latest retinal message from the system, then waltzed in towards the emergency doors. His hand pushed against the lock, searing the metal and turning it into a worthless puddle that gave in to his push.The building plans appeared in his right eye like a 3D map, and he conveniently followed them down the stairs. The clinic was small, and only saw high-end clients, so its security was top of the art. Cameras lingered at just about every othe
