The discord server is now open, go there and join the discussion: https://discord.gg/KptypY8dGh.....Three weeks before the press conference.Aron could be seen in his usual position, laying on the bed with the headgear securely on his head. However, something was different today. He was sound asleep, both in the real world and the universal simulation he was currently logged in which was a rare occurrence.Inside the universal simulation, Nova calmly observed Aron peacefully sleeping. It was a forced sleep, designed to prevent any mishaps from happening while Aron underwent the process of knowledge assimilation. Unlike previous instances, this time Aron was receiving knowledge directly from his headset which was the first time, rather than it being done by his systemEven though Nova had conducted numerous tests that indicated there was no necessity to put Aron to sleep, she decided to err on the side of caution due to her not possessing complete and fully accurate data about the c
The discord server is now open, go there and join the discussion: https://discord.gg/KptypY8dGh.....He chose a square aluminum plate measuring one meter and proceeded to the adjacent room. He sought a quiet space that would enable him to focus, as the task ahead demanded a significant amount of his concentration for an extended period of time which had taken him a very long time to train on it within the universal simulation.After closing the door behind him, he placed the aluminum plate on the floor and took a seat beside it."Time to concentrate," he said to himself, taking deep breaths to calm his mind and gather focus before he begins.Once he had calmed down sufficiently, he extended his right hand toward the plate, forming it into a gun-like shape with two fingers outstretched, and immediately began channeling Mana to the tips of these two fingers, focusing on accumulating the energy there. The Mana concentration steadily increased as he kept it contained at the fingertip,
The discord server is now open, go there and join the discussion: https://discord.gg/KptypY8dGh.....FEB 1st."I just can't get over how stunning it looks," Aron exclaimed, admiring the finished engravings on the third plate.{It is more aesthetically pleasing if it were crafted by a machine,} Nova remarked, having had experience with a machine-assembled version."Beggars can't be choosers, and in the present world, there is nothing capable of manufacturing them anyway," Aron responded as his hands gently caressed the plate.The completed plates resembled an enlarged chip, with the conventional microscopic wirings replaced by intricate mana circuitry. The mana pathways connected each rune to another, forming a complex network within the medium.At its essence, the integration module functions as a translator and intermediary, bridging the gap between the realm of runes and the digital world. The circuits facilitate the transfer of ma
After connecting the machine to the power supply, he wasted no time in powering it up. However, the initial moments ticked by without any signs of activity. Nevertheless, Aron maintained his composure, fully aware of the underlying cause.The mana container that was inserted into the machine gradually started to emit a gentle glow.Simultaneously, the stored mana within the container began to trickle and flow into the mana circuits of the integration medium and with each passing moment, a radiant glow illuminated every part it encountered along its path.This process continued until every circuit within the machine was saturated with mana, ensuring that all the connected runes had immediate access to the mana they required whenever the need arose.As soon as the mana circuits reached their full capacity, the central conversion rune sprang to life, immediately initiating the connection to the machine's computer network.The conventional comput
{So, what reward did the system reward you?} With a smile on his face, Aron replied, "It provided me with a fraction of the knowledge regarding MANA."After hearing Aron's response, Nova said, {Considering the context provided by the system's previous statement, it seems that the knowledge is related to the ongoing research within the Golden City.}"You are correct. With this newfound knowledge, the research in the lab city can be completed within a month at the most, as it addresses most of the problems they were facing," he affirmed, as he left the room and headed towards the vending machine offering drinks for the base residentsAfter grabbing a bottle of water, Aron took a refreshing sip. As he finished, he hesitated for a moment before he tossed it into the trash can having received an inspiration. Without wasting any time, he briskly walked to his room to act upon the inspiration."Is something wrong?" Nova inquired as soon as he logged into the universal simulation, having ob
[Since my computer still fails to open the ink stone website, I was forced to upload it using phone so there mistakes that I'm still trying to remove. Sorry for the inconvenience]Alexander carefully reached for the folder that Aron slid towards him, taking his time. He then proceeded to open it and began reading through its contents.Alexander's expression faltered before he could even finish reading the contents of the first page in the folder."Wait, you want to buy the Mystic Isle island?" Alexander asked, his surprise evident as he absorbed the grandiosity of the first thing written in the folder.Among the myriad islands in the country, this particular one stood out as the largest non inhabited island. Its size alone surpassed that of a few small countries, making Aron's intent truly remarkable."Yes, nobody inhabits it anyway," Aron casually responded, as if it was no big deal."You're absolutely right," Alexander couldn't help
The discord server is now open, go there and join the discussion: https://discord.gg/KptypY8dGh....."However, there is a possibility that Esparia might view your mass recruitment as a provocation," Alexander mentioned, deliberately avoiding further discussion on the excessive number of soldiers he intended to acquire.This implied a shift in his stance, indicating that he would now support this course of action."We don't need to concern ourselves with their opinion," Aron replied with a smile. "In fact, you should be reciprocating by isolating them as well," he added, further emphasizing his disregard for Esparia's thoughts and intentions."I share the same sentiment of not caring about their thoughts. However, their disruptive actions could pose challenges in our procurement of weapons from the international market," Alexander responded, indicating that his concern lay in the potential consequences of Esparia using their action of e
The discord server is now open, go there and join the discussion: https://discord.gg/KptypY8dGh.....{Welcome back} Nova said, welcoming Aron after he returned to the base and logged in to the Universal simulation."Thanks," Aron answered as he fell onto the fluffy couch that Nova had materialized for him.{How was your day?} Nova asked after Aron returned and logged into the Universal simulation."Though exhausting, it felt good going out and meeting people once in a while," Aron said as he tried to get into a comfortable position.Nova, seeing Aron trying but failing to get into a comfortable position, snapped her fingers and immediately put Aron in a comfortable position. "Thanks," Aron thanked her for the help."How is the research on mana going?" Aron asked, inquiring about the progress now that they had obtained a small piece of information relevant to their research that had been gifted to him by the system.{Despite only a few days passing here, we have made multiple consecu
“Seraphina,” Aron began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of authority, “I’m not your enemy—unless you choose to make me one. I understand your anger, your frustration. You’ve lost control of a situation you believed was firmly under your command. But this predicament wasn’t my doing—you’re here because your leader chose to sacrifice you. What I’m offering you isn’t a chain—it’s an opportunity.”Her sharp eyes narrowed, the intensity of her gaze unwavering, but she held her silence. Aron leaned forward, his own gaze unrelenting as it met hers.“You can continue resisting, pushing the boundaries of the mana oath, and enduring needless pain. Or…” He paused, letting the words linger like a challenge. “You can choose to turn this situation into one that serves us both. Your strength, your insight—these are not things I wish to suppress. Quite the opposite. I want them refined, amplified, and put to meaningful use.”He motioned toward the table, where Nova was still doing fina
[Colosseum]Aron and Seraphina stood motionless, maintaining the same distance as at the start of their faceoff. Neither had moved, even during the spectacular fireworks show that followed Aron’s acceptance of her surrender. The only exception was Aron briefly waving to the citizens of his empire watching the broadcast, many of whom were overcome with emotion, crying in celebration of their historic victory. This event marked the first-ever interstellar combat they had participated in, and despite their lack of experience, they emerged as the sole victors.As cheers of triumph reverberated among his people and the disbelief of others lingered, the broadcast concluded. The moment Aron secured his final victory, the Arena itself was officially handed over to him as part of his reward, along with control of the AI referee. Without hesitation, the AI complied with her new owner’s first command: to end the broadcast. Aron had more pressing matters to attend to—a private conversation with a
[Meeting Room]Inside the Zelvora mental network, an oppressive silence hung over the gathered representatives around the meeting table. The events of the day had left them all stunned, their minds racing with the implications of what had transpired. These were not just any representatives—they were the ones who had signed off on the agreements, the architects of their civilizations’ participation in this contest.Now, they were confronted with the brutal outcome of their decisions.Many representatives sat deep in thought, their faces betraying various degrees of fear, frustration, and resignation. Those who hailed from civilizations steeped in selfish political traditions knew all too well the grim truth: scapegoats would be needed. Someone would have to bear the brunt of the blame for the humiliation, anger, and setbacks their civilizations had suffered.For many of them, the path forward seemed bleak. In the best-case scenario, they might lose their positions, exiled from the corr
To say Aron was surprised would be the understatement of the gigaannum. The announcement had obliterated every scenario he had meticulously crafted in his mind. In all his time spent in simulations, preparing for countless contingencies, not once had he considered the possibility of the Xor’Vaks surrendering—least of all without a fight.Their pride in their strength was legendary, surpassing even the vaunted arrogance of the Valthorins. For a race that reveled in their dominance, surrendering, especially on such a grand stage, was unthinkable. This sudden reversal of expectations hit him with such force that he could practically feel the metaphorical veins in his temple throbbing from the sheer shock of it all.The audience’s collective astonishment mirrored his own, but none felt it as acutely as Aron, whose carefully laid strategies now seemed almost laughably over-prepared in the face of this unanticipated twist.The largest part of Aron's shock wasn’t just the surrender itself bu
The minutes passed quickly for the viewers, their eyes glued to Aron as he sat unmoving in the same meditative position for over fifteen minutes. Speculation ran rampant on both sides, fueled by curiosity and tension.For those in the Empire, the consensus was that Aron was in VR, likely meeting with family or key figures. Many debated who he might be speaking with, guessing that he was either calming worried loved ones or strategizing for the next fight.On the other hand, viewers from the Astral Conclave harbored a mix of anxiety and intrigue. They questioned whether Aron was recuperating in preparation for the upcoming battle, enhancing his focus and mental clarity, or if his recovery from the previous fight was incomplete and he was still in the process of healing.But their speculations ceased to matter as Aron opened his eyes with five minutes remaining in the waiting period. Calm and deliberate, he removed the glasses from his head, placing them back into their container. His n
The moment the fight was officially declared over, Nova acted without hesitation. She immediately dispatched the collector ship, equipped with a medipod, to retrieve the Trinarian fighter's body. Simultaneously, she ensured Aron could rearm himself with a fresh set of nanomachines. For the first time, this process was being done openly, marking a significant shift.Previously, nanomachines had been classified technology, their existence kept strictly under wraps. However, that secrecy had been unintentionally broken when Nova used them to cover Aron’s exposed body during a critical moment, prioritizing his dignity over confidentiality. As a result, while the technology remained shrouded in mystery, its existence was now officially acknowledged, albeit without disclosing any further details.Aron retrieved a small canister from the ship and opened it, revealing a liquid-like substance inside. Pouring it onto his hand, the substance behaved unnaturally, defying gravity as it began to sp
"Him alive is better than dead, right? I can use his live brain data to study how they use their spatial abilities—it might even help accelerate my plans if things go as intended," Aron said as he stood over the fainting Trinarian fighter.{True, having him alive presents opportunities. But dead men cause no problems, while the living carry infinite potential for chaos—especially one like him. If our spatial lockdown isn’t enough to fully contain his abilities, he could use them long enough to cause catastrophic damage, even if it means enduring the backlash,} Nova replied, her tone laced with caution. She wanted to ensure Aron was fully aware of the risks he was inviting by sparing the fighter's life.Usually, Nova would have been in favor of keeping him alive—it meant more data for her to process, analyze, and extrapolate from. But spatial ability users were in a league of their own when it came to danger. Even a dead one would yield enough data to at least satisfy her curiosity for
“Nova,” Aron called out in his mind the moment his eyes snapped open, rapidly collecting information and orienting himself, realizing he had finally left the enigmatic place the system had sent him.“Nova,” he called again, this time aloud, his voice carrying a commanding weight as it echoed faintly in the arena. Receiving no response to his first call, his sharp gaze shifted to his surroundings. It didn’t take long for him to notice his current state—nearly naked, save for the swarm of nanomachines that had begun assembling around him.{The system had ejected me, sir,} Nova’s voice finally came through, calm but slightly delayed as the nanomachines completed their task. They prioritized covering his lower body, forming a sleek pair of trousers, as there weren’t enough surviving nanomachines to reconstruct full armor. His chiseled upper body remained exposed, glistening under the lights of the Colosseum, much to the awe and unease of the spectators.Nova’s pragmatic choice left Aron l
Following Nova's orders and the AI referee's approval, the mana stone carriers swiftly began moving toward the Colosseum. As the first ship arrived and entered, it wasted no time, promptly unloading its entire cargo of mana stones before departing to make way for the next carrier to do the same. The process was conducted with remarkable efficiency, ensuring a steady flow of mana stones into the Colosseum without any unnecessary delays.The process continued as over fifty ships unloaded their cargo of mana stones, an act many from the Conclave viewed as both excessive and wasteful. With each successive ship, the pain of the Conclave's viewers grew, particularly when the fifth ship alone had already matched the quantity of mana stones used during the Colosseum's initial construction. Yet, they didn’t stop there; instead, they went on to unload ten times that amount, as if mana stones were an endless resource, leaving the Conclave citizens bewildered and horrified by such apparent extra