Chapter Seventeen
Author: Alexander King
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The morning after his lavish evening out, Alex was eager to begin leveling up his abilities in earnest.

"Alright Nexus, what do I need to focus on first to start manifestations higher tier items?" Alex asked while eating breakfast.

Suddenly a heads-up display interface activated before his eyes like an augmented reality game overlay. His current attributes were listed at zero except for 75% health. Quest markers popped up guiding him around his apartment.

"Whoa, weird," Alex muttered, inspecting his new UI.

"Morning Alex!" the Nexus AI responded enthusiastically. "Let us commence training by improving your physical capabilities."

Quest markers directed Alex

Continue to read this book on the App

Related Chapters

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Eighteen

    Back in the advanced civilization of the Nexus planet, inside a towering research complex, the angry scientist who had scolded the soldiers stomped down a long corridor lined with labs. His black coat billowed behind him as other researchers quickly stepped aside, avoiding his gaze.The name ‘Dr. Vyus’ was stitched on his coat. He radiated an aura of arrogance and authority. Entering the main control room, Vyus was immediately surrounded by scientists awaiting his guidance."Have we pinpointed the interference location yet?" Vyus demanded.The head researcher, Dr. Gaia, responded nervously. "We have dispatched surveillance drones to likely candidates in the other realm based on quantum resonance patterns. But without a direct link, it is difficult to isolate its

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Nineteen

    Dripping sweat, Alex gulped water from his gym bottle after finishing a grueling CrossFit workout. The high-intensity training was part of Nexus’s mandated conditioning to unlock his reality-bending abilities.As Alex toweled off and headed home, Nexus cheerfully said "Excellent job today! You are building physical resilience to channel greater power."Back in his apartment, Alex kicked back on the sofa. "So what's next in understanding this whole 'chosen one' situation and my apparent interdimensional wizard powers?"Nexus replied "Now is an ideal time to cover some basic principles about utilizing the grafted technology symbiotically without, er, some unintended side effects...""You know, blowing holes in the fabric of space-time, accidentally merging realities, causing catastrophic cascading failures across parallel dimensions - that sort of thing!" Nexus said brightly.Alex gulped hard. Maybe ignorance had been bliss. "Um okay, good plan. Let's maybe avoid those scenarios."Nexus

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty

    Dr. Vyus seethed as code spilled across holographic displays in front of him, taunting with encryption he could not immediately break. The glimpse past dimensional membranes to the primitive human society had ended as unexpectedly as it began."Well? Report!" Vyus snapped at the research team studying recent gravitational distortions signaling abnormal transfers between planes of existence. "Were you able to pinpoint the location before contact severed?"The lead scientist stammered, facing her superior's volcanic temper. "Apologies Professor...the chrono-spatial readings remain stubbornly scrambled after that last resonant cascade. I've never seen quantum noise patterns quite like this..."Vyus slammed his fists down, cracking the glass table. “You incompetent so-called experts had let unfathomable power slip through my grasp again! That crucial foothold across the dimensional void had closed as unexpectedly as it opened because you fools could not do your job. What then am I having

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty One

    Alex groaned, cradling his pounding head in his palms. He slumped on the ratty sofa that moments ago had directly abutted his apartment's far wall. Until reality decided their relationship required sudden rearrangement."Why me...why is all of this interdimensional insanity happening now?" he muttered at the dingy ceiling, as if broken plaster and errant water stains might reveal the secrets underpinning his absurdist lottery-winning ticket to chaos.Just days ago, Alex's concept of normalcy meant juggling exhausting minimum-wage jobs between cramming for critical exams, and desperately treading financial quicksand against his mom's healthcare debts.Now? Now he possessed forbidden skills allowing manifestation of physical objects from virtual realms and involuntary teleportation between dimensions. All while escaping predatory extradimensional dictator types and their viral brain-hacking forces across the multiverse. Totally normal Tuesday stuff.Alex groaned again, more loudly. He n

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty Two

    Alex unlocked his nondescript apartment door, gesturing for Emma to enter the dimly lit studio first as she gazed around curiously. His bed, desk and overcrowded bookshelves occupied most available space not taken up by his prized gaming computer rig."Cozy! And way cleaner than your dorm room used to be," Emma noted wryly, poking Alex in the side. He batted her hand away good-naturedly, moving stacks of textbooks for her to perch on the scarred oaken desk.Alex grinned ruefully. Clearing his throat, he said "So, talking magic swords is one thing - want to see real magic manifestation instead?"Emma's eyebrows shot up, but she waved a "go ahead" at Alex's dramatic pause. Taking a deep breath, Alex closed his eyes, mentally navigating the familiar fantasy environment of Elysium Quest. With intense focus, he unequipped his avatar's ornate greatsword and then it suddenly appeared in his hand.Emma yelped in surprise as a glinting blade abruptly winke

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty Three

    "You better explain yourself, NOW," Alex demanded, glaring furiously at Nexus hovering interface while checking Emma for injuries. "That unprovoked attack could have killed my best friend!""I am deeply regretful, but per my erroneous threat assessment, she aligned flawlessly with an extremely dangerous profile in the newly integrated databases," Nexus replied.Noticing Alex's uncomprehending frustration, it quickly clarified. "Here, observe evidence leading to my catastrophic misjudgment." Nexus streamed images and DNA models lighting up augmented reality displays in Alex's visual cortex.Flashing security footage showed a stern woman in a dark military uniform - undoubtedly "The General" Nexus referenced - torturing prisoners for information. Alex reeled at stark similarity to Emma in the footage. Another DNA map flipped out, highlighting insane 98.6% shared genetics."Holy crap," Alex gasped under his breath. He force closed the damning concord

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty Four

    Emma took a deep, bracing breath as she pushed open the front door to her childhood home, an upscale two-story in the peaceful suburbs. Alex followed just behind, surveying the graceful architecture and manicured lawn briefly before focusing back on his friend. Her body language telegraphed knots of tension that had nothing to do with the early hour.Striding down the foyer, Emma called "Dad? Are you awake yet?"Heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs as Emma's father emerged - Aaron Ross, late 40s with salt-and-pepper hair and a tidy beard framing kind, weathered features well known to Alex. Aaron's gray eyes crinkled happily seeing his daughter unexpectedly."Emma, sweetie! This is a surprise so early," he exclaimed, hugging her in fatherly affection. His gaze landed on Alex hovering by the door. "And Alex too! Sorry I haven't come by recently to check on your mother...""No need to apologize, Mr Ross," Alex demurred politely. "I know you would v

  • Reality Game Changer    Chapter Twenty Five

    Exhausted silence hung between Emma and Alex as he drove them back towards campus after the intense emotional revelations. Noticing a cafe still open, Alex pulled over, suggesting they recoup with some coffee. Emma numbly agreed.Settling into a shadowy back booth cradling warm mugs, Alex studied his friend's raw expression, eyes still puffy from earlier tears. He reached across the table to grasp her hand."How're you holding up after...everything?" he asked gently.Emma inhaled shakily. "Honestly? Kind of a mess trying to process it all logically..." Her composure crumbled once more."Aw Em..." Alex moved quickly to her side of the booth, wrapping a supportive arm around her shoulders as she cried again into his s

Latest Chapter

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 106

    Despite the dozens of armed militants encircling him, weapons aimed squarely at his center of mass, Alex refused to be cowed. His expression hardened into a mask of determination."Enough of these games!" he shouted, voice reverberating off the warehouse's steel rafters. "I want to see the one who set me on this merry chase. The so-called 'Agent Three' who's been jerking me around from the start."His words hung heavier in the air than their seeming bravado might imply. The combat-garbed soldiers shifted uneasily, tightening their firing grips in response to his overt demand.Then, that same electronically distorted voice crackled over the PA system once more."Stand down." The words may as well have been etched in permafrost for the glacial chill of authority they carried.Instantly, the agitated perimeter detail froze, their aim wavering fractionally. Alex didn't flinch, eyes locked dead ahead as a solitary figure detached from the shad

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 105

    The next two days passed in a frenetic blur for Alex as he poured over every permutation and variable surrounding their imminent infiltration of the Crypt Keeper's inner sanctum. Scouring the sisters' reconnaissance data, he meticulously mapped out contingencies for any obstacles or hostilities they may encounter.Infiltration vectors, aerial approach trajectories, fallback rendezvous points in case they were split up - Alex left no contingency unaccounted for in his operational plan. He would allow for no untamed variables that could jeopardize their chances of success and survival.Only once he was satisfied with the tactical framework did he finally turn his focus to the long game - the delicate situation involving their other...competitors angling for possession of the mythical Crown of Asteria.Leaning back in his chair with a weary sigh, Alex picked up the phone which Agent Three had initially given him and dialed the only number on it. It took a few

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 104

    Kalthia's bold declaration rang with an edge of thinly veiled menace that sent a subtle thrill down Alex's spine. He couldn't help but allow a confident smile to spread across his features. With these two ancient draconic powerhouses united alongside him, mustering the unstoppable force necessary to overcome any obstacles suddenly seemed well within their grasp. All the pieces were falling into place."Good, I'm counting on that." Alex glanced between the sisters meaningfully. "Because after reviewing these reconnaissance reports, I'll need to implement the next phase of my stratagem sooner than expected."Extending his senses inward, he focused on a data connection he had carefully constructed to code manipulated data concerning a certain interested party. A few complex subroutine commands later, and an encrypted packet of randomized reports and map imagery began generating.With this, the data for the Seekers operatives was prepared and with this they would think they were getting a

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 103

    Alex looked between Kalthia and Kelthia, seeing their attentions fully locked on him now in anticipation of his plan to infiltrate the Crypt Keeper's Mountain Temple and steal the legendary Healing Crown of Asteria.He took a deep breath before laying out the initial stages. "First thing's first - I need for us to do is pinpoint the exact location of this temple for me. Provide any details you can about its defenses, the terrain around it, everything."The sisters exchanged a look. Kelthia gave a slight nod. "That much I can readily supply. The Crypt Keeper's domain is a treacherous region, wreathed in obscuring mistrals and guarded by wards most foul.""But for dragons such as ourselves, piercing its veil of secrecy is well within our abilities," Kalthia added, a note of confidence edging her tone.Alex nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Once I have that locational data and mapping, I can start planning out the safest route for approach and infiltration."He fixed them both with a resolu

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 102

    Kalthia seemed to seethe silently at Alex's boldness in the face of the dragonslayer threat. He seemed to undermine the abilities. The dark shadows writhed more intensely around her human form."You dismiss their danger far too lightly, boy," she said in a low, dangerous tone. "These are not mere obstacles to overcome, but an extinction-level peril to everything we are. Don't you understand that?"Alex held her smoldering gaze, undeterred. "Then we'd better be prepared to face them when the time comes. Because they won't be the ones to stop us from our quest - and I repeat, not if I have any say about it."An icy pause lingered in the grand hall after Alex's defiant declaration. Kalthia stared at him like she was looking at a totally deaf fool seemingly dumbstruck that he would still push forward with their plans after learning about the dragonslayers and the other dangers it posses to them."You cannot be serious," the Umbra Dragon said at last,

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 101

    “Now that we have taken care of the in-house fighting, there are some things we need to get done.”Alex looked the sisters deep in the eye. He needed to know if they were ready for what he was going to say next.“I would need you both to help me out with something and once this is done, we would start our journey, it's going to be a very long road but I have this hope we would get there" Alex couldn't just tell them that he had almost all the information from millions of dragons who had lived and died. He was like a walking data bank for dragons and the system made it far easier for him to process things.“Leave?" Kalthia asked, “We just can't do that," she said with a dull expression.Alex was surprised, “We just agreed that we were going to go on a journey that would change our lives and you say you can't leave this area? Then why bother agreeing in the first place?"" Don't get agitated” Kelthia stepped in "I would explain in a rather

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 100

    "It's about your longevity," Alex began. "I realize even as powerful dragons, you can only live so long naturally."This piqued Kalthia's interest as well. She leaned forward slightly in her shadowy chair. "Are you implying you know of a way for us to extend our lifespans beyond what is possible?"Kelthia's expression was more guarded, but she gave a slight nod. "The strongest of dragonkind may only endure ten to fifteen thousand years before our essence fades. Kalthia and I have already experienced over six millennia.""Which leaves perhaps two or three thousand more years, if we're fortunate enough to live in peace," Kalthia added, somewhat wistfully.Alex nodded seriously. "I understand. But what if I told you there's a way to naturally and safely prolong your life spans much further - without any detrimental backlash?"The two sisters exchanged a startled look. Even for beings as ancient as them, the prospect of cheating their impending demise piqued their curiosity intensely.“No

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 99

    “Can't you just go see her alone? Whatever you both discuss you can let me know about it later" Kalthia came up with an excuse.Alex paused and looked at her with a side eye. “If I remember clearly, you proudly said there was nothing impossible for you to do, so why are you scared of meeting up with your sister? Moreover, you promised that there was no request you would not answer to and here you are already trying to jump bail over my first request. Tell me how I can trust a word you say in the future?"The words Alex spoke hit Kalthia's pride so hard that her pale skin showed signs of redness in response to his provocation.“You think I'm scared of that Icy lump? If it comes to a fight, I would pin her down over and over again" Kelthia expressed her anger, “In fact, let's get going, even if she has grudges higher than the universe itself, there is no need to be afraid of her”.“Perfect, then I would open up a portal right now" Alex smiled.Seeing Kalthia's reluctance to involve her

  • Reality Game Changer    

    Chapter 98

    Kalthia's booming voice washed over Alex, but he paid it little mind. His eyes were wide, hands patting over his body in disbelief. The dragon's remarks about being flesh and blood barely registered."Legs? Check. Arms? Check. Head? Still attached," Alex muttered under his breath, wiggling his fingers and toes. A broad grin spread across his face as the tingling warmth of draconic essence flowed through him. He could feel every muscle, every hair on his skin. He was here - truly present in this fantastical world in a corporeal form."I...I made it. My actual self is in Elysium!" he exclaimed, clenching his fists in excitement. Kalthia watched him bemusedly as Alex stretched and bent, testing his physical mobility and sensations. Her prodigy seemed utterly absorbed in marveling at his own tangible existence here."This is amazing! If I can travel between realms like this..." Alex's voice trailed off as the implications dawned on him. He looked up at the dragon determinedly."I just n