As I exit, Abcier sees me and walks over, “Went well?” “Yeap, next stop World. How's it look out there?”
“A lot more people have arrived, it's not everyday the gods appear in a town this small.”
“True that, let's get a move on mate. Time to start the plan” As we walk toward the final temple I pull up the map mode, still nothing yet but it can only see about 30 metres around me so anyone long distance might be tracking me.
A System Interface window appears again:
Main System Interface (Rank CC)
Requirements not yet reached for Rank CCC
Current Features available:
MP and HP Meter:
MP: 162 points. HP: 523 points
Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts
Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live)
Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar
Party Creation: 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+
Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+
Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion, Block, City
Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). 4/4
Clones have access to System Interface
Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+
Further System Interface Advancement Required:
Sub ability available: Trust but Verify
Memory Palace Tower 5: Culinary information on the cooking and preparing of Lands foods
Secret Features activated
New Information Provided (Gifter: Power):
Further Memory Palace Advancement Required:
Tower 6: Power Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land:
Rank basis, join a Adventuring Guild and Study to increase this. List collapsed for brevity.
---
Tower 7: Information on the usage, creation and development of Crystals and Powered Items:
Rank basis, join a Crystal Guild or Study to increase this. List collapsed for brevity.
---
You currently do not have the necessary space in your Memory Palace to add this information, levelling up your Memory Palace with the desire to add another tower will allow this information to become available. Any Power or Crystal/Powered Item information you acquire prior to the upgrade will be calculated and added to your initial Rank.
As expected, more memory palace upgrades needed, I'll need to get some clones working on that once we're back.
We walk fast and enter the temple, greeted with another priest in a multi-colored robe, the tops of the robe white and light blue, the middle a brown green and the bottom third a deep blue.
“Hello Abcier, Michael this way please.” “Cheers.”
The tempIe is the same style and layout as the others but with more people, come to think of it the others had progressively more people as well, I head toward the massive doors which are in the same pattern as the robes. Just in more detail.
Entering in through the small door I find the room filled with natural looking formations all across the floor, like someone made a miniature version of a planet here. I close the door behind me, careful not to step on things.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
“It's OK, you won't cause any damage when you walk.'' says a tall, wide man in a robe. Golden with white accents again, “Guess you're World, what is this?”
“Oh just a scale model of Land, I like seeing how it looks and I feel it gives a perspective for things.”
“I can respect that, let me get straight to the questions as I have a suspicion that the Institute might be on their way.”
“Of course” replying with a nod, “Go ahead”
“What are the differences between Earth and this planet? Also do you have a name you use or something easier than Land/Air/Water as the name?”
“Oh just continue to call it Dirt for now. Knowledge told me. Either that or your can call it by the word for “World”, Bkuki.”
“Now with the differences you know about mana and the different Domains that the world has, but in general not too different, the orbits are somewhat different and it definitely has a difference in composition and plate movement but it is mostly the same as Earth.”
“Gravity is slightly different, Dirt or Bkuki is slightly heavier than Earth but as you know gravity can differ depending on the location.”
“Do you have access to space or other planets?” “No, our reach only extends to this world, but we do have quite a collection of astronomers and so we know something of our system and other stars.
For example, there appear to be 27 plants in our solar system, however as your worlds knowledge has been collected by Knowledge I can tell you that instead of there being 27 planets there are actually 7 planets that we know of with the rest being dwarf planets or other stellar bodies that have Minor-planet designations like your Pluto.”
“Cool, so next question, there's the three domains of Air, Land and Water but is there an underground domain? I was thinking something like a deep cave system that pools mana, having it become very high or toxic with things living deep within it?”
“I am afraid that would be a Rule of Three Question.” “With it being a Rule of Three Question imply that an Underground Domain exists?”
A smile appears but a shake of the head later he says, “Just because I do not reply does not mean it is there, it could be that us gods are looking to create an Underground Domain but just haven’t done it yet. Or don't think it is feasible with the balance.”
“I’m not sure if I’m in another reality, universe or hell, this might be all in my head. Compared to Earth, are the Atomic and Chemical processes the same? Like what I mean is, would the same physics and chemistry from Earth also work here?”
“Yes, the baseline between our worlds are the same.”
“So it could be feasible then I am in either a duplicate universe, the same universe or its all in my head.”
“Yes to the first two, No to the third.”
“Yea I get that, it just feels weird sometimes. How many elements are known and would you be against telling them to people?”
“At the current moment there are 33 known elements. The ones known are:
Hydrogen, Helium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sodium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Chlorine, Titanium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Gallium, Arsenic, Molybdenum, Silver, Tin, Antimony, Tellurium, Tantalum, Tungsten, Platinum, Gold, Mercury, Lead and Bismuth”
I don’t mind you telling people of them and I must say Earth’s research and hunting of Elements are quite impressive!”
“Thank you, maybe one day I’ll discover a new element. Next question, has this world had any Coronal Mass Ejections before and what did it do?”
“Yes, about 5 in recorded history, which is about 3000 years, before that history becomes more guesswork and research than anything.”
“As for its effects, not much. Higher levels of radiation for the Domain of Air but not too much else otherwise.”
“Final question before the main Questions, what are the Shakes that Creature mentioned?”
“Ahh, yes. We are not exactly sure. We suspect they are innate damage from the Crossing and may or may not be removed if you return. What I can tell you is this, on some level the very atoms in your body are unstable. At your base level you are ever so slightly more susceptible to the shakes but as you Rank up and live in this world longer the lesser effect this will have on you.
That being said, Creature is right. It is quite lucky that you have not had an attack before now.”
“And there is nothing you can do?” “That is correct, believe me. We have tried.”
Well crap then, “Well on that sombre note let's ask some of those Questions.” “Very well” replies World with a slight bow of his head.
“Question one in the form of a request: Information on the Elements and Chemistry, things like the periodic table, chemical reactions, formations, structure, anything related to these.”
“Granted, but like your previous requests with Power and Creature you will need to study, are you fine with that?”
“Sure, question two in the shape of another request. I would like a quick favour.” “A favour?” he asks with a tilted head.
“Yeap, it's time for the Plan, for Phase Two to finally begin! Talk to Knowledge, I would like to be temporarily teleported to a location where the institute cannot find me, somewhere open to the air, a hidden place. Knowledge has all the details.”
“Well, Granted then. Not like it’s something I can’t do.” And with a snap of his fingers the room changes, what was a dim room with countries lining the floor is now a large, long valley shaped in a giant oval with us appearing on one of its tips. Across a large misty lake I can see the outline of a small town and covering us on all sides are impossibly tall mountains, covered in snow.
It's cold here but not too badly, the sky covered with clouds with the odd sunbeam poking through, the clouds just enough to cover the sky but not enough to block out the sun.
The ground is covered in green grass and we are standing at the edge of the lake with a forest of trees behind us.
“This is The Oasis, to the west of where we were there is a stretch of mountains called the Esoh Iiway Zyshopeta or the Great Snowy Mountains in English, also called The Great Barrier of the East. It travels from the top to bottom of this continent, separating the continent from the rest of it aside from its breaks at its base and tip and the sea routes. Stretching for nearly 10,000 kilometres, and at least 500 kilometres in width it is the most difficult and dangerous area to travel across.
There is a village on the opposite shore which was the remainder of an expedition that discovered this oasis in the mountains, but it has been long since abandoned. I would ask that if you go there to not disturb it. Is this to your satisfaction?”
“Satisfaction?, this is beautiful! A pearl or gem, and a mountain range ten thousand Kilometres long! That's ridiculous!”
“It is one of the most well preserved places in existence, I would like to know why you wanted to come to somewhere so secluded?”
“This will become my home base, I will construct a city under the mountains and then using a future teleporting power, come back one day. I will live from here, once I am strong enough.”
And before anything else can happen, I bring my fingers into a plus and sixteen clones appear, eating through most of my mana. In my training I have been able to bring the lowest cost of mana per clone down to just 10 mana points.
Bringing out my Food generator, recycler and bag using the rest of my mana I drop my bags down and look toward them. It will be a long time before I see these clones again.
“My friends, today we embark upon Phase Two of the Initial Plan, in my absence, create a city that would rival Erebor in glory!”
A massive cheer from all sixteen roars out, grabbing bags and looking toward the mountains for a good spot to start. “This was your plan, to leave clones behind to work? All because of one agency?”
“Not only that, a government, country or organisation would undoubtedly look to get their hands on an OutWorlder, or OutWorlders. Advanced Group: Team Alpha, I will see you all soon!”
With smiles and grins they reply “yea, yea we get it already boss, get a move on why don’t ya?” “Team Alpha, bet he just made that up!” “Get a move on with the next lot of Powers, don’t leave us hanging you blighter!”
Chuckling, I turn to World, “That’ll do, you can just take me back please.” and with a snap of his fingers I return.