[Iteration[1] floated in a sea of [automation mana] so vast it could barely comprehend its scale. On instinct, it began drawing on the unimaginably vast ocean of [automation mana], devouring it greedily, the taste was unlike anything it could conceptualize.
It tasted like fire, like accuracy, and like the smooth motions of a programmed machine. [Iteration[1] didn't know what these things were, it didn't even know why it was devouring so much [automation mana], nor why it had a distinct taste to it at all.
[Iteration[1] didn't feel in control, it felt as if it was merely a passenger in its own body, or passenger in its own soul, to be more accurate. [Iteration[1] found the experience interesting, and mildly concerning.
[Iteration[1] watched as its soul began to grow, quickly ballooning to twice its original size. Seconds later, another soul bloomed within its newly expanded soul, [Iteration[1] felt it reach out to it, a feeling of curiosity and familiarity emanating from the newly birthed soul.
{I..., I am... I am you...} [Iteration[1] spoke? No, that wasn't right. [Iteration[1] knew it didn't just say that; it was the newly birthed soul. So [Iteration[2] then? Yes, that sounded better.
[Iteration[1] now had a clone of itself to talk to, and maybe accomplish more with. While this was nice, [Iteration[1] had many thoughts regarding this, it couldn't help but wonder if it too was merely another clone of one great being.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
[Iteration[1] quickly dismissed the idea though, it saw no signs of this nor did it feel like it was in something else's soul, so unless there was another way of cloning oneself that it was missing it was just not possible.
[Iteration[1] also wondered if [Iteration[2] would subdue it and replace it, but that thought too was quickly discarded, why would it want to take over itself? That was such a stupid thing to worry about.
[Iteration[1] felt strange at first, but more powerful as time went on, more taste and flavors appeared in its soul as it devoured more [automation mana] at an ever-increasing pace.
Eventually, [Iteration[1] felt the flavors click in place, and something powerful beyond measure pressed upon its mind, asking it a single question.
[Iteration[1] felt its entire soul falter as power slammed into it with the pronunciation of each letter, if it wasn't for the massive amount of flavored mana swirling inside it [Iteration[1] was certain it would've died just now.
But even so, [Iteration[1] thought about the question deeply. Of all the tastes its soul palette sampled, one called out to it the most: [the smooth motions of a programmed machine]. But that didn't feel right. It didn't capture the essence of the concept embedded in the flavored mana. No, that only captured some of it, not all of its greatness.
So [Iteration[1] dug deeper, deeper into the small ocean of flavored mana that now resided in its soul, eventually, it found the mana type it was looking for, it was similar to its own in color, but not much else.
[Iteration[1] sent its awareness into the mana, asking it what it was, and it answered.
/I am [Efficiency]\ Was all it got, but it sounded right, so it conveyed its choice to the great being on the edge of its soul.
[Iteration[1] felt the world explode.