After some time, I finally made it back to my modest campsite. I was exhausted but had no desire to get any rest, not after what happened last time. I took a little time to add wood to the fire and set up my equipment next to me, which was closer and more secure. With my back against a wall, I finally looked at my new notifications.
“CoreLink, show me all updates,” I requested, hoping it was sufficient to display the information I wanted.
-Robotic Companion updates-
- 0.1% compatibility reached.
-New boon granted.
-Boon status: Automatic
-Boon: Capability Modifier
-Once the registered user reaches compatibility of 0.1, using the robot in Symbiotic Mode grants a +1 modifier to attack and defense statistics. This modifier will increase at the acquisition of every additional percent of compatibility that is increased.
A plus one modifier to my attack and defense would greatly help. That also explained why my father, as well as so many other robot users, were so much stronger. I figured it must be something like that, but I just had to guess since I was never told. If I could increase my overall number and that of my realm, the bonus would be even better. I remembered that I didn’t know my attack rating yet, and resolved to look it up, but first, I went back to the updates.
-New function granted
-Function status: Active Ability
-Function: ARTP (Augmented Reality Training Space)
-Access to Augmented Reality Training Space -1x a day for 30 Min.
“What is an Augmented Reality Training Space?” I wondered. “Damn it,” I immediately followed as the CoreLink took my wondering as a request.
-Searching CoreLink…
-Search Complete – Approximately 468,000,000 results (0.26 seconds)
-Augmented Reality Training Space- A Single-user, artificial training environment. This program uses augmented reality to create an environment for multiple training types. It used a standard Euclidean differentiating program to dilate the locale area by a 1:8 ratio. Running nearly any downloaded program… (more.)
This was an interesting function. At least, I hoped that it was interesting. I didn’t think that the DTA program was good when it was downloaded, so I didn’t want to be so quick in dismissing this one. Although, I had no idea what any of what I read meant. I hoped my lack of knowledge was due to living in the middle of nowhere, but I had a bad feeling this information was too far above me.
I took a few minutes to check my area to ensure I was secure. It was something I continued throughout the night. When I was done, I sat back down and returned to what I was doing.
“Open Personal Status.”
-Personal Status -
-Name: Matthew Gearwon
-Class: Regulator
-Robot Compatibility: 0.1%
-Compatibility to next boon: 1.0%
-Compatibility to next function: 5.0%
-Attack: Natural Realm – 6 (+1 in Symbiotic Mode)
-Defense: Natural Realm – 6 (+1 in Symbiotic Mode)
I was really hoping that my attack parameter was higher. After all, I did kill the Brownie-Spider, but I supposed it was due to luck. I would just have to keep increasing my compatibility like everyone else.
I thought about searching for any of the numerous aspects of knowledge that I was missing. Although, while thinking about it, I couldn’t decide where I wanted to start the search. Besides, I wanted to check out my new function.
“Open Augmented Reality Training Space.”
Similar to when I entered Symbiotic mode, my goggles were suctioned to my face with an exhalation of air. A grid of vertical blue lines expanded from a pinpoint in my vision to cover the whole thing. The grid began to push away from my position, curving around the natural obstacles. It continued for about thirty meters before pulling back toward me.
The grid rotated to a horizontal position when it reached the halfway point. It moved upward in what appeared to be the same distance as it went out, then it moved back down. Instead of stopping halfway, the grid moved to the ground, distorting around the natural obstacles.
There was a rippling in the air as everything changed. The actual ground disappeared while the gridded pattern continued to be visible across its surface. All the natural obstacles also disappeared, but instead of a gridded pattern, they were just outlines of blue.
Suddenly, large stylized words appeared floating in front of my vision.
-Welcome to the Augmented Reality Training Space
-Please select which training program you would like to open.
-Searching for Training Programs….
…..
….
-No Programs found.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
-To access training programs, please exit the function and download authorized material.
Then all the words disappeared, leaving me alone in the training space.
I took a few moments to look around. My spear, or staff in its current form, was resting beside me. However, I couldn’t see my pack, which had also been resting beside me. I thought it was weird that the function could discern between one but not the other, but I didn’t think there was anything I could do about it.
I decided to walk around the area to check it out before I exited and searched for some training programs. I picked up my spear and stood up, not knowing what could happen. I moved to step forward into the open area and quickly jumped back. My foot and leg started to get extremely hot.
Looking down, there was nothing there. I reached out, and I could feel the heat. It was right where my fire had been. It appeared that my fire was still there. I reached my hand a little further forward, and sure enough, it continued to get hotter until I could swear I felt the licking of the flames.
I had no idea what in the Orbs was going on. It seemed like it was some type of illusion? I thought this program would change reality somehow, but it just inlaid an image over what I could see.
I looked a little closer at where I knew the fire was. As I did, I could see that there was indeed a slight distortion on the ground where my fire was. The distortion also had the vague shape of the small rocks I put around the fire and the burning wood.
I moved to where my pack was and reached for it. My thoughts were confirmed as my fingers closed around the rough fabric. I even managed to open it up and dig my hand around the inside.
I put the bag down, gave the fire a wide berth and walked around the area. I could see everything clearly as if it was the middle of the day, but beyond the site of the gridded lines, there was just a blank blue void. Besides the endless void, everything seemed normal. I even gave my bladeless spear a couple of swings, but nothing happened.
I walked to the end of the training area and peered at the edge to see if I could see anything but to no avail. I reached out my hand and pressed on the boundary. I knew it was there because I could see a faint shimmer when I got close to it. The border gave a little to my pushing. The shimmer around my hand started to change color when I pushed further. At first, it changed to yellow, then it became red.
I continued to push.
Suddenly, a loud blaring, like someone stepping on a frog, only the frog was thirty feet tall, sounded in the area. In front of me, words lit up in angry red.
-Caution! Caution! Caution!
-Further stress to the Augmented Reality Training Boundary will result in improper closure of the function!
I pulled back immediately. I didn’t want to break it right when I got it. My dad would always yell at me when I did that. Instead, I moved back to the middle of the area and exited the function in what I hoped was the proper way.
“Close Augmented Reality Training Program,” I said.
I was expecting something as extravagant as what happened when I opened it. I thought perhaps it would do everything in reverse. But the air shimmered slightly, and then I found myself bathed in firelight while standing in relation to the training area in ordinary reality.
I shrugged and then made sure to check my surroundings for safety. I wasn’t sure what had happened while I was under the illusion of Augmented Reality, but I thought it best to check. Seeing no signs of danger, I returned to a comfortable position at my campsite and started to look up programs.
“CoreLink. Search Augmented Reality Training Programs.”
- Searching CoreLink….
- Search complete – Approximately 29,300,000 results (0.23 seconds)
- Augmented Reality training programs offer a dynamic alternative to traditional training. These immersive programs can provide virtual hands-on, risk-free learning that enhances training sessions by incorporating interactive digital objects with AI-assisted instructors. Downloadable through the local CoreLink cluster server… (more).
I sighed. I didn’t feel like dealing with this finicky system. “Search CoreLink server cluster…” I paused to gather my thoughts as the sentence was long, and I partially forgot what exactly I needed to say. I didn’t get a chance to finish.
-CoreLink cluster server search
-Please specify search parameters…
“A-augmented Reality Training Programs,” I stuttered slightly at the abruptness of the request.
-Confirmed…
-Searching local CoreLink Cluster Server for Augmented Reality Training Programs…..
-Augmented Reality Training Programs –
The list of programs was huge. It was so huge that another window popped up in my vision, listing them all. I could scroll through the options by pointing to a little bar and waving my hand up and down.
The list seemed to include everything from accounting, which I thought had to do with money, to zoology. The list went further than that, but I didn’t recognize most of the words. Thankfully, my father did attempt to teach me all that he could, so I knew the word zoology and that it was the study of animals.
I was sitting there for a few minutes, just flicking through the selection, utterly absorbed in the many things to go through. I had forgotten what I was searching for until I came upon the word Cultivation and promptly selected it.
Another list sprang into existence, but that one was slightly different. It wasn’t filled with broad terms like the previous list but with more specific terms such as the Ashyyrian System Devine Light Cultivation Method. The words were written in gray, unlike all the choices on the previous screen.
I tried to select it, but nothing happened. I even said it aloud to select it, but again nothing happened. I tried to choose the following cultivation method, but that also didn’t do anything.
I began scrolling through the list to see if I could find anything different. I finally came upon words that were written in a blue script.
-Chammor Deep Soul Pressure Cultivation Technique
I chose it and more information popped up.
-Chammor Deep Soul Pressure Cultivation Technique: This is the premier indigenous cultivation technique of the Mari Star System. It is commonly believed to have arisen as the premier technique in the Mari Star System due to its home planet’s specific traits. The home planet, Guahan, is primarily aquatic, with its seas so deep that the pressure eventually crushes everything that dares to go too deep.
-This cultivation technique is best for people who are aquatic in nature, have access to large bodies of water and wish to withstand enormous pressure.
-Cultivation Class: Basic
-Would you like to download the training module? Y/N
I declined as I didn’t really meet any of the criteria. I continued to scroll through the rows and rows of greyed-out names. Occasionally, I came upon other cultivation methods, but none seemed appealing. The one thing all the cultivation modules I could download had in common was that they were in the Basic Class of cultivation.
Eventually, I came upon the cultivation method that I had already read a little about.
-Girdiq Alliance Method of Cultivation: This is the galaxy-wide summation of multiple cultures’ collections of techniques to develop the De energies in the body. It was created so the benefits of cultivation could be brought to and adapted by all the peoples of the galaxy.
-Cultivation Class: Basic
-Would you like to download the training module? Y/N
I was bored looking through the endless list of cultivation methods on display. I liked the idea that this one was made for all different types of people and that it was made to be simple. It was an easy choice.
After choosing to download the program, I was informed that it would take about thirty minutes to complete the download. I wondered why nothing with my robot could ever be instant. While I waited, I looked around at all the other programs I could download, but nothing else caught my attention. I was informed of the download completion by a buzzing in my head and a message.
-Girdiq Alliance Method of Cultivation program download complete. -Would you like to open the module in the Augmented Reality Training Program? Y/N
I agreed, and my area of vision went through the same process as last time. When the startup ended, a specter of a man sat cross-legged in the middle instead of an open area. I grabbed my spear and slowly approached.
The man was silhouetted in blue like everything else in the area. When I was closer, his eyes opened, and he nodded slightly in my direction.
“Greetings, initiate,” he said serenely.
“Hello,” I started tentatively. “Who are you?”
“I am your instructor for your initiation into the beginning stages of your cultivation. This module will cover proper cultivation techniques, including position, posture, breathing and free manipulation of the De energies in the universe.” He gestured with his open palm to the ground in front of him. “Please, have a seat, and we can get started.”
I did as instructed, and we began the lesson.