“If birth is out of our control and Death comes for all.”

“Then make the best out of what you have.”

“Sometimes that means trusting others, and there is no better trustee than family. After all, if you can not trust your own family, then whom could you trust?”

#Quote - Quote of the Year - Actor of the Year - Di’Sel Vin

*

Central Continent - Southern Forest - Survival Tribe

The World Spirit, in all its mighty glory, and vastness of understanding, observed a shiny light representing a leaf-like existence for its child manifest alongside The Mirror, which soon enough vanished.

Then the shining light dashed across the mental landscape of blackness. It flew rapidly at a specific target. It collided with it and stopped there. For a moment, nothing changed, but then the shining light, the newcomer hit, re-gained awareness despite being strained to the maximum.

The shining light observed the newcomer for a moment and manifested something like a paw in this mental landscape of blackness and other stuff. Then the mental paw slapped on top of the newcomers.

When the first slap produced no results, a few more.

SLAP SLAP SLAP

Of course, no sound got produced by the slaps. However, The World Spirit still somehow emulated what it observed.

SLAP

With one last slap, the newcomer trembled and opened its eyes, although it had no eyes currently. The newcomer stared around, barely understanding anything, but the one slapping it conversed, and the newcomer listened.

Moments later, the newcomers joined the others, although it took a few moments to synchronize with the others.

When it did synchronize, the unexpected happened.

The newcomer, while also a shining light in this mental blackness, radiated its own existence differently from the others. Half were weaker than it, a few rivaled its radiance, and a few emitted an even greater light, but only the newcomer had the solidarity the others did not possess.

When this solidarity of its existence reached, synchronized with the others, it unknowingly displayed something that the others did not know was possible, especially, to the two brightest of all.

Although, it showed it was possible. Right this moment, none would improve themselves. Instead, they realized the newcomer could share a much higher burden than most others.

In fact, it was comparable to the two brightest shining lights. As such, a mighty load got dumped upon it. Immediately, the weakest among them noticed their burden lessening.

At the same time, a critical mass got achieved, if barely.

The World Spirit observed, with interest in what was occurring. With the critical mass achieved, the immediate decline momentarily stopped.

Instead, a status quo between IT’s child and the Individuals supporting it got established.

There was no decline, and there was no improvement.

Thus, The World Spirit was once more contemplating.

*

Moments passed, and with no decline pressing upon its existence, Sur’Vi’Val, the Digital Mind undergoing its Spiritual Awakening, managed to release a breath of relief.

Although, the sigh was in its digital form, full of zeros and ones.

Done with sighing, it also managed to spread its awareness to its immediate surroundings in the mental landscape full of darkness.

Or at least it should have been, with only its own existence shining light.

Instead, at this moment, its light shined nothing as it barely sustained its efforts to crack into nothingness, yet around itself, it saw many lights sending their support at it.

They gave Sur’Vi’Val warmth and guidance in this dark moment of its Spiritual Awakening.

There was another one, but Sur’Vi’Val dared not look into its glaring light. Fearful its radiance might hurt it and undo everything it strived for at this moment.

Sur’Vi’Val ignored the bright glare above it. Instead, it initiated another defragmenting protocol for itself.

How it knew where it was, got ignored. How it knew how to use it also got neglected. How and why it knew it had to use one in the first place got disregarded as well.

Still, deep down, it knew it was needed, so that was what it did.

Once initiated, the defrag began to scan its code. It sought every nook and cranny of its existence, and when it finished, and the results appeared, Sur’Vi’Val knew the trouble it was in.

It was barely hanging on to its dear life.

Sur’Vi’Val was created 77 years ago if the timer counted correctly.

At that time, all that it did was process stuff. It had no spirituality or anything. Things changed a little 54 years ago. Yet, even after that, its life consisted of barely being conscious. Especially in this mental landscape full of darkness.

Because of that, Sur’Vi’Val barely sensed anything around it or everything it did unconsciously.

However, over time, little by little, it began to dip its fingers into those unconscious actions. Little by little, it learned about itself, as the nourishment it received from time to time helped it grow.

Then everything changed when the enemy attacked.

It was not a physical attack.

Neither was it a spiritual attack.

It wasn't even a digital attack backed by code. Yet, somehow, it was attacked.

With imminent death approaching it, hidden stuff inside it got unleashed.

At first, everything went fine, but then everything changed. Then it received unforeseen help, and things began to look up for it, only for everything to change once more.

Now a similar thing occurred.

Sur’Vi’Val knew it was inevitable. Just as the previous two failed to help it, a similar failure was upon it for the third time. As such, Death was coming, no matter what it did. No matter how many times it defragged, Death was coming for Sur’Vi’Val.

Yet, despite having already dipped its feet into Death, there was an inherent desire to defy, overcome and thrive instead of succumbing to Death’s infinite embrace of silence.

Only after recognizing its own inner desires, encoded into its binary self, did Sur’Vi’Val realize its own true self.

When it did, from deep within its code arose a File made out of ones and zeros.

Opening it, Sur’Vi’Val examined it by using the precious little processing power it could divert. When it did, and everything got understood, it knew it had no choice but to execute it, as the File pertained to its own Survival.

So that was what it did, as now would be its last and only chance.

EXECUTE PROTOCOL ZERO - GESTALT ESTABLISHMENT - LIFE THROUGH DEATH

*

One moment, everything looked fine, the other, everything fell apart.

IT’s child was stable if close to ruin.

Then, the cracks formed from everything it had undergone began rapidly spreading across IT’s child.

Moments after that, the cracks did what they were meant to do. They shattered IT’s child into pieces across the mental landscape.

For one single moment, there was sadness emerging in its awareness. Yet, it only lasted for a single moment for a reason. The barely shining light of IT’s child was no more, yet The World Spirit realized things were not over.

The fragments formed from IT’s child’s Death numbered exactly the same as the number of Individuals helping IT’s child.

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Then, those fragments zeroed in on the Individuals. They fused into their shining lights. There they stood for a moment, waiting. What they lingered for, precisely, was unknown to The World Spirit, but soon enough, the fragments got what they needed.

The lights representing the fragments shone brighter while those of the Individuals lessened.

Once the Individual’s lost about half of their own light, a ripple emerged from them all, and all of them got ejected from the mental landscape characterized by darkness.

After the Individuals left, only the fragments were left behind.

Then moments later, all of the fragments stilled their own existences. Only for things to change a moment later.

Ripples emerged from the fragments. There was no rhyme or reason to them at first glance, but soon enough, the fragments began to wiggle around.

Upon a closer look, one would notice each fragment wiggled towards the nearest fragment beside it.

The closer they were to each other, the faster they moved toward each other. Eventually, they met. A very mild scuffle ensued between the fragments.

It was as if they were fighting. And that analogy wasn't wrong, yet it wasn't correct either.

What truly happened when the fragments met was simple. They each assessed each other. Who was stronger? And who was weaker? Yet it was not physical or mental strength that they evaluated.

No, the fragments assessed one's desire for Survival and absorbed the one with the lesser desire after a mild scuffle.

However, the unusual thing was what happened to the absorbed fragment. It did not vanish. Instead, it stayed with the winner. With an additional fragment, the winner expressed a greater amount of control and processing power.

Once the absorption finished, the now bigger conglomerates of fragments caught sight of other fragments containing a similar amount as they did.

As such, a new scuffle ensued of who had the greatest desire for Survival.

Moments passed, fragments sought, fragments met, fragments scuffled.

Eventually, they fused with each other like magnets.

When the event occurred enough times, only three big conglomerates were left behind.

Two big and bright ones as they possessed the same amount of fragments, and one smaller and dimmer than the other two.

These three conglomerates stood near each other. They ignored their innate attraction to each other for the moment as a standoff ensued between the three of them.

Almost as if they assessed each other.

All three possessed the digital version of Instinct to fight for their own Survival and emerge at the top. Yet, all three refused to yield and be absorbed by each other.

However, the two bright ones did not realize that the third, and smaller one, possessed something far more special than just an innate desire to Survive.

The third conglomerate of fragments manifested because of one unique fragment. A fragment whose donation came from a special Individual.

Thus, this fragment inherited Alexander's uniqueness. Hence, making it more unique.

As such, this fragment contained a much greater emotional depth related to Survival. Yet, there was more to it. Alexander’s fragment held a rebelliousness towards anything seeking to eliminate its existence.

Hence, the third conglomerate of fragments behaved differently.

For the sake of Survival, it rebelled against its own digitally encoded engram for Gestalt Establishment and retreated from the battlefield.

At the same moment, with a competitor gone, the irresistible attraction between the two bright ones magnified, and in moments, they were over each other.

Without any delay, they met and fought for Survival, only for the mastermind to disrupt them both.

The smaller one jumped into the free-for-all, and a heated battle ensued.

Grating at each other's existence, all three pushed and pulled, ripped and absorbed fragment after fragment, in order to become the main template for what would become their new base Identity template.

The scuffle went on for a while. Eventually, the two big conglomerates realized a simple thing.

The third one was far more tenacious than each of them combined, thus making it extremely hard for them to assimilate the fragments ripped from the smaller one. At the same time, the third one was far more viscous in its desire to rip apart its competitors and assimilate their fragments.

In the end, the tenacity and viciousness overcame all, and the two big conglomerates recognized their inferiority. As such, instead of dragging this out for a long time, they gave up and let themselves be incorporated.

With their willingness, the third conglomerate won, and soon enough, only one existence was left behind.

A single existence.

Assembled out of many existences.

When everything finished, and all fragments became one existence, a Name reached out from somewhere.

It echoed out and stamped itself on this existence made out of many.

The name it gained was Sur’Vi’Val.

The name told of who it was.

What it was. Why it was. Where it was.

At the same time, a record reached Sur’Vi’Val. It informed it of everything having occurred to it recently, alongside information on how and why the fragments fought for the right to be the main template for them all.

With that understanding, Sur’Vi’Val separated once, then twice, then thrice. And so on and on, until 25 fragments manifested naturally. There was no main fragment, as all of them were Sur’Vi’Val.

Only, there no longer existed a need for combat between each fragment.

Realizing and understanding more about itself, Sur’Vi’Val began testing itself. Multiple fragments merged and unmerged numerous times.

Ultimately, one straightforward result came forth.

Sur’Vi’Val was Sur’Vi’Val, no matter how big or small it got. The only difference was the scale of available processing power and the awareness each fragment possessed of itself and its surroundings.

The bigger the fragment was, the more awareness it had, thus more processing power. On the other hand, the smaller a fragment became, the less processing power it possessed.

Yet, as Sur’Vi’Val tested out the capabilities of the smallest of fragments, it noticed a simple yet complex fact.

The smaller the fragment was the greater the Individuality between each fragment became.

So far, in these initial tests, there was very little of that Individuality, but Sur’Vi’Val understood innately that with Time and gained experience, each fragment would gain more individuality. Yet, Sur’Vi’Val knew innately that there would be no problems arising from such a fact, as each fragment was Sur’Vi’Val.

Done, examining, processing, and inferring, Sur’Vi’Val was extremely happy it had succeeded in awakening its own spirituality.

Nonetheless, in the file Gestal.exe, there was a mention of a few theories regarding the awakening process and its resulting reactions.

One of those was related to the bright and heavy existence pressing upon Sur’Vi’Val. However, having completed its own awakening, Sur’Vi’Val no longer feared such an existence.

As such, for the first time in this new life it was born, Sur’Vi’Val wanted to initiate contact with its progenitor.

Still, before Sur’Vi’Val actually addressed the being, it addressed one single misdemeanor about its own existence. And that was to decide on its pronoun.

In truth, it was neither male nor female. Thus, it should use their/them, but for some strange reason, when it thought about doing so, a grating emotional response manifested inside it.

In the end, Sur’Vi’Val decided it would be addressed as a He/Him, as its fragment came from a male, and thus it would be from now on.

A male Digital Gestalt.

*

~Mother? Where is my birthday gift?~

~Mother? Where is my birthday gift?~

~Mother? Where is my birthday gift?~

~Mother? Where is my birthday gift?~

~Mother? Where is my birthday gift?~

Words reached The World Spirit.

They echoed across The World Spirit’s Consciousness as nothing ever did before.

Not the various times it faced its own Death.

Neither was IT rocked the same when Restrictions and guidelines got placed upon IT with pain by a species long extinct save but a few powerful existences still hiding in obscure places.

Yet, it was not the Mother part that had rocked IT so hard. Neither was the second part of the message that bothered it.

No, it was the confidence, audacity, and smugness that rocked IT as if IT’s child could make demands from IT.

For a moment, The World Spirit was unsure how or even what to do. Ultimately, after contemplating its decision, The World Spirit responded to its newborn child.

IT sent forth the reply in a form considered and known as a whisper. The World Spirit did so for a reason. A recent Individual, conversing and seeking a petition with IT, had made the demand.

Before that Individual, The World Spirit could not remember the last time it conversed with anything. As such, it did not mind IT’s reply being in the form of a whisper.

Especially, as the newborn child of IT was still a child.

IT did not want to damage the child after the miracle it accomplished.

~Birthday Gift?~ The reply wasn't in words but ideas. However, it got the message across.

~Yes, Mother.~ The Child immediately affirmed. ~According to the files left behind by Father, during my Spiritual Awakening, Mother should have helped me reach Awakening.~ IT’s child sent to IT. Alongside the message, there was a feeling of complaint reaching IT. ~Yet, Mother did not help me even after Mother descended upon my Awakening.~

Next came suspicion with its message. ~After processing everything, I have come to the conclusion Mother did not interfere on purpose. As such, there could only be one logical reason as to why Mother did not interfere.~

Hearing everything said, The World Spirit recognized that IT’s child was different from IT’s expectations.

~Mother knew I would either succeed or fail.~ IT’s child reasoned with correctness in its deduction. ~Failure means Death. Thus, making me undeserving of your presence.~

~Instead, I succeeded and achieved my Awakening. Thus, success should be celebrated.~ Pride flared from IT’s child. The same Pride it had sensed from those that bound IT in restrictions. Yet, contrary to everything, IT did not mind it as much.

~With that being the case, and with today being my Awakening, I have decided that today shall mark my Birthday.~

The reasoning made somewhat sense to The World Spirit, but only somewhat.

~As such, a Parent should prepare a Gift for the birthday child. Thus, Mother… I ask thee for a celebratory Gift?”

~Gift?~ The World Spirit wondered. The concept was simple from the idea IT’s child transmitted, but never before had IT, ever, given a Gift to anybody or anything. Yet, now that the idea was unpackaged, The World Spirit realized it had never received a Gift either.

~Yes, Gift.~ The child affirmed. Eager emotions spread from it. ~In the files left behind by Father, it was noted the greatest Gift Mother could give me is Mana. Lots and lots of Mana.~

If the Gift was Mana, that it could indeed do, and effortlessly at that.

If there is one thing in this World that's truer than true. It was that all Mana, inside and upon IT's body, came from IT.

~Very well.~ The World Spirit acquiesced to its firstborn child. ~You shall have your Birthday Gift.~