Shell 3 did not sit down. Instead, he wandered over to the clump of grass and shoved his head deep into it.

The part of his mind looked in abject horror at the amount of grass going into Shell 3 mouth. After a few seconds of silence, the part of his brain whispered into his thoughts, “ You and us different we are, young and old acupuncture spirits we is.”

Shell 3 paused his eating session for a moment and stared at the spirits in his brain. “So you are young, old, and depressed acupuncture spirits or YODAS. Finally, I can address you. Hi YODAS”

The spirits angrily whispered in his head, “Depressed we are not, noble we are, confused you is.”

Shell 3 thought back at the spirits, “You spirits do feel kind of depressed, always asking me to kill things and saying I will kill things.”

The spirits paused for a moment and then replied, “One insubordination allow we will, more we not. Point of conversation not this is, grow strong you must, so never bow down to anyone. Level Up, you must.”

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Shell 3 pondered this for a moment before asking, “ I don’t think I have bowed down to anybody in my life. I don’t think my body could do that.”

He demonstrated how his upper body could only hinge so far, not enough to be considered a proper bow.

Shell 3 resumed his mind speech. “I don’t understand what you mean by me not having to bow down, but that does not matter too much. Do you know how I suddenly know what acupuncture is when I hadn’t even known what a needle was a sun cycle ago?”

This was a more straightforward question for the YODAS, and they quickly replied, “System implanted knowledge from ability into the brain has.”

Realization dawned on as Shell 3 asked, “So the ‘System’ can manipulate my thoughts and memories?”

The YODAS responded with a simple “Yes.”

This was when Shell 3’s mind started to break, “How do I know that I am me if the ‘System’ can change that? HOW?”

The YODAS metaphorically slapped their heads as they listened to the fool, “Simple, young padawan. If System have bad intent, you not think thought you think, hmm. All System does is give, in return, defend the world from outsiders you do.”

Shell 3 calmed down and asked, “So I don’t have to worry if I am me?”

The YODAS responded, “Yes, worry not you should.”

Shell 3 then asked, “So what should I do next?”

The YODAS said, “Train and Level Up by fighting others you should. Only then strong enough to fight outsiders.”