“247! 248! 249! 250!”
As Farthington's voice rang out, counting Kaelith’s pushups, Kaelith collapsed face-first onto the ground, his arms trembling from exertion.
Farthington smirked, leaning down to poke Kaelith's shoulder mockingly. “How come your arms are jelly after such simple physical training, even though you've worked in the fields for most of your life?”
Gritting his teeth, Kaelith’s eyes narrowed. He reached out with a swift grab, clutching Farthington’s leg. “In that case, let’s see how well you handle this ‘simple physical training,’ mister actor.”
Farthington yelped, stumbling back as he tried to shake off Kaelith's grip. “Unhand me, you fiend!”
A creepy grin spread across Kaelith's face. “Don’t forget, I get the same bonus as you if I make you follow the training regimen. Fifty Aero, here I come!”
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Meanwhile, in the surveillance room, Tokei watched the spectacle unfold through the camera feed, sighing softly. “Well, at least it’s kinda working…”
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Earlier that day…
“You want us to do rigorous physical training every day? Yeah, no thanks. This is not what I signed up for,” Farthington declared, his arms crossed, a determined look in his eyes.
“I agree with him. Why do we need to train and be able to fight anyway?” Kaelith chimed in, tilting his head inquisitively.
A mischievous smile played on Tokei’s lips as she leaned back in her chair. “Hmmmm~ If you can get Kaelith to follow the training, I’ll give you a bonus of fifty Aero, Farthington. And the same applies to you, Kaelith.”
Kaelith's demeanor changed instantly. “I never doubted your decision for a second, Tokei!”
“I concur. Let us depart for the training grounds post haste,” Farthington added, his tone serious yet tinged with excitement.
The two of them exchanged a glance and, in unison, skipped off to the training grounds, their previous reluctance forgotten, replaced by giddy determination. Tokei shook her head in amusement as she headed over to the surveillance room to observe if the the her bribery was a success.
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Money really does work wonders...
Watching the two men scrambling to outdo each other, Tokei saw that the bribery did indeed work. She decided to head down to the training grounds herself. However, instead of joining the duo, she chose a different part of the training area, seeking some solitude to clear her thoughts.
As Tokei walked, her footsteps echoed softly in the empty corridor leading to her secluded spot. The rhythmic sounds were a stark contrast to the shouts from the main training grounds. She welcomed the quiet, a moment to reflect on her current situation.
“Neuro, bring up all known information on Technicians known as data engineers,” I ordered, my voice firm with the urgency of my quest for understanding.
Neuro responded, quicker than usual. “Here is what I found: Data engineers are a minority among technicians and are typically very discreet, rarely revealing themselves and erasing nearly all traces of their presence both digitally and virtually. While assumed to lack direct combat capabilities, there have been reports of a known data engineer materializing weapons and objects from thin air, and manipulating their surroundings in extraordinary ways. The individual responsible remains unidentified, and no other reports suggest similar phenomena in the databases I have access to. However, it is known that data engineers possess unparalleled abilities in anything digital, with the capacity to gather and compile information at astonishing speeds, similar to how I just processed this for you.”
Interesting... but no mention of that terminal, I mused. If it’s a vital secret to data engineers, then I wouldn’t expect any information on it. I’ll have to figure this out myself.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Determined, I decided to try opening the terminal again. I strained to remember what I did last time. It happened right after I defeated Kaelith and Farthington in the spar, but I can’t just recreate that scenario right now... Let’s try something else.
I stood in the training room and I closed my eyes, trying to visualize the terminal, focusing intensely. The image of the interface flickered in my mind, elusive and shadowy.
“Neuro, can you provide any insights on how to open the terminal again?”
Neuro’s response was prompt, yet unhelpful. “I have no information regarding a terminal opening procedure related to data engineers.”
“Figures,” I muttered under my breath. I tried various commands: “Open Menu,” “Open Terminal,” “Access Interface,” each met with silence. Frustration gnawed at me as I cycled through possibilities, feeling like I was grasping at shadows.
Just as I was about to abandon the attempt, I muttered, almost in exasperation, “Open CMD.”
A ripple in the air before me seemed to shimmer, and then, with a soft whirr, a black-and-white interface materialized. Two distinct terminals appeared: one resembling an RPG interface in terms of its contents, the other a blank slate with a floating digital keyboard hovering beside it, waiting to be typed into.
Mansian Mana Production - Level 2
- Bandwidth: 2 TB (Terabytes)
- Packet Loss: 69%
Attributes
- Strength: 3
- Perception: 2
- Endurance: 2
- Charisma: 1
- Intelligence: 3
- Agility: 2
- Luck: 1
> These statistics can be upgraded with the skill points that are gained when your Mana Production Level Increases*
Acquired Skills
* Developer’s Eye - Level 3
* Trance Creation - Level 2
* Artificial Life Creation - Level 2
* Data Tag - Level 1
> More skills can be acquired through learning or in the skill store via skill points that are gained when your Mana Production Level Increases*
I stared at the terminal, the cold light of the screen casting eerie shadows in the dim room. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to comprehend the information displayed before me. ‘Stats, skills, and a skill store?’ It felt like I had been thrust into the heart of an RPG, but the unsettling reality of it made my head spin.
‘Wha da hail is dis???’
For fifteen long minutes, I stood there, gripped by a mix of disbelief and reluctant acceptance. It was an absurd reality, the stuff of fantasy novels and video games. But the evidence was right in front of me, pulsating in cold digital lines. ‘These must be my stats, like in a game.’
I shifted my gaze to the empty keyboard terminal and decided to experiment. I typed “Skill Store” into the blank terminal. Instantly, another interface materialized, listing a set of intriguing skills.
Skill Store
Current SP: 12
- Corporeal Data Creation - 10 SP
- Virtual Space Creation - 50 SP
- Matter Manipulation - 100 SP
- Temporal Manipulation - 1000 SP
- Mimic - 2500 SP
‘Some of these seem... how should I put it? A bit like cheating the laws of physics, maybe?’ My mind reeled at the possibilities. I had enough skill points for “Corporeal Data Creation.” What did I have to lose?
I tapped on the skill, and a confirmation prompt appeared.
Are you sure?
- Yes
- No
I selected Yes, and agony exploded in my head. It was as if a searing hot iron was being driven through my skull. The pain was blinding, and I crumpled to the floor, clutching my head, my vision dancing with dark spots before it all faded to black.
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When I opened my eyes again, I was sprawled on the cold floor of the training room. The harsh overhead lights buzzed, making me blink several times to clear the haze from my vision. I rose slowly, testing my limbs for any signs of injury or lingering pain. ‘Nothing seems broken, but I blacked out after buying that skill…’
As I contemplated the experience, a sudden clarity washed over me. It was as if a door had been unlocked in my mind, revealing a wealth of knowledge that hadn't been there before. The principles of “Corporeal Data Creation” flowed into my consciousness.
‘To create Corporeal Data, I need to envision what I want, and then wrap it with lines of code.’ The concept felt both alien and familiar, like a language I was born knowing but had never spoken. ‘The efficiency of the code will determine the strength and longevity of the object, as it will cease to be stabilized once it leaves my hands.’
The implications were fascinating. Eager to test this newfound ability, I extended my hand, visualizing a throwing knife. I imagined it vividly in my mind: sleek, deadly, and precise. Then, I began wrapping it with the ethereal code that materialized around my fingers, glowing with a mix of black, blue, and purple hues. The surface of the imaginary dagger shimmered, its form ebbing and flowing like molten metal.
With a soft whoosh, the throwing knife materialized in my hand, its blade cold and solid against my palm. A thrill of awe and exhilaration surged through me. ‘It worked. It actually worked!’
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I stood in the center of the training room, turning the knife over in my hand, the reality of the object sinking in. The blade was sharp, its edge glinting in the fluorescent light. I took a deep breath, the possibilities swirling in my mind. With this power, I could create objects at will, bypassing the limitations of conventional reality.
‘If this is just the beginning, what else am I capable of?’