We stepped into the newly renovated throne room, a sheer monument to our combined power and Yui's remarkable ability to transform the absurdly impractical into something resembling functionality. Gone were the gaudy tapestries and ostentatious displays of wealth that had once adorned the walls, replaced by the sleek, humming efficiency of modern technology. Screens flickered with intricate data streams, holographic projections danced in mid-air, and the very air seemed to crackle with a subtle, electric hum.
We had, in essence, shoved the technological equivalent of the 2020s, into this technologically backward world.
While I readily acknowledge that most of the inhabitants wouldn't possess the cognitive capacity to comprehend, let alone utilize, half, no, 98 percent of these advancements, the undeniable visual spectacle served its purpose.
"Ah," I said, inhaling deeply, savoring the invigorating aroma of ambition and progress. "I do love the scent of megalomania in the morning."
Asuna, her eyes alight with a predatory satisfaction that mirrored my own, inclined her head in agreement. "We worked all through the night," she said, her voice betraying no hint of the exhaustion that should have accompanied such a herculean effort, "But I'm not tired at all. Kinda weird."
Yui, with a characteristically mischievous grin, hopped onto the armrest of the massive mechanical throne, an ostentatious creation that could only be described as a deliberate and rather pointed jab at the Anti-Monitor - except with functional areas for where legs can, in fact, be placed upon the ground. It even had integrated cup holders, as well as a level of comfort that even that cosmic entity could appreciate.
Thanks to my own engineering knowledge and expertise, as well as Asuna's refined aesthetic sensibilities, the throne itself was more than spacious enough to accommodate two occupants with ease while looking both good, and being filled with enough technology that if I were to present it anywhere in my previous world, they would go to war with me just for existing.
As I settled into the plush cushions beside Asuna, Yui perched herself upon the armrest, her diminutive form dwarfed by the large size of our newly acquired symbol of dominion.
"As you are both aware, the Vitality stat at this level has always rendered you physically impervious to the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation," Yui explained, her voice a cheerful chirp that belied the withering disdain she held for the former deity.
"And, of course, it significantly mitigates the cognitive decline associated with prolonged periods of wakefulness. However," she continued, her voice laced with a sardonic amusement, "I stumbled upon a rather amusing notation within the original code. Apparently, that tragically inept excuse for a goddess felt compelled to add a comment stating that sleep was entirely unnecessary at higher Vitality levels. Clearly, she possessed a profound lack of understanding regarding the nuanced psychological impact of prolonged sleep deprivation, even when the physical repercussions are negated. Idiotic, really."
She shook her head, her expression a mixture of amusement and pity. "Regardless, I still recommend a full eight hours of sleep every two weeks at the minimum, for optimal cognitive function and mental well-being."
"On a more positive note," she continued, her voice regaining its usual bubbly cadence, "I have successfully generated several new domains and expanded my existing mathematical domain. The Physical Law domain, the Reality Law domain, and the Encryption domain have proven to be quite advantageous. However, the Code domain is undeniably the most intriguing. But I digress. How about you two? Have you experienced any noteworthy divine augmentations?"
"Umm, wonderful daughter of mine," I trailed off. "We don't actually have divinities, you know?"
Asuna, ever the astute observer, noticed Yui's newly crestfallen expression and knelt before her, her voice taking on a gentle, consoling tone. "Yui, sweetie," she began, "sometimes, even your parents don't get all the cool divinity. It's just how things work. You're so incredibly powerful, but Papa and I are just well, somewhat normal non-divine people."
I scoffed at Asuna's attempt at reassurance, a wave of incredulous amusement washing over me. " Normal non-divine people?" I echoed, my voice dripping with as much sarcasm as I could muster without flooding the room. " Please, Asuna, you and I both know that the level of intelligence of a particularly adventurous amoeba is closer to a normal human's intelligence than any of them are to us! Don't tell me you actually think we're even close to 'normal.'"
Asuna, simply sighed and arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Kirito," she said, her voice patient but firm, "I was trying to assure Yui that it was fine to not have divi—"
"That simply won't do at all!" Yui declared, her voice ringing with an authority that belied her small stature and cutely adorable appearance. She stood abruptly, her eyes flashing with a power that sent a shiver down my spine.
Then, the world shifted. It wasn't a physical change, not at first. It was something far more profound, a fundamental alteration of my very being. Knowledge, vast and intricate, flooded my mind. Concepts I'd only ever dreamt of understanding, designs of machines that could reshape reality, strategies that had so many contingencies that I had felt like the me from less than a second ago was just as inferior to the aforementioned amoeba - it was all there, a torrent of information that overwhelmed my already enhanced intellect by enhancing it to impossible levels. I felt my mind expand, the boundaries of my perception shattering like glass.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The world, once a tapestry of sights and sounds, transformed into a series of data streams, intricate algorithms, and interconnected systems. I saw the flow of energy, the intricate dance of particles, the hidden code that governed every aspect of reality. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and utterly intoxicating.
My gaze met Asuna's, and I saw a similar transformation taking place within her. Her eyes, usually sharp and focused, now held a depth of understanding that bordered on the divine. She, too, had been touched by Yui's power, her mind reshaped and augmented to comprehend the vast complexities of rulership on a scale we had never before imagined.
"I have taken the liberty of bestowing upon you the domains that you clearly should have qualified for already!" Yui declared, her voice ringing with a triumphant and gleeful assertion. "Intelligence, Mechanics, and Strategy are certainly wonderful domains for my perfect Papa!" She beamed at me, her eyes sparkling with pride. "And Mama is great at social-economic things, so I thought, why not double down on those subjects?"
She gestured towards Asuna, who was still processing the influx of knowledge and power that now coursed through her veins. "Finance, Administration, Logistics, Law- Mama's got it all covered! Now, you're both even more amazing! And just wait until you see what else I have planned…"
Her voice trailed off, leaving a pregnant silence in its wake. Asuna and I exchanged a look, a mixture of bewilderment, awe, and a touch of apprehension. Our daughter, the sweet, adorable, former-AI we had rescued from a digital death trap, had just casually ascended to godhood, rewritten the rules of reality, and bestowed upon us powers that could reshape the very fabric of this world.
I blinked. "Well, That was unexpected but now I can calculate pi infinitely, while formulating mechanical designs for every subject of engineering at once- while turning the golden ratio into an actual circle-related power-source with infinite energy growth that would make a dyson sphere cry in envy, so I'm okay with this."
"Time to conquer a world in thirty minutes," I declared, a predatory grin spreading across my face. The influx of power, the sheer scope of my newly acquired domains, was intoxicating. My mind raced, a torrent of ideas and possibilities swirling within my enhanced consciousness.
With a casual wave of my hand, I directed the ambient mana of this world, shaping it, molding it, bending it to my will. Raw materials coalesced from thin air, forming intricate components that assembled themselves into complex machines.
I could push further, transcend the limitations of my original world's technology, but I craved a swift and decisive conclusion to this endeavor. Pacifying the world's rampant stupidity took precedence.
With a flex of my will, I imbued my creations with a fraction of my own power, granting them a sentience and a purpose that transcended mere programming. They marched forth, an army of gleaming metal and whirring gears, their forms sleek and menacing. The world's system, recognizing their divine origin and enhanced capabilities, bestowed upon them a fitting title: 'Divine Enforcer Bot v1.'
The throne room, a gleaming citadel of advanced technology that now occupied the space where the former Melromarc castle had stood, bristled with defenses.
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Mirellia Q. Melromarc, Queen of Melromarc by right and by righteous fury, reined in her horse, her gaze fixed upon the spectacle unfolding before her.
The city of Melromarc, her capital, her home, was gone. In its place stood a sprawling complex of gleaming metal and shimmering glass, a monument to technology that dwarfed anything she had ever witnessed.
Where cobblestone streets had once snaked through a haphazard maze of buildings, impeccably paved roads of an unknown black material now stretched in precise, geometric patterns. Booths manned by gleaming, metallic figures offered strange, slate-like devices with glowing screens to bewildered citizens.
But it was the colossal structure rising from the heart of the city that truly captured her attention. It dwarfed even the tallest towers of the old castle, its metallic form reaching towards the heavens like an arrogant fist. A cold fury coiled in her gut, a rage born of betrayal and bewilderment.
"YOU MORONIC HUSBAND OF MINE!" she roared, her voice echoing across the stunned silence. "I KNOW YOU ARE DEAD AT THIS POINT, BUT WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS DID YOU DO?!"
Beside her, Melty, the Second Princess, trembled, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Mother," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the din of construction, "what is happening?"
Mirellia gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on the monstrous edifice that had usurped her city. She had left for Faubrey with a heavy heart, knowing the kingdom was in the hands of fools. But this… this was beyond even her worst nightmares. The very fabric of her kingdom had been ripped apart, replaced by something alien, something powerful, something terrifying.
She had returned to reclaim her throne, to restore order to her land. But as she looked upon this technological marvel, a chilling realization dawned upon her. The Melromarc she knew was gone. And whatever had taken its place was far more dangerous than any rebellion or foreign invasion.