Chapter 4

Annabella! Shattered Home! Rebirth!

"What do I need to do." I repeated

"Since your character model is already done." He paused. "Are you sure you want to keep your toon from the VR?” He asked questionably

"I’m positive. I got a lot stuff tied up into that guy. Plus this the only appearance I ever known. I don’t even remember my old self. I wouldn’t know my name if it wasn’t already stored into the game. I said looking over the only body I knew, to be of me.

"Interesting,” He said. “High Elf,of the Sun variety, good race, racial stats are plausible. Not a bad choice.” He looked over the information flashing before the elf description.

Race: Sun Elf

Racial Traits: High Mana, High Constitution, Magical Scholar, Blessing of the Sun.

[Blessing of the Sun: Your health and mana recovers at an increase rate under the rays of the sun.]

"Well, if that's the case, hit the accept prompt. The cradle will do the rest." His voice trailed off into my mind.

'I was understanding his mannerism more and more through the connection we shared, albeit temporarily.'

"Kal-El?!" I called his name, I let my confusion, and suspicion trail behind his name.

And my suspicion paid off.

"I need to tell you this; your original body is still inside the pod, it will be the catalyst of your rebirth."

If the silence could be formed into a blade it would probably have killed us both.

"So my body will be used as soil to grow my game avatar, into this world? How will my appearance differ? Age wise!" No teenager stage please.

"Yes. It will be used to fuel your rebirth. Your original body is unique, by itself. Refrain from asking how, they parameters in place forbid me. But, Humans from earth we're a highly adaptable race, able to survive in plethora of environments. They lacked mana, and the system. But they scientific achievements were nothing but genius. He trailed on about human physiology and DNA make up.

After the lesson on human biology concluded, I focused on the prompt to accept the chosen selection. I hit accept on the prompt that appeared.

"Now what? I asked through the connection. But, before he could reply the void space I occupied for god knows how long rumbled. A bad feeling washed over me. The being he spoke was here, and he wasn't going to knock and see if someone was home.

The void thrummed, like a struck bell, the vibration traveled through my formless body like a hot current. If I had hackles, I'm sure they would have been perked. I whirled my formless body around, looking for exact spot of the disturbance.

"It's here!" He declared, his voice had a hint of resignation, but I sensed the melancholy in his voice.

"I...expected..." he paused. "It would have taken far longer, my mistake, I should have focused on the task at hand then casually talk as if we had the luxury."

"...."

"We don't have enough time to go over everything; you still have notifications I'm withholding, as soon as we are outside I'll release them in stages.”

"We? I don't need a tagalong, remember? And you are a program in the cradle, how can I take you with me anyway?"

"Easily, your skill [Spacial Pocket] can hold almost anything."

"So, I supposed to carry you around with me inside this void space? How is that beneficial to me?"

Irritation, anger, and then it was gone. That obviously made him mad. Ha! 'Where were these feelings earlier?'

"Young master, in this world, you will definitely need my assistance. After, the pod has reformed your body you can make me a vessel with [Arcane Weaving] please! I'm sure I can be of use."

Hm! I can maybe try my contractual magic on him, or enslavement, he obviously know more then he is letting on, why am I calling it a he? Maybe, because it's using my old companion voice.

"Assistance?" I voice it in a way to seem like I was Interested.

The void thrumming increased, it was definitely using both legs to knock now.

I turned around, my newfound senses picked up on a particular location, where I assumed it would appear, guess that's not the front door. A small fissure, and it was spreading, a sickly purple light permeated the cracked area

"Yes, I can assist in a variety of ways, depending on what body you are able to form me with your [Arcane weaving] skill, since your skill still low leveled, maybe something smile would suffice?!"

'Was that a question or a statement?' I wondered, I kept it from being shared, I'm getting a hang of the mind melding thing going on here, it's like I can think openly and then think privately, I wonder if he or whatever gender it really is can do the same?'

I felt agitation from the bond, mentally I refocused in the conversation, I'm guessing the AI can notice my mind wondering.

"Something small will suffice!" The A.I repeated. "I'm sure we can work something out, something beneficial to me and something useful to your pursuits!"

“We can always Improve upon it later." He finished.

'This feeling is starting to annoy me, I'm sure it's hiding something crucial here, it almost feel artificial, like layers being laid, is that a possibility?

I heard bells inside my head, a screen appeared, the process was coming upon a half already.

........33%

"Also,” it quickly said. “I have all your old world technology, and it’s history in my memory banks."

"Why do we need old world tech? It didn't help my people, they're all dead, the planet probably even gone,” I said mentally shrugging.

'Honestly, I didn't care! After witnessing the life Lady Everbloom, I just wanted to explore something tangible. I'm tired of playing games over and over again, I beat them, all of them, I even increased the difficulty to insane, still, I was able to delve into them with little resistance, so tiring!'

Sigh!

“So, it's a partnership you want or-"

"No, you are mistaken my request as being personal or with interior motives. I am simply a program, albeit an advance one, that was installed into this pod to assist you." It rushed the words out, completely cutting me off.

There it was again. That feeling a falsehood, I focused on it.

Tring!

[Sleight of the Third Eye I, 45%] Learned!

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. You are able to see the falsehoods before you. Just don't close all your eyes. You can open your [Third Eye I] at 10 MP/Sec.

Sleight of the Third Eye!

I toggled it on. The connection between us was ablaze in red and green. I focused on the A.I words.

"I have no designs outside of my original directive. I would need permission from you to do anything further then that."

"So, the administrator placed you under me, so you are a side kick or a side character?" I asked, not minding the rumbling that increased.

"Like I was saying, I can support you in this new world, our primary directive was to established a rally point for the other arrivals."

"Others, who are the others?"

"Well you were originally from a place called Earth."

"I know that, at least I can remember the name of my world." Damn memory.

"Well, majority of the logs on what led to us being here are sealed, unfortunately." It mentally sighed.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"But I'm positive that your pod was not the only one sent out from our Earth."

"After your body is complete, I can get a better scan of the planet we are on, as we explore, I'll constantly put my feelers out to detect the others."

"Why? I have no plan to set up anything, for anyone! I'm in this for myself, you are just a temporary tagalong, no feelers will be sent out." I admonished him.

"Scratch that, put them out but be stealthy about them, I'll like some warning before we are spotted by some individual from home.”

'I focused on the connection, it was bright red, so he is withholding something or is that like he is telling half the truth? Let's see something'

"Kal..... Why are you lying to me or misleading me. I'm not sure on which, but you are definitely not being upfront, who, are better yet, what are you?"

It paused. Briefly, the line turned purple, then blue.

"How? The voices softened, a feminine aspect of it I was missing, that was the layer I suspected earlier."

The vibration intensity increased. My formless body was fluctuating, I was fine now, considering, but I could barely hold onto my form, mentally I was constantly reaffirming my image, holding on to myself before I scattered, I don't even want to think of the implications of involuntarily flaking apart.

"So, you didn't see the skill I learned, earlier. Interesting. I wasn't trying to hide the skill, but obviously I'm able to keep this connection at a minimal."

'I pondered this, in sure it was hiding something, nothing detrimental, but something about its origins.'

"I...." I cut it off, the color fluctuations was enough to see where that was going.

"Stop, no more lies!" I was agitated.

"And, drop my game A.I voice, I know it's phony, you aren't even male."

"As you command, young master!" A strong, alluring voice trailed down the link.

"Wow! That's a lot better, why hide the fact you are not male, wait! Can you even have a sex?"

'Being A.I and all, hopefully, I wasn't mixed up with gender bending A.I'

"I'm afraid I can't tell you everything. But, I'm the mix of your pod A.I and the original inhabitant in this area."

'All I heard was she was some damn ghost, now we have two ghost sharing a link, what's next, reminiscing on our lives over a glass of brandy'

'I checked the link, that connected us, it was a blue, green combination, so that was better then red. Still, if I let this slide now she would probably avoid it later, while she is dependent on my good graces and I have the upper hand I'll get the info I want.'

"Before we decided o....." the vibration multiples twofold, a loud shearing sound almost shredded my senses.

Now I was definitely hearing tearing, it sounded like paper being shredded over a megaphone and a chap board being scratch all at the same time, I felt woozy, if I had a stomach I'm sure I would threw up.

"No time, I'm afraid you need to decide now, and I mean right now!!!"

"Shit! Whatever! Sure, we can work out the formalities later. Don't think you are off the hook."

"I'll answer what I can! Even though I'm not the complete A.I I'm still restricted by the pod."

"Why? It's must be a good reason, you would meld with the cradle Artificial intelligence."

"We have no time for this. But, my life was coming to an end, when the cradle crashed here, I discovered, after I couldn't get it open, sorry! That I was able to meld with the A.I."

"I was desperate. Unfortunately, the cradle, an the restrictions were not overwritten, I'm subservient to you, young master!" The line was green, an blues so she was telling the truth, I need to figure out these colors and what the represent, this will be handy."

"Are you from this world?" I asked, over the chaotic space."

"I originally was, I think. I have been trapped here longer then you have been, this was supposed to be my prison, my memories of that time are restricted."

"What were you?" I asked, my voice raised high, the space was chaotic, the tearing intensified.

"I don't know!" She replied. I barely could hear her but the link had some type of instinctual assistance.

"If I am to trust you, I need your name, can you give it?" The line flashed vibrant purple, I felt some fear from her.

"Names have power, names can bind, names have meaning, I cannot give you mines. But, call me Annabella, for now, this will do."

Green. I will accept this, especially since this place is going to hell in a shaky hand basket.

"I, will allow a temporary partnership. To many unknowns, one minute you are the A.I the next you are some boogeym- wait! Woman, you are some boogeywoman."

"It is a hair length from breaching this space, soon as we depart it cannot stay here, this is your area of control now. But, if it gets in while we are here, surely a fight will not be in our favor!" She said that with absolute fact, I'm not disagreeing.

"It will have the advantage here while you are in this state."

"Okay, for now on answer my questions in the other I asked. I feel like you pick and choose what you want to answer. I'm the protagonist here and your are the side character I picked up in a tavern or whatever, okay?"

"My apologies, young master. I will do better in answering your question in a orderly fashion."

'See to it you do!" I replied back with a little venom, got to show my leadership quality in the beginning with side characters.'

........78%

......82%

.....92%

A bright light flashed outwards, completely blinding my panoramic like view. Seconds trickled before I was able to see. Looking toward the shearing noise, a massive slanted eye blinked, scanning the void for something, something like me.

The slanted eye moved around taking in the empty pocket, it was casual and meticulous as it eye rolled over the void, it passed me, paused, and shot back toward where I was floating.

It blinked a few times, the eye lid, was scaled, dark purples and fiery red scales. And that brief paused didn't last for long, I think I held my breath, figuratively that it.

If an eye could scream, claw, and rip your soul away this particular eye would be the one. The singular eye squinted, sinisterly. It drew away from it, the eerie light it let off vanish, returning the space to it usually opaqueness.

"Is it gon-"

A mind deafening, ear shattering, disorienting boom shook the space, my body splintered, threatening to separate, the cracked increased twofold, the hard scaled head viable more clearly, sharp serrated teeth grinding in anger and anticipation, its mouth opened showcasing two rows of death, it's tongues snaked out and it roared."

"Grrrrrraaaawwwwwwwww." The sound hit me and I recoiled not only physically but mentally. My amorphous forms scattered, I heard Annabella scream at me to do something but I was disoriented.

You have unwillingly bore witness to the roar of a existence even the high gods haven't glimpsed, nor has anyone lived to tell of its existence. You have been marked, whenever you enter into the void or utilize the powers that derive from the Abyss this immortal being will be close by to devour you!

"Young master..." Annabelle voice travelled to me through the tether that bind us

"Shitttttttt...." I mentally replied, holding specks of my existence together, barely.

"Give me control, you cannot withstand this creature now!" Her voice was intoxicating

"Listen, I am here to help you. I do not have any designs to cause you any harm, please-."

The roar seemingly doubled. Its intensity threatening to rip my hold on my new lease at life to nothing. I felt my mind dwindle in huge stretches, thoughts, and memories faded, I was dying.

The fissure grew to the point that the head was able to pierce into the space. Before me was a massive angular head, almost snake like.

"So, this is your play? To finish the job! I barely get a new body and you further what you started? You are probably the one that killed me! Trying to save your own life, whatever you are or was."

'It's amazing what one can do with a bit of stubbornness and resolve, if I was going to die here, food to a damn primordial being, I'm taking her with me.'

"I did save you!" Annabella screamed at me, no she was screaming over the roar. I felt her voice waver, a hint of trepidation eased through our connection.

"The programs that were originally installed for your VR training were not geared toward you, each pod was genetically synced with an ideal person in mind.

"Your pod had similarities to DNA inside the pod, I suspect it was your parents, your father to be precise, he must have gave you his place..."

"I, don't remember him nor my mother, I barely remember earth, I know it existed but there's nothing their when I try to remember, but I feel the lost all the time, so I was loved, I had parents...."

"A saying from your world: Selfless one, Loved one, lay your life down, for the other could know he is forever loved and protected." She stated solemnly.

You were definitely loved, I can't go into detail, but your world was not obliterated, it was conquered, your entire race enslaved. I can't say no more on this.”

"I allowed you escape, as I waited for the pod to adapt to this world. Your cradle is unique, only one of its kind." Her voice was increasing in decibels, I was able to latch on to it. It gave me more time, to concentrate. My body was almost whole again.

Vibrant green, she was speaking all truth, I could trust her, at least now.

When it did I awaited for someone to find it and do something that will cause the pod to-"

"W..hat?” I said blocking the roar out, the snake was sliding it's lengthy body through tho hole, in its haste, scales were scrapped off into my pocket of the abyss.

"I didn't tell you for obvious reasons, I'n doing so, I caused you to lose your memories, of your past life, of your loved ones. I promise you, we will both walk the path of self discovery."

"From the one scan, I could use without draining the pod; I discovered this world has strangely the same qualities, occurrences and myth of folklore and Fantasy back in your old world, all wrapped up into a RPG like system.

"You, didn't need to know how to survive by earth standards, it has no place here, magic and sword reign supreme, even if technology works here as on earth, it will undoubtedly be crippled, as was the pod entering orbit. But we can find a process to combine the two."

Green, blazed down our mutual connection. The feeling of togetherness encompassed my conscious like a bubble. She was shielding me from the roar.

"So be it!" I faded, away from wakefulness into a slumber, how long has it been since my mind rested? I didn't know."

She felt his conscious fade, and hers come to forefront. Finally he relented. ‘thought he would take us both to death door.’ Annabelle focused as she got used to the writhing mass that was his current form.

First, I need to pull the rest of him together. I focused on that, bringing all of his scattered remanence back whole. Now let's get out this alive, together.

I turned toward the snake like being as it tail whipped through the crack. It sped doubled as it snaked it way toward me, moving sideways and up then down as it devoured the space that separated us.

.....99%

Two more percent. The beast primordial roar; that was a hindrance e before was starting to effect me now, my artificial makeup helped me cope with the resounding, throaty mental bombardment but it would minuscule at best. I'm more surprised he was able to withstand it and still be defiant.

.......Rebirth has commence. Exiting.......

...100%

Anticlimactic.. I thought as I looked at the beast, it neck region was flaring up, a fin like perfusion rattled as it reared back ready to strike at us.....

The cradle upper region slid backwards seamlessly. A green liquid slushed inside, a figure could be seen. He had angular features with sharply pointed ears, his skin almost glowed from the bright sunny complexion.

Arms shot outwards, hands gripped the side, the liked pushed forward splattering the white misty ground, black nails dug into the mythril, piercing it.

The figure pulled at a fleshy cord that perturbed down its threat, gripping it with both hands, it heaved it painfully from its mouth.

Yanking the las piece that was the largest from its throat. He dropped back into the moist bidding that conformed around his figure. Beeping notification were on the panels before it, a red and a green light signaling something.

'Ssssss'

A loud noise of air being drawn in permeated the oddly lit cavernous room, rocks unsettled from the walls and pelleted the arrow shaped metal, a dinging echo startled the figure as his eyes opened for the first time.

Slanted, black eyeballs with a rotating flower petal pupils. looked back into the darkness. His chest heaved, his mouth opened showcasing prominent canines that seems out of place on the handsome face; his golden skin darkened, and a howl leaped his lips, shaking the earthen walls.