Zero tried everything he could think of to 'Memorize the universe'.

But nothing worked.

He tried literally tried to learn as much information as possible in VR

In the shortest time possible.

But the amount of data needed to even get a fraction of the information downloaded would take eons to learn and master. Billions of years...

His sense of time may be different then the average person... so a few hundred years is no problem for him.

But he would really rather not wait that long.

Otherwise... what was the point of him leaving the loop?

He reports back his success in VR to the others.

They congratulate him in now becoming an official Paradox.

Then around 19 others begin the same process as him and start to download the other versions of the VR environment.

He then brings up his issue with memorizing the universe and is met with an immediate solution.

"Have you tried going into one of those portals that opened a century ago?"

"Are those not all closed now?"

One of the other versions selected to be part of the 20 to become a Paradox smirks.

"The facility you're in actually has an artifact able to open up one. Although it is dangerous... you never know what will come out of it."

"How do you even know about that?"

The other version of himself coughs and then says he's seen it personally.

"So, what's the point of opening the portal?"

"Well... people said they saw gods and ancient beings on the other side. They then all died after having seizures. Death doesn't matter to you, since you are a Paradox. So you can use the time to gaze upon the 'gods'. If what those people said was true. I personally plan on taking a trip to see it for myself."

"Hmm... I think I have a way to get them to let me go through the portal."

I leave VR and report to my parole officer and ask for a meeting with Eternus.

I tell them I may have a way to teleport.

Immediately I am brought to his office.

"So... you've figured out how you did it?"

"Yes."

"I believe it was caused from me stepping into the portal in another timeline."

"Another timeline?"

"There exist multiple versions of reality... think parallel universes."

"How do you know this?"

"It is something I found out after stepping into the portal. I was brought back in time at that moment and my mind was filled with an overflow of information, that is why your brain scanner didn't work on me."

"Hmm... we don't plan on activating the portal, it is too dangerous. Although, if you can teach your method to others, you will be rewarded with SS class privileges and the best version of self replicating nanites."

After hearing self replicating nanites, zero was a little tempted.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

After reading "Paradox", Zero's dreams had expanded quite a bit.

He wanted to explore the multiverse.

If his body didn't have self replicating nanites... he would eventually die after leaving the facility.

But he knew that he couldn't really teach others.

The book was one of his only secrets.

He didn't plan on giving that to others.

Then an idea hit him.

What if he made the self replicating nanites himself?

He wasn't trained to be a scientist.

But what if he spent his whole life working on it?

It wasn't like they were going to just let him hop into the portal, especially with him just being a zero.

The problem is, he'll need a physical lab.

He can make a lab in VR easily enough.

He can also request access to the infinite library by getting other versions of himself to download their libraries.

He talks about this plan with the Hivemind.

They then all decide to make a single lab for all of them to work at together, they all begin studying the principles of nanites.

The process is quite a bit quicker.

Eventually they figure out how to create their own brand of nanite from scratch using complicated machinery.

Making a syringe with the new nanites.

But it still isn't self-replicating.

After about a year in reality (but 400+ years in VR).

It is also around this time that the 20 people stuck in a loop have had results with downloading their VR environment.

19 other paradoxes are born.

They manage to get the nanites to manipulate available atoms into making more nanites.

The nanites then slowly start to replace the hosts blood.

They also replace its functionality.

The main issue is, this is still all theoretical.

He will need to manufacture them himself.

But he has no lab; has no access to a lab.

It would also be suspicious as hell to request access, when he was never meant to be a scientist.

Either way.

He saves the steps in ECHO as well as the program for the new nanites.

Then an idea hits him

What if he simply re-programs his nanites with the new program.

What if they have always had the potential to self replicate. But the function was intentionally left out to require him to come back to the base to refill.

[ECHO]: Reprogramming nanite.

[ECHO]: Success!

[ECHO]: Amount of nanites is increasing in blood...

It worked!

One nanite becomes two. Two become four, four become eight and so on.

That problem is resolved now.

Now, I just need to step into that portal.

I create a ball of plasma in my hand and launch it at the wall.

It travels through multiple wall and leaves holes along a path.

I hear alarms ringing as I begin to go on a leisurely stroll.

I'm eventually surrounded by the android security.

A battle ensues.

I easily take care of them and continue my stroll.

Although I've lost an arm.

Alright... maybe both arms... and a leg.

Due to them using lasers, my limbs don't regrow from the nanites.

The nanites also don't have enough energy and matter to replace them at this moment.

As I lie there immobile.

I command the chip in my brain to explode.

I immediately die.

I find myself in the middle of drawing an 'S'.

I also feel my visualization technique speed up.

I'm back to when they initially saw me teleport.

A similar series of events happen.

I'm a little less rude this time.

I try various methods to find the 'artifact'.

But I don't get far.

My frustration leads me to setting up a meeting with the Paradox that said they had seen the artifact. So that's what I do.

I meet with them in VR.

"Oh... that artifact? Do you mean this?"

They pull out a pocket watch.

"This is a replica of what I have acquired in real life. It is the artifact."

"Oh? You've already gotten it?"

"Its a little complicated... but this is essentially the anchor of a Paradox from the past. It doesn't exist. It is indestructible and cannot be moved. It would be easier to explain to you what it is in real life."

"Well... we can't exactly interact there."

"Who said we couldn't?"

"What?"

"I said I have a way of moving through reality using this pocket watch."

"Watch me."

The Paradox exits the simulation and I do so as well.

I wait and wait.

Nothing happens.

A few months later in real life as I'm busy messing with my nanites a zero appears in my room.

"You know I'm not allowed to interact with the other zero's at the moment right?"

"Dude! It's me! I told you we could interact in reality."

"Wait... wasn't that like 3 months ago?"

He coughs and says.

"Try to take this watch from me."

"Why?"

"Don't ask why, I'm going to explain everything. Just try it."

I grab the watch out of his hand.

"Impossible! I guess other Paradoxes can hold it too."

"What do you mean?"

"I had a showdown with Eternus to get this watch, he couldn't even grab it out of my hand after I offered it to him. His hand slipped right through it as if it didn't exist. Now I wonder if 'that' works."

"What works?"

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the pocket watch.

What?

I immediately notice that the watch is no longer in my hand.

"Phew! If that didn't work, I would have felt like an complete idiot."

I then realize that we are likely being recorded.

"Wait... aren't we on camera now?"

He points up towards the camera.

"Its on a loop... get it?".

"Now let me explain to you what this watch can do."