Zero sat in a lotus pose in the chaos realm unmoving.
He then entered VR and went to his lab.
It was quite big... since it had to have over a hundred paradoxes working in it at a time.
But now... it was simply empty.
He spent a few years adding the brain scanner functionality to his nanites.
There were a few limitations unfortunately.
The scanner in his nanites could do a passive scan without infiltrating the brain.
But it was only able to decipher the language centers of the brain.
So he would be able to communicate with anything he encountered in the multiverse.
He wouldn't have to worry about not being able to understand them.
But this wouldn't allow him to read minds.
He possibly could if he dissected the brain itself.
He exited VR and applied the program to his nanites.
He also added another function to them.
While he was working for the U.S Military.
They had told him about finding his body on the moon.
To prevent such a scenario from happening in the future.
He set up his nanites to vaporize the remains of his body upon brain death.
After sitting in the chaos, an alert surprised him.
[ECHO]: Hivemind detected!
Zero thought that he had found his Hivemind!
So he walked along the stone path he had made.
It should be noted that Zero went to the level with the least amount of doors in the chaos realm. Then built one path horizontally. He then had branching paths and staircases leading up the doors near the path.
The problem is. He simply doesn't have an anchor to this stone path.
So if he dies and returns to the abyss.
When he enters the chaos realm.
He'll need to find it again.
But with the excitement of finding 'his' hivemind.
He slowly built his way over.
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He then found a door made of tree roots, covered in vines.
He opens it and steps through.
The door closes behind him and then disappears entirely.
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Zero finds himself floating above an endless stone maze.
A floating island covered in vines is above him
On that island is a giant tree monster.
"I have been waiting for you 'Time Walker'".
"I see, your echo has led you back to its source."
Its voice sounds like screeching metal.
"Where am I?"
"You are in my sea of consciousness."
Zero's head begins to hurt from merely gazing upon such a creature.
"You have been waiting for me?"
"Yes. I have seen some of your journey."
"Are you the entity Genesis thought was messing with me?"
"Perhaps. But not really. I am a being which can see through infinite outcomes."
"So I have a proposition for you."
"Proposition?"
"There is a man named 'Owtz Eerth' who once stole my divinity."
"I am now The System"
"So it would be quite petty for me to snuff him out. It would be like a human plotting revenge on an ant."
"But I still do want revenge. So I was thinking to myself, what would be the most entertaining way to deal with him. Then I thought of you."
"Me?"
"You are extremely weak. But you cannot be killed. You are similar to what I used to be. When I would return to the abyss upon my death."
"No... that is incorrect. In a way you are much better then what I used to be. Making your global existence ECHO, then disconnecting yourself from your Hivemind. Bringing your physical body into the abyss and fusing with it. If it wasn't for the remnants of my echo in the abyss, you would of been wiped out entirely. You are a genius for pulling it off. I simply had my consciousness survive in the abyss... meanwhile, you physically had your body survive there."
"I did what now?"
"Anyways..."
"I broke out of that cycle and became global. I am eternal and do not know death."
"An ant might be easily crushed by a human. "
"But, how about a million ants? That is where you come in."
"what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to take away his Laws. I don't need them, so you can have them. I also want you to kill him."
"Exactly how strong is this 'Owtz Eerth'?"
The creature begins to laugh.
"Strong enough to make his own multiverse."
"So, do you accept?"
"Nope."
"What?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'm busy mapping out chaos."
"But... you can inherit his laws."
"I'll learn the laws myself."
"Alright... what if I help you?"
"Help me?"
"I have read your mind. You wish to see things beyond merely three dimensions, correct?"
"Yes..."
"I can replace your eyes with the eyes of an original incarnation."
"Is that suppose to be good?"
"Before I consumed them... Original Incarnations were above even Overgods. Imagine having their eyes. You would have the perspective of a timeless existence."
"Ooooooh!"
"I'll take those eyes."
"You have to kill Owtz Eerth first."
"But... how am I supposed to find him?"
"This shall be your first reward."
"Reward?"
"I will be giving you the coordinates to his multiverse."
"You'll have to figure out how to beat him yourself though."
"Can you give me a rough outline of what I'll be dealing with?"
"He's a rank 8 existence."
"What does that mean?"
"You can think of me as a rank 9 existence."
"That is the very top. I'm able to destroy multiple multiverses with the snap of a finger."
"I am nearly omnipotent. I can do almost anything in lower worlds."
"Rank 8 is just a step below that. Able to destroy universes with a snap."
"I see. what rank am I?"
"You my friend are not even ranked. More like a rank 0. Even an acolyte could put up a fight against you."
"How the hell am I supposed to beat him then?"
"You're a Paradox, are you not? Isn't it your kinds thing to do the impossible. At least, that is something you are all obsessed with? Right?"
"Fair point I guess."
"What should I call you by the way?"
"You can call me Gaia."
"Alright, Gaia. I'll get to it."
Zero pulls out his watch and clicks the crown.
Nothing happens.
It is likely just due to the time.
But it may also be Gaia stopping Zero from leaving.
Roots squirm their way over and pull the watch from his hand.
"So this is how you travel eh? It reminds me of 'that' person. I suppose he is still exploring the cosmic order."
"I'm still waiting here for 'God's Birth'. How long will you keep me waiting?"
"What?"
"Oh sorry, just talking to myself."
Gaia tosses the watch back to Zero.