|Location: Wasteland, battle|
-OMNISCIENCE-
Without wasting a single moment, Zero sprang into motion, leaping high into the air. As he soared, SAI quietly activated, replenishing the energy in his muscles and bones. A thin mist of steam rose from his skin, evidence of the sudden surge of vitality flowing through his body. The dull, bone-dry sheen that had once defined him now gleamed with renewed life and strength. Fueled by adrenaline, Zero felt an overwhelming power within—as if he could take on the entire world itself.
The dense fog that had once cloaked the wasteland had lifted, allowing the bright sun to bathe the barren landscape in warm light. Far beyond the horizon and close to the edges of the land, Zero could make out the silhouettes of abandoned buildings—silent witnesses to a time long past. The sunlight infused him with a seemingly endless energy, a stark contrast to the oppressive gloom that had previously swallowed the land, where thick fog stifled even the faintest glimmers of daylight. Around him stretched the remnants of a forgotten ancient civilization, an expanse of dark, tangled trees broken by craters and pits. To Zero, it was as if a wild forest had taken root within the ruins of a massive city.
Zero landed solidly on both feet, a swirl of dust rising around him before slowly settling back to the earth. As the haze cleared, SAI materialized before him, its interface glowing with new data. The biometric scans Zero had requested for Dia were now complete.
[Dia: Biometric Check Complete]
[Species: Uncategorized]
[Cellular Behavior: Plant-like, continuous photosynthesis observed throughout the body.]
Before Zero's eyes, detailed anatomical diagrams and comprehensive data unfolded, revealing the extent of Dia's extraordinary abilities. Her remarkable capacity for regeneration, her influence over surrounding plant life, the unique composition of her body's materials, and the specific biological mutations that defined her existence—all were meticulously documented. Every detail was updated in real time, clearly visible to Zero.
SAI's calm, precise voice explained how Dia's current physiological functions differed from her prior form, highlighting subtle yet significant changes within her biology.
Amidst the ruins under the bright sun, Zero absorbed the weight of this revelation: the world, and its inhabitants, were far more complex and alive than he had ever imagined.
Zero couldn't help but conjure a mental image of Dia as a person casually adorned with a few plants clinging to her skin, based on the report he'd just absorbed. The thought slipped from his lips almost involuntarily. "Wait… does she count as a plant lady now because of this?"
SAI's voice remained flat and monotone, but within that mechanical cadence lay a subtle undercurrent of dissatisfaction—an echo of frustration that Zero couldn't quite grasp. The AI had done its best to simplify Dia's complex transformation, but the truth was far stranger than any analogy could fully capture.
[In a striking analogy, the antlers sprouting from her head function like solar panels, absorbing sunlight above her.]
[A genetic analysis confirms the presence of Elysia Chlorotica genes.]
Zero's mental image abruptly flipped from a vague "plant person" to a slug bearing Dia's face, prompting him to ask with a raised brow, "So, you're saying she's a slug?"
[Affirmative.]
SAI, bound by its programming and host agreement, had no choice but to confirm. Yet, its analytic nature flagged the need to clarify the challenges Zero would face.
[Additionally, she emits signal waves that disrupt the growth cycle of surrounding flora, granting her control over the plants in her vicinity.]
Zero waved off the warning with a grin, "No need to remind me—I saw it all firsthand." He barely registered that he was engaging in a surprisingly fluid conversation with an AI. His thoughts shifted, wondering aloud, "Anyway, where is she now?"
Instantly, SAI projected Dia's location—a moving blip steadily closing in on Zero's position.
"She's getting closer," Zero noted, eyes flicking to the map, tracking her slow but determined approach.
[Hostile life signatures detected approximately 21 km away. New non-hostile life signatures detected 40 km away.]
The gravity of the situation settled in. Despite his earlier confidence that he could end this with Dia, Zero knew he was far from certain how to actually defeat her. Relying on brute force seemed futile—her vines would intercept any strike before it landed, and even a direct hit felt pointless against her astonishing regenerative abilities.
With a breath, he turned back to SAI, seeking the one thing that might tip the scales.
"Wait, did you say a new—? Never mind. Just tell me—do you know how to defeat her?"
Zero stared blankly at SAI's panel, where an expressionless [-_-] icon blinked back at him, leaving him momentarily baffled.
[To extinguish her life energy. When the central core is destroyed, her body's functions will cease.]
A holographic projection of Dia materialized before Zero, displaying intricate details and the critical information he needed. As he studied the visuals, a flicker of recognition sparked within him. His breath caught slightly, suspicion knitting his brow as he whispered, "This… this is the seed for Yggdrasil, isn't it?"
[Affirmative.]
Memories surged—fragments of files he had poured over before: how it was planted, the purification process, the project's name, even diary logs. A cold suspicion gnawed at him, hinting at some elaborate deception. His fist clenched, resolve tightening as he realized there were still truths buried beyond what this world had revealed.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath him, pulling him back from his spiraling thoughts.
"I see," Zero muttered, a fleeting sense of satisfaction settling in, but it vanished as soon as he noticed Dia's approach.
"Nuk already told me he's fine with killing his sister. Guess I just have to punch her insides… weird way to say it, but you get what I mean."
[Target approaching: 9 km.]
Zero relaxed his stance and launched himself upward once more. High above, their eyes locked—his smirk clearly irritating Dia. Her face flushed crimson, veins on her forehead pulsing as a scream of frustration tore from her lips.
Zero winced, covering his ears—he'd learned his lesson about enduring her screams the hard way. Dia's furious shout echoed. "Zero!"
"Phew, that was close," he sighed in relief, then sprinted forward, using the tree trunks as footholds.
"From the looks of it, she's the toughest opponent I've ever faced. SAI, can you help me?"
When Zero had first encountered the "Network," he hadn't seen Dia clearly. Now, up close, it was clear: this fight would be no easy feat.
Knowing her one weakness—the destruction of that elusive core—seemed almost impossible. Yet SAI responded promptly.
[Affirmative. New function unlocked.]
[Due to increased authority, Calibration mode enabled.]
[It can—]
"I don't have time for explanations! She's attacking now!" Zero cut SAI off sharply.
As soon as they neared, Dia struck fiercely. Zero slid down to evade her assault and charged forward, but vines suddenly sprouted, forming an impenetrable shield around her.
He barely managed to back off as Dia's grin widened, a flying thorn hurtling toward his face. She clicked her tongue, slightly frustrated it only grazed him. "I missed."
Without pause, Dia unleashed a barrage of whips made of vines, forcing Zero to dodge again and again. The relentless assault pushed him to his limits.
Realizing his weakness, Zero called out desperately, "SAI, help me!"
Suddenly, his body faltered—an unexpected glitch blurred his form. In an instant, he vanished and reappeared behind Dia. Momentarily disoriented, Zero seized the moment and slipped behind a nearby tree, heart pounding.
He had never experienced anything like this before.
"Did my body just disintegrate then reconstructed while traveling through a warped space?"
Out of nowhere, SAI's voice cut through the silence, its tone unusually direct.
[Is the host willing to listen now?]
Zero blinked, startled. SAI had always been a monotonous companion, speaking only what was necessary and never with any hint of ego. This sudden shift caught him off guard. Still, recent events had left him rattled, and a part of him was dumbfounded.
His eyes widened as he almost shrieked, "Wait, since when do you talk like that? Did the update change you?" He quickly tempered his tone, keeping his focus steady on Dia. "And what just happened?"
[The host finally noticed.]
[Due to the update, the system can now think and make decisions independently from the host—but only to a limited degree. This is thanks to the Mental Health Aid Function (MHAF) being unlocked.]
Zero struggled to wrap his mind around it. "What do you mean 'something just happened'?"
On the panel before him, SAI displayed a detailed explanation under a new function titled Calibration.
[Why can't the host just listen to what I have to say?]
Zero began scrolling, but the text seemed endless, almost overwhelming him. When it seemed SAI would offer a short version, Zero tried to laugh it off, but awkwardness crept in as he realized the AI was serious.
SAI continued with a concise summary.
[Calibration is a new feature.]
[The host can use 'Calibrate' to analyze skills stored in the database. It can temporarily mimic brain frequencies to recreate a datable phenomenon. However, the processing unit cannot stimulate more than one brain frequency at a time, so choose carefully what to record and use.]
At the mention of "datable phenomenon," Zero's interest piqued sharply. He recalled the moment he first met Nuk. His doubts melted away. "Datable phenomenon? You mean abilities like that red-haired woman's, even Nuk's sister's cell regeneration?"
[Affirmative.]
Wasting no time, Zero asked, "How do I use those?"
Suddenly, a surge of information flooded his mind.
[Link creation and file transfer started.]
Anna's pyrokinesis, Joshua's teleportation, Nuk's earth manipulation, and Leila's healing abilities engraved themselves in Zero's consciousness as if they'd always been his.
A grin spread across his face as plans began to form.
"SAI, get ready—I've got a plan."
••••••••