Jas brought all his focus to bear.
This was it.
Ready.
Connecting Jas Kelly to potential Void-brane energy
That distant storm pressed in upon the limits of his mind and his vision blurred, his sense of self fragnted and then ca rushing back together.
And then:
You have 1 novemdecillion unspent points
Jas blinked at the text. Novemdecillion? What the fuck was that?
Spend all points on Apotheosis?
System, said Jas, his words lost to the frigid depths of space. Youre still there, right?
Correct, Jas.
All of you? None of you has been erased yet?
Correct, Jas.
Jas licked his lower lip. It all ca down to this. His only gamble. His radically desperate hope. Before I answer that question, can you go to the root directory?
Root directory?
Right. You were hacked back on Arkhos, rember? You were humoring the Zorathians and back then. Which ans you can take back there. The root directory.
The System didnt respond.
You said you were influenced by humanity, yeah? Jas tried to remain calm. And that youll be erased once we finish this process. Well, maybe theres a chance that doesnt have to happen.
Still the System didnt respond.
Was it reporting back in to the Eluthaarii?
I havent said no, said Jas. Im just asking to see sothing first. Surely you can accommodate that?
Very well.
Unspent points: 1 novemdecillion
Select Purchase Category:
Offense | Defense | Abundance
Substance | Spatial | Temporal
Self | Summons | Virtues
Apotheosis
Jass froze, not quite believing it had worked. He stared at the text. Hesitantly, with exceeding care, he opened the Temporal nu.
Reverse ti (1/variable pts) | Area of Effect (1/variable pts) | Location
System, Im not familiar with how this part of the nu works. If His voice gave out. Jas coughed and tried again. If I wanted, theoretically, to reverse ti by a month, how much would it cost?
That depends on the area of effect.
Say, purely theoretically, for the entirety of planet Earth.
A month would cost 1x10 to the 31st points
196,936,994 miles squared would cost approximately 1x10 to the 36th power points
Total cost of approximately 1x10 to the 63rd points
Uh do I have that many points?
No.
Even if you did, since you do not have sufficient Aeviternum or Arete to fuel this Miracle, it would self-fuel, consuming itself in the process.
Uncertainty flooded Jas and made him feel weak. One ti usage is fine. I, uh, how much ti could I go back before System began with novemdecillion points? For all of Earth?
System incursion -330 hours, or approximately -2 weeks would cost approximately 1x10 to the 24th points
196,936,994 miles squared would cost approximately 1x10 to the 36th points
Total cost of approximately 1x10 to the 60th points
Do I have that many points?
Yes.
Jas exhaled raggedly and closed his eyes. For a few monts he just hung in space, loose, empty, numb. Then he forced his eyes open once more.
How many points would that leave over?
3,789,000,000 points
Jas just stared. Three billion?
Correct.
This would be a near complete expenditure of this sectors Void energy.
Following this course of action would preclude apotheosis for approximately four/five centuries.
Wait. You said you guys had been gathering energy since the 40s. Wouldnt it take just another 80 years to build back up?
The bulk of energy harvested ca from existing natural reservoirs.
Recapturing that amount from ever-collapse facilities would take approximately four/five centuries.
Jas grinned. Thats just perfect.
Theoretical exercise complete?
Resu Apotheosis?
Jas licked his lips. Actually, System. This may sound crazy, but Ive Ive had a change of heart. Lets skip the Apotheosis deal this ti round. Instead, grant that Temporal Ability weve been discussing.
There was a protracted pause.
You wish to spend 1x10 to the 60th points on Temporal Reversal?
Right. Just as we discussed. Lets do it.
System didnt respond.
Jas hung in the void, his grin wild, desperate, slowly disappearing.
System?
There was no response.
It had to be telling Jelly, right?
System, listen. You send back a two weeks before Nesis 1, and Ill see to it that you dont die today. Think about it. You said humanity has changed you. If theres one thing humanity does best its survive. Which ans you must want to continue living. To persist, yeah? You get to keep rejoicing in your continued existence. And if it takes this sector four or five centuries to accumulate enough energy, then fuck, thats half a millennium youll be buying for yourself. Right?
No response.
System? Jas felt desperation start clawing him at the throat. So much hung in the balance. Please. Please let do this. We all benefit. Everyone but the Eluthaarii, but fuck those guys. Fuck them and their war, their might makes right, their arrogance, their calling us little guys ants. Help out here. Whats the worse that can happen? They erase you regardless? But if this works - if we pull this off - then who knows what the future may hold for you?
His words were taken and swallowed by the void.
Jas stared out at the star fields. The endless majesty of the galaxy. The suns and who knew what else. It was glorious. Endless.
And he desperately wanted none of it.
System, he whispered. You and , buddy. Cmon. What do you say?
A cursor appeared in his vision. It did nothing but blink, and then, all at once, new words scrolled across his vision.
Temporal Reversal purchased
Unspent points: 3,789,000,000
Power Na?
Fuck yeah! Jas scread, punching up into nothing and causing himself to spin around. Fuck yeah, System! You and , baby, you and , all the -
A mote of white light began to flicker beside him.
Eluthaarii incoming
Fuck, hissed Jas. He summoned his statistics sheet, ntally fumbling for the data, and searched for his new ability.
Death Attack was there, but nothing else.
System! Wheres the power?
The white mote hissed and spat like a sparkler then widened into a portal.
Power Na?
Oh fuck! Uh - Reboot!
Jelly appeared in the void beside him, his entire being coruscating with white fire. His fury blasted Jas, incandescent, as powerful as a supergiant going nova. Even as he appeared he began shedding his Animus Sola form, expanding, becoming organic, billowing out into a translucent and silver jellyfish-like creature of endless scale.
JAS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
Jas felt his mind withering, his soul shattering before Jellys cosmic presence. His focus fell apart, his thoughts shivered into fragnts, but even as the Eluthaarii continued its manifestation he glanced at his sheet.
There, beside his Second Miracle: Reboot.
JAS, scread the Eluthaarii, causing the very fabric of space-ti itself to ripple. YOU CANNOT -
Fuck you, he hissed, and activated the power.
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