> "Not every day is war. Sometimes, surviving means learning to laugh while lost."
— Max
Max sat cross-legged in a clearing of semi-solid terrain that looked suspiciously like cracked glass floating in place. The "sky" above shimmered in fractal patterns, light gliding across it like ripples on water… only there was no water, no sun — just endless layers of unreality bending the laws of physics.
Next to him, Saberloop dozed peacefully, tail twitching rhythmically in its sleep. Its once-feral frame now pulsed with a dim blue glow, a clear sign that it had begun to harmonize with Max's energy signature.
> [Taming Bond Level: 2]
[Mood: Docile. Trust Level: 37%]
> "37 percent? I gave you jerky," Max muttered, tossing the last strip of edible meat-substitute into his mouth.
Suddenly, a small icon blinked on his status window.
> [NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED: Crafting Menu – Primitive Tier Available]
[New Subsystem Activated: CAMP MODE (BETA)]
[Survival Meter: 63% – You are moderately stable]
> "Crafting… good. I was wondering how long before the Minecraft mode kicks in."
With a sigh, Max stood and began gathering useful fragments from his surroundings — pieces of old-world code embedded in corrupted stone, metal veins flickering with residual data, and something that resembled bark, but emitted a pleasant humming noise when touched.
> [Crafting Recipes Learned: Basic Firepit, Reinforced Camp Tent, Synth-Water Extractor]
An hour later, Max had something resembling a shelter. It looked like someone taught a bunker how to cosplay as a yurt. But it was his.
Saberloop sniffed the entrance, then yawned.
> "Yeah, it's home now. Suck it, apocalypse."
---
The Holo-Oracle, now integrated as Max's permanent system assistant, had adjusted its tone from "divine cold archive" to something slightly more... passive-aggressively sarcastic.
> "You placed the extractor backwards again."
> "It's fine. Gravity's just... subjective here."
> "So is logic, clearly."
The Oracle's digital avatar hovered beside him, her robes replaced with a hoodie that read: 404: Divine Presence Not Found.
Max stared. "...Did you program that hoodie?"
> "You selected the 'casual assistant' interface."
> "No I didn't."
> "You did when you thought 'Make her less murder-churchy' very hard last night before sleep."
> "...Rude but fair."
She smirked.
> "Survival Tip 002: Hydration restores 10% stamina. Emotional suppression suppresses growth. You should let yourself feel more."
> "I feel. I feel annoyed. Constantly."
> "Progress."
---
On the second morning in his cracked domain, Max sat in the glowing tent, chewing synthetic roots and organizing his Universal Status Window.
A translucent panel hovered before him — still glowing with the strange Void-script that only he could read.
---
🧾 [MAXIMUS ILIAD – Status Window v4.7-A (ARCHON ROOT)]
Level: 3
Titles: [The Unshattered], [Nullborn Survivor], [First-Tamer of Cracked Realms]
Class: N/A (System Core Adapting)
HP: 1420 / 1420
MP: 675 / 675
Stamina: 540 / 650
Paradox Gauge: 5%
Luck: ???
System Access Level: Root-User (Beta)
Affinity Detection: In Progress…
---
🔹 Active Subsystems:
[☑] Status Interface (Universal Mode)
[☑] Taming Core (Lv. 1)
[☑] Void Codex Fragment Sync (3%)
[☑] Crafting / Camp Mode (Beta)
[☑] Domain Seed (Locked)
[☑] Harem Synchronicity (LOCKED: Uninitiated)
[☑] Skill Copy/Absorb (LOCKED: Mission Locked)
[☑] Affinity Evolution Tree (LOCKED: Story Progression Required)
---
He scrolled further.
> "Why is 'Harem Synchronicity' listed under combat compatibility?"
> "Because bonding affects power thresholds. Love makes people punch harder," Oracle deadpanned.
> "Damn. Anime was right all along."
---
Later that evening, as Max hunted for edible resources, he heard an unexpected chime — a foreign tone not tied to his system.
> [External Signature Detected – Transdimensional Residue 1.07%]
He turned, heart thudding.
From the horizon, walking slowly, was a man in dark robes with golden tattoos etched along his arms. His eyes were hollow, glowing faintly, and he held a cracked datapad — broadcasting a flickering video loop.
Max narrowed his eyes.
> "...Vince?"
Vince had been his friend in the past world — or what passed for friendship in a collapsing mega-corp that mined data and souls alike.
The man didn't speak. His datapad glitched, showing a memory — the two of them drinking energy packs and ranting about the simulation theory.
> "You're not real," Max whispered. "You're what's left of him."
> [AI Phantom – Memory Remnant (Degraded)]
[Behavioral Echo: Friendly – Non-Combatant]
Max exhaled. "So even ghosts have ghosts here."
He sat with the phantom until its light faded.
---
Day five of "Not Dying" came with its own victory.
Saberloop, now responding to basic commands, had stopped growling every time Max got close to its food bowl. In fact, the beast even let Max pet it — for a solid five seconds.
> [Bond Progression: 52% — Loyalty Rising]
[Skill Learned: Beast Empathy (Lv. 1)]
Max grinned.
> "If this keeps up, I'll have an emotional support death-tiger by next month."
The Oracle chimed in:
> "You may now teach Saberloop custom commands. Suggested: 'Stay', 'Hunt', and 'Don't Eat Explosives'."
> "...That last one's based on something, isn't it?"
> "Correct."
Max sighed. "I need friends."
---
That night, Max's window blinked red. A new tab opened — labeled "Mail (1)".
> [Sender: Unknown Admin Node]
Subject: To The One Who Lived
The message read:
> "You're not supposed to exist. That's why you're important."
"We'll meet again. Build your strength. You're the seed."
*— K."
Max stared for a long time.
> "...I hate cryptic emails almost as much as I hate non-cryptic ones."
---
By now, Max had upgraded his camp with:
A glowing dome-tent with mild anti-curse shielding.
A Synth-Water Shower System (which mostly sprayed recycled mist).
A Campfire Skill Trainer, which leveled [Meditation], [Basic Cooking], and [Void Channeling].
Each day blurred into the next with minor quests.
He tamed a firefly-construct that worked as a nightlight.
He learned to cook something that didn't taste like space ash.
He even smiled, sometimes, just watching Saberloop sleep curled around his tent.
> "I've survived three weeks. Still not dead. Still technically hot."
The Oracle chuckled. "Would you like to unlock the Mirror Function for self-view?"
> "...Maybe later."
---
Max leaned against a half-built statue of a "Scribe of Desire" and took a bite of synth-bread.
> "I should be scared. I should be panicking. But I'm not."
> "Is that weird?"
Oracle: "Your system is shielding core trauma. It's what's keeping you functional."
> "Nice of it."
He looked up.
> "Do you think... I could build something here?"
Oracle: "Like what?"
> "A life. Not just a base."
The Oracle paused. For once, it didn't answer like an algorithm.
> "You might."
---
As Max sat to write in his log — a mental journal embedded in his status menu — a flash of white light split the sky.
> [ZONE DISTURBANCE DETECTED]
[Stabilized Gate Opening – Entity Arrival: UNKNOWN]
Saberloop growled, tail bristling.
Max stood slowly, reaching for his weapon — and a smile touched his lips.
> "Well. There goes the peace."
The Oracle sighed. "Back to reality."
> "Let it come," Max whispered. "I'm starting to remember who I am."
---