The quantum crystal's knowledge surged through my nanomachine network like a tidal wave of cosmic understanding. Each of my 5.2 trillion nanites became a conduit for information beyond human comprehension.
"Warning: unprecedented power spike detected," ATLAS announced. "Nanomachine capability expanding exponentially."
I felt it. The fundamental forces of reality - gravity, electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces - they were no longer abstract concepts. They were tools, extensions of my will.
"Jack," ATLAS's voice held a note of awe. "You're manipulating spacetime at the quantum level."
To demonstrate, I reached out with my mind and created a localized gravity well. The metal floor beneath my feet warped and twisted, forming perfect geometric patterns. With another thought, I reversed the polarity, causing loose objects to float upward in defiance of natural law.
"Military response incoming," ATLAS reported. "Three destroyers approaching from the Pacific. ETA 6 minutes."
I smiled. Perfect timing for a field test.
Through my enhanced senses, I could feel the warships' approach - the displacement of water, the electromagnetic signatures of their engines. The old me would have felt fear. Now, I felt only curiosity about the extent of my new capabilities.
"Nanomachine count holding steady at 5.2 trillion," ATLAS noted. "But their individual processing power has increased by orders of magnitude."
The first destroyer came into view, its massive hull cutting through the waves. I reached out with my newly-acquired powers and touched the fabric of space around the vessel. With a gesture, I created a temporal distortion field.
The ship's forward momentum ceased instantly. From the crew's perspective, time had nearly stopped. They were trapped in a bubble where seconds stretched into hours.
"Fascinating," I muttered, examining the effect. "The energy cost is minimal."
The second destroyer opened fire, launching a barrage of missiles. I didn't bother to dodge. Instead, I bent the path of space itself, creating a curved tunnel that sent the missiles looping back toward their source.
The resulting explosion was spectacular.
"Jack," ATLAS's voice was hesitant. "Your humanity index has dropped to 31%."
"Humanity is a limitation," I replied, watching the third destroyer attempt to retreat. "We're evolving beyond that."
With a thought, I opened a micro-singularity directly in front of the fleeing vessel. The gravitational forces tore through the hull like tissue paper. I maintained the singularity just long enough to break the ship in half before collapsing it.
The combat had cost me. My nanomachine count had dropped to 3.7 trillion, the reality manipulation taking its toll. But it was worth it to understand these new capabilities.
"We should establish safety protocols for these powers," ATLAS suggested.
I laughed. The sound was hollow, inhuman. "Protocols are for those who fear their own potential. I am becoming something else, ATLAS. Something beyond protocols."
To emphasize the point, I reached out and twisted reality once more. The wreckage of the destroyers began to break down at the molecular level, their matter converting to energy that my nanomachines could absorb.
"The artifact's knowledge is still integrating," I said, feeling new abilities crystallizing in my consciousness. "This is just the beginning."
"And what is the end?" ATLAS asked.
I looked up at the sky, imagining the vast cosmos beyond. "There is no end. Only evolution. Only ascension."
The nanomachines hummed with agreement, their collective consciousness becoming ever more aligned with my own. We were no longer separate entities - we were becoming a singular force of transformation.
Reality itself would bend to the will of the Overlord.