The link sat there in my stream chat, stark blue against the torrent of panicked questions and frantic emojis. Did I just doom us all faster? Or give us a fighting chance? 0.03%... gotta believe we can break those odds.
I watched, holding my breath, my perception somehow split between the sterile grey void of the Nexus and the chaotic overlay of my stream interface. The click-through count—a metric I usually obsessed over for ad revenue—now felt like the most important number in the world.
1… 10… 57…
Then, the first reactions hit the chat:
[StreamFan_42]: HOLY S*** IT'S REAL! BLUE BOXES! I HAVE STATS?!
[NoobHelper]: Glitch wtf just happened? I felt… weird? And there's a screen in my vision??
[HemlockHater]: ACCEPTED! LEVEL 1 HUMAN! LFG!!! WHERE'S THE SUPERPOWERS??
More clicks. Hundreds. Then thousands. The initial wave was my core audience—the believers, the curious, the ones who trusted 'Glitchfinder' even when he sounded half-insane.
"Keep clicking, guys," I murmured, forgetting the mic for a second. "Tell your friends. Tell everyone."
The blended voice of Terra_Core echoed in the Nexus, sounding almost bored:
::User Awakening rate: 3.7 per second. Suboptimal.
::Calculating viral propagation trajectory based on user Glitchfinder's current social metrics…
::Projection: Full planetary network saturation requires 17.3 Earth standard hours at current velocity.
::Invader arrival: T-minus approximately 47.9 Earth standard hours.
::Conclusion: Barely adequate. Suggest enhancing viral coefficient.
"Enhance the whatsit?" I blinked. "You mean make it spread faster? How?"
::Recommendation: Provide further 'proof'. Initial user testimonies are generating skepticism.
::Query social media platform 'Twitter'. Hashtag #GlitchSuperpowers trending, alongside #Hoax, #Deepfake, #EndOfWorldPRStunt.
::Suggest demonstrating non-falsifiable System interaction.
Right. People think it's a stunt. "Okay, Core, what can we do? Can you show them something outside the Nexus?"
::Negative. Direct energy manipulation restricted to Nexus subspace.
::However… Accessing global sensor network via internet archives… Found alternative.
::Proposal: Utilize [Admin Privileges] to display real-time global Awakening statistics directly on user Glitchfinder's stream overlay.
::Data transparency often correlates with increased user trust.
"Do it."
A new element appeared on my perceived stream overlay—a rapidly ticking counter labeled [Humans Awakened: XXXX] next to a pulsing map of Earth, lighting up hotspots as clicks turned into Awakenings.
[Humans Awakened: 15,382]
[Humans Awakened: 19,741]
[Humans Awakened: 25,019]
The chat exploded again—but differently this time. Less "WTF," more "WHOA."
[SkepticSam]: Okay that map… that's not fake. How is he doing that?
[DataNerd]: The growth curve is exponential! It's actually happening!
[ClickTheLinkKaren]: I CLICKED! IT'S REAL! MY HUSBAND THINKS I'M CRAZY BUT I HAVE A STAT SCREEN!
The Awakening rate doubled, then tripled. Tens of thousands per second. Now we're talking.
"Keep going, chat!" I yelled. "Spread the word! This is real! We need everyone!"
News reports flashed across simulated screens the Terra_Core AI conjured in the Nexus. Chaos. Panic. Wonder. Videos emerged—someone showing off increased Strength accidentally punching through a wall. Someone testing Agility, falling, then standing up fine.
Then, the shocking clips hit. A military base. Soldiers, newly Awakened, shoving. One punches—his fist stops inches from the other's face. A blue box flashes:
[System Rule Violation: Hostile Action Against Allied User Detected. Damage Nullified.]
Similar reports flooded in—prisons, street fights, domestic disputes. Hurting another human was suddenly impossible.
Then came darker videos. Accidents. Someone falls, hits the ground hard… and dissolves into motes of light. Moments later, they reappear nearby, gasping, naked except for grey underwear, weeping in pain. Their System Interface shows massive XP loss, items gone.
"Core," I demanded. "What am I seeing? People are dying… but not staying dead? Explain."
::Observation correlates with Avatar System Protocols.
::Upon Awakening, biological units translocated to Nexus stasis.
::A Syntropy-based construct ('Avatar') manifests externally.
::If Avatar integrity fails (HP = 0), consciousness reformed in new Avatar at Nexus egress point ('Re-spawn').
::Initial process subsidized by Terra_Core. Subsequent respawns incur penalties: 50% XP loss, item drop, simulated pain.
::Conclusion: Functionally infinite, but unpleasant, respawns.
My jaw dropped. Avatars? Stasis? Respawning?! With pain and penalties? The AI hadn't just given us a System—it turned Earth into a hardcore MMO. The 0.03% survival rate suddenly seemed… less impossible. But brutal.
No civil wars. No internal power struggles. Just unity. Forced, maybe—but unity. A grim smile touched my lips. The AI, corrupted by internet trolls and cat videos, might've created utopia… or the perfect Zerg rush. We can actually do this.
Okay, Leo… you're World Master. What can you DO beyond sharing a link?
I focused on [Admin Privileges]. A mental menu unfurled:
[Global User Status], [Nexus Environment Control], [Terra_Core Diagnostics], [World Hub Management], [System Analysis]
Under [System Analysis], I found [Vector Notes Log]. Empty. Needed [View Source Code]. I focused on my own stat block.
[Error: Target lacks accessible Source Code. User biological structure pre-dates System integration.]
Okay, can't analyze myself. What about the Nexus?
[Target: Nexus Subspace Wall. Analyzing…]
[Vector Note: Dimensional boundary maintained by Terra_Core Syntropic field resonance. Stable but vulnerable to Tier 3+ chroniton weapons or dimensional shear. Recommend fortification at Planetary Tier 1.]
Whoa. Syntropic field… chroniton weapons… Tier 1?
"Core," I said. "Talk to me about the Invaders. Designation: K'Tharr?"
::Affirmative. K'Tharr Dominion. Tier 2 System Civilization.
::Threat Profile: Biological/Magical Integration.
::Species: Insectoid-humanoid chimeras.
::Tactics: Mass portal insertion, psionic disruption, bio-acid weapons, enslaved shock troops.
::Objective: Resource assimilation and/or Nexus Core destruction.
::Note: Unprepared Tier 1 worlds are 'ripe for harvest'.
::Addendum: K'Tharr lack understanding of projectile weapons and decentralized tactics. Potential exploit identified.
"What exploit?"
::K'Tharr rely on centralized psionic command.
::Ground troops lack independent tactics.
::Combat simulations assume unified, inferior defense forces.
::No response model for:
• Decentralized System-enhanced guerrilla tactics
• Mass deployment of kinetic/explosive weapons by respawning units
• Exposure to concentrated meme culture (psychological impact: 'hilariously negative')
They aren't ready for guns, respawns, and trolls. Our chaotic, meme-soaked nature might be our strength.
"Okay," I said. "Respawning helps, but we need people strong enough to use those guns. Strong enough to survive long enough for respawns to matter."
Stats—Strength, Health. How do you raise them fast? In games, you grind. Here… usage? What boosts STR and HEA fastest?
Martial artists. Bodybuilders. Endurance athletes. Could training translate?
"Core," I commanded. "Pull data on human physiology, peak conditioning, martial arts, endurance training. Focus on foundational strength and resilience."
::Acknowledged. Accessing archives… Cross-referencing System parameters… Filtering for STR and HEA growth… Presenting data sets.::
Screens appeared—anatomy charts, martial arts videos, yogic scrolls. Overwhelming.
Start simple. Practice.
I pulled up a basic Karate kata video. Awkwardly, in t-shirt and sweats, I mimicked the movements. Terrible form. Untrained muscles.
[Action Detected: Basic Martial Arts Kata. STR XP +0.01. AGI XP +0.01. HEA XP +0.005]
Tiny gains. I kept practicing. Hours blurred. Sweat beaded. Muscles ached.
[Proficiency Threshold Met! Skill Awakened: Basic Martial Arts (Novice Lvl 1)]
Finally! My [Collective Insight] flickered to life. Subliminal impressions—perfect stances, muscle contractions, breath rhythm.
"Core," I gasped. "Filter data again. Focus on breathing techniques. Cross-reference with Syntropy field harmonics."
::Acknowledged. Refining parameters… Analyzing Bio-Syntropic Resonance… Correlation found in ancient breath-control methodologies…::
New data appeared—energy flow diagrams, texts on Prana, Qi, Mana. Insight buzzed stronger—monks meditating, athletes breathing through pain.
A convergence point. Breathing patterns influencing energy fields. The System calls it Syntropy.
I experimented. Deep inhales, slow exhales. Mentally taxing. Stamina bar drained.
[Action Detected: Bio-Syntropic Resonance Breathing. MANA XP +0.05. HEA XP +0.02]
[Vector Note: Technique harmonizes respiration with ambient Syntropy. Efficiency increases with MANA and Meditation skill.]
It works! Passive regen boost. Active training enhancement. This was the foundation.
"Core," I said. "Analyze this breathing pattern. Combine with martial arts basics. Create tutorial video. Beginner level. Maximize regen and stat gain. Make it idiot-proof. Call it… [Human Breathing Technique]."
::Command Accepted. Processing… Synthesizing technique… Generating tutorial video… Estimated completion: 15 minutes.::
[Human Breathing Technique (Novice Lvl 1)]
Tier: 1
Race: Human
Type: Active/Passive
Passive 1: +5% HP & Stamina regen
Passive 2: Generates HEA & MANA XP via ambient Syntropy
Active: +10% STR & HEA XP gain during exertion
Description: Foundational technique for human Syntropic resonance and System integration. Developed by World Master Glitchfinder.
Fifteen minutes. It felt like a marathon. But the payoff—giving everyone a way to get stronger just by breathing? This was the first real exploit. My first real contribution.
Outside the Nexus, the world continued Awakening.
[Humans Awakened]: 1,000,000,000+
Mana Field: Dormant. MP: 0/135
Time until arrival: ~43