Dawn of the Void

Chapter 160: Power Name

James brought all his focus to bear.

This was it.

Ready.

Connecting James 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 fragmented and then came rushing back together.

And then:

You have 1 novemdecillion unspent points

James blinked at the text. Novemdecillion? What the fuck was that?

Spend all points on Apotheosis?

System, said James, his words lost to the frigid depths of space. Youre still there, right?

Correct, James.

All of you? None of you has been erased yet?

Correct, James.

James licked his lower lip. It all came 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, remember? You were humoring the Zorathians and me back then. Which means you can take me back there. The root directory.

The System didnt respond.

You said you were influenced by humanity, yeah? James 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 James. Im just asking to see something 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

Jamess froze, not quite believing it had worked. He stared at the text. Hesitantly, with exceeding care, he opened the Temporal menu.

Reverse time (1/variable pts) | Area of Effect (1/variable pts) | Location

System, Im not familiar with how this part of the menu works. If His voice gave out. James coughed and tried again. If I wanted, theoretically, to reverse time 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 James and made him feel weak. One time usage is fine. I, uh, how much time 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.

James exhaled raggedly and closed his eyes. For a few moments 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

James 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 came from existing natural reservoirs.

Recapturing that amount from ever-collapse facilities would take approximately four/five centuries.

James grinned. Thats just perfect.

Theoretical exercise complete?

Resume Apotheosis?

James licked his lips. Actually, System. This may sound crazy, but Ive Ive had a change of heart. Lets skip the Apotheosis deal this time round. Instead, grant me 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.

James 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 me back a two weeks before Nemesis 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 means 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? James felt desperation start clawing him at the throat. So much hung in the balance. Please. Please let me 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 me 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.

James 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 me, 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 Name?

Fuck yeah! James screamed, punching up into nothing and causing himself to spin around. Fuck yeah, System! You and me, baby, you and me, all the -

A mote of white light began to flicker beside him.

Eluthaarii incoming

Fuck, hissed James. He summoned his statistics sheet, mentally 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 Name?

Oh fuck! Uh - Reboot!

Jelly appeared in the void beside him, his entire being coruscating with white fire. His fury blasted James, 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.

JAMES, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

James felt his mind withering, his soul shattering before Jellys cosmic presence. His focus fell apart, his thoughts shivered into fragments, but even as the Eluthaarii continued its manifestation he glanced at his sheet.

There, beside his Second Miracle: Reboot.

JAMES, screamed the Eluthaarii, causing the very fabric of space-time itself to ripple. YOU CANNOT -

Fuck you, he hissed, and activated the power.