Chapter 592: Green Understanding and the Future

Its progression. For some reason the more we ’progress’ the more something new will happen. This stabilization is not about mutation at least not completely. It is about the combination of our blood, mind, soul, and the serum with our body.

He walked forward through the swampy water and could feel the mud sucking at his feet as he moved. The others followed him toward the wooden dock. He pulled himself up and looked around. Several trees had grown through the water in the area.

[We learned how to control anything electrical through a distance without the need to struggle with hacking or electricity. Now we are learning about another aspect to get stronger.]

Actually both of these should have more use than in just combat. They can be utilitarian in nature. But it could just be our natural progression. There is no greater power at work here. Just our own bloodline finally reaching what we lost.

You think we could have had this sooner if we still ruled part of another galaxy.

[I think strength is necessary to survive.]

Not in this instance. It is more likely our family willingly surrendered their position. But for what reason?

He moved along the dock with the others following behind him. The shack on the water did not have a door. Just a worn out curtain that he moved to the side. Inside were many things he had seen and looked over before but had never truly understood. At least until this moment.

These symbols and words are power. They act as conduits for our own control. Then maybe we can use electricity to make them and turn them from mere words into... spells?

He moved into the room and picked up a doll. He could clearly see the symbols and words hidden on the doll. The words and lettering were the hex writing. But the symbols were the same unknown ones that were appearing on his code body.

He could feel a flood of memories enter his mind as he remembered where he saw these. He was just looking through his family’s history when he was training his Cerberus unit. Cho had been curious.

Now this knowledge would be useful.

It is a shortcut.

[One not necessarily for us.]

Some offshoots of it we can use. He held up a doll that was made of straw and wood. Like this tracking ritual. I am sure there are other useful things that are buried among our memories.

[Stabilization: 07%]

Should we test one of these spells?

[If we are going to test any of these spells, I suggest this one.]

The figure made up of glass and blood held up a piece of paper. The title of which said, ’Tracking’ in the ancient earth English language. But below it in the hex ritualistic text were words arrayed in a circle with a symbol in the center. One of the symbols he had definitely never seen before but was now covering his body. What was its origin? What were all of the symbol’s origins?

What should we track?

Let’s start with someone close. How about Jamal? Then we should do it on someone who is very far away. Salem.

[Agreed.]

[Stabilization: 08%]

He focused and started chatting the incantation. But after a few moments. Nothing happened.

Did you do it wrong?

[I think our understanding is wrong.]

He looked around and nodded after a moment. The magic can’t just be used. Even if it is a shortcut. It still costs something. The cost just becomes physical. Which makes sense considering there is an ingredient list.

He was punched in the sides by the other two.

[Stabilization: 09%]

[This means they all need some sort of physical conduit. Does this mean we have just been channeling the raw power version of these spells?]

It probably is. This just gets more and more confusing.

He set down the piece of paper and looked around. He could do more than just channel he could enchant. It is a very magical concept that was unrealistic. But it should be possible. It would just be power and programming on a microscopic level unseen but more primitive technologies.

Essentially, it would be magic.

Huh...

The world around them moved again. But this time all three of them were being moved to the endless water. They arrived and looked around. He looked down at his body and realized his body was now split halfway between the code and the symbols. What did it mean?

[Stabilization: 10%]

All three of the silhouettes keeled over in pain as a loud ringing reverberated throughout their ears. As it happened he slipped awake for only a moment. That moment was enough for him to realize arcs of lighting were slipping off his body and hitting the room. He pulled his power back in and breathed with a sigh.

Once he was back in the water he could feel his body moving again. But this time it did not stop as the other two bodies slammed into him. The three of them began merging and he focused on reigning in his control while pain racked through his body.

When it was done and the pain was subsiding he was not anywhere. He was just in the black. Then he could feel it. He was back in his mind. How much time had passed?

[Stabilization: 95%]

Well that answers that question. What about the others? Actually there were no others, it was just him. He was back together all of his pieces put back together. But now what were they doing?

The ranch home began forming around him. As it did he saw something. His eyes widened at the scene before him. Or rather the mirror in front of him. He looked older. But not that much older. His eyes trailed off to the side and he looked at the pictures that were slowly coming into frame.

His eyes widened as his understanding only expanded. After a few moments he realized what was happening. He could also feel a flood of knowledge pulse in his mind.

[Stabilization: 96%]

"Jace!" He heard a voice call out to him from outside and smiled as he recognized Salem’s voice.

[Stabilization: 97%]

This was his future. He was not just seeing his future. He was seeing ten years into the future. That is to say the other knowledge that entered his mind was the time between his present body and the next ten years.

As he was looking around he noticed a few things of note. But the oddest thing he noticed was his longsword. The one he originally used was made of the same stuff as his armor. It hung from hooks like a prize.

He approached it and ran a hand along the words on the side. "Solitude is key. Embrace the change." He read the words and almost as if it was by magic. He started to feel his body begin to get sucked back.

[Stabilization: 98%]

He awoke in the cold dark lower floor of the facility, sucking in air desperately. He reached up and scratched at his throat as he began coughing and hacking. After a few moments the struggle stopped and he looked at the empty canister. He removed the injection needle and climbed off the bed.

As he did he reached up and grasped his head. A severe headache struck him and he could feel information disappearing. He knew he had seen the future. He knew he had learned everything that would happen in the next ten years. But he also knew that all of that information was disappearing.

No, that was not accurate. It was being locked away.

[Stabilization: 99%]

He tried to grasp something, anything. But none of it stayed. But when it ended he could only remember two things. ’Solitude is key’ and ’embrace the change.’

He did not know where the two phrases come from. But he knew they were words he needed to live by.

[Stabilization: 100%]

With that final percentage ticking over. He could feel his body relaxing and his mind untangling. Then a new message box appeared before him.

[Evolution Spectre and Evolution Hex have been successfully integrated. Evolution Spectre Hex created. New Techniques detected: Control Satellite, Hex Meditation, Foresight, and Splitmind.]

[System reintegrated. Use the user’s new abilities to update the local system interface? Y/N]

"What are the downsides if I do this?" Jace asked aloud. Actually, forgetting for a moment he could have just thought about his question.

[Effect of system update: User is upgraded to Primary Avatar. User’s admin privileges are raised. Increased appetite due to the user becoming a factory for nanobots. No known downside.]

Yes. He answered mentally and he saw a new message appear.

[System update: 00.1%. Time left: 3 Months.]

"Okay, I want to see my new stats now." Jace declared as he turned off the equipment that was still on. He would send someone else down here to get it.

[General Information

Name: Jace Hex

Chronological Age: 18

Compatibility Rating: S

Spouse: Salem Wintry

Bound: Shilla Aphri

Lineage: Electricity Warlock

Bound Items: Gladius, Longsword, Spear, Katana, Khopesh, Shortsword, Dagger, Spectre Knife, Spiked Mace, Flail, Spectre Magnus Revolver, Spectre 2.0 Armor, Spectre Hover Bike, Spectre Spider Tank, Wisp Rifle, Storage Box

Talent/Ability Understanding: 99%

Evolution Stage: 100% Spectre Hex

Technique(s): Spectre Meditation, Bloodline Mindspace, Mental Home, Control Satellite, Hex Meditation, Foresight, Splitmind

Physique: 87%

Mind: 51%

Spirit: 78%

Soul: 62%]

[Astral Beast Companion

Name: Cho

Age: 1

Imprinted on: Jace Hex, Salem Wintry, and Jordan]