The golden glow of the system interface illuminated my face, reflecting the manic spark in my eyes. I had the points, and I had the itch to spend them.
[Nanotechnology Handbook Vol. 1 — Cost: 50,000]
"Buy! Buy! Buy!" I didn't even blink.
[Mini-Hakkero — Cost: 60,000]
"Buy!"
[Minecraft Mini-Map Mod — Cost: 50,000]
"Buy. Buy," I muttered, my fingers dancing across the translucent screen.
[Gene-Seed (Ultramarine) — Cost: 70,000]
I paused for a fraction of a second, staring at the strange, swirling canister in the icon.
"I have no idea what that is, but it looks expensive. Sold!"
I leaned back, a heavy sigh of satisfaction escaping my lips. I could have spent more there were endless toys in the shop but reality was calling. "I can finish the spree later. I have work to do."
"Z23?" I called out into the quiet of the room.
"Yes, Mistress?" She appeared in the corner of my eye, her presence as sharp and dutiful as ever.
"Come with me. I have an idea."
Z23 let out a long, weary sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the entire world. "Here we go again."
"First, I need raw materials," I announced, stepping into the center of my lab. With a few taps, I authorized the purchase of nine massive blocks of pure iron.
"Thank you, Rhodes Island, for the generous budget!" I cackled, the sound echoing off the sterile walls. I set to work immediately, breaking the blocks down into shimmering ingots.
"I just need one last thing," I said, gesturing for Z23 to take a seat.
She eyed the stool suspiciously. "What are you doing now?"
"You'll see." I placed several iron ingots directly in front of her. "Eat."
"...Why do I even bother with you?" Z23 muttered. Without further argument, she picked up an iron ingot and took a massive, crunching bite as if it were a piece of sourdough bread.
"Feel anything different?" I asked, leaning in with a magnifying glass.
"No. It tastes like nothing," she replied flatly. She looked at me, her expression turning serious. "Is this really how you want to spend your time? Shouldn't you be... I don't know, finding a cure for cancer or solving world hunger?"
I waved a hand dismissively. "Done that first part. As for the second? I'll get to it later."
I turned back to the system, checking the final results of my frantic upgrading session.
[Status Window]
[Name: Agnes Tachyon
Race: Umamusume / Demi-Kansen / Newtype / MS Girl
Assimilation: 42%
Strength: 9
Speed: 12
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 15
Skills:
I am the Smartest!: Advanced learning and comprehension beyond human limits.
Mad Scientist: Immunity to moral constraints. Data over morality, always.
The Greatest Mind: Possession of all terrestrial knowledge and manufacturing techniques.
U=ma²: Superior velocity; faster-than-light capabilities.
Ship/MS Girl Rigging: Ability to summon Kansen and Mobile Suit armaments.
Newtype Powers: Enhanced spatial awareness, precognition, and telepathy.
Equipment: The Tachyon Device Mk. 4 (Masterpiece), Zudah Rigging, Roon-class Rigging, Nanotechnology (Passive), Mini-Hakkero, Halo Shield (Passive).]
"Okay, this is good enough for now," I muttered, closing the window.
I made my way back toward my dormitory, my mind already spinning with the next set of experiments. Along the way, I passed another girl with horse-like ears—an Umamusume.
Wait, what do they call them in this world again? I wondered.
"Hello?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Oh, hi," I replied, my mind still half-buried in nanotech schematics.
"I haven't seen you here before. Who are you?"
"I am Agnes Tachyon," I said, barely stopping.
"It's nice to see another of my kind," she said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, yes. I have things to do. Please excuse me." I brushed past her without a second thought.
The girl watched me go, her smile faltering into a look of confusion. "That was... interesting, to say the least."
"Finally," I sighed, entering my room and flopping onto the bed. The exhaustion was starting to seep through my mental shields. I sat up, staring at the wall, trying to plan my next move.
"This is exhausting... but at least I'm happy. Right?"
I stood up, heading toward the bathroom to splash some water on my face. But as my foot hit the floor, a white-hot, jagged pain shot up through my leg.
"Ah!"
My knee buckled. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my limb as the world spun.
"My leg... what...?"
I crawled back toward the bed, pulling myself up with shaking hands. As I did, a crimson-bordered system window flickered into existence, pulsating with an ominous light.
[WARNING: Your legs are deteriorating.]
The air in the room suddenly felt freezing. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes as I stared at the text.
"Oh no,"
A/n: I am back! Back from the dead!