Time in the Nexus felt strange, disconnected. Outside, maybe 6–8 hours had passed since the Mana Field ignited. Inside? It felt like days compressed into minutes, fueled by adrenaline and the ceaseless torrent of data from Terra_Core. A faint, almost subliminal hum resonated through the void now, a subtle vibration underfoot that hadn't been there before, seeming to pulse gently in time with the glowing System panels—the activated heartbeat of the planet made manifest.
The [Humans Awakened] counter had plateaued around 5.5 billion—the bulk of the online world. The initial frenzy had subsided, replaced by a tense, planet-wide holding pattern. News feeds showed deserted city streets juxtaposed with bizarre scenes: groups practicing the [Human Breathing Technique] in parks like some mass tai chi session, occasional bursts of (harmless) magical sparks causing panic, and unsettlingly, footage of non-lethal but brutal brawls breaking out as old conflicts met the new [Anti-Griefing] reality. People couldn't kill each other, but frustration, fear, and old habits died hard. Reports also surfaced of the first Consensual Duels—agreed-upon fights where Avatars could battle safely, discovering that the System halted combat automatically when a participant reached 1 HP, preventing even Avatar death in these sanctioned matches.
Then, a new wave of discoveries started trending on the [World Hub] forums, flagged by the AI.
::Data Point: Users empirically confirming Avatar biological requirements differ from baseline human.
::Observation: Sustained practice of [Human Breathing Technique] drastically reduces need for caloric intake and sleep.
::Analysis: Avatar constructs are primarily Syntropy-based. Technique allows direct energy absorption, bypassing traditional biological needs.
::Social Media Sentiment: Initial panic ('Are we still human?!') shifting to relief ('No more grocery bills!') and strategic planning ('Preppers realizing they can stay in their bunkers indefinitely even without food').
Don't need food or sleep? I blinked. Okay, that's huge. Another massive advantage the AI hadn't predicted. It explained the scenes of people practicing the breathing technique for hours on end. They weren't just gaining stats; they were sustaining themselves. The implications for long-term survival, especially post-invasion logistics, were immense. It also meant humanity could focus entirely on preparation for the next ~30 hours.
The AI's voice cut in again, a layer of something almost like grudging respect beneath the usual chaotic static.
::Addendum to previous analysis.
::The widespread, immediate adoption and efficacy of the [Human Breathing Technique] represents a significant deviation from standard planetary integration trajectories.
::Normally, development of optimized species-specific Syntropy absorption techniques requires centuries, post-Mana Field activation.
::User Glitchfinder's 'exploit' in rapidly synthesizing and distributing this technique via [Admin Privileges] and [Collective Insight] has provided Terran users with a foundational advantage unprecedented in available System records.
::Recalculating survival probability based on drastically reduced resource dependency and accelerated baseline stat progression potential...
::New Probability of Planetary Survival: Approximately 1.0%.
::Note: Still suboptimal, but represents a 33-fold increase over initial projection. Congratulatory meme deployment... deemed inefficient. Proceeding.
One percent? It wasn't much, but compared to 0.03%... it felt like a universe of difference. Thirty-three times better odds, just from breathing. This is it. This is the edge. Exploits. My resolve hardened for a fraction of a second before cold dread washed it away. One percent? Even with billions Awakened, billions practicing the technique, billions potentially respawning… the AI still thought we had a ninety-nine percent chance of failure?
"Core!" I snapped, the streamer mask cracking under the strain. "One percent? After all that? Are the K'Tharr that strong? Explain the threat level!"
::Acknowledged. Processing Threat Disparity Analysis.
::Factor 1: Tier Disadvantage. K'Tharr forces include Tier 2 Command Units and operate under a Tier 3 Command Nexus. Terran users are universally Tier 1.
::[Tier Authority] confers significant combat advantages (Damage Reduction/Amplification) against lower Tiers.
::Factor 2: Level Disadvantage. Initial K'Tharr wave estimated Level 30–50 (Tier 1). Average Terran user Level: 1.
::Even baseline stat disparity is substantial.
::Factor 3: Skill Disadvantage. K'Tharr possess developed combat skills and synergies. Terran users possess nascent Awakened skills and [Basic Martial Arts] at best.
::Factor 4: Experience Disadvantage. K'Tharr are a veteran conquering species. Terran users have zero real combat experience under System parameters.
::Conclusion: Despite numerical superiority, respawn capability, and breathing technique advantage, projected Terran combat effectiveness against initial K'Tharr wave is extremely low. 1.0% survival probability is statistically generous, factoring heavily on 'Exploit Potential: Human Ingenuity/Desperation'.
My fists clenched. Generous. The AI thought a 1% chance was generous. We were bugs about to be swatted by professionals. Unless…
"Core," I probed, thinking fast, "You mentioned an XP tax pool earlier. You said System integration rewards all productive action, even before the Mana Field was active. Farming, mining, crafting... Are those still generating XP now?"
::Affirmative. All productive actions contributing to planetary Syntropy generation yield XP.
"Define 'productive action'. Does running a power plant count? Manufacturing goods in a factory? Does large-scale industrial activity generate significant XP?" My exploit brain was latching onto a new possibility. If combat was suicide right now, maybe we could level up without fighting.
::Analysis: Confirmed. Industrial-scale resource conversion and energy generation produce measurable XP yields, proportionate to output and complexity.
::However, current global infrastructure status post-Awakening chaos: Largely offline.
::Exploit Potential: Limited by immediate resource and organizational constraints.
Damn it. Another dead end for now. We needed power now, not after rebuilding factories. The breathing technique was the only mass exploit available. Unless… Admin Privileges. I tabled the industrial XP idea for later and refocused.
But the chaos worried me. The brawls, the bunker mentality… unity against the K'Tharr was one thing, but old divisions were still simmering. We needed focus. We needed a goal before the Invaders arrived.
"Core," I said, my voice hardening again. "The offline population. Almost 3 billion people cut off. We need them. It's time. Initiate the World Quest."
::Acknowledged. Aligning with strategic priority: Maximize Userbase for optimal Syntropy generation and defensive capability.
::Calculating resource allocation... Utilizing 10% of accrued Planetary XP Tax pool...
::Initiating [World Quest Protocol].
Okay. Good it had enough XP. A new notification flashed across my vision, simultaneously appearing for every Awakened human.
[WORLD QUEST ISSUED: BRIDGE THE GAP]
Objective: Establish System connection for all offline human populations.
Method: Utilize existing Awakened Users for physical contact Awakening OR construct/deploy [Mana Signal Relays] in designated low-connectivity zones.
Reward (Individual): Significant XP bonus per successful Awakening facilitated.
Reward (Planetary): Accelerated Terra_Core leveling, potential unlocking of new Planetary Abilities, increased global Syntropy generation.
Time Limit: Invader Arrival (Approx. 30 hours).
Penalty for Failure: Reduced planetary defensive capability. Increased probability of Nexus breach during invasion.
Status: ACTIVE
::Quest details, [Mana Signal Relay] basic schematics (requires [Basic Crafting] skill), and zone maps disseminating via [World Hub] now.
::Note on [Mana Signal Relay]: Initial construction requires basic components: conductive metal (copper viable), crystalline structure (quartz viable), minor Syntropy infusion (via [Basic Mana Control]).
::Projection: First functional relays achievable within 2–3 hours by motivated user groups possessing relevant pre-System knowledge ([Comprehension]) and basic mana control.
Okay. The first global objective. A race against time to bring everyone online before the K'Tharr hit. It was ambitious, maybe impossible, but it was something. A shared goal to channel the chaos. The [World Hub] forums immediately exploded.
[PanicPoster]: 30 HOURS?! How are we supposed to reach tribes in the Amazon or remote villages in the Himalayas?! This is impossible!
[EngineerGuy]: Examining the [Mana Signal Relay] schematic... Simple! Needs copper wire, quartz crystal... stuff you can scavenge from old electronics! The 'Syntropy infusion' is the tricky part, requires [Basic Mana Control]. GUYS! Practice the safety tutorials!
[CoordiNation_US_East]: Forming Relay construction team – Boston Hub. Need engineers, electricians, anyone with access to quartz! Meet at designated safe zone (Old Fenway Park). Let's DO this!
[HelpfulUser]: Remember guys, physical contact works too! If you live near an offline community, GO TALK TO THEM! Show them your stat screen! Offer the free respawn token!
I activated a global map overlay within the Nexus using [Admin Privileges]. Red zones marked low-connectivity areas targeted by the quest. Green dots began to pop up almost immediately—individuals accepting the quest, forming teams, marking potential resource locations. Small blue waves pulsed outwards from major cities as people started attempting physical Awakenings in nearby offline communities. It's chaos, but it's directed chaos.
Watching the map fill with activity, seeing the initial relays being constructed, gave me a sliver of breathing room. I need to get stronger too. I couldn't just coordinate. My [Nexus Recall] had a 24-hour cooldown. If something breached this place…
I focused inward, activating the [Human Breathing Technique]. The familiar warmth spread through me, the passive HEA and MANA XP gain a comforting, accelerating trickle now that billions were practicing. Then, I began the [Basic Martial Arts] kata again. My movements were no longer clumsy. Guided by the tidal wave of [Collective Insight] pouring in from billions practicing the breathing technique and the millions with prior martial arts experience, my body moved with an unnatural grace. It felt less like learning and more like remembering—the perfected muscle memory of countless masters distilled into my own limbs. Each punch, each block, each stance flowed with near-perfect efficiency.
[Action Detected: Practicing Basic Martial Arts Kata (Insight-Enhanced). STR XP +0.5. AGI XP +0.5. HEA XP +0.2]
[Basic Martial Arts (Novice Lvl 7/10)]
[Basic Martial Arts (Novice Lvl 8/10)]
...
[Basic Martial Arts has reached maximum level for Novice Rank!]
[Comprehension Threshold Met! Skill Rank Up!]
[Basic Martial Arts → Apprentice Lvl 1/20]
The notifications scrolled rapidly. I pushed harder, channeling the active component of the breathing technique. The energy surged, amplifying the XP gain. The Insight stream continued, feeding me nuances, variations, counters. It was exhilarating, addictive.
[Basic Martial Arts (Apprentice Lvl 15/20)]
...
[Basic Martial Arts has reached maximum level for Apprentice Rank!]
[Comprehension Threshold Met! Skill Rank Up!]
[Basic Martial Arts → Adept Lvl 1/30]
Simultaneously, the constant practice and Syntropy absorption from the breathing technique itself was leveling that skill at an insane rate.
[Human Breathing Technique (Novice Lvl 9/10)]
...
[Human Breathing Technique → Apprentice Lvl 1/20]
...
[Human Breathing Technique → Adept Lvl 1/30]
...
[Human Breathing Technique → Master Lvl 1/40]
After just one hour of focused practice, amplified by the Insight of billions, the results were staggering.
[Basic Martial Arts (Adept Lvl 5/30)]
[Human Breathing Technique (Master Lvl 3/40)]
[STR: 8 → 15]
[AGI: 11 → 19]
[HEA: 9 → 16]
[MANA: 14 → 20]
A wave of heat washed through me, intense but not painful, like stepping into a sauna. My muscles seemed to hum, dense and coiled with newfound potential. I clenched my fist—the simple action felt different, more solid, the tendons moving with greater efficiency. My perception sharpened; the shifting grey walls of the Nexus seemed clearer, the subtle hum resonating with greater detail. It wasn't just numbers on a screen; I felt stronger, faster, tougher. My very existence felt… denser, more real. The jump wasn't just +7 Strength; it felt like I could punch through concrete. The +8 Agility wasn't just a number; it felt like I could dodge bullets. This wasn't a game overlay; the System was fundamentally changing me.
This... this is the power of Collective Insight. This is the Human Exploit. It wasn't just my cleverness; it was the distilled experience of billions focused through me. My potential growth rate was terrifying.
I then turned my attention back to the [Admin Privileges] menu. [Nexus Environment Control]. What could it do? A short list appeared, simpler than I expected. Guess the Core's starting weak too.
[Spawn Basic Training Dummy]
[Adjust Ambient Lighting]
[Generate Basic Sustenance Paste]
Okay, basic functions. Spawning dummies might be useful, but probably costs Planetary XP which is better spent on the World Quest right now. The sustenance paste was redundant.
Just as I was about to dive back into training, the Terra_Core AI's voice cut in, its tone shifting slightly.
::World Quest [Bridge the Gap] successfully initiated.
::Positive feedback loop detected: Quest participation increasing global Syntropy generation.
::Planetary Core energy levels reaching first stabilization milestone.
::Nexus Environment Control upgrade protocol now available.
::Observation: Integration of unique Syntropic Catalysts ('Treasures') may unlock specialized upgrade paths in future.
::Select one initial Nexus enhancement protocol:
[A: Spawn Combat Analysis Assistant] (AI construct for training feedback)
[B: Activate Syntropy Condenser (Zone 1)] (Minor training speed boost in a designated Nexus area)
[C: Install Stasis Monitoring Suite] (View health of physical bodies)
[D: Upgrade [World Hub] Bandwidth (Level 1)] (Faster data/video sharing)
An upgrade? Already? The successful launch of the World Quest must have given the Core a boost. Okay, analyze. Combat Assistant helps my personal growth. Condenser helps my personal growth. Stasis Monitoring... good for peace of mind, low practical impact right now. Hub Bandwidth... crucial for getting tutorials and intel out faster. All good options. But with the Invaders coming...
The clock kept ticking. The hum of the Nexus seemed subtly stronger now, resonating with the activated Mana Field outside.
T-minus approximately 30 hours.