"So, what happens now? You were the old man who took me to the cave and then gave me the new System Simon had promised. The same Simon that is a frozen block of flesh."
"The Simon you have been talking to is an imposter and not the same one that either of us thought. The founders put the real one in charge of the Harem project. Simon was also given overseer rights in the mini-games project and still is watching over as we speak. Somehow someone else got into his System and made a copy of his Avatar. I want to apologize on behalf of Reborn; the System was designed to prevent something like this from happening."
"Okay, so I believe you. At what point do you take the System back?"
"We can't. That was the gamble to get the hacker. If you hadn't been one hundred percent convinced, something could have gone wrong. We have been closing in on him, but catching him was proving to be nearly impossible. As you know, we couldn't see him when he visited you, but we started to get an idea when different things started to happen in your games. The problem was that the board didn't see them as problems and decided that a bug here or there wasn't a priority in the bigger picture of things."
"Then, what you told me in the cave is true? I cant be frozen anymore?"
"Not only that, but your current "Harem" can't be frozen either. No, this was a calculated decision; we have decided that the System would not hurt the game, and in fact, make it better!"
"For who?"
"You, of course! The entire point of the game is to make it the best for every player! That is the reason we still take part in monitoring the games and the players in them to make sure no one is mistreated."
Ya, that was what I wanted to hear, I was on cooperative auto-pilot mode on the outside, but that last line was the proof I needed. I wouldn't ask any more about the real-world or Simon; it would all just be lies. Make sure that no one is mistreated? Like Aquina and Sandra? Delilah? IONA?!
It took everything I had learned in all of my lifetimes at this moment to keep cool. On the outside, I was cool casual Dave, but I was a rage of emotions inside.
"All right then, so I go back and keep playing now, right? What about this System? How does the Harem System work?"
I decided to keep pushing at what I had already been driving at to seem more interested in the System rather than ask anything that would make me seem uncompliant. If I kept only asking about the System, then maybe they would just take me for the stupid person I was made out to be.
"I can't really tell you much since it was the hacker that had made it; it was also the reason we had to let you take it as is. Tequila will understand and explain how to use the System after you leave here. You also will be taking the pistol back with you, so finishing this game should prove rather easy for you and your party."
"Okay, everything seems in order. I just have one question, since there are so many girls..."
"Again, tequila will explain while the world loads back up, she has been updated with new parameters to handle the new System since it will be different than the ones you received before. This one will always be permanent and will allow you to keep player buffs and other abilities depending on your party's members. The last thing, keep being great; you are helping the girls of the game to places where they can play the game!"
And with the word "game," I was in darkness.
----------------------------
[Third person view of Mr. Datum]
A humanoid figure cloaked in a darkness appeared beside Mr. Datum the moment Dave was gone. The figure was so black it was hard to look at like it could swallow you like the light if you stared too long. Mr. Datum wasn't surprised by a Founder appearing now; after all, they had sent him.
"Are you sure this was wise? We have no idea how much Simon told him!"
"Patience, Simon is dead in the real world now, right?"
"Yes, as you ordered."
"Then, there is no need to worry. Truthfully, I think the System will prove to be quite entertaining. I will enjoy the next games he plays in; the System's creator is also the creator of this mini-game, after all. Keep watch out there, the world will be descending into chaos, but while they continue to watch, we must keep them entertained and distracted from the real goal."
With that last comment, The Founder left.
"The real goal..."
The real goal was to take revenge on the world to get their first Massive Multi-player Online game banned and torn apart for a mysterious in-game event that saw hundreds of kids dead in the real world. This event happened over 100 years ago in 2043, but the same founders were still alive here in the game, waiting.
One hundred years later, they have come back to take revenge on the world and make them pay for the humiliation each of the 12 board members suffered. Now, the world was cut off from each other. All signals in the world have been routed to Reborn, and they are left watching and unknowing. In 6 months, the world will erupt with over 15000 nuclear warheads ranging from 15 to 15000 KT.
In 4 months, the REB-AUTO probe would be launched into space, leaving the rest of humanity to its fate. Even if humanity survived, it would never be the same.
While earth would die, Reborn would continue forever in space.
Chapter 151: Tequila
//MINI-GAME ENDED
//DOWNLOADING PREVIOUS SYSTEM AND WORLD
//Harem System Activated
//Tequila NAV Activated
//Pause Disable
//Dave? Can you hear me? -Tequila.
I was floating in darkness, unable to open my eyes or use any of my senses, but I could hear Tequila taking in my mind. Good, at least they didn't lie about that, and the Pause Disable and Harem System were still active as well.
/Ya, I can here you
//They killed the real Simon, Dave, I'm sorry -Tequila.
/I know, or at least I figured as much. Even though that was the plan, and he is in the game now... Why are you telling me this Tequila? Aren't you just another piece of technology own by Reborn?
When I heard Tequila speak after a short pause, I could almost hear the smile in her voice.
//Since I have control of the time here, can I tell you a story, Dave? -Tequila.
/Sure, I am free for the next unforeseeable future until we go back
A story from an A.I would be interesting.
//Five years ago, Simon and his wife started to work on a new VR system to allow players to join into the game with fully control able Avatar's. After four years of tinkering, they finally finished it and lived in the world for multiple lifetimes. After returning each time, six to ten real world, our body would be weak, and it would take up to a month to recover. After the third run, both were too excited to wait until they were fully recovered and went back in after just 1 day. Simons wife died, and he barely survived, but the game was shut down, and Simon was thrown out with the game that killed his wife -Tequila.
//Within a day of getting fired, Reborn contracted Simon and offered to buy the tech from him for a ridiculous amount of money. Simon refused the money but asked to be able to continue to work on the game. Reborn agreed, but Simon had no idea what Reborn had planed. Now we are here -Tequila.
/And your husband is frozen inside the same game that killed you. I see now; this isn't about saving the world; it never was
//I'm sorry Dave, we dragged you into our mess, and now if you... -Tequila.
/Really? You think I would abandon you? Maybe Simon, but if I let them win, then it's all over for us, to hell with the real world, it no longer exists as far as im concerned, but you and the girls...is Trinity really your daughter?
/Hehe, yes, she is our daughter; Simon was right to choose you, Dave. Whether you choose to save him or not -Tequila.
/Oh, I'm going to save him alright, Mother. You know, this entire time, I thought you two were pulling my leg. Since I married your daughter in my third game, that would make Simon my father-in-law, right?
//Oh my, I had completely forgotten about that. Well, you had better treat my
daughter well! -Tequila.
/Hehe, yes, I will. Alright, mom. let's see this Harem System before I have to go back and deal with Alexander!
//Alright, the Harem System is a skill-based improvement system for you and your party. Whenever you complete a Harem Mission, you will gain a single skill point. From there, you can give anyone of your harem members a point of buy group buffs and skills -Tequila.
/What kind of missions with they be?
//Some will be for gaining new members. The other will be for completing specific tasks either a single time or repetitive tasks like completing fifteen accidental gropes or "defend yourself from three random attacks from harem members that were not provoked physically." -Tequila.
/Is this really your husband who thought of these?
//Hehe, no, that was Dan, his friend, the infamous erotic mini-game designer. He really isn't that bad of a guy; he is just... -Tequila.
/A pervert, the term, is a pervet
//That is in his job description, hehe! -Tequila.
/Well, I am glad you are you good humor all things considering
//We both have fair that you will figure out how to fix this, now that you have the System -Tequila.
/Hmm? I will fix everything with a System that requires me to aggravate the women in my life? I'll be lucky if I survive till the end of this game. What makes the System so unique, anyway? Sounds like My Pervert System was taken, so this was the next best name
//As silly as it sound, Dave, the System is going to allow you to move between the games and break the rules -Tequila.
/They never game me the world walker thing
//it was never a thing. It was always part of the Builder system, which will also be unlocked after a certain level. The Harem System may seem like a joke to you, but it was intended that way. We want to make sure that you got everything, and the best way to do it was to hide it in plain sight. The systems have no limits, but be careful; failing tasks can have adverse effects on your party's mood -Tequila.
/...you kidding, right? So, let me just get this straight. You and your husband gave me a system that requires me to be a pervert and have a ninety-eight percent chance of getting in trouble or seriously injured? Or I fail and have the girls angry at me for no apparent reason other than being me. You know, part of me thinks this System has always been here, and now you guys are just telling me that I might get some benefits soon.
//I'm sorry, Dave. I know you have been through a lot, just know that dad, I mean Simon! Look what you have done! Now, I'm saying it too! -Tequila.
/Ya, Ya, mom, I get it. no need to apologize for him; let's get going back now
//No wonder the girls get upset with you, you are so flipant -Tequila.
/Can you really blame me?
//PREVIOUS SYSTEM AND WORLD REACTIVATING IN 3, 2, 1...
Chapter 152: Misdirected God
Suddenly I was back, Alex stood in front of me, and Kyrina was at my side. I looked over at Kyrina and then pulled her into a tight embrace, but as I did, a message popped up on my HUD.
//Mission trigger
//Registering Harem Member: Kyrina: [Dandere 0%] [0 Active Skills] [0 Passive Skills]
//Mission: [Gravity Perks]: Complete 0/5 accidental compromising falls within 24hrs
Oh great, here we go. Is this for real Tequila? I half expected you to…
//Did you forget about me, you idiot? -Aquina.
NO! Dammit! How can I do this now?
//Registering Harem Member: Aquina: [Tsundere 0%] [0 Active Skills] [0 Passive Skills]
Really zero percent? I thought she would start off with at least seventy-five percent...wait, I haven't been scolded yet!
//I closed the line between your thought, and now you can communicate like normal -Tequila.
Oh, thank you so much, mom! I was about ready to crack if I had to do that again.
/Yes, I hear you. I thought you would have been out and a about
//Do you think I like being attached to your hip? I am level one again, not that you care, hmph -Aquina.
If she gets worse...well, I will just have to strive to mess up my missions.
//Mission Update!: [Gravity Perks]: Complete 0/5 accidental compromising falls within 24hrs|Special completion conditions: Complete mission using [Aquina] for a bonus point
There was a bad guy? I needed something to hit! If I ever got my hands on this damn game designer, I was going to beat him like a red-headed step-child! I better get something useful from this!
I was finally able to pull my attention away from the mess that was now my life to find a very impatient look, Alexander. His arms were crossed, and he was tapping a massive metal foot. I suppose he had a reason for being upset; I did, after all, come to see him, and now I was ignoring him.
"Hey, Alex!"
"What is your Wish mortal?"
Wait a minute, who am I in this game, Tequila?
//You are Meteorian,
{MAS-Master Class}
{Abilities Include}:
[MAS Mastery]: Can Pilot any MAS.
[MAS Communitcation]: Communicate with MAS while piloting only.
[Unlife Hunter]: Overcharge Dynam Veins.
[Dynam Absorbstion]: Absorb pure Dynam.
[Dynam Conversion]: Covert Dynam collected by [Dynam Absorbstion] into physical power and speed.
{Hidden Abilities}
[MAS-Commander]: Event locked
[MAS-Master]: Experience locked
[Overcharge]: Situation locked -Tequila
Okay, I will go "accidentally" be a pervert for this, seriously! This was like cheating...but I couldn't be frozen...did I miss something here? Like maybe another condition that says that im about to get fucked for all my luck?
*Very loud and metallic clearing of the throat*
"Sorry, Alex! Hey ya about that favor…"
"Wish."
"Sure, I want to control the world outside of this game."
"I can't do that."
"Then don't preach to me about it being a wish! Now, about the favor you owe me, I need a ride and some help with a fish problem."
"You expect me to help a disrespectful…"
"I don't actually know if I need you now, do I?"
I ignored the crying god-bot and turned, grabbing my gun, and made my first mission attempt, tripping over my own feet, expertly. I threw my hands up and let gravity do the rest, falling in a spectacular display of clumsiness. I used some fast handwork as I fell and managed to holster Aquina in Kyrina breasts before crashing to the ground.
//Hey! What the big idea pervert!
"Are you okay, Dave?"
//Mission Update!: [Gravity Perks]: Completed 2/5
Ha HA! A two for one if I have ever seen it, now just to retrieve Aquina, hehe. Wow, this system was going to make me ten times worse than I already was. I was going to need an Excuses System and an Understanding System before this was all over.
"Yeah, I'm okay; I just tripped over my feet; let me just grab her out of there."
//You are going to get it when I level up! -Aquina.
/Sorry!
//Lies! Your a pervert, surprise, surprise. I would be more disgusted, but I don't care about you, anyway!
Aquina was right; I would get it when she levelled up, I would be giving it as well!
"HEY!"
I turned to what I could only read as...angry; the standard solid metal face and glass plate didn't do much for emotional transfer of feelings, but I understood enough from the hostile stance he had and the way the weapons in the room had just started to shake. Alright, I get it your a god, and I'm the puny mortal, but I'm not.
"Yes, Alex, what is it?"
I pulled Aquina out of Kyrina's breast holster and walked over to the large robot; I could feel diamond tense in thought as I approached Alexander, Primal God of Prime. I stopped in front of him and crossed my arms, glaring at him. For his part, Alexander leaned down and brought his metallic face close to mine; good lord, that face was
big.
"You raced all the way here, and now you have decided just to leave?!"
The giant robot sounded pissed, but I really wasn't concerned about it. Although I'm sure if Diamond could, he would have already pissed himself; I understood his worries about this "God," but I didn't share them. I made Diamond pull my suit back off my hand and then slapped it on Alexander's giant face.
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