Chapter 2: Transcending Expectations, Nicholas POV (Patreon)

Chapter 2

Transcending Expectations

Nicholas POV

The planetary weather control systems created a perfect summer’s day as I crossed a busy downtown street filled with tourists, refugees, and bizarre alien creatures to reach the Church of Transcendence. Parents herded small children through the crowds with holiday-like focus, ignoring the wall surrounding the imposing cathedral, intent on spending every last credit they’d earned somewhere fun before we lost the sector.

I stepped onto the sidewalk and followed the wall around the building to the clergy’s rarely used ground entrance. The small alcove was built into the wall and guarded by a pair of security droids that stood behind an energy shield. As I approached, they scanned my features and DNA, checking it against their recently modified records. Only when they lowered the shield did I know my intrusion program worked.

To them, I was Archbishop Nicolas Thistlebush, and I was here for a surprise inspection. No announcement of my presence was to be made, and they were to accept my authority to override security protocols. The doors behind the security droids opened, exposing a staircase that led under the public area to the main cathedral, allowing me easy entry to one of the most secure buildings on the planet.

“Thank you for your help,” I said before walking inside.

My footsteps echoed off the polished floors as I strolled through the building. I had the cathedral’s security feed directly connected to my neural link, showing me which rooms were occupied and which were empty. When anyone came down a hallway toward me, I would duck into an empty side room and wait.

Most high-security facilities employ guards to work with their automated systems. These guards provide another layer of security against intrusion. The Church of Transcendence dogma didn’t allow them to accept this concept. To them, the flesh was weak, and the machine was strong. It made it much easier for me to get in.

It took me over an hour to descend through the building, but by moving slowly, I didn’t run into anyone other than the security droids who waved me through. Uneventful and boring was exactly how I wanted this to go. And it was exactly how things went.

I placed my hand against the last scanner. There was a brief pause, which made my heart beat faster, and then the doors opened. I let out a relieved sigh.

I was almost done.

Opulence was a poor word to describe the wealth I saw in the room beyond. Gaudy would be more accurate. Diamond pillars separated a ruby floor and sapphire ceiling. Along the walls, other precious gems had been cut and shaped into a garden of flowers that were so carefully crafted that they looked alive.

The over-the-top display of wealth was there to enhance the ugliness of what lay in the centre of the room. It was a security precaution that spoke to humanity's oldest instincts.

The Pool of Transcendence looked like a demon’s bathtub, a soiled container filled with disease. The putrid remnants of all that was unholy. Pustules of sludge bubbled across its surface in a way that spoke to every survival instinct. They all told me to run. Just staring at it made you feel unclean, like I was poisoning myself through my eyes.

Devine Cane’s interview had already informed me of this feeling, so I did my best to ignore the sensation and opened my briefcase.

I pulled out my Rubik’s cube. The light on the computer was still green, and the microgenerator was working perfectly. There was nothing to stop my next move.

“Activated protocol Sector’s End.”

Sector’s End protocol has been initiated.

Multiple banks have noticed your intrusion.

Would you like to contest their attempt to subvert you? Failure could result in them finding your location.

Yes/No?

I selected, Yes.

The Rubik’s cube lit up, and I got to work, trying to overcome the different security systems I’d inadvertently triggered. Every bank, stock exchange, mortgage broker, asset office, and vehicle ownership registry across Sector 3 that had noticed my intrusion was currently going nuts as the program I’d snuck into their systems took control of their AI and ripped away every asset the sector owned, moving them into my name. The military and communication networks were likely spitting blood as their systems enacted forced updates, taking them out of the equation.

Property, resource rights, mining operations, spaceships, and trillions of credits flew into my account as I hit everywhere at once. And it wasn’t just humanity I was targeting. Millions of NPC-run businesses would find their assets vanishing as my theft continued.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have partially failed.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have partially failed.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have critically failed. The authorities have found your location.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

You have succeeded.

On and on, it went as I succeeded and failed. The major fails activated my secondary plan, bringing the cathedral’s security force online. Security droids began to deploy, spreading across the building to take on any authority that tried to force their way in. The low-ranked clergy were moved to help them with the outer defences as their security system showed the church had discovered a plot by the local government to eradicate them.

None of that bothered me as I focused on solving my Rubik’s cube as fast as possible. Each layer of defence I bypassed put me a little closer to my goal. A little closer to saving everyone. Around the ten-minute mark, the final prompt appeared.

Protocol Sector’s End has been enacted.

Congratulations, you have successfully stolen assets from an entire sector. As the first member of your faction to achieve this result, you have been given an achievement reward:

Integrated Hacker’s Neural Link Package.

+100,000,000 Tokens

Grand Theft Perk

+100,000 Tokens a Cycle.

+100% to Time Allotment for all Hacks.

Each firewall you clear now counts as two.

I didn’t smile or celebrate my success because, to me, stealing wasn’t something to smile about. It didn’t matter if I was doing this for the right reasons. It was still wrong. So, I slid the Rubik’s cube into my jacket pocket and walked across the room to the pool of bubbling sludge.

A masculine voice immediately filled the room as I stepped onto The Pool of Transcendence. “Welcome the Simple Mike’s Automated Emporium, where our slogan is, if we can’t make it, then it doesn’t exist. We accept anything of value as trade and are currently offering much higher rates for anything technologically related. How can we help you today, valued customer?”

“Thank you for the kind welcome,” I said extra politely. “What should I call you?”

“You may call us Simple Mike, Sir. How can we help you today?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, Simple Mike, I would like to buy two items from you: an automatic repair and upgrade system for a spaceship and a complete body and class enhancement with an inbuilt teleportation system.”

“That is certainly within our capabilities. What grade are you looking for, Sir?”

“Your highest grade.”

“What are you offering?”

“Everything I own. I’m transferring you a list of my current assets.”

With a mental command, the information was transferred, and I started to hear heavy breathing. It was the kind of sound you only heard when a sex-starved pervert knew they were finally going to live out their kinkiest fantasies, involving a furry costume, a pony, a peacock, and a bathtub filled with mayonnaise.

“This trade is unacceptable,” Simple Mike whispered softly, almost regretfully. “The highest grade we can offer here is above the value of the assets you offer in return. We can offer you lower-grade items in return for the wealth you offered, but not the specific item you requested.”

I didn’t let the counteroffer deter me. “Simple Mike, I am offering you most of the wealth and technology of Sector 3. This is a limited-time offer and not the sort of offer I imagine you would usually receive from the Church of Transcendence. I’m perfectly willing to walk out that door without buying anything and never return. So, either sell me what I asked for or tell me we can’t do business.”

Simple Mike paused, and then I heard a sigh. “We can’t do business.”

I shrugged, disappointed but not surprised. Simple Mike was a trap, a trap that would likely harm humanity down the road. Unless I was able to get what I wanted, I wasn’t going to pull his trigger. He was patient zero of a zombie plague, the cursed seal on an undisturbed tomb, and an eldritch horror all rolled into one. I needed what I’d asked for just to stay ahead of him.

I turned around and headed for the door, hoping I still had time to make a run for it. If I managed to keep my identity hidden until the sector fell, my actions wouldn’t follow me into my next sector and class.

“Wait!” Simple Mike shouted. “I accept your offer.”

I stopped before the doors and then turned back to the pool slowly. “You do?”

“Yes.”

I walked back across the room and stepped onto the sludge. The moment I reached the centre, I sank, disappearing into the abyss.

A prompt appeared.

Would you like to replace your class?

Yes/No?

I selected, Yes.

The abyss slowly cleared as a familiar white room with a white leather armchair appeared before me. I walked over and sat, sinking into the cushioning as I waited for the change to begin. I’d been here during multiple past class selections, so the process was familiar.

Your class has been reset.

You are now a level 1 Transcendent.

Congratulations, you have successfully become a Transcendent being. As the first individual of any faction to achieve this result, you have been given an achievement reward:

Transcendent Domain

Transcendent Minions 0/1

+1,000,000,000,000 Tokens

Transcended Perk

+1,000,000,000 Tokens a Cycle.

Double Transcendent Points per level.

I stared at the notification for several seconds. The only reason I’d asked for a class upgrade was because the Pool of Transcendence was where the clergy received better classes. Devine Cane’s class was practically a super soldier crossed with a space wizard, and the next stage of my plan would be significantly easier with those sorts of capabilities.

However, while researching the church and its classes, I’d never encountered anything to do with a Transcendent class. The only mention of the word Transcendent was concerning becoming a God, and I highly doubted that would be the case. Thankfully, the class selection process would shed some light on what class I’d found myself with.

As the notification faded, another took its place.

Congratulations, you have successfully cleared a Transcendent quest. As the first member of your faction to achieve this result, you have been given an achievement reward:

Blessing of the Transcendent

+1,000,000 Tokens

Transcendent Favour Perk

+10,000 Tokens a Cycle.

Transcendent Cloak

I stared at the new notification, surprised to see an achievement reward for just clearing a quest related to my class. It meant this new class had to be important. That was a good sign. When the notification faded, another took its place.

Quest Completed

Transcendent Appointment

Become the ultimate power in the galaxy.

Rewards

1,000,000,000 Tokens

Become a Transcendent Being

+10 Transcendent Points.

I read the line, become the ultimate power in the galaxy, and let myself relax. I’d made the right choice. Whatever this class was, it would help me achieve my goals.

The standard class change tutorial took over as the third notification faded, and a cheerful voice filled the room.

“Congratulations, you have chosen to participate in the Game as a Transcendent. Unlike previous classes you might have chosen, the Transcendent class comes with no class specialisation or prescribed abilities and is what is known as a finite class, meaning that both your class and progress are lost upon your death. Like other classes, there is a progression system for this class, but unlike other classes, this system is not based upon a kill or work-based experience system. As a Transcendent, your class progress is based on the number of NPC followers you can gather. Be aware that while players can become your followers, they cannot help you to progress in this class and are not counted among your followers. I will now show you your new character page and explain what everything means.”

A character sheet appeared in front of me.

Name: Nicolas Thistlebush

Race/Class: Transcendent

Followers: 0/100

Might: F-1 (F-2)

Power: F-1 (F-2)

Wisdom: F-1 (F-2)

Domain: F-1

Unspent Transcendent Points: 10

“As you can see, this character page is much simpler than others you’ve had, and you might have noticed that your race has been changed. This is because Transcendent beings cannot receive racial perks, as the nature of your existence within the Game is now significantly different from what the rest of your race experiences. As you can see, you are a Transcendent with zero followers. Gaining only 100 followers will progress your class to your first milestone and grant you transcendent points. Each subsequent milestone will require ten times as many followers, so your progression during the early stages of this class will be far greater than later. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

I paused to consider what I’d been told. This class was nothing like what I’d expected, and the explanation I’d received lacked the details I’d come to expect from class selection. “Is this class what the Church of Transcendence was trying to achieve?”

“I’m sorry, but that question is outside the bounds of what I can tell you. Please ask another question.”

I paused, thinking for a moment, and then I rephrased the question. “Is this the strongest class in the game?”

“On an individual basis, this class is the most powerful.”

“Please clarify what you mean by on an individual basis.”

“As an individual working without support or assistance, the Transcendent class is the most powerful class in the Game, but for the purpose of balance, groups of individuals can be more powerful.”

The answer was both exciting and too vague to be helpful. Just because it was the strongest class didn’t mean the class was that effective from day one. It might take a century to learn how to harness the class properly. However, even if it did take that long to master, the immediate improvements should increase my current capabilities. A hacker wasn’t exactly built to survive.

“Thank you. Please continue with the tutorial.”

“Like many classes, Transcendent beings have an attributes system which allows them to become stronger using transcendent points. Unlike other classes, this system is much smaller and more straightforward, with only three starting attributes. However, due to a reward, you have unlocked a fourth.”

“Are there more attributes than what I currently have?”

“I’m sorry, but that question is outside the bounds of what I can tell you. Please ask another question.”

I sighed, beginning to get annoyed. “I have no other questions. Please continue.”

“Your first attribute is Might, which pertains to the physical limitations of your body. Your brain is undergoing a surgical procedure to facilitate the synaptic response time required to keep up with your Transcendent capabilities. This surgical procedure will connect your brain to a more complex nanobot cluster than it already contains, allowing you to participate as intended. When the procedure is concluded, the transformation will be so seamless that you will find it difficult to tell that anything has changed, but there will be changes.”

The thought of having surgery performed on my brain didn’t scare me, which could only mean one thing. “Am I being sedated?”

“Yes, your natural response to this surgery would have been to panic, so I have taken the liberty of sedating you so you’re not distressed. This surgery is no more dangerous than the one which installed your original nanobot cluster, so there is a 0% chance of complications.”

I had been through this sort of treatment before, so I decided to move on, knowing emotionlessly fretting about it would be pointless. “What are the physical limitations of Might?”

“The limitations of your Might are hard to express verbally. Telling you that you can swim through solar seas, punch with the weight of a mountain, and see someone standing on the surface of another planet does not accurately convey the extent of your capabilities.”

“That sounds like Superman?”

“Please clarify which Superman you are talking about, as there have been multiple iterations of the character throughout human history with vastly different capabilities.”

I opened my mouth to reply and then quickly closed it. If I started talking about Superman, we’d be here for hours. “Never mind, continue with the tutorial?”

“Your second attribute is Power, which indicates the extent and speed to which you can change the world around you.”

“How do I make those change?”

“You think it?”

“So, if I think about a door opening, it will open?”

“Yes.”

That sounded useful. “Thank you. Please continue.”

“The third attribute is Wisdom. You may have noticed that the strength of your attributes corresponds to technological grades. Your base Wisdom is at the F-1 grade, and your effective capability is at the F-2 grade. This means that you can look at any piece of technology F-2 grade and below and immediately completely understand it. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

That piqued my interest. “When you say I will immediately understand it, do you mean I will be able to replicate it on Earth?”

“No. Your understanding of the technology will be the same as any specialised technician within the confines of the Game.”

My interest vanished. “Please continue with the tutorial.”

“Your fourth and final attribute, which you received from your achievement reward, is Domain, which has two functions. This attribute is a form of omnipresence and will require a calibration period when you exit the tutorial. Its secondary effect allows you and any ally within your Domain to receive a passive buff of one sub-grade of technology for each major grade that this attribute obtains. Currently, this attribute is F-1 grade, which gives you a +1 sub-grade buff to your other attributes. When it reaches E-1 grade, it will give a +2 sub-grade buff to your other attributes and allies. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

I swallowed. I wasn’t a man prone to panic, but I certainly knew I should be panicking now. “When you say omnipresence, what exactly do you mean?”

“Omnipresence is the only applicable human term to describe this attribute’s function. I cannot be more specific.”

“How large is this effect?”

“At its current strength, your Domain will include the planet you’re currently standing upon, all its internal layers, and over a hundred thousand kilometres of space around the planet. As you increase the strength of your Domain, it will be able to extend further with the same level of detail.”

In a much too calm voice, I asked my next question. “Will I be able to turn it off?”

“Yes, your Domain is under your control, so once the calibration is complete, you can withdraw it or extend it at will.”

“How painful will the calibration process be?”

“The calibration will not be painful, but it will be mentally traumatic and disorientating in the beginning. It will be similar to developing a sense you have never experienced before, like if you were born deaf or blind and were augmented through surgery to have these senses. However, it will be much more intense as this sense is not part of your natural biological function, so you do not have internal biological systems that will help compensate.”

“Is it safe?”

“This process is the most humane method we can use to give you this sensory ability.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“The process is not safe. There will be psychological complications from the process. A support package will be waiting for you and the end of the Cycle to help you deal with these complications.”

“Will it be worth it?”

“Please clarify the question?”

“It sounds like I am risking more than just my progress within the Game by accepting these changes. Will accepting this class and these abilities help me achieve my goals?”

“That question is outside the bounds of this tutorial, but you can request administrative oversight due to the nature of your new class. Would you like to do that?”

“Yes.”

“Your question has been registered and approved for a partial response. While this class might harm you personally, your chances of succeeding with your current plan are significantly higher than if you attempted to do so with any other class.”

Significantly higher than any other class. That meant even the most ideal class I had found would pale in comparison. “Thank you. Please continue with the tutorial.”

“At the bottom of your character page, you will see you have 10 Transcendent Points to spend. These points will each increase the strength of your attributes by one sub-grade. There are ten sub-grades to a grade, and the grades range from F-1 to SSS, making an attribute require 80 Transcendent Points to reach its full potential. Because of your achievement reward, each time you reach a new follower milestone, you receive 10 Transcendent Points instead of 5. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

“No, please continue.”

“As a Transcendent, you will have several innate abilities that are not listed on your interface. You will always know when you are being lied to, and you will get an immediate feeling of whether or not you can trust a player or NPC and to what extent. What you call a gut instinct will now be much stronger. This instinct might tell you that you need to go somewhere and do something, even though there is no evidence presented to you telling you why you should do this. This instinct will always benefit you, and you can tell when it is just your natural instinct and when it is the one imposed on you by the Game. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

“Is the gut instinct like a quest?”

“No. This instinct is an extension of your Domain and is the only way to incorporate it into the human psyche without causing any harm.”

“Please continue.”

“Because of the nature of your request to Simple Mike, you will also possess the innate ability to open portals to any place you have already been within the Game, allowing instantaneous travel. This ability to instantaneously travel is only partially modified by your Domain, meaning that though you might be able to see a location with your Domain immediately you will not immediately be able to travel to this location. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

“Are there conditions which would allow me to travel to somewhere I can see through my Domain?”

“Yes. When you open your Domain, you will begin claiming the territory around you. This process occurs at the speed at which you can travel, which is determined by your Might. When an area is claimed, it can be instantaneously travelled to.”

“Please continue.”

“In addition, your achievement reward for stealing from an entire sector included an upgraded neural link, so you will also be able to hack the way you have as the hacker class. This ability to hack extends to anything within your Domain. If you have any questions about what I have told you, now is the time to ask.”

“I have no question.”

“That concludes your tutorial. As you are still undergoing the surgical procedure, you can choose to wait here or undergo a sleep cycle until it is finished.”

“Am I allowed to plan my next move while I wait?”

“Yes.”

“Then I would like to wait.”

I pulled up my to-do list, wondering how this changed my plans.

-Travel to the ruins of the alien mothership and use the ship repair kit

-If successful, collect everyone in Sector 3 and take them to a safe sector

-If unsuccessful, find a bar and get drunk

***

Ten minutes later, after I had finished adjusting my plan, another prompt appeared.

Your surgery is complete.

Please prepare for Domain calibration.

Without giving me any extra time to think, they ejected me from the simulated room and placed me back in my body.

My perception of reality immediately warped as I became every blade of grass, every speck of dust, every mountain, every rock, every wall, and every ceiling. I saw from the eyes of every man and woman, every child and baby. I saw everything from every direction heard every sound and every silence. I could name the number of hairs on every lifeform and tell the weight of every stone.

As clearly as I saw everything else, I saw myself from a thousand different directions. I saw the building I stood in, the people inside, and the people outside.

I was everywhere.

I was everyone.

And it was horrible.

Ten thousand acts of random cruelty came to my attention as I saw the world as it truly was. There were youths torturing animals and adults torturing youths. Every crime and act of horror that had ever been dreamed of was being caused by someone somewhere.

In a moment of disgust, my outraged thoughts dissolved their flesh, transforming it into gas.

It was reflex, the sort of violent reaction one would have if they saw it in person. It was also immediate. Thousands of players and NPCs spontaneously combusted, becoming human candles, summarily judged for crimes too heinous to mention. Their screams filled me with horror, but I was everywhere, and everything, and I could not pull my thoughts together to stop myself and put them out.

Instinct was all I had.

Instinct and power.

When the worst of the cruelty was gone from my sight, millions of acts of petty vindictiveness remained. I heard every unkind word, every betrayal, and every act of envy, confronted with the horror that was humanity.

As my image of the world collided with the reality of what I saw, the kindness I saw kept me sane. For each questionable action, there were hundreds that were good, and hundreds that were indifferent. Not all of us were cruel. But all of us knew fear, and all of us knew happiness. Every second was like a day, and every minute like a month, as I saw the world all at once.

Nothing in life prepared me for this, no flight of fancy, no wayward dream. I saw all, unblemished and clear.

The human mind cannot fathom the depths of omnipresence any more than it can imagine a colour it has never seen.

As the minutes dragged on, something helped my mind adapt to what I saw. The burden of knowledge began to ease as I slowly separated myself from what was all around me. I mentally pulled myself back from everything there was, focusing only on my body standing in the middle of the Pool of Transcendence. I didn’t stop seeing everything, but I stopped being overwhelmed by it all. I stopped caring about anything that wasn’t immediately relevant to what I wanted. I closed my heart to the world's suffering because it was the only way to stay sane.

The world I saw remained just as big, but my focus narrowed until I was me again. I was me, witnessing an entire world all at once.

Slowly, my thoughts coalesced, and I began to think about everything I saw and everything I witnessed. I considered everything individually and all together, watching a world where its secrets were laid bare.

Then, a moment of clarity occurred, and everything I witnessed fell away. The judgement, the consideration, everything became subconscious, something that was happening, but I didn’t have to think about it.

And then a prompt appeared.

Domain calibration complete.

I stood on the Pool of Transcendence with the world before me. The smoking corpses of those I had smote were as clear to me as a million children’s smiles, the fluttering of wings, and the shifting of clouds in an eternal dance.

I was overcome by the enormity of everything I saw and witnessed and now was. I was like a God, capable of wholesale death and destruction, love and creation. The reality of my capabilities proved this true. On the other side of the world, I absently used a flicker of power with an unconscious thought to stop a child from running into a busy street.

No one saw or noticed what I’d done, but I stopped a child from being sent to respawn.

It caused me to doubt everything I knew.

And it brought a single question to my lips.

“Is God real?”