Chapter 10: The Quantum Leap into the Unknown
Chapter 10: The Quantum Leap into the Unknown
Seraphina Volkov, Head of Strategic Development for Quantum Leap Interstellar, stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of her office, gazing out at the sprawling cityscape below. Her serene expression and impeccably tailored business attire belied the formidable power simmering beneath the surface – she was a cultivator who had reached the Foundation Realm, a level of strength that commanded respect even outside the corporate world. Her office was a sanctuary of minimalist design and cutting-edge technology, a stark contrast to the chaotic mess at P-Hub.
A discreet chime broke the silence. A Priority Omega alert flashed on her private console, overriding all other notifications. Seraphina's perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched slightly. Priority Omega alerts, utilizing the 'Genesis Seed' codeword, were reserved for discoveries with the potential to fundamentally alter QL's trajectory, or perhaps even the world. They were exceedingly rare. The last one had been five years ago.
Genesis Seed? From Ben Carter? He's sharp, but prone to… enthusiasm. Her initial reaction was skepticism mixed with professional curiosity. She walked gracefully to her console, her movements fluid and controlled.
She accessed the encrypted report. Ben's concise, data-filled summary detailed his experience in 'Ascension Heaven': the impossible realism, the bafflingly low system requirements for the fidelity achieved, the strangely intuitive NPC interactions, and the most startling claim – detectable bio-energetic feedback consistent with rudimentary Qi cultivation, experienced by an Ordinary tester on standard hardware.
Qi feedback? For Ordinaries? Preposterous. Yet, Ben wasn't prone to flights of fancy, and the raw data logs he'd included showed anomalies that defied conventional explanations. The skepticism began to melt away, replaced by a growing intrigue that sent a faint thrill down her spine. If even a fraction of this was true…
"Computer," she commanded, her voice calm but firm. "Prepare the Sanctum Immersion Chamber. Priority Alpha access. Load simulation client… 'Ascension Heaven'."
Minutes later, Seraphina settled into the sleek, silver immersion pod nestled within a secure, shielded chamber deep within QL headquarters – the 'Sanctum'. This wasn't a consumer-grade VR rig; it was a custom-built sensory deprivation tank linked directly to QL's most powerful servers, capable of interfacing with technology far beyond the public domain. If any system could push Ascension Heaven to its limits and reveal its secrets, this was it.
The world dissolved. Like Ben, she experienced the instantaneous transition into Beginner's Rest. But Seraphina perceived it through the lens of a Foundation Realm cultivator. The realism was indeed staggering, exceeding even QL's most advanced prototypes. But more than that, she could sense the underlying structure. The ambient 'Qi' in the game world wasn't just a visual effect; it had a subtle energy signature, a resonance that mimicked true environmental Qi with astonishing accuracy.
She bypassed Elder Rui, ignored the Dire Squirrels. She walked to a quiet spot near the 'Mirror Pond' and sat, assuming a meditative posture. Closing her eyes within the simulation, she extended her cultivator's senses. She attempted the simple 'Qi Circulation' technique taught by the NPC Hao, a technique she hadn't bothered with since her childhood.
The result was instantaneous and shocking. The game's simulated Qi flowed through her virtual meridians with perfect responsiveness, mirroring the sensation of actual cultivation, albeit with a strangely 'clean' and artificial feel. It was like tasting perfectly synthesized water compared to fresh spring water – different, but undeniably hydrating.
She spent what felt like an hour experimenting, testing the limits of the game's Qi system, interacting with the environment, pushing the simulation. Everything held up with impossible consistency.
Finally, she initiated the logout sequence.
The Sanctum gently brought her back to reality. As the sensory inputs faded, she felt it. A distinct, tangible residue of energy settling within her own dantian. It wasn't just a memory or a phantom sensation like Jax experienced; it was real. A minuscule, almost imperceptible, but definitely present boost to her own cultivation base. A direct feedback loop from the game world into her physical body.
Seraphina, a woman known for her unshakable composure, felt her breath catch. Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
It's real.
The implications crashed down on her. A technology that could grant cultivation potential – or at least, tangible Qi enhancement – to anyone who used it? Ordinaries gaining access to the power previously exclusive to those born with Spiritual Roots? This wasn't just a game-changer; it was a world-changer. It could destabilize empires, create armies, rewrite the very fabric of society.
QL had to control it.
Her composure returned, now layered with cold, calculated determination. She reactivated her console.
"Computer," she commanded, her voice resonating with newfound authority. "Initiate Project: Genesis Seed. Security Level: Omega-Prime. Allocate discretionary funding pool Sigma-7. Recall Ben Carter to my immediate staff. Task One: Secure exclusive control or containment of the 'Ascension Heaven' platform and its creators. Task Two: Commence internal saturation testing – deploy QL premium personnel and trusted assets into the simulation immediately. Form an elite internal task force... codename: Quantum Core."
The gears within Quantum Leap Interstellar began to turn, focusing immense resources on the unassuming little game created by a twelve-year-old boy miles away. The race had begun.