New Plot
Sy accepted the black stone as his reward. Ever since he reached his apartment and bid goodnight to Laira, he had been ceaselessly working into compressing countless of data as the xeno artifact was engineered in the subatomic level - in order for his Molecular Data Imaging Simulator to process it.
The young Pioneer had no clue on how much time was spent during his work. Slowly, he began to feel mentally tired, and took a step back. It was the first time he felt defeated. The object was too complex for him to decipher in one go.
Just as he observed the xeno artifact at a different angle, he realized that the object was producing subtle energies like a living thing. A living matter!
He stood up and expressed his thought, "Maybe I should go back to the Federation. Other Pioneers and xenobiologists could help me with it."
However, he instantly discarded this option. If he went back to his faction, he might never return to the Union. Too much temptation back there, not to mention his debt in the Galactic Bank.
Now that he thought about it, by now, his peers would have probably gotten their license back and were now well on their way into the void. Perhaps some had settled as home-based Pioneers, but someday, they'd go out as well.
A serious look appeared on Sy's face the longer he stared at the black stone. Xenos were a nasty and grave business. A single swarm of them, one that was not witnessed for a very long time, could allow any faction to call Pioneers for war.
One thing the factions in this part of the quadrant did not know was that the greater factions such as The Trinity Federation, The Duality Coalition and Star Network of Uriel - were on a crusade in purging xeno spores across the galaxy, and could not afford to waste any time mediating the puny wars these lesser factions had bestowed upon themselves.
It intrigued Sy as to how he could not identify this xeno artifact. There were many types of xenos out in the outskirts of the greater factions. The Pioneer instructors in the academy were thorough in detailing each of them.
When he thought about it, the xeno artifact could be a small piece that broke off from a xeno hive ship. If left uncheck, they could grow in numbers and would easily overrun a lesser faction like the Union within weeks. Sy was planning to build a long range scanner to pinpoint its origin. He also added Ortius' Comms, and asked for a favor to track the merchants who sold the black stone. They could provide crucial information and narrow his search area.
The young Pioneer took out the Innovation Cube and placed it a bit further away from the xeno artifact, as the System suggested that the cube could absorb the artifact with a chance of a potential system upgrade. He was not yet done studying the xeno artifact - perhaps even unlock a new technology from it, and also needed to record its signature for the long range scanner. As such, the black stone will stay in his pocket for some time.
'Everything should not be rushed. I should take my time.. prioritize on the smaller things.' With that in mind, he set his main goal in the furtherance of The Union of Pyr. To be able to achieve that, he will have to earn more money to retrieve his license.
'Smaller things..' Sy chuckled in self annoyance when he remembered his System. He always forgot about it whenever he's doing something. Since it has proven itself as his best ally, he mentally noted to incorporate it in his daily routine.
Now, mental fatigue always plagued him whenever he's pushing his brain at its maximum capacity. He needed to remedy this.
"System. Is there anyway to increase my intelligence?"
[Check your new function; Shop]
Sy scratched his head from this neglect. He switched to the Shop function and marvelled at the items sold. However, they cost a lot of PS and he couldn't afford them. Only ten products were available. A moment later, he found what he was looking for.
[Intelligence Capsule - Grade 1
- Can increase Intelligence by 1. Cannot exceed 25 Intelligence.
- This is an artificial genetic evolution and will be inherited by your bloodline
Cost: 100 PS]
"That's very good. My children can have it." Sy was pleased with the description. Soon, a new notification came from the System.
[New Mission!
Genetically create a Pioneer!
Reward: +10,000 Pioneering Score]
'Genetically create a Pioneer?' Sy repeated in his mind, a bit confused with the term. A moment later, he realized what the System was relating to, and instantly protested, "Are you serious right now? You gave me this mission 'Use the special bonus on the Human Generator function', and now you're giving me something even weirder?!"
[Pioneers are a dying breed. 1 in every 10 Pioneers manage to leave a descendant.]
Sy scoffed at this. Well, actually, the Pioneers dwindling in number was not a secret back in the Federation as the association had already assigned some candidates for him and his peers. However, they followed their Pioneer instincts, and all fled. This was probably one of the reason why the Association stripped them of their licenses, Sy was sure of that.
[You are just being conservative with your bloodline, and Pioneers are nothing but conservative. But it is time for a change.]
"You know what System.. if you're horny, you should have told me and I would have find you another System and you could both Genetically create a System."
[You are being unreasonable!]
"Oh, I'm the one who's unreasonable? You change that mission."
After more arguments, the System finally relented and gave him a new one. He excitedly checked the mission log.
[New Mission!
Genetically create two Pioneers!
Reward: +20,000 Pioneering Score]
"Really!?"
With the System even more adamant than him, he started reconsidering - tempted by the large amount of PS reward. Siring a child with Pioneer aspect, he must not do it with just any woman. Although, there was a chance, the inferior genes would eventually surface and his children's children will be affected by this. A higher chance would be from a noble class like Emma and Mina. The surest way was with another Pioneer, and with all of his peers out there doing their thing, it would be impossible to find one in a short amount of time.
Sy would have to think about it for another time. He checked his Pioneering Score and saw new notifications.
[You received 26 Pioneering Score for an audience of 260,132
Technology quality: 1]
[You received 120 Pioneering Score for an audience of 1,210,029
Technology quality: 1]
[Pioneering Score: 402]
A day had already went as the tournament was already broadcasted. The event was treated by many as a minor one, and only a few from the Union watched. Surprisingly, the many views came from The Empire of Durn.
Sy scratched his chin and carefully decided on how to spend his PS. With this amount, he could upgrade most of his main technology skill, leaving only one at the basic. He was not in a rush to upgrade all of them so he chose to buy two Intelligence Capsule - Grade 1.
Two transparent capsules appeared on his hand. Sy tried to study their contents, but nothing registered. Even the Molecular Data Imaging Simulator did not show any reading.
[Unfortunately, you cannot study the products of the store until a certain function upgrade.]
[With your enhanced body, you can ingest both pills without problem]
Upon seeing the last message from the System, Sy opened one capsule and tossed its white content into his mouth before doing the same on the other one. He felt no change - only when he noticed he was having a nosebleed. He swiped his nose expecting blood, but found that it's a multicolored liquid.
"Wow! Whoo!" Sy felt his pending headache vanish, and his head lighter than before. He thought of continuing the study of the xeno artifact - feeling that he could make more progress now, but with his quicker mind, he decided against it.
He checked his stats.
[Status:
Name: Sy Verdin
Profession: Level 0 Pioneer
Pioneering Score: 202
(Attributes)
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 11
Vitality: 21
Intelligence: 21 ==> 23
Wisdom: 14 ==> 15
Innovativeness: 8
Focus: 9
Neural Affinity: 0
(Martial Skills)
Basic Weapons Mastery = Level 0
(Technology Skills)
Basic Weapon-tech = Level 0
Basic Energy-tech = Level 0
Construction-tech = Level 1
Basic Computer-tech = Level 0
Basic Propulsion-tech = Level 0
Basic Bio-tech = Level 0
(Specialty)
Basic Miniaturization = Level 0
Basic Mecha = Level 0]
With a better state - released from mental fatigue, he decided to continue designing the two materials in the Human Generator function.
-----
On the third floor of the building, Emma Losac was facing a masked man - none other than the announcer in the tournament. She sat on a hover chair, with a glass table separating them. She flashed a pleased smile before saying, "Hello little brother.."