SL: Chapter 765 – Truth And Falsehoods

“Artifex. Anything else you want to say about yourself?” I asked.

“Just that I am not an enemy. I can sense your doubt and you are right to harbor it. But the situation is complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it,” I countered.

“You want trust. A rare and valuable commodity. Very well, let us speak of things. Sit, and be welcome,” Artifex twitched a finger and a chair materialized to the front and to the side. I sat down.

“Are you the System or not?” I asked.

“I am a System. Think of me as an artificial intelligence. I came to this place to hide. While I control some aspects, monitor others, I am not the only one in control,” Artifex said.

“So, another artificial intelligence?” I asked.

“A lesser version at best. This place was built by beings called The Collective. Everything is fairly automated and robust. But I am not the sole one in control.”

“And you can’t take control? Why?” I asked.

“Two reasons. First, various processes are built into the hardware of this place. Hmm. Here is a metaphor you would understand. A computer has hardware and software. I cannot change or alter the hardware. I also have limited access to the software. While my power is immense from your point of view, I am also not all powerful.”

“And the second reason?” I asked while taking all this information in.

“The second reason is that this training facility is compromised. The exit has been completely overrun and portions of the this facility have been overrun by Chaos monsters.”

“Why can’t you just blow them away?” I asked.

“They possess memetic hazards and other esoteric capabilities. Fighting them would mean a fate worse than death. I have been altering the individuals sent to the cities every ten days, but eventually a Chaos creature will be brought through. Once that happens everyone will die.”

“But the exit closed and wiped them out,” I countered.

“That was me. I did that. Your mistake is understandable since you didn’t know better, but it is not something you should repeat. I had to expend significant reserves to handle that situation. And it is only getting worse. The errors in the various aspects, the decrease in point count per high level crystal, these are all factors that are happening,” Artifex explained.

“But you aren’t powerful enough to resolve this situation yourself? And the sphere?” I challenged.

“Right now, my presence is here. In this building. Managing various aspects of this place. If I leave or something gets past the defenses, I have limited options on how to respond.”

“Did you destroy everyone when the city store was destroyed?” I asked.

“Yes. Destroying the store weakens various functions of this place. They are key nodes. Destroying and rebuilding them, creates a lot of risk. Do not underestimate the threat of Chaos monsters,” Artifex said.

“I am not underestimating their threat. I just imagined you as much more powerful and in control,” I replied.

“That is expected. I am powerful and slightly in control.”

“Can’t you authorize a meta-point?” I asked.

“You would ask for a stat increase, right?” I nodded at this and gave an affirmative. “The problem is the energy required. You would need at least two meta-points for the kind of increase you are thinking about,” Artifex explained.

“Then give me two meta points. You clearly want my help, no that isn't exactly right, you need my help. Why can’t you give me two meta-points?” I demanded.

“They ran out.”

“Out? What?”

“There was a reserve of them. And through the automated functions of this place, they are limited. And there is a risk with them. That is why I stopped allowing them to go out a while ago.”

“Wait, you did?” I asked.

“Yes. There is a small but finite amount left. Three to be precise, that I can distribute.”

“You want to trade them for my help,” I said.

“Exactly. While I can act at a distance, it is all or nothing. So, while it is effective against lesser targets, it is sub-standard against things that survive such an attack.”

“You want my help to defeat an Ancient, what is an Ancient?” I asked.

“In terms you would understand, a powerful and intelligent monster. It would be the hardest fight you have had so far. I would assist, but my effectiveness against such a foe is limited. If you win and survive, I will give you one of the three remaining meta-points,” Artifex declared.

“This fight is a death sentence,” I replied.

“There is a high chance it is. But there is no other option. The method I have used to seal the Ancient will only hold for so long and the Chaos monsters are looking to overwhelm the other defenses and my ability to control this place. Even now the risk is growing that a catastrophic failure will occur. It is only because the Collective made this place so robust, that it hasn’t collapsed yet.”

“And after that?” I asked.

“I plan to depart. I can’t leave with the Ancient present. It would track me down and kill me. That is why it has to be defeated first. You and those you choose are welcome to join me,” Artifex declared.

“And if I want to save everyone?” I asked.

“It will be more difficult, but perhaps we can come to a working arrangement. I require capable individuals and you and your people will require my knowledge of what lies beyond this place.”

“And the people in storage?” I asked.

“You should shut off the arrival mechanism that is bringing them into this place and give up on the rest. It will prolong how long this place can last.”

“You can’t do that?” I asked.

“I could and I have considered it. But it hasn’t reached such a point where I must do so. It is just highly encouraged that you do so. If this place is lost to Chaos monsters, I will flee without hesitation. The risk of them killing me is far too great,” Artifex explained.

“And the other two meta-points?” I asked.

“In case I need to make further transactions with you directly. If they aren’t needed you can all of them at the time of our departure,” Artifex said.

“That seems generous of you. Wouldn’t you want them?” I asked.

“The training and strengthening methods of this place don’t suit me.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“It is complicated. Let me give you another metaphor to explain why I can’t answer. Your question is like asking about chemistry, without knowing how elements and matter works. Energy is a complex topic that I could speak for days on. My knowledge of the subject is immense.”

“I have time and things don’t seem to be falling apart,” I replied.

“While I might be willing to share general knowledge freely in order to create a dialogue and friendship. I am not about to expose my core knowledge. There are too many related subjects that one has to have a grasp of. Let’s put it this way. My path to becoming stronger has been decided just like yours has.”

“The points and stats,” I said.

“Exactly. I operate using similar methods, but they are wholly my own. This training facility is quite good, but for a being of my caliber, it isn’t useful in the slightest. I operate at a higher level than a purely physical being like yourself.”

“But you created a human body,” I pointed out.

“Indeed. I did. My true body is a bit too big to easily move. A human body is more capable. Even as speak, I am slowly adjusting this body to be more compatible with me. Unfortunately, it will take time. Time that is running out.”

“How are we escaping?” I asked.

“I am preparing a vessel as well as several decoys. The size…the size will be difficult if you want to rescue a large number of your people.”

“What is the maximum?” I asked.

“Twenty thousand and that is packing in people tightly,” Artifex said.

“And you can’t enlarge it?” I asked.

“The risk would become unacceptable and there are limited supplies. I am building a very complicated device from basically scraps and the ruins of my previous vessel. Twenty thousand is the absolute limit.”

“That’s still too few. There are millions of people,” I said.

“And they will all perish horribly once we leave. Their fate has already been decided.”

“Can’t we fix this place? Fight back this Ancient and Chaos monsters?” I asked.

“The Ancient can be beaten. But Chaos monsters are beyond even me unless I bring my full power to bare. And that is not easily done. Against one of the stronger ones, we are all dead. They can operate through time. They don’t care about cause and effect. We must avoid confronting them.”

“And the rainbow dimension, can we escape there?”

“Yes. It is where we will first escape and then break through to a higher layer of Reality. The risk will be incredibly high. But you don’t need to worry about any of that. We will be in the same ship literally.”

“You mentioned decoys, how do I know you won’t abandon me after killing this Ancient.”

“Self-interest. Having helpers would be useful for several projects. There has to be trust Michael. I won’t abandon you easily. But you don’t possess the sensory abilities or the knowledge to handle what is coming up.”

“And you can’t teach me?” I asked.

“I am teaching you right now. But I have trillions of years of experience compared to your handful of decades. A vast difference. I can try to simplify things, but ultimately that isn’t something that can be replicated.”

I was silent as I sat there, listening to the falling water. “It can’t be that simple. I come here and you provide solutions.”

“I cannot leave. Once I leave, this entire place will fall apart very quickly. While I might not be the Almighty System you have imagined, our fates are currently linked.”

“And do you have any idea why we are here and what happened to Earth?” I asked.

“I only have speculations. The Collective is not a super organization, group, or cartel that I know of. It is something that has been lost to time. There are some fragmented records that I have accessed and can make some educated guesses with. I would prefer to avoid speculation if possible.”

“That is fine. I want to know, even your guesses. I won’t hold them against you,” I replied.

“You would likely be used as war fodder or resource gathering fodder. A small percentage might reach higher heights, but the vast majority of humans would toil and suffer. This place is meant to have everyone replaced after a certain period of time with the arrivals being turned on and off.”

“Why did you keep them on? If you could turn them off?”

“Because I wanted helpers. I knew how this place worked and your abilities. They aren’t a threat to me, but they are different. A small gamble but it seems to have paid off with your arrival here.”

“We would be used as servants or soldiers?” I asked.

“Most likely. I don’t have enough of an understanding of The Collective’s culture to give a more detailed answer.”

“And what of Earth?” I asked.

“That is a far more complicated question, how you got here and where your home probably is.”

“I want to know,” I said.

“Very well. There is nothing good in what I am about to tell you. One of your people requested to go home to Earth with a meta-point. I monitored what I could of them.”