Danmachi: Evolution through nanites

Chapter 3: Holy sh*t

——————————————————

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. "I… I want—"

The light flared, acknowledging his words. "Request acknowledged. It will be granted upon reintegration."

A sharp hum cut through the void, and he felt something stir within him. The nanites, the memories, the wish—it all began to coalesce, embedding themselves into his very being.

The voice echoed one final time, cold and unyielding. "Live, Being #2473827. Fulfill your purpose. Generate data. Serve the program."

And then, the light consumed him, and the void fell silent.

——————————————————

The void around him wavered, distorting like a ripple on the surface of water. Suddenly, the oppressive stillness that had once suffocated him was replaced by something entirely different. Cool, crisp air brushed gently against his face, carrying the scent of wildflowers and earth. He opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the brightness. The blinding white glow from before had faded, replaced by an endless expanse of blue sky stretching far above.

He found himself lying in a soft patch of grass, the warmth of the sun filtering through the trees and surrounding him in a comforting embrace. For a moment, he simply lay there, the sudden shift making his head spin slightly.

"What… just happened?" he muttered under his breath, sitting up cautiously. His hands trembled slightly as his mind tried to piece together what he had just experienced—the AI, the strange world beyond his own, and the abilities he could scarcely comprehend.

The memories from his encounter replayed in his mind—those cold, calculating words from the AI…

The nanomachines coursing through him, now dormant beneath his skin, had already begun their work. He felt different—stronger, sharper, more attuned to the world around him. His every movement seemed slightly smoother, his reflexes quicker.

But then, his eyes caught something—a massive structure on the horizon. A tower, rising like a monolith against the distant sky. It loomed far above everything else in the landscape, its stone surface gleaming faintly in the sunlight.

This wasn't his world, and the long large black object further confirmed his suspicion.

taking his first step forward. Instantly, he could feel it—the subtle buzz beneath his skin, the whisper of something inside him reacting. His body wasn't the same. The nanomachines coursed through his system, fine-tuning him, enhancing him. They weren't just passive machines; they were alive in a way—an extension of himself now.

Yet there was something more—The air had an edge to it, alive with the scent of something foreign, something..new.

He kept walking, cautiously moving deeper into the forest. The sunlight barely filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The silence here was unnerving—no wind, no distant calls of animals—just the sound of his own footsteps.

As he moved, something shifted beneath his feet. A mound—something large. His attention was drawn to it, and as he leaned down to inspect, he realized what it was.

An anthill.

Ants swarmed across its surface, working tirelessly. Their movements were frantic and efficient—each one carrying leaves, twigs, and other tiny fragments back to the colony. They were different—larger than ordinary ants, built with hard, metallic bodies, gleaming faintly under the sunlight.

John's curiosity stirred. Could this be… useful?

The nanomachines responded immediately, urging him to make contact.

"Physical contact required. Organic material will be broken down and analyzed. Traits available: Enhanced strength proportional to absorption."

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out, stepping lightly on the surface of the mound. At once, the ants swarmed over his shoes, though he paid them little mind. His focus was on what the nanites were doing—analyzing.

His skin prickled, the sensation growing more intense as the nanomachines began breaking down the organic material—extracting the useful traits.

"Analyzing… Strength confirmed. Ability to adapt physical traits detected. Possible absorption of antennae and other physical modifications."

John's eyes narrowed.

"Physical traits…?" His mind began to race at the near-infinite possibilities he now wielded.

He moved closer to the mound, carefully inspecting the ants. Their metallic bodies gleamed faintly, and he could feel the nanites growing more eager to continue. They wanted this—wanted him to absorb it, integrate it.

He stepped fully onto the anthill. This time, he allowed the ants to crawl onto his shoes, slowly climbing over him. Their tiny legs tickled slightly, and though they seemed harmless, he knew better.

This wasn't just curiosity—it was necessity. These ants held strength—strength he could use.

Without hesitation, he reached down, his hand hovering over the mound. He felt the ants crawling up his arm—trickling over his skin. He allowed it. The nanites beneath his skin responded, activating, pulling energy from the ants—absorbing it.

"Absorption successful. Gaining physical traits— Ant body enhancement confirmed. Ability to adapt features."

For a moment, he felt something change. His mind focused on what the nanites were granting—subtle enhancements.

"Physical traits absorbed. Potential modifications: antennae, pheromone gland, enhanced resilience, and biomeneral armor."

He could feel it—his muscles twitching slightly, his senses sharpening. He glanced down at his arm—though nothing had visibly changed yet, he could feel the nanites working, coursing through him.

"You're telling me I can… take this?" he muttered.

"Yes. You can adapt traits, accept or deny them. Choices available based on analysis."

John stood up straighter, mulling over the implications. He could choose what to take, and what not to. It wasn't just about power—it was about control.

His mind wandered back to the AI—how it spoke of choices, of living out his intended purpose. Was this… part of that?

He felt something stir within—an odd mix of excitement and caution.

Suddenly, he felt it—a familiar presence deep within him. A pull, a quiet hum in the back of his mind. It wasn't something external—this feeling came from deep within, from something he hadn't felt before. It was as if a part of him was awakening—an ability—something latent but ready to manifest.

Without thinking, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on that pull. And then, he whispered to himself, barely audible—

"Jumper."

A spark ignited deep in his chest.

In an instant, a wave of energy surged through him. His body shimmered faintly, and before he could fully comprehend what had happened, he was already moving—faster than he'd ever moved before.

The next thing he knew, he stood several meters away from where he had just been, his vision blurring for a brief moment. He blinked, disoriented for a fraction of a second, before realizing what had just happened.

"What… just—?" he muttered, looking around at his new position.

He had teleported. Instantly, effortlessly, across a wide distance.

The nanomachines hummed in satisfaction beneath his skin. "Jumper ability activated: spatial manipulation. Use with caution. Excessive use may strain your body."

His mind raced—this was the power the AI had hinted at. The ability he had wished for—the power to travel anywhere instantly.

He could feel it now—every subtle nuance of his surroundings—every location within reach. It wasn't just teleportation—it was instantaneous movement across space.

"I can… just go anywhere?" His voice trembled slightly, disbelief still clinging to him.

"Yes," the nanomachines responded in his mind. "The Jumper ability grants you instantaneous travel to any location within your perception. Distance varies based on focus and energy expenditure. Successive jumps may deplete your energy reserves."

He glanced down at his hands, the realization sinking in. He had been given control—the power to traverse the world at will, the power to not be a simple cog, but the very mechanic itself.

And that was just the beginning.

He could see himself growing stronger—leaner. Every absorption was a step forward, every time he absorbed something new, it gave him control.

"Do you wish to keep these traits? Y/N."

He didn't hesitate. "Yes." There were too many unknowns, and any extra strength was a necessity.

"Understood. Please stand by."

Suddenly, a cold sensation prickled at his skin. Pain receptors flickered, dulled, as if something was suppressing the feeling. His heart raced.

"What?" John murmured.

"Protocol Dome initiated."

Before he could react, a sharp sensation—almost like tearing—ripped through his forearm. He gasped, looking down in shock as a 2-inch long gash appeared, the wound deep and raw. Black dust, finer than ash, began to seep from the newly formed cut, trailing slowly into the air.

But instead of falling to the ground, the dust began to swirl—forming a dome, a black veil that surrounded him. From the outside, it looked like an impenetrable barrier. From the inside, all John could see was pitch black, except for the grass beneath his feet.

"What the hell is—"

"Enhancements beginning," the calm, robotic voice echoed in his mind.

"Wait—" John tried to step back, but it was too late. The dome had already sealed. Darkness consumed him, and the sound of his heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.

His breath hitched. Darkness pressed in all around him, but something else pressed deeper—something foreign, something alive. The nanomachines, dormant until now, activated. The dust continued to swirl, and as it did, he could feel the change happening.

Pain… but not overwhelming. It was controlled—focused—dampened by the dome's interference. The nanomachines had overridden his body's natural response, suppressing the ache. Instead, they took over, analyzing the wound, spreading through his flesh.

Suddenly, he could feel it—a subtle shift in his muscles. His breathing grew deeper, more steady, and the strain in his limbs eased. The strength he absorbed earlier intensified, and it wasn't just physical. His mind felt sharper, faster—attuned to every subtle nuance around him.

And then, his skin, he felt as if he was encased in a pool of cement wrapped tightly around him and yet it felt natural. Alter him—not just physically, but fundamentally. They enhanced, integrated, refined.

The voice in his head, calm and detached, spoke again, "Enhancements complete. Proceed when ready."

John's pulse quickened. He clenched his fists, feeling the surge within him. Every fiber of his being vibrated with newfound energy. The power, the control—he had never felt anything like this before. And yet, a part of him knew this was just the beginning.

The dome faded away as suddenly as it appeared, leaving him standing in the open once more—his arm fully healed, the gash completely gone, as if it had never been.

He exhaled slowly, looking at his hands. The enhancements had left a mark—a trace of something greater beneath his skin.

"Holy sh*t…"