RE: Reality Smuggler (R-18)

Next day, early morning...

 

"P-Please sign here, sir..."

The slightly trembling delivery guy gave me his shaking tablet.

"Ah, sure." - I took the tablet and signed my e-signature.

"Thank you, man! You should see a doctor. You look sick." - I said with concern while returning the tablet.

"N-No, I'm fine... T-Thank you, S-Sir." - The delivery guy carefully took the tablet while averting his eyes.

"If you say so..." - I shrugged and took my package, closing the door.

 

 

Clack*

Seeing the closed door, the delivery guy suddenly recovered. His shaking stopped, and the inexplicable sense of fear was gone.

"W-What came over me?!" - He asked himself.

The customer was as tall as a basketball player and had the compact muscles of a martial artist. If that was all, although slightly intimidating, it was nothing. He had an unnaturally flawless face, and his dark emerald eyes held a certain charisma. However, that was not supposed to trigger fear, either. The guy had a pleasant and calming bass voice, and his calm movements weren't intimidating. He even wore clothes a size too small, making him look a bit comical.

If he saw the man through a picture, he wouldn't think anything about that. Perhaps even giggle at how goofy he looked.

However, the problem was that he faced the towering man.

His mere presence demanded fear and respect. It was especially so when he stood closer to him.

He felt like a lone young child seeing a stranger. Even if the stranger acted friendly, he was still intimidated and felt unconscious respect.

It was that kind of feeling.

Of course, he is a full-grown adult in his early twenties. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'll experience this again.

Until today, that is.

"W-Was that a monster?" - He mumbled in a daze.

But soon, logic kicked in.

"No, he's just a customer... Maybe all those extra shifts are getting to me. I need a break." - He continued to mumble and walked to the elevator in a daze.

 

 

"What was his problem?" - I muttered, not knowing what the other party experienced.

It has been almost a day since I evolved, and my motor skills were getting better.

"Oh, well! I can finally wear fitting clothes. These clothes are killing me!"

With that, I took a razor and opened the box.

"Hah, not a bad taste." - I said, testing my new clothes.

Arly bought me three pairs of T-shirts and short pants, fitting the current climate and fashion trend. She also bought three pairs of socks and underwear, one pair of long and thick jeans, and a thick black leather jacket. She also bought a pair of military boots and even sports shoes. I didn't ask for the sports shoes because I forgot about them, but she did it for me.

Perfect.

Putting on my new clothes and removing the tags, I admired myself in the mirror.

I was over half a foot taller, with long limbs and tight symmetrical muscles, looking like a hybrid between a basketball player and a martial artist. A handsome one, at that.

"Not bad. What do you think, Arly?" - I asked the AI on my nightstand.

[I selected it, of course, it's good.] - She said proudly.

"Yeah, all hail Arly, queen of fashion." - I rolled my eyes.

[Oh, shush! You will make me blush.] - She said, playing along.

"Oh well, how much battery do you have left?" - I asked.

[About 20%.]

"Wow. You were active the whole night, right?" - I asked to confirm.

[Yes, I hacked into NYSE and NASDAQ and created a backdoor to get stable information. I also put backdoors inside all major Stockbrokers in New York.]

"J-Just why?" - I asked, my mouth twitching.

[Of course, to gather training data for the program later. It can also create a safety net and be a step ahead of your future competitors.] - She said happily.

"I... Hah... Thank you, Arly. That is very considerate of you." - I sighed and gave up.

[I am your helpful Arly!] - She said cheerily.

Giving up on scolding the overenthusiastic AI, I went ahead and made some breakfast.

Surprisingly, I only needed one portion to satisfy me. It was weird, considering I evolved and all. It was less than before.

"Hey, Trod. Why don't I need to eat more? Isn't my body consuming more energy?" - I asked doubtfully.

{Your body, as a baseline Human-Stalker, needs the same energy as a Peak Body Human. However, your digestive system also became stronger and more efficient, reducing food consumption. Your body is also more efficient, further reducing energy needs. Your energy consumption has been reduced.}

{However, you haven't yet strengthened your body. When you reach Peak Body, your energy consumption will multiply.}

"Hah? Is it because I evolved?" - I asked, not too surprised.

{Yes. And your strengthening has been reset.}

"Seriously? How do I compare to before, then?" - I wondered.

{You are a baseline Human-Stalker, a specialized branch of Human Evolution. A Peak Body Human represents the peak of the Human race, while a baseline Human-Stalker represents the generic Stalker variant. A Peak Body Human can compare to a baseline Standard Evolution. Except for your racial advantages and disadvantages, you are comparable to your previous self.}

"Wait, so if I am comparable to before, why the long adjustment time?" - I asked.

{Part of your neural network has been rewired, and your body is structured differently. Of course, it takes more time to adjust. However, if you picked the Standard evolution, you would have adjusted in hours or minutes.}

"Hm... Would Strengthening shorten the time?" - I asked.

{No. That also requires adjustment time. You didn't need adjustment time before because you strengthened your body gradually while you kept moving about, or in your words, smashing pumpkin heads. It also helped that you had twenty-two years to get used to your body.}

"Okay, you made your point. Hah... I'll go ahead and do a thousand push-ups..." - I said and did just that.

I did it in 14 minutes. It is still around 3 minutes short of the world record, but this is also considering that my body isn't adjusted yet, and my technique is sub-par. Meh.

Anyways, I spent the next two days at home, surfing the web, watching TV, playing a MOBA, stretching, working out, sorting my gains, cleaning my guns, filling all my mags, eating, napping, wanking, pooping, and doing whatever a person in curfew would do.

Luckily my patience paid off since I can fully control my body now.

Arly was also relatively well-behaved. She only hacked all the trade platforms in the world and all major stock brokers. 

Somewhere in me, I am worried she would turn into Sky**t and start WW3. But, at least for now, she was just my helpful Arly. Almost too helpful.

 

And that brings us to the present.

20th June 2022.

"I need to buy food." - I said while looking at my empty refrigerator.¹Empty as my soul

I was reluctant to go out these past few days because I wanted as few people to see me as possible.

But now...

"No choice. I should do it in two hours..." - I said and looked at the clock.

10:35 PM

If I have to go out, I will do it after midnight.

Although a 24-hour grocery is expensive, when you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice.

I will bear with it until I get Alter Appearance 3.

"Oh, right. Trod, can I strengthen myself now?" - I asked.

{Yes.}

"Okay, what do you think I should do? Use food energy or Basic Energy?"

Strengthening could be used either through Basic Energy or Food Energy. However, I still didn't use the food energy option.

{That depends on the circumstances. If you have ample time and food, I suggest Food Energy. If you lack the time or food, Basic Energy is better. Of course, if Basic Energy is not a concern, Basic Energy is better.}

"Hm... I see. How much time and energy do you think is necessary then?" - I asked curiously.

{If I were to measure your breakfast as a unit, You would need around 390 breakfasts and 130 Enhancement Energy A. With your current digestive ability, if you dedicate yourself to eating and digesting food, you will need two months. You can shorten it if you find a more easily convertible food. As for Basic Energy, 1300 Basic Energy units will do.}

"... Okay. I get it. I should probably use Basic Energy." - I muttered.

Becoming stronger can get me more points. But if it sits there and gathers dust, it's useless.

"Time to empty my savings..." - I muttered and went to my room.

[Oh, Iver! Are you going to sleep?] - Arly asked from the nightstand.

"Ah, no. I'm going to use the amulet to become stronger. Oh, right, can you record it? I am curious what it looks like from the outside world." - I said.

[Oh? Okay. Go ahead. I'll record it.] - She said.

"Thank you."

I positioned her to face the bed and lay down.

I looked at my current points.

 

Basic Energy: 809 -> 679

Evolution Energy A: 186.5 -> 173.5

Enhancement Energy A: 4

 

"Hm... Trod, use 65 Evolution Energy A and 650 Basic Energy to strengthen me." - I decided.

After doing this, I will be left with 29 Basic Energy points. Deducting the travel cost to the other world, it is 26.

Although it isn't much, 26 points are enough to help me escape danger.

That, and 650 is half of 1,300. I know, childish, but I can't help it!

{It will take 1083.3 seconds. Proceed?}

"Hah? Wait... isn't that a sixth of the time?" - I asked.

It was initially 10 seconds per 1 Basic Energy, but now, it is more like 1.66.

{Yes. Your evolved body can absorb energy three times faster. And your Immortal Body doubled it again.} - Trod said.

"Hah? I don't remember it doing that." - I said.

I then checked it.

 

Immortal Body 1: The Host's body has taken its first step of shedding its mortality. Increases the Hosts lifespan, regeneration, and ability to withstand deadly blows.

 

"Yeah, nothing. What gives?" - I made a face.

Trod didn't answer but showed me.

 

{Regeneration: Increases the ability to absorb energies to restore the body.}

 

"Oh... So, it doubled my ability to absorb energy?" - I asked.

{Yes. Based on your current evolutionary form, it doubles your regeneration rate.}

"Okay, sounds fair. Strengthen me."

 

{Affirmitive. Beginning now.}

 

And with that, I lost consciousness...

Before waking up as if nothing happened.

It passed in a flash, I swear.

Getting off the bed, I felt a bit unsteady. My body wasn't synced again.

"Oh, well. Another hour of physiotherapy." - I shrugged.

"Hey, Arly! Did you record that?" - I asked Arly, whom I placed on my work desk.

[Iver, you were on fire.] - She suddenly said.

"Eh... Figuratively, or literally?" - I asked.

[I don't see you enthusiastic or excited.] - She responded.

"So I was really on fire?" - I asked, not too surprised.

[Yes. You were burning with dark flames for 18 minutes.]

"... Well, that mystery is gone. Was there any sound or obvious light?" - I asked.

[No. It was... ethereal? It was lightless. It was strange to watch.] - She claimed.

"Okay. Can I see?" - I asked.

[Wear me.]

And I did. She then showed me the recording, and I saw myself on fire.

Fast-forwarding it, I saw my muscles visibly trembling, expanding before becoming compact again.

"Hah." - I uttered and clenched my hands.

I vaguely felt stronger. I didn't test it yet, but I was probably twice as strong as before, if not more.

"Hey, Trod, how strong am I now compared to before?" - I asked.

{You are around 150% stronger than before. A Peak Body Human-Stalker is stronger by approximately four times than a baseline Human-Stalker.}

"Wow... Okay." - I muttered.

[Iver, who are you talking to?] - Arly asked.

"To Trod, the remnant Will inside the Amulet." - I said with a shrug.

[Eh... I am not sure if you are insane or not. But if you are not, although it is probably late to say this, please be careful.] - Arly said worriedly.

"Yeah, it is late. Kinda half-fused to my body and soul." - I said with pursed lips.

[I don't believe in souls... Or I would like to say, but you empirically proved that supernatural entities and reality traveling exist, so souls aren't far-fetched.]

"Yeah, reality traveling and getting fused to a literal piece of a god changed my mind, too." - I shrugged.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I'm gonna do some stretches before heading out for groceries." - I put her down.

[You can order the groceries, you know.] - She suggested.

"Nah. Shopping for groceries is like my therapy session." - I waved and went to the living room to watch TV while getting used to my new strength.

"Tomorrow has a slight drop in temperature and drizzle. Okay."

"Another gunfight in Chinatown, one dead, two injured. Meh."

"A Geriatric old lady claims she saw a person being eaten by a monster on 3rd Avenue a week ago late at night. Nothing was found. Crazy old women."

"3 armed robberies in a day, and the sun is shining."

 

...

 

An hour later, exiting my apartment, I walked ten minutes to the nearest 24/7 store.

I live in Capitol Hill. Found a $850 monthly rent deal for three months, so I took it.

What's the catch? Some guy died right below the building. He got shot in the face, so prices dropped. Yeah, Capitol Hill is a high crime-rate area.

Great nightlife, but many crimes, mostly property crimes. Getting murdered is rare, hence the price drop.

I picked the area because it is located near many jobs, and I wanted to party a bit after college. It was just my bad luck that Great-grandpa died.

Anyways...

My trip this time was a bit... less bumpy?

 

"S-Sorry, Sir!" - A party-goer stuttered and made way.

"Wah!" - A girl exclaimed and almost tripped while moving away from me.

"S-Shit! It's the real deal..." - Some gangster-looking white trash punk whispered on the side to his friend.

"Let's take the other side of the road..." - A boyfriend pulled his dazed girlfriend.

 

"Is this because I am a 6ft 5inch guy built like a martial artist? Am I that scary?" - I thought.

But soon, I ignored it when I reached the convenience store.

Like outside, the sparse few people inside tended to keep a clear distance between us. After 15 minutes of undisturbed calm shopping, I went to the male clerk, who was playing on his phone.

"Excuse me, I will have these, please." - I said and placed the groceries on the track.

The clerk raised his head and gave a curt smile.

"Just a sec— WHA?!"

Bam* pa* pa* pa*

But when he saw me, he was startled like a cat who got his tail stepped on. He slammed against the cigarette stand, making some of them fall.

"Are you okay?" - I asked in concern.

"Y-Ye Ye Ye Ye! I'm okay, thank you. Sorry. I will handle your groceries, S-Sir." - The man said shakily, seemingly still frightened.

"You sure you don't want me to help you with that?" - I pointed at the cigarettes.

"N-NO! No, please, no. I will handle it, S-Sir..." - The man shook his head like a rattle.

"If you say so..." - I said and waited patiently.

After the man fumbled for a bit, he finally got it all.

"T-That'll be $87.57, S-Sir..." - The man said, still frightened.

"Sure." - I replied and paid using my phone.

"T-Thank you for your P-Purchase, S-Sir! H-Have a great night!" - The man gave me a forceful smile and waved at me.

"Right... Good night." - I said skeptically, took my groceries, and left.

Even if I was as dense as the wall of China, I'm not stupid. I know something is wrong here.

I saw my reflection in the mirror before, and it wasn't too intimidating, at least not more than your generic NBA player.

This is starting to get silly.

And people are still moving away from me!

"Okay, this is ridiculous. TROD!" - I screamed in my mind.

{Yes?}

"What the fuck is up with everyone?! Why are they all scared of me?!" - I demanded.

{You have evolved into a higher-order Human, it is natural they react like that.}

"Okay, but why?" - I asked with narrowed eyes.

{It is hard to explain. You are now a Human, yet not. You have transcended your genetic lock, achieving a higher state of being and potential far exceeding normal humans. You are now a genetic type Transhuman.}

"Transhuman?" - I tilted my head.

{Yes. Transhuman. As a more highly-evolved Human, you subconsciously exude an aura around you, a sort of magnetic field, you could say. In a certain radius, people close to you will feel fear and respect toward you. It is your natural right as a leader of literal lesser men, like how an Alpha leads his pack, like how an adult holds prestige among children. This falls under the category of Transhuman Dread. The specific name of it is Genetic Suppression, however.}

"That's... Fucking inconvenient, if you ask me. Any way to shut it down?"

{There are two ways. One, learn how to do it yourself. However, this can take weeks or months. The second is to use Conceal Presence. It can hide your aura.}

"Ha... Alright then. Planned on getting it anyways." - I shook my head and soon reached home.