Zero to Peak: Ascension Online

A floating direction indicator appeared, guiding Ivan out of the lab facility. The lab, surprisingly, was not isolated from the rest of the city. Ivan halted outside the entrance to the facility and observed the chaotic aftermath engulfing New Yolk City. Trash and decaying dead bodies littered the streets. Some gruesome corpses could be seen hanging from apartment windows, shop windows, and other windows, a stark testament to the recent devastation. However, the sky was clear, and the warm rays of sunshine graced the atmosphere.

He heard approaching footsteps, and the person stumbled into something unseen. He gazed at the individual, observing that this person appeared average, around 5'9 feet in height. The unknown figure wore a well-fitting grey t-shirt and plain trousers.

Ivan decided not to speak. His gaze did the work, fixing a stern, unwavering gaze on the unknown person.

The unknown individual casually waved, a wide smile beaming on his face. "I guess you and I are the first people to come outside after the plague, eh?"

Ivan maintained his impassive, stern gaze.

"Forgive me my manners. My name is Shard, and you are?"

"Call me V," Ivan voiced out clearly with throat movement.

Suddenly, Ivan vanished from New Yolk City.

"Well, that's rude." Shard continued his stroll down the street, seemingly unfazed by Ivan's abrupt disappearance.

Ivan reappeared in Section 2.5, on the very street where he had ended the polymastic monster. He calmly gazed around, meticulously confirming that he had indeed returned to Section 2.5.

"How convenient." Ivan retrieved Jiggy's rapier from the ground.

He walked to an empty shop on the street that sold fabrics and accessories, hoping to find a suitable bag to tuck away the rapier. To his convenience, he found a rapier scabbard in the surprisingly unscathed shop. He unsummoned his full-body armour. He gazed into the mirror, inspecting his mangled jaw. The jaw was a mess of broken bones and a dislocated joint, held together precariously by deeply lacerated skin.

Instinctively, he tried to move the joint back to its proper position, and it worked. He felt his jaw actively begin to repair the damage. He had given his body a spur to repair a damaged part. He flexed his jaw, confirming that the joints were repaired and functioning perfectly.

"So this is what being a special character truly feels like," Ivan muttered with a satisfied, if somewhat grim, smile.

He took out his phone and scanned the shop's QR payment code that was pasted on the wall, making a swift payment for the scabbard and a fanny pack that he intended to take with him. He resummoned his full-body armour and exited the shop.

He wore the fanny pack around his hip, securely placing his phone within it. He didn't fail to retrieve Door-Knob's exaggerated bazooka barrel. He then began his journey to Bangyu restaurant. He had already contacted customer support through email, informing them about his visit and his desire to meet with Brainboss_7.

"You should have found someone else to buy that item if that's why you want to see me," Brainboss's voice echoed as he approached Ivan, who was seated at a table in the otherwise empty restaurant.

"I'm in a dilemma of whether to sell the bazooka or not."

Brainboss took a seat at the table. "Then, why do you want to see me?"

"I have found a clue." Ivan leaned forward, his voice low and deep with significance.

Brainboss_7 feigned a confused and ignorant expression. "A clue to a treasure or a realm harbouring a secret gate?"

Ivan corrected his posture, a frown marring his face. He was confused as to why Brainboss didn't seem to understand what he was saying. He wondered if Brainboss_7 was even aware of what a "clue" was in this context.

'He should know what a clue is. Clues are public knowledge. If I know about it, he should know about it.' Ivan suddenly realised something crucial. 'He is acting dumb in case I'm a poser. Clue-seeking is a clandestine operation.'

"I want to see Lady Flux. She is the person who will entertain my topic." Ivan remained calm and confidently asserted.

Brainboss_7 laughed, a short, dismissive sound. "Dude, I don't know what you are driving at, but I suggest that you tread carefully. Lady Flux is an immensely powerful figure, and time-wasters like you are not welcomed. By the way, she is not around. No one knows where she is."

"I guess I will have to go back to living my life. Who knows, maybe the aliens would discover what I carry with me and take it from me." Ivan stood up and lifted the bazooka onto his left shoulder.

Ivan vanished from the restaurant and reappeared in Section 2.6, in an expansive office on the topmost floor of a towering high-rise building.

"Can I at least get a warning before I'm brashly transported from one point to another?" Ivan complained aloud.

He didn't immediately pick up the presence of Lady Flux, who was seated before him. He was more interested in what was behind him. He turned to see the floor-to-ceiling screen on the wall.

"Argh!" Ivan grunted as an unknown object swam through his perception.

The feeling he was experiencing was akin to a thousand needles swimming beneath his skin. The object tugged relentlessly at the Clue drive embedded in his perception. The tug felt as if someone was trying to pull out his intestines through his back.

>>>>

Do you wish to allow Lady Flux to retrieve the Clue Drive from your perception?

[Yes] [No]

<<<

"Shit! What the hell is happening to me?" Ivan cursed and groaned, reading the system notification amidst the excruciating pain.

He couldn't comprehend how the pain he was feeling was related to granting Lady Flux permission to collect the drive.

"I thought you intentionally ignored me. It seems I was wrong," Lady Flux said casually, her voice calm and even.

She had raised her right arm and moved her fingers like a puppet master, casting a subtle projection that searched through Ivan's mind for the Clue drive. She had initially thought that an ignorant and arrogant special character had come to her when Ivan didn't acknowledge her presence.

Ivan was suddenly relieved of the pain. He straightened his body, feeling the immense relief wash through him. His gaze fell upon the pale-skinned lady seated at the elliptical-shaped table. From his observation, the lady wore a boat neck top that featured a blue and white floral or abstract pattern, with long, voluminous sleeves gathered at the wrists.

"Good day, Your Excellency. I honestly didn't notice that you were seated here," Ivan said, his tone respectful.

Lady Flux remained impassive, patiently waiting for Ivan to get to the important part of his visit.

He selected the 'yes' option on the notification panel. "My lady, please go ahead and retrieve the drive from my mind."