Chapter 98: Man vs New Year's Eve

Chapter 98: Man vs New Year's Eve

When Basil woke up after a good nights sleep, 2023 was less than twenty-four hours away.

He still remembered the end of 2019. He had been sitting on his sofa, watching the news thinking that the new pandemic sounded bad but not that terrible.

When 2020 neared its end, he figured that while this year had probably been his lifes worst between the confinements, joblessness, and Covid-19, surely things would improve in 2021. The situation couldnt possibly get worse, right?

Then 2021 came around with a litany of natural disasters, riots, insurrections, collapsing government, and a disease that just wouldnt go away, Basil took solace in that for all the sorrow in the world, at least he wasnt homeless.

It said something about 2022 that the destruction of his and Rens house had been the years lesser tragedy.

What awaited mankind past the apocalypse and the collapse of modern civilization? Basil knew better than to tempt fate. By now he understood that even when you hit rock bottom, it was always possible to dig deeper. Each year was worse than the last.

Yet somehow, Basil managed to rise out of bed with unrelenting enthusiasm and peace of mind. The sight of Vasi snoring lightly under the sheet helped; the familiar smell of honeyed waffles came from the Steamobiles kitchen room too. He immediately recognized his mothers handiwork. Aleksandra Bohen just loved waffle recipes.

I could get used to this, Basil thought as he stretched his back. He didnt require power, fame and money to be happy; only the right people and simple pleasures.

Do not throw your new existence away, the Maleking had said. It is the only one worth living.

The vile demons words echoed in Basils mind and instantly soured his mood. 2022 had objectively been the worst year in modern human history, and yet he had come out ahead. The Apocalypse did benefit him in a strange way.

I cant let him get under my skin, Basil told himself. Thats how demons win.They make the bad look good until you forget its all a lie.

A System notification brought him back to his harsh reality: that as long as the likes of the Maleking and Maxwell ran around, he would never find peace.

Congratulations, Players of Earth! You have survived to the end of 2022 and our [New Year] Event! We are proud to announce that out of the 8 billion registered human Players that started this adventure with us, a whopping 1.932.678.870 of you made it to this date in one piece; newborns included! Thats a 75 percent extinction ratio, right between tadpoles and dolphins!Thanks to your collaboration, we have successfully erased eighty years of human growth and brought it back to pre-World War II population levels. We couldnt have done it without you.

When numbers became too high, they lost all meaning. Basil still remembered days when Forbes would rank the fortunes of billionaires. At one point, Bernard Arnault had briefly overcome Jeff Bezos as the worlds richest man by a ten billion or so margin. A difference that seemed small considering those twos fortunes and yet unfathomable for someone like Basil, who had never earned more than a minimum wage job. The difference was like the distance between Mars and Pluto. The human mind could understand that one was farther than the other, but it simply couldnt imagine how much. Immense numbers surpassed practicality and lived in the realm of the abstract.

Basil felt the same when he read the Trimurti Systems death count. One death, he could mourn. A hundred, he could relate to. But six billion? The number transcended sadness and horror alike. Basil tried to imagine six billion faces staring back at him, filling the voids with his memories of Orcine, Kuikui, Ren, Aya, Major Grange, his father, all the people he had outlived since he began to breathe. All the carnage and sorrow he had witnessed couldnt even fill a speck in the vast mosaic of death shaped by the Trimurti System.

Ive seen villages burned to the ground, children imprisoned in cages like pigs fattened for slaughter, and cities destroyed by giant beasts, and thats just in Western Europe. Basil stared at the casualty number. All continents must have been in terrible shape to reach six billion deaths. Is the Apocalypse Force rampaging across Asia right now? How many Americans managed to grab a gun before the Unitys gearsmen invaded their cities? Is any country out there still standing?

Considering how the System transformed cats into killing machines, he shuddered to imagine what the likes of Australia or the Amazon Forest looked like.

Whatever the case, the Trimurti System had to go. Basil doubted that mankind would survive to reach 2024 otherwise.

As a reward for your perseverance, Dismaker Labs shall grant you one day of respite. No one will take any damage from the first second of December 31st to its last! Attacks, poison, everything will be reduced to 0 with no catch, no pain, and no consequences. Ever wanted to challenge that level 60 [Dragon] but never found the courage to? Now is the time for some friendly competition!The second part of the Event will start on January 1st, 2023. Stay tuned.

Out of all the things that Dismaker Labs could have done, giving humanity one days respite terrified Basil the most.

He had met Anton Maxwell, the unbelievably cruel engineer behind the Trimurti System. That man fed on others suffering like a vampire fed on blood. He knew nothing of mercy. If he gave people peace and hope, it was to better twist the knife later on.

Lets see Basil summoned his halberd in his right hand and lightly cut his left with the blade. Normally, this would have been just enough to draw blood. It didnt. His weapon, which had cut Horsemen of the Apocalypse and dragon scales alike, failed to slice through his naked skin. The burning metal blade simply bounced off him as if he were made of a fantastic metal. He didnt even feel pain or discomfort.

Damage negated. Sorry bud.

Poor masochists, Basil muttered to himself before forwarding a message to Benjamin Leroy through his Logs feature. Theyll count every minute.

A holographic screen of the sleep-deprived programmer immediately materialized before him. Basil found the sight strangely reassuring. Benjamin took the shape of a bat-winged humanoid with red-rimmed eyes with pitch-black circles around them, but his gaze lacked the madness that had once made him so unsettling. He looked strangely banal for a god. Yes, Basil?

Youve seen the Events message? Basil asked, causing the programmer to nod sharply. Any idea what the second half of it will entail? Somehow I dont think 2023 will start with cheers.

The Trimurti Systems core AI generates the Events on its own, so I cannot say what awaits us exactly. Benjamin sighed. Still, we share the same opinion. This Event is a brief calm before the storm.

Could it be a lie? Basil asked. Like a classic credit card scam? We postpone todays damage and take it all at once tomorrow?

The System never lies or deceives its users, Benjamin replied. The taunts and mockeries are Maxwells twist on its programming, but the Trimurti System itself never bends the rules it has set.

Maxwell still managed to start an Incursion early in Paris, Basil pointed out. Even after the System promised a three-day respite.

This exceptional situation happened because I blew up a third of all Neurotowers. This caused the System to adapt in a hurry and left room for Maxwell to alter the resulting patch. Benjamin shook his head. I do not believe you have anything to fear today. Tomorrow will be another matter though, especially with the activity Im noticing from the Unity.

Basil frowned as he sat back on the bed, his halberd vanishing. He had expected to leave for breakfast soon, but the programmers tone was nothing short of ominous. Theres news on the Unity front?

Benjamin nodded sharply. I am detecting a huge spike in energy coming from their artificial server network on the moon. They are accumulating power.

The calm before the storm indeed. For what purpose?

I would need access to their network to confirm, the programmer replied. My current theory is that they intend to trigger a mini-Incursion and summon allies from their homeworld, though I may be wrong.

Basil cursed, doubly so when he noticed Vasi had stopped snoring. 2023 was sure to start with fireworks.

On the good side of things, your necromancer friend has provided the necessary spell formulas to complete my portal design, Benjamin said. Between us, I struggled to understand half of the data he sent me. It appears his worlds System follows different laws than our own. Still, it was enough to complete my booby-trapped gem. Once you gain access to a Unity Neurotower, Ill forward it to you and well begin an assault on their base.

Ill see with our allies here if we can coordinate an assault, Basil said as Vasi rose from the bed, still wearing lingerie. Gotta go now, Ben. Well keep in touch.

Same.

I never ate a cat, Vasi thought it wise to add.

We dont intend to, Basil reassured Plato. I promise you.

You madmen, Plato muttered under his breath. Rosemarine pushed a plate full of honeyed waffles in his direction in an attempt to change his mind, only for the traumatized feline to ignore it. You will mingle with barbarians. Barbarians!

Are you sure youll be safe, Boss? Bugsy asked out of concern. We could attend as your bodyguards.

I am only allowed to bring one person with me, Vasi said. The invitation works both ways though. Ive checked.

So if the party goes wrong, well immediately return home, Basil replied. And if anyone threatened Vasi during that time, he would cut a few heads on his way out.

Simeon threatened to open his mouth to ask more questions, swiftly realized ignorance was bliss and changed the subject. I will forward you the information through the messaging feature if we require reinforcements, he said with a fist against his chest. Until then, enjoy New Years Eve.

Basils crew bade him goodbye and then sat to enjoy his mothers breakfast. Her waffles were topped with honey, chocolate, and marmalade. Eating all of them at once would give any man diabetes. He would enjoy them all the same.

Youve missed those, havent you? His mother teased him. Admit it.

Oh yes, Basil admitted with a mouthful of waffles. He looked around the table to see if anybody wanted more chocolate and quickly noticed missing faces. Wheres Kalki?

He said he would visit the monument on the hill, Mister, Rosemarine replied.

Garud and Shesha all but dragged him away to change his mind, Bugsy added with squinting eyes. He didnt look well, Boss.

How could he? Kalki blamed himself for the Trimurti Systems destruction. Todays message must have filled him with grief and guilt. Basil would have a talk with him after he returned from Vasis family meeting. For now, he guessed it would be best to let Garud and Shesha handle him; they knew their Tamer best.

Yo, Vasi, Shellgirl grinned at her best friend. Throw something at me!

Throw what? Vasi asked with a puzzled face as she chewed a waffle.

A chair, a glass, a fireball, anything! When Vasi looked too confused to take her up on her offer, Shellgirl turned to Bugsy. Come on, lets show her!

Youll see, its fun! Bugsy grabbed an empty glass cup and threw it at the mimics chest. Shellgirl laughed as the projectile rebounded off her chest and into the ground. It didnt surprise Basil. The glass not shattering on impact did, however.

Wait a second, Basil whispered as he put two and two together. When the System said that all damage would be reduced to zero

Thats right, Boss! Bugsy threw a porcelain plate at Shellgirl and cackled upon seeing it bounce off her breasts. Nothing takes damage today. Not even items and furniture!

Come on, Plato, throw your sword at me, Shellgirl said, all but begging to be used at target practice. Basil wondered if she enjoyed it. Needle me!

Ill pass. The Rakshasa Kitten hadnt moved an inch since Vasis revelations. I cant find joy over the thought of all my kindred being eaten alive. This is a feline holocaust a meowicide.

Basil petted his cat on the head. Well try to save as many from the buffet as we can.

He doubted it would amount to much, but Plato nodded in thankfulness all the same.

You must be so excited to meet your father, dear, Aleksandra told Vasi. Will your mother attend as well?

Excited thats a way to put it, Vasi replied with an expression that said otherwise. Anxious might have been the better term. As for my mother, I doubt so. She was never the social kind of witch.

Aleksandra raised an eyebrow. How did she meet your father then?

I dont know. Vasi bit her lower lip. She never told me much about him, and Im afraid to learn why.

If he is in any way wise, he will welcome you with open arms. Aleksandra took Vasis hand into her own and squeezed it. Youre one of the liveliest, most gentle young women Ive ever seen. If he cannot appreciate you, then you should slap him.

Thank you, but I doubt well get that far, Vasi replied with a coy smirk. Well just take a look at my father and leave.

Why did you spend last night thinking about your dress then? Basil thought. His girlfriend had spent two hours grilling him about which clothes they should wear during the family meeting, before settling on their adventurer gear. Better to be prepared for a fight than a ball.

After finishing breakfast, Aleksandra decided to stay a bit longer to help clean the dishes and help Shellgirl with her business. She also promised to take care of Rosemarine, Plato, and Bugsy in her sons absence. Basil guessed that after losing so many people in Varna, she enjoyed social activity.

Knowing his mother would be in good hands allowed Basil to relax a little as he put on his armor and Pth cloak. With Vasi dressed as a witch and him as a knight, they truly made a lovely pair. He wondered how they would fit among the meetings guests.

Vasi summoned her invitation with a long, heavy sigh. Ready, Handsome?

Are you? Basil replied.

No, but it will have to do. Vasi seized the invitation with both hands. One, two

Vasi severed the envelope and a flash of light swallowed them both.

You have left your world for a Trimurti System-compatible one. Some of your Perks and Stats might function differently. Your abilities will return to normal when you go back to Earth.Warning: your Magic Stat has been merged with Intelligence (average value of 52 selected).Welcome to the plane of [Outremonde].