Condition Evolution 2: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure by Sinclair, Kevin (the best electronic book reader .TXT) 📕

had been fighting the harshness of space and dealing with the difficulties of settling on new planets. Fystr Prime had spent the years furthering both their mental and scientific capabilities, empowered by the resources and taxes claimed from their interstellar empire. With rebellion springing up, the solution was simple. Tighten, restrictions across all planets, take more from them and become ever stronger, while they become ever weaker.”

“Hey, Ogun. Not meaning to be rude here, but what has this got to do with me being skinny and in space?”

“I’m getting there, Shaun. Try to take this in please. It is important you know the truth,” he continued with his monologue. “The oppression resulted in many wars. Fystr Prime, along with a number of the oldest settled planets, that were home to many of the Fystr ruling class. Needless to say, they won outright.”

I nodded my head like I knew what the fuck he was talking about. I really didn’t. But I must have convinced him because he continued.

“They crushed every rebellion, brutally forcing each planet’s inhabitants back to tribalism by culling their populations and destroying all of their technology. Unfortunately, it did not stop there. They must have predicted further unrest, as they systematically suppressed each and every planet under their control.”

“What! That’s an insane thing to do to your own people, especially when they hadn’t even rebelled against them.”

“My people are thorough if nothing else, Shaun. They weakened each planet enough to prevent any future rebellions, while still being able to produce the resources that the Fystr so crave.”

“It’s a shame none of the planets were able to hide any technology stuff, and sneakily build themselves back up,” I said. I loved a good underdog story.

“I am sure many did. But it would have availed them nothing. The Fystr installed a caretaker to watch for such things and guide each worlds development. Someone to organize resources for transport and prevent future generations from unlocking their true Potential. It wouldn’t do for humans to rediscover the abilities that were lost to them.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “I am the caretaker of your planet, if you hadn’t guessed.”

“Holy shit! That’s deep. So, humans on Earth are actually the same as you, Fystr?”

“Yes. Though your race has regressed somewhat from an evolutionary standpoint, you are still from the same ancestry.”

“So, why are they coming for us now?” I asked, looking puzzled.

“Because I had an epiphany. Your society is approaching a crossroads in mental development that I am supposed to act upon and outright stop. This would involve mass slaughter, wars, or plagues, plunging your world back into chaos. I could not do it to you all again. You are after all our people, our children. I instead used the game therapy to push you through the evolutionary process. Somehow, they discovered I had not put the expected protocols into action and warned me I had a year to do so. You will remember the rush to get you in the game?

“Funnily enough, I can remember that detail.”

“For whatever reason, they must not have fully believed my assurances and instead sent a small fleet to check on my progress. Obviously, they were unhappy with what they found and decided to arrest me, and here we are.”

“Fuck me! So that’s why we're running away now?”

“Yes. We could not resist their forces.”

“So, is Earth toast?”

“They seem content to monitor the planet at present. There is another compound of improved humans in the Ukraine who are in hiding, they have not yet been discovered, but have reported to me when there has been no major damage done. It helps that their facility is deep underground.”

“It holds more people like me?”

“Yes. Like you. Potentially, you are all now as powerful as a Fystr, although you must undergo much training. My hope was to have even more like you and create a powerful army enough to defend earth. I was too late.”

“So, I’m like a superhero now? That’s pretty cool. But can I ask; why me? Or Ember, for that matter. Was there something special about us? We were both totally broken people when we came to you.”

“It is an uncomfortable truth,” he sighed. “Simply it’s because you would not have been missed. I don’t know every method by which information gets back to the Duat. I had to be coy in my actions.”

“Well, that’s a bit shit,” I said. “I can see where you’re coming from though. So, what’s happening now? I get we’re in space, but do we have a plan?”

“Escaping their clutches, first and foremost. “We need supplies and I hope at some point to get back and protect Earth.”

“Right. And I suppose thanks for not destroying the Earth when ordered to.”

“Oh, I do like you Shaun,” Ogun said slapping the table. “I have awoken over two hundred subjects and one hundred and fifty-three of them made it past level twenty in Anatoli. That means they made the grade and evolved if you like. One hundred and fifty-three evolved humans, and you are the first one to thank me for not destroying your world.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, and as an afterthought added, “I must’ve really made the grade if I reached level forty. Ember too.”

Ogun laughed aloud. “Oh, don’t worry about that. You most certainly did. You see, the game had many complexities. If you managed to surpass level ten, then you go above your human average. If you surpass level twenty, you have progressed beyond the upper limit that we, the Fystr, have allowed humanity to reach.

“By completing the game and reaching level forty! Trust me, every pathway in your brain that can be unlocked… has been unlocked. You have the potential to be a full Fystr, like me. Although you will always be short.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Sounds scary, but cool. What sort of stuff can I do?”

“Well, nothing yet. You would have to train. But I admire your willingness.”

“Okay. What sort of stuff can you do?”

“Oh, my favorite