Sitting behind his desk, Ajax was looking at the hologram projection of Earth, in current appearance with seven continents, seeping with nature and life, untouched by human civilization. Looking at his creation, Ajax said, "Gaiaraheim. A replica of Earth. Its digital replica, without humans in it. Isn't it beautiful?"
[It certainly is, sir. You have taken the first step towards your dream.] Sebastian said in his holographic form.
"Yes. A dream that I can achieve." Ajax said and in his mind, he added 'In this life.'
Shaking his head, he told Sebastian, "Until I create a dedicated AI for overseeing Gaiaraheim, you will be its administrator. There isn't a lot of work. Just make sure that there are no problems arising in there."
[Understood. Should I take Master Hulk and Master Bruce there?] Sebastian asked.
"You said that they have formed a brotherly bond over the year, right?" Pondering for a moment, Ajax continued, "Bruce is under the protection of Titanlord, not Ajax Evarson. So it's better if Bruce doesn't see Gaiaraheim."
[Understood, sir. How long will you be keeping your secret identity?] Sebastian asked curiously.
Chuckling, Ajax said, "It's not time yet, and I'm not powerful enough to stand against the other dimensional lords on my own. For that, I have to increase my personal powers first. And when the time is right, I'll reveal it as Tony had revealed his identity as Iron Man."
[Understood, sir. Then I'll take my leave to oversee Gaiaraheim.] Sebastian's hologram projection shimmered and disappeared from the office.
A minute later, Alfred's hologram formed where Sebastian was a minute ago. Looking at Ajax, who was reading the Shounen Jump, Alfred said, [Good evening, sir. Your tea is at optimal warmth. Rooibos, with a touch of ginger. I took the liberty of steeping it precisely four minutes—just as you prefer.]
Ajax, softly chuckling, told Alfred, "You know me too well, Alfred."
[It has been precisely one year, six months, and twelve days since I was first initialized. I have had time.] Alfred replied with a straight face.
Ajax walks toward the tea and lifts the cup. He takes a long sip, letting the warmth settle in his chest. He moves to the glass wall overlooking the city, quiet for a beat.
"A year already, huh?" Ajax asked with a hint of melancholy.
[Yes, sir. And quite a productive one by human standards. You've acquired nine technology portfolios, retrofitted an entire factory in New Jersey, completed construction of three fully functional prototype pods, and launched Axer Games with zero public fanfare. A masterclass in subtlety.]
Smirking, he said, "All without raising a single eyebrow."
He turns away from the window and glances at the pod in the middle of the room. It hums faintly, almost breathing.
"I didn't want a spotlight. Just… the space to build something quietly. No boardrooms. No press. No gods watching from above." Ajax spoke softly.
[And yet, sir, gods are watching. Just not the ones you're concerned about.] Alfred said with a bit of wit.
Ajax smiles faintly, appreciating the wit.
"Fair point," he said.
[Might I say, sir, your restraint this past year has been… admirable. For someone with power beyond comprehension, you've spent the better part of twelve months pretending to be a man with only ambition and a modest research budget.]
"I wasn't pretending. I am that man."
[You are also the Dimensional Lord of a realm untouched by entropy, capable of reshaping code and matter alike.]
Ajax places his tea down and walks slowly around the pod, hand gliding along its curved edge.
"I could've done it all in a week. Blinked it into existence. But what would that have meant? Where's the meaning in dreams delivered by power alone?"
[Some might argue dreams are dreams, regardless of the path.]
"Maybe. But I wasn't trying to win anything. I just wanted… to build it. Step by step. Like they did."
He gestures to the books lined across the far shelf—Percy Jackson, A Song of Ice and Fire, Harry Potter, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and so many others. All fictional books.
"They started with ink and paper. A pen. A dream. I needed to feel a fraction of that. To earn this. Even if I cheated just a little."
[I would argue it was less cheating… more creative delegation.]
"Touché."
A moment of companionable silence passes.
[Shall I summarize the past year's milestones for your records?]
Ajax nodded his head and said, "Let's do it."
*[January: Front acquisition of neural interface patents from Stark Industries, posthumous archives from their defunded medical R&D division.
February: Purchase and quiet resurrection of a Polish exosensory feedback startup—'Synapsync Ltd.' Their tactile sensor matrix now lines your pods.]*
Chuckling, Ajax said, "They thought it was a scam when the check cleared."
[March: Oscorp liquidation files opened doors to their nutrient-gel technology—Project GreenSleep. You bought the leftovers for pennies.]
"And it works beautifully. No rejection. No dehydration. Just immersion," Ajax said with a smirk.
*[April through July: Pod design. You used a mixture of digital matter-weaving and three human engineers to fabricate the shells without suspicion.
July to August: Coding the bridge between real-world sensory data and D-Earth. You did most of that yourself.]*
"It was the fun part." A smile bloomed on his face.
Ajax strolls toward a glowing interface wall, brushing his hand against a screen. It brings up a sleek overview of Gaiaraheim: digital terrain, full of nature and life.
"They don't know it yet… but this place will mean something to someone."
[And to you, sir?]
Ajax paused a bit before replying, "It already does."
*[September: Purchase of the New Jersey factory for assembly under your company, Axer Games.
October to December: Hiring of five recent engineering graduates and one brilliant autistic programmer. You interviewed each one personally.]*
"I didn't need the best. Just the right ones."
[And now, sir… it is May again.]
Ajax returns to the tea. It's lukewarm now, but he finishes it anyway. His gaze lingers on the pod.
"A year ago, I wasn't sure this would work. I wasn't sure I should even try."
[What changed?]
Ajax replied softly, "I remembered who I was before the power. A boy with cheap glasses, bruises on his ribs, and a copy of Naruto hidden in his backpack. He didn't dream of ruling anything. He just wanted to run beside someone… and not feel alone."
The AI is silent for a long moment. Then, with genuine warmth, Alfred told Ajax, [That boy would be proud of you.]
Ajax's throat tightens unexpectedly. He doesn't speak for several seconds.
Sighing, Ajax thanked Alfred, "Thank you, Alfred."
[Always, sir.]
Breathing in and out, he regulated his breath and asked, "Do we have everything we need for the soft launch?"
[Yes. The first world will be ready for immersion by July. The pod's dream-mirroring protocol has been tested. All that remains… is your decision.]
"Time to step in?"
[Time to return home, sir.]
Ajax walks over to the pod. He places his hand on it and breathes deeply. Then he looks up at the ceiling.
"Have the engineers gone home?"
[Yes, sir. The floor is secure. No observers.]
"Then begin biometric sync. Tonight… I'm going in."
[Very good.]
"Yes. Drop me in the middle of the forest."
[Understood, sir. And Ajax…?]
"Yes?"
[Welcome home.]
The pod opens with a gentle hiss. Ajax steps inside and reclines. As the lid closes, a faint glow rises from the nodes. His breathing slows.
And then—silence.
[One dream fulfilled. Many more to come.] Alfred said softly, alone in the office.
Inside a lush forest, Ajax appeared and the first thing he did was breathe. He felt his lungs filling up with air, the wind rustling past through his hair and clothes, the feeling of dirt under his feet. His eyes lit up and said to himself, "Mimicking the real world sensations is a success."
[The dimension will change as per your will, sir.] The voice of Sebastian was heard from behind.
Ajax didn't turn back, instead he tilted his head upward, looking at the sky through the gaps of the trees. A smile wormed its way onto his face. "It is, but the people who will use the pods and helmet won't know. They will think that the creator is a genius in programming to create the replica of Earth digitally and to feel the sensation only felt on Earth in this virtual world."
[That is true.] Looking around, Sebastian asked, [Is Gaiaraheim only for a trial run, or is it more?]
"Sebastian, there is a tree known as the world tree. The Pantheons know it by different names. In Norse, it's known as Yggdrasil; in the Vedic, it is known as Kalpavriksha. But both are different from each other, and we are following the Norse."
Looking at Sebastian who was listening to his words, Ajax continued, "Yggdrasil has nine realms. And the one in the middle of the other realms is Midgard, also known as Earth."
Spreading his hands, Ajax said, "This planet, Gaiaraheim, is the Midgard of Axer Games."
[So, Axer Games is similar to Yggdrasil. Gaiaraheim is Midgard. Then what will be Asgard and Helheim?] Sebastian asked.
"That, my friend, is an excellent question." Pointing upwards, Ajax said, "I'll be creating them in time. Gehtarheim, Oursmaheim. Heaven and Hell of Axer Games. Inaccessible to the players. Only the administrators will enter these two realms."
[I understand. And when you create the worlds you want to create, Gaiaraheim will act as the lounge hub to access the Games.]
"Correct. And to create new worlds, I need to meet them. The creators." Ajax said with a smile that would be present on the face of a child who is about to meet his favorite actor or actress.
[When will you be departing to Japan then?]
"In a month. I have to contact the father of Shonen Manga and the Big Three who were inspired by him." With a smirk, he said, "I'll bring their worlds into reality in my realm and give them full authority to design it as they see fit."
[Good luck. You will need it.] With those words, Sebastian disappeared from the forest.