The sky was clear, without a single cloud. The vast, scattered azure expanse of the sky was boundless. Looking at it, it felt as if one's chest should open up.
Shin lay on the top of the rooftop in a spread-eagle shape, gazing at the blue sky, but his heart was filled with a dense, impenetrable shadow.
"I think I can finally understand what it feels like to worry unnecessarily," Shin said suddenly.
Looking at the vast sky, he didn't feel any sense of openness or relief. He only felt intense anxiety, a fear that reached his spirit, a giant shadow that challenged his reason and thoughts.
He was afraid, afraid of every blade of grass and tree in this world.
He was like an investigator in an ancient ruin, living in this peaceful "parallel world,"
yet knowing countless facts that the residents of this peaceful world were unaware of.
Is this world fake? Is it just a fantasy from a brain in a vat? If not, why are these 'realities' happening around me 'stories' in my world?
Is it being controlled systematically by an invisible hand? If so, what is the beginning of this story, what is the end, and what am I, who was suddenly inserted into it?
What is this 'System' planted in my brain and soul? What are the worlds I travel to? After all, what exactly is 'crossing over'? Perhaps it's just a wild imagination, or maybe it's an outburst of my own endless, insane thoughts.
"You never listen to advice," the System sighed, exasperated.
"I told you, you can exchange for that thing, but you're not ready to use it yet. You need to get rid of the influence of that fantasy persona first. You temporarily took off that suit, but why did you have to use that?"
"Do you think the person who 'rented' you this set has good intentions? Look at you now, sigh..."
Shin showed a cryptic smile. He slightly clenched his fist towards the empty space in front of him. The next moment, a large... flower bud appeared out of thin air.
Like an unopened flower bud, the stem, pistil, and petals glowed with three mysterious and strange colors, like a mesmerizing, demonic flower.
This thing had two names: the Molding Virus or the Spirit Dependency Machine.
This was a miraculous item available in the Molding System attached to the Dawn Lord suit. This item was essentially a C+ high-grade miraculous item, but because of the person who rented Shin the suit, Shin could exceptionally rent items that he couldn't exchange for at his current level.
The Spirit Dependency Machine was one such item. He spent all 150 of his appraisal points to rent this Spirit Dependency Machine for half a year.
This half-year period was fixed, meaning 182 days and 12 hours total across Parallel World 0013 and the One Piece appraisal world.
This item could fundamentally solve Shin's intense and persistent anxiety about his own life and existence.
It was not a weapon or armor. As its name suggests, it was an item that could transfer one's consciousness. Only when wearing the Dawn Lord equipment could Shin use it relatively safely.
Product Name: Spirit Dependency Machine - Growth Type Virus
Product Rank: C+
Product Price: 5000 Appraisal Points (Can be rented under the condition of exchanging for the fantasy suit 'Dawn Lord')
Product Description: A special relic from the Abyss. Possesses the ability to upload one's consciousness into it, transferring control and dominating the body. The consciousness and five senses of the transplant target can be shared. By touching the Spirit Dependency Machine, a consciousness seed is implanted. Transfer targets include, but are not limited to, most living beings with self-will. Highly recommended sequence among similar architectural products.
(Click for detailed data)
It was very interesting and powerful. Shin tried to rent it yesterday night, and the effect... was great.
The Spirit Dependency Machine has three modes. The first mode is Shin placing his body inside the flower bud and diffusing his mind into the "Praying Hands" vessels, similar to controlling puppets. The range is wider, and more vessels can be controlled.
The second mode is controlling the vessels implanted with the consciousness seed directly within a close range, but not exceeding 100 meters.
The third mode, which he hadn't tried and hadn't had the chance to, was "Death Transfer."
When a controlled vessel is killed, the consciousness instantly transfers to the next vessel. However, the System said this would bring irreparable side effects, namely trauma to the mind and humanity.
Simply using the Spirit Dependency Machine wouldn't turn Shin into someone like Dawn Lord Bondrewd, because essentially, that lunatic who sacrificed his flesh and soul to the Abyss was already in that cold and crazy state when he used the Spirit Dependency Machine.
Shin's abnormality stemmed from the fear he felt when observing the world through the consciousness of the vessel after using the Spirit Dependency Machine.
What determines the soul and will? If not the brain, then what does the soul look like? Where is it stored?
If the perspective from which one observes the world is no longer based purely on the five senses, or if the five senses, the brain, and even the soul are no longer accurate, then how can he be sure he isn't a "brain in a vat"?
Overthinking can indeed lead to mental deterioration. Shin knew that this kind of scattered thinking was useless and foolish. But when using these items that exceeded his flimsy knowledge and worldview, he couldn't stop himself from thinking.
The residual explorative desire from the Dawn Lord's equipment forced him to pursue the ultimate answers behind these questions, but some knowledge was simply too profound for his currently fragile mind to explore.
"In short, I won't use it again until I go to the One Piece world."
Shin put away the Spirit Dependency Machine, slapped his head hard a few times, and said heavily,
"You're right. I need to rest. I need to properly clear my confused mind."
He lay down, emptying his mind. The System considerately played a lullaby in his mind.
His thoughts gradually emptied and relaxed, allowing him to slowly let go of his overly paranoid guard. Amidst the echoing lullaby, he fell into a deep sleep.
Then, he had a dream, a long dream.
A staircase that extended endlessly downward, downward, and downward.
Around him was a beautiful dream.
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