Section 2: Into the Cube - Fate: novel's extra

Somewhere in the multi-verse of Mystery, a consciousness suddenly spoke out

"Along the journey, I should either create or find a body eventually. Can't have a soul wandering around or you might get purified or worse, trapped."

The light blue spark, as big as an average basketball, burned bright as if it wanted to convey its own message to someone among the vast sea of stars. This was no ordinary spark. This was the soul that had come in contact with The Root itself.

"Well, this is the perfect time to test our previous theory."

"But first, I need to find a habitable environment. Root or not, mortal vessel isn't meant to live in the void unless you want to attract at least tier 2 beings like O.R.T. I certainly don't want that when I'm not sure where I currently am on the scale yet."

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[The root • • • • 💙 • • Tne]

"Found one! Now let's have a test before we do anything else."

As the blue soul stopped before a planet full of life, its flame dimmed slightly.

A moment later, a blue sphere emerges and expands until it becomes the same size as the flame. This... was The Root. At the same time, a hole nearly the same size opened inside the sphere. It's started twisting and spinning as if it were trying to swallow everything around the sphere. In a split second, the blue flame roared as information crashed into the soul, lighting up in space.

"I did it. It was overwhelming but I can feel the connection to The Root. Now I can confirm that I can use magic and magecraft."

"Now I just need to get down there and make myself a new body."

<20 p.m., Gion, Kyoto, Japan, 2025>

<1 month before Cube semester>

"Pretty sure that this isn't the Earth I was in, but I can't hurt to be safe."

"Okay, let's find a hidden space and draw a circle. Can't have anyone see me, not to mention what I'm about to do."

As I moved to a less populated place, from one alleyway to another, I reached Yasaka Shrine. This was one of my intended touring locations until it was cut short. Also, this is a worshiped establishment, anything unnatural here could be bypassed as divine intervention, 2 birds with 1 stone.

"Okay, let's create some material for my body. There are so many things I can use. What should I choose? Hehehe... ~(⁠꒪⁠꒳⁠꒪⁠)~". I can feel a wide grin across my non-existent face.

As soon as I started focusing my magical power. I felt a surging weight push down on my soul.

"What the hell! What is it now? Did I alert an Outer god?" I was flabbergasted for a moment.

"No this isn't it. It's not anywhere strong enough. Also, I can sense another being watching me."

As the hostile pressure started to feel less disturbing, I snapped out of my mind. I now know what they are.

"So the pressure coming toward me is this world Gaia. And the one watching me is Alaya."

"I don't know if this world, Alaya, and Gaia, are the same as mine. But it can't hurt to try."

I immediately reconnected myself to The Root, and soon enough, I felt no more pressure on me. Though I can still feel "Alaya" eyes on me. What a paranoid clump of mana. This proved that they at least could hear me or know something about me. So I tested it.

"You know what I'm capable of, right? Then you must know that you can't stop me. That is why you haven't done anything yet."

The air around me started to change as I looked to my right. The answer was both.

A blue ball of light was floating next to me, along with two rings circling around it. I smirked.

"So this is The Counter Force. Those two must be Alaya and Gaia. If you're here then there must be something you want from me, right?"

....

A paper dropped down before us along with a ballpoint pen. The intention is clear. It want to sign a contract.

"A contract huh? Why should I accept it? What can you even offer to me?"

As I called out to the conceptual being, the paper started to glow. In a minute, the once blank sheet of paper has been filled with what The Counter Force has for me

[ Magical Contract]

▷Clause 1: Being connected to The Root shall not cause destruction to the planet nor humanity with any means possible.

▷Clause 2: Being connected to The Root shall not cause changes to this world's past history. Being may change current or future history as long as it does not conflict with Clause 1.

▷Clause 3: Being connected to The Root shall safeguard this planet. Being may inflict some degree of harm to the planet if it guarantees its survival and does not conflict with Clause 1. In the case that being isn't present on this planet, this clause will be considered null until being's return.

▷Clause 4: Being connected to The Root will be provided with the history of this planet in any form.

▷Clause 5: Being connected to The Root will be provided with a list of this world's potential future Heroic Spirits or Threat to Humanity.

▷Clause 6: Being connected to The Root will be provided with an identity on this planet. This identity will not have any connection to any other living being except for those who are listed in Clause 5.

▷Clause 7: Being connected to The Root will be provided with a vessel created by The Counter Force. The Counter Force will also use any material that is being provided, given that it does not conflict with Clause 1.

"Well played. I didn't expect you would be this willing to save the planet. Even gambling its own future."

"Ok, I'll accept under one condition."

Sitting in a corner of the class is a boy, watching attentively at a blue floating screen that only he could see. At the top of it was the name and ID that had been prepared for me, 'Tatsuya Shiki', along with some info.

"So this is how Alaya found me. Didn't expect it to exist as a whole auxiliary system available to those Heroes."

Every hero or even cadet in training has a 'window screen' where they can see their stats and progress, called the 'Status window'. Though each and every one can only see their own status, it was a different story for Alaya. Being the 'Collective unconsciousness of mankind' drive away from extinction, Alaya formed its own Counter guardian in the form of 'enlightenment'. The status window is also a gateway for Alaya, allowing it to access these Heroes indirectly, ensuring their path away from destruction.

"So when I tried to use magical power, Alaya had recognized the abomination in its system. While Gaia sees me as a foreign 'stain' on the planet and waits for Alaya."

"That one quetion answered. Now for the next one. How should I train this body from now on?" I pondered as I kept my eyes on the screen, which is my own status window.

"Strength and health are the lowest at 6.5 and 5.5, and why does my luck look so pitiful?"

"The other stats can be raised, but luck is not something I can train

"And despite my connection to The Root, all of my magic is sealed. The only exception is Third Magic which is only partially unsealed."

I can lift these seals at any time, but I'm afraid it may cause some damage to my vessel. Having great power means nothing if the body can't handle the stress. I'm not gonna waste my time just to throw away my body for nothing. Nothing I can do for now besides improving my stats. And hey, at least I can still use Magecraft and the martial art we talked about back at the field.

As I looked around and saw that our class was empty.