Markets and Multiverses (A Serial Transmigration LitRPG)

Chapter 366: Project Dawn

Before we proceeded any further, Anise and I discussed what we had seen with Sallia and Felix. We needed to discuss our goals as a group - after all, Felix or Sallia might have a really good idea what our discovery meant, or how to make better use of it. 

The conclusion the four of us came to, after some discussion, was that we were confused. Why had something that didn’t exist in this dimension caused us to regenerate essence? It didn’t seem to have anything to do with our other Abilities, so it wasn’t related to our existence as transmigrators. It also didn’t seem to be related to this world’s magic systems, or else the elder teaching us would have said something. In other words, our discovery made no sense.

At least so far, when we learned a new magic system, we got essence from one place - the dimension itself. Most humanoid species we had reincarnated as seemed to naturally absorb essence through our skin for later use. It was kind of like how breathing worked. This dimension, at least so far, had been the only exception - even though there did seem to be essence in the Astral Tides, people couldn’t directly absorb it. This was why plants were so important in this world - they could absorb essence and allow people to digest it for later use. 

I had assumed this was some sort of intentional design from the corporation that ruled this dimension. After all, it made sense to keep the natives from regenerating essence naturally. It kept them reliant on heroes, which, in turn, maximized the influence Achievement and ability evolutions a transmigrator in this world could get - as well as ensured that transmigrators would be treated well by the natives and get access to the best resources. However, Felix had other ideas.

said Felix.

I nodded, before I realized that Felix and Sallia couldn’t see me, and thus had no idea that I was nodding.

asked Felix. I could feel a budding sense of excitement in his mind, as if he were building up to a big finale. I started to suspect that I knew where he was going with this.

I said.

said Felix, as the excitement in his mental voice mounted.

asked Sallia.

said Felix.

Was that how it was? Felix’s words made a certain amount of sense. It sounded twisted… but then again, nothing the Market had done to other worlds had ever given me the illusion that the Market was benevolent. The Market was built to generate profit, and most corporations seemed like they would have happily trampled a few worlds in that process.

said Anise.

said Felix.

said Sallia, although something in her voice made me shiver.

I felt a chill run down my spine. That seemed horrifying. To have every single child born into an entire civilization be actively working to undermine that civilization was a terrifying nightmare scenario for that civilization. To have every single child born be an imposter, lurking in the shadows as people moved on with their day, unaware… I could imagine how terrifying that would have been for anyone who was aware of it. Had the old civilizations of this world even known? Had they noticed, in their final days? I shuddered.

As horrifying as the scenario was, it also sounded exactly like something a corporation making a Garden World would do. 

I shook off that thought. While what had happened to the original cultures of this world was tragic, there was nothing we could do for them anymore. They were lost to the sands of time, and the souls that had once lived in this dimension had already moved on. Instead, I tried to focus on the positive side of Felix’s statements.

I asked. I felt a spark of hope in my chest. I had already suspected that Anise and I had discovered a way forward. If Felix and Sallia also agreed… we would finally have a real path towards achieving our goal.

I could almost hear Felix smiling through the communication bracelet.

said Sallia.

I said, as I smiled. After searching for a route to change this world’s fate, we finally had a path forward.