At the same time, while Kyndris and her crew were heading toward the Elven Capital alongside Elyndra, I spent most of my day inside the Research Sector of the Origin Base.
Unlike the increasingly tense political situation unfolding on the other side of the planet, the atmosphere here felt strangely isolated from the rest of the world.
Countless holographic projections floated throughout the laboratory while streams of blue data continuously flowed between surrounding terminals. Atlas Researchers worked nonstop beneath the artificial lights of the sector, trying to uncover the deeper mechanics hidden behind the Atlas System itself.
“You’re saying the system itself is actually a copy originating from an ancient civilization?”
I looked toward one of the researchers currently assigned to Atlas systems analysis.
[Ethan]
[Gene Tier: 1]
[Genetic Ability: Atlas Physique]
[Unit Classification: Researcher]
[Bonus: Research Efficiency +150%]
[Research Bonus: Militia]
Ethan possessed a lean, athletic frame with sharp features that gave him a youthful yet confident appearance. Messy black hair fell loosely over vivid golden eyes that constantly carried a playful glimmer behind his thin rectangular glasses. Curved black horns rose from his head, contrasting against his bright expression.
He wore a fitted white research coat layered with black scale-textured armor panels along the sleeves and sides, secured by dark belts and metallic clasps around the waist. Beneath it rested a partially opened black inner shirt paired with black gloves, giving his overall appearance a sleek blend of scientist and dragon-like warrior.
“Yes, Commander!”
Ethan answered immediately, visibly excited as he adjusted several floating data windows beside him before continuing.
“The current Atlas System behaves less like an intelligent creator and more like an extremely advanced production and replication platform.”
He then expanded another rotating holographic structure into the air.
“Its primary medium is Eterna Energy,” he continued.
“Which means the system technically doesn’t create matter out of nothing. Instead, it reconstructs objects using stored data patterns.”
I stared quietly at the rotating holographic projections for a moment. The layered schematics, reconstruction sequences, and streams of Eterna Energy converting into stable matter through archived templates all reminded me of something strangely familiar. The system was not truly creating things from nothing. It was replicating preexisting information into physical reality.
“Like a printer…” I muttered quietly.
“Exactly!” Ethan pointed immediately, clearly pleased by the comparison.
“A massively advanced molecular-scale printer. The Atlas System converts Eterna Energy into physical matter using archived genetically adjusted construction data. Buildings, weapons, vehicles, biological modifications, and even entire production facilities are essentially reconstructed from pre-existing templates.”
“Our research process is essentially a system deep-dive reconstruction method,” he explained while expanding another holographic projection into the air.
Several researchers became visible within the display, seated motionlessly inside circular research chambers. Their heads were connected to intricate helm-like devices formed from black metallic structures resembling intertwined artificial roots extending from the Atlas systems behind them.
Faint blue energy pulsed rhythmically through the root-like connections as enormous streams of fragmented data flowed across the surrounding interfaces.
“We analyze the currently existing fragmented civilization records, identify how a technology originally functioned, determine the structural and energy requirements, then stabilize the missing sections through simulation.”
Streams of blue data rapidly flowed between the projections while complex schematics rotated in the air.
“And once the reconstruction reaches a stable threshold…”
A slight grin appeared on his face.
“We print it.”
I quietly observed the countless floating projections surrounding us while streams of blue data continued flowing throughout the laboratory.
Ethan continued while expanding another holographic model into the air.
“That’s also why we can manufacture advanced vehicle armor without relying on traditional metallurgy.”
“The plating itself isn’t technically ‘real metal’ in the conventional sense.”
He tapped the hologram once.
“It’s condensed Eterna-material.”
The armor projection immediately separated into countless glowing microscopic layers resembling compressed energy lattices.
“The Atlas system stabilizes compressed Eterna Energy into a permanent physical state,” Ethan explained.
“That’s why the material possesses absurd durability despite being significantly lighter than normal alloys.”
Another holographic display appeared nearby, this time revealing streams of silver-blue liquid flowing through an engine system.
“The Celestium Ferrofluid operates on a similar principle,” he continued.
“Based on reconstructed archive data, its original design was derived from advanced rocket fuel systems. The Atlas system refined the process into something far more efficient.”
The hologram zoomed deeper into the engine core, showing magnetic currents circulating through the fluid itself.
“It functions simultaneously as fuel, coolant, and energy conductor. More importantly, due to its unique composition, the system continuously recycles and re-stabilizes the Celestium Ferrofluid during operation instead of consuming it outright.”
I stared at the projection for a moment, watching the silver-blue liquid circulate endlessly through the simulated engine.
“So our vehicles are basically running on recyclable liquid energy.”
Ethan immediately pointed at me with an excited grin.
“Exactly!”
That was also why vehicles required Celestium Ferrofluid to operate independently.
Unlike stationary Atlas infrastructure directly connected to the Origin Base, mobile units such as ships and armored vehicles needed their own self-contained energy circulation systems.
Ethan’s explanation summarized the entire Atlas framework surprisingly well.
This time, the holographic projection shifted into something entirely different.
Streams of combat movement data, battlefield simulations, and automated construction sequences continuously unfolded across the surrounding displays while countless lines of fragmented code moved beneath them.
“Moreover, some sections of Atlas appear to function through memory-based archives instead of direct blueprints,” Ethan explained.
“That’s likely how militia systems, combat protocols, and autonomous infrastructure behaviors were integrated so quickly.”
As Ethan spoke, the holographic displays shifted once more. Streams of combat movement data and automated battlefield simulations faded into enormous sections of inaccessible archives buried beneath countless encrypted layers.
Some remained completely blacked out.
Others displayed corrupted symbols that distorted violently whenever the researchers attempted to access them.
Ethan’s expression gradually became more serious while observing the floating projections.
“However… the deeper system archives remain heavily fragmented,” he continued quietly. “It’s almost as if access itself is artificially restricted… or progression-locked.”
He crossed his arms thoughtfully.
“It’s strange. The system clearly recognizes that those archives exist, but it refuses to fully reconstruct them.”
His gaze remained fixed on the corrupted data streams.
“Almost like Atlas itself is waiting for certain conditions to be fulfilled first.”
That statement sounded like a game system.
Back when this world was nothing more than a game, none of this had ever been explained in such detail. The Eterna Galaxy Online System had simply existed as a mechanic, something players used without questioning how it truly functioned beneath the surface.
But now that this world had become reality, the hidden complexity behind everything was starting to reveal itself.
The discussion continued for quite some time afterward as Ethan enthusiastically explained the mechanics behind Atlas's facilities, construction systems, and energy conversion infrastructure.
Eventually, however, his expression became more focused.
“Right now, I’ve realized something,” he said while pulling another series of fragmented records onto the holographic display.
“Eterna Energy itself can most likely be enhanced.”
He expanded several structural readings into the air.
“Higher output. Greater stability. Increased structural density.”
His eyes lit up slightly.
“That’s probably why the ancient records constantly reference a Tier system.”
He looked toward me excitedly.
“If our theory is correct… then what we currently possess may only be the lowest stage of Atlas technology.”
“Meaning?” I asked calmly.
Ethan smiled.
“We may eventually unlock higher-tier materials, facilities, ships… maybe even entirely different forms of energy conversion.”
I smiled slightly while looking toward the floating projections.
Ethan was unbelievably perceptive.
Then, after a brief moment of thought, I decided to give him a small clue regarding my next objective.
“What if,” I said calmly, “we gained access to an entirely different civilization dataset?”
Ethan blinked once.
Then his eyes slowly widened.
“You mean…”
I leaned lightly against the console beside the projection screens.
“If Atlas itself is only reconstructing fragmented technologies from an ancient civilization that adapted itself based on genetic sequences…”
My gaze shifted toward the floating holograms.
“Then what happens if we discover an entirely different dataset to copy from?”
The holographic displays reflected softly across the room as I continued.
“Something not designed around biological evolution at all…”
Ethan blinked once.
Then his eyes slowly widened.
“You mean… non-organic civilizations?”
Ethan was surprisingly close to the truth.
The global chat had already confirmed something important several days ago. Some of the luckier players who spawned with fast-growing genetic sequences had already managed to construct Starports of their own.
It was revealed that this world still followed the same universal coordinate structure from Eterna Galaxy Online.
Meaning the hidden relic locations from the game most likely still existed somewhere within reality itself.
Including the unique civilization relic I once possessed before coming into this world.
A relic that did not originate from any biological civilization archive.
I was just about to answer Ethan when a soft notification suddenly appeared across my interface.
[Kyndris]: “Commander, we have taken the throne.”
For a brief moment, I stared silently at the message before a small smile slowly appeared across my face.