Alice felt a little uncomfortable.
[Does the host want to deactivate the neural interface’s unrestricted access to your subconscious thoughts?]
Alice: That was possible?
If possible, I don’t want you prying into my thoughts unless I ask you.
Can you do that?
[Yes.]
[Would the host like to deactivate unrestricted access to your subconscious thoughts now?]
Yes.
[Deactivating unrestricted access now.
All future responses will be based on the host’s active inquiries and requests.
Your privacy settings can be modified at any time.]
Great!
Alice was pleasantly surprised.
She was about to ask about the privacy settings when, suddenly, a hand waved in front of her.
“Hey, little girl.
Why are you spacing out?
Did you hear what we said?
Do you feel unwell anywhere?” Dr.
Smith asked, his face solemn.
Alice’s attention refocused.
Seeing the group of worried faces, especially those of the researchers, she could almost read the thoughts running through their minds.
They were most likely worried that the update had caused some problems with their precious test subject.
Alice shook her head obediently, trying to tell them that she was okay.
The group was still worried, so they pushed her back down into the neuro-medical pod and scanned her body for any abnormalities.
They were finally relieved when all the key indicators showed healthy green readings.
After leaving the pod, Alice learned something new as she looked back at the strange machine which she thought was like a nicer bed to sleep in.
It turns out that a person would not necessarily fall asleep after entering the pod.
The reason she had fallen asleep earlier was because a sedative had been released inside the pod.
It was to ensure that her brain was in a safe condition to process a large amount of information.
It was all in preparation for a smooth and safe neural interface update.
Alice asked the neural interface:
Does that mean that every time you need to receive an update, I have to be asleep?
[No, host.
Rest assured, the neural interface can receive updates at any time.]
What is that update like exactly?
Is it like putting a straw into my brain and pouring in something?
Alice was curious.
She did not know much about computers and other technologies.
[An update means that the neural interface has to scan and analyze new information, then construct the corresponding models within the neural architecture, or your mind in simpler terms.]
[However, processing an excessively large amount of information can affect the host’s mental state and may cause dizziness.]
Oh.
So that’s why I had to be unconscious earlier.
[I would like to correct the host.
The size of the data update received earlier was not large enough to affect the host while conscious.]
Alice blinked and looked at the people in front of him.
It turned out that they were simply being overly cautious.
Well, I am the precious Test Subject C3, after all.
Alice thought, her small and round face seriously nodding to herself.
“All parameters look good.
We can start the program now.” Dr.
The medical staff first helped Alice change clothes.
Alice had only worn comfortable cotton or linen clothes.
These clothes were very different though.
First came a full-body suit equipped with sweat-control technology and various embedded sensors.
Next, they fitted a neural cap over Alice’s small head.
Finally, they put a loose-fitting tunic and trousers over the body suit.
Alice thought her outfit was already a bit strange, but when she was pushed out of the changing room, she saw that the entire medical staff were all wearing outfits like leather armor, robes, and tunics.
Some even held sticks.
In the modern world, these clothes were indeed very unusual.
They all wore some kind of goggles on their faces.
What are those goggles?
[From the information update, they are called AR goggles.]
What’s that?
[Unlike the host who has a neural interface and can easily modify the signals sent to your brain, these people do not have a neural interface.]
[They only have the basic BCI model which has no augmented reality features.
They need the assistance of these goggles to be able to see the augmented reality inside the gym.]
Alice quietly digested the words on the window.
It seemed she had gained something a little more amazing than the rest of the people here…
Someone knelt in front of Alice which pulled back her drifting thoughts.
Dr.
Mark, now draped in a long cape, knelt in front of Alice.
He also wore those AR goggles.
“Now, child.
Do you remember when I told you earlier that once you woke up, you would have many surprises to see?”
The little girl nodded.
The elderly man smiled, stood up, and pushed the wheelchair toward the glass doors of the recovery suite.
The group behind them followed.
They eagerly observed the world from the AR glasses.
These AR glasses were wirelessly connected to the neuro-medical pod, so they could also see a transparent version of the augmented reality.
Aside from the highly prepared medical staff who even wore costumes, the researchers themselves had also put on AR glasses for a more immersive experience.
The little girl looked at the vast space of the rehabilitation hall in confusion, before looking up at Dr.
Mark, who had moved to stand in front of her.
The elderly man’s face suddenly became serious.
“Do you want to become stronger?”
All of a sudden?
Hearing this question, Alice’s expression also became serious, and she nodded.
“Like the heroes of the past, are you also willing to devote yourself to the difficult path they once tread?”
In an instant, an image of the tall man at the top of the Tower of Babel appeared again in Alice’s mind.
A hero, yes, that word perfectly described that Tower Player.
He was the hero who sacrificed his chance to become a god in order to bring peace to the world, even if he himself never gets to see it.
Could she do the same?
Alice: …I, I may not be able to do it.
I just want to survive and live well.
Alice’s round face became a little gloomy, her thick lashes lowering down in resignation, and the small mouth pursed.
Meanwhile, the faces of the adults behind Alice were slightly distorted.
So cringe, so pretentious!
Seriously, let’s quickly get it over with.
“…”
“..?”
Seeing the prolonged silence, the people around the little girl who had been inwardly cringing at the pretentious performance couldn’t help but look at each other in confusion.
“Cough.”
Hearing a low cough from behind her, the gloomy little Alice came back to her senses.
Wait, why was the old man even asking this?
She was confused for a moment while thinking this, and then she immediately realized what was going on.
She was overthinking things.
Was this that game?
Has it already started?
A little embarrassed, Alice composed herself and nodded obediently.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Dr.
Mark put a fist over his mouth and cleared his throat.
“Ahem.
Seeing your firm determination, I, the Sage of Wisdom, shall grant you the power of Vision that only heroes possess.” If I’m not embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to someone else.
Then he opened both hands and spread them wide.
“With this power, you will have the ability to enter the ranks of heroes.
Work hard and complete heroic quests, and you shall be rewarded throughout your adventures.”
Sounds of ‘eew’ and ‘ugh’ faintly sounded in the air.
A blue window appeared in front of Alice.
[Rehabilitation program initiated.]
Ding!
A beep sounded inside Alice’s mind.
This was the first time Alice had actually heard the neural interface make a sound.
Previously, she had only been able to read whatever appeared in the windows.
Then, a soft, cool female voice reverberated in her mind, accompanied by a blue window that popped up before her.
Elegant vines and leaves now decorated its borders.
[Program initiated.]
[Simulation: Adventure mode activated.]
[Greetings, young hero from the mortal world.
I am the Heavenly System summoned by the Sage of Wisdom.
The Sage wishes to grant you the power of Vision.
If you accept, you will formally embark on the path of heroes.
Do you wish to accept the power of Vision?]
…Yes.
Alice responded automatically, still somewhat dazed.
The neural interface talked!
Alice could hear it now!
And it sounded like a girl, too.
The neural interface had a gender?
Her mind was thrown into turmoil as various thoughts randomly surfaced.
But the next moment, all those thoughts were blown away—
The elderly man in the long cape, his arms spread wide, began to glow.
Between his hands, a small swirling orb of light appeared from a tiny point before shooting toward the center of Alice’s brow.
Alice didn’t feel anything, but the visual spectacle alone was enough to shock her.
It did not stop there.
Along with the gasps of the people around him, Alice’s own small body began to glow as well.
The little girl looked down at her small, fair arms in shock before abruptly raising her head and looking around.
Starting from her, a curtain of shimmering light began spreading in all directions.
It helps me a lot.