Chapter 10: The Stone at the End of the Universe
"How is that even possible?" Hjuutza immediately blurted out. With all he had seen so far, he did not doubt Jack's words.
His words were genuine curiosity laced with shock and amazement.
"I'm not sure either. So far, the last piece of memory I can recall is that inside a control room, the alarms went off. The next moment that I wake up is when Zhenin's father fell on the ground, bloodied and weakened, blood dripped into my gem, and that woke me up." Jack explained.
"Then how did you know you could do what you did?"
"I just did; it was more like an instinct. For me, everything that I did was like moving a finger in a specific way. I can't truly explain how I did it, but I just did."
"Then how about this universe?"
"Have you heard of the Beyond Theory?" Jack asked.
"The one that states that outside the universe is an even bigger collection of multiple universes?"
"That's the one," Jack smiled. "You're quite knowledgable, huh?"
"My line of work involves even the immortality project. It's just that my workflow may be a little too desperate and excessive," Hjuutza answered, embarrassed. " So, you're saying we're currently outside the known universe?"
"Yup. However, there's a weird barrier that blocks me from peaking into the known universe physically. But I can feel it, just a little bit more to the front is the entire bubble of the known universe.
"Then what about the white gem?"
"I don't understand it yet myself, all I know is that I reincarnated as a white gemstone intact with everything that happened in that event."
When I first wake up, I couldn't even pull my consciousness outside of the stone. I couldn't do anything for a full hour. When I was able to pull back, I'm suddenly here in this space, in front of me was a screen displaying the scene around the stone. Behind me were seven flames, and one of them was red.
Instinctively, I touched the red flames and suddenly felt my soul connected to an actual body. That's when I realized he's in danger. Apparently, as long as I know the underlying wisdom for technology, I'm able to do it without tools, all I need is energy. I was able to give him first aid, but without the necessary knowledge, he still died in the end.
When he died, he also brought his wife here. He was grabbing his wife's hands and me. Too bad that their souls scattered for a bit before I was able to absorb them completely.
Unlike you who's been absorbed when you were alive, The short moment of their death had their souls scattered. I was only able to absorb around 40% of their souls.
When their soul appeared here, the first thing I wanted to know is the three ultimate questions, who am I? Where am I? and What is going on?
The desire for answers created the same tendrils that copied your memory; that's how I know that I was able to do it.
"Then how did you whisper in my head?"
I told you, as long as I know how the technology works, I can do it just by spending energy.
"Right, right... Last question. Memories are supposed to be just electrical charges that are saved in the brain. How do I still remember things?"
Haha, that's something I just found out recently too. Even I can't recall everything in my life, but there are specific memories that shaped who I am. This is still just speculation, but it seems your soul defines your character. It might not have the same intelligence you once had, but look at you, always curious about research.
"..." Hjuutza contemplated for a short while. "Then, now that I am a soul here, how am I retaining memories?"
"A brain is just like a computer, complete with memory, processing power, different I/Os, and all of that."
"Ah, so right now, I'm a computer in soul form using your hocus pocus."
"Correct."
"Then what's exactly on that yellow crystal?"
"You'll soon find out." he closed the conversation as he heard another voice from the floating screen behind him.
When Jack turned around, he saw Zhenin and Ninzhe's astonished faces to the scene in front of them.
Even Hjuutza's face contorted.
Inside the heavily locked room is a vast space large enough to be a gymnasium. Torn wires were hanging on the ceiling. The floor was littered with crimson and teal blood mixing, forming a majestic yet gruesome abstract art.
Floating upside down in the middle of the room is a woman with a mane, along with her curvy body are lion fur. From her foot to her neck, besides looking unkempt and dirty due to not being able to shower for years, not a single cut is found. And yet, crimson blood continuously pours out at the corner of her closed mouth. This gave the woman an expression similar to that of crying from her mouth with the blood dripping towards her eyes and downwards.
Besides the woman, is a floating man. His green, crocodile skin was just as dusty as the woman's fur without any signs of cuts and lacerations. And yet, teal blood continuously poured out in every orifice in his face. Compared to the gruesome yet solemn look on the lady's face, the grim and barbaric look on the man gives off a very suffocating aura.
Unlike Hjuutza, who had a dead body yet was still alive. These two are dead proven by the distinct lack of vitality, not even a shred of soul left. However, their bodies remain to be alive while continuously producing fresh blood.
All the blood flowed down towards a platform that seemed to be shaped like a basin. But due to the blood not being used for a very long time, it started to spill on the floor. If it weren't for the grills that worked like a drainage, the room would've been drowned already.
The Leiman twins were already stunned silly, too scared even to breathe.
*DING*
Seeing the situation, Jack sent out a message to Zhinen.
[Urgent Quest!]
[Escape the room. Don't let the blood touch your skin. Use the quest item to open the door.]
[Quest Item: Pulsor Battery Ram (One Time Use)]
[Reward: An explanation.]
Just as Zhinen finished reading everything, his necklace glowed red as a metallic tool appeared in his hands. It was very similar to an alkaline-battery powered flashlight. Along with the item came with the knowledge on how to use the tool.
"Hey, let's leave this place, now," Zhinen said in a steadfast tone.
Ninzhe remained in shock, but he still followed his big bro. Zhinen had been faced in this kind of shock too much for a day that he temporarily developed an immunity.
Facing the thick metallic door, Zhinen pointed the barrel of the ram and pressed the button.
Solidified light shot out of the metallic door like a cannon and blasted the door open.
Zhinen was pushed back due to recoil until a cable caught his heel, which made him tumble.
"NO!" Shouted Ninzhe.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Xreth
Xreth Hey guys, I'm trying this out where I'm telling a story by telling a story inside a story. Leave me feedbacks on what you think about this :P
Sorry for the late upload, it took me a long time to organize Jack and Hjuutza's conversation.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone