The Oracle Paths Chapter 3 The Oracle System part 1

Upon reaching home, Jake flung himself onto the dark leather couch. His workday had been brief, yet exhaustion from the unexpected twists already overwhelmed him. Mustering some resolve inside, he got back up to make a cup of coffee. Freeze-dried instant coffee, for those curious. He wasn't wealthy, but far from destitute enough to skip a quality coffee maker. Pure laziness held him back. Just dissolve a spoonful of instant coffee in boiling water, and it's prepared. My regrets to the coffee traditionalists.

After downing a couple of sips and shutting his eyes momentarily, he turned his attention to his right wrist at last. A closer look revealed the ebony liquid metal still circling his arm at a sluggish pace. The spinning had slowed to almost nothing, but he could sense the bracelet sliding across him—if that captures the sensation. Every rotation narrowed the distance between the metal layer and his skin, intensifying his unease bit by bit.

Worried, Jake attempted to yank the band off forcefully, only for the liquid bracelet to tighten sharply in response. This extraterrestrial object outright refused his efforts to break free from its grip. Actually, the circling accelerated abruptly as a retort. Seeing he couldn't remove the elusive device, he paused by flicking on the television.

He tuned into the news channel, eager for updates following the morning chaos. It was just after 9:00 a.m. And sure enough, the urgent broadcast delivered.

The President of the Earth United Government had promptly scheduled an emergency press briefing. This new planetary head was a sixty-year-old Russian, bald as an egg. Sweat poured from him, and he heaved like a 300-kilogram heavyweight jogging a summer marathon in a heavy coat. The man clearly struggled under the intense strain.

Right now, it served more as a ceremonial role than true authority, since this burdensome leadership of a world shifted nations annually. This rule was established during the formation of the Earth Government to distribute duties and maintain global stability post the last conflict.

For average Earth dwellers, daily life remained largely unchanged afterward. The administration appeared remarkably cohesive, with talks proceeding smoothly. China's turn followed, then the USA's. Wealthier nations might claim the helm next, but oddly, none stepped forward. Perhaps the President's address would reveal some insights.

"Good morning or evening, esteemed citizens.

"By now, each of you should have a bracelet like this one on my right wrist," he declared with a thick Russian accent, extending his arm toward the camera.

"Stay calm, this is entirely expected. In truth, it's beneficial. Every being alive on our world now bears such a device. It cannot be removed until death, so spare yourselves the effort. Shortly, this gadget will fully merge with your consciousness and form, integrating eternally as part of you.

"The authorities have possessed a handful of these for twenty-two years. I guarantee they're harmless; they offer only advantages.

"Maintain composure while the merging completes. The disorder and losses from the initial incident are unfortunate, but these tools represent our destiny.

"Best wishes, people of Earth."

The leader then discarded the microphone like a rebellious musician, fleeing the ravenous pack of journalists hungry for deeper details. No mention came of the alien spacecraft. Absolutely nothing.

Jake shared the irritation. The officials surely held secrets. They weren't panicking like the public, and such extraterrestrial tech wasn't new to them. Protests were inevitable in the coming days, complete with all the chaos they bring. At least, no job demands today.

Concluding that fretting over uncontrollable matters wasted energy, he fixed his eyes on his right wrist once more, anticipating the completion of this alleged merging.

Time dragged on endlessly, ticking away second by second. Finally, an odd sound echoed in his mind, bringing a peculiar wave of delight. It resembled a limb-less individual realizing their missing arm had never truly vanished. No sensation rivaled that bliss, save perhaps... No point dwelling on parallels.

The band had fully merged into his forearm. Instinctively, he knew he could command it freely, causing it to retract beneath his skin at will. Moreover, he sensed a vast, nearly boundless entity linked to him. Though wary, his inquisitiveness overcame his trepidation.

Jake connected with the enigmatic force. Suddenly, a blue glow erupted from the gadget, blinding him briefly. A holographic interface layered over his vision. A synthetic female voice echoed in his ears, originating solely from within his skull. Utterly unsettling.

[Host Jake Wilderth, Congratulations on activating the Oracle.]

[Since this marks your initial exposure to such tech, an overview of the Oracle's features will now be provided.]

"Hold on, hold on, hold on. Why do I have this attached to me anyway?" Jake interrupted, halting her.

[Earth inhabitants have met the criteria for Oracle eligibility. Thus, you receive one.]

"..."

[...]

"Is that all? That's your big explanation?" He chuckled bitterly. Even an alien intelligence mocked him like a punchline.

[Insufficient authority level.]

"Fine, what's my authority level?"

[Zero.]

"Damn. I'm done."

This intelligence was obviously toying with him, treating him as an easy mark. His worry had evaporated. Demands for clarity surged now.

"Fine, what can you share?" He inquired courteously.

[Oracle functions accessible at your current authority.]

"Alright. Proceed."

[Available Oracle system features for you include Status and Guidance. Options like the AI's tone, form, wit, or data presentation can be adjusted anytime. Be aware that initial configurations were drawn from the host's memory records.]

"Ah, explains the pleasant voice. Did you mention appearance? You can manifest visually?" He remarked, realization dawning.

[Insufficient authority level.]

"Crap!" He cursed once more. "Go on, please."

[The Status feature displays all bodily and mental stats. Your details are below: (Attributes based on an average adult male.)]

Just then, extensive personal data flooded his thoughts. He could access it with mere intent.

[Species: Homo sapiens (Primitive humanoid species)]

[Age: 25]

[Height: 180cm]

[Weight: 87kg]

[Health: Healthy (Pre-diabetes looms soon. Cut the sugar.)]

[Your core attributes follow. Remember, these interconnect. While displayed in a typical Earth RPG format, human physiology prevents extremes—like peak strength without matching endurance. Superior strength demands robust bones and muscle mass for support.]

[Strength: 10 points (Average male: 10 points). Strength combines various strengths: isometric, plyometric, eccentric, and concentric from all muscles in the final tally. (Two people with equal strength might differ vastly in physique. An elite bodybuilder could match an elite sprinter's score, dominating in heavy lifts while lagging in speed and power bursts.)]

[Agility: 8 points (Average male: 10 points). Agility merges reaction time, reflexes, coordination, balance, body awareness, and flexibility. (Equal agility doesn't mean identical forms).]

[Constitution: 9 points (Average male: 10 points). Constitution blends endurance, resilience, body density, blood volume, and immunity. Resilience covers both structural hardness and cellular durability, often tying to greater density and weight.]

[Vitality: 9 points (Average male: 10 points). Constitution's natural counterpart. Vitality encompasses cellular vigor, metabolism, and repair rates. Diet influences it. Vitality differs from longevity; mice boast high vitality and rapid metabolism but short lives. Flawless DNA repair might extend lifespan, yet Earth lacks such traits.]

[Intelligence: 13 points (Average male: 10 points). Intelligence integrates reaction speed, recall, concentration, mental endurance, processing, visualization, innovation, and more cognitive traits. Note: Mental health issues may persist or worsen with higher intelligence.]

[Perception: 10 points (Average male: 10 points). Perception combines sensory inputs: vision, audition, olfaction, gustation, and tactility. Additional senses might lurk underdeveloped in humans.]