Chapter 97

March 7th stared at Stelle in astonishment, her eyes widening uncontrollably.

"I signed it." Stelle hugged a golden trash can and nodded decisively.

"Wait, let me sort this out."

March 7th paced back and forth, clutching her head:

"You're saying some entity calling itself the End of Reincarnation can grant you 'infinity' or something?"

"And you were digging through a trash can at the time, so you signed the contract without really thinking about it??"

Hearing March 7th's words, Dan Heng couldn't help but support his head and shake it.

Himeko sighed, while Welt Yang rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

"An entity claiming to be the End of Reincarnation, with the appearance of a young girl."

"Could it be the Void Realm deity mentioned in the light screen?"

Welt Yang's brows furrowed tightly, and he couldn't help but mutter:

"But why choose Stelle? Was it anticipated that Stelle would easily agree to sign the contract?"

"No, it was after careful consideration."

Stelle held up the golden trash can in her hand and said with a serious expression:

"Look, this is what He gave me."

"Pretty cool, right?"

"... Huh?" March 7th looked at the gleaming golden trash can, unable to force the word "cool" out.

"Wait, March 7th." Welt Yang stopped March 7th, who was about to explode on the spot, and said, "This trash can might have some special ability."

"After all, that is an entity calling itself the 'End of Reincarnation'; the things He bestows may not be simple."

"Yes."

Stelle nodded vigorously, held the trash can high, and said loudly:

"This is the 'Contract: Myriad World Trash Can'."

"This trash can connects to an infinite number of worlds and can recycle trash from them."

"... Isn't this still just a trash can?!" A vein popped on March 7th's head.

"No, no, no, this isn't an ordinary trash can, this is the Myriad World Trash Can... Look, March..."

As she spoke, Stelle opened the trash can and reached her hand inside to rummage around...

"Ta-da!!!"

Stelle pulled a fruit covered in complex spiral patterns from the trash can.

This fruit looked very peculiar, like a red mushroom with green vines attached to the top.

"Oh?" Dan Heng pinched his chin, looking at the fruit Stelle had fished out of the trash can: "A fruit I've never seen before."

"There is no record of this fruit in the Data Bank. Could it really be a fruit from another world?"

"Let me see." Stelle hugged the golden trash can and picked up the strange fruit.

A light screen appeared above the trash can...

【"Zoan-type Devil Fruit: Human-Human Fruit, Human Form"】

【"A peculiar fruit from a world covered by seawater and infested with pirates. It is said to be the incarnation of the Sea Devil. Consuming it grants the user certain superpowers, but the side effect is the inability to touch seawater."】

【"This Devil Fruit is a Zoan-type fruit. Consuming it grants the user human-level intelligence, learning ability, the ability to walk on two legs, and a natural lifespan."】

【"Evaluation: Becoming human is also a privilege."】

【"Note: It tastes as terrible as shit."】

"..."

March 7th blinked in confusion:

"You gain human-specific abilities after eating it?"

"But you can't swim after eating it?"

"And it tastes as terrible as shit?"

"Right! Pretty cool, right?" Stelle asked with a serious nod.

"And then?" March 7th asked.

"There is no 'and then'."

"Isn't this just trash?!"

Just as March 7th's eye twitched, the light screen at the corner of her eye suddenly lit up.

"Eh?" March 7th's eyes widened slightly.

On the IPC flagship, Aventurine raised his head slightly and looked at Dr. Ratio, the Veritas Doctor, in front of him.

"Professor, what do you think of the methods of the Emperor of the Catastrophe Empire?"

"That ability to suddenly make the 'Last Evangelicals' submit is simply too unreasonable."

Aventurine closed his eyes gently, recalling the scene he had just seen on the light screen:

"Too sudden, too unreal."

"It's chilling."

"What has happened is real," Dr. Ratio said, shaking his head.

"That's not necessarily true, Professor."

Aventurine tapped the table and said:

"Do you remember Penacony?"

"The people there believe the universe is a game waiting to be cleared."

"If it's really as they say, and the entire universe is virtual... then what is still real?"

"Game..." Dr. Ratio shook his head and said, "I don't really believe in that kind of talk."

"It's more like gibberish; there is no evidence to prove their claims."

Aventurine shrugged: "But Ratio, you once said... truth does not change based on human will."

"Truth is truth, even if the truth tells you: 'Our world is just a game'."

"Flowery words..." Dr. Ratio shook his head: "But if reality is truly like that, then I can only accept it."

Aventurine couldn't help but smile. Just then, the light screen at the corner of his eye burst with dazzling light.

A line of text appeared on the light screen, and Aventurine's expression froze instantly.

【"Reality is a virtual box for people to play with, and we will disconnect."】

"This?" The expression of Dr. Ratio, who was sitting opposite Aventurine, also changed abruptly.

"Reality is a virtual box for people to play with? And what does 'disconnect' mean?"

"What method are they going to use to disconnect from reality??"

Dr. Ratio's pupils contracted sharply.

"Professor, don't be anxious, keep watching."

Aventurine comforted Dr. Ratio while his eyes remained fixed on the text on the light screen:

【Pioneer: Vultaum】

【The pioneer who perceived that all things are virtual, used death to break the chain of the universe, and pierced through reality.】

94. 【Terra and Vultaum-ur】

"Reality is a virtual box for pleasure? What does this mean?"

Looking at the text on the light screen, Topaz, who was in Belobog, showed a strange expression.

"And what does 'disconnect' mean?"

Why does this Vultaum civilization mentioned on the light screen sound a bit like the style of Penacony?

On the Hacker Planet Penacony, the hackers there believe the universe is a game through and through, and all things are merely part of a virtual game.

They even view their own lives as a game that begins with birth and ends with death as the clear condition.

These hackers have always believed in such values, but the sentient beings across the universe cannot accept them.

If we are merely virtual NPCs simulated in a computer, and everything about us is just flowing 0s and 1s, then what meaning does our life have?

Just thinking about it made Topaz feel a chill.

A bone-chilling sense of nothingness permeated her heart.