I Turned My Blond Into Liquid Mana

In the dim glow of the sprawling laboratory, a solitary computer screen flickered, casting elongated shadows across the walls. It was an ancient room, breathing with a life of its own, humming and buzzing with the sound of a thousand machines. In the center of this orchestrated chaos, a young man stood, his gaze fixed on the screen.

System notification: Estimated download time: 2 hours 0 minutes – 0.1%

Ethan’s eyes were wide with a mix of admiration and uncertainty as he watched the lab. “What’s this for, Dad?” he asked with unbendable curiosity as the older man typed commands into the computer. “And what could possibly take two hours to download?” he continued, without waiting for his father’s answer.

Still focused on the monitor, his fingers kept moving steadily. “Everything,” he said, the word weighted with an assurance born from years of experience.

“Everything?” Ethan stopped looking around and watched his father working on the keyboard.

Finally, the older man paused and turned to face his son. His eyes, steady pools of calm, locked with his son’s vibrant ones. Those eyes had seen much, weathered storms both literal and figurative, yet they retained a spark of something unbroken, unyielding. “Yes, Ethy, everything.”

Ethan, still grappling with his father's words, shifted his gaze back to the computer screen. His reflection in the monitor contrasted sharply with his father’s; where the older man's features spoke of battles fought, the son's face was still unlined, untested, open in its hopeful naivety.

Their interaction was brief, but it was enough. In that exchange lay the entire history of their relationship: the young man’s relentless quest for knowledge, and the older man's tempered wisdom, a guidepost in the uncharted territory they were about to navigate.

Despite his stoic demeanor, his facade crumbled when he interacted with his son. Their connection revealed the buried emotions he had learned to conceal, a stark contrast to his usual strictness. Today, however, everything would change. His son's gaze, curious with a hint of naivety, felt like a thousand knives piercing his heart, bringing forth a side he had suppressed for years.

Standing in a sprawling laboratory, surrounded by scientific equipment and cables snaking in all directions, connecting to a central computer workstation, like a scene from a sci-fi movie, both of them turned their gaze back to the monitor.

A loud noise started to fill the room as the download began and the computer started running the cooling systems to keep everything from overheating. The computer processed vast amounts of data, fascinating even him, a man who had always been at the forefront of technological innovation.

Years of work had led to this moment. Despite constant monitoring, he was determined to complete his project, driven by his unwavering passion for pushing boundaries and seeking freedom for his bloodline. “Today is the day!” he muttered with clenched fists. “Today we will be free and I will redeem all the knowledge which you stole.”

“Did you say something, Dad?” Ethan asked, his big kaleidoscope eyes captivating every time.

“Wooo,” he breathed out and loosened his grip. “No, nothing. Don’t worry,” he said out loud, continuing in his mind: “It's not like I could tell you, son.”

A moment of silence followed while both of them kept staring at the big monitor that showed a map of the current world. After the “big impact,” the world was divided into eight distinct parts, turning Earth into a complex mosaic of new lands. The largest fragment, a fusion of what once were parts of Asia and Europe, sprawled across the globe in a newly shaped expanse. Across the fresh bodies of water, remnants of North and South America clung together, forming an intricate, disjointed landmass. Africa, now cleaved into sections, had astonishingly merged with pieces of what was once Antarctica, presenting a surreal blend of climates and terrains.

Two smaller sections appeared as if they were pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that had floated away, forming new islands rich in biodiversity. One of these islands emerged from the ocean, boasting ecosystems never seen before. Another fragment, a curious amalgamation of Australia and parts of the submerged Pacific islands, created a land of contrast and mystery.

The seventh and eighth parts were like nature's afterthoughts. One was a narrow strip of land, a bridge between two larger continents, teeming with a mix of wildlife from both. The other, a remote and rugged terrain, rose from the ocean depths, its harsh environment a challenge for any explorer.

The lab, with its humming machines and blinking lights, felt a world away from reality. As they absorbed the sight of this reshaped Earth, a silence settled in the room, broken only by the soft whir of the computer.

“Dad…” Ethan broke the silence, unsure how to continue. The words were stuck in his throat; he felt it. Something today was different from usual.

He turned around and looked at his son waiting for him to continue and saw his clenched fists. 

“…Will everything be fine?”

He smiled reassuringly and said confidently, “Of course everything will be fine! Have I ever lied to you? You don't have to worry; after today, you will be better than ever. So just let us enjoy the moment.”

“Okay, Dad…”

Another round of silence followed where both were staring blankly at the screen.

“Dad…” With a tiny smile visible to the observer, Ethan waited for his father to react.

“Yes, son?” He raised his eyebrow slightly.

“I love you.” Ethan said and started giggling lightly with closed eyes.

It was followed by a long silence. As if a thousand knives were cutting to his heart, he did everything to hold back his tears to not show his son his weak side. After a long time, he answered: “I love you too, son. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Sure.” Ethan said with a bright smile visible on his face.

As the data continued to download, the two stood in silence, contemplating. For him, this wasn't just about survival; it was about rebuilding, about creating something better from the ashes of the old world.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence, echoing inside his head. A way of communication, only deemed possible by an advanced mind awakened. 

"You are going to kill us! You're destroying our future! Please, STOP!"

Behind the mirrored glass wall, a woman with intense brown eyes observed the scene. The worry etched on her face betrayed her typically calm demeanor. 

"How long has it been?" At that moment, he saw her vulnerability for the first time in a long time. Bound, unable to intervene as she watched him interact with their beloved son. Her attempts to halt his descent into madness were futile. Never did she anticipate that his obsession would unleash catastrophe upon everything they built.

The system notification echoed once again, a countdown ticking away the remaining time:

Estimated download time: 1 hour 55 minutes – 4.5%

His path was irreversible; today would mark his demise.

Estimated download time: 1 hour 50 minutes – 8.3%

Aware that only he could hear her, she desperately attempted to reach his consciousness.

"Please, stop it!" she sniffed. "Even if you succeed, we will suffer! Do you not care at all?!"

His eyes reddened, his breath grew heavy, and tears streamed down his face.

Estimated download time: 1 hour 40 minutes – 16.5%

____________________________________

**[Somewhere in the world]**

Chaos ensues as a group of highly skilled hackers launches a sophisticated attack on various large corporations' computer systems. The urgency to shut down the systems intensifies, but resistance from those in power complicates the situation.

"Sir Charles, these hackers pose a significant threat. It's crucial to temporarily shut down the system," the concerned staff member advises.

Charles scoffs in disbelief, "Are you suggesting that we, with the best high-tech capabilities, are incapable of stopping these hackers?!"

"Sir, shutting down the system would be a wise move to prevent substantial losses," the staff member insists.

"Don't you dare shut down the system! I want everything on the main dashboard!" Charles barks, dismissing the staff's recommendation.

As the attack progresses, tensions rise among the corporation's staff members, tasked with reporting on the hackers' progress while navigating a maze of information. The uncertainty leaves them questioning what is true and what is false, all under the watchful eye of their superiors. Minutes later, the staff reiterates their recommendation, "Sir, we truly need to shut down the system. If the hackers succeed, the consequences will be severe."

"You incompetent, foolish lad! Follow my orders and don't act as if you have any authority..." Charles begins, but his words are cut off.

System announcement: Access denied.

System announcement: Files have been deleted.

System ERROR: No data found.

System shutdown in 3, 2, 1...

.

.

.

The room falls into an eerie silence, where a pin dropping would be audible. Five minutes have passed from the initial firewall announcement to the moment when everything is wiped out.

*Thud.*

Charles realizes his miscalculation. His head may roll once the truth is revealed. He never anticipated this day would come, where he, a general and hero, would be forced to resign.

*******

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, a similar crisis unfolds.

"Sir Makarov, we need an immediate system shutdown. We're under attack!" a voice urgently implores.

Makarov questions the magnitude of the threat, seeking clarification, "How serious is this?"

"Please, let me explain later. We must act NOW!" the voice insists.

"Who do you think you are? Don't you dare shout at meagain—"

System announcement: Intrusion detected. System save protocol initiated.

System announcement: System shutdown in 3, 2, 1…

System ERROR: Automatic shutdown failed.

System self-destruction in 10 seconds.

10, 9, 8, 7... Failure.

System announcement: Attempting to identify hackers through counter-invasion.

System announcement: Counter-invasion failed.

System announcement: Unknown error detected.

System self-destruction in 10 seconds.

10, 9, 8, 7... Failure.

System announcement: Files have been deleted.

System ERROR: No data found.

System shutdown in 3, 2, 1...

Across the globe, similar scenes play out:

"Master Zhong, a foreign system is attempting to steal our data."

_____

"King Zain, a forced shutdown is strongly advised."

_____

"Prime Minister, we have been hacked. Please grant us the authority to shut down everything."

"Authority granted!"

System announcement: Access denied.

Authorities: o.o

Staff: o.o

*Thud.*

____

As the cyber attack intensifies, the atmosphere in government buildings and corporate offices becomes tense. Emergency lights bathe the hallways in blinking red, casting an eerie glow that heightens the sense of urgency. Klaxons blare, their shrill tones piercing the air, alerting employees to the impending shutdown.

In government offices, panic sets in as employees rush through the floors with different reports. The sound of hurried footsteps echoes through the corridors as staff members scramble to follow protocols and safeguard sensitive information.

In corporate headquarters, executives and IT teams hastily assemble in crisis rooms, surrounded by walls adorned with screens displaying real-time threat analysis.

"Sirs, I strongly recommend using project ‘Phantom Bug’ to stop and counter the attack.”

“That’s a stupid idea. The program is still untested and may become uncontrollable once started.”

“That’s always your passive nature speaking, Malek. Right now we are about to get all our information leaked and stolen. From our secret black list to our strongest cultivation techniques.”

“Mr. Kurodo is right. We shouldn’t waste time arguing. Hero Sakamoto.”

“It’s dangerous! All test simulations showed an unstoppable calamity after starting the program which…”

“That’s enough, Malek!” Demanded Hero Sakamoto, a seemingly young man with black eyes and long black hair, and a height of 1.9 meters, giving off an air of superiority. “Start the counter-attack! Initialize project Phantom Bug.”

***

Back in the lab, the download continued as Ethan and his father watched the screen in silence. The room's atmosphere grew heavier with each passing minute, the whir of machines creating a tension-filled symphony. 

System notification: Estimated download time: 1 hour 30 minutes – 25%

“Hmph, some useless copy cat trying to stop me. How laughable.” Dr. Stormborn disregarded the attempt to stop project ‘revert’. 

“But it seems like they have no idea what they have released into the world. Guess Ethan should thank them in the future for this gift.” He added with a sarcastic remark.