Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday

Inside the Infinite Realm, Grace sat in the living room of the Villa while she watched 2025 scanned the newly acquired Spirit Stone.

The bright green gem was pulsing brightly under the system’s advanced scanning device. Its color was richer and more vibrant than any Spirit Stone she had encountered before.

This was the highest-level Spirit Stone she had ever collected - a Level Six Green Spirit Stone. She extracted it from an Infected lion beast she stained earlier in the day after an exhausting battle.

This Infected beast displayed an unnatural level of intelligence and strength. Unlike the others she had encountered before, the lion beast was able to manipulate the ground beneath it, using spikes of hardened earth as both shields and weapons.

It wasn’t until after she had slain it and found the Spirit Stone, did she started wandering if the beast’s strength and power came from the stone.

"Initiating scan," the mechanical voice of the system chimed. "Analyzing energy composition... assessing elemental properties..."

The digital display flickered to life, streaming intricate data patterns as the system processed the stone’s unique structure.

Grace’s eyes narrowed slightly as her attention returned to the Spirit Stone. Maybe it was the high level which made the difference, but she was able to tell that this one was nothing like those she found before.

This one... almost felt alive.

The stone vibrated slightly, as if reacting to the scan. Faint traces of greenish energy flickered around it, like tendrils of unseen power waiting to be unleashed.

This made her wonder about those Stones that were around level nine or ten. Just how much powerful they would be?

A sharp ping echoed through the room as the scan completed.

"Analysis complete," 2025 announced. "This Spirit Stone possesses an Earth-elemental affinity, exhibiting properties related to terrain manipulation, defensive reinforcement, and potential elemental attacks."

Grace’s brow furrowed. "Define ’terrain manipulation.’"

The digital screen shifted before displaying a simulation. As new data appeared on the screen, 2025 launched into an in-depth explanation.

"When activated, the stone’s energy allows control over soil, stone, and plant life within a limited range. Applications include defensive barriers, offensive strikes through hardened earth formations, and potential reinforcement of body structure."

That explained the lion beast’s hardened body and its ability to summon stone pillars during their fight.

But what caught her attention wasn’t just the beast’s abilities - but a question that suddenly appeared in her mind.

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was seeing too much into the situation. But then, she decided to just ask it as there was no loss in it.

"Would I be able to use these powers if I absorbed the Spirit Stone?" Her voice was steady despite the turmoil she felt inside while voicing the question out loud.

She wasn’t sure exactly what she was expecting in response from 2025 - mockery, a quick denial, or harsh judgment, but the silence that followed was definitely not on her lost,

She waited and watched as the data on the screen shifted again.

After what felt like very long two minutes, 2025 finally spoke. "Consumption of Spirit Stones has not been previously tested. However, theoretical analysis suggests that direct absorption of high-level elemental Spirit Stones may grant the user abilities tied to the stone’s core properties."

Grace inhaled sharply.

This was new.

Up until now, they had been only focusing on how these Spirit Stones could be used as external enhancers - like being embedded into weapons, armor, or relics to boost their power.

But consuming them? No one came close to even think about it... until now,

Her fingers traced the smooth surface of the stone, feeling the raw energy pulsing beneath. If the infected Beasts could integrate these stones into their bodies and manifest elemental abilities, why couldn’t she?

"What’s the risk?" she asked.

"Uncertain," 2025 responded. "Potential dangers include energy rejection, system overload, or unpredictable mutations. However, if successful, absorption could lead to direct control over Earth-elemental abilities,"

Grace exhaled slowly. This changed everything.

A new path had just opened before her.

For months, she had been gathering Spirit Stones without fully understanding their potential. If they could be absorbed… if she could gain elemental abilities beyond just enhanced strength…

Then the limits of human evolution in this post-apocalyptic world could shift to an entirely different path.

Taking in a deep breath, she calmed herself down. While the idea sounded so good at the first glance, she knew that she couldn’t be hasty about this.

"I’m not taking any chances with a Level Six stone," she decided. "Not yet. I need more data. Maybe we can use lower-tier stones to experiment with before I risk it myself."

"Sometimes, you do talk like a master." 2025 tried to compliment in its strange way that always made it seem like the creature was actually mocking her.

After listening to these compliments for so long, Grace had become used to them. Hence, she didn’t try to waste her time in showing 2025 just how unimpressed she was with that futile attempt.

Instead, she issued a new command.

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"Start analyzing every Spirit Stone I have collected so far. If there’s a way to harness their elemental abilities directly, I want to know everything."

The little creature’s core pulsed in acknowledgment. "Understood. Compiling data now."

As the system processed, Grace stared at the digital screen while her mind raced.

The apocalypse had changed the world. But if she played her cards right… she would be able to change it even further.

There was no denying that if she could think of these possibilities, then others could too. Hence, the only thing in her favor was the time. She hoped that she was the first one to come to this great realization.

Even a slight head-start was more than enough to help her achieve the ultimate goal she had in mind. She needed to fulfill the promise she made with herself when she died in the previous timeline.

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