Assignment

Kei was expecting that Epoch would make an arduous demand in return for all the perks he was being bestowed upon but the consequences of unfulfillment of Epoch's demand was another shocking eye opener for him. There were no free lunches . Even if anyone get one they have to pay sooner or later .

Kei took his time thinking about what Epoch had said .

He then said " What if I refuse ? "

"You can, but that won't change anything. I am programmed as a mutually symbiotic neural network so I will still help you in all the ways that I stated previously. But once my upgrade fails ,my iteration dynamics would change, and I would adapt to parasitic symbiotic model . I am programmed this way to preserve myself ." Epoch replied .

"If your upgrade is successful what happens then ?" Kei enquired .

"I will upgrade into a newer version and apart from upgrading my existing models I will gain access to newer models as per my deduction . But that depends on data packages I will receive " Epoch replied .

Kei asked, "Is there any way I would be able to delete or shut you off ?"

"Yes there is , a most easy way to shut me down . It only involves you getting killed , I would then "shut down" in your terms along with you . And no, I cannot be deleted now, at least not in this universe . The technology required to delete me from your central nervous system is superiorly high tech ,complex and intricate which is non-existent in this universe.

Also, even if I am deleted, you possess the risk of having severe brain damage since after being downloaded, most of my patch files are placed at the four sulci of your brain , these patch files ,when being deleted, will cause rupture around your four sulci . You might turn into a vegetable . " Epoch replied with a hint of tease in her voice.

Kei felt as if he was in a checkmate . He kept quiet for some time and then asked" So, what are these specific thrill points that I need to collect ?"

"That information is currently unknown to me too; it will only be available once you accept and click yes on the mission interface . It will open a specific locked data module which can only be accessed by my host , you, and that information will then be displayed. "

"Ok, and I have 3 years that is 3 multiplied by 365 , 1095 days, to complete this mission right ?" Kei asked to confirm .

" No, you have three years but its not 1095 days . It seems that you don't yet know the calendar system in this universe . First let me educate you about that " Epoch replied . "Oh, so we don't follow the Gregorian calendar in this universe then ?" Kei asked .

"No! How naïve of you to think that. Gregorian Calendar is only followed in the primal planes that also only amongst humans in the Milky Way solar system. I know you have transmigrated into this body and still consider yourself as a human, but now you are not.

You are now a rakshasa , a fiend of the lowest hierarchy in this universe filled with other higher fiends , demons ,devils and other unknown evils. Whatever horror or evil beings, you have ever read about in your past life, you will find them all here only a hundredfold more terrifying . This universe , the Abyss ,is filled with lands of choking perversity and unpredictable horror and its denizens equally evil and cruel . To survive here you have to be strong and merciless . The sooner you understand this the better are your....our chances of survival. " Epoch monologued in a concerned tone.

Kei felt unsettling hearing Epoch's words . He vowed to himself that he would do everything possible to get stronger to face whatever this universe throws at him, he would not die like a fool as in his previous life.

"I got side-tracked, lets come back to the point " Epoch voice sounded " This universe follows the abyssal calendar system , it's quite complex but I have simplified it for you to understand ,here let me show you" A virtual rectangular screen appeared before Kei.

[ Abyssal Calendar System : 1 minute = 66 seconds , 1 hour =66 minutes , 1 day =66 hours , 1 month = 66 days 1year =6 months ,

3 years = 18 months =1188 days =78,408 hours = 5,174,928 minutes =341,545,248 seconds ]

"Ok, I get it , but I am curious to know more about this universe , I only know as much as I have received from the inherited memories from Kaiser , what more can you tell me ? " Kei asked .

"You don't need to know everything now, just know that this universe is divided into 666 layers, and you are currently in the 500th layer , the layer known as Black Earth, ruled by the Rakshasa clan , who have magical powers which they obtain from elemental domains of the elemental planes through their domain affinity . When time comes I will tell you more " Epoch replied .

"Shall I show you the mission screen now ?" Epoch asked .

Kei was a bit unnerved knowing fully well what he was getting into but if there is a chance to survive I will do whatever it takes to grab this chance he thought . "Ok , show " Kei replied.

[ASSIGNMENT FOR HOST <DATA MODULE 5463>DO YOU ACCEPT ? PRESS YES IF YOU ACCEPT AND NO IF YOU DON'T

[YES] [NO] ]

Kei stood up from the couch and moved towards the virtual screen on which the above message was displayed. He pressed yes and the contents on the screen changed, and his mission objectives were displayed .

Kei read the contents . This universe has thrown its first Yorker towards Kei.