Maxwell Aurelius was a very successful man. He always prided himself in his ability to change any situation to his advantage. In his 54 years of life, he’s done many things that other people from Zephyr would only dream of.
He started his empire from scratch as a simple trading company when he was in his early twenties. The company's name was Aurelius. It was a simple company that utilized the World Wide Web to allow people to exchange different things with each other. The risk he took was immense, as he invested everything he could save from various jobs he had done throughout the last years in the company.
17 years after he founded Aurelius, it was not hard to see that the risks he took paid off as he was the wealthiest man on Zephyr. He could rival the wealthiest country on the planet in fortune and he had scars to show for it.
Many assassination attempts were made, but they learned the hard way that you couldn’t kill the wealthiest man on the planet easily. Just as he thought he finally secured a semblance of personal peace when he was established on the top, something no one expected to happen.
Fissures in reality appeared throughout the world, and otherworldly creatures of all kinds started to pour from them. The world was in shock for a couple of days, but Zephyr was a world acquainted with war, so the response was not late. All countries mobilized their forces, and the ensuing battle continued for years to come.
The resistance they managed to sustain in the war was in great part thanks to the material named Etherium. It was a material they learned how to manufacture from a different civilization. Thirty years before the invasion, satellites sent from Zephyr were discovered by an alien civilization. Unfortunately, they were not friendly at all. After 11 years of war, humanity could repel them, and a treaty was signed. The civilization of aliens, or “Etherna” as humanity named them, gave them the formula to make Etherium as compensation for the damage they caused. They didn’t know then that this would be their only boon in the upcoming war.
The creatures they fought were immensely resistant to conventional weapons, but they discovered in the first year that etherium-based weapons were quite effective against monsters. They might not be able to penetrate the monster skins, but the telepathic qualities of etherium were able to kill the monsters with good efficiency without touching any vital organ.
Even though humanity could fight by using etherium, there still was a limited supply of it, and Maxwell worked for years organizing the whole world’s supply to make ends meet in the war. He navigated through all the hurdles and managed to buy almost all of the etherium in the world before things escalated.
He controlled the supply of etherium single-handedly in the following years and made access as efficient as possible for war. This way humanity could last 14 years against the invasion.
He was not a hero or a saint who sacrificed himself for the world. He saw himself as someone who was barely not antisocial if anything. But he still did everything he could for humanity as a whole because even he could see that their survival depended on it. Now he felt bittersweet about the whole situation.
“So it was all for nothing...” Maxwell mumbled as he stared at the planet below from his spaceship in orbit. He willed different capitals from the planet to the screen in front of him and all he saw was destruction. In the last 2 days, things became immensely more difficult for some unknown reason. Creatures they deemed strongest before started to swarm out of the fissures like they were ants. Forts they thought unbreachable were breached in seconds or minutes. It was as if some higher being was bored with them.
There was something different about these creatures apart from their strength. They seemed to specifically destroy all etherium they could get their various appendages on. As it was, almost all of the etherium was gone, but Maxwell couldn’t care less about that, as the people who were going to use that etherium were gone, too.
“I will be the last one to die It seems,” he said considering that he was in the spaceship furthest away from the planet and concentrated to relay his last message. “All units in orbit, this is Maxwell Aurelius speaking. Initiate Project Resurrection. Eject your etherium towards the planet and scatter.”
He watched all of the indicators turn green signifying that the command was received. He probably had a couple of seconds more to send a message before they ejected their etherium cores. He concentrated and this time cranked the message range to full. This would reach everywhere if he had his way. He could at least give hope to the people below.
“Citizens of Zephyr, this is Maxwell Aurelius speaking. Project Resurrection is initiated. Humanity will live among the stars.”
The simple message echoed through the minds of the citizens of Zephyr. It wouldn’t mean much for a society with selfish individuals, but for citizens of Zephyr, who had been connected to each other telepathically for years, it signified that they didn’t have anything to lose. Maxwell watched as the Etherium Web started to glow throughout the planet. Project Resurrection sent humanity among the stars for resurrection. But to be resurrected, one should first die properly.
Maxwell watched as the last phase of Project Resurrection started on the planet below. He could see the worldwide web covering the whole world with etherium lines. A tool for communication and prosperity was starting to glow as the people got ready to sacrifice everything. Etherium web gave a sudden flash of light, drowning the world and billions of lives were sacrificed in a moment. It was not glamorous by any means but the resulting telepathic wave would kill everything in the star system.
Maxwell closed his eyes and listened to the complete silence. This was the only telepathic silence since the World Wide Web was created. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by something unexpected.
Anomaly detected...
Scanning the star system for lifeforms...
Life forms: 1
Complete extinction is expected in: 2 seconds
Clarification needed...
Emergency protocol 1 activated.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Initiating “Soul Extraction”
Maxwell always had a quick mind but he too had his limits. Before he could understand what was happening he was consumed by an excruciating pain all over. The pain seemed to come from his mind itself. After a hellish experience for a couple of seconds, he opened his eyes. Or whatever he was using right now to see.
He was in an empty white space and he had no body as far as he could tell. It was a panicking experience to suddenly lose his body but luckily he had no lungs to hyperventilate with. He could now see the messages he heard before in front of him laid out in a simple interface. Just then new messages started coming.
Memories analyzed.
Unknown material with an isolating quality detected in high quantity.
Material name set to Etherium from subject’s memories.
Result of analysis: Unknown material named etherium interfered with
system initiation.
“So you are the system?” Maxwell asked to emptiness making the obvious deduction. He was answered with silence and he hummed before rephrasing his question. “Clarification needed.” he said more formally.
Analyzing subject.
Subject is deemed worthy.
Maxwell Aurelius of Planet Zephyr is given user privileges.
World Leader status confirmed.
WORLD STATUS:
Life forms: 0
Status: Extinction
Summary
In the year 3290 of Zephyr the planet was scheduled for system initiation according to the scan made 30 years ago. In the following 30 years unknown material known as Etherium caused the isolation of the planet from the influence of the system. Dimensional fissures were opened as planned without giving the planet the tools to protect itself. With the organization of Maxwell Aurelius and the extraordinary telepathic properties of etherium, the planet could fight off beasts for 14 years. Life was destroyed when the fissures reached grade 4 by the sacrifice of inhabitants. Destruction of etherium from the overload enabled proper system initiation.
You call this a proper initiation? Maxwell thought and just stared at the explanation numbly. It was ridiculous really. They fought the war thanks to etherium, almost worshipping it and now it turns out that it's because of the etherium that they couldn’t fight back in the first place. “Clarification needed about Etherans.” He asked. He felt sick because of the new knowledge but he would deal with emotions later, now he needed information..
Analyzing...
Clarification is unavailable.
“Do you have a paywall of something? Even after losing the fucking world Im dealing with broken programs.” Maxwell laughed. He was feeling hysterical. At least he saved his race so he could find some peace in that for whatever it was worth.
“What happens now? Are you going to kill me now that you pillaged my memories? That would complete the set I think.” He asked and this time system seemed not very concerned with the informal language as it just summoned a window as an answer.
User status:
Name: Maxwell Aurelius
Age: 54
Class: NONE
Nobility: World Leader
World: Zephyr
Traits: ???,???
Stats: NA
User level not enough to reveal trait...
Exception is being made according to emergency protocol 1...
Trait revealed: Merchant of Yliaster
The Trait is forcibly awakened.
Merchant Of Yliaster(Unique Trait): A trait created for Maxwell Aurelius himself for his achievements and unique situation. Through the trait, equivalent exchange can be made with the system using resources in possession of the user or willing parties. Resource uniqueness must pass system evaluation to be eligible for use. May you grant yourself and others what their heart most desire.
Maxwell suddenly felt like someone hit him with a hammer on the head and suddenly he knew what this trait meant beyond the description from the system. It felt very natural for him as if it was something he had since birth. As he understood he could give things he owned to the system with this trait and the system would give him something of equal value that he wanted. He felt a bit strange as this seemed to be a bit unbalanced but the uniqueness factor was probably the balancing factor.
“List exchangeable resources.” he commanded. Maybe he could get out of this situation using this trait.
Resources eligible for trade:
ZEPHYR
“Huh?” Maxwell reacted intelligently. “I guess I do own the planet at this point.” he commented. He knew instinctively that the planet would disappear completely if he used it in the trade but Its not like it was useful for anyone. The fact that he actually didn’t have any other choice helped his conscience too as he mentally selected Zephyr for trade.
Planet Zephyr was selected for trade.
Appraising value:
Mundane planet
7 billion grade 3, 13 billion grade 2 , 23 billion grade 1 souls detected.
Error...
The transaction is too high leveled for the user.
Selection is set to automatic.
Transmigration rights are selected.
Transmigration is ?? times more energy intensive because of the Trait:???.
Initiating...
May you once again reach great heights, Merchant.
Maxwell, for the second time today felt that he was too slow to understand what was happening as notifications flew by at high speed. He suddenly felt like he was being submerged in water slowly. The last thing he felt was the faint hope for a better life before darkness consumed him.
