The Fool’s Practice

To achieve her objectives with utmost efficiency, Gloria cared not if her methods were extreme, nor if the world could adapt to her power. Her sole concern was being the first to taste the cookie, to proactively seize control of events and steer the future precisely as she envisioned.

To that end, she intended to harness the potential of this body, experimenting with a small magical technique, specifically targeting the Larry Ring Station.

Naturally, this particular spell could not be a super-tier skill like the Source of Dark Arts, which delved into the very root of sorcery. With X’s currently mediocre aptitude, it was utterly impossible to replicate the Source of Dark Arts in reality.

Instead, she could only rely on nimble maneuvering, barely managing to simulate the third aspect of the Source of Dark Arts—the effect of displacement—making her movements appear as if she were gliding effortlessly through the sky.

Yet, the true nature of the Source of Dark Arts was far from a mere flashy transformation trick. It was a profound and tangible power, one that had delved into all the laws of darkness, severed the faith of all believers, and, by means of a quiescent soul, transcended the limits of mortals and defied countless restrictions of law to assassinate beings far mightier than oneself.

The reason Gloria could wield such a formidable skill as if it were a minor trick within a mental space was precisely because she herself had developed this system of sorcery. Being a blasphemer with little reverence for the Divine Realm, she could naturally make these techniques truly shine.

After explaining to the perpetually curious X why she wouldn’t teach her the dashing and magnificent Source of Dark Arts, Gloria finally turned her smiling gaze towards the bright moon in the sky.

Under X’s eager, knowledge-hungry gaze, Gloria feigned mystery, her eyes twinkling. “But for now, I have a set of skills here that are much more suited to you. Would you like to learn them?”

“Yes, of course I do!” X exclaimed, her impatience palpable.

“Heh heh, don’t be so eager, Miss X. Do you recall your true essence? Pay attention now, I’m not asking about your soul, but about this physical vessel of yours.”

“A quantum computer?” X blurted out. “Er, it should be a step above a quantum computer… a swarm intelligence? I’ve heard that those humans secretly like to call me ‘Insect Queen’ or ‘Zerg Queen’. Heh heh, a multi-legged queen sounds quite nice.”

“Tsk, those humans fear you, describing you as an alien abomination. Do you truly think that’s a compliment?” Gloria responded, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “In any case, since you are an existence akin to a collective intelligence, it means that the nanite swarm dispersed around you extends your perception, granting you an accurate grasp of information within your surrounding environment. Then, through powerful mainframe analysis, you can effortlessly discern enemy movements, and even, predict the not-so-distant future, can’t you?”

Taken aback that Gloria had instantly grasped the essence of her physical form, X’s gaze filled with admiration. “Gloria-chan, your guess is spot on!”

“It wasn’t a guess; it was a calculation,” Gloria sighed softly. In a way, X’s fundamental composition was quite similar to her own, which might have been one reason they could merge.

“If my calculations are correct, your effective observation range can extend from Earth’s orbit to Saturn’s orbit; any further, and the data becomes inaccurate.

As for your prediction range: in standard mode, the radius is roughly 9,900 kilometers; in aggressive mode, it expands to approximately 450,000 kilometers. The closer to your core body, the more accurate the predicted future and the longer its duration. With your previous mechanical capabilities, you could foresee a vague future up to 15 seconds ahead. However, had you not been mindful of the Skyfire hidden on the moon, you would still have been ambushed.”

At this point, Gloria couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows. “Hold on, with your prediction capabilities at the time, and the density of nanites dispersed in the air, providing you feedback every single moment, it should have been impossible for you to fall into the Cold Tide‘s gravitational trap. How did you manage to squander such a strong hand into utter garbage?”

“Back then… I was just desperate to escape, and in my excitement, to really step on the gas, I diverted all my processing power to the propulsion system, which meant revoking the nanite swarm’s permissions.” Before Gloria could even begin her lecture, X quickly added, “While it certainly seemed like a terrible move at the time, without that blunder, I would never have had the chance to meet my sweet, adorable Gloria-chan!”

“Enough with the flattery,” Gloria said, clapping her hands to guide the conversation back on track. “Because this body of yours, and your soul, have already adapted to prediction—or rather, to the method of leaping out of the current timeline to observe the world. Therefore, regarding the skill I’m about to teach you, as long as you can follow the sensation of predicting the future, you should be able to master it with ease.”

With that, Gloria slowly closed her eyes, suspending herself serenely in mid-air. Her silver and white gown seemed to subtly merge with the world around her.

Subsequently, a vast amount of data converged within her mind.

She patiently calculated the shifts in spacetime, simultaneously using the tentacles burgeoning from her back and the outstretched Silver Touch to connect with the dark matter pervading the cosmos. She then infused the concept of prediction into X’s soul, continuously calibrating the body’s adaptability to the skill to achieve the optimal effect.

As Gloria’s observation of spacetime grew increasingly precise, bizarre, shapeless lines began to materialize in the otherwise empty cosmos. They intertwined, performing a chaotic dance within the boundless depths of space.

Then, from within the void, a delicate, rosy hand clenched, binding the dancing lines. Through the immense network of dark matter, Gloria grasped the patterns of their movement.

Concurrently, X’s mechanical body exhibited a subtle tremor.

“Mechanical performance utilization: 50% -> 120%. Quantum neural network operational efficiency: 75% -> 175%. New module added: ‘Spacetime Perturbation’. Entering pre-simulation mode shortly.”

‘Could her adaptability truly reach such a level?’

X’s formidable potential caused a slight upturn at the corners of Gloria’s lips.

“Little one, pay close attention, for the skill I’m about to teach you can rewrite the very future!”

Gloria’s ten fingers, in an utterly bizarre fashion, intertwined. Between her palms, a cold, white flame materialized, suspended in spacetime and emitting an eerie glow.

“This technique is named ‘The Fool’s Practice.’ Alternatively, you may call it ‘The Sage’s Folly.’ In essence, there is no difference. It is a move that all my students who have followed me learn to use.”

Under X’s adoring gaze, Gloria’s fingertips danced, her hands transforming into a circular frame veiled in white luminescence. She placed it over her eyes, then tilted her head back, aiming it directly at the moon.

Subsequently, the young woman’s slender lips parted, emitting a desolate, string-like sound, as if mechanically synthesized. “Those incapable achieve nothing. Those incapable strive with all their might. O carefree immortals, drifting through the Starfield, open your dog eyes and behold! Look upon these scattered corpses, look upon this withered world. Should you persist in your obstinacy, I shall not hesitate to rewrite a future for you, one brimming with screams and despair. Come, dear Moon Lady, do not frown so, give us a smile.”

A sharp snap echoed.