Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

The Ordeal of the Dusk, as unpredictable and dangerous as it always was, felt significantly less chaotic this time around.

Though, it was probably because I was no longer needed in that aforementioned chaos.

Now, the bastion, bolstered by the addition of the Duolos and their hive mind efficiency, operated with a precision that was almost mechanical, yet distinctly alive.

Unlike before, where every encounter demanded full attention and coordination of the bastioneers and the equally newly introduced Heavenly Maids, the Duolos really did handle a vast majority of the threats with startling ease.

Obviously, the Warpiece Drone was equally instrumental in tipping the scales of this Ordeal. Any Calamity Object that could be conceptualized as destructible by physical means met its end in seconds, torn apart by the Drone's sheer firepower and adaptability.
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Its presence alone was enough to create zones of safety within the otherwise chaotic landscape, ensuring the bastioneers and maids could focus on more intricate threats without worrying about being overwhelmed. Albeit, the definitely don't want the drones to be taking their kill and overshadow their contribution.

The Duolos, though, were definitely the real stars of this Ordeal.

Their hive mind allowed them to function as a seamless unit, adapting to the appearance of each Calamity Object with unnerving precision.

Where the bastioneers relied on individual skill and coordination, the Duolos leveraged their collective consciousness to outmaneuver and outwit even the more gimmick-laden Calamity Objects. Against creatures whose abilities required specific counters or strategies, the Duolos didn't falter—they dissected each situation with mathematical accuracy, attacking weaknesses and blasting through gimmick fight in perfect unison.

They could even reconstruct their downed selves to a great extent if they suffered a great damage on one of their vessel. On top of that, they already had a natural regeneration that could close open wounds in minutes.

Yet despite their unparalleled efficiency, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment—though mostly on my own inability to perfect the design before this came to be.

I had hoped that the Duolos, with their unique nature and adaptability, might be able to convert Calamity Objects into more of their kind.

It was a theory I had wanted to test for some time—whether the intrinsic chaos of a Calamity Object could be transformed into something orderly, something useful.

Unfortunately, the results were less than promising. The conversion process failed in 90% of attempts, and when it did succeed, the outcome was… troubling.

The converted Calamity Objects were defective, unstable, and dangerously corrupted. Worse, they posed a threat to the Duolos hive mind itself, like a virus attempting to infect a flawless system. Any such defective entities had to be eliminated immediately to prevent contamination.

It was a shame, but it reaffirmed a harsh truth about Carcosa.

Not everything could be tamed.

Contest-wise, the Duolos were dominating the leaderboard, as expected. Their hive mind allowed them to rack up an astounding 4,200 points, leaving their competition in the dust.

Primus, the first Cognitive Engine bastioneer, held second place with 3,800 points, followed closely by Erika with 3,780 points.

Speaking of Erika, there was something about her that had been gnawing at the edge of my consciousness for a while now.

After my ascension, I noticed a faint, otherworldly divinity clinging to her—a presence I couldn't fully comprehend, even with my heightened existential perception. It wasn't something I could pry into, no matter how I tried. Something that even Charis confirmed back then.

Over time, that presence had grown more vivid, more distinct. Whatever it was, it wasn't malevolent, but it was tied to me in some way.

A blessing from my alternate self, perhaps? If so, by what or whom, or how? And what was its purpose? Erika herself seemed aware of it, and her newfound zeal could very well be an aftereffect of that divine influence.

But for now, once again, she was no threat for me after numerous confirmation—but the mystery lingered, a puzzle I would have to solve eventually.

As the Ordeal continued, I decided to take a short reprieve from monitoring the contest and visited the hydroponic farm. Viviane was there, along with Charis and Carlotta. They had been spending the evening tending to the crops and conducting one of Viviane's teaching sessions. I arrived bearing gifts: a tray of freshly baked cookies and a variety of snacks, stored neatly within my personal MSU.

The scene that greeted me as I entered the farm was a far cry from the chaos outside.

Viviane was seated at the central table, laughing so hard that tears glimmered in her orange eyes. Across from her, Carlotta was doing her best impression of Verina, mimicking the deadpan expression and delivering a series of exaggeratedly dry jokes. Charis, sitting beside her, was practically doubled over with laughter, her silver hair bouncing with each chuckle.

It was Charis who noticed me first. "Father!" she called, her voice bright with delight. Her laughter still lingered as she gestured me over. "Come join us!"

I smiled, drawing out a chair and setting the tray of snacks on the table. "How's the session going?" I asked, glancing at the two girls as they eagerly reached for the cookies.

"Educational and fun!" Charis replied, her words muffled slightly as she stuffed her mouth with a cookie. Carlotta nodded in agreement, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

Viviane, noticing my gaze, leaned back in her chair with a cocky smile. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't think I was bad with kids, did you?"

I smirked, watching as she took a bite of a fruit from the table. "Honestly? I'm a little surprised. Is this a water nymph thing?"

Charis was quite busy with me before, so there wasn't much occasion where she would be taught by Viviane.

So seeing their chemistry right now was quite endearing.

Viviane scoffed, her prideful tone ever present. "Not all water nymphs are like me. Most fae are insufferable when it comes to interacting with other species. I just happen to have… experience. Carcosa has a way of forcing you to adapt, and I've spent more time with children here than I care to admit."

I feigned a horrified expression, leaning forward slightly. "Wait—are you saying you eat children, Viviane?"

"Aunt Viviane eat kids!?"

"Huwee!?"

The annoyance on her face was immediate. "Absolutely not!" she snapped, "Don't be ridiculous, Narcissus."

Her reaction earned a giggle from Charis and Carlotta afterward, who were clearly enjoying the exchange.

As the laughter settled, Viviane gave me a curious look. "So, did you have a reason for coming here, or were you just here to harass me?"

I reached into my MSU and pulled out a prototype of a Cognitive Engine—a sleek, organic-looking device that resembled a plant.

Its design was intricate, with a stem-like core branching into delicate, leaf-like panels. At the top was a bulb-shaped cavity, where something could presumably be placed or grown. The entire structure seemed alive, its surface faintly pulsating with energy, the material a seamless blend of bio-organic matter and some semblance of Theotech alloy.

"I brought this," I said, placing it on the table. "It's a prototype Cognitive Engine. Its structure incorporates biomaterials and the atomic framework of a plant. I want to see if Carlotta can imbue it with entropy energy, just like any other plant."

Carlotta's eyes lit up with excitement. "I can do it!" she said eagerly, her small hands already reaching for the prototype.

Charis placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, her expression calm but supportive. "Don't worry, Father. I'll make sure she's not lacking in entropy energy."

I nodded, watching as Carlotta examined the prototype with a mix of curiosity and determination.

As Carlotta's small hands rested on the Cognitive Engine prototype, the air around us shifted subtly. The plant-like structure began to glow faintly, its intricate, bio-material stems pulsing with a soft rhythm, almost as if it had a heartbeat.

The leaves quivered, as though alive and responding to the energy Carlotta was channeling. Her expression was one of intense focus, her vibrant purple aura shimmering faintly as the entropy energy flowed into the construct.

The transition was gradual at first, but then a pulse rippled outward—a wave of energy that resonated through the room. The plant's form shifted, its structure subtly rearranging itself in response to the newly imbued entropy.

What had once been a static prototype now seemed to evolve, ascending to a higher existential height as its intrinsic nature unfolded. The Cognitive Engine processed its new state, its purpose and design aligning seamlessly with its ascension.

Within moments, a bulb-like fruit began to form at the center of the plant. Its surface was smooth and semi-translucent, radiating a faint internal glow. The fruit seemed almost otherworldly, a crystalline sheen catching the light as it solidified into place. It sat perfectly within the bulb holder, as though it had always belonged there.

I reached out, plucking the fruit with care, its cool surface yielding slightly under my touch. Setting it down on a nearby table, I split the fruit in a perfect half using my divine dexterity.

As the fruit separated, its interior was revealed. The flesh was pure white, smooth and pristine, with a texture that seemed both juicy and crisp. There were no seeds, no imperfections—just a core of unblemished vitality. The faint glow emanating from the fruit was mesmerizing, as if it held within it a fragment of something far greater.

I turned to Charis and Carlotta, holding out the halves. "Try it," I said, my tone both calm and curious.

Their hands reached for the fruit, and as they bit into the flesh, their reactions were immediate and profound.

Charis's eyes widened, her expression shifting from surprise to something bordering on awe. Carlotta, on the other hand, froze for a moment, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, before a delighted giggle escaped her lips.

"This is… amazing!" Charis exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It's like… I don't even know how to describe it."

"It's like biting into happiness!" Carlotta chimed in, already taking another bite. "It's so juicy and crunchy and... perfect!"

Then, almost simultaneously, a faint light began to emanate from their bodies. For Charis, it was a soft, radiant glow, her silver hair catching the light and amplifying it like moonlight on still water. For Carlotta, the light was a vibrant purple, pulsing gently in time with her aura.

Viviane, who had been observing quietly, suddenly straightened. Her orange eyes gleamed with a mix of astonishment and realization. "They're experiencing a mini-ascension," she said, her voice low but filled with certainty. "Their existential heights are increasing."

Carlotta's entropy energy surged, her aura expanding slightly, while Charis seemed to grow more refined in her radiance, though without the entropy influx.

The fruit adapted perfectly to the needs of the consumer.

For Carlotta, it provides entropy energy. While in Charis' case, it was the needed nutrients and physical energy that could be used by the body, because that was the nature of her vessel.

Viviane turned to me, a rare and genuine smile breaking across her face. "This is… quite the breakthrough, Narcissus. To create something like this—a fruit that can directly nourish the soul and adjust to its consumer's needs—it's definitely at the level that a fae can achieve!"

Well, I'm now technically a former fae.

I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction. "The prototype is part of a new branch of projects I've been developing," I explained. "It's called Vitae Arboris. If this works as I intend, we could revolutionize sustenance not just for ourselves but for Carcosa as a whole."

Carlotta, still chewing on the fruit, looked up at me with wide eyes. "Father, can we make more? It's so good!"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Why don't we find out?" I placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently. "Go ahead and imbue the plant again. This time, just give it your entropy energy instead of ascending it."

Carlotta nodded eagerly, placing her hands back on the plant. Her purple aura flared slightly as she channeled her energy into the construct. Once again, the plant responded immediately, its structure glowing faintly as it absorbed the entropy energy.

Within seconds, another fruit began to form, sprouting from the bulb holder with the same crystalline sheen as the first.

Viviane leaned in, her gaze sharp and analytical. "Fascinating," she murmured. "It seems the plant can also use entropy energy as a nutrient source. That alone is groundbreaking."

I plucked the newly sprouted fruit and examined it briefly before holding it out to Viviane.

"It's all thanks to Carlotta," I said with a calm warmth. "She's a wonderful inspiration."