Chapter 2 : 「Quantum Atomizer」

The moon radiated its luminous glow in the dark night sky, casting an ethereal light upon the Earth’s surface below.

Once again, I awoke in an unfamiliar location beneath a particular tree. The wind playfully swirled around, causing my hair to dance in the air. The chill of the night enveloped my body, lowering my temperature.

Rising to my feet, I surveyed my surroundings. Illuminated faintly by the moonlight, I could discern the black attire I was wearing from head to toe. Unfamiliar with the fashion norms of this world, I hoped my attire wasn’t too peculiar.

Additionally, I noticed a bag positioned behind me, likely left by the entity responsible for my transportation. Not far from there, a well-constructed road resembling those from my previous world indicated the technological advancement of this place.

At that moment, my location wasn’t my primary concern. Naturally, I needed sustenance, water, and a place to rest. Equally important was acquiring information about the nature of this world. From the stories I had read, new worlds often possessed a magical or supernatural aspect. Magic and special skills were common occurrences.

In order to survive and lead a free, peaceful life, I needed to grasp the basics of the power system as an initial step toward gaining strength. Being an ordinary citizen wouldn’t suffice to avoid entanglements in political conflicts or wars between nations.

While contemplating how to accomplish that without arousing suspicion, I approached the bag left behind and suddenly heard a voice in my head, following that was the appearance of a window-like interface floating in the air.

[Activating the Supreme Ethereal Atomarch System]

Staring at the ethereal display before me, numerous possible explanations raced through my mind as more windows appeared.

[Activation … Completed]

[The Supreme Ethereal Atomarch System greets the Player]

[Player’s status information … Confirmed]

[Showing Status window]

◈

Player’s Name : Arthur

Age : 16

Level : 1

Special ability : Quantum Atomizer. [Lv.0]

Passive effects :

1. Self-Sustenance. [Lv. Max]

◈

I was so overwhelmed by the appearing windows that I momentarily stopped caring about the voice because it was slower than my reading speed.

Supreme Ethereal Atomarch System …. Now that’s something I didn’t see before. It definitely picked my interest.

“Isn’t Level 1 a bit too low?” I voiced my complaint. However, there was no response. Didn’t the goddess say something about blessings and graces? She didn’t possibly mean that it was just my age reduction, right?

Maybe the system itself was a blessing, I didn’t know.

Thinking that it may not work with voice commands, I tried touching the special ability that picked my interest; the Quantum Atomizer.

Instantly, a new window popped up.

[Special Ability: Quantum Atomizer’s effects]

◈

1. Quantum Vision [Lv.1]

2. Disintegration [Lv.1]

*Locked*

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◈

Two options showed themselves up, and it appeared that there were more but they were locked, probably due to my low level if I had to guess

I then clicked, once again, and 2 new windows appeared.

[Quantum Vision : a unique and rare form of vision that allows the Player to perceive everything down to the sub-atomic realm. It goes beyond the limitations of regular sight, granting the ability to see particles, atoms, neutrons, protons and even electrons of any object or living organism regardless of the distance.]

[Disintegration : The Player can break down objects and living beings into individual atoms by disrupting their molecular bonds upon physical touch, neglecting any and all energy issues and explosions this process causes.]

After a quick scan, I once again stared at the unusual phenomenon happening in front of me.

Wonderful. Truly wonderful. I had no words to explain how interesting this was.

The explanation was pretty detailed and easy to understand. It left no room for misinterpretations as well.

So, in simple terms, Quantum Vision allowed me to perceive everything ; atoms, electrons, neutrons, and protons in real-time like 3D model way, even if they were located on the other side of the planet. Making the distance irrelevant.

And, Disintegration, allowed for the destruction of matter, turning it into a bunch of atoms if I wished for it, without any need for me to worry about the potential explosions. It’s unwise to use this power without having something like the Quantum Vision, making it the perfect match.

What a combination.

Curious about the new powers I possessed, I turned to the tree that was behind me. The lonely tree stood pridefully in the open field, casting a darker shadow over the nearby area.

Using a normal disintegration ability can potentially result in a big explosion, that’s for sure. That’s because cutting the bonds between atoms would result in a release of a great amount of energy in the form of an explosion. The amount of energy depends on the bonds and the mass of the disintegrated object.

Even if this is another world, physics laws still exist. At least to some degree.

Yet, my own ability was slightly different. It made the process a lot easier and more practical.

Deciding against using it for the time being, I turned to the bag lying on the ground. Inside, I discovered various items and provisions, along with a letter, an identification card, and an unfamiliar address and a smartphone. Holding the letter in my left hand, I activated the phone’s flashlight and began reading the content of the letter.

𝑇𝑜 𝑀𝑦 𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛, 𝐴𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑟.

𝐼 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.

𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 𝐼𝐷 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑓𝑒𝑤 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠.

𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑜 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑢𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟. 𝑆𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔.

𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑦, 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙. 𝑁𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑚𝑒!

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑚 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠!

𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝐺𝑜𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝐴𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑎.

I couldn’t help but acknowledge that school life was something I had always desired. The prospect of interacting and forming genuine connections with real people, rather than mere NPCs, fascinated me.

The address I found before was most likely the location of the mentioned academy.

Returning to the letter, I pondered whether this Aurora person was truly the same individual who had caused my demise on two occasions.

She took away my freedom from me, and killed me after suffering for almost 20 years.

Though curiosity lingered, I found myself no longer caring.

Nevertheless, reading the letter reminded me of the earliest pages I had read. I recalled them vividly. At the time, I hadn’t even questioned how I possessed the ability to read without having to learn it.

Had she orchestrated everything from the moment of my birth? Was my entire life merely a part of her grand scheme?

If I were an ordinary person, I would have been deeply hurt by now.

However, I had grown immune to pain, scratch that. I was now an empty shell that doesn’t have anything inside. Years spent trapped in virtual reality, detached from the real world, had emptied me. The thirst for knowledge and the desire for self-improvement had been my sole motivations.

I tightened my grip on the letter, my hand clenching as I gazed at the moon above—a constant reminder of the darkness that had shrouded my existence. But now, standing in this new world, I possessed an opportunity to break free from that darkness. I would seize it with unwavering determination.

I was ready to face whatever this world had in store for me if it meant living freely. Armed with the knowledge I had acquired, the powers awaiting me, and an unyielding resolve, I would carve my own path. My path to the ultimate freedom. I would ensure that no one possessed the power to control me ever again.

I unconsciously activated my disintegration power, turning the letter in my hand to ashes that vanished into the cold air.

“I was going to do that anyways” I said out loud.

Renewed with determination, I shifted my gaze towards the path ahead. The journey had only just begun, and I eagerly anticipated the wonders it held. No matter the obstacles I encounter, I would overcome them. The world would come to know my name, and they would come to fear it.

And so, beneath the moonlit sky, I took my first step into this new world, ready to forge my own destiny and reclaim the life that had been unjustly taken from me.

◈◈◈

◈◈◈

◈◈◈

As I strolled along the road, a flicker of what seemed to be a bustling city caught my eye.

It had been roughly two hours since I set out on my journey. The midnight hour draped the surroundings in a cloak of silence, offering solitude as my sole companion. In my possession was a phone bestowed upon me by the divine being, equipped with a map displaying the vast world I currently called home.

The city that came into view was none other than Ravensburg, the capital of this remarkable country known as Ravenshire.

A swift investigation using my somehow internet-enabled phone unveiled that the inhabitants of this extraordinary country comprised a diverse mix of races. Humans, Elves, Dwarfs, Dragons, and even Demons found their place here.

As I approached the city gates, my attention was drawn to two non-human guards vigilantly patrolling the area. Due to my little knowledge, I could only guess that one was a dragon and the other was a demon, both in human form.

Their presence spoke volumes about the inclusive social atmosphere of this land, entrusting non-Humans with the responsibility of safeguarding the entrance. Thoughts swirled in my mind, contemplating the possibility of slipping by unnoticed, but fate had different plans in store for me.

“Who are you?” inquired one of the guards, startled by my sudden appearance. It was evident that entry without their permission was not an option. Swiftly, I handed over my identification card, a ‘relic’ left behind by the benevolent Goddess who had guided me thus far. Deep down, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that we shared a common language. Undoubtedly, it was the work of the Aurora herself.

“What’s in the bag?” interrogated the other guard. Sensing this inquiry in advance, I had taken precautions. I intentionally disposed of the incriminating letter, and rearranged my belongings, to present myself as a mere tourist.

Nevertheless, I had devised an alternate plan, just in case things took an unexpected turn. But it seemed my apprehensions had gotten the best of me.

After scrutinizing the contents of my bag, the two guards silently returned my belongings and opened a path for me to proceed.

As I stepped into the city, an awe-inspiring panorama unfolded before my eyes. According to my phone, it was 1:47 AM at the present moment, yet the streets of Ravensburg teemed with individuals from all walks of life, spanning a myriad of races and ages.

Armed with my source of information, my smartphone, I began my search for an inn in the area. After a little while, I finally found one.

The Innkeeper, a tall man with a young face—probably in his 30s. With a short black beard, black hair, and piercing brown eyes. He welcomed me warmly. His name was Albert Anderson. My deductions led me to believe that he was human. Skillfully gathering information, I discovered that a month-long stay would actually cost me 1400 Aurumex, this world currency.

With the new Intel that the entrance exam was just three months away, I deemed a one-month stay as the safest option, allowing ample time to test my hypotheses and prepare accordingly for the potential long trip as it appeared that the academy I was going to enroll in is located in a different country. It made me wonder what the so-called goddess was thinking about when she teleported me here.

After getting my key card, I went directly to my personal room using the elevator. The number of my room was 047. The rooms started from 001 all the way to 400, like a hotel.

After checking for any cameras or voice recorders using my special vision, I thought about the current situation I found myself in for a little while.

I had a temporary roof over my head, the money I was given is enough for a few months, my clothes appeared to be normal but I didn’t have any spares.

I wasn't really in a good position.

Putting my bag on my desk, I went to take a quick shower. While it’s quite difficult at the moment due to my low mastery level, I could probably ‘destroy’ every bacteria on my skin and basically make taking a bath as useless as it could be.

But I didn’t want to.

I wanted to feel the cold water on my body, I wanted to experience what a normal bath feels like.

Taking my steps towards the bathroom, I decided that I will start making my plans tomorrow. Though, I already had everything planned out—only a few details are left.

That night, I took the first refreshing shower of both of my lives.

◈◈◈

◈◈◈

◈◈◈

I spent the first days of the week testing my body. I came to find out that my physical abilities were as far as possible from ordinary.

I could run for hours without a hint of exhaustion, I could jump higher than the highest building in this city and I could travel 1,000 meters in a few seconds. Of course, I made sure to go unnoticed.

After confirming to an extent what I could do, I spent the last 3 days of the week in seclusion within my room. While I didn’t have to worry about my physical abilities that were out of the world, the synchronization of my brain and body was unsettling. If I had to give an analogy, It would be like writing with the non-dominant hand—except that I felt that in each move I did. I should have probably started with this issue first, but my physical capabilities were my priority.

Even though I vividly remembered every note in Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt’s thanks to my perfect eidetic memory, my control over my fingers didn’t allow for such performance. It took me almost two weeks to finally gain perfect control over every muscle in my body. The process took me quite the time, leaving me only a little over one week before my stay ends.

Thanks to Self-Sustenance, I neither needed to eat nor needed to sleep. I couldn’t be poisoned and I couldn’t get sick as well. It was an impressive regeneration ability.

As a test, I injured myself using my teeth. The injury disappeared almost instantly afterward.

“Status window” I said. I wanted to confirm something about the passive effect. If it can be controlled to some degree, then I may, for example, bleed infinitely but still have the required amount of blood in my body. It can help if I ever wanted to donate or sell too much blood, as I had O– blood-type that can save almost every human on the planet.

[Player’s Status Window]

◈

Player’s Name : Arthur

Age : 16

Level : 8

Special ability : Quantum Atomizer. [Lv.1]

Passive effects :

1. Self-Sustenance. [Lv. Max]

◈

I leveled up.

An unexpected surprise. I didn’t know how, though. All I did was physical activities, nothing out of the ordinary. But regardless of the reason, the fact remained that I had leveled up.

Curious about the update, I clicked on the upgraded Quantum Atomizer.

[Special Ability: Quantum Atomizer’s effects]

◈

1. Quantum Vision [Lv.1]

2. Disintegration [Lv.1]

3. Reconstruction [Lv.1]

4. Manipulation [Lv.1]

*Locked*

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◈

[Reconstruction : The Player can reconstruct molecules using atoms neglecting the energy cost and create complex structures starting from a microscopic scale.]

[Manipulation : The Player can control and manipulate every atom in a 10 meter radius. The amount of atoms controlled at the same time depends solely on the Player's mental abilities.]

It was only the first week, yet here I was getting access to incredible powers.

Reconstruction was able to recreate the bonds between atoms if they were close enough, making it almost useless without the Manipulation ability. Another wonderful combination.

“Let’s test something now” I went to the kitchen, grabbed a short knife and stabbed my hand with it. Unlike what you might expect, the knife broke.

“I can’t say I didn’t see that coming.”

I wanted something that can cause bigger damage than my teeth or Disintegration, but it appeared that was impossible at the moment. Surrendering to my fate, I opened the fridge and took out a water bottle. I went back to my bedroom, placing the bottle on my desk.

If I can control atoms, then I can control molecules as well.

Activating my Quantum Vision, I tapped into the quantum realm. Focusing on the bottle of water before me, I vividly observed the atoms that made it up.

The water inside the bottle was composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, forming a molecule with the chemical formula H2O.

Inside, the hydrogen atoms consisted of one proton and one electron each, while the oxygen atom contained eight protons, eight neutrons, and eight electrons. The protons and neutrons were located within the atomic nucleus at the center of each atom, forming the majority of its mass. The electrons, much lighter than protons and neutrons, orbit the nucleus in distinct energy levels or shells.

The electrons within each atom followed the rules of quantum mechanics, which dictate their behavior as both particles and waves according to wave function, meaning they are in superposition; exist everywhere until observed. They occupied specific energy levels called electron shells, with the innermost shell closest to the nucleus. The first electron shell can hold up to two electrons, while subsequent shells can hold more, following a specific pattern.

The chemical bonding that holds the water molecules together involves sharing electrons between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. In a water molecule, the oxygen atom pulls the shared electrons closer to itself due to its higher electronegativity. As a result, the oxygen atom has a slightly negative charge and the hydrogen atoms have a slightly positive charge.

The interaction between these partially charged atoms created a polar covalent bond, giving water unique properties such as high surface tension and a relatively high boiling point compared to other molecules of similar size.

The plastic bottle on the other hand, made from polyethylene terephthalate also known as PET, was also composed of mostly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. These atoms combine to form repeating units called monomers, which are linked together to create long chains known as polymers.

Each carbon atom in the PET polymer contained six protons and six neutrons in its nucleus, with six electrons orbiting around it.

The atoms within the PET polymer interacted through chemical bonds, specifically covalent bonds. In covalent bonds, atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This sharing of electrons creates strong connections between the atoms, forming the polymer chain.

My goal was to open the water bottle, make the water flawlessly dance in the air, disintegrate everything into atoms, and reconstruct everything into its original form again.

I spent a full minute just observing, not even trying anything. It was important to get used to this version, as it would be my primary weapon. Closing my eyes didn’t affect anything at all, and neither did my direction. Also, the lack of light didn’t make any difference as well. It proved to be more superior to my normal vision, granting a 360° view even in the absence of light.

Soon, it will even replace it. I had no doubts about that.

After what I thought to be enough time, I activated my Manipulation power. Slowly, the atoms forming the tip began to move. The water bottle was now fully opened.

The first step was completed.

Step two was controlling the water inside, which had millions fewer atoms because it’s a liquid.

A liquid is easier to manipulate than a solid matter, because of the number of molecules and atoms difference.

The water started rising and skillfully went through the tip of the bottle.

Playing with the water, I made complex shapes and structures; circles, cubes, and even castles. The results were pretty satisfying.

Now, it was time for the third step.

Disintegration. Using my most dangerous ability, I instantly turned both the water bottle and the water into mere atoms. As expected there was no explosion. Effortlessly manipulating the new collection of atoms, I mixed them and separated them a couple of times. It was like they were an extension of my body—I found no problem controlling that amount of atoms.

Separating them for the last time, it was now the time for the last step. Reconstruction.

It was difficult to use, and it required the use of both Manipulation and Reconstruction simultaneously to get something meaningful out of the disintegrated atoms.

Focusing on the atoms before me, I placed them in their intended places using my manipulation and activated my reconstruction ability. In an instant, everything returned to how it once was. This marked the success of my little experiment.

My powers were incredible, they could defy the laws of nature. I couldn’t imagine that everyone has access to such powers, it made me wonder if the academy would be of any use for me.

If I turned out to be a specific case, I would get a lot of attention, and I would be wasting time in meaningless sessions.

I started to think that maybe I shouldn’t enroll at all.

Contemplating my choices, I was interrupted by a familiar voice in my head.

[A new Quest is generated.]

[Quest : Successful enrollment.]

◈

The player has to enroll in Leo’s academy.

Rewards :

1. A new passive effect.

2. Unlocking an ability of the Player’s choice.

3. ???

◈

“… Really? Now of all the times?”

It seemed like my plans needed some modifications.

A/N NOTES:

This is the longest chapter yet, with 3702 words count without the A/N notes. Anyways, gathering enough and trusted information about the structure and bonds at the atomic scale and understanding the quantum realm took quite the time, as I am not a specialist in any field yet. Nevertheless, I will try to take into consideration every law of modern science but I will focus more on classical physics and Quantum mechanics because that's the protagonist's special ability.

The next chapter is going to be shorter than this one, so I thought I would say that.

Until we meet again.