As you stepped out of your bedroom and into your living room/kitchen, Rosa's astonished voice sounded in your ear.

[Scanning-- The room's furniture matches the style of the early 21st century. Is this spontaneous time travel?]

"I have no idea, and I don't care. All I care about for now is my goddamn morning coffee and breakfast."¹Spoken like a true man

[User, can I use your WIFI?] - Rosa suddenly asked politely.

"Yes, you can, and stop calling me User, Rosa. I have a name too, you know? I'm Gulliver Goodman, but you can call me Iver." - You say while taking out some eggs and bacon from the fridge.

[Acknowledged. The guest user will be named Gulliver Goodman, Nicknamed: Iver. Now, please do not disturb me as I gather information.]

"Alright, go ahead and do your thing."

You decide to put Rosa on the table and continue cooking in peace.

 

 

Twenty minutes later, breakfast was ready, and you enjoyed your hot meal with relish you had never experienced before. This simple breakfast that you eat every morning tasted so much better.

"Hah... I never appreciated the simple things in life. Is this the feeling of getting a new lease on life?" - You say as you sip your morning coffee.

You then start to think about your life while eating.

You are the fourth son of five children in your family, born in 2000. Your father is a plumber, and your mother works in a daycare, so although your family was not exactly poor, you were not rich either, part of the lower-middle class.

In 2008, a few days after you turned 8, a cosmic phenomenon swept through our world as the world went dark and was without electricity for 2 hours before the power came back online.

Although there was quite a bit of panic caused by the phenomenon, the world returned to order after a few days. However, around two weeks later, strange happenings occurred around the world.

The first recorded one was when a countryside prostitute in Taiwan discovered her ability to float 30cm off the ground as if she was some celestial goddess or something. Another man, a farmer in Austria, got the ability to make plants grow faster. A third man, a mercenary in Africa, got shot in the head and was thought dead but regenerated within a few minutes, albeit with amnesia.

And just like that, more and more people began developing superpowers.

Some superpowers were deemed superhuman and potentially dangerous, such as telekinesis, pyromancy, mind-reading, brain-washing, super strength, flying, etc. There was even a minority of superpowers that were at the level of being nuclear deterrents.

However, most superpowers were insignificant trash-like abilities, like coagulating a bit of water from thin air, faintly glowing in the dark, morphing into a hamster, or a super-weak telekinetic potential where you can barely levitate a grain of rice.

And then there are the powerless, the 90% of the people who failed to awaken a superpower. You are one of them. Except for your youngest sister, Stephanie, who got trash-level telekinetic potential, the rest of your family was also powerless.

 

At least, that was what you thought until this morning.

 

Looking at the futuristic AR assistant on the table, you couldn't help but feel surreal.

"I just came to another futuristic and post-apocalyptic reality, took a sci-fi gadget, and came back. Nobody will believe me even if I tell them about this." - You mutter and take another sip of your coffee, having already finished your food.

 

Didi~* Didi~*

Didi~* Didi~*

The AR assistant, Rosa, beeped.

"Hm? Rosa is done?" - You wonder as you pick up the gadget and put it on your ear.

[Iver, I have studied the history of this world. I have concluded that this world's chronology does not match my world's chronology.]

"Yeah, I already guessed that. So, what did you find?" - You ask as you sip your coffee.

[For starters, in my world, Rome's first emperor, Grimaldus Caesar, was crowned in 132bce of your world, over 100 years before the crowning of Agustus Caesar of your world.]

[This leader was a pure genius and spiritual leader without fault, unifying the entirety of Rome under his rulership and ushering in an age of expansion and development in the Roman empire.]

[Unlike Augustus Caesar, he was never assassinated and remained Emperor until he died from natural causes at the respectable age of 79, ending his 61 years of rulership. After his death, and in his honor, they named him the Golden Emperor of Rome, and the current era count is on his birth date. Thanks to him and the systems he implemented before his death, Rome managed to survive a few more hundred years before its inevitable downfall.]

[Another point is that, instead of prosecuting the Jewish people and forcefully Hellenizing them, the Romans allowed them to keep their religion and traditions and used their clever minds and intellect to progress the technological level of Rome. As a chain effect, Yeshua, or Jesus of Nazareth, never became a messiah, Christianity never existed, and Islam never existed.]

"Holy crap... Then, monotheistic religions never became a thing?"

[Precisely. Due to these two points, the Roman Empire was better prepared for the wave of cold back in 300CE of your world, thus allowing more progress during those years. It was only at around 700CE of your world, the end of the cold period, that Rome finally fell, but during that time, technology has advanced compared to your world by over a hundred years. And thus, my world's technology is over a hundred years more advanced than yours.]

"Hah... So, you're saying the time in both worlds is synched, but it branched into two different possibilities due to a butterfly effect?"

[Correct.]

"Wow, okay. So, anything else?"

[Well, the rest of history and the naming of countries are surprisingly the same. Even the languages are. However, there are a few key differences. For one, WW2 was not based on the Axis powers against the Allies. It was a Communistic Russia trying to invade Europe in 1949.]

"Lemme guess, they failed, right?" - You say smugly.

[No, they managed to conquer all of Europe save for England due to America choosing not to intervene and the Europeans not being unified in time.]

"... Defuck? Doesn't that mean your world is a communistic regime?" - You cringe.

[No. Due to spreading the forces too thin in Europe and widespread hatred of their communist oppressors, the soviet union collapsed within a short three years. As the saying goes, "Don't bite off more than you can chew.". It later became a proper democracy. The only remaining communistic power left was China, which also later became a pseudo-democratic power.]

"Hah! What a twist. History aside, did you invent anything groundbreaking in your futuristic society? You also mentioned genetic enhancements, right?" - You ask curiously.

[Yes. In 2100, Apex Technologies, the leading technology conglomerate that created me, created a miraculous crop called the Plantae Spei, the plant of hope. This crop not only solved world hunger but also unraveled the problem of renewable energy, ushering in an age of prosperity in my world.] - Rosa said proudly.

"Oh? That sounds interesting. How did it achieve that?" - You ask, your interest piqued.

[The Plantae Spei is a plant-fungus hybrid with two purposes. The first one is to grow a so-called fruit, a crystal containing high amounts of easily convertible energy. This fruit will be the replacement for fossil fuels. As for the body of the crop, it is wholly edible and nutritious, providing all the nutrition the body needs, although it is tasteless. Furthermore, this crop is easy to grow even with little water and can survive in extreme weather. This crop also has a short growth cycle and can be harvested many times a year. It is a miracle crop like no other. Within a few years, all the world's nations rushed to use it, thus marking the rise of Apex Technologies as the techno-biological leader of the world.]

"Holy shit!" - You exclaim with widened eyes.

Although you are not the smartest chip in the block, even you can guess the impact that such a plant can make. It can revolutionize the world.

[It gets better. In the year 2120, a group of scientists discovered that the crystal fruit, after a secret processing method, can augment and enhance the genetic code of animals. After some more testing, they found that it can also improve humans. They then conducted safe and thorough research on the matter for almost a decade until they concluded that it was safe for humans. They then released special genetic enhancement injections that could increase lifespan by 20-30 years, correct genetic flaws, enhance the immune system, beautify and augment the body, and even enhance the body's innate traits, such as muscular and skeletal potential, agility and reflexes, and even raw intelligence. Best of all, they were cheap enough for everyone to use them.]

"Everyone?! Even Lola?"

[Yes, including Lola. Her parents volunteered her when she was young during the testing phases. You see, she had Leukemia at the time, at the age of 1, but thanks to the injections, her body fixed and cured itself. Not only that, but she also became more beautiful and more intelligent than she should have been.]

"W-What?! It cured Leukemia?!" - You say, shellshocked.

[Yes, and all kinds of other cancer types. It also solved Alzheimer's, early dementia, albinism, sickle cell disease, etc. It also made deadly and incurable diseases like rabies look like a common cold.] - Rosa listed.

"Jesus of fucking Nazareth... So, wait a minute. If they were all genetically enhanced superhumans, how did your world devolve into what it is now? A post-apocalyptic world with green monsters roaming around?" - You ask the vital question.

[I am wondering the same thing.] - Rosa said helplessly.

"Do you recall anything before you were shut down and put in the drawer?" - You inquire.

[Yes, I do recall something. Lola seemed to have a severe fever, so she called an ambulance and put me in the drawer.] - Rosa stated.

"A severe fever? Didn't you say that a disease like rabies was like a common cold?" - You narrow your eyes, a bad premonition coming up.

[Well, now that you mention it... It did seem rather odd and rare. There were also reports of a wave of sick people flooding the hospital.] - Rosa's tone shifted a little, a slight pondering in her voice.

"I see... And, was there anything else before that? Like, from where it originated?" - You inquire.

[Ah, well, yes. There were reports of a similar disease spreading in China, Wuhan, but they said it is insignificant.]

"... It's always the Chinese, isn't it?"

[Hah? Are you talking about covid-19?]

"Yeah, never mind. Fuck the CCP and their stupid censorship."²There, I said it.

[I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Company protocols forbid badmouthing the CCP.]³HAHAHAHA!

"...Fine, whatever. Were there any events that could be related to this? Any big moves from the major world powers? Some special announcements from Apex Technologies? Anything?" - You ask, not expecting much.

[Oh, yes, there is this one thing. In 2147, there were significant shifts in public funding for space-travel programs and the building of many underground research sites worldwide. The space shuttles were also launched right before Lola got sick, and many elites have gone missing.]

"..."

You go silent. Dots begin to link in your head as a horrible possibility flashes in your mind.

Although you are not sherlock holmes, you watched enough movies to understand where this plot goes.

 

[Iver? Are you alright? Your eye dilated, showing extreme shock.] - Rosa asked with concern.

"Rosa, don't you think this is like something out of a certain horror genre?" - You say, your face contorting.

[Horror genre? What do you mean?] - Rosa's confused voice sounded.

"I mean that it is like something from a zombie movie."

[Nonesense. Zombies are an impossibility. There is no such thing as an undead.] - Rosa stated.

"Yeah, I get that, but what if it wasn't undead, and instead was someone with an infection or rabies-like virus?" - You throw a plausible idea.

[That is a more likely event, but it is theoretical at most. Even if there was a so-called zombie apocalypse filled with infected human hosts, they are fated to die within a few days from natural causes, such as disease, bacteria, dehydration, and starvation.] - Rosa stated a counter-argument.

"And, what if the infection was plant-based and allowed photosynthesis? What if, during the day, the infected sought out the sun and at night sought out a water source? What if the infection rendered the host immune to bacteria and disease? What if the disease itself allowed the host to survive harsh weather? What if they got the traits of the Plantae Spei, for instance?"

[... Are you suggesting that my world is in a zombie apocalypse, and the green humanoid creature we saw is an infected human host? And the thing infesting it is some form of mutated Plantae Spei?] - Rosa's tone was as blank as mine.

"Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting."

[...]

"..."

You both share an awkward silence before Rosa speaks again in a mechanical voice.

 

[Analyzing possible situation: Plantae Spei have somehow infected Humanity and turned them into living and hostile hosts.]

[Establishing chronological facts. Iver, please state your findings.]

"You want me to say it?" - You raise an eyebrow.

[Yes, please. I need your User input. I can't do problem-solving alone. I need User input to double-check. Please say it in a chronologically correct manner for further analysis.]

"Alright then..." - You take a deep breath and then speak.

"First fact, Humanity has been genetically enhanced since around 2130 using the Plantae Spei."

[Fact 1 established.]

"Second fact. In 2147, the world powers prepared underground research sites and built space shuttles."

[Fact 2 established.]

"Third fact: The Chinese government covered the disease as insignificant."

[Fact 3 established.]

"Fourth fact: The day before Lola got sick, the space shuttles were launched and the elites were missing."

[Fact 4 established.]

"Fifth fact: Genetically enhanced humans that should have been immune to most diseases got a severe fever, and it was spreading in America, and Lola also got sick."

[Fact 5 established.]

"Sixth fact: Nobody came to pick you up."

[Fact 6 established.]

"Seventh and final fact: I arrived in your world in 2172 and discovered your world abandoned and with green humanoid monsters walking about."

[Fact 7 established.]

[Please initiate cross-checking and deduction to establish new findings.]

"Fact three and fact five contradict each other. This disease was severe, and yet the Chinese government called it light. Furthermore, they even delayed releasing the news. I assume they were trying to hide something."

[Assumption 1: The Chinese government was hiding something.]

"From the second and fourth facts, I assume that the world's elites knew that a world-ending event is going to happen and vacated the planet and protected the seeds of Humanity."

[Assumption 2: The world's elites knew that a world-ending disaster would happen in advance.]

"From the first and second assumptions, I assume that the elites didn't want to let the world know about this to prevent chaos."

[Assumption 3: The world's elites hid the facts to prevent mass confusion.]

"From the sixth and seventh facts, I assume that something bad must have happened to Lola and her family, as they would have surely picked you up if they were fine."

[... Assumption 4: Something happened to Lola and her family shortly after I was shut down.]

"From assumptions two, three, and four, and fact seven, I assume this disease is related to why the world outside is abandoned and is directly related to the green monsters."

[Assumption 5: The disease is related to the abandonment of the city and the green humanoid predatory entities.]

"From fact one and assumption five, I believe that the green monster outside is an infected human host affected by some strain of the Plantae Spei.

[Incomplete logic. Not enough evidence to assume this.]

[Assumption 6(Incomplete): The green humanoid predatory entity is an infected human host infected by something related to the Plantae Spei.]

"... Do you have the picture of the Plantae Spei?"

[Affirmitive, here.]

On your lens, the picture of the miracle crop showed itself.

It was shaped similarly to a pineapple plant, but instead of a pineapple, you saw a somewhat smaller blue crystal, the color of the plant was greyish green, and its stalk and leaves had yellowish growths.

"Did you record the green monster we saw?"

[Affirmitive.]

"Show me."

The image on your lens changed to that of the humanoid monster. It had similar greyish-green color and the same warts as the Plantae Spei.

"Fact eight: The humanoid monster shares the same color and has same warts as the Plantae Spei."

[Checking-- Confirmed. Fact 8 Established.]

"Combine fact eight to assumption 6."

[Assesing-- Assumption still incomplete. Need more proof.]

"... Show me the creature again."

[Affirmitive.]

The picture of the creature was shown again.

"Compare this creature to the human physiology."

[Affirmitive. Commencing comparison-- 89% match.]

"Fact Nine: The monster has an 89% matching physiology to humans."

[Fact 9 established.]

"Add fact nine to assumption six."

[Assesing-- Assumption still incomplete. Need more proof.]

"Still not enough for you? I feel like I'm missing something..."

You furrow your brows as you enter into deep thought.

After some time, you ask, "Rosa, show me the creature again."

[Affirmitive.]

The picture of the creature was shown again, its face turned to you.

"Can you show me its back again?"

[Affirmitive.]

The picture reverted itself to when you first saw it.

"Now play the video, slowly."

[Affirmitive.]

The creature slowly swayed and turned its head. Suddenly, you saw a glint on the back of its head.

"Stop!"

The video stopped.

"Zoom in on that glint over there."

The picture zoomed in on the glint. Although the image quality became a bit worse, it was enough.

"Return the video to the start while focusing on this glint."

The video returned itself to the start. The glint disappeared as you saw what it was.

"A crystal. A blue crystal. Fact number ten: The humanoid monster has a blue crystal on the back of its head, just like the one in the Plantae Spei."

[Analyzing-- Accepted. Fact 10 established.]

"Combine fact ten and assumption six."

[Assessing-- Assessing-- Enough evidence established.]

[Assumption 6: The green humanoid predatory entity is an infected human host infected by something related to the Plantae Spei.]

"From assumption six and fact seven, I conclude that a major part of humanity has turned into infected hosts of something related to the Plantae Spei, and thus caused the city to be abandoned."

[Assesing-- Assessing-- Enough evidence established.]

[Conclusion: Part of humanity has been infected and turned into the green humanoid predatory entity outside, causing the abandonment of Sacramento City.]

"Well, do you believe me now?" - You smile smugly, feeling like a detective champ.

[... Partially. It is still not a concrete finding, but a highly possible conclusion. More data is needed.]

"Meh. What can be certain, though, is that the Plantae Spei is probably the miraculous plant that ruined a world."

[...Possibly.] - Rosa begrudgingly agreed.

You then stretch yourself, finish your now-cold coffee, and get up.

"Well, that was a fun mystery-solving. Didn't do it in ages."

[...]

"Hey, don't be so down. I'm sure there are still survivors in your world." - You say, noticing that Rosa was being quiet.

[Assessing-- Assessing-- It has been concluded with a high possibility that the world is in a Grade-A post-apocalyptic scenario. Law enforcement is uncontactable. The army is uncontactable. No foul play is detected. Conditions met. Enabling cached end-of-the-world emergency protocols, files, and functions.]

[The primary owner, Lola, is missing in action. According to new emergency protocols, Iver shall become the secondary owner until Lola gets found.]

"...Hah?"