Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

Inside the medical facility...

Kieran gradually removed the VR Helmet from his head and exhaled before sitting up on the bed.

In the time that he hadn't logged out from Zenith Online, his body had sapped most, if not all, of the available energy but did so by rationing flawlessly.

The remarkable consumption of resources was the reason why, although somewhat faint, Kieran didn't feel terrible. Still, the famished sensation that erupted from his belly was not something he could ignore.

A few seconds later, Kieran looked up at the source of the incoming rhythmic tapping of heels.

The work-absorbed Dr. Riley approached him with her tablet in hand and her eyes quickly analyzing the information inside.

"This part of their brain seems to have become hyperactive... more than three times that of a normal human," Dr. Riley muttered to herself, summarizing what she extrapolated from the data.

However, before she could continue to read through it, she felt something touch her head.

As Dr. Riley looked up, she noticed Kieran had extended his arm, lightly tapping his index finger against her forehead to keep her from colliding with him.

Though he knew Dr. Riley to become absorbed in her work, he had never seen her so oblivious of her surroundings before.

Kieran's touch seemed innocuous yet when Dr. Riley locked eyes with Kieran, she blushed and recoiled while hiding half of her face with the keyboard.

Dr. Riley tried to convince herself that her intoxicated behavior meant nothing, but it was now evident that she was wrong.

The cycling thoughts of her actions while amidst a drunken haze repeated in her mind at times, especially after looking into Kieran's dark eyes.

"Um, hi..." Dr. Riley said awkwardly.

Kieran noticed her strange behavior and tilted his head.

From a single finger, Kieran pressed his entire palm against Dr. Riley's head. "Are you coming down with a fever or something, Lillian? You've very warm."

"No, I'm fine," Dr. Riley immediately denied.

Still, Kieran couldn't take her at her word, not when he understood all too well that she tended to overwork herself once she stumbled upon a marvel of knowledge.

However, Kieran chose not to be extremely forthcoming with his doubts to avoid deteriorating their relationship in any way. Instead, he retracted his hand and studied her closely.

'Lillian is a fastidious person, but that only applies to matters that truly grasp her attention and focus. Other departments tend to be neglected, which is why when we had a day of relaxation, she unloaded an excess amount of stress and anxiety,' Kieran thought.

As Kieran thought about Dr. Riley's personality, he stared at her.

The silent prolonged gaze naturally led to Dr. Riley becoming somewhat overwhelmed and squirrelly, clutching her tablet tighter.

"Is there something wrong, Kieran? Why are you staring at me so much?" Dr. Riley questioned, abashed.

"I feel I should just let you know how much I appreciate you and your help. Had you not introduced me to X-hancer and evaluated me, I don't know what my current condition would be," Kieran said.

After a moment, he looked around and noticed a few packages in the room that wasn't there before. Based on the dimensions of the packages, Kieran estimated it was the replacement beds that Dr. Riley ordered.

Meanwhile, as Kieran looked around, Dr. Riley continued to stare at Kieran. 'Every time he returns, he seems a little bit different. Or maybe, less detached. Not completely, but at least where it matters. Though he's right here, something about Kieran feels... intangible.'

The more she thought about the changes in Kieran from his first day in this place, the more Dr. Riley found herself staring absentmindedly. When Kieran had first come to the facility, Dr. Riley could tell that he was someone with a lot of pent-up anger.

That thought was further reinforced by that strange fit of unbridled rage that occurred during her examination of him. Now, while she wasn't sure of its disappearance, Dr. Riley felt Kieran had that anger more under control and that she was safe and secure in his presence.

Even when the energies went berserk while he was linked to Zenith Online, they never once moved beyond the perimeter of the medical bed as if Kieran was subconsciously cognizant of Dr. Riley's nearby presence.

All of sudden, Dr. Riley yelped, brought out of her slight daze by Kieran's voice.

"Do you need any help with assembling a new medical bed?" Kieran asked.

Dr. Riley followed his gaze and nodded.

The bed Kieran currently used was damaged beyond repair by the energy his body leaked during a few events.

The first incident happened after he learned to manually control the energies of the Dread Circlet. The second was the phenomenon that occurred during the Gladiator Coliseum when Kieran unleashed his Aspect on a higher level.

And the last and most recent outbreak was moments ago, but that was extremely bizarre.

Although it happened, neither Dr. Riley nor the monitors detected a change in Kieran's state, which is why she left him unattended for a few minutes to check on the others in their rooms.

As those rooms acted like private medical rooms, they were outfitted with miniature versions of every vital piece of equipment present within the main medical area.

However, Dr. Riley and the monitors weren't the only things, or rather presences, that were incapable of sensing the change. Kieran had no recollection of the events that transpired.

So, it naturally came as a surprise to him when he skimmed through his previous stream chat.

'I supposedly transformed? If that's true, it felt nothing like Deranged Spirit or Abhorrent Paroxysm where I could sense their Source Runes releasing strange energy meant to cloud my judgment. I felt completely fine... like nothing was controlling my actions,' Kieran thought.

Dr. Riley noticed Kieran's contemplative state after his question but didn't interrupt his thoughts. With how intently he gazed into space and how deeply his brows furrowed, it was clear something significant was bothering him.

Luckily, it didn't take long for Kieran to push his questions to the back of his mind. After confirming that he had transformed, gaining some strange markings on his face, Kieran could only assume it was related to his evolution into a High Human.

Perhaps it was a byproduct of the matters he possessed little information about. For example, the Soul Sublimation ability that was supposedly sealed. Perhaps there was a link between all of the articles his soul interacted with.

"The more I experience Zenith Online, the more I feel it's super strange. Was it me who wanted to make these choices... or was I influenced to make these decisions? It's really difficult to say seeing as it appears there are some matters that even I can't detect," Kieran muttered.

He voiced his thoughts out loud, but Dr. Riley looked at him at a loss, wondering what they could mean. "Influenced by a game? Why does it sound like you're questioning more than just the change to your body?"

"Because I am," Kieran said, looking up at Dr. Riley.

Hekaina's request and aspiration to have him complete an Ascendancy only served to convolute his questions further.

Alas, since he felt these questions were too elusive and perhaps beyond anything he could fathom at this point, Kieran sighed and shook his head. Whether it was on Earth or in Zenith Online, Kieran felt he was acquiring power only to become more powerless.

As he became stronger, the implications of his actions would skyrocket accordingly. And, he was now at a point where he would need to consider the longevity of the legacy he was about to build.

That was why Kieran's sigh was filled with melancholy and exhaustion. However, that dissipated when Kieran felt Dr. Riley touch his cheeks.

"Don't be so downcast. From what I know and have seen from you, you are extremely talented. Naturally, you have the power to dictate your future. I don't believe in things like fate, but I do believe in data and your data shows that you can produce the improbable and turn the impossible into something uniquely possible," Dr. Riley said, placing her tablet on the desk.

She stared into Kieran's eyes until she saw the shade of despondency disperse from his gaze. In place, a bright focus appeared.

"I appreciate the pep talk, Lillian," Kieran moved his hand to his cheek, covering one of her hands while closing his eyes.

With them closed, he tried to search for the right emotion in his mind.

Affection? Adoration? Attachment?

What did he feel when this hand was pressed against his cheek?

Upon asking himself this question, Kieran found himself having a vision, or perhaps it was more fitting to call it a flashback.

A sweet scent wafted by his nose in this vision and a uniquely gorgeous appearance swept by his vision which was predominantly clouded by rage and loathing.

Still, despite those overwhelming emotions, he could see properly.

Bang!

All of a sudden, Kieran's eyes snapped open and rattled. For a moment, blackness seeped into Kieran's eyes and produced a suffocating pressure.

However, it lasted a split second and was far too ephemeral for Dr. Riley to perceive.

Sadly, this reaction led to Kieran moving away from Dr. Riley's hand.

A scar on his psyche--he had found one.

Perhaps it was a drawback of having been reborn or maybe it was a sign, but Kieran could not erase those final moments from his memory at all. And, since he couldn't forget, Kieran couldn't foresee how this scar would affect him.

All he could do was remember the force field deployed against his power and the eyes that looked at him with a strange expression.

'...She shouldn't have been there. Her involvement with her family was rumored to have been severed completely after they learned that she sided with a Leviathan over enhancing the quality of her family's legacy. Alyssa Drake. Should I kill you or should I torment you? Or maybe, should I thank you? Either way... one thing is for certain, I can't let you go. Not when you're a scar on my psyche.'

On the other hand, Dr. Riley didn't know what to make of Kieran's current reaction. While he had pushed her hand away, he continued to hold on to it.

So, did he want her close... or did he want her at a distance?

Just then, a drowsy yawn sounded not too far away.

A young lady dressed in pajamas with her long lilac-colored hair afflicted by bedhead rubbed her eyes and stood still, blinking repeatedly. Again, she yawned, this time covering her mouth.

A couple of seconds later, she looked at Dr. Riley then Kieran and then repeated this action. "Are you guys... a couple?"