Eons passed within the dead universe trapped in this toxic wasteland where Evie had refined her craft to a level never seen before. Originally, she had spent the first few centuries in a constant loop, dying over and over again just to make her way back to the desolated city.
The first time she died within the bunker was from starvation. Buried kilometres under the earth and isolated from the world, the only things available to her were a near-endless supply of books and enough food to last a few years.
It had been hard at first, but after learning to adapt, she dove into the vast archives waiting for her. From robotics to biology, art to aeronautical engineering—if there was a profession surrounding it, there was a book for it.
Actually reading through the vast archives had taken her nearly five hundred years of effort, time in which she discovered new, more painful ways to die. It was during one of these loops—her longest to date—when she started noticing the signs.
At first, it was only a light tingling around her prosthetics, but after a few weeks, the flesh had begun to turn a sickly green as the foreign energy dug its way into her body. The first time it happened, she had tried her best to find a cure. Centuries of studying in isolation couldn't save her though, not when the universe itself wished for the destruction of life.
Thus, the mana corruption became a constant, painful hindrance to her continued survival. The only thing reasonably exempt from its destructive tendencies was a strange metal she had found closer to the first millennium.
After reading through everything available in the ancient bunker, she had painstakingly climbed the multiple kilometre-long shaft back to the surface. Behind her followed the repaired form of the ancient medical robot. It took years for Evie to get over her trauma regarding the friendly robot, but after coming to terms with it, she had chosen to use him to help her.
It took roughly eight centuries before Evie finally started exploring the world. Traveling in each direction as far as she could, her way was blocked by either bottomless ravines that went down to lava or mountains so large the tops almost left the atmosphere.
Trapped within these arbitrary boundaries, she spent millennia honing her skills. Building on what she had learned, she innovated new technologies completely from scratch. Eventually, after setting up a robotic refinery outfitted with mining drones, she chose to explore beyond the boundaries confining her.
What she found defied all explanations. Across the planet, large sections divided by catastrophic natural phenomena like mountains and ravines formed completely different ecosystems—most dead, but a few holding a semblance of life in one way or another.
Among these biomes, the first she had chosen to explore was a weird, super-sized fungal forest. Towering higher than the tallest trees on Earth, large mushrooms blanketed the land below in shadows, their mycelia feasting upon the rotting remains of possibly trillions of different creatures.
Unfortunately for her, that mushroom biome had proven to be her death again. Spreading faster than she could react, the mushrooms had rooted her in place. Try as she might, her advanced mechanical limbs proved powerless against the sheer durability of the fungus, and so she was eaten alive.
After that, the millennia rolled into eons as she continued to die, revive, rebuild, explore, and die again in a painful loop she could never escape. Eventually, after exploring every nook of the planet, her gaze turned toward the stars, or lack thereof.
With memories growing hazy, she only had the faintest feeling there was more than the universe she had lived in for so long. Taking to the skies, she expanded her operation to include all the planets in the solar system.
Planets crumbled beneath her machines as she stripped any resources she needed to progress her endless thirst for knowledge. Eventually progressing beyond the bounds of her solar system, she brutalized the dull remains of other solar systems.
Her endless conquest for answers eventually led her to the edge of the universe. Barely fitting a single dead galaxy, the universe was constantly shrinking at a rate faster than anything she had ever seen, erasing everything in its path.
Having your atoms ripped apart at the conceptual level was one of the most painful experiences the devil had ever endured, the death causing her resolve to harden for the first time in eons. Reviving back in the same dirt ditch she had come to expect, she set out to restore her empire and escape the dying universe.
Attempt after attempt, everything she tried was destined to fail. Her creations, as powerful as they were, could destroy the universe easily, but still she remained trapped. Turning inward, she attempted to find the source—the origin of whatever was keeping her here.
Another eon passed as she delved into deep study of her own soul and the energy of the universe, the discoveries baffling even her superior mind. Deep within her soul, a faint spark spread its roots into all parts of her. Surrounding it, an ethereal orb that seemed so familiar acted as both a restraint and a control.
Delving into this, she manipulated her own soul, cracking open the orb and studying its contents. The pain was unimaginable, but the results were worth it. Made with rather shoddy craftsmanship considering everything she knew, the orb acted as a container and a conduit.
Within it sat the very heart of the universe she was trapped in, torn from its rightful place throughout all existence. It had been shoved into a crappy weapon that could barely harness its power, using it only to loop time endlessly.
After this realization, the pieces seemed to click into place. The noxious green energy? It was just the last remnants of the universe's infinite energy attempting to reclaim its heart and restore balance. The dead city and the different undead? The direct results of the orb's creators severing themselves from the afterlife and causing their souls to become corrupted.
Finally, after countless eons, it all made sense. She finally had a major goal, a way to fix the collapsing reality. So she set to work, bringing in all the universe's materials to create new elements that defied physics, technology that could rewrite reality, and her magnum opus—a single synthetically engineered body.
Returning to the present, Evie stood in front of a liquid-filled tank. Within sat an almost perfect replica of herself: ebony hair cascading down past her shoulders, purple eyes blocked from view by delicate eyelashes, and a figure so perfectly sculpted even God himself would be baffled.
Walking through the well-lit lab, screens flickered all around her and computers hummed, each object sending her data through one medium or another. Looking down briefly at her own body, Evie traced the painful green lines traveling toward her heart. Across her body, metal laced perfectly with flesh as if the two had always been one.
Breathing deeply, she slowly walked toward a second tank directly opposite the first. Stepping into it, she mentally sent out commands to the colossal computer her lab sat within. As the tank slowly filled with an unknown liquid, Evie calmly waited, breathing in the liquid when it covered her mouth.
Choking briefly, she regained her composure and awaited the correct moment. Within the tank, her mind floated freely from the binds of her flesh as her consciousness meshed perfectly with the most powerful computer she had ever made.
Finally, the simulations finished and the final sequence entered the prep stages. Mentally quivering within the digital space, she hesitated, the threat of pain halting her hand. Looking around a final time, her mind travelled the vast reaches of her greatest creation, built to the size of a solar system—her computer acted as everything she could ever need.
Infinite power, infinite resources—everything she might ever need was within her grasp, all assembled over countless years for a single goal. Making up her mind, she triggered the final activation of her creation.
Instantly, her mind was torn from the digital realm as her soul was ripped from her body by advanced machines. Then, turning upon her, the machines phased in and out of reality as they worked on adjusting her soul and the orb within it.
Shaking violently, energy washed out of her as the machine worked. Slowly, her soul began to form red circuit-like patterns as the machines optimized the universal heart and removed its restrictions. Pain like she had never felt before racked her being as heartless machines, on her very own orders, prodded and adjusted her soul.
Expanding, her soul reached the size of her computer and continued beyond, all the while more machines appeared from nowhere as they continued to create new structures within her soul. Expanding faster and faster, her soul quickly reached the size of a galaxy with no signs of slowing.
Within her, the orb slowly dissolved as the machines worked to integrate the small spark within into her soul. The infinite energy contained within it served only as fuel to power her endless growth.
Sometime later—whether seconds or years—the machines finally stopped. Having finished their work, they slowly began to tidy up, pulling in her soul and continuing to compact it. Over and over again her soul shrank until eventually it returned to its original size.
Floating lightly above her body, Evie watched as the noxious green energy slowly receded. Reaching out with her mind, she could feel every corner of the universe as if she were there—after all, she technically was.
Mentally going through some breathing exercises, she set her mind on her current goal. Floating away from her old body, she made her way toward the nearly identical one opposite it. Pausing briefly, her elevated mind noticed some flaws in her design. Tweaking them slightly by manipulating the surrounding machines, she smiled.
Approaching the new body, her soul slowly slipped within it, taking root in its rightful home. Slowly her new eyes opened as her mind reached out and connected with the surrounding machines. Draining the pod, she patiently waited for the relatively slow action.
Stepping out of the pod, two robotic arms materialized on either side of her and began dressing her. Starting with the basics, she wore a set of basic black underwear. Then, over the top, white leggings lined with gold trimming. Over the material, a faint shimmer constantly changed colours.
Moving up, she wore a basic tank top—black with purple and gold accents. Reaching the end, one of the robots handed her the final part of the outfit. Swinging the long coat over her shoulders, the white fabric cascaded down her body effortlessly.
Tightening a black belt around her waist, the article acted as a stark contrast with the mostly white colour scheme while also tightening the coat and accentuating her curves. Breathing a sigh of comfort, she ran her slender hands through her silk-like hair, wrapping a neat gold and black bow around it to form a ponytail.
Stepping into her shoes, the mid-height heels raised her already impressive height of 6'1" an extra half inch. Waving her hand, a mirror was warped into place by advanced nanobots. Observing herself in the floating mirror, she spun in place to get a better look, a smile appearing on her face but barely reaching her eyes.
Waving away the mirror, she clapped her hands together before smiling a more heartfelt smile. Wordlessly, she began to walk out of the lab, disappearing in the doorway as she was teleported elsewhere.
Reappearing in another room, a colossal machine extended out of sight, while below it sat a circular frame. Tapping her chin, she checked her computers, confirming some details before sitting down in front of the frame as a floating throne appeared beneath her—after all, the universe was open now.
*************************************Elsewhere************************************
Seated within a dark and messy laboratory, a dishevelled husk of a man could be seen slowly typing away at a computer. His hollow, glazed-over eyes dully reflected the monitor's light. Suddenly, alarms began to blare rapidly as pop-ups appeared sporadically over the screen.
Eyes coming back into focus, the man sat up a little straighter as he began to type faster. Each click of his mouse and tap of his keyboard fuelled the growing fire within his eyes. His mind whirred into motion as equipment all across the laboratory slowly booted up.
Suddenly, a creak echoed from behind the man as a thick metal door opened, and a single male figure stepped in absentmindedly. "Ajuka, I'm sorry to do this to you, but... we can't keep supporting your obsession. It's been just over fourteen years—you've got to accept she's dead."
Not hearing a reply from his longtime friend, Sirzechs stepped closer, resting his hand on Ajuka's shoulder and shaking him slightly. Narrowly dodging a concentrated blast of magic, Sirzechs looked at his friend in pity. It was certainly the most active he'd seen him in years, but he had to get his friend to drop it.
Pushing back his chair, Ajuka jumped to his feet. Ignoring the other man's desperate pleas for his attention, he ran from machine to machine, jamming buttons. Sighing, Sirzechs shook his head sadly as the distraught scientist disappeared deeper into the laboratory.
Glancing down at the computer, he absentmindedly read through the reports. His eyes widened in shock as he looked around for the scientist, a single line bringing a great deal of worry to the forefront of his mind: "Universal coordinates found—attempting connection."
Dashing between the shelves, Sirzechs looked for his friend as a gradually rising pitch reverberated through the room. Breaking through a loose stack of papers, he finally spotted his friend. Quickly shifting loose equipment and empty boxes, Ajuka worked rapidly to unearth a high-tech circular archway slowly humming with power.
Throwing the last box out of the way, a previous red button turned green as thick blue chunks of light appeared around the portal. Reaching out, Ajuka didn't hesitate at all as he slammed his hand down on the button.
Dashing forward, the Crimson Lucifer tried to reach Ajuka before his hand could hit the button. Leaning forward, he grabbed hold of the outstretched hand. Face blanching, Sirzechs watched as the glowing button sank into its case, a faint click echoing out to indicate the successful push of a button.
Looking at his friend, Sirzechs watched a mad grin spread across the face of the once-sane scientist. Opening his mouth to demand answers, he was interrupted when the portal began spinning. Appearing within it, a red sheen of energy reminiscent of the surface of a lake wobbled precariously as the circle continued to speed up.
Then, reaching maximum speed, the energy stopped moving for a second before shooting out like the wake of a rock dropped in water. Diving out of the way, Sirzechs landed in a pile of metal components while Ajuka landed on a few empty cardboard boxes.
Turning slowly, Sirzechs quickly got to his feet as he looked at the portal. Returning to a flat sheen, the portal didn't spark violently or show any unusual behaviour—it just sat there. Dashing forward, Sirzechs sliced through all the connected cords, expecting the portal to close. He was shocked when nothing happened.
On guard, he slowly walked around to face the front of the portal, magic at the ready as he charged his power of destruction. Scrambling to his feet, Ajuka rushed forward and grabbed his friend's hands. As Sirzechs scrambled to shake off the high-powered devil without injuring him, he was completely distracted.
Behind the two scuffling men, the portal began to ripple. With a soft clack, a single leg peeked out, the high heel landing on the metal surface as its owner followed shortly behind. The sudden sound caught the two men's attention as they snapped out of their scuffle and turned toward the portal.
Standing there, a single impossibly beautiful woman radiated an aura that sent waves of dread down both men's spines. Turning to look at them, her lilac eyes seemed to pierce their very souls. Smiling lightly, her gaze settled on Ajuka with unreadable emotions.
"You certainly took your time... Dad."
{A/N: Stones?}