Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System - Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Prelude to the 8th Idle Benefit…?
“This…”

Not only had Cassius received something of such a high rank, but it seemed as if acquiring this high-rank item fulfilled the requirements to unlock the 7th Idle Benefit! Plus, there were clues as to what the 8th Idle Benefit would be!

It was just one glorious thing after another!

Of course, Cassius accepted the automatic learning of the mystical Technique, upon which a wave of information entered his mind. This naturally included the specifics of the Technique.

The VOPC was, in its essence, a way for users to fight people or beings without actually fighting them. It even had its own timeline that worked far, far, far slower than the world outside. One could virtually fight an opponent thousands upon thousands of times without even a second passing in the outside world.

The VOPC’s time was the closest anyone would ever get to freezing time altogether while within the bounds of the Ascension Tower.

It was fantastically surreal.

However, that did not mean one could use the Technique forever. There were various limitations, each dependent on the proficiency the user had with the VOPC Technique. If at the elusive Integration Stage, one could stay inside the VOPC for years, even centuries, doing nothing but battling simulated opponents.

But at the Practiced Proficiency Stage—like Cassius—one could only stay within the Virtually Simulated World for roughly 24 hours.

At first glance, that number seemed like a whole lot, but in actuality, it wasn’t much. After all, at the higher Power Ranks, it could take months, even years, to learn an opponent’s moveset and effectively counter it. That wasn’t even considering what Cassius planned to do with it, as there was another VOPC feature that he was incredibly interested in.

The VOPC could create a simulated world and also simulate opponents for potentially endless battles. However, there was another key feature of the Technique.

That feature was—the ability to carry over any Technique or Skill Progression gained inside the VOPC into the outside world.

This feature was more of a coincidental side effect than one directly related to the Technique. In a sense, the VOPC transported the main part of a user’s essence into the virtually simulated world. And since this was the part that stored comprehension, one could theoretically practice Techniques in the VW—or Virtual World.

“The Virtual World,” Cassius mused, a pair of golden symbols crackling within his eyes. “This will be essential now and in the future. I just know it.”

Wishing to test it out right away, he cast the Technique. A bright golden light flashed for him alone, and he was instantly transported to a boundlessly wide open space. Above was a grayish-black sky, and below was an endless expanse of still water that couldn’t be interacted with.

That was when one of the Technique’s activation keys came to Cassius’s mind, prompting him to call out, “Opponent List.”

BLING!

An illusory blue-and-gold screen appeared in front of him. On it were countless names, formatted similarly to Santa Claus’s List. The names stretched endlessly, ranging from the lowliest of common wildlife and civilians to any Hunter, Monster, or other magical lifeform he had encountered thus far.

Everything… literally everything was recorded…

Luckily for Cassius’s comparatively feeble mind, the Technique was based on his memories. As such, he could efficiently seek out any specific target he wished to choose.

After thinking of one name in particular and clicking “Summon,” a burly, wolf-maned man appeared above the endless ocean in front of him. The man wore the same smug expression he had in life and radiated the same sinister aura.

“I wonder if the strength is the same as well,” Cassius said, his figure already blurring. “Let’s test it out.”

FWIP!

He reappeared in front of the simulated Wolf Deity, yet didn’t immediately attack.

“You attack first,” he said, beckoning with a cupped hand, his other hand neatly tucked behind his back. “Give it everything you have.”

“COURTING DEATH!!!”

The Wolf Deity was just as loud in the simulation as he was in real life. With an explosion erupting behind him, he surged forward, transforming into a grayish-black blur of rage. Clasped in his right hand was his S+++ Rank wolf-furred Greatsword, an exact replica of the one that Cassius had mistakenly destroyed, thinking it was trash.

‘So the simulated opponent can both talk and wield the same weapons it had as a real person,’ Cassius thought, effortlessly evading Igor’s rush attack. ‘How interesting.’

A cold gleam formed in his gaze as he raised a single finger and slashed downward.

“YOU BA—”

The Wolf Deity was cleaved in two, with a long, bloody line separating both halves of him. Blood and guts sprayed across the space, once again surprising Cassius.

“His strength was an exact replica of the real deal,” he said. “But what about his innards? His internals?”

To his oddly placed disappointment, upon leaning down and touching the Wolf Deity’s body, his hand passed through pixels. The pixels where he touched began to fade upward. The rest of his corpse followed suit, pixelating entirely until it vanished.

“How unusual,” said Cassius, stroking his chin. “That attack of his certainly would’ve physically harmed me. And brushing past him, I was able to discern his body as a physical construct. But as soon as damage was dealt to him, things turned digital.”

“How… truly odd,” he muttered. “I guess this Technique isn’t of the EX+++ Rank for nothing.”

Returning to his experiments with this new, overpowered Technique, Cassius summoned another Wolf Deity. This time, he allowed the creature to attack more before eventually one-shotting it when he grew bored. This was also when he realized that he could bring his weapons and items into the virtual world.

However, unlike in real life—where they could convey their intentions because of their Pseudo Intelligence—these versions of Lilith and Mora were lifeless.

Fortunately, they retained all their abilities and power. This meant Cassius’s Combat Power inside the VOPC was a 1:1 replica of his real-life Combat Power.