Multiversal Primal Zerg (Semi-SI)

??? Universe, IKEA Store

He spent the next few days talking with other residents of Exchange, confirming Chris's claims about the infinite store. Everyone shared similar stories: they'd gotten stuck in IKEA, found no exits, and eventually joined one of the scattered communities. Most disturbing was how they validated the old man's claims about their different Earths. Some remembered a world where Kennedy survived, others where the Soviet Union never fell.

Small changes that added up to paint a picture of countless parallel realities.

Adrian found the community's... casual approach to intimacy increasingly uncomfortable. Public displays grew more frequent as night approached, turning the furniture displays into impromptu gathering spots.

"This place changes people," Jerry had told him over breakfast. "First you go mad from the endless aisles. Then you go sane again, but different. The old rules stop mattering."

He'd left shortly after, seeking isolation in a distant corner of the store. Using his Minecraft blocks, he built a simple iron enclosure - just enough space to work in private.

"What exactly are you planning?" Derflinger asked as Adrian sat down on the ground.

"Converting Minecraft items into real versions," Adrian explained. "I managed it with a diamond before. The process hurts, but..."

"You're going to force reality to bend again? You told me that it wasn't safe, and you could injure yourself heavily."

Adrian shrugged. "I've got Golden Apples and my own innate regeneration. I can handle it."

He placed the boots into the crafting grid, filling all slots with one item. Immediately he felt the strain build up in his head as reality tried to reconcile the impossibility.

"ARGH!" Adrian screamed as his right arm twisted unnaturally. Bones cracked and muscles tore, but he maintained focus. The boots flickered in and out of existence, transformed, and became real.

"Stop this!" Derflinger shouted. "You're going to tear yourself apart!"

Adrian grabbed a Golden Apple with his good arm, biting into it. Golden light spread through his body, mending the damage completely over the next several seconds.

"I'm fine." He picked up the helmet next. "Just need to power through."

The second paradox hit harder. His left arm shattered, fingers bending backward. Blood poured from his nose as he forced the conversion.

Another apple. More healing.

The leggings caused his right eye to explode and his stomach to rupture. He barely noticed, focused entirely on maintaining the paradox until the armor piece became real.

"Adrian..." Derflinger's voice was quiet now.

"Almost done." Adrian's words came out garbled through a mouthful of blood. He ate two more apples, watching his wounds close.

The chestplate was worst. Both eyes burst, legs snapped, fingers turned to pulp. He screamed until his throat tore, but didn't stop until the transformation finished.

Nine Golden Apples later, Adrian could see again. He stared at the Netherite armor pieces scattered around him.

"That wasn't so bad."

"You're insane," Derflinger muttered.

The armor looked different now. No longer cubic, it had become an elegant set of plate mail with a dark metallic sheen. Purple enchantment runes were inscribed all over the material.

"How do I put this on?" Adrian picked up the boots and leggings. They clicked together magnetically, forming a seamless whole. The chest and helmet did the same.

"Maybe..." He stepped toward the armor, willing it to equip like a player would do in Minecraft.

The plates shifted and opened, wrapping around his body. Each piece sealed perfectly, leaving only minimal gaps for vision and breathing. Adrian flexed his armored hands. "Not bad. Just missing the Unbreaking enchantment, but I can fix that the next time I'm in Minecraft. I do wonder…"

He looked at his old leather armor. "Can I store this without it converting back?"

He tried placing it in the Crystalline Minecraft Pearl while focusing on maintaining its realistic form. When he pulled it out, the leather had reverted to Minecraft style.

"Guess not. I'll need to convert everything before leaving Minecraft in the future."

"If you survive that long," Derflinger grumbled. "You do realize you shouldn't casually mutilate yourself for better equipment?"

Adrian smiled behind his helmet. "Why not? There was no lasting harm done."

"Whatever you say." Derflinger sighed. "Just try not to get us both killed with these experiments."

Adrian shifted into his Primal Zerg true form, the Netherite armor fading away as his body changed. He quickly broke down the iron blocks surrounding them, storing each piece back in his Crystalline Pearl. Once finished, he returned to human form.

"Time to explore," Adrian announced. "I want to see more of this place."

They walked through endless aisles of furniture. Beds, couches, and tables everywhere they went under the harsh fluorescent lighting.

The occasional Staff member shuffled past, paying them no attention.

"Hey Derflinger, I've been meaning to ask about your magic absorption."

"What about it?"

Adrian grabbed a plate of Swedish meatballs from a food court they passed. He lifted his helmet just enough to eat while they talked. "The remnant memories I got suggest you can absorb spells, but what are the limits?"

"Dot and Line magic? Easy. Triangle spells can take a bit more effort," Derflinger explained. "Square-class magic needs time to absorb. The more powerful the spell, the longer I need."

Adrian finished the last meatball. "What else can you do?"

The sword went quiet for several seconds.

"Well... if this body gets damaged beyond repair, I can transfer myself to another sword."

Adrian stopped walking. "Really? In that case..." He pulled out his enchanted Netherite sword from the Crystalline Pearl.

"Want an upgrade? You look pretty worn down."

"Are you sure?" Derflinger hesitated. "You just went through quite an ordeal with the armor..."

"A sword uses far less material than a full set of armor. The strain should be minimal." Adrian smiled. "Besides, I still have plenty of Golden Apples."

"Well, if you're certain..."

Adrian focused on the paradox, placing the same Minecraft sword in all nine crafting slots. He grunted in pain when his eardrums burst, but compared to the armor conversion this felt like a minor headache. The sword fell to the ground with a metallic clang, purple runes glowing along its length.

He picked up the blade, admiring how the cubic design had transformed into an elegant weapon. The edge looked impossibly sharp.

"So what now? Do I just break your current blade?"

"Yes, but it isn't required." Derflinger sounded nervous. "Just place me next to the new sword and I'll handle the transfer. But... are you absolutely sure about this?"

"The new one is better in every way. Stronger metal, magic-enhanced, and not corroded to the point of near uselessness."

"True enough." Derflinger sighed. "Alright, lay me down next to it."

Adrian placed both swords on the ground. For several seconds nothing happened.

Then cracks spread across the old blade until it shattered into rust-colored fragments. At the same moment, the Netherite sword pulsed with purple light.

"Whoa..." Derflinger's voice came from the new weapon. "This is... incredible! The metal responds perfectly to my consciousness. And these enchantments... I can feel how they enhance my abilities!"

Adrian picked up the sword, and the purple runes brightened a bit at his touch. "Better than steel?"

"Much better! Regular metals always felt restrictive, like wearing clothes that are too tight. But this..." The sword vibrated with excitement. "I can channel magic so much more efficiently now. The sharpness enchantment even amplifies my cutting power!"

"Want to test it out?"

"Absolutely!"

Adrian walked over to a metal shelf and swung Derflinger in a casual arc. The blade sliced through the steel like butter, leaving a clean cut with barely any resistance.

"Amazing!" Derflinger laughed. "I've never cut anything so easily before. What did you say this material was called?"

"Netherite. It's supposed to be the strongest material in the Minecraft world."

"No wonder it feels so good. Hey, try absorbing some magic with me! I bet I can handle much stronger spells now."

Adrian smiled at his companion's enthusiasm. "We'll have to wait until we're back in Tristain or some other magic world for that. Speaking of which..."

He checked his dimensional travel node. Still charging as he expected, but getting closer.

"One more week here should do it. Want to explore more of the store while we wait?"

"Lead the way, partner! Just try not to get us killed by those faceless things."

A Staff member rounded the corner, pushing an empty cart. Adrian grinned and rushed forward, swinging Derflinger in wild arcs. The blade cut through the creature's torso easily, but...

"No, no, NO!" Derflinger protested. "What are you doing? You're swinging me around like a club! I'm a sword, not a baseball bat!"

Adrian paused mid-swing. "Does it matter? The cuts work fine."

"It matters because you'll get yourself killed fighting anyone who actually knows how to use a sword! Here, let me teach you the basics at least."

Over the next several days, they found a quiet section of the store with enough space to practice. Derflinger guided Adrian through proper stances and basic guards.

"Keep your feet shoulder-width apart," Derflinger instructed. "The sword should feel like an extension of your arm, not a separate tool."

Adrian adjusted his grip, moving through the positions Derflinger described. High guard, middle guard, low guard.

Each stance flowed into attacks and defenses.

"Better! Now practice these cuts. Start from your shoulder, not your wrist. Let the weight of the blade do the work."

They spent hours working on fundamental strikes.

Derflinger explained how to read an opponent's body language, when to press forward and when to create distance.

"Swordplay isn't about wild swinging," Derflinger explained. "It's about control and timing. Knowing when to strike and how to protect yourself."

Adrian practiced ripostes against imaginary attacks, learning to transition smoothly between defense and offense. The movements felt awkward at first, but gradually became more natural.

"We can't do proper sparring without a partner," Derflinger admitted. "But at least now you aren't flailing around like a drunk peasant."

Adrian smiled as he moved through another practice sequence. The sword techniques might prove useful if he ever needed to fight in human form. Especially against mages, they'd get very surprised if he absorbed their spells with Derflinger right before he cut them apart.

"Ready to try those cuts again?" Derflinger asked. "This time with proper form?"

Another Staff member appeared in the distance.

"Good timing." Adrian settled into a proper guard stance, blade raised and ready.

The Staff member fell in three clean cuts - not perfect, but much better than his earlier wild swings.

"Well, at least you won't embarrass me anymore," Derflinger sighed. "But you'll need a real teacher if you want to improve further than a novice. Someone who can actually spar with you and correct your form in real-time."

Adrian nodded, placing Derflinger against his armor where the sword stuck magnetically to the Netherite plate. "Better than nothing. And the basics might come in handy."

They continued walking through the endless aisles until Adrian spotted something unusual.

A phone mounted on the wall. The beige plastic looked old but well-maintained.

"What's that doing here?" Derflinger asked.

Adrian picked up the receiver. A voice immediately came through, speaking in disjointed words:

"Blue carpet folding yesterday inside breakfast quantum differential expanding marketplace swimming pool..."

"Hello?" Adrian tried.

"...doorknob butterfly quantum expanding differential marketplace inside yesterday blue carpet folding..."

The voice kept rambling, ignoring his attempts to communicate. Adrian hung up the phone with a frown.

"That was strange."

"What did it say?"

"Nothing that made sense. Just random words strung together." Adrian stared at the phone. "I wonder if…"

A blue glow lit up Adrian's eyes. He stared at the phone intently.

"Partner? What's happening?"

Adrian just grabbed the phone and yanked it off the wall, wires snapping with a sharp crack. He held the device in both hands as the blue glow intensified. Dimensional Energy flowed from the phone into the node, and numbers flickered in his mind: 1%, 3%, 7%...

The attunement settled at 10% and stopped.

"This phone... it's one of the materials I need to attune to this dimension." Adrian turned the device over in his hands. "Just like the metals in Minecraft or the Void Magic Fragment in Tristain."

"So we need to find more phones?"

"Probably." Adrian stored the phone in his Crystalline Minecraft Pearl.

He looked down the endless aisle. "It's just a matter of going out there and getting them..."

Adrian kept up a good running pace, following the aisles of identical furniture. Two more phones added another 20% to his attunement level, but the distances between them grew larger each time.

"We must be at least 500 miles from Exchange by now," Derflinger noted as they passed yet another bedroom display.

"Probably more." Adrian slowed down as he spotted lights ahead. Another settlement.

But something felt wrong.

The walls were plain metal shelving units, no decorations or personal touches. Guards stood at fixed points, staring blankly ahead without speaking or moving.

Adrian approached the entrance, and one guard turned mechanically to face him.

"Welcome to Point Suitcase," the man spoke in a monotone voice. "Please enter and follow community guidelines."

Inside, people shuffled between identical metal tables. They ate meatballs in complete silence.

No one spoke. No one smiled.

Empty eyes stared at nothing as they repeated the same actions over and over.

"This is... disturbing," Derflinger whispered.

A woman walked past Adrian, not even glancing at his distinctive armor. She sat down, picked up a fork, and began eating.

"What happened to these people?" Adrian watched as more residents performed their routines like wind-up toys. People finished eating, stood up, walked to designated spots, and just... stood there. Staring at walls or into empty space.

Even when the Staff attacked at night, the defenders moved to their positions without urgency or emotion. They fought back but showed no fear, no anger, no satisfaction in victory.

"We should leave," Derflinger muttered. "This place feels wrong."

Adrian nodded. These people hadn't grown lustful like the hedonistic Exchange. They'd done something worse.

They'd given up completely.