LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 156: Chapter 155
As Alex delved deeper into his virtual reality experiments, the world outside continued to shift in ways he had never anticipated. The rise of the Stargazer Empire, as his anonymously released research was now called, had created waves that rippled across the globe. While Alex experimented and explored the limits of his new abilities, the world was struggling to understand and adapt to the changes he had unknowingly set in motion.
In major cities, a new group of individuals began to make headlines: The Mentalists. They were ordinary people who had chosen to practice the cultivation techniques Alex had released, techniques designed to strengthen the mind and body without the need for external abilities or gene enhancements. Word had spread through online communities, forums, and underground networks about the mysterious mental techniques that could sharpen focus, increase cognitive ability, and even enhance physical strength through sheer mental discipline.
At first, many had been skeptical. The idea of mental cultivation—training the mind to a point where it could control the body with such precision—seemed far-fetched to most. But as the first batch of Mentalists began to display remarkable improvements, the world started to take notice.
Government officials, news outlets, and research institutions began quietly investigating this new phenomenon. The cultivation techniques were not only accessible but also more effective than the gene enhancements previously championed by people like Dr. Carlisle, who had long promoted physical strength and biological modifications as the future of human evolution. But Carlisle's methods had flaws—while gene enhancements produced stronger individuals, they often came with diminished mental focus and increased aggression. The Mentalists, however, were calm, focused, and controlled. They exhibited a serene power that unnerved some, particularly the elite who had relied on their physical prowess to maintain dominance.
In the corridors of power, discussions grew tense.
"Who is this Stargazer?" one government official asked, pacing in front of a group of advisors in a dimly lit conference room. "Where did he come from? And how is he able to release techniques this advanced without anyone knowing?"
The advisors exchanged worried glances. No one had an answer. The name Stargazer had appeared out of nowhere—first in obscure forums, then gradually gaining attention as people shared their experiences practicing the cultivation techniques. No one knew who Stargazer was, but his teachings had taken the world by storm. Some officials suspected it was the work of a rogue genius, others whispered about government experiments gone wrong. But the truth eluded them all.
"His techniques are spreading faster than we can keep up with," another advisor chimed in, his voice tense. "Every day, more people are reporting heightened mental abilities, enhanced physical coordination, and even longer periods of sustained focus. We've tried to trace the origin of the leaked information, but whoever this Stargazer is, they're well hidden."
"We've also received reports of government workers trying to incorporate these techniques into their training regimens," another added. "Some of them are already showing marked improvements in decision-making and productivity."
The official stopped pacing and turned to face the room. "This has the potential to destabilize everything. If enough people cultivate these techniques, the balance of power could shift again—away from those who rely on brute strength or political influence."
"But we can't shut it down," one of the advisors noted. "It's too widespread, and too many people are benefiting. If we try to stop it, we risk a public backlash. Everyone wants to become a Mentalist now."
The official sighed heavily. "We need to monitor this closely. If the Stargazer is out there, we need to find him. And if we can't, then we need to figure out how to control this movement before it spins out of our grasp."
Meanwhile, in various corners of the world, secret meetings were taking place between groups of hopefuls—people eager to join the ranks of the Mentalists. From students in universities to CEOs of corporations, everyone wanted in. The allure of enhanced mental faculties and the promise of unlocking hidden potential drew them like moths to a flame.
Some governments had even established unofficial programs to test these techniques in controlled environments. In a high-security facility in the heart of Europe, scientists and military officials observed as volunteers performed the mental cultivation exercises from Stargazer's teachings.
"Subject 3 is showing remarkable progress," one scientist said, staring intently at the live feed of a young woman seated cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed in deep concentration. "Her cognitive response time has increased by 45%, and her physical endurance tests are off the charts."
A military general watching nearby grunted. "And her mental focus?"
"Unshakable," the scientist replied. "She's outperformed every enhanced soldier we've tested."
The general leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "We need more like her. If these Mentalists are the next phase of human evolution, then we need to be ahead of the curve."
But not everyone viewed the rise of the Mentalists positively. In boardrooms across the biotech industry, companies like PowerGen—which had already established themselves as giants in biotech thanks to the release of partial hidden code research—were growing increasingly uneasy.
Behind closed doors, executives discussed the growing competition.
"Ever since Stargazer's techniques hit the market, demand for gene enhancements has plummeted," one executive said, his face pale with worry. "People don't want artificial modifications anymore. They want to cultivate their natural abilities."
"Which is why we need to push our new AI system harder," another executive responded sharply. "We can't let this Stargazer empire overshadow us. Our AI is cutting-edge, and we still control the biotechnology sector with our knowledge of the hidden code. We may have released some of the research, but we kept the best for ourselves."
They all nodded in agreement. They had been strategic, releasing only a fraction of the hidden code research that Alex, through Eva the AI, had carefully curated. It had allowed them to remain leaders in the field while keeping humanity's true potential just out of reach.
"But if we don't innovate soon, we're going to lose everything," another voice said grimly. "We need to figure out how to tap into this cosmic energy the ability users are using. If mentalist can train their minds to reach these levels, we need to find a way to integrate it with our technology."
As they spoke, the world outside continued to change. The rise of the Mentalists was only one part of a larger, unseen revolution. And all the while, the mysterious Stargazer—the one who had quietly orchestrated these changes—remained hidden, watching from the shadows as the world adapted to a new reality.