[Alliance] A Letter to Newly Awakened Weirds

"No... humans?" Ren Yi stared blankly. "Then all my classmates, like Lu Zihan, and Teacher Zhang, and our neighbor Aunt Du..."

"Mm." Ren Man nodded, confirming his horrifying suspicion. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he added precisely, "Their shapes are a little different."

A little fucking different in shape?!

"...Bro, could you explain a little more?" It took Ren Yi a long time to squeeze out those words.

Ren Man tilted his head, looking somewhat conflicted. Talking this much in one day was honestly a bit difficult for him.

Then he seemed to think of something. He switched the TV to Alliance One and gestured for Ren Yi to watch.

The news program had just begun. Stirring music rang out, threaded with faint, distorted static, and a blue planet orbited by two moons appeared on the screen.

Wait, was that how the news broadcast's opening had looked before?

Just as Ren Yi was puzzling over the familiar yet unfamiliar images on the TV, the two news anchors appeared on the screen.

The male anchor had a standard square face, but mouths of varying sizes occupied every spot where his facial features should have been. All the mouths opened and closed in sync, piecing together a steady but slightly hollow voice: "Good evening, viewers!"

The female anchor had neat, short black hair and six glowing blue eyes arranged symmetrically along her cheeks. Her eyes turned to the camera in unison as she said elegantly, "Good evening!"

Ren Yi rubbed his eyes hard. Unfortunately, the image before him did not change at all.

Male anchor: "Today is Wednesday, July 14 by the Alliance calendar, and April 4 by the Weird calendar. Welcome to the Weird News Broadcast."

Female anchor: "Just moments ago, a new round of awakening ceremonies for weird younglings concluded successfully. Another 2,726 newly awakened compatriots have become part of the Alliance."

Male anchor: "A total of 2,726 'children' took part in this awakening ceremony, and all successfully awakened as 'younglings,' setting a new record for the number of younglings awakened in a single ceremony."

Female anchor: "This awakening ceremony was presided over by a 'Heartmare' and employed the latest 'Emotional Guidance Method,' effectively reducing the risk of an energy backlash during the younglings' awakening. Their relatives are at their sides, actively helping the newly awakened weirds integrate into the Alliance family."

Male anchor: "We would also like to say a few words to the younglings watching this program. We know you may be feeling very confused, nervous, and afraid right now, but please don't worry. The Alliance will always be there to support you."

Female anchor: "If you have calmed down, please check your 'Weird Account,' formerly your 'student account,' as soon as possible. The Alliance has sent a message to every one of you."

Male anchor: "A special reminder: younglings, please find your 'family' as soon as possible, and make absolutely sure you remain inside their bodies or within ten meters of them. If you cannot do so, you may call the following helpline: 4404-0044."

Male and female anchors, in unison: "Don't worry. You've only... grown up."

Ren Yi stared at the TV, feeling as if his eyes were filled with lead. Even blinking took effort.

The male anchor's face, "all mouths," was switching to international news with utmost professionalism; all six of the female anchor's eyes were fixed on the camera; the background music remained stirring, but to Ren Yi it sounded exceptionally grating.

It wasn't as if he had never watched the news. He was even extremely familiar with the anchors... provided the male anchor was willing to put his facial features back, and the female anchor was willing to merge her eyes.

Only now did he truly understand what Ren Man had meant.

There were no humans in the Alliance.

Not a single one.

Including him.

Ren Yi's mind felt as if it had been gently held under water, yet his breathing was normal, and the water was warm. So he had no time to suffocate and could only be forced to accept it.

Then, just as the news said, "Younglings, please check your Weird Accounts as soon as possible," his phone suddenly vibrated.

Ren Yi looked down and saw a notification pop up on the screen:

[You have 1 new unread message]

He felt an absurd urge to say to the phone, "Wait, I'm not ready yet."

Unfortunately, the phone showed no intention of accommodating him, and the message quickly began to unfold.

"It's important," Ren Man added faintly from beside him.

As if on cue, the phone vibrated.

[Please read as soon as possible.]

Like a prompt.

Like a threat.

Like... concern.

Ren Yi took a breath and opened the message:

[A letter from the Alliance to newly awakened weirds]

Dear Ren Yi:

Hello.

By the time you read this letter, you should have "grown up" and begun observing the world with a consciousness of your own for the first time.

We would like to congratulate you!

Welcome to the "Pan-Galactic Weird Alliance."

Perhaps you are still feeling confused.

Please do not worry.

Every weird experiences similar confusion at the beginning of awakening.

What you are experiencing is merely a small growing pain.

No matter what kind of being you become, as long as you abide by the Alliance's rules, the Alliance will recognize, respect, and protect "you."

Please read the following instructions carefully. They are important guidelines for your life from this point forward.

[Attachment 1: Basic rules for Alliance citizens]

All Alliance citizens are obligated to commit the following rules to memory and strictly abide by them:

1. The Alliance, in full the "Pan-Galactic Weird Alliance," is the home, support, and haven of all weirds. Please refrain from any action that undermines the unity of the Alliance.

2. All the Alliance's principles center on "world, rules, and survival." Please do not question any of the Alliance's decisions.

3. Please cherish and maintain your "Weird Account." Do not casually discard, cover, devour, or alter your Weird Account. If your account name changes on its own, stop what you are doing immediately and wait where you are for rescue.

4. The "family" is the basic unit of the Alliance. Your "family members" are absolutely safe and trustworthy. Please maintain good family relationships. Do not leave home without permission, abandon family members, replace family members, damage family members, or create replicas of family members.

5. "Children" and "younglings" have the highest priority within the Alliance. Their growth is planned by the Alliance as a whole. Any attempt to extract, enhance, weaken, prematurely awaken, forcibly regress, or independently cultivate a youngling's abilities constitutes a serious violation.

Ren Yi suddenly felt his throat tighten a little, a dull ache born of being forced to accept reality.

So the world had never been abnormal. The abnormal one was him, the person who had transmigrated here.

So... to sum it up:

The Pan-Galactic Weird Alliance... the world where he had lived for over a decade, was a human society made up of a group of "weirds" in disguise.

The classmates, teachers, and neighbors who had once been familiar to him were all beings just like him, only "different in shape."

"Children" were unawakened weirds, while "younglings" were awakened juvenile weirds.

The good news was that he was no longer human and had become a "youngling," so he too was now protected.

The bad news was that he, who believed he had been human for two lifetimes, was having a bit of a meltdown.

No, all the "children" in the Alliance were raised as humans, so presumably all the "younglings" were having the same kind of meltdown he was now.

That realization was like a pebble tossed into a still lake, sending ripples through his chaotic thoughts. It brought a sense of disorientation at being torn away from his former understanding, as well as an indescribable feeling of relief, as though the dust had settled.

He stared at the words "growing pain" on the screen. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he couldn't help grumbling to himself.

That feeling just now, when I couldn't even control my own form and my senses were in complete disarray, was a "small growing pain"? The Alliance sure has a way with euphemisms.

Ren Yi then opened the second attachment.