'Personality Reset' 'Neural Theft'

Shota looked down. Originally, data channels used data protocols to convert and transmit data from one virtual node to another, much like switching pages on ancient computers. They were usually incredibly fast, vanishing in a flash. Even if the process failed, all that appeared was a blank page.

But now, things were different. Shota could even see an entirely special layer.

Massive neural currents appeared within the virtual layer, stretching as far as the eye could see. Each current seemed to be an intense thought.

Just one glance was enough to make Shota feel as though his head was about to explode.

Fortunately, terrifying flames suddenly appeared in the next moment, burning through the data layer and the code layer. A figure within the flames seemed to notice him. After thinking for a moment, it sent a giant claw flying out of the flames and grabbed Shota.

With that single claw, Shota felt even his physical body in reality begin to burn. His body was burned to ashes in reality, then reshaped within the flames.

"You're fairly talented, kid. You actually weren't hit by neural theft."

"Neural theft? What's that?"

Shota asked instinctively, but then remembered his current state. He lowered his head and saw that his entire body was burning with code flames. Incomprehensible code transformations formed black flames that seemed capable of burning through anything. Beneath his feet, an unfamiliar divine bird was soaring through lightning.

Yet standing atop the divine bird's head was the back of a woman. Flames coiled around her as well, but she radiated an awe-inspiring aura that made her impossible to look at directly.

In Shota's eyes, Paradise Bird had completely transformed into a flame deity. A Tier Three information lifeform could absolutely be called a deity on a planetary scale.

Soon, his