Psycho-Platy’s: (Book2) Zero Point

Prologue 

The Call to the Depths

The war with the Overlords had barely left a mark on the surface of the multiverse, but beneath it, something much darker stirred. They had fought, they had won—at least for now—but they knew better than to believe the battle was over. The multiverse was in a constant state of flux, shifting between the threads of reality, and their victory had only cracked open the door to a much larger game.

Platypus stood alone in the lab, fingers dancing across the console, calibrating the connection. His mind raced as he worked, constantly calculating risks, probabilities, and technical intricacies. This wasn’t just about surviving. This was about understanding—about seeking out a place beyond the reach of the Overlords. He could feel their malevolent influence creeping at the edges of his thoughts. The only way to sever their hold was to go deeper, far deeper, into the very roots of the mycelial web. **But it would take everything.** 

“I’ll be damned if I let them win,” Platypus muttered to himself, the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him.

Across the room, Beardy leaned back in his chair, his hand absently tracing the thick black beard that had become his trademark. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he watched Platypus work. “You know, man,” Beardy called out with a chuckle, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to build a spaceship to some far-off dimension.”

Platypus didn’t look up. “I might as well be. There’s nothing normal about what we’re about to do, Beardy.”

Beardy grinned, the edges of his carefree optimism cutting through the tension like a knife. "Hey, what's a little weirdness when we've already been face-to-face with the end of reality a few times, right?" He gave a half-joking shrug. "Let’s just make sure we get this one right. I don’t want to die in some weird fungal afterlife."

Doc, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a handful of *Koh'cker* mushrooms, looked up, his eyes soft but alert. His voice was calm, even in the face of impending madness. “This isn’t just about surviving, Beardy. It’s about understanding the balance. The mushrooms—the mycelial web—it’s not just a force. It’s an ecosystem. We’re just small players in it.”

His words hung in the air, a reminder of the deeper, often unspoken purpose of their mission. Doc’s quiet wisdom was something the team had come to rely on—his grounding presence a soft counterbalance to the unpredictable forces they were about to face.

Yak, standing at the edge of the room, a look of barely contained energy flickering in his eyes, gave a low, excited laugh. "Well, if we're talking balance and ecosystems, I say we tip the scales a little, huh?" His eyes twinkled with mischief, his hands flexing in anticipation. “Let's shake things up. See what the universe really has to offer."

Doc shot him a look. “Yak, you’ve got enough energy to power a small city. Just don’t go blowing something up this time, yeah?”

Yak shrugged nonchalantly, his grin widening. “No promises.”

Platypus glanced over at him, giving a small, knowing smirk. “Keep your head straight, Yak. This isn't the time for chaos.”

“I know, I know,” Yak said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “But who says chaos can’t be useful sometimes?”

PsychoTripz, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up. His voice was smooth, almost hypnotic, like he was conversing with something beyond the material world. "The key," he said softly, "is not to control the chaos, but to surrender to it." His eyes, wild but focused, met each of their gazes. "If we try to fight the web, it will break us. If we merge with it, we might just find what we need."

The room fell into a brief silence, each of them contemplating his words. Platypus nodded, his mind already moving forward, organising the plan in his head.

"We're ready," Platypus said at last. "Everyone, get your anchors. This is it. Once we enter the network, there’s no going back."

Beardy was the first to step forward, his face still alight with optimism. “Let’s see what the Zero Point’s really made of.”

Doc, steady as ever, quietly accepted the mushrooms, his expression one of quiet acceptance. "We’ll find what we need. We always do. Together."

Yak raised his fist into the air, his excitement palpable. "Time to break reality in half!"

PsychoTripz closed his eyes, already sinking into his meditative space. “Remember,” he murmured, more to himself than to the others, “We are part of the web, but we are not the web itself.”

Each of them stood, the weight of the mission and their shared purpose sinking in. They were about to step beyond everything they knew—into a realm where the fabric of time and space would stretch, fold, and twist in ways they could barely comprehend.

Platypus activated the device with a swift press of a button. The lab around them faded, their minds beginning to merge with the mycelial network. The threads of reality blurred, and the world collapsed into an endless kaleidoscope of shifting colours and sensations.

As they descended into the unknown, one thing was certain: they had come together for this moment, and whatever came next, they would face it as one.

And in the depths of the Zero Point, the Overlords waited, ever watchful, ever hungry.

 

Chapter 1:

The Aftermath and the Rebuilding

The battle with the Overlords had left scars across multiple dimensions, stretching the very fabric of reality. The Overlords had been driven back, but their grip on the multiverse was not broken. With each passing moment, the team knew they had little time before the balance tipped again.

They gathered in the dimly lit lab, a sanctuary from the chaotic aftermath. A vast array of unfamiliar equipment surrounded them—screens flickered with images from worlds far beyond their own, inter-dimensional charts mapped out the unseen connections between realms, and mystic symbols danced across the walls. PsychoTripz, the enigmatic figure at the centre of the lab, worked furiously at a terminal, lost in his thoughts.

Beardy broke the silence with a wry smile, the rough stubble on his face catching the lab light. "Guess there won’t be any victory parties, huh?"

PsychoTripz didn’t look up, his hands moving in fluid, erratic patterns as if the symbols on the screen were alive. “Victory is an illusion, man. Reality isn’t static—it’s a shifting kaleidoscope. We win here, but it’s already changing somewhere else. It's all a game we can never truly finish.”

Doc, ever the realist, was curled up on the floor, surrounded by mushroom samples. He flicked a **Koh’cker** mushroom in his hand. “Tripz means that this battle was just one of many. We’ve shifted the tides in our world, but others are still under siege. We have to keep pushing if we’re going to win the war.”

Yak paced back and forth, eyes glinting with an intensity that seemed out of place in the aftermath of battle. “The Mycelial Web is still a mystery to us. We’ve seen its potential, but we don’t fully understand its depths. If we keep digging, we might uncover more than just the Overlords. But that’s dangerous... We’re risking more than our worlds.”

Platypus, standing near the strange fungi growing at the centre of the room, nodded gravely. “It’s the mushrooms. Our connection to the fungi—it’s the key. But I’m seeing a path that could go deeper. If we access the deeper layers of the Web, we might sever the Overlords’ hold on reality. But that path... there’s a cost.”

Beardy raised an eyebrow. “A cost? What are you talking about?”

Platypus sighed. “There are rumours of a place beyond the known layers of the Web. A place the Overlords cannot reach, a space where they cannot manipulate reality. But the Mushroom Council has warned me—it’s not just dangerous, it’s perilous. Entering the Zero Point, we could lose ourselves entirely.”

There was a heavy silence. Doc, his brow furrowed in thought, finally spoke. “You’re saying we might not come back if we dive that deep?”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Platypus replied. “But doing nothing is worse. The Overlords exist in the cracks between worlds. To stop them completely, we need to sever their power source at the root.”

Beardy, ever the optimist, grinned. “If it’s a one-way ticket, then it sounds like it’s time for one hell of a ride. I’m in. As long as we do this together.”

“I’m with you,” Yak declared, his eyes gleaming with determination. “We’ve got this. And the mushrooms have always been our guide.”

Doc hesitated, clutching his mushrooms like a lifeline. “I don’t know if we’re ready for this. We’ve barely made it through the last dive. But... if it’s the only option, then I trust you all. I’ll follow.”

PsychoTripz, now standing, looked around at them, his face a mixture of resolve and uncertainty. “We’re all wanderers in this. But one thing’s clear—we have each other. That’s what matters.”

Platypus smiled. “We’ll do this. But we need to prepare. The deeper we go, the more we’ll need the collective strength of the **Platypus PsychoNaughts** community to guide us. The connection will be fragile, but with their help, we might stand a chance.”

Just as the group began to settle into the weight of their decision, PsychoTripz let out a low laugh, breaking the tension. He gestured to a small, ancient vial resting on the desk—its contents swirling with impossible colors. The air around it seemed to hum with energy. "I've been thinking... we’ll need something extra when we dive deeper, beyond the mushrooms."

Beardy raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? We don’t need more weird science, Tripz. We need focus. Mind over matter. We’re Psychonauts, not... whatever you’re about to suggest."

PsychoTripz grinned, his eyes alight with a strange intensity. "It’s not about ‘weird science,’ Beardy. This serum..." He held up the vial for the group to see. “It’s a manifestation of ancient knowledge—ethnobotanicals from realms that exist outside the map of reality. It’s connected to the Mycelial Web, but not in the way you think. It’s something more. It’s a way to unlock the very essence of consciousness itself."

There was a pause as the team exchanged wary glances.

PsychoTripz continued, his voice softer now, filled with the weight of the journey they'd all shared. "This serum isn’t just some random concoction. It’s a combination of the very essence of each of you. Platypus' *StarDew*, Beardy’s *Gandalf*, Doc’s *Koh’cker*, Yak’s *Yack Attack*—and my own serum, the one I originally created to connect with you two, Platypus and Beardy, back when all this started."

He paused, allowing the words to sink in. "Each of you brought something unique to the table, something that transcended mere physicality. These strains, combined with the serum, form something... more powerful than the sum of its parts. This is how we’re going to deepen our connection to the Web. This is the bridge we need to cross into that next layer, the one where the Overlords hold their true power."

Yak raised an eyebrow, studying the vial with newfound interest. "So, you think this will amplify our connection to the Web... make us *stronger*?"

“Exactly,” PsychoTripz replied. "It’s not about physical strength or weapons. It’s about amplifying our mental and spiritual connection. This serum will allow us to tap into the deepest parts of our consciousness, pushing us beyond what we’ve ever experienced. The Overlords can control the fabric of reality, but they can’t control what we *become*."

Doc scratched his chin, still skeptical. "And you're sure this is safe?"

PsychoTripz looked at the vial, his expression shadowed by the weight of his own uncertainty. "Safe? No. But necessary. We've fought the Overlords before with our minds alone. This... is the next step. We can’t afford to hold back."

Platypus stepped forward, the weight of the moment settling on him. "If we’re doing this, we need to be prepared. This isn’t just about pushing deeper into the Web. It's about changing who we are in the process."

Beardy smiled, his grin never faltering. "Well, if we're going all the way, I’m in. Let’s see where this leads. But we do it together—mind, body, and mushroom.”

PsychoTripz smiled, the manic spark still in his eyes. "Then let’s get started."

Chapter 2: 

The PsychoNaughts Assemble

The decision was made. They couldn’t face this alone. Platypus turned to the *Platypus PsychoNaughts*—a community scattered across worlds, united in their understanding of the deep, the strange, and the unknown. A quick message to the PsychoNaughts subreddit brought a flood of responses.

PsychoNaughts User: MyceliumMancer 

*“The Zero Point exists beyond linear time. It’s not a place but a process—a surrender. Don’t try to control it. Let go, and let the Web guide you.”*

PsychoNaughts User: **SporePhoenix**  

*“I’ve been there. It’s disorienting. The Overlords thrive in the Zero Point, but if you remain centered, you can navigate. Trust your anchor—without it, you’re lost.”*

Platypus relayed the messages, his voice filled with gravity. “We can’t go in blind. We need anchors—mental tethers to the physical world. If we don’t stay grounded, the Web will consume us.”

Doc frowned. “The Zero Point... it’s like the Mushroom Council mentioned. But they never explained it this way. They just warned us.”

Yak cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. “Sounds like my kind of place. Chaos is what I live for. But we’ll need a map—something to guide us through the shifting layers.”

Beardy turned to Platypus. “So what’s the plan, then?”

Platypus nodded, eyes gleaming with purpose. “We connect. Each of us will create a personal anchor—something to hold onto when everything starts to shift. The PsychoNaughts have done this before. They can guide us through the unknown.”

They all stood in silence, reflecting on the gravity of what lay ahead. The stakes were higher than ever, and they were about to venture deeper than any of them had before. But they knew they were in this together.

Beardy finally broke the silence with a nod. “Alright, let’s do this”

 

Chapter 3: 

The Descent

The air in the lab felt heavier as they prepared for the dive. Platypus adjusted the controls, his hands steady despite the anticipation. “Connection’s ready,” he said. “Is everyone prepared?”

Doc hesitated, then nodded. “We’re in this together. Let’s make it count.”

They ingested their respective mushroom strains—Platypus with **StarDew**, Beardy with **Gandalf**, Doc with **Koh’cker**, and Yak with **Yak Attack**—and within moments, their minds were flooded with visions of the vast, interconnected Web beneath their feet.

“Focus on your anchor,” Platypus urged. “When you feel yourself slipping, remember what grounds you. And don’t forget: we are connected. Stay tethered to each other.”

Yak’s grin stretched wider, his eyes darting as he tried to contain the excitement. “I’m ready. Let’s dive into the chaos.”

PsychoTripz’s voice cut through the room. “Let’s find that Zero Point.”

With that, they closed their eyes and let the mycelial network pull them in, each of them bracing for the unknown.

Chapter 4:

Into the Zero Point

The lab dissolved. Reality became liquid, shifting, fractal. Platypus felt himself unravel as his mind expanded, reaching out into the infinite layers of the Web. He could feel the pulse of mycelium vibrating through his very being, but the Overlords lurked just beyond reach, their presence a constant shadow.

PsychoNaughts User: **MyceliumMancer** (in his mind) 

*“Stay grounded. The Web may devour you if you let it. Remember: you are the Web, but you are not consumed by it.”*

Platypus’s thoughts turned inward to the **Platypus Technical** community. He focused on their collective knowledge of mushroom cultivation, but this time, it wasn’t just about control. It was about connection. He reached out, pulling on their wisdom, their shared experiences.

Beardy’s mind was a storm of chaotic visions, but he found his anchor in the presence of **Gandalf**. The comforting warmth of the mushroom soothed him, grounding him. “I’m not alone in this,” he muttered, finding peace in the vastness.

Doc struggled, feeling the labyrinthine complexity of the Zero Point pushing him to the edge. But he remembered—**Koh’cker** wasn’t about control, it was about surrender. He let go, embraced the chaos, and the Web responded.

Yak, always the one to dive headfirst, felt himself stretching beyond his limits. But **Yak Attack** grounded him, giving him the clarity to navigate the shifting layers of the Web.

PsychoTripz was the first to fully embrace the Zero Point, his mind dancing between realities. He laughed to himself as the Overlords tried to invade, but he wasn’t afraid. He

had seen this before.

“We’re in,” he whispered. “We’re all in.”

The Zero Point was vast. But so were they.

Chapter 5:

Fractured Realities

The Zero Point felt like everything and nothing at once—a flickering, shifting space where time was bent and reality had no true form. **Platypus** could sense the others around him, but they were each lost in their own fractal worlds, untethered by time. The hum of the **StarDew** strain vibrated through him, like a melody that he couldn’t quite comprehend but felt deeply in his soul.

**Platypus**, his mind flickering through dimensions, felt the pressure mounting—the Overlords were here, their presence corrupting the fabric of the Web, trying to suppress its true potential. He could feel it in the center of his being—the energy of **StarDew**, a strain of enlightenment, resonating with him. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

**Beardy’s** voice came through his thoughts, shaky yet determined. “Platypus, we’ve got to push through. I’m barely holding on with **Gandalf**. This whole place is a mind-melter.”

“I know, Beardy. We’ve got to focus,” Platypus responded, his voice steady despite the chaos. He reached inward, deeper into **StarDew**. It was a strain of cosmic clarity, one that tied him directly to the Mycelial Web—an anchor in the storm.

But then **PsychTripz's** voice reverberated through his mind, soothing and surreal. “It’s not about power alone. We must expand our awareness. I see the pathways... the Web itself is showing me things.”

Platypus’s heart raced. **PsychTripz** had always been the most visionary of them all, his **Tripzium Visionary** strain offering him access to alternative realities and planes of thought. He could shift between dimensions and perceive the flow of time differently.

**“You’re right, PsychTripz,”** Platypus said, the weight of their collective powers starting to dawn on him. “We have to expand beyond just our individual strains. Together, we’ll see a bigger picture.”

Yak’s voice, chaotic and electric, cracked through the stillness. “I’m telling you, I can *feel* the **Yak Attack** strain in me—it’s *everywhere*. The energy is like a fire, it’s spreading, but I don’t know how to control it!”

“You don’t need to control it,” Platypus said. “You need to focus it. We all do. Each of our strains is a piece of the whole.”

Yak grinned. “Hell yeah, I’m with you. Let’s break this thing wide open.”

Chapter 6:

A Vision from the Mycelium Council

Suddenly, a flood of visions overwhelmed Platypus. Faces, forms, and symbols—each one more cryptic than the last. The figures in the vision were the **Mycelium Council**, ancient and wise, composed of the Web’s living consciousness. They appeared as semi-transparent, pulsating beings of light and energy, each representing a different strain of the Web.

Platypus, feeling the pulse of **StarDew**, took a breath and focused. The voice of the **Mycelium Council** broke through the static, ancient and measured.

“Your minds are teetering on the edge of the Web,” a deep voice echoed. “The Overlords have shackled the flow of knowledge. But together, you carry the key to their undoing.”

Platypus spoke, his voice full of wonder and confusion. “How do we stop them? How do we sever their connection to the Web?”

The green figure of the Council, glowing with an aura of wisdom, answered. “You must combine your strains. Each strain is a part of the Web’s greater fabric. Alone, they are powerful. But united, they become something more—something that can sever the Overlords’ tether to the Web.”

**PsychTripz**’s presence pulsed through the group. “I see it now—the dimensions are all connected. We can break the Overlords’ hold if we align our consciousness across the Web.”

Platypus nodded, knowing that **Tripzium Visionary** wasn’t just about seeing the path—it was about seeing **through** the path, perceiving the quantum intersections where their strains could unite. “PsychTripz, you’ve got it. We need to tap into the flow, to see the truth beneath the layers.”

The figure in green nodded. “Yes, PsychTripz. Your strain will illuminate the path forward. The Web itself will guide you.”

Yak’s voice echoed out from the group. “So we need to mix our mushrooms like a crazy power smoothie?”

The figure in green nodded again. “Yes, Yak. The combined energy of your unique strains will disrupt the Overlords’ grip. But be warned—this is not a simple task. To unite, you must synchronize your thoughts, trust in each other’s power, and let go of individual control. It is a sacrifice. You will become something new.”

Platypus felt the weight of their words. The Mycelium Council’s warning was clear—**unity** was the only path forward, but it came with a cost.

“You must surrender to the Web,” the figure in green continued. “If you trust in your connection, the Web will guide you. Now, prepare.”

And with that, the vision faded, leaving the group suspended in the surreal, shifting space.

 

Chapter 7:

The Unification of Strains

Platypus’s heart raced as the others gathered around him. Each of them felt the deep pull of their respective strains—the latent power of **StarDew**, the ancient wisdom of **Gandalf**, the chaotic fire of **Yak Attack**, the cerebral clarity of **Koh’cker**, and the expanded consciousness of **Tripzium Visionary**.

“We have to trust each other,” Platypus said, his voice steady as he took a deep breath. “We’re combining our strains. All of them. This is the only way to cut the Overlords’ connection to the Web.”

Yak nodded, already tapping into the energy of **Yak Attack**, feeling the fire rush through him. “Let’s bring the noise, Platypus. I’m ready.”

**Beardy**, still fighting to focus, said, “This is... intense. But we’ve got to stick together. I can feel **Gandalf** stabilizing me, helping me focus.”

Doc’s eyes glowed with a quiet intensity, the pulse of **Koh’cker** threading its way through his consciousness. “If we’re doing this, we’ll need absolute clarity. Let’s not lose ourselves in the process.”

And then **PsychTripz** spoke, his voice distant but centered. “I’m already seeing it. The fractures, the angles, the way the Web spirals. We need to align, not just with our strains—but with the Web itself. I can see the **unified force** we can become.”

Platypus held out his hands. “Focus. Each strain is a part of the Web. When we combine them, we’ll amplify the Web’s power.”

They closed their eyes, their minds opening. Platypus felt the hum of **StarDew**, a wave of clarity and light. **Beardy** felt the wisdom of **Gandalf** reach deep within him, offering both strength and calm. **Yak**’s **Yak Attack** surged like an uncontrollable fire, but now, he channeled it through the unity of their connection. **Doc’s** **Koh’cker** strain pierced through the chaos, offering order and vision. And through it all, **PsychTripz**'s **Tripzium Visionary** saw the connections between them all, a web of endless possibilities and dimensions intersecting.

The strains began to **merge**—an intricate, harmonious flow of energy. The **StarDew** energy opened the path, the **Yak Attack** fire surged through it, and **Koh’cker** and **Gandalf** anchored them, amplifying and guiding the forces. **Tripzium Visionary** illuminated every corner, connecting their individual energies to the Web’s greater design.

Together, they became something else—**one unified force**—pushing through the fabric of the Zero Point, their combined power now focused on severing the Overlords’ link.

 

Chapter 8:

Breaking the Tether

The world around them shattered, the boundaries of the Zero Point splitting like glass. Platypus felt the overwhelming surge of energy as their combined strains clashed against the Overlords' connection to the Web.

“Now!” Platypus shouted, as his mind expanded beyond himself, flowing through the strands of **StarDew**. He could see it—the Overlords’ tether, a black thread wrapped tightly around the Web, sucking away its essence.

**Yak**, roaring with energy, unleashed the full power of **Yak Attack**, the chaotic fire swirling around them, propelling their combined force deeper into the core of the Web.

**Beardy’s** mind, tempered by **Gandalf**, saw the path forward, and he directed their energy like a shaman guiding a storm. “We need to cut this thread—now!”

**Doc’s** clarity sharpened. “We’re almost there. Just a little more. Focus the power of the strains together.” With a final, collective effort, their combined strains pulsed out in a brilliant wave, striking the Overlords’ tether. The black thread began to unravel, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. The Overlords’ grip on the Web weakened, their hold crumbling away like dust.

 

With a final, resounding pulse, the tether snapped.

Chapter 9:

The Price of Unity

The release was immediate and overwhelming. Platypus felt the flow of energy as the Mycelial Web surged back to life, its pulse stronger than ever. But as the Overlords were cast out, there was a feeling of loss—an echo of something that had changed within them.

They were no longer just human. They had become part of the Web. **Unified**, their combined strains had created something entirely new.

**Yak’s** voice cut through the quiet. “That was insane. We just tore apart the Overlords. But… did we change? I feel... different.”

Platypus felt it too. The connection to the Web was deeper, more intimate, but something had shifted in their very beings. The **StarDew** strain had opened his mind to a new level of awareness. **Beardy** felt the ancient wisdom of **Gandalf** intertwining with his essence, guiding him in ways he couldn’t fully understand. **Doc** could feel **Koh’cker** threading through his consciousness, connecting him to the pulse of all things. **Yak’s** chaotic energy was no longer wild—it was grounded. And **PsychTripz**—his **Tripzium Visionary** strain now intertwined with theirs—saw not just the Web, but its infinite possibilities, opening doors to new planes of understanding.

“We did it,” Platypus said, a smile tugging at his lips. “We’ve changed, yes. But we’ve become something more powerful. Something that can protect the Web.”

 

Chapter 10:

The Aftermath

Days passed, but their connection to the Web remained strong. The Mycelial Web had been freed, and in its depths, the Overlords were nothing but a memory. The group sat together, each of them in their own world yet undeniably connected.

“We’re ready for whatever comes next,” Platypus said, his voice steady but full of resolve. “Together, we’ve unlocked something new. And this is just the beginning.”