บท 10: System Observatory

A reddish sun emanated a fierce orange hue, existing in the centre of a network of planets and asteroid belts revolving around it. A solar flare streamed out of it, making a gigantic planetary-sized arc before being pulled into the sun thanks to its gravity.

It released a solar flux, powerful enough to combust any and all electronic circuits. The flux spread around radially, travelling everywhere when suddenly, a large shadow was cast. The cause was a humanoid creature resembling a goblin but sporting garnish wings that absorbed the solar flux, empowering itself.

It floated through the void, slowly travelling through a certain orbit, searching for the planet that once used to exist here.

The aforementioned planet had disappeared, but there was no disturbance in the gravitational field of the place that should have occurred with the disappearance of such a large mass in the intricately woven network of gravitational fields between the sun, the various planets, and the asteroid belts.

So, the entity was aware that the planet it was searching for was still here but just hidden from its senses.

This wasn't the sole entity here though as there were multiple entities of all forms searching around, intending to scour for any traces that might exist. They had even blockaded the orbit of the disappeared planet in order to force it to reveal itself.

But, they had been trying all along with no signs of success.

Each entity contained a powerful presence, embodying a certain concept, representing the peak of their respective race.

Grade 2 System Hosts!

B-001; this was the codeword used to address the disappeared world. The prefix of 'B' was the world's status as a Mental Energy Farm, with Mental Energy being the food of Systems and the reason they entered the bodies of Hosts in various universes.

The rankings ranged from S to F depending on the quantity and quality of Mental Energy that could be gathered from the various worlds. And, even a B-ranked world was rare, the aforementioned planet even rarer because of its uniqueness—of it being capable of looping once every twenty years.

And, the suffix of '001' dictated that it was ranked the highest among the B-ranked worlds.

Though, this wouldn't be the reason to mobilise countless Grade 2 System Hosts. The cause was Rhizen himself.

During the 48th loop of his world, Rhizen had participated in a certain war with the Systems, resulting in his victory, at the end of which he obtained freedom for his world, prying it out of the control of the Systems.

This independence resulted in the establishment of the Post-Apocalyptic Dispatch Society, declaring the eradication of the Grade 3 System—Apocalypse.

This was the first time in their history that a world under their rule obtained freedom. And hence, pretty much every single System in existence was raging to kill and destroy this organisation.

But, they had yet to find any traces regarding it.

Of course, the actual situation was pretty different from their expectations.

Gulp!

A nervous woman stared at the figure of the large goblin-type humanoid, trembling in fear from time to time as she saw the eyes of the entity spanning bigger than their entire satellite.

This satellite had been established atop the moon revolving around their home planet, the one searched for by every single System.

System Observatory!

Their goal was to keep a track of every System that was searching for their planet. And all along, their planet hadn't vanished anywhere else. It was still in the same place, following its original orbit.

But, they had employed certain tactics to escape the senses of the Grade 2 Systems.

Currently, in the observatory, countless discussions transpired regarding the moves taken by the Grade 2 Systems as countermeasures were initiated immediately after.

Suddenly, a woman sporting a crewcut, donning the Celestial Armour while in a meditative stance opened her eyes, feeling pain as the special tiara on her head emanated blinding light.

Upon seeing the scene, everyone around them became nervous.

"What's the issue?" A noble voice resounded, stemming from a youth that had wavy hair reaching his shoulders, sporting scars under his side-burns. He was seated in the commanding seat of the System Observatory, the one in charge of everything regarding their home planet's defence.

Saint—Warktor!

He was one of the three Saints of the Post-Apocalyptic Dispatch Society, taking the management role necessary to run the place and prepare their rescue operations.

"Sire, it's from Saint Rhizen." The woman with the crew cut saluted in response, stating hurriedly, "The enemy is too strong for the current him to handle. So, he's requesting to harness Coincidental Luck."

"Coincidental Luck…? Already?" Warktor raised an eyebrow, mildly shocked, "Isn't this too early?"

He then frowned, gazing at the goblin-like entity flying right beside them, looking like it was about to crash into them. He then shook his head, "Access denied. Our enemies would sense such a massive activation of Luck. He can at most use a form of Luck below level 30."

"Tell him this," Warktor said.

The lady with the crewcut closed her eyes again, communicating with Rhizen before sweating nervously, hesitating on whether or not to convey the information as she looked at Warktor, revealing the details in the end, "Sir, he's cursing in response."

Warktor sighed as he recalled, "I believe there's only one luck that he can use at the moment, right? Among the Luck-based Systems, only one was below level 30."

"Yes, and he doesn't have enough capability to harness it properly. So, it's not that strong." The lady with the crewcut said, "He would be able to best his opponent if he were to rely upon Coincidental Luck. But…"

"Tch!" Warktor clicked his tongue upon seeing the goblin-like entity almost about to come into contact with them as he said in a hurry, "Tell him that we'll be in a state of blackout for the next two days. So, he only has himself and the forces in his command to rely upon."

"If he fails, we have no other choice but to give up on that world."

"Yes, Saint." The lady with the crewcut nodded before transmitting the details. Immediately after that, their satellite station turned ethereal, watching the goblin-like figure phase through them and vanish.

Their hearts trembled upon feeling the terrifying power emanating from it, nervously watching with bated breaths as its body passed through them, displaying a sea of flesh mass of varying grotesqueness.

It took an entire hour for the goblin-like creature to move past the System Observatory as it then began to phase through their home planet.

Following it were countless other entities of similar stature, each brimming with a suffocating strength.

'So, this is the might of a Grade 2 System…' Warktor thought as he observed everyone in the System Observatory entering a state of stasis, like they were dolls. Their thoughts were buried in the depths of their mind, unable to transmit any Mental Energy, preventing the Systems from catching onto them.

Thoughts generated Mental Energy. And hence, even thinking about Systems was dangerous. If not for their defensive preparations in place, the Systems would have long sensed their location.

After all, Mental Energy was the food for the Systems and the energy they depended upon to grow and develop. And it was also through Mental Energy that they obtained all the necessary information to generate a Quest for their Host.

So, a lot had to be done to safeguard themselves against the Systems.

But, despite the preparations, they were still nervous, hence entering a state of stasis as they blankly observed everything that happened around them.

'It will be hard, but I hope you persevere, Rhizen.' Warktor thought before turning still himself.

In the apocalyptic world that the Post-Apocalyptic Dispatch Society had entered, Rhizen grit his teeth, feeling a headache as he stared at the Celas that was positioned a hundred metres away from him.

For the time being, all the Aberrants forming the horde stopped in their place, creating a wide circle around the safety zone as they stared in silence.

After all, their intention was only to hinder the remaining Society Members from reinforcing Rhizen.

Moreover, Rhizen's Whale allowed him to gobble up the Aberrants and replenish his Nacre easily. Therefore, them distancing was a strategic retreat, giving the Celas a beneficial environment to fight at.

Rhizen and the Celas stared at each other, not taking any action, able to feel the dense stream of power contained within each other. A careless action might result in their loss. And hence, they were careful.

Among everyone dispatched to this world, Rhizen was the strongest. And as this apocalyptic world itself was isolated thanks to their actions, the corruption in the world was cut off from the Grade 3 System—Apocalypse.

This meant that the apocalyptic world only had itself to rely upon. And, the Celas was the strongest it could produce at the moment.

If the corruption simmered for long enough, it might be able to produce more Celas. But at the moment, one was the limit.

And hence, a lot was riding on this battle. If Rhizen won, it would make it a lot easier for them to clean up the apocalyptic world.

But if the Celas won, then the corruption would eventually destroy all the safe zones and fully bring the planet under Apocalypse's control, becoming a Host to the Apocalypse.

And by using the Pearl Buck, it might even figure out a method to track their home world and invade there. So, there was considerable danger involved in this fight.

'Level 30 is the limit, dammit!' Rhizen was exasperated, 'There's only Bad Luck that I can use now.'

As a form of Luck, Bad Luck was pretty potent. But, he didn't exercise much control over this form of luck. And hence, he couldn't display much power through it.

As the most sought-after Host to the Luck based Systems, Rhizen had the ability to harness all forms of luck. And hence, the Systems were guarded against any and all forms of luck activation, no matter the world.

Due to that, he could only activate the luck that he had the weakest control over.