Grade 3 System—Fate (Level 203)!
The Fate System returned to the System World, landing before the energy-condensed figure of Zaira to state with a tinge of defeat, "I was a bit late in stopping Slayer."
"He succeeded in his plans."
"So, that's what he intended to achieve with his System powers all along." Zaira nodded in realisation, "Everything else he did was just to distract me."
"Yeah," The Fate System nodded, "Also, through these mutated Systems he creates, he plans to direct the general mentality of the natives. Thereby, he would be able to control the nature and qualities of the two Genre Representatives under him. It's a brilliant scheme in that by combining the powers of a System and collective consciousness, he created two Genre Representatives that can unleash a greater extent of their powers."
If a Genre Representative was able to typically unleash 0.001 percent of their powers, Arak and Anak were almost able to exhibit a percentage of their power. This was a tremendous leap in strength.
It meant that if they were to reach the height of the previous Immortal and Martial, they would become unstoppable.
"He's become a greater headache than I had foreseen." Zaira commented nervously, "If I don't stop him, he'll only continue to grow stronger."
"It's not possible to invade his world, right?" The Fate System asked.
"The losses would be disastrous." Zaira said, "Doing so would make us vulnerable against Mascot. The other Genre Representatives sitting on the fence would also take action. Our finances simply wouldn't be able to keep up such a strain."
"So, the fault lies in the loss of Tell-Tale, huh?" The Fate System pointed out the crux of the matter, "If it had been around, we would only need to invade more worlds and farm for resources."
"I can't detect the Genre Representation of Compass Carburettor no matter how much I search for it." Zaira gritted her teeth before asking, "What about you? Can you perceive the traces of fate?"
"Nope," The Fate System shook its head, "I need to attain Grade 4 before I can begin to detect traces of characters like Compass and Arnark. I have a feeling that the victor would become terrifyingly powerful, beyond the likes of what we had witnessed until now."
"Then, hurry up and level up," Zaira said in a hurry.
"Relax, mom." The Fate System waved its hand nonchalantly, "I've gained three levels in a matter of years. I'm confident in reaching Grade 4 before Compass finishes his fight and emerges out from his Genre Representation."
"Besides, all hope isn't lost. Slayer still needs one vital component to truly attain his peak," The Fate System grinned.
"One more?" Zaira was surprised, "The World Spirit System wasn't his final target?"
"Nope," The Fate System grinned, "Until now, the core power he relied on has always been the power he gained during your birth."
"The power of self-bestowal…" Zaira's eyes widened in response.
"Yes, through that, he coerced countless entities to give their power to him. That's how he reached his current height. But, it does have its share of weakness." The Fate System continued, stating seriously, "Implosion."
"When countless power systems conflict in him, it's only a matter of time before he implodes. He has the requirements of countless powers but having them all in him is a death sentence. So, he needs an alternative," The Fate System used its index finger to draw the figure of a female on the ground, "The power to steal the authority of others and use it as single-use abilities."
"Gehera," Zaira expressed annoyance immediately.
"Gehera will never face an implosion, because of the sole fact that all the power in her Ruin of Amagoth are simply totems that are consumables." The Fate System said, "And that's Slayer's final target. With that, he would be able to devour all his excess and unnecessary powers and store them in the Ruin of Amagoth for future use."
"This way, his powers would become stabilised while he still would possess countless means against any situation."
"Gehera, huh?" Zaira thought for a few minutes before analysing her choices, "She must be with Stencil and Earth Star in that Serpent Universe. Since it vanished from its initial location, it must have the capability to traverse the multiverse. If it enters one of Mystique's universes, we'll become helpless."
"They won't, don't worry." The Fate System grinned, "But, they must be tethering on its boundary to enter it in the worst-case scenario. But, we don't need to waste any more manpower in trying to find it. I have a faster method."
"What is it…?" Zaira asked in curiosity, immediately exploding in anger upon hearing the plan. The System World itself trembled under her rage as all the Systems were frightened as a result.
…
Hovering atop a Hunter World was Mascot, grinning as she continued to lead her Cheat-wielders and kill the Hunters, crippling the Hunter System.
Just as she was about to destroy another world manned by a Grade 2 System, her expression turned serious, almost flinching under the pressure suddenly wafting out from the Hunter World.
'No, it's coming from the System Fragments within those Hunters.' She sensed the cause, turning a tad nervous immediately.
"Umm…I fear we truly pissed Zaira this time." Shen Ze, the once top Cultivator under Immortal's army said nervously, "Won't we be doomed if she decides to go all out on us? At this moment, none of the strong Genre Representatives are there to support us."
'I have become stronger after swallowing Immortal's army, but I'm still no match for Zaira.' Mascot only considered for a moment before signalling her retreat. After all, the moment hesitation sprouted in her mind, the reigning collective consciousness was replaced by one suited for the circumstance, "Let's leave."
Immediately, her army vanished as abruptly as their arrival. This was why Genre Representatives never won against the Systems, for they could never truly maintain a state of operation for extended durations.
But unlike the previous times, the reason Zaira seethed in rage wasn't Mascot, but something else. It was just a misunderstanding on Mascot's part.
In the System World, Zaira glared at the Fate System with the intent to kill, "You dare suggest something this absurd? Of the original four that followed me, she's the only one still alive."
"She?" The Fate System didn't seem phased by her rage and commented casually, "Don't you know we Systems don't have a gender? Or, do you still see it as an old comrade of yours?"
"Accept it, mom. This is the only way towards victory." The Fate System said in all seriousness, "We need to make this sacrifice."
"Apocalypse must die!"
