"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Slayer was flabbergasted the moment his level dropped to 299. Normally, even if his level were to drop, he wouldn't be flustered, for it was just a matter of Mental Energy requirement to regain the lost levels.
The only problem were the bottleneck levels: 100, 200, and 300. Attaining that required a qualitative change, which was hard to achieve once lost. As for the current him, attaining level 300 was impossible.
After all, he lost it, the qualification to be a Grade 4 System.
"Zaira! Zaira!" Slayer bellowed the moment he arrived at the System World, observing the Mental Energy condense into the figure of Zaira before him as he said in a fluster, "W-What should we do now?"
'This state of mind he displays…' Zaira sighed, 'The old Gilthru wouldn't have allowed it to get to his head. He would have concealed himself further to accumulate strength once again.'
'It seems just like Conjurer, he too has lost his edge after becoming a System.' This was the first thought that she had after observing Slayer's mental state.
A System was designated by its existence—Core Skill. Whether it be in terms of abilities, potential, mental state, or even intelligence. Everything was decided by its Core Skill.
In that, when Slayer became the Representative System, his mind turned into just that, a representative. As a System, he represented the will of the System World and enslaved the Genre Representatives.
As the Representative System, he collected Mental Energy from the Genre Representatives that were his Hosts. Due to that, he was muddled by their influence and lost his original sharpness.
Originally, Zaira wasn't too bothered by it. After all, the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages. Through the Representative System, she would be able to control the Genre Representatives too.
And it was the right decision, for even now, despite the Representative System being weakened to Grade 3, the amount of Mental Energy streaming into the System World through it was the highest, far exceeding even the Grade 4 Systems.
It was a shame that the Representative System was no longer at Grade 4, but that didn't hinder her plans in any way whatsoever. After all, thanks to the torrent of Mental Energy she was accumulating, the number of Systems birthed in the System World surpassed all records.
Moreover, a large number of Grade 1 Systems reached the peak and started a hunt among their Genres, eventually reaching Grade 2 upon victory.
Zaira was assisting the growth of every important System personally. Moreover, she even recreated the Grade 1 System versions of the fallen Grade 2 Systems. With that, the respective genres would eventually reach Grade 2 and take the place of the original.
It was all thanks to the Representative System.
"Calm down," Zaira said without a change in expression, "It's a pity that you lost your Grade 4 qualifications, but you're still at the peak of Grade 3. All you need is that authority over space that you're lacking. Once we steal a large portion of Technocraft's authority, it'll make up for the lost authority of Space."
"It's not the Concept of Space, but it can make up for it." Zaira said, "I can infuse the relevant data in you and recover your Grade 4 Status. So, don't be depressed."
"It's not just that," Slayer sighed in worry, "My condition means that someone has occupied the seat of the Concept of Space. That'll put a wrench in our plans since we were planning to occupy it."
"It means there's now an enemy that represents the Concept of Space." Slayer expressed his frustration, "This timing can only mean Compass has emerged."
"Even he cannot attain authority over the Concept of Space." Zaira said, "If it were that easy, we would have gained it ages ago, since until recently, Tell-Tale was still with us."
"Then, just who could it be?" Slayer frowned, "Who else has the power to gain it? Hazen?"
"He doesn't even have any abilities of space. He's the farthest from getting such a thing." Zaira closed her eyes and thought, recalling the face of a certain individual that declared disappointment at her, "Impossible…"
Seeing her reaction, Slayer thought before saying, "Adventure…?"
"If it's him, it makes sense." Zaira sighed, "Adventure was the first Grade 4 System and represented the concept of Space. As long as he obtained some benefit from the fight of the Main Characters, he might have created a channel to regain his authority over Space. It was his from the start."
"Dammit, if only that implosion of the past hadn't destroyed part of the System World where the data regarding Adventure System was stored." Zaira regretted. But, there was nothing that could be done about this. The situation had progressed to this point.
Now, the only available choice was to destroy Adventure and accelerate the growth of the transportation genre in her Systems. She had been investing heavily in them and hence, the transportation genre had already fused and attained Grade 2.
As long as she brings it to level 299, once she kills Adventure, she could promote it to Grade 4 and finally seize the concept of Space for herself. When that happens, none in the multiverse would be her opponent, including Mystique.
So, even though Adventure returning as the Concept Representative of Space was bad news, she had solutions in place for it. The same thing could also be said for Compass Carburettor.
After all, she had powerful Genre Representatives on her side who could be controlled through the Representative System. They would attack him until he runs dry of all power. Moreover, Fate System was also there to get things done decisively.
She had four Grade 4 Systems on her side, her army of Systems numbered the highest in history, and her reserve of Mental Energy too was the greatest. Truly, the System World was in its strongest state since its inception.
She was already gearing up to fight Technocraft and Mascot, having also begun preparations to face Mystique. So, there was no reason for her to spoil her mood. This was why she wasn't affected despite the bad news.
Of course, that was only until Slayer stated the finale of bad news, "Also, I cannot sense my fragment in Magister following his shout. I'm afraid Magister has broken free."
Boom!
Zaira blasted him away as she raged, "You goddamn moron!"
