The Systemic Lands

Chapter 119: Day 255 – Gacha or Murder Machine

It was evening. Naran had moved my chair off the cart, and I had my legs up on a pack, so I wasn’t looming over everyone while we spoke. It had been a long day of grinding and I wasn’t in the mood to sing. Mute was being Mute, a perfect conversationalist.

“Is it like this all the time? Days of just fruits and vegetables?” Doctor Katz asked.

I looked at Naran and we both smiled, ah the joy of having a new person around who didn’t know how things worked. “Yes. Remember spices need to be processed and made, which of course takes points.”

“Anyone try planting anything?”

“No seeds and the terrain resets. The fruits and vegetables are sterile as far as we can tell. That is why trash doesn’t matter,” Naran explained.

“The Almighty System in its infinite grace forces people to use points at the system store for any kind of raw material. The processed stuff is just a step or two up,” I said.

“I would say the cart and chairs are quite useful,” Naran said.

“They aren’t cars. I can’t wait till we have airships. Just zip over to where we need to go. But with how things work I am sure they will have a crystal guzzling furnace. Would that be for the environment, no pollution, or anti-environment since it would run on crystals?” These were the questions that needed to be answered.

“Anti-crystals or anti-points I would say. Pro-gacha system,” Naran said.

“Ching ching.” The doctor was looking at us a bit confused. “When you spend a long time out here, you have to come up with stuff for entertainment,” Naran said.

“It is the endless debate if the Almighty System is a gacha system or if it is a murder machine. I personally can’t decide,” I replied.

“It is a gacha system for sure,” Naran said.

“Gacha?” Katz asked. I nodded to Naran and he explained.

“From Japan. Type of mobile game where you pay money and hope you get something that works. Like how you hand over points and for stats and skills and hope they save your ass when the time comes,” Naran explained.

Mute just sat quietly listening in. Well, they would get a restoration when we returned. He had been doing an excellent job on the cart pulling. At least I thought he was a he. His fac, scalp, and chest were completely messed up.

“Ah, that makes sense. The stars are quite nice.” Naran and I shared another look. This time I spoke up.

“They aren’t stars. They are dots. Just like the sun isn’t a sun. It’s a light source called light source. Everything is fake the moment you stare too hard.”

“Oh.”

“Wait till we find a crack and you see the abyss itself,” Naran said. “I swear that is the freakiest thing ever. Just a giant nothing and cracks coming off it. The world is flat and we are adrift on an ocean of despair.”

“Not ravines?” I asked.

“Cracks, they are cracks. People were sent in, and they went insane. Stay too long nearby, your mental faculties are eroded by the winds of the abyss. The cracks crack your sanity.”

“Ah Truth, never change. A city to the North of Purgatory,” I explained.

“Not a city. An eternal abyss of despair, torture, madness, and the worst of the worst. I am never going back,” Naran said.

“It might have gotten better?” I said, but didn’t believe it.

“It could be a vacation destination, never going back regardless. I would rather jump into the abyss.” Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I could respect that determination to escape that hellhole.

“I should have purchased dice. We have enough people to play liar’s dice. That was fun,” I said.

“What would we gamble?” Naran asked.

“Well, the classic bet would be our souls and eternal servitude, but I don’t see Davy Jones anywhere. So maybe pick of the fruit and vegetables.”

“I am thinking cards. Get poker going,” Naran suggested.

“You just say that because you know I am terrible at poker. I like to call everyone’s hands thinking they are bluffing. What about you doc? Any good with the cards?” I asked.

“I have done some charity events, but no. I don’t gamble.”

“Well, you had to have some vice. Mine was food.” I let out a long sigh. I really wanted some tacos or a pizza right now. “A bit too much if you know what I mean.” I patted my stomach. Still waiting on those abs. I swore the Body stat was trolling me, or the restorations.

“I enjoyed poker,” Naran said.

“I guess my vice was the vaping. Helps with the stress.” He let out a sigh.

“Well, the only existing narcotics have been stopped for now. That is something I don’t look forward to sorting out,” I complained.

“Better you than me,” Naran said.

“Shut up Naran. With my luck Purgatory will be on fire when I return.”

“You say that all the time.”

“Because one of these days I am going to be right and will get to say, I told you so.”

“What stats do you recommend first?” Doctor Katz asked.

“Depends. I would say Body would be a good place to start. You need Mind so your brains don’t get scrambled by a monster and can keep up with fighting. Perception to actually spot the stealth monsters. Endurance and Absorption are useful but more utility, with sleep and food lessened respectively. Spirit and Regeneration are needed if you use skills. Then Aura is probably magic resistance of some kind.”

“You figured it out?” Naran asked.

“With the damage I have been taking lately, that is my guess. Also, it is the only thing that makes sense. Could be wrong. Then there is whatever comes with the next store upgrades. But that is going to be a while.”

“I am dying of curiosity as well. It was impossible to save up anything once the third upgrade was purchased for Truth.” His skill slots were based off of that city. Hopefully there was a way to change that in the future. That would also cut into my idea of recruiting other high stat individuals if it wasn’t possible.

“Well, the first gate will be purchased when we go back. No Monster Processing.” It just kept getting delayed. First Ben, then the Ritualist, and now the need to secure the entrances into Purgatory. If there was another delay after that, I might just lose my mind.

“I am thinking about changing up my combat style,” Naran said. Oh, this was new.

“What were you thinking?” I asked.

“Speed with a focus on Body. I am already heavily focused on it. Also get Imbue Cold from the wolf dungeon.”

“Replace out Rock Lance or another skill slot?” I asked.

“Another skill slot. It is upgraded and decent to pin a monster.”

“How are the upgrades working out?” He had speed, trajectory, and multi-cast.

“Good. Probably want to go for persistence next. After that I will hold off anymore and focus on Imbue Cold.”

“Sword or another weapon?”

“Sword. I was thinking a spear. But it just isn’t practical inside of a city or an enclosed dungeon.” I nodded at that. “What about you doc? Any ideas on the combat style you will focus on?”

“I haven’t given it any thought. Ranged seems best, but that means skills, which means I would need more stats and more points. I am beginning to understand your frustration with how things are.” Corrupted already. I was hoping you would hold out longer. “Possibly something non-violent if I can pick.”

“Well Sleep and Mind Jab are the two that are offensive but mental. Maybe Entangling Roots, but it is too slow in my opinion.” My mind drifted to Ruth and how she had Sleep.

“Sleep sounds interesting. At least I could knock people out if they are injured in order to treat them.”

“What we need is a healing skill of some kind. But that is probably going to be some level 4 or 5 nonsense,” I said.

“Why?” The doctor asked.

“You are going to get him going,” Naran complained.

“He asked, I get to answer. You see it is based on my theory of skills. All the skills from level 1 dungeons and level 2 monsters are direct attacks or a very simple buff. Next level up, well you got area of effect things. The level above that, skills that impact a person directly. So, level 4 monsters. But self-buffs might be level 5.”

“Then you have to factor in the more advanced levels. I would suspect higher up there are environmental attacks. Not just a small area of effect, but I am talking miles at least. It is always good to think ahead as much as possible, so I don’t get surprised.” And stuck in trap went without saying.

“That is why I am even prepared for a time loop. Got a secret pass phrase and everything in case I come back from the future. You never know.”

“We are not discussing your ideas about time or loops or time loops. That gives me a headache. What about the summoning monsters?” Naran asked. Well the good doctor could just wait to hear my amazing and ground breaking theories on time loops.

“Specific for each level. Hmm, we should test one with several skills. To check for weaknesses that a summoning monster might have.”

“You think it can work on the Ritualist?” Naran asked.

“Maybe, or at least point us in the right direction. What I want to know is how his brain is handling all the input from the monsters he is controlling. That has been bugging me. I could get one, two, maybe even ten if he cycles quickly enough. But hundreds? That is the real power, not summoning monsters but multi-tasking.”

“Well, the parietal lob controls sensation and the occipital lobe controls vision. They are at the back of the head,” Doctor Katz said.

“What other lobes are there?” I asked. The doctor began pointing at parts of his head.

“Well, you have the temporal lobe at the bottom for behavior, memory, and the senses as well. The frontal lobe up top for behavior, intelligence, and memory. The cerebellum at the back and bottom for balance and coordination. Finally, the brain stem for a lot of the automatic processes like heartbeat, blood pressure, and breathing.”

I thought over his explanation. “If he is getting senses from various monsters and is able to interpret them, then it would take his entire brain. Unless there is something offloading the process, that is the only way. The same for the system store.”

“The entire brain. Well, he isn’t becoming an idiot, that is for sure. He could be offloading the thinking to the monsters themselves,” Naran suggested.

“You need me to go more in depth?” Doctor Katz asked.

“No. Not right now. When we reverse engineer the summoning process, we can begin experimentation. Careful experimentation. Interested in heading up Purgatory’s research team into crystal powder doctor?” I asked.

“What would that involve?”

“Well time and speed are critical and the only thing we have too much of are people,” I replied while looking right at the doctor. He blinked slowly and then rubbed his face.

“Human experimentation.” I could hear the judgement in his voice.

“Yes. It is the only way.” It really was. Even more so since turning the crystals into powder required stats and a mental component. Even if we had animals, they wouldn’t be able to replicate that.

“You would have to get people to consent first.” I nodded at that.

“Banning slavery is one of the few rights guaranteed to the people of Purgatory.”

“I really should read that Constitution when I get back.”

“That would be a good idea. I really like the section on the Immortal Council. It was a headache and a half to get it worked out, but I have high hopes for the future.”

“Well after the battle, it might just be you for a while,” Naran said.

“I think it will be the other way around. People will be even more motivated. Now that there was an attack inside the city itself. People will be grinding like their lives depend on it, which they do.” At least that was the silver lining to the giant shit storm the Ritualist had dumped on my lap.

Mute just sat there listening in quietly.