SL: Chapter 774 – Day 28,400 – Return

“Clarissa,” I greeted the stressed out looking woman.

“Michael, welcome back. How was your training?” she asked me.

“Interesting. I have a lot to work on, but I have improved, slightly,” I replied.

“Congratulations. Things have been hectic, getting everything ready for the next couple of days,” she said.

“Making progress?” I asked.

“A dossier is being made for each individual who will be coming along. Families are being relocated. You will have to speak to Michelle and Doctor Katz. They are declining to go with us but want us to take the rest of their family,” she said.

“Then there is no need to get involved,” I replied, and Clarissa looked at me in shock.

“What?” she asked.

“There is no need for us to get involved in such things. Ultimately it is their choice. The fact that they are giving up on life is likely due to Doctor Katz’s mentality. The mass deaths upon our departure is weighing him down,” I replied coldly.

If he wanted to die, then I wouldn’t stop him. I thought his decision was foolish. Michelle wanted to stay with him and die as well. It was their choice. I wasn’t going to question their determination.

They were grown adults and could make their own decisions. No matter how distasteful I found them.

“Young Michael, what about him?” I asked.

“He and his fiancé will be sleepers. He isn’t suitable for my elite team,” Clarissa said.

“Unfortunate. An issue of his mentality?” I asked.

“Yes. He wanted things that weren’t equivalent to his strength or ability,” Clarissa said and I nodded at this.

“Disappointing, but when he left my side all those years ago, I knew he didn’t have the right mentality. Has mass panic started to spread?” I asked.

“It will once you cut off the new arrivals tomorrow.” I nodded at this. That was the main reason I had come back now.

“Then going back to train?” Clarissa asked me.

“Yes. Do you need to come along?” I asked.

“No. Not much time has passed. But a hundred days from now, I would like to coordinate with Artifex some more. Also bring a team over to explore that structure in its entirety,” Clarissa said.

“There is nothing there,” I said.

“Maybe. But I want to have a team take a look, under the water as well. There could be something left behind by these Collectors. Also talk to Artifex about the vessel design and moving over supplies ahead of time or individuals,” Clarissa said.

“You want to move people over this early?” I asked in surprise.

“Families, yes. Skilled people as well. They aren’t going to be grinding up a lot of stats. The rest can wait until the end. I would rather get started early in case there is an incident.”

“That makes sense. You also want to know where this vessel is and check it out?” I asked.

“Yes, if possible. While we are trusting Artifex, understanding how things work will be useful. I know it said it would offer lessons after your victory, but we can begin moving people before that,” Clarissa said.

“It is a lot of people, 100,000 packed in. Do you need me to intimidate anyone?” I asked.

“Your recent actions put the fear of your existence at the forefront of people’s minds. Don’t worry about that. If there is going to be trouble, it will be in the final hundred days as all the grinders depart, leaving a huge tax and power vacuum across multiple cities,” Clarissa replied.

“Any other screening criteria?” I asked.

“Everyone has to speak English. It is unfortunate, but most of my grinders already know the language quite well. For those who don’t, they can learn before our departure or get left behind,” she said.

“Brutal. But it makes sense. So does this make us Adam and Eve?” I joked. Clarissa just slapped me lightly on the arm and gave me a glare.

“You better not lose. You are the primary driver of value that we have with Artifex. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know,” she said. I let out a sigh and shook my head.

“No. Well, good food. Any team you bring along, make sure we pack food, and they know how to cook. And we bring a lot of food products to live off of. I asked Artifex, and they will just produce nutrient paste,” I explained.

“Nutrient paste?” Clarissa asked in horror. “I thought they would be like what we had. Raw items,” she said.

“No. That is incredibly complex. And Artifex isn’t going to waste time on dietary choices. They will just give us nutrient paste and water and call it a day,” I replied.

“Then I will make sure we are covered in that area. Not sure how much we can bring along. I know space is at premium,” she replied.

“Well, I will let you figure that out. But it does impact my fighting ability. If I have to nutrient paste every day, that will weaken me,” I said with a touch of drama, hamming up the predicament.

I could manage off nutrient paste if necessary. I wouldn’t want to, but I could. I had suffered enough horrible food from the store that however nutrient paste tasted, it shouldn’t be bad.

“Another thing on the list of concerns that I need to go over with Artifex when we meet again. Is the stuff designed for humans? Or some weird type of alien,” Clarissa said. That was a good point We needed to double check everything.

“How did people take the news about Earth?” I asked.

“Poorly for the most part. There was always hope. Now it has been completely and utterly crushed. I…well, I was hoping to go back and see some people again. It looks like that isn’t going to be the case,” she said.

I had no one left. Only Clarissa was here as my friend. That was it. The others had fallen away, Young Michael in particular. I had gotten over such things long ago, but it was lonely standing at the top as the ultimate protector for everyone.

“Well if you need me to kill or scare some people, let me know,” I said.

“I will. You think we made the best choices?” Clarissa asked me.

“Best? Probably not. But in hindsight it easy to know things. Spread rumors about a portable store at the start. Steal one, then run away and grind up in the wilderness,” I replied.

“And leave us to the mercy of the Divine Empress?” Clarissa asked.

“I didn’t beat her. She beat herself. And no running away from that death monster. I mean seriously, that still annoys me, missing out on that meta-point early on,” I said.

“Well you are going to get a third after you win. Using it for more stats?” Clarissa asked me.

“Maybe. I have learned a lot from Artifex while we have been sparring. I am thinking of a useful sixth skill. A way to change energy into point crystals maybe,” I said.

“A utility skill, interesting,” Clarissa said.

“Yes. I need to think long term. If I can win, more strength will only go so far. Energy is incredibly complex. Far too complex,” I said with a sigh.

“You are getting lectured?” Clarissa asked me.

“While I am getting beat up and completely crushed in the spars we have been having. Artifex completely outclasses, even with their clone.”

“And they won’t fight or assist?” Clarissa asked.

“No. I asked that. They are good at manipulating energy to disrupt skills, but not so much at overwhelming power. I am learning better control,” I said.

“I thought your control was good,” Clarissa said.

“According to Artifex, I am trash. Well, it didn’t say that exactly, but the comparison was clear enough. Compared to it, I am. The challenge becomes getting more complex results. Clearly that alien has a different level of focus, since my energy control is nowhere near as good.”

“You could be fighting against a computer for all we know.”

“Computer, alien, it doesn’t matter. It scares me to think what else could be out there, you know. I am just one person. Don’t suppose you are interested in switching places?” I asked jokingly.

“You think you might lose?” Clarissa asked me.

“I believe Artifex wants to use me as a distraction. Winning might be possible, but the more I spar with it, the more I realize how outclassed I am. Everyone and everything you want to bring along, you should arrange ahead of time,” I said.

“If you die, we will be basically at Artifex’s mercy with no ability to negotiate our future,” Clarissa said. I nodded at this.

“I know. I am not planning on losing. But this kind of pressure reminds me of the Divine Empress. And there are no clever tricks I have to turn the situation around,” I said.

“I will prepare a secondary escape plan for you, with equipment, supplies. If something does happen and we leave without you, there will be another option,” Clarissa said.

“Thank you,” I replied. The more I learned, the more depressed I felt about the battle to come. I wasn’t giving up, but my actual odds were sinking in. Clarissa understood the need for a backup plan.

There was still the sword. I should probably retrieve that next. Artifex had given me enough to work on. Rushing back to spar some more, would only be so useful. I wanted to see if the sword would increase my odds and train with a weapon for a while.

As for the meta-point, a new skill, preferably some way to convert energy into stats. It might not be as efficient as fighting actual monsters, but it would allow me the chance for future growth.