SL: Chapter 758 – Day 28,326 (Part 2) – What We Fight For

Dinner was finished and we had gone to a sitting room for after dinner drinks and conversation. Tim was still going at it and I was amused by his endless questions.

“If all your enemies came together, could you win against them all at once?” Tim asked.

“Yes. I would instantly wipe them out. My power is at the pinnacle of the Systemic Lands,” I replied.

“Wow! What can you do?”

“Perfectly manipulate my skills and energy to create annihilation planes.” I waved my hand and an apple materialized in it from my portable store along with a plate. I tossed the apple into the air and instantly cut it up. The cut pieces landed on the plate, smoking slightly.

“You can ask your next question after eating this apple,” I said.

“That was fast. Very fast,” Michelle said.

“Perfect control. Barely any flash,” Doctor Katz said. Their daughter and grandchildren were looking at me in shock.

“I am combat level 10. I stand above all others and have been grinding for decades. If this place has answers, I will find them,” I said, and Tim took the plate.

“How did you get the apple and plate? Those aren’t skills,” Adam said in shock. I tapped the rod at my side.

“A portable store,” I replied and there were gasps.

“But that is a trillion points,” he said.

“I can earn ten billion a day if I want to,” I replied.

“Oh,” Adam said. “Ten billion?”

“Ten billion. A trillion points just takes around a hundred days of effort,” I replied.

“How is that even possible? You would have to clear so many zones, even at higher levels,” Amanda said.

“Asking for my secrets?” I asked with a smile.

“Ah, no, just curious. My apologies,” she said.

“It is fine. Just amusing. I grind monsters from a tower. There is no spawn cap,” I replied.

“Tower?” Amanda asked.

“There were 40 towers across the Systemic Lands. I have cleared all of them except 4.” I thought about clearing 39 instead of 36, but there was no need to cut everyone off. “Clearing them allows me certain privileges.”

“The votes at the golden pillars and the city vote. People asked about that, but everyone was told to never attempt to claim the city vote or else,” Adam said.

“Yes. I control 35 of the votes. I would hate to have to intervene if someone tried to take votes. I am glad that message was passed along in the strongest possible terms,” I replied.

“What do the votes do?” Adam asked with curiosity.

“So, hopeful. But they don’t do anything good. Your mother was injured by such a vote long ago,” I replied.

“What, really?” Adam looked at Michelle.

“I don’t like to talk about it, but yes it is true. I almost died. Thankfully your father helped me recover,” she said.

“Is that why she is aging more quickly?” Amanda asked.

“Amanda! You don’t need to bring up something like that,” Doctor Katz said.

“It is okay,” Michelle said.

“Most likely. Level 13 monsters are no joke. I will be facing them if my corner exploration doesn’t reveal anything. That is why I am coming here to see my old friends,” I said.

“You can’t die! You are the legendary Emperor who saved the entire world from the calamity!” Tim said.

“Thank you. I appreciate the vote of confidence. But, I don’t think things will be easy. Either the answers one gets are simple and pointless. Or they come with great hardship. I suspect there will be great hardship,” I replied.

“Alright, enough questions. Tim time for bed. The rest of you, we are going to speak with Michael alone for a bit,” Doctor Katz said. Surprisingly his kid and grandchildren listened. They all said goodnight and left.

“Well behaved,” I said.

“I won’t tolerate nonsense in my home. Clear expectations and rules are needed to keep order and harmony,” Doctor Katz said.

“You have a lovely family,” I said.

“Be honest Michael, how bad are things at the moment. You wouldn’t show up after all these years just for a casual hello,” Doctor Katz said. He might be retired, but he wasn’t an idiot.

“There are increasing signs that there are more and more errors from the processes that run this place. The beings who created it appear to no longer be running it. I am attempting to find some kind of control room. Otherwise the only option is the exit,” I replied.

“I see. Do you know how much time we have left?” Doctor Katz asked me.

“No idea. It probably isn’t less than a thousand days. But ten thousand, a hundred thousand? It is harder to say. If there is only a small chance of a major issue every day, eventually it will occur,” I said.

“Clarissa has a plan as well?” Michelle asked.

“She is preparing an emergency escape airship. The number of seats are limited. If you are interested, you should speak to her,” I said. Doctor Katz and Michelle looked at each other doing some kind of silent communication.

“We will talk about it,” Doctor Katz finally said.

“It is your choice. I just wanted to see a bit of happiness before I departed. I apologize for bringing darkness to your doorstep,” I said.

“No. The truth is the truth. Ignoring it won’t help anyone or anything. Thank you. I hope you succeed Michael. If you are injured, you can come here. I will do my best. I swear this,” Doctor Katz said with a slightly shaky voice.

“I appreciate that. But if I am injured I will probably be dead. And if that occurs, well, things aren’t looking good,” I answered. There was silence as we all sat together in the somber atmosphere. Doctor Katz got up and went to a locked cabinet, pulling out a key and opening it.

He pulled out a bottle. “No idea if this will work. Been saving the strongest stuff out there for a long time,” he said.

“For me?” I asked jokingly.

“For me,” he said and got out three glasses.

“My husband is being a bit dramatic. We used to joke that you would only show up if everything was falling apart,” Michelle said with a weak smile. Doctor Katz began pouring.

“Well, I might not be good at a lot of things, but I am good at fighting and killing. I plan to go all out against whatever I might face,” I replied.

“Here,” Doctor Katz handed me a small glass. I took it and he handed one to Michelle. “To old comrades. To Emperor Michael, may he never no defeat,” Doctor Katz said. We all drank. It tasted absolutely vile.

“Ug, what was that?” Michelle asked.

“No idea, just strong stuff from long ago,” he said.

“It might have gone bad,” Michelle replied.

“Doubtful,” he said and poured three more glasses. “Your toast dear wife.”

“May we find peace. I…I hope that our children and grandchildren come through safely. If it is possible, look out for them. Don’t worry about us,” Michelle said.

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. It was a weak promise, but I would try to save everyone I could. Doctor Katz’ and Michelle’s family were the descendants of the few friends I had left. We all drank the vile liquid.

“Now your toast Michael,” Doctor Katz said and poured us all another round. I picked up the glass of murky looking liquid.

“To life. It is precious. Despite the deaths I carry on my shoulders, I must continue. I know this. For everyone who believed in me and got me to this point,” I replied and we all drank. That was the entire bottle of vile liquid.

“I think I might be sick,” Michelle said.

“Let me get some water for all of us,” Doctor Katz said sheepishly and left the room.

“No need to rush, I got that,” I said. I waved my hand over a nearby table and three glasses with water in them appeared.

“Show off,” Michelle said while picking one up.

“A portable store, that really is convenient,” Doctor Katz said.

“They aren’t cheap unfortunately. But Clarissa has one as well if an evacuation is done,” I replied.

“That is good to know. Are you okay Michael? It has been a long time?” Michelle asked me.

“Just tired. I can’t grind forever you know. I am going to get answers any way I can. The time of improvement is over,” I said.

“We should ask our children to return,” Michelle said nervously.

“Do you know how long things will take?” Doctor Katz asked me. I shook my head.

“I have no idea what I might even find. Your guess would be as good as mine. There is one last thing. If you hear anything or know anything about this individual let me know. They will be dealt with no matter what,” I replied.

“Who?” Doctor Katz asked.

“The Avatar,” I replied.

“Wait, she is still alive? After all this time?” he asked and I nodded.

“Yes. But I won’t let her live. No matter what. No matter the consequence. She is responsible for a lot of things, and she is going to pay for them,” I replied.

“I haven’t heard anything. Dear?” he looked at Michelle.

“Nothing. If I had, I would have let Clarissa know. She has one of her people check in on us every hundred days or so,” Michelle said.

“Sorry to get excited about that, but that woman…well, human nugget is going to pay for everything she has done,” I said.

“And what exactly is that?” Doctor Katz asked.

“Creating circumstances that would lead to my death. Qi Ji Long, the son of the Divine Empress is someone I deeply regret sparing. I spared him partially at the request of the Avatar. There will be no forgiveness for that,” I said.

“A bit extreme, but I have been gone and can’t suggest anything.”

“Say what you want to say Doctor Katz. I might not listen, but I will respect you, especially since I am a guest here,” I said.

“Hatred, is like a weight you carry. It weights you down. The greater the hatred, the greater the weight. Setting such a burden down, will help you move easier and with a clearer purpose,” he said.

“And you Michelle?” I asked.

“I am retired Michael. I have no opinion on such things. This is my home and I will protect it. Anything outside of this place, I have given up trying to understand and control,” she replied.

“It is good advice Doctor Katz. But my shoulders are quite strong. I can carry such a small weight with ease. But there will be no more nonsense. I am clearing this place once and for all, or die trying. I am not seeking my death, but I am not going to sit around and wait for it to come to me either,” I replied.

“Michael, thank you. I know no one else will probably say that except Clarissa. But thank you. You didn’t have to spend decades grinding. You didn’t have to find out the history of this place. You could have chosen comfort and luxury. I know many will only see your power, but I see the sacrifice you made. I chose happiness, I wish I could give some to you,” Michelle said and wiped her eyes.

“Just seeing you both and your family makes me happy. Young Michael is still out there.”

“Have you said anything to him?” Michelle asked me.

“I wrote a long letter in case I don’t make it. He would want to come with me, but he doesn’t have the stats. This final journey will be one I have to do alone. Hopefully there is a simple control room with all the buttons labeled and a prepared craft we can all get on to return to Earth,” I said.

“I hope so too,” Doctor Katz said with a fragile smile. We both know that would never happen.