SL: Chapter 751 – Day 28,212 – The Beginning Of The End

Body-5,850,000; Mind-5,850,000; Spirit-5,850,000; Perception-5,850,000; Aura-5,850,000; Regeneration-10,350,000; Endurance-5,850,000; Absorption-5,850,000; Sense-5,850,000; Channel-5,850,000 for a total of 7,000,000 total stat upgrades, or 63,000,000 after my two meta-points.

There had been no bonus once I had a million base stat points in Regeneration. This was the total accumulation of almost 6 decades worth of grinding. An incredible amount that put me far out of reach of everyone else in the Systemic Lands.

A portable store was attached to my belt ready for use at any time. Clarissa had finally gotten me one around day 9,000. It had taken her quite a while, but she had finally come through in the end.

Once I had gotten a portable store, Young Michael had left to grind on his own. I didn’t begrudge him of his choice. Staying with the same person to grind for years was mentally exhausting. The crew on board my airship was supplied entirely by Clarissa. They did everything I wanted without question.

It allowed me to focus everything on grinding. I kept my hand on the portable store while I wasn’t in combat. It provided me with a sense of comfort and security. I constantly looked at my point balance. Waiting until I had saved up another couple trillion to make another purchase.

I was thinking about finally wasting some points after all this time. I had recently started grinding on a level 8 tower. The level 9 flying monsters were intense, but I had energy to spare with my Regeneration stat giving me over 1,666 energy per second.

Level 10 monsters were best avoided, due to how annoying they were. But level 9 monsters were fair game. A shame there was no level 9 zone and no tower in a level 9 zone. I would have had more to look forward to.

While I wasn’t capped out in my grinding speed, any more progress would be painfully slow. That was why when Clarissa had requested a meeting, I had objected. We hadn’t seen each other in years at this point and rarely spoke.

There was nothing she needed me for, and her crew kept her informed of everything I was doing, which was just monotonous grinding. I had climbed to the very top and wept, since there was an endless number of stat points I could gain.

I sat on my custom chair on the deck, letting the air blow past me, only rarely taking a breath. Sometimes I felt less than human. More like a robot, just going through the motions one step at a time, over and over.

I saw another airship in the distance, and we both began to slow down. There were some people who used skills to get rid of the flying monsters as the airships descended in the level 5 zone next to each other. I slowly stood up.

Each step was perfectly calibrated with Air Burst to make it look like I was walking on the air itself with no disturbance. Something I had worked on for over a thousand days, just to show off. I didn’t know who I would show off to, but it was something to work on other than grinding.

“Michael,” Clarissa said as I casually stepped down on her airship.

“Clarissa,” I greeted her back.

“You are looking well. Fit as always,” she said.

“Thank you. You are as competent as always. The crew you provided is diligent and quiet,” I said.

“They knew what they were getting when they signed up. I have arranged some replacements,” she said and I nodded.

“I don’t mind. You know I don’t like to bother with such things,” I replied.

“Come. My chef has prepared pizza,” she said.

“With proper bread and cheese?” I asked.

“Yes. It wasn’t easy, but we got there eventually,” she replied and we made our way to her private dining room on her airship. We sat down, not saying anything.

“You aren’t curious how everyone is doing?” Clarissa asked me. I slowly shook my head.

“If you want to tell me, then tell me. I…there is just grinding left.”

“I am worried, Michael,” she replied, and I gave her a small smile.

“Let me guess. Young Michael is grinding on his own, but regularly traveling back to a city?” I asked.

“He is involved with a female grinder. They might be getting married,” she said.

“He has my blessing. And he can invite me if he wants.”

“He has. That is one reason I am here, to make sure you attend,” she replied.

“Oh. I guess I will go,” I said. It would be but a momentary break from the endless grind. “Doctor Katz and Michelle still raising their brood?”

“They have had their eighteenth kid recently,” Clarissa said.

“That many? It is almost an army at this point,” I replied.

“I have been sending congratulation gifts in both our names,” she said. I pulled out an 18,144,000 level 10 point crystal and tossed it over. Clarissa caught it.

“Give that to them as a gift,” I replied.

“Generous,” she said.

“Just pocket change.” A level 10 monster was a bit more annoying than pocket change, but ultimately, I had crushed them like I had crushed everything else.

“There are two Empires on both sides of the Systemic Lands. Purgatory and Ascension. No notables with multiple meta-points,” Clarissa said.

“A shame. I would have liked to wipe out a Divine Empress or two to break things up. And the sword? Still playing hide and seek?” I asked.

“Yes. Intelligence indicates it is capped at 5 meta-points most likely,” Clarissa said.

“A shame. I was hoping it would become more powerful and face me,” I replied.

“Really?” she asked.

“There is nothing else to do. I am thinking it is time. I have saved up enough points,” I replied.

“You want to purchase a ranking list,” she said.

“Hmm, yes. It is time. I have saved up enough points and my earning potential is high enough. It is time to see if there are any other threats out there,” I declared softly. I didn’t speak much anymore. While my voice wasn’t going, I enjoyed the sounds of combat or quiet.

The crew aboard my airship, knew my preferences and didn’t disturb me. Clarissa had done a good job selecting them. I didn’t need to train anyone else or have discussions. I just needed to grind and become stronger.

“That’s it?” she asked me.

“Yes. Since I struggle against level 10 monsters, it isn’t worthwhile to open the exit again. Those monsters were at least level 13,” I replied.

“It could trigger something, purchasing that ranking list. There might be a hidden threat out there,” she said.

“If there is then let it come. I am…not tired. But I look out Clarissa. And all I see is more grinding. Just endless grinding. What is there left?” I asked. She didn’t reply. If there was going to be an end to this place, I needed to face it sooner rather than later.

If the ranking list didn’t reveal anything, I would explore the edges of this place. The inky bottom and go beyond the edges out over the void itself. I would find everything left this place had to offer. And if there was nothing left, then I would fight against the level 13 monsters and beyond. I didn’t want that to be the end goal, but if it was and there was nothing between right now and that point, then so be it.

“I understand. I am honestly impressed you have kept going for so long,” she replied.

“There is nothing else left for me. I only have two friends and two acquaintances left alive. Everyone else has died.”

“You are the protector and guardian of humanity. Your very existence keeps things stabilized across the Systemic Lands,” Clarissa said.

“A rumor on a pedestal. I bet people don’t even believe I exist since I haven’t returned to a city in over ten thousand days,” I said.

“Some don’t, but that just strengthens the image people have of you. Purgatory still remembers. And they have standing orders to welcome you if you show up,” Clarissa said.

“Perhaps…perhaps. The pizza is nice. Your chef did a good job and you did an amazing job getting the flavors on point,” I replied.

“Thank you. Food is my passion now. Trying to recreate flavors to dominate the culinary scene,” Clarissa said.

“And all the points that come with it. You were always the better person between the two of us. Sorry,” I said.

“There is no need to say that,” she replied.

“There is. Since there is nothing left,” I said tiredly. I always felt tired. Even after sleeping, there was an exhaustion that had set into my very soul. The only thing I could fill it up with was grinding, more and more grinding.

“Anyone hit a million stat points besides Young Michael and yourself?” I asked.

“I am far behind that number and he is probably just around that point with his meta-point. No one else is close as far as I can tell.”

“A shame. I was hoping for someone determined to catch up with me,” I replied.

“No one could catch up with you even if they had twice the amount of time you have had to grind up your stats,” she said.

“Perhaps. You know, the Divine Empress was a horrible woman, but she had drive,” I said.

“You have told me that in the past,” Clarissa replied.

“It is true. I wish there were other people like that. Other people to step up. To threaten my position. Being at the top is quite lonely,” I replied.

“I am here, now,” Clarissa said. I gave her a fragile smile.

“Yes, you are. Thank you.” What I wasn’t saying was that she didn’t excite me or worry me in the slightest. In the past I had considered that a positive. But now, with no new opponents that threatened me, I was missing the life and death battles.

Sure there were more powerful monsters, but that was just like a game. Increasing the difficulty didn’t mean much. Just the same thing but more challenging. I enjoyed the thinking and scheming that I had to do to survive. Perhaps I was looking at the past with rose colored glasses, but grinding endless didn’t create that excitement I had in the past.

“Do you want to stop anywhere before going to look at the ranking list?” Clarissa asked me.

“No. There is no one else out there. I only invited you, since your people would tell you anyways,” I replied.

“They aren’t spying on you,” she said.

“It is fine. I accepted you having me watched long ago. Better they make me dinner than causing trouble or misunderstandings.”

“You can always reach out,” Clarissa said.

“Is there anything new to talk about?” I asked.

“There are developments across the Systemic Lands. The literary scene has been picking up, since there has been increased demand for entertainment,” she replied.

“Maybe. I used to like reading. Now…now there is grinding,” I replied softly. Clarissa reached out with a hand over the table and placed her hand on top of mine.

“You aren’t alone Michael. I got your back. Perhaps you can enjoy some of the new classics that are being produced. There is a high demand for content discussing the secret Emperor,” she replied.

“Oh, books about me?” I asked.

“Some are a bit spicey, but enough people know you are real, but you never make an appearance,” she replied.

“It is better that way. Taxes mean nothing to me now. I can earn over ten billion a day,” I replied. Even without Young Michael, with a portable store at my waist, I just had to touch the crystals to instantly claim them.