SL: Chapter 728 – Day 5,920 – Viewpoints 63

Young Michael

“You should have enough stats for this. Feel the structure of the energy within the person’s eyes and force that structure onto your own,” Michael told me. I kept my hand on top of the other person’s face. It took a lot of focus to force my energy to change in my eye sockets.

“Imbue Life.” One of Clarissa’s minions used the skill on my face. The pain was immense but I grit my teeth as I felt blood run out of my eye sockets. The bone, flesh, and other structures around my eye were slowly being rebuilt.

“We go as long as possible. Just focus on recovering your eyes,” Michael said. I didn’t reply. It was brutal trying to recover my eyes, but I needed them.

“How is it going?” I heard Clarissa ask.

“Slow. This isn’t something that is easily or quickly fixed. If we had Doctor Katz, he would be better. Michelle?” Michael asked.

“Still unconscious. I have someone watching her. You going back out to check?”

“Yes. It has been a day. Best to see if there are still any issues. If not, then I might try the first two votes again,” Michael replied.

“Doesn’t seem like a good idea, even if you can,” Clarissa replied.

“That public ranking would be useful. I am thinking about trying it again,” he replied.

“If you can, then you are just going to be offered the option for a trillion points. Unless you plan to call that System Golem again?” Clarissa asked. While their conversation was incredibly distracting, I was grateful that I was being included, even if I had to keep my focus on my eye sockets and energy manipulation.

“Yes. I want to see if it is still around. Or if the sword took it over. If I can accelerate a confrontation that would be nice,” Michael said, and I heard Clarissa sigh. “Keep this up as long as possible. Every time you need to rest, things will regress.” I didn’t give any sign but kept my focus on rebuilding working eyes.

“Imbue Life.”

Clarissa

“Memetic monsters, what a nightmare,” I muttered as I walked with Michael.

“Completely outclassed. If something is running around, the only one with enough stats not to instantly die is me,” Michael said.

“At least we have a source of airships now. I plan to hide a few,” I replied.

“Expensive, but smart. So, you are taking over the city?” Michael asked. That was a tough question that I had been debating on.

“More like forceful occupation of a specific section. An elite multi-city organization,” I replied. “I am worried about one of those monsters running about.”

“They are unlikely to show up in low energy areas and the Almighty System will have dealt with the rest. If any are hanging around, well I will find out,” Michael replied. “What is more concerning is the outcome of all three voting options.”

“I know. There aren’t many options to go forward. The vote was our best option to get answers and leave this place, but it ended in disaster. The Northwest and Southeast portions could be more fully explored with a maximum sized airship. Otherwise there are the first two options.”

“Both of which would be a disaster. It seems they went from worst to best. Don’t know why ending arrivals would be bad, but my guess is secondary effects,” Michael said, and I nodded at this.

“So, a trillion points?” I asked.

“Just watch, the guidebook and the public ranking are actually important. A trillion points, is too much of an investment,” he answered. Unfortunately, that was true. While his grinding speed would only be faster with 2 meta-points, a trillion points was no joke. Especially when it was the price of a portable store.

“What can you grind up per day?” I asked.

“A billion, if I put my back into it and have someone to pick up the crystals,” he answered.

“A thousand days. That is a lot of grinding,” I replied heavily.

“That isn’t a small amount of time. Even I get worn down constantly fighting monsters and collecting points. The risk of purchasing something that isn’t useful, is too big of a risk,” he replied.

“I agree. While answers would be nice, how many points would you need to get before you would consider spending a trillion?” I asked.

“Ten trillion points will get me to around 18 million stats after multipliers. At that point getting another trillion for information wouldn’t be a huge concern,” he replied.

“That would mean three to four decades, a long time,” I said with a shake my head.

“We are almost two decades in, not that long. Soon I will have been in the Systemic Lands more than Earth,” Michael replied.

Father John

I let out a sigh as I looked back up towards the sky. No airship, but it was something I did often. Keeping everything togeather was a nightmare. There was another round of arrivals today and that would continue every 10 days. It was almost nighttime.

This was the only day of every ten day period that I was here the entire time, to help organize and settle people. “Let me see the man in charge. If you know who I am, then you will let me speak to him,” I heard the shouting coming from the first floor. I got up and made my way down.

“Hello, I am Father John. How can I help you?” I asked channeling all the patience I had.

“A man of religion. Well I am a State Senator. I am taking over. This place needs some proper organization,” the man said. I nodded my head while looking to the side at Keith, my protector.

“Of course. Your talent’s will be put to use,” I replied. Two of my men came up and stabbed in the back of the head. “Did he come with anyone?”

“No. Just him,” one of men said.

“We don’t need troublemakers,” I said while bowing my head and saying a silent prayer for the man’s soul. While I disliked having to have him killed, without law and order the people that arrived would be nothing more than beasts. “There is always one in every group.” I made my way back up to my room.

I sat down back on my chair, looking out over the plaza from my window. I wanted to do so much, to help everyone. My own hands were stained with so much blood. “God forgive me. Ordering a man to be killed,” I said quietly.

This place was a trial of faith. The visitor named Michael called it Purgatory. A dark name. Tomorrow I would be heading out to fight monsters. I needed to get stronger, and the people needed to see me fighting. I wasn’t the best or strongest, but being weak was clearly a cardinal sin of this place.

“Father John, your dinner,” Keith said and brought in two trays.

“Thank you, Keith,” I said, and he sat down at the table with me.

“You are thinking a lot about that man, Michael,” he said, and I nodded.

“I am. I have no doubt he will return. I could see the fondness for this city in his eyes and in his tone. You don’t make a place the capital of your Empire, without becoming attached to it,” I replied.

“The other cities are the real danger. Also, too many people,” Keith said.

“You mean we need to start fighting level 2 monsters,” I replied and Keith nodded while I ate the raw vegetables.

“That is going to be a big risk. We only have so many people with skills. Leaving this place, it could collapse,” I replied.

“Power is more important. We are at risk of falling behind. Creating an increased tax would help,” he said and I shook my head.

“The tax is used to help new arrivals get healed. That way they can contribute and have a chance. People just need to keep pushing outwards to higher level zones. It isn’t easy, but people need to push themselves,” I replied.

“So, we are going up against level 2 monsters?” Keith asked me and I nodded.

“A long trip would be our best option. Gather up as many crystals as we can with a cart. Our small team would be able to clear a lot of the higher level monsters with our skills,” I replied.

“Father John! We have a visitor,” one of my men said with an urgent look on their face.

“Let me go welcome them,” I replied while standing up. A visitor meant someone that wasn’t from this city. They didn’t come by airship, so I was wondering how strong they truly were. I made my way outside the building where a worn down and wild looking man was standing.

“Greetings, visitor. I am Father John. The leader of this city. How I can address you?” I asked politely with a slight head bow. Being humble was important. It was too easy to blind oneself to bride.

“This…ack. Ack!” The man tried to speak but let out several coughs into his hand. I noticed blood specks covering his hand. I didn’t step back out of fear.

“Are you injured? The pillars in the plaza offer regenerations,” I suggested.

“I know. They won’t help me. I had to rebuild my entire body. There are still issues,” the man replied with a hand wave. Rebuilding an entire body meant he was strong. I had no idea how strong he was, just that he was stronger.

“Do you require points? We have a spare reserve of points, 5,000,” I offered.

“I don’t need such a small amount,” he replied. Offering points was a good way to put these powerful figures at ease. Kindness would be repaid with kindness.

“Then how can I assist?” I asked.

“This city? Its name?” he asked.

“We were calling it Gray City, but someone passed through around 30 days ago on an airship and called it Purgatory,” I replied.

“That person’s name?” the man asked.

“Michael,” I replied without hesitation. He didn’t ask to keep his visit secret and I saw no reason to. Enough people had seen him visit and I shared what he had told me. This wild man could ask anyone and get this answer.

“Hahahaha, so he lived. Was anyone else with him?”

“A woman he called Bonita,” I replied, and the man shook his head.

“Someone new. I am Doctor Katz,” the man said. I didn’t know him, but a doctor was always welcome.

“Welcome doctor. I don’t know how much work you will have with the regeneration option from the store, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like,” I replied.

“Ack! Ack! A place to rest would be nice and food. Do you have showers?” I asked.

“Just buckets of water if you wish to bathe,” I replied, and he shook his head. “Please use our guest room. I will see to your food personally. Keith can you show our guest to the guest room.” Doctor Katz nodded. Keith led him into the building as I sent another guard to get a lot of food and water for our guest.

He was strong, if he was from before the disaster that wiped out this city. He clearly didn’t want to talk more, but that was fine. He was probably tired and I was in no rush. My departure to fight level 2 monsters could be delayed. This visitor was far more important.