SL: Chapter 719 – Day 5,913 – Mixed News

AN: Lionheart Copperhead reminded me of this.

Apple is going to be enforcing their in-app purchase system for all iOS transactions starting November. What this means is that anyone who signs up for a Patreon membership through the iOS app will be charged an extra 30% on top of the regular membership fees. However, this only applies to new subscriptions on the Patreon app on Apple/iOS devices after November. Existing subscriptions will remain the same price and will be unaffected. However, if you unsubscribe and then re-subscribe, then this new pricing will apply. This is only an Apple/iOS thing. So if someone subscribes on their desktop or on the Android app, this won’t affect them.

***

“Clarissa,” I greeted the woman after returning to her hidden base.

“A bit early,” she said with a smile. That was a good sign that we were still on decent terms with each other.

“Only 23 days or so. I have nice surprise. A survivor,” I said as Young Michael leapt off the side of the airship.

“Young Michael,” she greeted him with a smile and then there was a hug.

“Clarissa. It is good to see you,” he replied.

“I also picked up a cook. She can stay with you if you are interested. Young Michael is more than enough for picking up crystals and handling other headaches,” I explained.

“That is fine. We have a lot of new faces around here. See to her induction,” Clarissa ordered one of her minions who nodded. Bonita got off the ramp and was escorted away. She was a decent woman, but she was lacking that certain something I wanted from an assistant. Too deferential, or not enough history. It was hard to say. Young Michael beat her in every aspect.

“I have a surprise as well. She turned up in a nearby city along with someone else,” Clarissa said, and my heart rate spiked.

“My mother?” I asked and Clarissa nodded.

“I looked over her personally. Good news, she is alive. Bad news is that there is an energy structure of some kind in her head. It helped her survive the calamity that hit and high level zones, without all the stats, but I have no idea what it is. There is likely to be a hidden trigger. Maybe with Jacob or Doctor Katz, I might be able to give you better answers, but I am not a researcher like them,” Clarissa said.

“So, if I see her,” I muttered.

“Her head could explode. She could be turned into a monster. The possibilities are endless. She has quite a bit of stats thanks to Michelle, but she doesn’t have enough to properly start working on removing this energy structure in her head. Whatever that…terrorist did, we can’t easily undo it or understand it,” Clarissa said.

“At least she is alive. That is more than most can wish for. I am too close to the situation to make a proper judgement. Can I leave her in your hands?” I asked Clarissa. I could see her hesitation. “I also brought back 4 billion points.”

“Ah, well then, I can figure out something out,” Clarissa replied, and I rolled my eyes at that.

“The points are in the hold,” I said.

“You four guard the airship, no one touches it. I will be back to handle the points. Michael, let me show you to Michelle and help you get settled in,” Clarissa said.

“My mother?” I asked.

“In an isolated section of the base. With every comfort. She understands the situation to a certain extent, but I don’t want to push things in case there is a complication,” Clarissa said, and I nodded at this.

Soon I was seated at a table with Michelle and Young Michael while Clarissa was off handling the 4 billion points. “Thank you, Michelle,” I said.

“You are welcome, Michael. It wasn’t easy at some points. But Amy is alive and well,” Michelle replied.

“The energy structure?” I asked.

“We can put her to sleep, and you can check, but it is complex. Very complex. It became obvious when the energy surged. I barely survived, but the structure pulled it all in and got stronger, or clearer. Also Young Michael it is good to see you,” Michelle said.

“Thank you. I got a meta-point,” he said. I wanted to sigh, but he was young and wanted to share the news with everyone. “Triple stats, easy,” he replied.

“Congratulations. Those are quite rare,” Michelle said.

“Indeed, they are,” I replied.

“Oh, you must have a lot,” Young Michael said while looking at me. I loved the kid but sometimes he could be completely clueless.

“I have enough,” I replied.

“Is the sphere gone?” Michelle asked.

“Yes. It was a hard battle, but I won with Clarissa’s help,” I said.

“I saw the marker, but I can’t believe she actually went into battle,” Michelle said.

“Sometimes people can surprise us,” I replied.

“You should hear him tell it. It was endless monsters, a massive battle, and a slug fest at the end!” Young Michael said and I just smiled. It was too hard to get upset with his youthful enthusiasm. That was why I liked him around. I felt old and tired after dealing with so much nonsense over the years.

“Sounds thrilling,” Michelle replied with a slight grin.

“What about you? Any plans?” I asked her.

“Clarissa made a pitch to work for her. Setting up her secret organization. Not that interested, but I am willing to lend the occasional hand. Plan to find a place to grind quietly for the most part. You?” she asked me.

“I cleared the remaining towers, or enough of them in level 5 zones and below across the Systemic Land. I now control 22 of the 40 possible votes,” I explained.

“You didn’t check what they could do?” she asked.

“No. It was tempting, but I wanted to gather up everyone first. You, Clarissa, and Young Michael here. Whatever it is, we will decide togeather,” I replied.

“Me, really?” Young Michael asked.

“Yes. As a child born here and a survivor of the third calamity, you deserve a say in whatever happens. I am expecting something completely useless, but you never know,” I explained.

“That would be like everything else. Getting our hopes up and then nothing. Watch, it will say you need all towers or something stupid,” Michelle said.

“You just need to believe,” Young Michael said.

“I like his enthusiasm,” Michelle said.

“Well, things are tough, but you never give up. You taught me that,” he said, and my heart shuddered at that. I was too young to be a father or even a father figure dispensing sage advice.

“I suppose I did. Why don’t you take a look around this place, I want to catch up with Michelle,” I told him. He gave me a nod and jogged off. I just shook my head.

“Any sign of Doctor Katz?” Michelle asked me.

“No. He was probably in a city and died there along with everyone else. I wasn’t expecting either you or my mother to still be alive,” I replied.

“It wasn’t easy, but I managed. I had to know all those tricks to get the most out of monster control. What about you? Clarissa said you are unstoppable?”

“A second meta-point, they are multiplicative,” I replied and she slowly nodded at that.

“Then I truly have no chance of catching up. You face off against a level 9 monster yet?” she asked.

“Not yet. Level 8 zones are a nightmare. I would have to remain in the air the entire time. While I have a lot more energy, it would be an annoying fight. There is no rush to get stronger, so I can work on my stats and then slowly start clearing zones and taking out the boss monsters,” I explained.

“I am sorry, I wasn’t able to go with you both,” Michelle blurted out.

“You weren’t around and it was an emergency. Everything was falling apart as well. You also took time to look after my mother. How is she doing really?” I asked.

“Not well. She knows something is wrong and gets the occasional headache, but besides that she is lonely and scared. Even after I explained things, she went through a lot just after arriving here,” Michelle said, and I nodded at this.

“Thank you. I mean it, thank you. If you need something, let me know,” I replied.

“I am not retiring, but grinding some place quiet is something I have planned. At least after this tower vote.”

“You don’t think it will settle things and reveal the Almighty System?” I asked.

“Absolutely not. The Systemic Lands here are cursed down to the bedrock and the black ooze surrounding us. I would sooner believe you get a meta-point from the vote, than from any kind of escape from this hell,” she said.

“What if the outside is worse? The rainbow dimension is inhospitable to all life,” I countered.

“It could be. Then we will have to figure that out. But I am not holding out hope for a return to Earth,” Michelle replied.

“So grinding, I had something similar planned as well,” I replied.

“Leaving your mother here with Clarissa?” she asked, and I nodded.

“I am guessing you don’t want to watch her anymore?” I asked.

“I would prefer not to. There might be increased risk if someone mentions you,” Michelle said.

“There aren’t any other options besides Clarissa or you. Young Michael is traveling with me,” I replied.

“Putting him to work?” she asked with a smile.

“Yes. I am hoping that with his help I can clear four level 7 zones in a single day. That is 1.200 billion points per day. Even if he gets a hundredth of that, it would be more than clearing a level 4 zone and about half of a level 5 zone. A good deal for him,” I replied.

“Boring,” Michelle countered.

“Well, we will have to clear out the lower level zones for his skill points. I know he wants to get the exact same skills as me. So, we will have to go through all of that,” I replied.

“Your very own mini-me,” Michelle said with a grin.

“A good backup in case something happens to me, and I can share my experience with him. You ever think about finding someone to teach all your tricks?” I asked.

“If we are still here in a few years, maybe. I know you are going to say things are in chaos right now and it is a great time for skill points, but I honestly don’t want to deal with anyone else,” she said.

“Except for your monsters. Here, a bag of tier 8 crystals,” I said and handed it over.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” Michelle replied, and I shrugged.

“I didn’t turn those in, in case I wanted to give someone a lot of points. But since you are here, you can make use of them,” I replied.

“Thank you, Michael. They will be a good trump card. But summoning has its limits, especially after level 7. I don’t think I will ever be catching up with you,” she replied.

“Maybe. But you are in the top 5 strongest beings left in the Systemic Lands.”

“And who might be beating me?” she asked.

“The Sword and Clarissa, maybe. Also, if you can find the stupid Sword, I would consider that a huge favor,” I replied.

“Trying to clear up all the threats to your number one position?” she asked and I nodded at this question.

“Yes. Now seems like a good time if I can get rid of that stupid thing. We don’t need any more trouble. Better to be a bit proactive about threats if possible,” I replied.

“I will keep my eye out for it and send word back if I discover it. But it won’t be that simple,” Michelle said and I let out a sigh.

“I know. I know. Nothing is ever simple around here.”