Chapter 149: The Trade

"I have one question." Compass Carburettor thought for a moment before asking, "How long have you employed System Slayers in this fight?"

"Hmm," The Coincidental Luck System thought before saying, "I think around 400-500 years. I've employed around seven System Slayers to date."

"Are they alive now?" He asked.

"If they still were, do you think I would have searched for you?" It responded, "There were enough times when we were overwhelmed. After all, despite some luck, there won't be any other help from my side. Because, the moment I intervene, my Host is as good as done for that round. I won't be able to earn any Mental Energy from him after that."

"So, it'll be just me fighting against them." Compass Carburettor nodded, "Alright, that's fine with me. I was searching for Systems to kill anyway. And since they'll throw themselves at us, it'll be easier for me to kill them."

"Only hatchling Systems target my Host. My enemies know that if they send anyone stronger, I'll simply kill them and absorb their ability if it seems interesting enough. After all, once a System crosses Level 10, levelling up would become incredibly harder." It said, "Around my level, increasing my level by one would take around a couple of centuries if I am efficient enough."

"That is incredibly slow." Compass Carburettor nodded, "No wonder this fight is dragging on for so long."

"Their goal is to slowly whittle away my Mental Energy reserves so that one day I would be killed along with my Host. That way, my enemies would have a couple of days to take action before I revive." The Coincidental Luck System sighed, shaking its head, "And, they'll absorb my power before that happens."

One of its injuries suddenly bled before something similar to a magnifying glass jumped out. Using its tail, the Coincidental Luck System grabbed hold of it and threw it his way, saying, "Take this. It's a must if you are fighting against the Systems. This is my end of the deal in this trade. It's what I gave to every System Slayer that I employed."

"This is…a Core Skill?" Compass Carburettor immediately recognised it, feeling his heart thump in response as he summoned his Anthozoa, sucking in the item as his Mental Energy easily refined it. As it lacked any sentience, it only took him a couple of seconds to refine it.

The knowledge of the Core Skill flashed in his mind as he digested everything, thinking, 'Info Scanner; it allows me to obtain the name and level of any System in my vicinity. The range increases based on the Skill Level. And best of all, it can tell me the number of Systems present in the world I'm in.'

"This is pretty useful." Compass Carburettor nodded, "With this, I have a bit more confidence in being able to participate in this trade."

"Yes, it is also stealthy in that Hatchling Systems would never sense you using it on them." The Coincidental Luck System said, suddenly turning serious, "Though, if you wish to no longer be a part of this trade, you'll have to return this Core Skill to me. I've bound it to a Core Skill that works on pledges. So, the moment you are no longer…well, you should understand how it works."

"Yes," Compass Carburettor nodded, noticing something subtle wrapping around him, thinking, 'Is this the restriction brought about by the pledge?'

"Alright, let's head in now." The Coincidental Luck System nodded, causing its antlers to shine a bit before condensing a portal before it. Outlined in the portal was a messy room where an individual was seated before a large monitor, staring at it with widened eyes. His figure was reflected on the monitor when its power went off.

"That looks like a normal world. Is this before apocalypse strikes there?" Compass Carburettor asked in curiosity.

"The Apocalypse is already in effect." The Coincidental Luck System laughed.

"But…how is he still…"

"An apocalypse doesn't immediately mean zombies." It snorted, "And, zombie apocalypses are worlds only Hatchling Systems venture forth into because they are too weak. Zombies don't have any brain, so the Mental Energy one can gather in such worlds is pitiful."

"Zombie worlds are ranked the lowest due to how little Mental Energy can be harvested from there. They are F-Ranked Worlds." It said, "Only Level 1 and 2 among Hatchling Systems head there to gain some advantage and grow. And, they only go there because they were chased or hunted in other worlds."

"The apocalypse here is nature related. It had started to change for the past couple of years and has accelerated in the past month. So, there are enough changes accordingly." It said, "And as the days pass now, the changes would be more and more pronounced. This is day one of the 20-year cycle."

"What type of power system is in effect here?" Compass Carburettor asked, "If I gain some understanding of it, I'll be able to prepare accordingly."

"Nope, I won't tell you anything from hero on." The Coincidental Luck System laughed, "In the past, whenever I gave details to the System Slayers, they ended up aiming for the routes where they would become stronger in a short duration. And, this only ended up making it each for the Hatchling Systems to deal with them."

"All it did was result in a loss. So, I won't give you any details," It continued, "And, I am confident in your intelligence. Otherwise, I wouldn't have approached you in the first place."

"All you need to do is become my Host's friend and accompany him on his journey." It said, "It isn't possible for me to talk once I enter him. So, you're on your own."

"Wait, wait, I won't be able to accompany him for twenty years. I still have something to do before that…" Compass Carburettor said in a hurry when the Coincidental Luck System laughed, coiling its tail around his arm before pulling him into the portal.

It seemed nonchalant about him having to leave before the world resets, as if it had seen the same numerous times.

'I guess it can simply wait until the world resets. It should have seen the same from other System Slayers.' Compass Carburettor nodded, sighing as he hurriedly summoned his Anthozoa and touched the portal with it, causing his body to vanish.