Chapter 132: Man vs Calamity

Chapter 132: Man vs Calamity

The System Apocalypses last day started like the first: with an ominous message.

The notification woke Basil up while he was still sleeping with Vasi lightly snoring in his arms. The System Screen was bloody red rather than blue. If Basil didnt know better, he would take it as a deeply ominous sign.

Congratulations, Players of Earth! Thanks to your extraordinary efforts surviving this Incursion, the competitions final round is within reach! There is now enough experience in this world to select an Overgod!In preparation for the final Incursion and to save processing power, all low-level areas will be deleted. Individuals hiding among themyes, were talking about you lazy weaklingswill suffer the same fate if they cannot evacuate in time.Remaining areas will grow closer to make battles easier. With luck, you might select a winner before the Final Incursion!

Basils eyes set on one word among many; one that promised death and disaster.

Deleted. Deleted. Deleted.

That bastard Basil leaped out of his bed and quickly summoned his equipment from his inventory. He was dressed for battle in an instant. Vasi, get up.

Basil? Vasi squinted as she emerged from her slumber. Whats going on?

Trouble. When was the answer not troubles nowadays?

Basil immediately rushed out of the bedroom while his girlfriend quickly followed in a nightgown. They found the Steamobiles habitable parts empty. The rest of the team had already exited their vehicle to watch the grim spectacle outside. From Plato to Rosemarine, all eyes looked up to the sky.

Dog, Plato whispered, his body tense as a bowstring. Am I dreaming?

The first Wallace & Gromit movie had taught Basil that the moon was made of cheese, until the final battle with the Unity disabused him of the notion. He remembered quite vividly pounding Blackcinders face into the dirt and then watching her superweapon blow up across the lunar landscape.

His mind must have been playing tricks on him, for the moons surface now looked like a slice of swiss cheese.

Although the satellite was partly hidden by the star circuit glowing across the sky, the pitch black holes widening on its surface stood out on their own. Their ravenous darkness absorbed even light. They grew from half a dozen specks until they swallowed lunar craters in their entirety, before joining up and fusing into an ever-expanding sea of darkness.

Within minutes, the full moon had shrunk into a crescent.

Thats Vasi chewed her lower lip, her eyes widening in dread. That will have consequences.

I didnt do it, Mister, Rosemarine declared out of the blue. She sounded more disappointed than anything. Its not me this time.

I know, Basil replied. Though the scale of the cataclysm gave him pause, it didnt surprise him much. With the Unitys forces wiped out after the Blackcinders debacle, the moon was now uninhabited. It was nothing but a drain on the Neurotowers resources as far as the System was concerned.

No tide rose up to swallow Athens, nor did any quake shake the city. That alone might have been more terrifying than the moons slow disappearance. The Systems laws and logic now pervaded reality to the point it could remove Earths billion-years old satellite without affecting anything else.

Boss, Bugsy said with a small, worried voice. Basil suddenly noticed that he alone wasnt looking at the sky, but at the horizon. Whats in that direction?

Basil gazed beyond the hills of Athens and the blue hue of the Aegean Sea.

A wall of darkness had risen over the distant horizon.

A veil of shadows deep as a starless night stretched far and wide. It was taller than mountains, faster than a tsunami, more dreadful than a storm. The world was a landscape painting slowly overcome by a tide of spilled ink. Isolated droplets of baleful blackness grew and joined together into a flood of death.

The black hole the team had encountered earlier had been barely large enough to swallow a building. This wall reached the clouds and blanketed entire countries into its dark embrace.

Turkey, Basil replied. Bulgarias former historical nemesis, and a land with over eighty million inhabitants before the world ended. It should be Turkey.

How much of it remained?

Partner, I keep receiving messages from our Guildmates! Shellgirl warned, a System screen floating in front of her. Its happening everywhere! France, Romania Bulgaria too!

Basils blood froze in his veins. Earth had been living on life support since the Trimurti System appeared, and Maxwell just pulled the plug.

The land is moving below our feet! Bugsy warned. A string of tremors followed to echo his words, too weak to collapse buildings, but strong enough to be noticeable.

Are we being swallowed by the void too? Plato asked with a frown. Should we run?

No, I dont think so Bugsy listened to the ground until his enhanced senses came up with an explanation. The land isnt being swallowed, it descending.

Nature abhors a vacuum, Vasi guessed. The message said the habitable space would shrink. If entire pans of the surface disappear

Then the planet itself is shrinking, Basil guessed grimly. The Earths crust made up roughly one percent of its volume. The other ninety-nine percent were superfluous as far as the System was concerned. Earth is shriveling up like a rotten fruit.

His thoughts turned to the friends he had left behind in Bordeaux, Limoges, Paris, Shumen, and so many other places. The Bohens had fought tooth and nail to save thousands of lives, sparing them the Apocalypse Forces rampages and the Unitys slavery. Now the very ground threatened to collapse beneath their feets.

Has it all been for nothing? Basils fists tightened enough to hurt. Was that your plan all along Maxwell? To give us a flicker of hope and then take it all away?

Basil refused to lay down and let all the people he fought to protect perish. There had to be a way to save them all.

The sound of flapping wings echoed above the troupe. Sir! The angel Zachariel landed among them, sweat dripping from his feathers. He must have flown halfway across Athens without catching his breath. Disaster is afoot!

Gee, weve noticed, Plato replied dryly. The giant encroaching void was quite the giveaway!

What about Kalki? Basil asked the angel. It couldnt be a coincidence that this calamity happened at the same time as when the Bohens allies recovered him. Is he all right?

The Avatars have both been safely freed from their prison contraption, Zachariel confirmed. In fact, the void started expanding immediately after we secured them both.

Fear of missing out, eh? Shellgirl immediately sneered. Thats basic marketing.

Maxwell is putting a time limit on us, Vasi guessed, her arms crossing in frustration. He pushed a gun against our head and asked us to make a choice.

Its working. Zachariel cleared his throat. Our esteemed allies asked for an emergency meeting at the Parthenon to discuss the situation and reach a decision.

Basil didnt need a memo. The council would decide whether to let the Avatars fuse or not, with all the cosmic consequences that it implied.

Bugsy turned in his direction. Boss

I know. The final battle approached fast. Basil could feel it within his bones. Its time, Steve.

The Steamobile let out a cloud of steam. It had been ready since the moment the team stole Zeus essence from Ashoks cold dead hands.

As an animated vehicle, Steve Roadwonders was denied metamorphosis. Basil himself wasnt sure what would happen once he pressed the essence against his friends metal frame. Would Zeus spirit reject this new vessel as Plutos did before? Would it overwrite Steves Perks and force a metamorphosis in violation of the Systems usual rules?

He didnt have to wait long for answers.

The essence of Zeus flowed into Steves body in a wave of lightning. Electricity surged through the machines circuits and turbines. The power of thunder itself moved its gears without the need for fuel.

According to myths, Zeus would enter anything and anyone that let him in. A giant car robot was no exception. Or perhaps the situation was so terrible that the god agreed to help in any way he could?

Much like when Steve absorbed the Gearsman Titans runecore in Shumen, the change was nearly imperceptible from the outside. The Steamobile showed little hint of having assimilated a gods power besides the occasional pulses of electricity coursing through its cables.

A true god did not need to showcase its power, for it had nothing to prove.

By absorbing the [Essence of Zeus] through [Improvement], Steve Roadwonders has gained the [Divine Thunderchariot] Passive Perk and the [Aegis of Zeus] Active Perk!Divine Thunderchariot (Passive): As the Olympians thundering chariot, Steve Roadwonders takes half damage from attacks, is immune to [Insta-Death], and absorbs [Lightning] attacks (recovers HP equal to the damage that would have been inflicted). His [Lightning] attacks inflict 50% more damage, pierce through Resistance, and treat Immunity as Resistance.Aegis of Zeus (Active): [Lightning], [Support], 100 SP. Steve Roadwonders can empower allies with the power of [Lightning]. All allies within fifty meters will inflict 20% additional [Lightning] damage with their weapons piercing through Resistance and benefit from temporary [Lightning] immunity for ten minutes.

Considering the Gehenna Cannon inflicted Lightning damage, Steve might now be powerful enough to blow up more than space stations.

Basil gave one last glance at his team. Every member, big or small, now wielded the power of a deity; or in Vasi's case, something close behind. A year ago, none of them would have expected to see the throne of Overgod within reach.

Main Quest: The Lotus of Love, completed! Your party gained 13,600,000 Bonus EXP (2,266,666 for you) and the [Lotus of Completion] consumable.Lotus of CompletionFamily: Consumable.Quality: S.Effect: The Lotus of Completion will turn an individuals Weak affinity into a Strong one, thus removing the associated elemental weakness. The Lotus of Completion can only be used once, after which it disappears. Cannot be duplicated.Blessed are those who reach the end of the path, for they have become whole. Said to be blooming on the lap of enlightened sages who have achieved Nirvana, the Lotus of Completion perfects the body and mind like the blacksmith sharpens a sword.

We dont have the logistics to evacuate everyone, Neria pointed out.

Who cares? the demon king chuckled. You only need to evacuate those who matter.

Some sent glares at the demon king, his own daughter included. Basil wasnt among them. As much as he hated to say so out loud, he did consider evacuating his Guild to Outremonde before that fateful moment. He could hardly judge his future father-in-law on moral grounds.

We will evacuate those we can, but this will be a fraction of the total body count, General Leblanc warned. Additionally, the more time passes, the greater the risk that the likes of the Maleking enter our world and claim the Overgod throne. At which point, everyone still on Earth will probably suffer a gruesome death.

We have no idea what other Factions are active elsewhere on the planet, Neria pointed out. Our network only extends to Europe and the Maghreb.

This is also cause for concern, Leblanc conceded. We have no idea what happened in America, Asia, southern Africa, or Oceania. For all we knew they could have fallen under the sway of monsters or bloodthirsty warlords.

Basil shuddered to imagine what kind of horrors the likes of post-apocalyptic Australia could have spawned. Neria raised a valid point. Since high-level areas and monsters converged for a final battle, its participants were as likely to be brave defenders of the innocents as ambitious warmongers eager to seize the Overgods throne. The chances of all these unknown individuals finding common ground were slim to say the least.

All in all, the Earths transformation was but the prelude for the carnage to come.

Then what are we waiting for? Simeon asked, turning his gaze at Kalki and Padma. You can stop it all, can you not?

I I believe it will all end once I join Padma. Kalki nodded sharply, as did his female counterpart. I can feel this was our purpose.

Basil emerged from his silence. I think this is a trap.

All eyes turned in his direction, much to his astonishment. He still wasnt used to being a big-shot power player.

We have gathered information indicating that Maxwell may have planned for the Avatars to fuse, he explained. This will serve his ends somehow.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. Didnt he try to convince you to prevent such an outcome?

It could be reverse psychology, Vasi pointed out wisely. By forbidding us to do something, Maxwell tricks us into doubling down instead.

Why didnt he force them to fuse themselves then? Cassandra pointed out. Why give us the chance to affect the outcome?

I dont know, Basil admitted. He had to admit that Maxwells behavior did confuse him. But it smells fishy.

Someone snickered in the crowd, though Basil couldnt identify them. Is that your argument? That it smells fishy?

Basil stood his ground. Call it instinct or whatever, but this whole situation feels like a trap.

There are too many uncertainties, his girlfriend agreed. We know Maxwell is trying to reproduce, and that his plan involves something called Dis, whatever that means. Were missing part of the puzzle.

Dis, you said Branio touched his chin thoughtfully. Mmm

Does it ring a bell, Father? his daughter asked.

The demon king nodded curtly. I believe it was the name of a System whose creator our previous administrator warred with in ancient times. It was mentioned to my father as a cautionary tale, but he never learned more of it.

What else can you tell us? General Leblanc pushed.

Nothing, Branio replied, much to everyones disappointment. I told you, it was mentioned to my father in passing. I doubt he could tell us anything more.

We still havent investigated Dismaker Labs headquarters in Malta, Shellgirl pointed out. Maybe well find more information there?

Theres no time for that, a soldier pointed out. The planet is dying now.

Yeah, but if our plan works Kalki and co can recreate it back from scratch, Shellgirl replied wisely. I say were jumping the gun on this one. Never buy anything under pressure, cause theres always a hidden price.

General Leblanc shook his head. I have already deployed forces to Malta when the void began to expand.

Basil frowned. What did they find?

Empty fortresses and a crack in the Level Barrier, General Leblanc replied with a sour face. Seers and early readings indicate a phenomenally powerful creature awaits on the other side.

He did not need to name the likely culprit.

The Maleking was waiting on Earths threshold, and the door could open anytime.

Maxwell vacated his former headquarters and left nothing behind him, Neria said. He could be leaving the planet or preparing to do so.

Our world is full of gods, not all of them sympathetic to outsiders, Cassandra warned. The pathways that connect this planet to ours worries them. They wont let things progress to the point our world might be threatened by outside infection.

Simeon squinted at her. What will they do then?

They will send troops. Cassandra glanced at Kalki. To cut down the root of the infection.

Better be safe than sorry? Basil clenched his fists in anger. They would rather destroy our world than risk Maxwell moving on to their own?

Yes, Cassandra replied bluntly. And no doubt some of you here would do the same in their situation.

Rosemarine opened her mouth, but swiftly closed it rather than prove her right.

She has a point, Shellgirl whispered under her breath. I can think of someone who wouldnt hesitate to pull the plug.

Walter, Basil thought. He didnt doubt a second that the necromancer would destroy the Earth if it meant safeguarding his home. The only question was whether he would evacuate his friends first. The more we delay our choice, the higher the risks that an outsider will make it for us.

General Leblanc must have thought along the same lines, for he addressed the Avatars among the crowd. What would you suggest?

Im Im not sure, Kalki admitted. I want to help you, and I think I have the power to, but my memory remains foggy. I cannot guarantee success.

We will do as you desire, Padma said calmly. It is your world your choice.

Then let us put the matter to vote, General Leblanc said. Everyone present, raise your hand if you are in favor of letting the Avatars fuse now. Those who would rather delay until we figure out an alternative, say nothing.

Hands rose one after another. Basils wasnt among them, nor were his guildmates. Branio did not move an inch, either because he didnt care or because he wanted to support his daughters choice. General Leblanc too shrewdly decided to wait to gather more intel.

But almost all humans present voted yes.

I am sorry, Sir Bohen. Simeon raised his hand, reluctantly. There is too much at stake if we wait.

Im tired. Neria followed through as well. Whatever happens cant be worse than the Earth vanishing.

Cassandra voted yes as well, as did Zachariel; no doubt they worried more about one of their allies back home jumping the gun and killing the Avatars rather than take the risk of Maxwells brood infecting their realm. The soldiers that survived the battle against the Apocalypse Force and Metal Olympus overwhelmingly voted yes as well. They were weary from the constant fights, worried for their families at home, and wanted the end of the world to, well, end. Even if the odds of success were slim, they would take them.

The ayes have it. There was no joy in General Leblancs tone, only wariness. The Avatars shall fuse.

And so the traps jaws closed upon them all.