Chapter 116: Chapter 116: System's Origin

"Whatever is necessary"

As Elio's claws closed around Fathoran, a memory from a hundred years ago flooded his mind.

♢♢♢♢

A young Fathoran knelt in a seemingly limitless white room. The air vibrated with supernatural energy, and the young man trembled, overwhelmed by reverence and fear. Before him stood God, the creator of his world.

"Since you've won, you shall have the name of the founder I had prepared... Fathoran Von Orlion, congratulations," God began.

Young Fathoran bowed his head, his heart swelling with pride and anticipation. "Thank you, Creator. I've dedicated every moment to strengthening my body and mind, just as you taught us."

God nodded, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "Good, good. But now you'll face an even greater test."

Fathoran looked up, his eyes shining with determination. "I'm ready to serve, Creator. Tell me what I must do."

"You must guide them, my time is running out," God said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I needed a leader, someone capable of navigating this labyrinth of traps. You, the first to surpass the fifth level, the most astute of all, will be that leader."

God placed a hand on Fathoran's shoulder. "Listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you will determine the future of humanity. Every decision you make, every action you take, could be the difference between victory and extinction..."

"From today, you'll be the king, the ruler, so let me clarify some things... I created this city to be an oasis in this desert, but every decision I made was countered by her."

"Her?" Fathoran asked.

"The Goddess," God spat. "My beautiful utopian system, thrown in the trash... For every advantage I gave you, she imposed a limitation. Mana, allowing life in this desert, but scarce. Power, locked in the Book System, powerful when obtained, but a mortal challenge..."

"It's a zero-sum game, Fathoran. For you to free yourselves, you must defeat the demons. And they're in the same situation."

God leaned in, his eyes glowing with intensity. "But the Goddess... she's cunning. More than I'd like to admit. The disadvantages I could impose on her are minor... Her traps and restrictions have left you at a disadvantage from the start...

It wasn't my fault."

"What can we do?" Fathoran asked, feeling the weight of the revelation.

God seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "You see, Fathoran, humanity's survival depends on... Well, you must level up, but don't rush, try to get the 4th or 5th invocation before attempting level 6, the difficulty increases... You also depend on numbers... Hmm... and more importantly, you must be united, like a family."

"Well, time's up, I must go... Take these 2 books, you decide how to handle the information. So let me see if it's clear... Have you understood?"

"Yes, Creator, 'family' is the most important," the young Fathoran answered, his voice trembling with reverence and fear.

'Oh right right the godly voice I can't leave without testing it'

"Then tell me, little one," God whispered, His voice charged with a power that made the walls tremble, "what would you be willing to do to survive? To protect your own?"

"Whatever is necessary, Father. Whatever it takes."

With a gesture of his hand, God created more humans to replenish the more than 60,000 fallen humans around them. "I leave you with your people, Fathoran. Guide them, strengthen them, prepare them. Because if we fail, if the Goddess wins... there will be no second chance."

As God's figure began to fade, his last words resonated in Fathoran's mind:

"Remember, survival is all that matters. Do whatever is necessary. Whatever it takes."

♢♢♢♢

Elio tightened his giant carbon hands, determined to end Fathoran once and for all.

He could feel the resistance of the Founder's body, and increased the pressure...

He squeezed harder...

Harder...

HARDER

An explosion of energy caused his carbon hands to shatter into a thousand pieces.

Before he could process what was happening, a sharp, piercing pain tore through his chest.

Elio looked down, incredulous, to see a corrosive stake protruding from his heart. The world around him began to fade, and his legs gave way beneath him.

The last thing he saw before darkness enveloped him was Fathoran's figure, standing amidst the remains of the carbon hands, with an expression of relentless determination on his face.