Ch 204.

  “Are you ready to head off to your first destination, or do you need a moment?” Radoznaormr inquired, his tone calm as Matt took a few moments to process the weight of their conversation. “It would likely be best if, after you manifest your second true self once more, whichever version of you is setting out has access to my anchor. Therefore, it should be stored in your spatial storage.”

  “So that’s your plan for opening portals as needed,” Matt replied, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. “One of me will remain here, focusing solely on leveling up while I delve deeper into the dungeon, and the other will engage in diplomatic efforts. It feels like I’m orchestrating a scenario where I might have to sacrifice myself just to allow a new true self to emerge when my current one becomes too weak.”

  “Not at all,” Radoznaormr countered, a hint of smugness lacing his voice. “Given your ability to maintain a degree of synchronization through your puppets, if you manage to elevate the dungeon to S rank, your other self will easily catch up with you later.”

  Matt's brow furrowed as he wrestled with the unsettling notion that Radoznaormr was attempting to manipulate his motivations. He couldn't shake the desire for a skill that would enable him to synchronize his true selves in every aspect, including their levels. However, he understood that he would have to endure a wait until reaching at least level 75 before even contemplating such a skill. And even then, he would be at the mercy of whatever the system deemed fit to grant him. This realization only deepened his frustration, as it felt increasingly like the system was stripping away his autonomy.

  He recalled the implied information he already had that not everyone would receive an enhanced skill every tenth level. Yet, deep down, he felt an unwavering certainty that he would. Why did he feel this way? Because every fiber of his being resonated with the belief that he was an exception to the rules. So profound was this conviction that he was convinced he would qualify for multiple enhanced skills each time, only to find himself limited to just one.

  Unless—unless he could devise a way for both of his true selves to acquire different skills and then somehow recombine later. But even that prospect filled him with uncertainty; he had no idea if merging would allow him to retain both sets of skills or if it would lead to unforeseen complications.

  Regardless, Matt understood he needed to reach a point where he would once again confront an agent of the system. He suspected that if he approached it the same way he had last time, the outcome would be disastrous, just as he had been warned. Yet, this realization sparked an idea about how he could instigate such an encounter if he put his mind to it. The challenge lay in crafting a scenario that was familiar enough to resonate but distinct enough to yield a different result. Currently, he found himself stumped, caught in thought as he split into two selves once more: one facing the looming dungeon, while the other crossed his arms, continuing his conversation with Radoznaormr.

  “So, where are you planning to send me?” he asked, curiosity tinged with apprehension.

  “Nowhere too terrible for your first stop—just a world that will eagerly trade for some of the sea water that surrounds you, provided they don’t drown you first,” Radoznaormr replied, a hint of mischief in his tone.

  “Am I going to need to develop gills or something?” Matt shot back, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes, but not right away. It’s better if you first witness the condition of their world,” Radoznaormr explained, his voice steady.

  “This isn’t going to be some kind of scheme to drain our oceans to fix theirs, is it?” he questioned, a note of skepticism creeping into his voice.

  “No, at least not at this stage,” Radoznaormr assured him, though a slight hesitation lingered in his tone. “That could become a possibility if this world is destined to become the first S-ranked world. You might even negotiate for them to host people from your world who can’t adapt to what that entails.”

  “So, just about everyone,” Matt commented dryly. “Is this all going to boil down to trading access to Earth for them taking in parts of our population?”

  “Essentially, yes. However, a few places I intend to send you will have additional motivations beyond that,” Radoznaormr clarified.

  “Great, so how about you tell me what I should expect and open the portal?” Matt urged, impatience creeping into his tone.

  “Well, you should know that you’ll arrive on a B-ranked world governed by the Raven Association. I plan to place you a few hundred feet above a mountain overlooking a bay where the natives reside. They aren’t highly regarded by the Raven Association, and their world is struggling, to put it mildly.”

  “Hold on, there are other worlds with ravens?” Matt asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “That’s just your auto-translate changing their name to something that makes sense to you. Anyway, you need to find a way to get the natives to approach the Raven Association with your offer, as attempting to approach them directly would likely lead to your demise 99 times out of 100,” Radoznaormr explained.

  “What makes the Raven Association worth the effort?” Matt inquired, skepticism coloring his voice.

  “Simple. They are close enough to your world that they are one of the two most likely to conquer it once its protection period ends. And yes, I will be sending you to the other one as well, so don’t make any promises about not working with other powers. Emphasize that you seek to turn Earth into neutral ground if you succeed in having it reach S rank,” Radoznaormr instructed.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Why do I have a feeling they’re going to laugh when I tell them what I’m trying to do?” Matt asked, sensing he was missing a crucial piece of information.

  “That’s simple. They will understand just how impossible that is,” Radoznaormr retorted, a smug edge to his voice. “After all, there are reasons A-ranked worlds are the pinnacle of achievement; you should expect it to take your other self weeks, if not months, to navigate through the later floors of the dungeon. I can’t elaborate further as it may cause complications, but don’t assume that what you’re currently accustomed to will remain the status quo.”

  “I wouldn’t,” Matt replied sharply. “I can already tell that going from C to B rank is enough to make that clear. So, is there anything beyond my ability to turn Earth into an uninhabitable death planet that they might want?”

  “Things won’t be that dire. Any beings from S rank and possibly those from A rank should still be able to inhabit Earth. However, if they start expressing a desire to claim Earth for themselves, just smile and let them know I’m watching. If you succeed, I’ll ensure word spreads far and wide,” Radoznaormr said, a glint of confidence in his eyes.

  “I can already tell this is going to go terribly,” Matt muttered, a sense of foreboding settling over him.

  Radoznaormr didn’t reply to Matt; instead, he simply conjured a swirling portal before him. Without hesitation, Matt stored Radoznaormr’s anchor in his spatial storage and stepped forward into the unknown. Suddenly, gravity took hold, and he found himself plummeting from the sky, his gaze fixed on a desolate mountain peak rising starkly below him. In a time before the system's arrival, the thought of such a fall would have filled him with dread, but now, he concentrated on executing a perfect landing, determined to avoid tumbling down the mountainside.

  As he landed with a solid thud, a cloud of dust erupted around him, momentarily obscuring his view. Once the haze settled, he surveyed his surroundings, which felt unnervingly silent. Even in this remote location, he expected to hear the rustle of wind through trees or the chirp of distant creatures, yet all that reached his ears was the faint whisper of the breeze, far weaker than he anticipated. As his eyes adjusted, he took in the barren expanse below, frowning at the stark emptiness; not a single plant broke the monotony of brown earth. The only splash of color came from the water beneath him, glistening with an eerie rainbow sheen, reminiscent of the slick surface left behind when gasoline spills during a boat refueling.

  “What the heck am I even looking at?” Matt muttered to himself, bewilderment creeping into his voice.

  He couldn’t fathom how any world with access to the system could appear so desolate. Even if the plant life had been relentlessly stripped from the ground, it should have taken only a few days at most for new growth to begin sprouting. A part of Matt felt an urge to plant something, to see if life could take root in this barren landscape, but he pushed that thought aside as he began searching for a path down the mountain. The task proved surprisingly straightforward; he leaped down short ledges without hesitation, his enhanced agility allowing him to navigate the rugged terrain with ease.

  He was roughly halfway down the mountain when an unsettling odor began to permeate the air, a scent that felt distinctly wrong. The best way he could describe it was as a nauseating blend reminiscent of a gas station mixed with the stench of rotting fish festering in neglected trashcans. The foul aroma made him feel as if he were closing in on something truly vile as he pressed onward toward the bay, the smell growing more intense with every step. As he descended, his eyes caught sight of large pipes jutting out from the mountain and leading into the murky water below, connected to some industrial-looking structure that appeared devoid of windows. This sight left Matt puzzled; aside from the pipes protruding awkwardly from the mountainside, he had no other clues about what lay ahead.

  Seeing nothing else of interest, Matt directed his attention toward the building, taking in its sleek, metallic surface that gleamed dully in the weak light. It struck him as odd; given its proximity to the ocean, he would have expected some signs of corrosion or wear, yet there was none. The structure, painted in a somber black hue, showed no signs of degradation, nor did the massive pipes encircling it—pipes so wide that two people could swim past each other with ease. Still, as he approached, he noticed a disconcerting absence of any visible entrance or even the faintest sound emanating from within, despite being only a hundred feet away from the ominous edifice.

  Deciding to explore from above, Matt sprinted along the massive pipes, which snaked their way into the mountain’s side and disappeared into the building's roof. The pipes, slick and cold beneath his palms, seemed to pulse with a hidden energy. He had no idea what might be flowing through them, nor the direction it might take, but curiosity propelled him forward. After a few agile leaps, he landed on the roof, where he finally spotted a potential entrance. It appeared to be a heavy hatch, its surface marred by rust and age, yet still robust. With a firm grip, he yanked on the handle located on the ocean-facing side of the structure, straining against its weight as he put all his strength into the effort.

  Peering into the inky darkness below, Matt discovered a stream of water that, in stark contrast to the surrounding murkiness, smelled surprisingly fresh. It rushed swiftly toward the ocean, and a frown creased his brow as he noticed another hatch on the opposite side of the roof. Curious, he opened it, only to be met with an unpleasant odor wafting up from the depths; this water was decidedly foul and flowed ominously into the mountain. The thought of water filtration flickered through Matt's mind, raising questions about whether they were siphoning water into the mountain, allowing it to be purified by the rocks before being extracted again. If that was the case, he couldn't fathom why they would seek water from Earth's oceans when their own world had an abundance source readily available.

  He was in the midst of pondering all of this when, without warning, several tentacles adorned with suckers slithered out from the hatch leading to the clean water section. Just as Matt prepared to defend himself, a figure roughly his size propelled itself from the opening, and he found himself face-to-face with what could only be described as an octopus fish man. Its head resembled that of an octopus, sporting four sinuous tentacles instead of the usual eight, while its body bore the unmistakable form of a human, complete with two arms and two legs. Each limb was webbed, and there was an unsettling quality to its movements, suggesting a flexibility that defied normal anatomy. Adding to the creature’s strangeness, the colors of its skin shifted continuously, creating a mesmerizing yet disconcerting display. As Matt stood frozen, grappling with both awe and confusion, the creature spoke though Matt was unsure by what means it did so. “You’re not from the Raven Association. Now tell me why you are here before I simply kill you.”