I Hate Systems

"This is my stance."

Slayer's words resounded through the void where Zaira, the Tell-Tale System, the Main Character, Stencil, Gehera, and Conjurer hovered, stunning them all simultaneously.

For a moment, even Zaira failed to find any words to express, for all she could sense was the fact that Slayer had become a serious threat now.

Before, he was just…dangerous, because he was able to create Systems and was also able to inherit any power that was bestowed upon him. The moment anyone expressed their will to bestow their power to him, he inherited that seamlessly.

This was Slayer's original power—gained through his Personal Fragment.

But now, all these powers have been integrated into his Relic, allowing him to exhibit them in the form of his professions. It meant one thing…

Initially, Systems could only be created through Mental Energy. But now, Slayer could insert mana in them and create a brand-new lifeform. He was no longer limited to using only Mental Energy to create Systems. He could freely insert any energy in his possession into the powers of his Relic.

Systems cannot exist outside the mind of a sentient being. They can only exist in their true forms in the System World, nowhere else. This was because they were beings of the mind, created using Mental Energy. So, it was their inherent limitation, or could also be expressed as their trait.

Generally, Grade 3 Systems could travel in their true forms. It was only because they took an entire world as their host and then terraformed that world into a body of their own. This was how they moved when outside the System World.

So, every time they took action, they terraformed a random world they chanced upon and used it, like humans wearing clothes.

But now, by mixing in another energy, for example, mana, the beings Slayer could create would be somewhat like Systems, but with a physical body. They would be capable of moving on their own and growing as a result.

His powers allowed him to change the status quo of the entire scene. That was why Zaira labelled Slayer a threat now.

Even Compass Character, despite his terrifying powers, was still part of the original status quo. He was the Main Character, relying on the superior powers of the Main Character System that had the potential to become the strongest Grade 4 System.

For Zaira, the growth of the Main Character would only mean an overpowered System. To a certain extent, she could still tolerate his existence. After all, if she manages to figure out a way by then, she would finally be able to integrate the Main Character System's data into the System World, allowing her to wield the power of the Main Character System too.

It would pretty much signal her victory in this war.

But, Slayer's existence sparked a brand new era, one where her hegemony was threatened. As someone that had witnessed the birth and growth of Systems, Slayer had the knowledge and experience to do whatever he wanted.

Snap!

Suddenly, Slayer snapped his finger as a mystical energy wafted over, enveloping the entire universe revolving around the Fantasy World.

Immediately after, Zaira's expression morphed into one of anger, "You didn't!"

"I just did," Slayer flashed a middle finger at Zaira. Basically, what he did was lock the fate of his universe, preventing Zaira from ever using the power of Regression, Reincarnation, or Transmigration in his universe.

Earlier, she hadn't attempted to do so since the Fantasy World's fate was too strong. Meaning, the repercussion she would face as a result was too much for her to bear. The damage outweighed the benefits.

Though, it could be attributed to Slayer's cunningness in that he only dared take such a drastic action after the fate of his world had accumulated to a terrifying extent that even Zaira would have to consider her choices.

While she was still hesitant to take staunch action, he went a step further and absorbed the Main Character System fragment that formed the core of his power all along, transforming into a threat to Zaira.

And immediately after, he locked his universe's fate. It meant that, any action that would disrupt the massive fate couldn't be taken, implying an obstruction towards time travel in any form.

It wasn't just the Grade 4 Systems whose powers couldn't be used in this universe, but also Mascot's power, preventing her from sending heroes or survivors to the Fantasy World in any timeline of her choice.

This meant that the current future could never be altered by the powers on both sides that wielded control over time, turning Slayer's status absolute.

Zaira slowly raised her hand as she let out a sigh, "Now that it has come to this point, I'll reciprocate, Gilthru."

Boom!

Ten Grade 3 Systems and more than a hundred Grade 2 Systems appeared behind her. These were all the forces that she could bring, for they were currently loitering in the System World. It would take time for her to gather the forces active in other worlds.

Pulling out without any reason would result in billions of schemes going up in smoke, causing insane losses to the System World. This was why she didn't wish to disturb the rest of the Systems, only bringing in the forces she could set aside for this punitive operation.

Moreover, a hazy silhouette appeared in the void, one that seemed to be gradually grinding the sealed fate of the universe, intending to influence its timeline over the course of time.

Grade 4 System—Regression!

Slayer's expression hardened in response upon staring at the massive army that stood at his doorstep. But, he didn't even begin to consider the events that might transpire next as suddenly, a pair of eyes appeared in the void, staring at the Systems with a disdainful glare.

Instantly, sparks erupted between the pair of eyes and the Grade 4 System—Regression.

Stencil turned around in alarm, staring at a petite woman that had appeared behind her at some point in time, wearing a bear costume that accentuated her cuteness.

The eyes of the petite woman though, didn't exist, only showcasing a void in the section. And indeed, it was her eyes that were situated in the void, bordering the universe's boundary while glaring at the Systems.

Genre Representative—Mascot!