I Hate Systems

There was a torrent of energy circulating within Stencil, a result of her newfound powers. But, they were also gradually waning in strength as they were regressing. As Stencil had expressed, only at noon—figuratively—would she be at her peak, and that was when her powers too were at their strongest.

Conversely, when she was a baby, Stencil was as weak as a newborn human baby. That was her most vulnerable state. The reason Regression went to the extent of sacrificing a level to unleash this attack was to ensure that Stencil would never grow to become a threat.

And it had indeed achieved it.

Irrespective of how the collective consciousness driving her worked and gained strength, they could only express the peak of that power for a couple of seconds. After that would be a steady decline of their power until noon of the next day.

This meant that even if Stencil became terrifying one day, she was still susceptible as a baby, the state where she was the weakest. At that instant, even a Hatchling System would be able to kill her or even better, absorb her powers for the betterment of the Systems.

With this, the Regression System neutralised the greatest threat that had formed against them following Arnark.

It was worth losing a level over.

It wasn't a mere ability but a Core Skill activation. Even Zaira wouldn't be able to destroy this power without paying a sharp price. And as Mascot and Magister weren't on Stencil's side, no entity could break this Core Skill Activation.

"It's a pity." Mascot shook her head in disappointment before flying away to target the Regression System, intending to destroy it now that it had weakened.

Boom!

Magister had other thoughts though as he erected numerous magic circles, targeting Truck-Kun. His thoughts were rather simple at the moment. Since Stencil and Gehera were deemed important to be captured by the Systems, so much so that even the mighty Regression System lost one level to trap Stencil, then they were too dangerous to be left alone.

So, before the Systems could claim them, he better get rid of them. With that thought in mind, Magister targeted the truck within which Stencil and Gehera had taken refuge.

"One after another, damn there's no end to this." Truck-Kun was annoyed as he continued to dodge the attacks, swapping them all into a new truck when the previous one was compromised.

"Die!" Mascot unleashed a terrifying beam that sent the Regression System flying, taking advantage of the moment right when Immortal had attacked it.

"Eek!" She shouted shrilly upon facing a sword slash aimed at her face, hurriedly evading it while suffering an injury as she quickly teleported away, calming her thumping heart upon staring at Immortal, 'Damn, this guy is attacking everyone in his vicinity now.'

Just that one interaction was enough for her to determine that it was a bad choice to fight alongside Immortal. Instead, she changed targets, attacking the Tell-Tale System.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The truck flew past the void as the apocalyptic setting had been destroyed thanks to Regression System's actions.

But, even though Truck-Kun wished to escape when the veil of regression over the universe vanished, that was only for a short interval, after which the veil reappeared once again.

"Huff…" The Apocalypse System inhaled a deep breath before dispersing Mental Energy through its surroundings, gradually rebuilding the apocalyptic setting once again. It wasn't entirely destroyed back then as the Regression System had paid heed to its sacrifice.

Therefore, an avenue to recover it had been left behind that the Apocalypse System had used to rapidly rebuild the apocalyptic setting.

"Things are looking grim…" Compass Carburettor muttered, sensing that all the Secret Society members were brutally exhausted. They had been pretty active in the war between Immortal and the Systems, and hence, they had expended all Mental Strength.

With that, they were unable to use Spirit Morph, rendered weak as their numbers were unable to grow. The problem also stemmed from the fact that a lot of them simply fell as collateral in the attack exchange between the giants.

Upon seeing that they were unable to do anything anymore, Compass Carburettor recalled them all, watching the various Mental Energy streams flow back into him and settle within his Dreamland.

He then took in a deep breath, observing that Truck-Kun was having a hard time, "Can I help you?"

"How?" Truck-Kun asked, "We've exhausted all our powers. Without the veil of regression removed, leaving this universe is suicide."

"Lend me some of your powers. I have a plan." Compass Carburettor said, "If this succeeds, we can head to the System World. That way, we won't be affected by the veil of regression, right?"

"System World, huh." Truck-Kun muttered, "Indeed, our enemies would never expect us to head there. Normally, I cannot go there since they have already set up defences against me."

Truck-Kun then stared at Compass Carburettor, "How do I lend you my powers though? I don't have such a capability. Only I can operate my trucks."

"Let me steal one of your trucks…" Compass Carburettor said, flinching in fear upon sensing killing intent burst out of Truck-Kun.

"Steal…one of my…trucks?" Truck Kun glared in anger, "You know that's the best way to offend me, right?"

"Listen to me." Compass Carburettor hurriedly explained, "Unlike the other Genre Representatives, your power is based on a concept. So, the stronger the concept, the stronger you get. And, I'm only asking for a truck. When I use them extensively, you'll be strengthened further. You can just give me a low-level truck of yours."

"So you figured out that I have different varieties of trucks?" Truck-Kun eyed Compass Carburettor as he stared at the sea of magic circles, sighing before saying, "Alright, I'll wage a bet. If you annoy me though, I'll reclaim my truck."

"I'll be grateful, you can count on it." His eyes turned sharp as Compass Carburettor watched Truck-Kun condense a miniature truck in his hand, keeping it small and hidden to prevent their enemies from noticing their plan.

Spirit Morph!

Using the last of his Mental Strength, Compass Carburettor transformed the truck into Mental Fragments and began to rearrange his Dreamland with them, causing it to hum with a mystical spatial power that coursed through his body.

Compass Carburettor took in a deep breath as his body collapsed into Mental Fragments before rearranging itself into a truck.