NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Systems
Are there?
[ ...Yes. ]
Ha. Okay.
[ Wait, is that all? ]
Yea.
[ What?! Aren't you meant to show more emotions and shock. ]
Why? I always knew the only truly unique being in this world is me.
[ So you aren't suprised, shocked or scared that there are multiple entities out there, capable of empowering living things from there ground zero to the max of their species in a mere couple years, just because of your narcissism. ]
That wasn't narcissism.
[ Yes it was. ]
It isn't narcissism if it is the truth.
[ ... ]
Yea, that's right. Now tell me more about you leveling up entities.
[ Fine, since time immemorial, an entity existed, called The System. The System was a kind of world law and principle with power capable of going against the natural order of the world to strengthen its host. ]
Let me guess, you guys are sort of the descendants of this system.
[ Technically, yes. The System had chosen a lot of candidates as host through ancient time, in which, some fell before they reached their max potential, while some reached their maximum and became the soveriegn of their time. ]
Interesting. Saquin said as he yawned.
[ Are you bored? ]
Oh, I am so sorry, was it not obvious enough?
[ Oh, I am also sorry for answering your questions.]
It wasn't a question, but okay.
[ Well, since your attention span is apparently shorter than Lira patience, let me condense it for you. The system eventually got split into multiple other sub-entities and that is how we came to exist. Currently, there are two types of systems: 'Main kind Systems,' representing broad classification like Humans, Mythics, Mythic Beasts, and 'Species Systems' which are tailored to specific species. ]
So the guy who is after you had the higher human system or the human system.
[ Most likely the higher human system. We main system don't have the ability to mutate species. ]
And he is after you because?
[ His system most likely wants to absorb me to strengthen itself. It is said if you integrate enough systems into one, it would become an entity of the same level as The system. ]
The system is after you, his continent is after mine, interesting.
[ I didn't realise you had a sense of patriotism. ]
Then you don't know me well enough.
[ I believe that more the more time I spend with you. I didn't want you to get involved in this system integration issue, after all according to what we have seen so far, he has had his system for over fifty years. ]
And I, just three days. So how strong do you think this dude is? Like level 11 or what?
[ level 11? Of course not, even with a system, a higher human life is too short to achieve that, an advanced could—maybe, after a couple hundred thousand years. He should be a level 9, a level 9 with access to system knowledge, abilities and equipmentd. So he should be at the highest spectrum of the level 9. ]
Over fifty years with a system and still level 9? Pathetic.
[ What?! Do you seriously think he would be a level 11? That is borderline impossible, do you even know that there has been only two level 11 beings out of the various races in history? Even you who reached level 6 in two days cannot fath– Wait, reached level 6 in two days.... You know what? Never mind, that dude is pathetic. ]
Yep.
---
Inside the cave, Lira let out a loud sigh, breaking the heavy silence. She sat cross-legged on a rock, her golden eyes fixed on the sunlight filtering through the entrance. "I'm bored."
"Me too," Saquin replied, his black eyes snapping open as he ended his mental conversation with Mythic.
"When do you think the princess will get here?" Lira asked, turning her gaze to him.
Saquin's lips quirked into a faint smile as he ran a quick mental calculation. "Ten to twenty minutes, give or take."
"That long? Is the dragon that slow?"
"It's not slow, but it's not exactly fast either," Saquin replied, stretching lazily. "Plus, ten minutes isn't really that long. Let's head to Brimar. She'll think I'm there anyway."
He stood up in one fluid motion, pointing to King Zen, who sat quietly in the corner of the cave, his expression unreadable. "Bring him along."
Voom!
"Okay." Lira was at King Zen's side in an instant, gripping his arm. Without missing a beat, she vanished from the spot, her speed rivaling Saquin's own.
The trio arrived at Brimar Forest within moments, the dense foliage casting long shadows under the midday sun. Saquin walked ahead, his steps measured but unhurried, while Lira dragged King Zen behind her like a bag of supplies.
"Lira, try not to dislocate his arm," Saquin said over his shoulder.
Lira rolled her eyes. "He'll live."
King Zen glared at her but said nothing. His silence wasn't out of submission alone—it was also calculation. Every move, every word spoken by Saquin and Lira, was a piece of a larger puzzle he was determined to solve. Who the hell is he really? Is she a half-werecat half-higher for real?
As they reached the clearing by Brimar center, Saquin paused. He tilted his head, as if listening to a distant melody.
"They are close," he murmured.
"You're sure?" Lira asked, her ears twitching slightly.
Saquin's smirk in returned. "I always am."
Moments later, the sound of heavy wingbeats echoed through the forest, the ground trembling as Relia's dragon descended into the clearing. The creature's massive form towered over them, its scales shimmering like molten gold under the sunlight.
Standing on it were Crown Prince Jonathan,Princess Relia and the purple haired prince—Prince Edward Hunt.
Before the dragon had fully landed, Edward vanished from his perch, appearing by Saquin side.
"Hey," Edward greeted casually, his voice carrying a teasing edge.
Saquin turned to face him, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Edward. For a moment, the silence stretched between them before Saquin finally replied, "Hey, brother-in-law."
Edward smirked, a gleam of triumph lighting his violet eyes. "Just as I suspected."
Saquin tilted his head toward the dragon where Relia still stood, glaring down at them. Her expression twisted into a mix of outrage and disbelief as she registered Saquin's words.
"What! Who the hell is your wife, stupid?!" Relia yelled as she pointed at Saquin with a murderous gaze.
Saquin faced her and met her gaze. He held her gaze for a long, deliberate moment before his eyes shifted to Crown Prince Jonathan. Ignoring Relia completely, he fixed his attention on the prince, his stare unreadable.
Jonathan, unflinching, met Saquin's gaze with equal intensity. Neither of them spoke, yet the weight of the silent exchange filled the clearing, charging the air with tension.
"I think we would be brother-in-laws regardless of what she thinks," Edward broke through the tension as he said with a light laugh, his gaze fixated on Lira.
Saquin noticed his gaze and said, "Nah, you would mess up the seniority like that, it would then be me being your father-in-law."
"She's your daughter?" Edward asked, both surprised and confused. I am pretty sure she's older.
"Adopted." Saquin replied, a proud smile on his face.
"She looks older though." Edward said still not entirely convinced.
"Does it matter?"
"Hmm, I guess not."
"Are you two done with your small chat?" Jonathan voice cut through the conversation as he jumped off the dragon and landed a couple steps away from the two.
"Yea, I guess so." Saquin replied, "welcome to Brimar forest by the way, and since it is your first time, I prepared a gift for you, my esteemed guests." He continued as he gestured to King Zen by Lira side.