Soul Corruption: System Unavailable [Apocalypse LitRPG]

"To start with, why did you call us invaders?" asked the Blizzard Mistress with confusion.

"What else would I call those who forced their way into my world, killed my people, and are still attempting to steal our world?" growled Adam with hostility while he chewed the meat.

The Aerial Bombadeer chewed thoughtfully before saying, "I guess from your perspective it might look that way."

"What are you saying?!" demanded the Blaze Scion, turning to the green tinted Drathan. "The [System] allowed us to come to this world. The natives have no say in it. This is how it always works."

"Well, it shouldn't," snapped Adam aggressively. "You lot are nothing more than murderers and thieves."

"How dare you…" started the Blaze Scion as he reached for his sword, which Adam wouldn't have minded, before the Aerial Bombadeer put up a hand to stop him.

"Calm down, Dorlan," he said to the Blaze Scion. "Fighting doesn't come during a shared meal."

"But he's just a native!" shouted the Blaze Scion. "Not even a real person!"

Adam's eyes narrowed and he prepared for a fight before the Aerial Bombadeer bared his teeth at the Blaze Scion. The Blaze Scion responded by clicking his tongue and then sitting back down heavily. He shoved more meat into his mouth, but both his eyes focused intently on Adam.

"Apologies for that. We have a tradition of civility when we share meals. Dorlan here is a bit of a hot head, though I assure he won't violate that custom," the Bombadeer said pointedly, as much to the Blaze Scion as to Adam. "Now, were you really able to defeat Kolrath, the Arcane Obstructor?"

"Yes," answered Adam curly.

"Impossible," spat the Blaze Scion. "He was tougher than anyone on this green infested planet. How could you have possibly defeated him?"

"My fist passed through his head," answered Adam while a growl rose in his throat. "If you doubt, I can demonstrate it on you."

A chuckle came from the Blizzard Mistress.

"It seems Dorlan isn't the only hot head here." A finger flashed red with skill use, and Adam tensed up to prepare, but then harmless seeming snow began to fall onto the Blaze Scion's head. The flakes sputtered and evaporated with they touched his skin.

"If you killed the leader of that base, then why did you return the rest to their home?" asked the Aerial Bombadeer, as though nothing else was happening around him.

Adam wasn't sure how much he should say. The information wasn't really important to them, since he knew this situation would result in a fight regardless. At the same time, he had watched so many invader memories that he was curious about their thoughts and actions, no matter what the corruption was currently screaming at him.

"First, because I wanted to see how the portals to other planets worked, and second, because I didn't want to waste my forces wiping out yours," admitted Adam. "It also didn't hurt that it ensured the floating base wouldn't get damaged before I claimed it."

The Blaze Scion burst out laughing.

"As if other races, let alone natives, could easily figure out how to work the floating bases and runes."

"Idiot," snapped the Blizzard Mistress, her calm demeanor fading to aggression for only a moment before returning to her calm persona, "did you not see the floating platform in their territory? It's crude, but they seem to have figured out the runes somewhat."

"I did give the Arcane Obstructor the chance to survive as well. He refused, and I had to negotiate with the Master Inscriber instead," explained Adam, struggling to keep his own aggression in check.

"That is…surprising…considering what we have heard of you," said the Bombadeer. "The aberration that had done more than any [System] ignorant native has done previously. You have wiped out armies, such as the Scyrric, without mercy or restraint. Our leadership is curious why."

Adam shrugged. "Compared to the Scyrric, the Arcane Obstructor seemed like a decent guy. We could have gotten along if he wasn't trying to kill my people, which he seemed unmotivated to do anyway."

"All Drathan are decent compared to scum like the Scyrric!" bragged the Blaze Scion. Everyone ignored him.

"Then, are you planning to try to kill all of us?" asked the Blizzard Mistress.

"I'm just trying to protect what's mine," explained Adam. "My world and my people. Leave and you don't need to die. You're the ones who came to me, surrounding us with those bases that we'll be glad to take off your hands."

The Blaze Scion scoffed at Adam's bravado, but the other two looked appraisingly at Adam.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Commendable," said the Bombadeer, "and understandable. From your perspective. From ours, this is an opportunity given to us by the [System], not dictated by a single person. I hope you can understand why we can't just leave."

Adam shrugged. "Understanding doesn't matter at this point. You leave my world, or you die. I can't allow it any other way."

"Those are the only two options?" asked the Mistress.

"You can always sign a [System Contract] saying you'll follow our rules and will be loyal to us," said Adam off handedly with a wave of his hand that was still grasping bloody meat, "but I doubt you will since you're still talking to me like I'm less than you."

"That is true," agreed the Bombadeer. "Plus, and don't take this as lack of respect, but we don't believe you or your forces can keep us away. Especially since we've spread out."

"I figured as much," nodded Adam, even as he scowled at them.

"Then, the final topic. Why did the [System] put a bounty on you and your people? Not only has that never been done with natives, but it has never happened throughout the universe. The bounty for your death is astronomical and requires you to die. The [System] wouldn't have done that just because you are doing well in the world claiming. Why?"

Adam laughed sarcastically.

"My people have a saying. 'If I tell you then I'll have to kill you.' Although, in this case it would be the [System] ordering your death."

"Just for knowing?" asked the Blizzard Mistress with surprise.

When Adam nodded, the Blaze Scion jumped to his feet again.

"Nonsense! Just knowing wouldn't turn the [System] against anyone. You are lying just to keep the knowledge to yourself!"

"You only say that because you are clueless," accused Adam, standing and picking up his hammer.

"You are called the aberration for a reason," yelled the Blaze Scion. His sword began to turn red from heat while Adam's skin also turned a deeper shade of red. Heat rose from both the sword and Adam. "You will tell us why one way or another."

Adam smiled at him viciously.

"You want to know that badly?" asked Adam.

"It is why we are here," said the Bombadeer, "to find out what is worth such a reward."

"And once I tell you, then you'll leave my world?"

"Of course not!" shouted the Blaze Scion. "This is not your world! It will belong to us, as will you and your knowledge."

The Mistress shook her head in exasperation and the Bombadeer exhaled before standing and picking up a short, bladed wand.

"Then maybe I will let you know what earned me the bounty," said Adam. His muscles kept tightening as they gripped the hammer in preparation to fight. "Just don't complain once you find out. It will seal your death."

The Blaze Scion openly laughed at Adam.

CONQUER! shouted his soul.

Adam flashed his teeth at the arrogant Drathan. Then he did as he had for the humans during the Juungii fight.

[Soul Vision] opened his eyes to the energy around him. A tendril was released from Adam's soul targeting the [System Conduit] that he saw as a glowing golden box on the Drathan's head. When his connection touched the [System]'s, he felt resistant.

Adam used a modified [Soul Shatter] to try and break into the existing connection, but there was more resistance than he expected. Instead of the conduit dissolving into an opening that Adam could use, it felt more like he was using a welding torch to cut in. It was unexpected, and Adam almost panicked thinking that the [System] had developed a defense against him.

However, Adam quickly remembered that everyone he did this to before had been level one. They had never upgraded their classes, and their souls hadn't absorbed enough energy to strengthen. Whereas the Drathan in front of him was Tier 4, with a much stronger and larger soul.

There was an awkward silence as Adam did his work slower than he expected, and the Drathan stood there waiting for something to happen. Their independent eyes looked in all directions, wondering what Adam was doing. The Blaze Scion even started to get impatient, as if displeased that Adam wasn't doing something to attack or harm him.

While it felt like a long time had passed to Adam, really it was only about 90 seconds. With an opening cut into the energy that the [System] fed into the [System Conduit], Adam thrust his connection into it.

Then the screaming started. It wasn't just the Drathan who screamed either. Adam wasn't prepared for the backlash that hit him.

The previous times he did this, it was over so quickly, but there had been a discordant vibration that entered him. The interference it caused to his soul hadn't been powerful enough to damage him, or to even disrupt his actions once he knew to expect it. This time it was much worse.

The energy buzzed into his tendril. It flowed along it, like lightning following a current. Pain hit his soul very similarly to when Cruxannith damaged the soul. But more than the pain, the vibrations caused Adam's mind to go blank. He felt his consciousness fall as everything became white around him.

Then his mind was in a different place. He was on an invader's base, hovering above it. Creatures he didn't recognize roamed about, doing whatever activities they were involved in. There was a pull, and Adam turned his presence to a warehouse nearby. He pulled on his being, like when he moved through a soul, and felt his perspective drawn into the warehouse.

Inside there was a single invader. The creature muttered to himself as he walked through the building, picking up parts and assembling them. Time sped past as Adam watched day give way to night and then back to daytime. While Adam watched as the movement rushed into a blur to match the fast-moving time, a large device was assembled.

The device took up almost all the space in the warehouse, and never in the time that it was constructed did anyone else enter. The invader worked with dedication, only pausing to check some unseen display that Adam assumed was the directions to build the incredibly complex device.

As different parts, runes, and ritual circles were added, the energy within the device became more noticeable to Adam. The energy grew and parts glowed from it. Years must have passed by the time the builder slowed and inspected his work.

"The [System] has promised the reward," said the creature to himself. It was said both with encouragement and fear. The invader believed it, clearly showing faith by working so ceaselessly, but it was also obvious that he viewed the device as a viper waiting to strike him.

"This is for my descendants," finished the creature. Then it put its hand on a panel. The panel glowed as a flash of red on the creature's hand indicated a skill activation.

The energy grew within the machine. Adam didn't need his [Soul Vision] to feel the energy around them being drawn into the device through the air and ground. Vibrations filled Adam, once more rattling him. He wanted to scream but there was no physical part of him. Instead, he bore it in silence, barely able to focus from having his essence shaken to the point of falling apart.

The vibrations increased as the device picked up momentum. By the time the device reached its energy saturation, Adam couldn't even think or observe. His mind was pulped, and his vision was turning white.

Adam would never have been able to explain whether he saw what happened next or just felt it. Yet, it rattled him throughout his being. Soul, essence, and mind were jarred to the point he felt like he would cease to exist.

And that was what happened. As the device reached saturation with energy, the world exploded, then stopped existing.