The Systemic Lands (Dark Progressive LITRPG)

"Yes Emperor," Captain Francis saluted me and quickly left. I had given him several orders to begin packing up the useful things from the palace and prepare for our departure. All the soldiers in my personal guard were coming with me.

He also had to go round up Doctor Katz and the Avatar. I needed to sort that mess out. But I would offer the good doctor a chance to leave with me. Clarissa had left once our conversation was over. She would do whatever she wanted. I wasn't worried. Since Jacob had betrayed us either due to a meta-point or some other reason, there was no need to keep anything secret.

It was a freeing feeling. I slowly made my way to my personal rooms. There were several knick nacks I had collected over the year. I looked at the Michael action figure and shook my head. There were several pieces of artwork about the place. But I couldn't hold onto the past, I had to keep moving forward. These items weren't trash, but I needed to focus on the practical and rational.

My heart still ached about the decision I had made to give up on my mother. I had to let go of the past entirely and embrace the future. I couldn't allow myself to be dragged down. My memories would hopefully carry me through, but even if that wasn't enough, it would have to do.

A soldier brought in a single pack. That was the allowance everyone would be getting once we left. I packed up clothes. It sucked having to run around in rags if my current clothes became too damaged. I packed away various pieces of clothing when there was a knock on my door. I turned around it was Doctor Katz.

"You needed to see me?" he asked hesitantly, since he had come to my bedroom.

"Doctor Katz. You have been a decent friend over the years we have known each other. Unfortunately, the Empire of Purgatory has reached the breaking point. I am leaving. Clarissa intends to remain behind, but for how long, who can say," I said.

"Leave? But the people? Who is going to be in charge?" Doctor Katz asked nervously.

"They can figure it out or the enemy who has cut off this city. It will no longer be my problem. The Avatar is already being taken aboard my airship. You can either stay here or come with me," I replied.

"Hundreds will die!" he shouted at me in anger. I paused in folding up a martial robe and turned to look at him.

"Hundreds? Try thousands, possibly millions with how long term and wide reaching this decision is," I replied calmly. I glanced at the good doctor as he staggered backwards.

"The tax revenue…" he tried to suggest but I shook my head as I added socks to my pack.

"Has collapsed. New Kochi has fallen in the last report. We are hemmed in on all sides by a force that is using mind control and terrorism. If you haven't heard, Jacob has betrayed us or at the very least, compromised," I explained.

"It can't be possible! His stats, skills, he has enough experience to go get corrupted like that!" Doctor Katz exclaimed.

"It is no longer a question. Heck, if you don't want to leave, then you can take over and run things," I replied with a shrug. It would no longer be my problem regardless.

"People trusted you," Doctor Katz said.

"And the situation has changed. Who knows, I might get some intervention from the Almighty System itself and run into the mastermind right away. Regardless, it is up to you in regards to your choice. Stay or go?" I asked.

"Stay," he replied. I thought that might be the case.

"Very well. Good luck Doctor Katz. This is probably the last time we will speak, unless you somehow survive the turmoil to come," I explained. He turned and began walking out of the room but then paused.

"Good luck Michael," He finally said and left. I didn't like the concept of luck. I preferred to make my own destiny. The good doctor left as I finished packing up. I made my way towards the Crystal Vortex slowly. This place had been one of my homes for years. While I wasn't here often, it was a place I came to rest and recover.

I had fought so long for this city, but now I was giving it up. That hurt emotionally, but I pushed past those feelings. "Emperor Michael," I paused when I saw an older woman who often served food or handled other personal tasks.

"Yes?" I paused and asked.

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"Thank you for being here and protecting us," she said with a hopeful smile at me. Those words struck at my heart. I nodded slowly. I could see the people remaining behind, having faith, and then losing that faith when I didn't show up. While it was tempting to save this woman, I couldn't save everyone.

"Thank you," I said and kept going for the airship tower connected to the palace. I reached the elevator and took it up with several soldiers.

"Place this in my room," I handed my bag to one soldier. They saluted and took my bag before heading off. I made my way over to the edge of the tower, looking out at the sunken city. I glanced behind me as chests of crystals were brought up to the airship. My portion of the tax revenue that had been collected was being packed away.

I noted crates of food being brought on board as well. The only difference this time compared to previous times, was that a lot more supplies were being loaded up. We needed to be able to operate for at least 200 days outside of any resupply.

"Michael," I turned to look at Michelle.

"Any leads?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Nothing that I have spotted near the center of the city so far. But I have dropped all those summons now. We are leaving?" she asked me.

"For a long time. We are on the backfoot and I won't play into whatever trap is planned for me. I am leaving to focus on grinding. I will no longer support the government," I explained.

"How is that going to work? Is Clarissa going to be in charge?" Michelle asked and I shrugged.

"She said she is staying, but I don't know how much of that I believe. It will be messy and I won't be here to deal with that mess. I am just thinking if I want to give a speech before I depart," I said while looking back out over the city.

There were pros and cons to giving a speech announcing my departure. I was leaning towards no speech, but the people who truly believed in me would be disappointed and would die. "Everyone is going to die," Michelle said slowly.

"Maybe. Would warning people of the upcoming chaos help or make things worse, I can't tell," I replied.

"Better not to say anything," Michelle said, and I nodded at this. "I am surprised you made such a bold move after everything I heard."

"Letting go of the past, it is hard, but I can't take threats lightly. I need to give one hundred percent. And that doesn't just mean effort or my thought, but also things I value that aren't necessary for my survival," I replied. It was a harsh way to live but giving me time to think had allowed me to come to this realization.

The politics of this place was a weight around my neck. Only power mattered. Each day I got closer and closer to the Divine Empress. Did she create her government to amuse herself? It would not surprise me. When I returned, would I set up a government to amuse me as well as my heart became harder and harder?

People would claim I wasn't empathetic, but I was a realist first. But I still had empathy. "What about the children?" Michelle asked and I winced. That was not a simple question to answer. In fact it was the one issue I had wanted to avoid. "They are going to die, aren't they?"

"Even if I wanted to bring them with me, there is no room on the Crystal Vortex. Two hundred and fourteen, that is the count of children under the age of fourteen that live in the city." I was glad that the mentorship program had reduced that number by a large portion.

"What will happen to them will be horrible if this city descends into chaos," Michelle slowly said, and I nodded.

"I don't want to hear complaints, only solutions. If you don't like my decision, you can stay and be in charge," I told her a bit more harshly than I wanted to. My emotions were on the edge. I was tired and mentally drained also.

I had spent a long time thinking about the children, but there was no good solution. I couldn't bring them with me. They would die from the ambient energy. "I just wanted to know this wasn't a spur of the moment decision," Michelle replied.

"No. I wish it was. But I came to this decision after days of thinking over it. If there were no outside pressures, then the Empire could be salvaged and I would support that move. But I can't die." I turned to face Michelle. "I won't risk my life for anyone else."

"You are that worried?" she asked and I nodded.

"I am. Whatever trap is planned, has a depth I can't see. The only hope is to draw this enemy out using the chaos of my departure. So are you staying or coming along?"

"Going with you," Michelle said without hesitation. That was good to hear, and I felt better at her answer. That was when I noticed a soldier rushing over.

He came to a stop in front of me breathing heavily, saluted, and then held out a red envelope. I didn't sense any danger or any energy about the letter. I didn't want to read it but I knew exactly what it was. I had delayed my departure too long. Now my foe had seen fit to message me.

"Emperor Michael, this letter came in with the survivors of one of the tax caravans. They said a monster left it with them and there was a voice instructing them to deliver it to you," the soldier said while holding it out.

"Thank you, return to your duties," I said as I took the red envelope. The soldier saluted and ran off. I held it up, looking at it.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Michelle asked me.

"I am thinking on if I can handle whatever is written in here. I didn't want to be put in this position. If I open it, then I know I will be pulled into the threats that are made within. If I don't open it, then I will be losing valuable knowledge about an enemy I know almost nothing about," I explained while considering both options.

Neither one was a good option in my mind. I would like to say that I could open it and keep a level head, but that would be a lie. At least there wasn't a box with a severed finger or hand. I had no doubt that would be the next thing delivered.

I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. I felt tired in a way that was hard to describe. Monsters were much easier, since it was killed or be killed in a straight up fight. Being on the receiving end of this kind of fighting made me incredibly upset. I looked at the red envelope, debating once more on what choice I should make and if there was a third choice that was possible.