The Systemic Lands (Dark Progressive LITRPG)

"I worked as a truck driver," Dylan talked about himself as we continued to fly towards New Kochi. "It wasn't that interesting, but it was a good job. Definitely when you get a nice long route in the Midwest, you could listen to a book on audio and mentally relax."

"Well, you will be flying the air boat here for the most part. So that is kind of like truck driving," I joked Dylan shook his head.

"No monsters while driving. Mostly concerned about weather on those long stretches and not dozing off," he replied.

"Well, if you are going to be sticking around with me, your combat ability and stats will need to be improved. You should be able to handle level 4 combat?" I asked.

"Barely, and depends on the monster and terrain," he replied. He had about ten thousand stat points. It was far better than a lot of other people, but nowhere near enough to fight high level monsters if he didn't have the right skills.

With another ten days of grinding, I could almost triple his stats to around twenty-seven thousand. But that would slow me down in terms of grinding up stats for myself. I didn't want to lead him to his death but spending points on his stats felt like a waste.

If the air boat was in a level 4 zone instead of a level 5, that was an extra zone I would have to travel to grind level 7 monsters. I would also need to worry about getting him skills and upgrading them. He really was becoming a pet, which I didn't want.

"Well, we are almost to New Kochi," I said while considering where to stop the airboat. Without the Avatar the monsters kept bothering us, which was annoying. I would have to fly right into the main square. The airboat was clearly designed to show that it belonged to the Empire of Purgatory and was my personal airboat.

Including gold dragons didn't seem like a bad idea. But now, it clearly gave away the fact that this was my airboat. Hiding was never going to be an option. "What is the plan, sir?" Dylan asked me.

"I will purchase a load of supplies. You store them on the air boat here, while I go check something. Kill anyone who makes trouble," I said. Last I had heard the city had fallen. Hopefully it wasn't a completely lawless hell hole.

"Yes, sir," Dylan replied. As we closed in on the city, I killed off the last of the flying monsters behind us and Dylan lowed the airboat to pass right over the wall. It was unmanned and the city appeared damaged. People were still living here since it hadn't reset, but things weren't looking good. There were grinders in the level 1 zones.

When we reached the inner city, I noted guards wearing the uniform of the Empire of Purgatory. We came to the plaza and the airship got close to the ground. Soldiers looked at us, but no one came over to speak, instead scattering.

I quickly purchased the supplies just as a group of soldiers came up to me. "Emperor Michael, I am Captain Ying-Sing of New Kochi," the soldiers saluted me.

"Yes Captain?" I asked.

"There has been no news from the rest of the Empire, and we have no airships. We were wondering if reinforcements or supplies are coming sir?" he asked. I let out a sigh at that question.

"You are holding out here?" I asked.

"For the most part. We are struggling to rebuild after the attack that wiped out four fifths of the forces stationed here," he said. I was wondering how to explain that the Empire had collapsed. It was hard to find the words since I was the leader of the entire thing. Sure, Clarissa ran the day to day. Dylan had known about the battle back and forth with the enemy who had been terrorizing things. While he might not have had all the details, the Crystal Vortex was cramped and bored soldiers talked with each other.

"The terrorism and attacks increased over time. Purgatory itself was isolated as the rest of the Empire spiraled into chaos. If this was before the sphere's attack, we could have managed such terrorism, but the entire Empire was vulnerable. The terrorist took advantage of this fact and one of the top individuals turned traitor, Jacob the former lead researcher and attacked the capital itself," I replied there were a couple of gasps at this.

"The Empire of Purgatory has officially dissolved. All oaths of allegiance are released. While I am stronger, I can't kill someone I can't find. They keep striking at weak points. My advice is to form a new nation here and forswear me and the Empire of Purgatory so you aren't targeted. Since the battle is now a long term shadow battle. If I have any weak points, which is anyone and anything besides myself, the enemy will strike," I said heavily. There was silence at this.

After a minute Captain Ying-Sing finally spoke up. "I understand Emperor Michael. Men, we will no longer be part of the Empire of Purgatory, but a new nation. Salute!" he said, and all the soldiers snapped to attention and saluted me. "While the Empire is dead, hopefully, a former Emperor will save us all from this place one day."

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"I can only do my best as a private citizen. I am the Emperor no longer," I said, confirming what the Captain had just said. I was no longer Empire Michael. I was now just Michael without that title. "I need to run an errand. I ask that my airship and pilot not be disturbed until my return."

"We are happy to welcome strong guests to New Kochi," Captain Ying-Sing said. I gave him a nod and then quickly left. At least I had framed the narrative of the Empire being disbanded to save the lives of the people supporting me. The truth was quite different, but it also wasn't incorrect either.

Remnants would remain behind and remember me. They tell others and my legend would only grow. The enemy who had struck out at me, would struggle in their proxy war. While my Empire had many faults, it had great PR and indoctrination. The legend of the former Empire Michael would endure.

Racing across the city, I reached the location where the emergency fall back bunker was hidden. I checked no one was following me, and then lifted up a part of a side road in a random location, revealing a ladder that led downwards to a cart-built bunker that wouldn't just disappear when no one was around.

The bunker contained maps, point crystals, minor enchanted gear, and potions. The equipment was worthless to me. Deeper under the bunker was an astrolabe that was active, disrupting detection from the Regional Map building and other long range methods of tracking. I checked and it was active. Clarissa's people had come out here and turned it on.

I then checked the false wall, that was a dead drop spot. I hesitated before removing the wood panel. Would there be anything there? I removed the wood panel and there was a folded up letter. I let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

Michael

It is Michelle. I am alive. The enemy is Qi Ji Long, the son of the Divine Empress. I will leave the dissemination of this information to your discretion. Captain Francis died in battle, sacrificing his life to ensure Jacob was killed.

Less than a day after you left, there was an explosion, damaging the Crystal Vortex. We were dead in the air and adopted a defensive posture expecting an imminent follow up attack, which came less than a day after the sabotage.

The enemy was able to counter my summoning by using a long-range energy insertion technique. We have discussed such a technique in the past, but it was not considered viable at long range. The energy control and knowledge Qi Ji Long possesses is immense and second to none.

I evacuated the Crystal Vortex just before it crashed. Captain Francis died killing Jacob in the crash of the airship. As for the Avatar, I believe she was killed as well or heavily injured and buried under the debris. I was unable to confirm, her death. There Qi Ji Long personally confronted me and asked me to join him. I refused and managed to distract him. Crashing his airship, saving your mother, and crippling his feet.

I blinked several times at that as my brain tried to process that last line. I had given up on her completely. She was still alive.

Unfortunately, I was not able to kill him, without killing all of us togeather. Even then, I wasn't sure if I would be able to win. I chose to retreat.

I didn't know if I should be happy or angry at Michelle. I didn't want her or my mother to die, but Qi Ji Long needed to die. The rage I felt towards him was immense.

Your mother has been implanted with a long-term energy construct inside of her head that also has a physical presence. I have been monitoring and observing her and while I don't have a baseline to work with, she is as well as can be expected for anyone who was captured and tortured quite heavily. There are deep emotional and mental scars on her psyche.

I further believe that whatever was placed in her, will trigger in your presence. Either forcing her to attack you or killing her gruesomely. It was probably never expected that she would be rescued by anyone other than you and inspected before she was brought into your presence.

We have had conversations before about possible long-term outcomes. It appears that a shadow war will move forward, between the two of you. While I would want to help, with my current skill in summoning, I would be nothing but a liability. I have chosen to go with your mother to an unknown location and to help her raise her stats, with the hope that she will one day be able to fix herself.

While I know your flaws more than anyone else, I also know that without you, any hope for the future would be much dimmer. You also know that I have been considering leaving for a while to work on my own strength, since I can no longer keep up with you.

I will continue to use this location's dead drop, but I cannot guarantee the frequency that letters will be left.

Michael, kill that bastard child Qi Ji Long for all of us. He claimed to have multiple meta-points, but I have no more knowledge on this issue than what I have already listed out.

Your Teammate,
Monster Master Michelle

I closed my eyes for a minute after reading the letter and then reread it again once more. Intense feelings gripped me as I read everything that was written. I now had a name for the person I needed to kill.

Qi Ji Long, I showed you kindness, and this is how you repay me! I should have turned you into a human nugget! This is what I got for showing kindness to children. I had thought he could be deprogramed or at the very least we would ignore each other. But he actively went out of his way to mess with me.

The death of the Avatar and the rescue of my mother helped reduce the immense rage I felt at the betrayal of my kindness. Each time I offered my hand in kindness, I was met with betrayal and attacks. Qi Ji Long, your mother and I could not have peace and she was completely batshit evil, insane, and a powerful fighter.

Apparently, he inherited her tendency to not let a grudge go and his father's talent. Multiple meta-points, the System was truly unfair. At least he was an idiot with what he had picked, like most other people. Going for the flash and exciting stuff, but ignoring the long term choices. He should have picked the stat increase like I had, but with two meta-points. With such a large multiple to all his stats, he would eventually overtake me.

I looked at the dead drop again and there was a second letter.