Kieran sat amidst the crowd of newly awakened Hunters, but his mind was a whirlwind. Gates as fortresses? Other worlds invading us for our essence? He struggled to digest the implications of Tom's briefing. It was far more complex and terrifying than he had ever imagined. He couldn't help but turn to the System, his constant companion, for clarification.
System, is what he said true? Is that really the situation we're in? Kieran asked, his thoughts tinged with disbelief and a growing sense of dread.
The majority of what the man in front said is true, the System confirmed, its voice echoing in his mind. But, as usual, the higher-ups only give you the watered-down version. They omit the finer details, the crucial information that could actually help you all survive.
Meanwhile, Tom continued to speak at the front of the room, fielding questions from the other eager, yet oblivious, Hunters. Kieran, however, was preoccupied with his internal conversation. He felt a growing frustration with the official narrative. He sensed the System knew more, the real truth behind the Gates and the otherworldly invasion.
System, Kieran pressed, his mental voice urgent, you know more, don't you? You have to explain it to me. Please.
The System remained silent for a moment. Why should I? it finally responded, its tone flat and dispassionate. You're the one who called me unreliable, remember?
Kieran instantly recognized his mistake. He had to tread carefully. He needed the System's knowledge, it need to placate the system's tantrums . He swallowed his pride and adopted a more conciliatory tone.
Alright, alright, you're right. I apologize. I was... stressed. Overwhelmed. You're not unreliable. You're... you're just... selectively forthcoming. Please, just tell me what's really going on. We're in this together, aren't we? Kieran hated groveling, but the situation was dire.
There was a pause, a moment of consideration, before the System relented. Acceptable, it said in its childlike voice who just earned a candy. But do not repeat the error. And refrain from bullying me, gosh I'm just a child remember.
Deal! Now, please, the Gates... the invasion... explain it all, Kieran urged, his mind racing.
First, the System began, its voice becoming more serious, "you need to focus on three key terms that the man mentioned: Gates, Transmitter, and Anchor. You need to understand what they truly represent. And to do that, you need to know why they appeared in the first place."
The System paused, gathering its thoughts, then continued, "13 years ago, in the year 2012... a year that most of your Earthlings believed would be the end of the world..."
Kieran couldn't help but interject, a wry chuckle escaping his thoughts. Yeah, the Mayans, right? Good old Nostradamus. Everyone was convinced the apocalypse was coming.
The System's voice held a trace of disdain. Your ancestors failed to prepare accurately, because they did not fully understand the signs. They were looking for fire and brimstone, not... this.
"Do you know why most of the otherworldly creatures you encounter bear a striking resemblance to characters from your fictional stories, your myths, your legends?" the System asked, its voice laced with a strange mix of pity and detachment.
Kieran was completely taken aback by this. What? I thought it was just a coincidence.
"No, silly," the System answered. "Your world attempts to communicate warnings and strategies, gleaned from your collective unconscious, but you, as a species, are... disappointing in your ability to perceive the truth."
Kieran bristled at the implication, even if it wasn't directed solely at him. "Hey! That's not me. That's my predecessors."
"The distinction is... insignificant in the grand scheme," the System responded, its tone dismissive. "Let me continue. The Will of your world, the very essence of this planet, already warned you. It knew that in the year 2012, Earth would undergo a critical evolution. It would evolve into a Class 1 world."
The System's voice took on a somber tone. "And during this transition, Earth would shine like a bright sun in a dark forest-like universe. It would become a beacon, a target. It would attract the attention of other worlds, worlds far more advanced and powerful, who would seek to invade it and rob it of its most precious resource: its World Essence."
Kieran's mind reeled. The scope of this threat was immense, cosmic. "Why would they want our... our essence?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Because World Essence allows a planet to evolve further, to ascend to higher classes," the System explained. "Your Earth, before, was an Unclass World, a fledgling, undeveloped planet. Now, it is in the process of evolving into a Class 1 world, a significant leap in power and potential. And other Class 1 worlds, worlds that are stagnant or seeking to advance, will conquer you in order to steal your world's essence, to fuel their own evolution into a Class 2 world."
The System concluded with a chilling statement, "Just so you know, Kieran, the higher the class of a world, the stronger its denizens will be. You are facing an enemy that is potentially far beyond anything you can currently comprehend."
Kieran took a deep breath, trying to process the cosmic horror of what the System had revealed. Alien worlds invading to steal Earth's essence... it was almost too much to comprehend. But he knew he had to understand it, and the System held the key.
"Okay, I get it," Kieran said, his mental voice firm despite the turmoil within. "Earth is evolving, and that's made us a target. These Gates are how the invaders try to get a foothold. So, explain the Gates, the Transmitter, and the Anchor. Lay it all out for me."
"Now that you know the story behind it, let me tell you about the Gates," the System began, its tone shifting to a more instructional one. "Due to the defensive measure of your world, Gates are formed. This buys you more time."
"Buys us time? How?" Kieran asked, his mind racing.
"Because if the otherworldly creatures can't anchor themselves," the System explained, "they won't be able to fully enter your world, to manifest and wreak havoc. They're trapped, in a way, confined within their vessels."
The System continued, "The Gates are also a counterattack by your world, a battlefield where you Hunters will be able to enter their vessels to fight them without causing widespread damage to Earth. Think of it as a contained battleground, a way to fight the invaders on their own terms."
Kieran nodded slowly, starting to grasp the bigger picture. The Gates weren't just random portals; they were a defense mechanism, a way for Earth to fight back.
"Aside from what the man already said about the Gates," the System added, "you need to know that to temporarily close them, you need to destroy the Transmitter. This Transmitter comes in various forms, but most of the time, the Transmitter is what you Hunters call the 'Dungeon Boss'."
"So, the Dungeon Boss... that's the Transmitter?" Kieran asked, making the connection. "We destroy it, and the Gate closes... for a while."
"Correct," the System confirmed. "Destroying the Transmitter disrupts their ability to maintain the Gate, to keep that connection stable. But it's only a temporary fix, a stopgap measure."
"Okay, I'm following," Kieran said, "but what about the Anchor? You said that's the tricky part."
The System paused, and Kieran could almost feel a smugness emanating from it. "Now that's the tricky part," it repeated, a hint of playful arrogance in its tone.
"Why?" Kieran asked, a hint of exasperation creeping into his mental voice.
"Praise me first," the System declared, its voice taking on a slightly higher pitch, like a child demanding a treat. "Because I'm so knowledgeable."
Kieran's brows twitched. This System really knew how to get on his nerves. It was like dealing with a... a very powerful, very ancient, and very demanding child.
Kieran relented, though he couldn't resist a mental image of the System as he did so: a tiny, impish figure with devil horns and a mischievous tail, practically vibrating with self-importance. "Alright, alright," he said, forcing himself to sound sincere. "You are incredibly knowledgeable. Your wisdom is... astounding. You are, without a doubt, the most... informative entity I have ever encountered."
The System seemed to bask in the praise, its mental voice taking on a tone of self-satisfied grandeur, like its nose was metaphorically raised to the sky. "Indeed," it said. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, the Anchor."
The System continued, "You will need to bypass the Dungeon Boss."
"Bypass it?" Kieran exclaimed, his mind reeling. "You mean, not even fight it? But we're always told that's the main objective!"
"Precisely," the System said, its tone laced with amusement. "You need to find the true source of the Gate's power, the point where it's tethered to this reality. You need to find the entrance to the heart of the invasion."