The Innkeeper

Chapter 1351  Story time II

Unlike Lexʼs system, most systems were of a low rank. If they were newfound systems, they would start at the lowest rank, but even if they were systems that had previous owners that died, it was rare for them to have a high rank.

One would think that after the long history of systems, the average rank of systems would rise. This only made sense as systems grew in level over the course of their various owners, or by absorbing other systems.

But, at least according to what Lex knew, that was not the case. He suspected that the system network, as he was calling it, might play an active role in keeping systems low leveled. Unfortunately, Lex knew all too little about such things to be sure.

”Mary, can you link up with Erebothʼs system?” Lex asked mentally.

”Nope,” she answered without really appearing. ”At least, not right now. Thatʼs all I can say.”

So it was possible, but the circumstances werenʼt right. At least, thatʼs what Lex gathered.

”My System ranked up as my own level strengthened, and my consciousness grew. I was still running on instincts, but I was more present, and could understand things on a deeper level. I could finally understand how having a few system users constantly culling all life on the planet - meaning all life on myself - was actually slowing down my growth.

”I had the system users fight one another through a few quests, giving the last one a mission to build a massive empire. At the same time, I got access to one of the most prominent features of my system: dungeons!”

The Innkeeper did not visibly respond to this news, but Lex was actually really looking forward to it. The concept of dungeons was not new, if these dungeons actually did behave the way Lex imagined. They could be an excellent source for novelty and entertainment for the guests of the Inn - of course, with a disclaimer that the Inn is not responsible for any injuries or deaths sustained within said dungeons.

If Lex and Ereboth could come up with some kind of beneficial deal that would allow him to send guests to the dungeons, that would be great. In exchange, Ereboth could get more people from whom it could farm experience to grow its own level.

”Back in the early days, dungeons werenʼt that great. They spawned with a few enemies, but could only be used once a generation since I would need to create dungeons in such a way that the dungeons could be naturally repopulated. That meant I had to create hidden chambers where the monsters could live and thrive.

”But the system users soon discovered those hidden chambers, and treated them as special reward rooms since such an environment usually contained special treasures to support the existence and survival of those monsters.

”Eventually, though, as the millenia passed, and the world went through multiple cycles of repopulation and culling, I grew stronger, and the system upgraded once more. That is when I became self aware, and my conditioning started.

”All I had ever known was that the living beings that used my body to survive had to kill one another to grow stronger - even though that was as a result of my own interference. But back then, I could not understand that.

”Instead, I was conditioned by such knowledge, and as my system grew stronger, and gave me more features, I used them to make that cycle of devouring as efficient as possible. I upgraded my dungeons, connecting them to hidden Minor realms. The monsters within were born in the Minor realms, and grew stronger until they reached the level in which they could enter the dungeon.

”From there I learned the concept of farming. I nurtured the monsters, for my system users to reap the rewards of experience which in turn fed me. But if I was then farming monsters, why couldnʼt I farm system users?

”I created complex social environments, ensuring that no system user became too powerful, always embroiled in some greater, ongoing conflict or issue. With the threat of survival always bearing down on them, they were never able to focus on complete self development, while their societies lived in just enough prosperity to survive, but not thrive.

”More and more, I learned about how the powerful dominated the weak, controlled their very lives, used their mere existence to nurture themselves and grow stronger… because thatʼs exactly what I was doing to them. Back in my early days, I was trapped in an echo chamber I myself created, setting my habits of devouring and taking any and everything I could.

”Then… then the day came that life was born on another planet in my star system, and I became familiar with the concept of fertilizing my farm. Back then I was not strong enough to break free from the pull of my star, and by the time I became that strong, life on the new planet had developed to an immense degree.

”Eventually I broke free of the pull of my star, devoured the other planet, became stronger on my own as a planet, and transferred all life onto myself, bringing forth the very first alien invasion those on my planet ever faced.”

Lex did not interrupt Ereboth, but he was secretly judging him real hard. If this was Erebothʼs attempt at seeking redemption, it was doing a terrible job. Every sentence he spoke just made him seem more and more like a power hungry, homicidal maniac. In fact, it was a good thing that Ereboth was voluntarily revealing all this because Lex was getting a better idea of who he was dealing with. The better he understood this sentient planet, the better he would be able to position himself in any future negotiations that took place.

”After my first planetary invasion, I grew stronger, my natives grew stronger, and my system grew stronger, thus reinforcing the belief that attacking and devouring anything in my path was the right way to go.”