Standing beside a withered tree at the desert's edge, Michael swiftly retrieved a handful of drones from his space ring. With a command, the drones whirred to life, taking flight and venturing into the depths of the desert. Their tiny forms buzzed against the strong desert winds, disappearing into the vast expanse to gather information. The recent encounter with the colossal centipede monster left Michael still reeling, his thoughts momentarily dazed by the sheer magnitude of the creature. It was the second time he had encountered such an immense monster, the first being the colossal bull within the demon's grave.
Sarba's voice crackled over the communication channel as he reported, "I can't detect any discernible energy radiation from that creature."
Ayag echoed the sentiment, adding, "Same here, there's nothing registering on my radar."
Turning to the source of his guidance, Michael queried the system for assistance, his use of the system's abilities now more judicious considering his dwindling amount of badass points. He had spent a significant portion to arrive in the realm of gods.
"Is there a way to gauge the power level of that monster?" he asked.
The system's reply was immediate. [The system can provide a device for power level estimation for a cost of four hundred thousand badass points.]
Michael weighed his options. "You can, but I want to assess if the creature is stronger than me or not."
The system interjected with caution, [While the system's main priority is your safety, engaging with a monster of that magnitude could trigger the use of your powers. It's advisable to avoid using them, as the pantheon could detect you once they're activated. It's recommended to hold off on using your powers until you're more capable.]
"Speaking of growing stronger, I need two more dark seeds to advance to level 3 godhood, correct?" Michael inquired.
[That is correct,] the system confirmed.
The system outlined that to reach godhood level 3, Michael required three seeds of darkness, and four to attain level 4. Beyond level 5, his progression would involve specific tasks and locating potent artifacts—a relatively straightforward path compared to other gods, who often remained stagnant in their godhood level due to unattainable challenges.
While Michael engaged in this internal conversation with the system, his attention was drawn to a curious sight. Within the desolate landscape, he spotted several cloaked figures stealthily taking cover amidst the ruins of a structure, concealed within the heart of the desert.
Michael quickly zoomed in on the figures using the tablet he held in his hand. Vedora's multiple heads leaned in closer, examining the feed from the drones.
"Desert dwellers?" Ayag questioned, his tone laced with curiosity.
"It appears so," Michael replied, his eyes fixed on the images.
"Why would they be in a place like this?" Sarba pondered aloud.
Cain, another of Vedora's heads, chimed in with a more pressing concern. "Perhaps the question should be how they're surviving the desert's monsters during the night."
One of the figures within the drone feed broke away from the group, seemingly to relieve himself. Cloaked in robes that concealed their identities and goggles to shield their eyes from the abrasive sand, they moved with cautious familiarity. The man ventured outside the shelter of the ruin, his gaze inadvertently falling upon the colossal centipede monster—the sand emperor—seemingly drilling into the sand without much concern.
"Are you sure this is the right place for the deal, Gadan? We've been waiting here for days, and I'm getting tired of this endless sand," the man muttered as he attended to his business.
Listening intently to the conversation, Michael's curiosity deepened. The dialogue hinted at some kind of transaction, a deal in progress, and a mysterious artifact involved. The mention of angels, angels that served gods, added a layer of complexity to the situation.
"That's what Rainar's angel informed us. Once we secure the artifact, we're supposed to hand it over to the angel for payment," another man replied.
"What comes next after that?" the man outside the ruin inquired.
"I can't say for certain. Maybe Rainar's angels plan to use the artifact to eliminate Kranar's angels and put an end to their ongoing conflict," the speaker responded, his annoyance at the situation evident.
"Ease up on the war, Gadan. Wars are profitable, especially when they're gods fighting each other," the man outside the ruin chuckled.
Gadan's voice held a mixture of frustration and fear as he added, "I know, but I despise dealing with those angels. They give me the creeps. Besides, they always choose death traps like this to conduct their business."
The conversation among the figures left Michael with even more questions. The enigmatic artifact, the angels serving gods, and the intricate dynamics of their dealings intrigued him.
"I'm heading to Oceania after this mission, hoping Lord Ethos blesses me with a safe voyage to my homeland," Gadan mentioned, revealing his future plans.
Michael's attention was riveted to the group as he continued to observe them through the drone's camera feed. A small, glimmering object caught his eye, hanging around their necks like a pendant.
"Hey, what's that glow?" Cain inquired, his sharp sight picking up on the unusual radiance.
Michael swiftly took control of the drone, guiding its mechanical arms to extend from its body. With focused intent, he directed the drone in a lightning-fast descent, deftly snatching the glowing object from around the man's neck.
A shout of surprise erupted from the man who felt the sudden tug, his panic fueled by the sand-filled gusts of wind obscuring his vision. Unaware of the drone's presence, he scrambled in confusion.
"GADAN, I LOST THE PROTECTION!" the man cried out, his voice a mix of panic and shock.
The group sprang into action, spurred by the urgency in their comrade's voice.
"WHAT?!" Gadan's exclamation was a mix of disbelief and concern.
"HEL—" the man's plea was abruptly silenced, a chilling scene unfolding before Michael's eyes. Through the drone's lens, he witnessed the colossal sand emperor surge from the desert floor, obliterating the ruin in its path. The unfortunate man who had lost his protection charm was consumed by the sand emperor's gaping maw, and the structure crumbled as the beast emerged.
The sand emperor's roars reverberated through the air as it plunged back into the sand, only to erupt forth once more in a relentless sequence. The ruin's remnants were devoured, and the beast's tumultuous movements created a swirling vortex of sand, a testament to its wrath.
Alarmed by the unfolding chaos, Michael skillfully maneuvered the drone away from the sand emperor's fury, ensuring its safety.
"Unbelievable," Ayag gasped, his astonishment evident.
"They were relying on that charm for protection from the monster," Sarba deduced, understanding the significance of the glowing pendant.
A touch of empathy welled up within Michael as he mused, "I can't help but feel a bit sorry for them."
Ayag's response was more callous, reflecting his perspective. "Nah. Seems like these guys were bandits of this world. In my opinion, we just did this realm a favor."
With the drone safely back in his control, Michael inspected the retrieved item closely. Suspended from the silver chain was a pendant fashioned in the shape of an eagle, its intricacies catching the light. contemporary romance
"I'm sensing strong energy radiation from this pendant," Sarba remarked.
"System, scan this pendant," Michael instructed the system.
[The system is unable to complete the task without the purchase of a skill for artifact analysis, costing five hundred thousand badass points] the system replied.
"Buy it," Michael decided promptly. In this new world without Gaya or Lord Information, he needed the skill for artifact analysis.
A pang of discomfort surged through his brain as the new skill, Analyzer utility function, was etched into his consciousness.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring Analyzer utility function]
[Scanning initiated...]
A peculiar dark mist enveloped the pendant's chain, visible only to Michael's eyes.
[The item is a custom-made pendant containing a trace amount of grace. It possesses the capability to generate a protective barrier around the wearer, specifically effective against monsters and certain creatures in specific biomes] the system conveyed after analyzing the item.
With this information, Michael tapped his armor twice, revealing a small compartment. Carefully, he placed the chain within the compartment, securing it around his neck. He wanted to avoid the risk of losing the pendant to an unexpected encounter, which could trigger the sand emperor's attention.
"What on earth are you up to?" Ayag questioned.
"This pendant seems to have the power to ward off the sand emperor," Michael answered. Stepping forward, he prepared to ascend into the sky, but his intentions were promptly thwarted by Ayag and Sarba.
"Wait, wait, wait. First, are you sure? Second, don't we need it?" Ayag interjected, expressing his concerns.
"Let's put it to the test," Michael responded with a chuckle, though his antics prompted Vedora's protests.
"Bastard, don't toy with our lives!" Ayag chastised, quickly lowering her voice to a whisper, fearful that their words might carry to the sand emperor's ears.
With the reassurance of the protective barrier from the pendant, Michael confidently pressed forward, his armor now concealed beneath a long brown coat and jacket. Vedora nestled safely within his inner robe pocket.
"Whoever crafted this chain must possess considerable power. Even Marli wasn't aware of its capabilities," Michael whispered to Vedora.
"Shh, keep your voice down," Sarba cautioned.
Michael's teasing continued, aimed at Vedora's caution. "Look at you three, a mighty hydra cowering in fear of a centipede."
"We're not at full power yet, you jerk. We're not foolish enough to take on such a colossal monster," Ayag retorted with a growl.
"Enough complaining, Ayag. This item envelops me in a barrier, protecting us from the sand emperor's senses," Michael explained.
As he soared through the sky, Michael observed the sand emperor repeatedly emerging from the desert's depths and retreating back into the sand. Its presence remained oblivious to Michael, just as the system's scan had predicted. During his flight, he noticed a marble temple rising from the desert.
"What's that?" Ayag peered out, spotting the temple.
"Could that be where the divine portal is?" Sarba questioned.
"Unless the map's wrong, this isn't where the divine portal should be," Michael replied.
"We should investigate inside," Ayag suggested to Michael.
"Why not?" Michael shrugged, redirecting his course toward the temple.
Within minutes, Michael reached the temple's entrance and stepped inside cautiously. As he ventured further, his attention was captivated by a statue portraying a figure with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a serpent. Gazing at the statue's face, Michael found himself stunned.
"Gaya?" he uttered in disbelief, having no idea that he had stumbled upon the temple of Gaya, the goddess of all monsters.
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