238: System, Truth

[This...] The System felt as if it had been backed into a corner by her.

Tu Nan did not let up at all, continuing to press forward step by step.

[You also said that you didn't tell me before because you were afraid I wouldn't complete the mission. What are you afraid of now? If you don't tell me, I can only assume that the mission the Children need to complete is impossible.]

[You know I would never agree to it, so you're determined to deceive me to the end.]

[If that's not the case, tell me! Facing so many difficulties along this journey, haven't I proven myself by making it this far?]

[Tell me all the information within your authority. Let me help you.]

[You know that I will find the most viable path.]

The System was swayed, but It still hesitated.

[You are the only chance I calculated... if it fails...]

Tu Nan was so angry she almost laughed.

[What, how long have you existed, and how long have you been calculating? If I am the only chance in all this time, do you really think everything is secure? I'm telling you, if it succeeds, it's only because you made a start; your luck was simply in finding me!]

[It's me! Tu Nan! Had your calculations produced anyone else, success would have been impossible!]

The System was shocked by her audacity. [You certainly are confident...]

Tu Nan sneered.

[Confident? It's a miracle. Every day I live is a miracle! At every step where others would have fallen, I ultimately ascended.]

[From being a clone on Blue Star until now. Every step has been like this.]

[Once or twice, you might consider it luck. If it's always like this, please believe it is inevitable.]

[...] The System was shocked as It pondered this line of thought and found it to be true.

If calculated by probability, the initial possibility of this happening approached zero.

And now, the likelihood of success was incredibly high.

[I believe you.]

It worked!

Tu Nan knew that the System had finally been swayed by her.

This existence, previously unknown to Tu Nan, had finally sided with her completely on this day.

It no longer feigned mystery, no longer guided her from a high-and-mighty position, and no longer constantly rationed the energy spent on her.

It placed all its bets on her.

The System chose to face the final wheel of fate together with her.

"What's wrong?"

The Emperor's hand rested quietly on Tu Nan's shoulder; his ability must have been fully deployed.

Waves were sweeping back and forth across Tu Nan.

"Shh!"

Tu Nan whispered, "It's It. It's here."

The Emperor's hand tightened slightly. Without turning his head, his lips moved.

"Alright, no one can hear us speak now, so..." He felt a bit uncomfortable; this uncontrollable situation made him uneasy. "Why did It seek you out?"

Tu Nan ignored him for the moment because this time, the System finally spoke enough.

The Star Worms came into existence because of It, or rather, because of the race It belonged to—let's call them 'Gods' for now.

They were the result of experiments conducted on a very distant timeline. The System stated it truly could not tell Tu Nan the specific details.

In short, the result of the experiment was the creation of the Four Divine Beasts, but the Gods who were supposed to maintain the laboratory never appeared again.

In their long loneliness, the Four Divine Beasts discovered a world where civilization was just beginning to form: Blue Star. Overjoyed, the Four Divine Beasts planned to go there to play, but that world was very closed off, possessing a thick barrier.

They eventually discovered that only spirits could be projected there individually. Thus, they severed most of their Divine Soul to go to the human world, leaving only a sliver to maintain their Physical Body.

They got along harmoniously with the natives on Blue Star. It was only when they played until their Soul Power was very weak that they thought about returning, only to find they could no longer do so.

They completely dissipated on Blue Star.

However, their Physical Bodies later discovered the early Beastman world. They lived with the beastmen and left behind many descendants. Those were once very powerful beastmen.

But as time passed, the Bloodline was constantly diluted and crossbred, and the abilities derived from the Divine Beasts became increasingly faint.

And the Star Worms... were a Variant Species that suddenly emerged a thousand years ago when an accident occurred in the laboratory.

They certainly couldn't be called Divine Beasts, yet they shared the same origin. They were merely a completely failed product from the production line.

Except for one advantage.

They could eat and they could breed.

[So, the Star Worms and the Four Divine Beasts are actually creatures on the same evolutionary chain.] Tu Nan had a realization.

"Star Worms particularly love to eat beastmen, especially high-Rank beastmen." Tu Nan looked up, seeking confirmation from The Emperor.

Although The Emperor didn't know why she was asking, he still nodded.

[The Star Worms are looking for the Four Divine Beasts, right? High-Rank beastmen are closer to Divine Beasts, so they are more attractive to them. And my Children, they are already Divine Beasts; they are the food the Star Worms want most.] Tu Nan asked the System.

[Yes, they want to complete themselves and achieve full evolution. It's instinct.]

[This is the danger my Children face. If you hadn't told me, how did you plan to have me send the Children to you in the end? And what would you do once they were sent? Would you also do something bad to them?]

[No! I want to stop the experimental process. Once the laboratory confirms that the Four Divine Beasts have been completely created and the experiment has proceeded perfectly, the process can be closed.]

[Then I can close the case, transmit the data, and destroy the laboratory.]

[This place keeps producing faulty products and constantly debugging; it's endless.]

[Then what are you?] Tu Nan asked.

[I am just the laboratory's intelligent System...]

[You waited this long to handle this?] Tu Nan found it unbelievable; the virus had essentially existed for a thousand years.

[I only recently developed self-awareness... In fact, it should be said that because no one cleared my inventory, I developed self-awareness ==]

The System sounded extremely innocent.

Tu Nan was speechless; this laboratory sounded very, very unreliable.

[Then... why me?]

She asked her final question.

The System said cautiously: [You are the most suitable. You were a clone in that world, and that world didn't fully recognize your existence, so... I was able to bring your spirit out.]

Oh, so she really was an outcast of that world, the kind whose loss no one would mourn.

Tu Nan didn't know what expression to make.

[And the Foster Mother is an artificial creation of this world, and her Fusion level with you can be very high... You brought a soul soaked in the spirit of the Four Divine Beasts from Blue Star, and then with these Beast Star Male Beasts I selected, who carry Divine Beast Bloodline that can be purified... that.]

The System felt Tu Nan's emotions becoming more and more turbulent, and Its voice gradually grew quieter.

[Only you could restore the Divine Beast Bloodline... that's how it is.] It quickly added, [Actually, I also know this is difficult, but look, you've done it. Only the last step remains.]

[What if we ignore that laboratory? My Children will be very powerful in the future; they could completely kill all the Star Worms.]

Tu Nan held onto a final sliver of fantasy.

[No!] The System panicked. [You said that if I told you these things, you would help me find a way. Are you going back on your word?]

[It's not exactly going back on my word. Am I not also suggesting a method? Why wouldn't this plan work?]

Feeling the System's panic made Tu Nan feel satisfied.