I Hate Systems

"What?" Rikune was flustered when a ribbon-shaped energy blade suddenly wrapped around her leg, coiling around her. In response, she unleashed her Crescent Moon energy blades, shocked when she failed to sever or even damage the ribbons.

After fighting for so long, she was running low on her Darlac reserves, having focused on protecting both her and Regriel. So, when she tried to sever the ribbons, the Darlac she infused into her energy blades was only a conservative amount that she maintained instinctively.

Due to that, she lost the initiative to sever the ribbons on time, allowing them to wrap around her. All she could do was scream before she was completely bound like a cocoon, "Regriel!"

There were the bodies of three Haggons between her and Regriel, preventing him from seeing her situation. All he heard was a faint whisper amid the loud roars and the grand thumping sounds of the Haggons bashing into each other.

"Rikune!" Regriel shouted in a hurry, flustered when he was unable to see or hear her any longer. He tried to scale through the Haggons, but was swatted away in discomfort as the large bodied Dungeon Monsters focused on tearing into each other.

Looking at the scene from atop the peak, the old woman said through telepathy, "It's done. Regriel is now alone and has run out of Darlac."

"Great!" Hekatra said, turning around as she nodded at Compass Carburettor, "Lord Spirit, it's done!"

"Awaken Princess Raecha and enact our dialogues." He said as everyone in the area assumed human forms, wearing their respective clothes instantly to take up positions.

…

"Ugh…what happened?" Princess Raecha woke up with a start, suddenly turning silent as she could hear raucous laughter from beyond the cave where she was held captive.

"Those idiots from Secret Society and Heroica Empire have taken serious damage."

"It's thanks to Boss' ingenuity. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to annihilate Secret Society so easily and harvest all their painstaking efforts."

"And now, all the women from that Regriel's group are our captive. We can use them to obtain a massive ransom from the Heroica Empire. I'm sure they wouldn't like to lose one of their three Transcendents so easily."

"Keke, Boss is wise."

"And now…" The voice addressed as the Boss laughed, "That Regriel is alone in a battlefield where those stupid Haggons are fighting one another. He's bound to die any moment, not knowing that the treasure he sought is already in my hands."

"They are such fools, I must say, Boss." One of the underling's flattering voice resounded.

'Regriel is in danger? And, the treasure we sought is here?' Princess Raecha thought, recalling the figure of Regriel, imagining the scene where he was struggling to survive while surrounded by Haggons on all sides, tearing up immediately, 'Please live, Regriel! Please!'

"I'll ensure that Regriel is killed, even if he manages to survive that place." Suddenly, the emotionless voice of a woman resounded, "He's not worth much as compared to his companions. And, I feel like keeping him alive is risky."

"You're the brain of our operations, the reason for our success." The Boss's voice resounded, carrying a hint of respect, "If you feel that way, then we'll do as you say."

…

'Brothers, ensure that Regriel is dead no matter what. The treasure is already in our hands, so there is no reason to keep him alive anymore.' The Slave Harem System was jolted when it received numerous Mental Energy streams, the contents behind which were baffling.

It also heard the thoughts of Princess Raecha that were directed at Regriel, thinking, 'It seems I was too late. But thankfully, the brains of this group seem to be a woman. That'll be helpful. I should make the appropriate purchases immediately. This is easier than facing the Dungeon Boss.'

Thinking as such, the Slave Harem System connected to the Astral Network, hurriedly browsing through the numerous groups while it noticed Regriel barely surviving. If it delayed any longer, he would die.

It quickly entered the personal group of Overdrive System, dropping a message. Thankfully for it, a reply arrived immediately.

[Slave Harem (Level 5): Boss, can you sell me the Overdrive Skill at Level 8?]

[Overdrive System (Level 31): Do you have enough Mental Energy to afford that? Or are you planning to give me the Level 10 version of your Core Skill?]

[Slave Harem (Level 5): I'll exchange with the Level 10 version of Slave Harem.]

[Overdrive System (Level 31): Deal]

They quickly completed the transaction as the Slave Harem System appeared within another group, dropping a message.

[Slave Harem (Level 5): Sir, can I get the one-off use of Teleportation? I need two of them, please.]

[Spatial Jump System (Level 12): What is the travel distance? Do note that the ability may or may not work depending on the quality of the local energy used as fuel. So, I recommend using Mental Energy to activate this ability.]

The Slave Harem System quickly judged the spatial coordinates of Regriel and Princess Raecha, relaying the information.

[Spatial Jump System (Level 12): I see…Since it is located within the Level 5 Dungeon of E-4219, then it is somewhat problematic. The level 3 version of my Spatial Jump is enough to traverse that distance, but your Mental Energy consumption would be high, at least around 50 Mental Energy per jump. Do keep that in mind before you attempt it, lest you be stuck in the void and trouble me later.]

[Slave Harem (Level 5): Thank you, sir. I'll make a note of that.]

[Spatial Jump System (Level 12): Good, then I'll sell them both for a total of 20 Mental Energy. Though, if you buy the Level 3 regular use version, I'll give it to you for 80 Mental Energy. What do you say? It's more efficient in the long run.]

[Slave Harem (Level 5): I'll return to buy that once my Host breaks out of his current pinch.]

Once the transaction was completed, the Slave Harem System frowned, 'I now have 197 Mental Energy remaining. Setting aside 100 Mental Energy for the two spatial jumps and 50 Mental Energy to use the Overdrive Skill, I have 47 remaining. I need just one more ability.'

It then paused, frowning, deep in thought, 'If what I felt isn't the truth, then I would be wasting all my hard-earned Mental Energy. Should I buy a one-off Treasure Location Skill or buy the Skill that'll ensure Regriel doesn't die in that situation? He's too weak indeed…'

'This is troubling.' It felt conflicted.

Author's note: December month's mass release quota:

Golden Ticket: 1 bonus chappie for every 12 GT

Magic Castle: 2 extra bonus chappies for every Magic Castle

Spacecraft: 5 extra bonus chappies for every Spacecraft

Read 8 chappies in advance in Privilege