Strongest Superhuman System

"Wiik! Wiik!"

The wiik-bat suddenly appeared from the side and flapped around Mark excitedly. It flew around him a few times before it landed on his shoulder and made an apologetic noise at the back of its throat. The wiik-bat had been trying for almost five hours to get into the museum, but it couldn't because of the high magical defenses around.

Mark smiled as he gently scratched the wiik-bat in the space between its antennae.

"You useless bastard. You couldn't get through and now you're acting all cute."

"Wiik! Wiik!" Your journey continues at m v|l-e'm,p| y- r

'I'm sorry.'

The wiik-bat apologized again and Mark just chuckled. Mark knew that it would be hard for the wiik-bat to get inside because of the high magical defenses, so he was not angry.

"It's fine, you can go meet Luna and rest. You know where she is, right? I'll be fine, so -"

"Wiik! Wiik!"

The wiik-bat did not even wait for Mark to finish what he had been saying as it flapped its wings in excitement and jumped off Mark's shoulder to go and meet Luna. It was no longer apologetic at all and it abandoned Mark once it heard Luna's name. Mark watched the wiik-bat fly away with an irritated look on his face.

"The bastard really gets on my nerves."

Mark shook his head and forgot about the damn traitor as he focused back on the building in front of him. Mark wasn't the best sensor, but even he could tell that there was a ton of magic surrounding this building, and all of it was focused on preventing anything from getting in without permission.

Mark could try to force his way in, but he didn't know if there were any other traps or deterrents that they put in place for situations like that. Imagine trying to break in and suddenly you're skewered by magic arrows. Knowing the sort of monsters that were summoned in this game, I wouldn't be surprised if the king could do something like that.

But Mark was surprised when he suddenly saw someone walking out of the museum. The person who walked out was an old, decrepit man who looked like he was made of bones. He was so thin that Mark almost thought that this was a zombie! But the man had a frown on his face and he walked with a tight gait that showed there was more power in those bones.

He looked around curiously and Mark could tell the man was looking for something. Did the man come out here for me?

"Mark Vanitas! I know you're out there! I have come with an offer from my lady! Will you come in and hear us out!?"

Well, isn't this interesting?

Of all the things that could have happened, this was the last thing that Mark thought would happen. Was this a trap? Are they trying to lure me into their territory where they will find it easier to kill me? Or are they really trying to bring me over to their side? What purpose would that serve?

Mark was immediately curious about what the old man had to say. But no matter how curious he was, Mark knew better than to just walk into enemy territory because they asked nicely.

"My lady is just and honorable, do not fear an attack from a simple invitation. She simply wishes to speak to you regarding your place in this war and what it could mean for us all."

"Fuck her honor, and yours too. If she wishes to meet me, tell her to come out here."

Mark finally spoke up and the old man looked up in shock as he heard Mark's voice. Mark was standing on a tall pillar right in front of the rising sun, so it was difficult for the man to look right at him. Gilles squinted as the morning sun almost blinded him and he had to look away after a moment.

"My lady cannot come out here. She wishes to talk to you inside."

"Then, unfortunately for you, I will have to decline. I know better than to walk into enemy territory."

"We will bring you no harm."

"Only a fool would believe that."

The old man grit his teeth in anger as Mark refused to listen to him. Joan was giving him such a precious invitation and he was spitting on her kindness by refusing in such a brazen manner!? This fucking bastard! Who does he think he is!?

Gilles suddenly shouted at Mark in anger.

"Stop fucking around, little boy! Who do you think you are!? The great Lady Joan has invited you to speak and you are to insult her by refusing! I will cut you down like you are nothing!"

"Gilles, that is enough."

A voice suddenly spoke up from behind Gilles and the man turned around to see a woman standing behind him. Mark also looked behind Gilles and he saw that there was a civilian standing there. She was obviously not the king.

She was wearing modern-day clothing, with brown hair and a kind smile but she had an empty look in her eyes that made her seem like she was looking at something far away from the present. She was just one of the puppets that had been standing around the building earlier.

"Lady Joan, you should not be exerting yourself so much."

Gilles suddenly spoke up in worry as he saw the woman and Mark raised a brow. So Joan possessed a body to talk to him? How did that work? Was that one of the skills given to the king or is it something she can do normally?

The woman raised her hand and told Gilles to calm down before turning to look at Mark. The sun shining in her eyes did not even bother her and she made sure to make eye contact with Mark before she started talking.

"So you are the one chosen by the gods over me. It is a surreal feeling, standing before your replacement."

Mark did not react to her words and Joan just smiled.

"I understand that you possess power beyond what I did in my time. But I don't think you really know what you are getting yourself into. Tell me, do you think the gods really care about us? All this, the powers, the games, the fights, what do you think they are for? Do you think the gods did this for us? No, they did not.

They did all this for themselves. To them, we are nothing but entertainment to be discarded whenever they wish. But I have a plan. I will cut my connection to the gods and I will gain power. And when the time is right, I will kill the gods."

Joan raised her hands to her sides as she spoke dramatically and Gilles looked like he just heard the messiah's final speech as he listened raptly. He fell to his knees and bowed to Joan reverently and Mark almost chuckled at the comedic display.