Chương 369: Significance Of A Painting

"My apologies, Miss Nebulo… It is simply that… Special systems capable of speech are simply an extreme rarity! In the entire history of System Fundamentalism, there have only ever been two recorded cases, and it has been a very, very long time since the last of those two. The users who once had these systems have long since passed away""Furthermore, their talking systems were far more rudimentary than what you are describing to me, Miss Nebulo! Their systems were merely helpers and guides lacking in personality.

Their only purpose was to help in the wielding of the blessings of the Universal System! But yours is not only a real person, but also a bona fide special system whose way of working and granting strength is completely different from the norm?!"

"I… I… I can not believe it! Miss Nebulo, you might actually be the chosen one!" I didn't respond immediately. Even I was gobsmacked by this man's reactions. He was definitely way stronger than me, but he was now acting as if I were a legendary hero or something. Is it really that rare for a special system to be like you, Nara? In this world, it is indeed rather rare. Most special systems don't completely overhaul the base Universal System the person owns either…

It could be said that I am special, but do remember that I only exist because your latent powers awakened in a way that they saw fit for you to possess as a special system. I am sure that if we looked around a bunch of A. R. DL, we would find many versions where the powers had nothing to do with a special system Right…

But you are here in the real reality, and that's what matters–Should I mention that you can affect other people's systems and even affect other aspects of their beings by using the Universal System as a pathway of sorts? It would definitely give us an even better position in his eyes, but I think we should wait until he calms down a little bit… Let's start with the fact that I can view people's system interfaces. Don't mention that it is thanks to the presence of system crystals around, though!

We need to look as impressive as possible True, true… I looked at Sir Seventh, who was beginning to gather himself and smiled mischievously.

"By the way, Sir Seventh… Grand Holy Hierophant sounds like a pretty big deal. Judging by what I've seen on my way here. The class a person acquires is of great importance to their future, so it must mean that you are the uncontested voice of authority here, right? You are the pope of System Fundamentalism, after all" I could have sworn I heard his jaw dislocate beneath his mask.

"You… You can view my system panel…? Of your own will? Without even needing physical contact?!"

"Well, my dear special system can" There was a long moment of silence.

"System Fundamentalism was originally funded by a man with this very ability. He was a man blessed by the Universal System itself, not only capable of assessing the very essence of the Universal System. Allowing him not only to view the system panels of others with just a glance, but even to interact with them, be it in a beneficial or harmful manner! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the closest thing to a deity of the system!" I shuffled in place a bit.

Just as I had expected, people here were unhinged, but they were also prime material to be manipulated and used. Sir Seventh literally just told me that what Nara could do could qualify me to be considered a goddess in the eyes of System Fundamentalism. Nara, anything harmless that you can do to show that we can mess with people's systems? Of course! Especially here with all those crystals around, I feel more capable than ever when it comes to stuff like this!

Splendid, I suppose that I still need physical contact, though? Yes, I am not THAT powerful… Alright then…

"Sir Seventh, why don't you give me your hand for a moment?" The ancient skeleton placed his gloved hand in mine without hesitation–Now, it was more than obvious that he was indeed a skeleton just like Ergonip. Those robes were doing a good job of making it seem like the man beneath had flesh, but just a few moments were enough for me to confirm that he was entirely skeletal. Unless Ergonip is a special case, this guy is probably just as dusty in there.

I wonder if slashing his robes open would just release a flood of dust all over the place… And… Done!

"Sir Seventh, why don't you open your system status for a moment?"

"Mmh? Sure, why not–By the grace of…" He made a weird sound and stepped back until he hit the wall and slid down, though he quickly shot back up to his feet.

"You truly are the chosen one. We have been waiting for you for so long, Miss Nebulo! I remember hearing stories of a true hero like you when I was still a little boy of flesh and blood! If I could, I would cry!" Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! He suddenly stood as tall as he could get, stiff as if he were a military recruit standing in front of a general. Sir Seventh turned to the painting on the wall.

"You've certainly already noticed the oddity of this painting, yes?" Mmh… It looks like he wasn't planning on telling anything about this painting before I laid my cards on the table…

"Yes, I certainly did. It looks a lot like me–Well, I would have thought that it looked more like my mother if not for the purple eyes. What does it mean, exactly?"

"It was painted a few centuries ago by a woman with a very unusual class… She was a rare sort who managed to acquire two different classes at the same time, and they eventually fused together once they both reached the 'Master' level…"

"... Those two classes were 'Seer' and 'Painter'. She was able to predict many things through paintings" He pointed at the painting.

"She died long ago, and this is the only painting she left, which prophecy seemingly never came to be… But here you are""What does it mean, though? I have a few guesses, but I presume that the miss gave an explanation to go along with it""You would be correct, Miss Nebulo" Sir Seventh marked a pause. I didn't realise an undead could get so rattled… I suppose I am similar in this way. I have a whole bunch of undead-like qualities, but I am still susceptible to reaction in ways befitting of the living.

I suppose one can not become a true undead if they keep their full personality and emotions…

"Most of her paintings are more like representations rather than a direct view of the future, but she always knew more about what she painted than a mere onlooker–She foresaw the coming of what she often referred to as a 'Horseman of the Apocalypse'. You are certainly familiar with the concept. They are common figures in many stories and myths""I was more so a manner of speech, however.

She attributed to the woman represented a role akin to that of the horsemen, a woman who would bring war, pestilence, and famine in her search for conquest" The way he spoke made it sound like he was more so repeating words than merely explaining something–He probably knew that painter in person.

"Of course, while the horsemen and their attributes are often viewed as pure destruction and misery, it is a common motif across the stories involving their apocalypse that their destruction leaves place to a rebirth. They don't bring about the end of the world… They bring the end of the present" He went silent.

"I always thought the woman represented in this painting would be an undead, you know?"

"Why is that?"

"Because of the eye colour, Lady Nebulo. The painter made it clear that she couldn't replicate the shade of purple that was to be found in the eyes of the woman she painted, and… I don't know how much I can say without suffering immediate backlash–But when I was still alive, and before I discovered System Fundamentalism, I used to be an adventurer""I was a solo adventurer, not because I wanted to, mind you!

But I was born a human in an old country made up nearly entirely of demons, and it was right after a war they had with a human country, so basically no one felt like teaming up with me, anyway!"

"I once explored a cavern that had appeared overnight, and reckless that I was, I went right in, in search of treasure. I thought it was a newly formed dungeon that had just opened its doors, but all I found was a single, thumb-sized piece of crystal""... A crystal coloured a shade of purple that I had never seen before, and which I never saw again until today" He faked a cough.

"Well… I grabbed the ominous crystal without thinking, and I was transported to a dark space, with a being of such strength that I still am unable to fathom just how strong he truly was… He wore a helm, but from the openings, a purple glow came out, and without a single word being exchanged, I was engulfed in the light and given a certainty""The certainty being?

"That I would become an undead when I died" Sir Seventh shook his head and suddenly stepped closer.

"Miss Nebulo. You aren't just a hero of System Fundamentalism, and you aren't just the bringer of chaos that the painter foresaw. You are, without a doubt, a unique being akin to the one I met that day! You are destined for greatness. I know you are!"

"Please, allow me to speak on behalf of all of System Fundamentalism: If you call for us, we will stand right beside you!" … … After this, there really wasn't much else to say. I had thought that it would be a bit more complicated to secure these guys as allies, but Sir Seventh did all of the work for me… I am definitely not the chosen one of their system obsession.

I have no idea if what that painter predicted will actually come to pass, and I definitely do not have a single clue what the hell he went on about toward the end. The coincidence of the strange purple in my eyes existing elsewhere was strange, but it could very well mean nothing in particular. I mean, if I was like that thing he saw, then surely I would know about it, right? Well, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that the System Fundamentalists are now my allies. I know Sir Seventh wasn't lying.

I had been monitoring his negative emotions very closely and found no signs that he was hiding anything from me. If anything, he almost irradiated me with some of his positive outbursts. Since this visit was shorter than expected and such a great success, I might as well take the time to go and check out the Deep Dream as well. I will need to warp back to the tower since the Cave of Somn is quite the distance from here.

The System Fundamentalists settled down in between Rootriska and Heldinot in a hidden spot, but the Deep Dream isn't hidden at all. The cave they occupy is a location known to anyone who bothers to actually learn of it. It is located in Aesther. I wonder what the current king and queen think about me? They must have realised that the Silent Knightess was just an alias of mine by now. Do they truly align with the others? Or do I actually have a good reputation since I am the one who liberated their country?

I wasn't willing to go and check it out, but it was something that was probably worth keeping in mind. Anyway… I entered the Gravescape, finding myself faced with a huge pile of system crystals. How should we proceed with those, Nara? Let's be reasonable and not absorb everything in a single go… It sounds like it pains you to say that. N-Not at all! How cute. Let's see what it's like to absorb one, shall we?