"The Great Cataclysm..." Just from the sound of it, Lucas knew that it meant trouble.
"Yes. We suspect that the perpetrators have something to do with a radical faction that has been growing a lot in the background recently. They call themselves the Phantasm.. Not much is known about them except for the fact that they show themselves in random locations, do whatever they like, saying that their motive is to 'restore the balance of the universe'."
"Those stupid mongrels.. If the Great Cataclysm is their goal, then their involvement in Eredith won't only trigger a disaster for my Ruler, but rather the entire universe. No one can predict how bad a Great Cataclysm will turn out to be. It has never happened before." Regina bit her lips, vexed.
"If even you guys can't stop them, what can I do? My power will come the Goddess, so even I won't be able to surpass her, no?" Lucas interjected the angel's claims.
It was unreasonable when he placed himself in Regina' shoes. Why would she go to such lengths and believe in him, who she has only met for less than an hour for? A human who currently did not even possess any substantial power?
"Precisely because we're the same." Regina said.
Regina spun her hand in a circle once, and a translucent window appeared.
It was a wall of text that Lucas couldn't entirely comprehend. Real complicated stuff.
"This is perceived as the 'interface' that the attackers had used when they recruited the Players. Every single world has a complex management system to them, and interfaces are necessary to lay down the foundation of everything."
"The Goddess herself had said that, if there was an already existing inhabitant of the world that could separate themselves from the attackers' willful system, then we might be able to interfere using this kind of template.. Basically, we are going to forcefully insert you as a Player candidate and trick the system."
In the time spent to research this case, they had managed to trace down the structures of Players. The phenomenon of them coming in. Using this knowledge, they could essentially create a false entry. A character turning into a Player.
"Your role is the same as the other Players, with more things to do. No one has ever succeeded in clearing the mission, but if you come in and get involved, things might change, no? I want you to find out what's inside that tower, and what will come out of the mission's completion."
"Along the way, collect information that has anything to do with the enemies' goal. The world's system. Everything." Regina added.
Lucas hummed in interest. This made more sense rather just than picking up a young man and granting him great power for no reasons at all.
He was basically going to be a scout for the Upper Realms who weren't able to actively participate.
His safety wouldn't be guaranteed at all. He was a gamble. If he succeeded, it could bring advancements to the situation. If he didn't, he would just be accepted as another of their failures and move on to another plan.
'Okay.'
The situation turned to be much more realistic now. His curiosity was pacified.
"Is there anything else that I need to know?"
"For now, no. This won't be our last communication. During your reconstruction, I will assign a specialized helper.. You'll find out what it is. Again, please do not think highly of yourself just yet. Always remember who gave you the power, and what your real task is. Don't get conceited, for that will lead to nothing but destruction."
Regina' warning brought some chills down his spine. She must've used some magic when she relayed that message, because it immediately instilled a sense of fright in him even though her tone didn't change.
'Basically she's saying.. Don't get complacent, and serve your role well, hm?'
He was nothing but a pawn. Someone they are using as an experimental subject to fight on the frontlines.
A small part of this absurd game that will keep running, with or without him.
'But that status won't linger forever, yeah?'
He will receive a higher power. The chance to become strong, perhaps even stronger than the so-called 'First Class Angel' in front of him right now.
"I'll do my best." Lucas replied with a determined look in his eyes.
"..Alright. We can't linger here for too long, or they'll discover us. I'll send you back in a minute." Regina began to materialize a golden spectre and used it to draw up a magic circle in front of her.
"I, Regina, expect a lot from you, anomaly of Eredith. Please.. for the sake of everyone involved, end this farce and prevent the Great Cataclysm from ever happening. We absolutely can't afford to fight that type of thing." Regina raised her spectre towards the sky.
With it, a radiant light shone. Gripping the weapon tighter, she knocked it against the ground with great force.
Shiiiing!
Lucas felt himself disintegrate and melt into pieces by the spectre's overwhelming aura. It was just in a split of seconds, but the intense pain that he got instantly knocked him out for good.
Whatever happened next was not part of his knowledge. All he knew was that.. In the process, the angel must've bestowed him with everything he needed to move on.
When he woke up, Regina was no longer there.
Instead, he was placed in a space where nothing existed, and the boundary between the sky and the land seemed to be fairly thin, almost nonexistent.
He was all alone. Not for long, though.
A great pressure began to fall over him. More specifically, his soul and consciousness. He felt his entire being remolded.
The space around him began to distort, similar to when the world got 'updated'.
'It feels trippy.'
His surroundings.. It was similar to what he had experienced countless times in the past, but it was different this time.
He knew he was different.
Lucas took in a deep breath and gripped his fists tightly as he waited.