[Candidate {Hunter Tamaniel} has been granted {Transcendent Beast Vanguard} ]
[Description: Beasts have always been seen as less than sentient, often disrespected and hunted by species across the cosmos. These creatures, whose existence had been reduced to mere commodities, endured eons of suffering, their bodies exploited and their spirits suppressed. Entire civilizations thrived on the agony of these beasts, using entire galaxies as nothing more than a farm for their torment.
Then came a cosmic anomaly, a burst of primordial energy that enveloped the beasts, sparking within them a transformative evolution. Their physical forms grew incomparably stronger, their intelligence transcended mere survival instincts, and their unity became unshakable. In an instant of reckoning, the tables turned. The beasts shattered their chains, overthrew their captors, and annihilated the realms that had oppressed them.
In their newfound autonomy, they forged a paradise exclusively for beasts. This haven became a multiversal beacon, a safe harbor where even the smallest hint of sentience was nurtured, and no creature was left behind. The paradise grew into an interdimensional power, its population in the septillions, with its vanguard serving as its shield and blade. The Transcendent Beast Vanguard, numbering 800 million of the most powerful and intelligent beasts, represented not only the might of their kind but also their capacity for vengeance, loyalty, and justice.]
"Two digits finally, eh?"
Hunter quipped as he ran his gaze through the description multiple times, understanding and ingraining it in his mind.
"Beasts? What are we talking about here? Like dragons and phoenixes? Cthulu maybe? Oh, like those mythical beasts from religious texts? An army of sentient and deadly beasts sounds amazing."
Hunter asked as he browsed his memories for all the exotic mythical beasts he could recall. Hunter had always been one for animals, for humanity hadn't been too accommodating to him all things considered.
Hunter was lying on the white expanse, his head cradled in his palm and his other hand occasionally stretched towards an open snack packet from whence he retrieved savory crunchy snacks. Nina was sprawled across Hunter's abdomen, using his grey Chesher Industries uniform as a towel, staining the entire front side with snacks, candies, and drink remnants.
"Hehe~ Although Nina is allowed to divulge some information about the type of beasts, Nina won't~!" Nina snickered, prompting Hunter to pull on her wings lightly, earning a bite on his finger from Nina. "Nina wants to see Hunter's expression when he sees these creatures~! Ehehe~"
Nina continued to chuckle as she dodged Hunter's lighthearted attacks. She filled her mouth with candies like a squirrel and spit them at Hunter until he finally stopped.
"Come on, Nina." Hunter groaned and allowed Nina to make a mess of his uniform. "Even if you can't tell me about the beasts, give me something."
"Nina is aware of this force and some of the species of beasts within their ranks, but Nina doesn't know the specifics. They were very mysterious and secretive, hardly ever showing themselves. They appeared only when they rained destruction on any civilization that slaved beasts."
Nina scratched her nose as she explained more about the intricacies involving the beast sanctuary. Hunter was amazed how these creatures, out of sympathy for their fellow kin, established a force to shelter other beings in a similar situation and eventually became strong enough to compete with forces on a universal scale.
"According to Big Sister, they hid in the folds of space-time because many overlord species wanted to subjugate them for their bodies and materials... While the strong ones could fight, there were sextillions that weren't up to the standard when it came to strength."
Nina explained somberly, evidently frustrated with individuals who would go to such lengths to create trouble for other species.
"Ah~! Nina's friend has this other friend that was very interested in the Beast Sanctuary, Nina will ask them if Hunter still wants to know later~"
"Nah, it's fine." Hunter flourished his hands nonchalantly, politely dismissing Nina's proposal. "You said that I'll have to interact with them on the battlefield, I'll find out then anyway."
"Mmhm~ Hunter will be surprised~"
Nina grumbled as she adjusted and moved up from Hunter's stomach, settling her head on Hunter's explosive pecs.
"Eleventh next, huh? The end is near..."
Hunter wondered aloud as he scratched Nina's head with one of his nails, drawing a comforted voice from the small bubbly assistant.
"Nina believes that all the armies Hunter has received until now were at the top of their respective tiers, forces that were bedtime stories and myths for Nina and her friends." Nina wistfully muttered and gave Hunter a look filled with subtle gratefulness and excitement. "So, Nina is looking forward to the remaining three!"
[Candidate {Hunter Tamaniel} has been granted {Genesis Creationist Association} ]
[Description: The Genesis Creationist Association was the cornerstone of existence, a timeless entity predating the multiverse itself. Formed by the enigmatic architects of creation, this organization shaped the foundational blocks of existence and laid the framework for countless civilizations to flourish. Their creations transcended utility; they were art, history, and power incarnate. The association didn't merely create, it sculpted the essence of perfection, its influence extending through the vast expanse of the multiverse.
The 200 trillion members of the Genesis Creationist Association were artisans, engineers, and creators, their talents honed to levels unmatched across all dimensions. They were masters of every craft: builders of omniversal fortresses, crafters of living weapons, tailors of reality-defying garments, and concocters of elixirs that transcended the bounds of life and death. Revered by all across the multiverse, each member remained committed to advancing the collective legacy of their association. A product from the Genesis Creationist Association wasn't merely a possession, it was a legacy, a symbol of supremacy that could tip the scales of power across the multiverse.]
"200 trillion, eh?"
Ever since Hunter had been slapped by the 1.5 quadrillion number with {Army of The Great Unu'ken Empire}, he had become somewhat numb to the quantity aspect of these forces, all he cared about was if these were extraordinary according to his assistant or not, and until now all of them were.
Speaking of assistant, Nina had her face burrowed in a certain opaque bag and hadn't seen the holographic screen flash, so he tapped Nina to grab her attention.
"Stop~! Which army did Hunter receive~?"
Nina's muffled voice came out of the bag, her mouth was clearly stuffed with whatever snack the opaque bag held.
"Uh... It's like a coalition of creationists? The Genesis Creationist Association."
"THE GCA!?"
Nina threw away the opaque bag and slammed her elbows on Hunter's stomach as she jumped up, making his body fold in pain. Hunter clutched his stomach in pain and writhed on the ground while Nina floated in front of the holographic scene, her eyes moving over the description over and over.
"HEY!"
Hunter shouted through gritted teeth and teary eyes. The pain was more intense because they had been snacking for the past couple of minutes, and his stomach was filled to the brim. Also, he hadn't expected any of this, so he was completely relaxed, enhancing the effect of the blow.
"Oh, shut it~! Hunter has 6.8 Vitality, Hunter will be fine!" Nina snapped at Hunter, her focus completely occupied by the information window. "Indeed, this is the Genesis Creation Association... Nina can't believe it..."
Nina muttered with a dazed expression, her body frozen in the air. Hunter recovered after a minute or two and sat up as well.
"I mean... I know it's the eleventh allocation and all, but is it that serious?"
He asked while rubbing his tummy. Hunter read through the description once again, and he had to admit that this association sounded very powerful and could provide a lot of utility in the long term.
"Hunter, one can say that this war e—" As Nina was about to explain the significance of this particular force, she winced in pain and grabbed her forehead. "Aah~ Guess Nina can't tell too much to Hunter... Just know that this is a huge blessing!"
Nina turned to look at Hunter and said in a serious tone as if making sure Hunter understood her words and ingrained them within his conciousness.
"The GCA was so influential and powerful that even Mother respected them..." Nina rubbed her face and elbowed Hunter with a cheeky smile. "Hunter's talent is definitely influencing the army allocation. Receiving armies beyond
"That so...?"
Hunter felt reassured and confident by Nina's statements. His eyebrows jumped as he suddenly thought of a certain problem.
"Nina, I have a question... If all of these armies are as powerful as you and these descriptions claim... Then wouldn't they be way too powerful for the initial stages? Considering that those from overlord civilizations will have penalties slapped on them?"
Nina finally tore her gaze away from the panel and sighed. She flew and settled on Hunter's shoulder.
"Of course they wouldn't be at their full strength, Silly~" Nina smiled as she ruffled Hunter's fluffy brown hair. "While Hunter's armies won't be penalized, all the troops will not have the strength they wielded in their prime. That's not to say that they will be weak, of course not, these are armies that defined the multiverse..."
Nina inhaled deeply and checked to make sure she could continue without experiencing that piercing pain again.
"Although they will be somewhat weakened, their potential will remain the same, or maybe even enhanced in some cases. As such, it shouldn't take too long for them to regain their powers given the number of battlefield tokens Hunter possesses and some other factors that Hunter will probably be fine with given Hunter's talent."
Nina expanded on the army system a little further. In essence, the troops wouldn't possess their full strength when summoned on the battlefield to prevent Hunter from instantly deploying them and gaining a huge advantage. However, they would gain it back pretty quickly depending on a combination of certain factors that Hunter couldn't learn at this point.
"Alright."
Nina had assured him that with his talent and the track record of impeccable luck, there was no need to be concerned about these abstract factors coalescing to allow him to achieve rapid growth, both personally and for his army. So Hunter let it go and decided to wait for his twelfth and penultimate army, one that Nina estimated would be at the very peak of the category two tiers above
The duo discusses a couple more things concerning the illustrious Genesis Creationist Association, or at least the most Nina was allowed to divulge. Hunter remained seated since only two slots remained, they would be bombshells as well, and he didn't wish to vomit out his snacks because of another jab to the stomach.
[Candidate {Hunter Tamaniel} has been granted {Eternal Sect} ]
[Description: The Eternal Sect was the pinnacle of cultivation, an organization revered and feared as the ultimate authority in the multiverse's most dominant power system, its origins trace back to the creation of cultivation itself. The sect's founder was the enigmatic figure who unlocked the secrets of the system that was adopted by duodecillions across infinite realms and served as the cornerstone of power, ambition, and survival in countless universes.
With a membership that exceeded fifty billion, it was both immense and elite, its ranks filled with beings who had surpassed the limits of their universes. The sect existed across numerous dimensions. For countless practitioners, the sect was the unattainable summit, a symbol of perfection that ignited hope and ambition. Tales of the sect's battles were etched into the annals of multiversal history, none more infamous than its confrontation with the coalition of overlord civilizations. Against armies of octillions, the Eternal Sect stood unyielding, their fifty billion cultivators obliterated adversaries with precision and invincibility. The sect emerged victorious, its forces largely unscathed, a testament to their supremacy.]
"Huh? A cultivation sect? These exist?" Hunter chuckled as he reminisced about the many novels he had indulged in throughout his dark school and work hours. "Well, I guess with how things are going, the knowledge on Terraia about these things must have come from actual cultivators as well."
Hunter joked as his perception of reality had been eviscerated to the core and was being constructed anew. He had become more accepting of most facts, and coupled with his forged skill, he felt that he was fitting in much better.
Hunter gazed over to Nina who was struggling against a plastic wrapper.
"You know about this one? Any strong opinions?"
"Hmm~ Nina has heard distant rumors, but nothing too stimulative... Just that they were indeed the originators of cultivation, and heralded the beginning of what would become the most popular and relevant power system."
Nina's fingers and overall physique were so small that she didn't have enough strength to rip the plastic wrappers with sheer force, so she used some sort of power to tear them open. Hunter had teased Nina about this, and since then she had been focused on proving Hunter wrong but had failed countless times over.
"Oh... Sounds amazing."
Hunter whistled as he let out a chuckle at Nina's comedic attempts.
"Hunter might get cultivation during the power system perk..." Nina said while trying to split the plastic with her teeth. "It has one of the highest ceilings after all..."
"Ceiling? As in the upper limit of strength? So, cultivation can make me stronger than the other power systems?"
Hunter didn't know too much about power systems. He understood what they were and their purpose in the war, but Nina had declined when he asked to expand on the various types of power systems Hunter could come by during the perk. Nina said that with Hunter's talent, he would surely receive one that would be perfectly suited for his physique and potential.
"Mmm~ Well, the thing is..."
Nina stumbled backward while attempting to use her sharp heel to rip open the packet, but since Hunter was invested in the topic he snatched the pack from Nina and opened it for her, which caused her to inflate her cheeks and make faces at him.
Nina went on to explain a little more about cultivation as a power system and the advantages and disadvantages that came with indulging in that particular path to obtain strength.
Cultivation had its fair share of competitors in the power system space. Many other paths had similar numbers of followers and general power levels. However, cultivation was far ahead when one accounted for entities at the top of the food chain. The cultivation power system possessed the most high-level powerhouses that could dictate the terms across the multiverse. The foremost cultivator powerhouses, mostly those belonging to the Eternal Sect, were existences that could annihilate galaxies like stepping on an ant.
Hunter wondered if the narratives he had encountered in Terraia were mere fiction coincidentally stumbled upon by Terraian authors, or if there was a mysterious and otherwordly influence at play.
"Hmm~" Hunter scratched his chin and thought, groaning periodically. "Fascinating~! Maybe I'll try to look into it more if I ever make it back."
"What is Hunter thinking about?"
Nina asked as she wrestled with an aluminum foil-covered chocolate, now determined to only open wrappers with her hand. Nina was so engrossed in unraveling the aluminum foil that the chocolate had melted by the time she could access it. However, she didn't give up and got her fingers and mouth covered in chocolate trying to eat the melted chocolate.
"Huh? Ah, nothing~" Hunter waved his hand nonchalantly, retrieving a tissue to clean Nina's mouth. "Anyway, the final army... This took a lot of time, I can't wait to read the description of the final one and move on to the third perk."
"Nina feels the same~ It's just that this was all so complex and so spontaneous that we weren't ready for it~ That is why the process is so slow and takes minutes between each army allocation." Nina nibbled on the very next candy she could get her hands on. "Usually, such bestowals occur simultaneously~ The whole perk ceremony shouldn't take more than two hours, maybe three if the being is too weak."
"We have been at this for an hour and a half already, and we haven't even completely gone through two perks..." Hunter sighed and looked at Nina with a helpless smile. "This is gonna take a while, isn't it?"
"Hehe~ It's fine~ Nina can't tell Hunter the details but Hunter will definitely be surprised."
Nina chuckled in her iconic sweet voice as Hunter went silent, bracing himself for the final segment of the second perk.
'Thirteenth army, eh? I wonder what could be stronger than literally the best creationists in the multiverse, the sect that birthed cultivation, and unimaginably powerful beasts?'
The final allocation took way longer than the previous ones, raising the duo's tension, so much so that even the newborn glutton Nina had to stow away her snacks.
Nina and Hunter sat and stared at the screen with bubbling anticipation, desperately waiting for it to flash and present Hunter with his final army.
[Candidate {Hunter Tamaniel} has been granted {The Originless} ]
[Description: ???]
""What!?""
One sweet and one deep voice filled with confusion and shock echoed together.