As they broke through the illusion, Ghost ship sensed the existence of Seth's group.
Before Varian could enquire about them, the aura of the plants started to rise.
"W-Wait, what the fuck?" Varian was dumbfounded.
It's common sense that progress in divine path takes time.
Even geniuses took time to go from low level 5 to high level 5. But these plants…they did it in minutes.
But it didn't stop there.
"Are you fucking kidding?" Varian wanted to flip the table.
A couple of those high level 5s reached peak level 5 and…advanced to level 6.
"I call Bullshit!"
'System, come out! Do these plants have your brothers or what?'
[…Host, the System is unique. It's not something cheap like these plants. Apologies, calling them cheap is valuing them too much. These plants would grow like weeds in higher civilizations. They won't be sold even in street stalls.]
'You're the one to talk. My ancestor picked you up from some rubble. You aren't even sold in street stalls.'
[…]
The System went silent and Varian laughed out loud. "Hahaha."
Unexpectedly, the system also laughed.
[Hehehehe]
Varian almost creeped out and asked. 'You can laugh? Are you on drugs or what?'
[Host, don't you want to think about the problem at at hand? We can talk after you inquire what you just witnessed. This System is always with you anyway.] Its voice at the end was soft.
Varian cringed at the System's words. Did someone hack the System or did it have split personality?
But more importantly, the System skipped his question!
'…you sly bastard!'
[…]
Varian shook his head and turned to Boo. He wasn't as shocked as Seth. He had a system for fuck's sake!
"What are those plants?" He asked calmly.
Maybe Shadow Order just used a mass fertilizer that grows these plants with aura crystals. Since it's too broken, perhaps it only works once.
Varian didn't think they were very dangerous. After all, only a couple reached level 6.
"Sequoia. A special species that recently appeared in the Uranus planetoids. They are…."
Boo played a few video recordings it 'borrowed' from the planetoid database and explained how they transform after morphing to Ficedula—a higher plant species with high combat capabilities.
The biggest danger of Ficedula was its ability to generate smaller versions of itself.
It was a one plant army!
With every passing word, Varian's face turned more and more grave.
In the end, he cautiously said. "Most of them are only level 5…only a few of them are level 6."
On the battlefield, only level 8 appeared. So, perhaps those were really, really, really rare.
But the announcement forced him to face reality.
"Send the level 6s to the upper fields. The new batch will arrive tomorrow. Our success rate is the lowest, work harder. I will inspect after finishing my rounds."
"….Fuck!" Varian slammed the throne.
It clearly meant there were many more such fields. The old man only gave the twenty workers 1 million aura crystals each. So, twenty million.
But what he got from selling the potions was around four hundred million!
That meant, he could go to at least twenty more asteroids!
And upper fields….the fields that grew Level 6, level 7 and finally level 8.
This was devastating to say the least.
So far, only a couple of Level 8 Sequoias appeared on the planetoids, but the damage they did was significant.
Thousands of level 6s died, and even a few level 8s were killed.
If…If hundreds of Sequoias enter the planetoids, forget killing them, even defending the planetoid was out of question.
"Is this what they've been planning?" Varian took a deep breath and calmed himself.
It made sense then.
They lured the gangs with the Siloy potion, amassed the aura crystals to grow these monster plants.
Perhaps they were preparing for this since a long time. And for some reason, decided to forward the attack date. Varian had a feeling that it was either because of Enigma or due to rapid growth of humanity.
Either way, to get the final round of cash, they planned the frenzied kidnapping.
When he entered Valos, Varian knew there was a conspiracy going on. But not even in his dreams did he imagine it to be this big!
If things really went bad, they'd lose planetoids.
Then Abyssals could launch an open war against Uranus and Cluster cities.
While Varian was optimistic they could defend themselves, there was a problem they couldn't avoid.
The transportation from Uranus to Neptune would be cut off. Not everyone could use teleportation formations.
So, the essential supplies to Neptune would be blocked. The export of important minerals and herbs from Neptune would be cut off.
Then, sooner or later, the situation in Neptune would spiral down.
There was a chance…not high, but not low either that Uranus might fall like Pluto.
"Fuck." Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Varian cursed under his breath.
He glanced at the other space shuttle whose stealth was uncovered by Boo's sensors.
He concluded them to be Athena agents. If it was at other times, he'd have been curious, but now, he had no time.
He wanted to confirm one thing.
"Boo, follow that fucker."
"Yes, master."
Varian wanted to verify if the announcement was a bluff. Were there really 20 asteroids with this stuff?
The next two hours of tour told him it was a yes.
The Sequoia plants in them also registered similar growth as the first one.
Of course, the old man made the same announcement and set on a return journey to the secret realm.
"It's useless." Varian exhaled.
War was inevitable.
'If I can fight and grow stronger quickly, no…'
Even if he grew stronger, to actually make a difference, he'd need to reach level 8.
That'd take time.
By then, the outcome of war would already be set.
"Maybe…maybe there's a solution." Varian clenched his fists. Before he knew it, his nails dug into his palms and blood was dripping on the ground.
"I don't know." Varian collapsed onto his throne and covered his face.
They'd likely be ready to start war on all planets so that no reinforcements could help out Uranus.
"…Master, even if something happens, we can escape." Boo muttered. "Don't worry."
Varian went silent for a while before he said in a low, gritty tone.
"Boo, do you know how many soldiers are fighting in the planetoids?
I was helpless during Pluto war. But now, I can't bear to see them all die. I don't know what I will do. But…I am not going to run."
Varian's eyes snapped open and they flashed a profound black and white. "…In the worst case, I'll stay here and avenge them.
And these traitors that are helping Abyssals…I'll kill every last one of them."
His gaze locked onto the green-haired old man.
"Master, what do we do now?"
"I'll go train. Boo, try to find out other secret realms." Varian said and walked to the training room.
'So this is why you were laughing. At the fucking war. I really want to kill you now.' Varian clenched his fists and suppressed his killing intent.
[Heh. Host, you are too pessimistic and underestimate yourself too much. Maybe you can do something about it.]
'You said you aren't omnipresent. So, why do you talk like you are?' Varian gritted his teeth and entered the training room.
Shua! Shua! Shua!
Four men and two women appeared—they were all criminals and thugs 'borrowed' by Varian for training.
Each of them belonged to one of his Divine path and served as training courses to him.
"Come!" Varian's aura exploded and he rushed at them in rage.
Boom!
Boom!
'I'm only a level 6. I can't change anything.'
[Please, host. Try trusting this System a bit. What you see as a problem isn't really the problem.]
'Just die!'