"You don't have this thing in your universe? I thought.."

Maria, Bishop Bezios's wife had been explaining the intricacies of their technology to Van, showing the.. screen that was embedded straight on– in her skin and flesh. She had probably been talking for 5 minutes straight; Van, however, was no longer listening.

Still, his eyes were focused at Maria's arm. It almost felt like the insides of her arm were hollow– containing a world of their own. If Van tried to stretch his hand towards it.. will it actually go through?

"How.. is this possible?" Van whispered. Of course, even if it was explained to him, he was sure he wouldn't be able to understand. Athena and the others that were watching through his eyes probably could– but he was sure their technology was quite different even compared to Vivati's world.

Maria said that they implant while they were still inside their birth capsule. Doesn't that mean they are installed as soon as the Systellions are given birth– no, created?

So if Pontiffs inherit the powers of those before them through this Holy Grail, what exactly does that mean? Were their memories being carried over?

"..." Numerous thoughts and theories danced inside Van's mind. But after a few seconds, he shook his head. He should leave the thinking to other people, the only thing he was doing right now was needlessly causing his head to hurt.

"Why are you chatting with me now?" Van then let out a small scoff as his eyes finally left the stereoscopic screen on Maria's arm, "Weren't you and Bezios scared of me just a while ago?"

"Because we're in public, Evaniel," Maria smiled as she nodded towards the people passing by them, "Do not underestimate the ability of a billionaire to keep up appearances. Right now, you're my son."

"Hm," Van could not help but smirk as he heard Maria's words.

"And I'm also protecting the little ladies that were hounding you earlier," Maria took a sip of her wine,

"You seem to be popular with them."

"Because I'm a billionaire's son."

"And because of the way you look," Maria also smirked, "You have an uncanny resemblance to the way the Pontiffs carry themselves– your aura, I mean."

"..." Van did not respond as he just turned his attention towards the ladies that approached him earlier, only for them to chuckle and wave at him,

"They don't even know that you're probably trying your hardest not to kill them," Maria sighed as she saw this.

"Not just them, but each and every last one of you," Van whispered, "The only way any of you are living is if you stop invading my world."

"We're not bad people, Van," Maria once again sighed, "Your universe will be a far better place once it assimilates to ours. This planet that you're standing on was once a dying world. It wasn't until the Pontiffs intervened that it returned to its luster. It's the same with the other planets inside the Vessel..

..We prevent dying worlds from withering."

"And what about the people that live in them?"

"What's a few billion people to save an entire planet?" Maria took another sip of her wine.

"..." Van could only furrow his eyebrows upon hearing Maria's words. There was no use in trying to talk to these people– some of them might truly be decent, but the way they view lives of people in another universe was truly too different. They think too highly of themselves.

With these thoughts dancing in Van's mind, his hands once again started to tremble; a certain itch crawling throughout his entire body as he hears the casual conversations and carefree giggles of the systellions. While they were having fun here, everyone in his universe was about to suffer a calamity that would end all life.

"..." If it wasn't for the threats of the Pointiffs, then Van would have truly killed all of the people here. Just how strong were pontiffs? If he went on a rampage, would they perhaps back off? If he held the two vessels that were already in this universe, would they back off?

..Bezios did show compassion and mercy for the mercenaries that were hired to kill him. Maybe the Pontiffs would too?

"..." Was he just looking for an excuse to go on rampage? Van once again turned his eyes towards the other people in the hall; the feeling of rage inside him, still fully alive.

"Anyway," Maria then interrupted Van's murderous thoughts as she handed him a glass of his own. Van, however, quickly refused, saying that he doesn't drink alcohol.

"Suit yourself," Maria shrugged as she just helped herself with the wine, "Anyway, I wonder what level you would have if you were one of us. For you to be able to kill the other mercenaries with ease– all of them were above level 100."

historical

"...Level?" And as soon as Van heard Maria's words, his thoughts of rage were slightly replaced and filled with curiosity, "You mean my Status?"

So was the intel they got from Angela true? Were the Systellions also System Holders?

"What?" This time, it was Maria's turn to be bewildered, "How.. do you know about that? Wait, don't tell me you're really not from this universe and you're just pranking us?"

"I'll kill everyone here and tell me if it's a prank," Van furrowed his eyebrows, "Your universe and mine are more connected than you think, World Eater."

"...But if you have a Status," Maria then blinked a couple of times, "Doesn't that mean..

..you're the same species?"

"We're not the sa–"

"Wait, so what level are you?" Maria then approached Van, a distance that Maria dared not to cross just earlier. Her tone as well, held a certain familiarity in them now; almost as if any hint of discrimination just dispersed.

Van could only furrowed his eyebrows from this sudden change. More and more, he was seeing how the Systellions looked at themselves. But still, with her question, Van could not help but be curious as well.

Most of the System Holders of his world were gone after Hermes's body exploded; their powers merging with their bodies like with what happened to Charlotte. It also happened to him, but his System was awakened when she died.. but before he could check it, the System once again merged with his body with the supposed death of Evangeline.

But if he remembered– his level back then was..

"My level is at 6 digits, Maria," Van then let out a small smirk as he looked Maria straight in the eyes. Maria, on the other hand, just let out a small chuckle.

"Who do you think you are, Pontiff Eremiel?" Maria said as she waved her hand. And with her unceasing chuckles, she truly did find what Van said funny. Van didn't mind, however, as he just received crucial information.

"Pontiff Eremiel.." Van then whispered, "What's his current level?"

"No one really knows the exact number," Maria then wiped the tear that was coming from her eyes, "But the last time he checked with the Eye of Truth, I heard he just passed 100,000."

"...When was that?"

"A long time ago, I think it was at least–"

And before Maria could finish her words, the large door of the hall opened up; the one announcing the arrival of the guests, panicking to get into position; almost tumbling as he held a slightly nervous expression on his face.

Soon, however, the people knew why–

"Pontiff Tartys has arrived!"