historical

Gregory thought that he had already overestimated Fein's strength, but to think that he could even severely injure an SS-rank! He doesn't really have an idea just how powerful an SS-rank is because he didn't even know if they exist. But he trusts Fein's words.

"There's an SS-rank? I thought S-rank is already the ceiling." Gregory scratched his chin.

"Although there's no known SS-rank in the public, it doesn't mean that they don't exist. Some might be in seclusion and don't want to interfere with worldly affairs. And there even might be an SSS-rank. With the population of billions, it's not that impossible. Or they might even exist outside the continent." Fein sighed.

"Hmmm... that is quite valid. Outside the continent? The strongest kingdom had already tried to explore it, but there's a barrier that prevented them."

Honestly, he believes that if SS-rank exists, they should show themselves. With that, the demons might stop their attack.

Fein glanced at Gregory with doubt and asked. "Can't they just destroy the barrier?"

"No." Gregory shook his head. "They've already tried everything they can, but the barrier won't even budge. The strongest kingdoms and countries even cooperated, but it just won't work. Even Niki, with his S-rank strength, attempted it once, and even studied it, but it was futile."

'Who could have created that barrier? Why did someone create that barrier? Is there anything outside the continent that they don't want us to see? What's outside the continent?' A series of question appeared on his head. Fein knew that whoever made that barrier should be beyond S-rank.

"Let's not talk about such a sensitive topic." Gregory smiled bitterly. "The strongest countries treated this event as shameful as they were helpless against it. So, this topic had become a taboo in the past few years that going outside the continent had been gradually forgotten."

"That's ridiculous!" Fein clenched his fist. "They want to let go of such opportunity just because of their shame? And what the fuck is even shameful about that? It seems the people in position are all brain dead."

"You hit the nails on its head." Gregory chuckled. "The top kingdoms are all pretty arrogant and the one who leads them has the biggest egos. I don't know why they became the leader in the first place."

"It might be because they have someone strong backing them." Fein answered in a deadpan manner. "They are willing to cage birds. How pathetic. I think they're just afraid to anger the one who made the barrier and they're probably scared of what would they encounter outside of the continent that might also potentially threaten their positions." He paused and took a deep breath, and continued. "Fear is the strongest human emotion since the ancient times. And the most powerful fear is the fear of the unknown..."

"Your might be actually right about that." Gregory took a deep look at Fein. 'He's really a smart guy. He can even see the hearts of the people.'

"The one who made the barrier is probably our ancestor who has a powerful strength beyond our imagination. And he must have encountered something he can't resist that even with his strength. And he probably erected the barrier to protect the humanity from that or those things?" Gregory shared his theory on a whim. "Cage birds... That's actually an accurate description. Well, it doesn't matter for now. What humans have to do now is to focus on the wars with the demons."

'Just how deep is the world background of this planet?' Fein touched his throbbing head. 'I would go outside the continent no matter what. A real scientist must face the unknown! And uncover the hidden truths! I don't want to be a cage bird!'

Fein pursued strength to control his fate, to get become free of any restraints. Now that he learned that there's something outside of what he knew. He finally obtain another goal that must do no matter what! If others are afraid to do it, he would be the one to make the first step and break the cycle!

If he doesn't even have such a consciousness, then he doesn't deserve to be the owner of the system. He doesn't deserve to fight for hegemony. Because only a person with dreams and ambition that has the guts to try what others don't deserve to become the strongest! Since he has the system, he must strive to become a qualified host!

'Well, let's take it easy first. I can't just rush blindly. I need to make a lot of plans and contingencies for assurance. For now, let's become the strongest on this continent first!'

Now, his doubt about why he can't find information regarding other continents was finally solved. It turned out that there's really nothing to find because the barrier practically isolated the Germundia Continent in the rest of the world. He doesn't know if what artist is, just an endless sea, or just another powerful continent. It might even be possible that outside is an entirely different world.

"Let get out of this place. Fighting you is tiring, and your spatial ability is too perverted." Gregory wiped the sweat on his forehead, took out a blue potion, and drank it. After that, he walked out before him and said. "If you ascend to S-rank. There's literally no one stopping you."

"Who knows really? I can certainly overtake the ones in the official ranking. But don't forget those prefer to act in a low-key manner and hide their strength." Fein shrugged and follow Gregory out of the Underground Base.

Hearing this, Gregory felt that Fein was thinking too much. After all, if you're an S rank or even an SS-rank, why do you have to hide your strength? Those people should be arrogant with the strength they possess. They would literally get respect and high status if they reveal their strength. But if what Fein said was true, Gregory couldn't help but shudder. A person who has the strength and patience to hide their strength and endure the benefits that come with strength are far more dangerous!

'I hope there's no such person. One Niki is already terrible enough.' it reminded Gregory of another person that always gives him a chill in the past, the leader of the laughing of phantom, the one with him in the picture frame in his desk. Also, his former old friend that fell into madness. This is one of his secret that he tried to keep until he die.