One Last System

What Hera said right now and what she told me before weren't the same. Sure, a sizable chunk of her explanation was the same now as it was before, but as always, the devil was in the details.

It wasn't the rampage of the monsters that enslaved Hera's folks. It was Hera's folk that rampaged in the world they ended up in after the collapse of their own world. Her people weren't slaves but the real persona behind each of the monsters.

'I wonder if their experience, techniques, and personalities affect the way they act like the monsters,' I thought, a sudden question appearing in my mind.

But there was hardly any point in trying to figure it out right now. After all, I still had to go through the extensive questioning of Hera to gain any ability to judge that at all.

Because so far, we only had two people who I saw act like a monster and now who now were within my reach. And from the looks of things, it would take a while before the second of those two would regain his composure to have any mind to talk with me.

The man at least reacted to Hera's words and actions. Sensing the complete lack of hostility from her, he decided to pull his teeth away from his tongue, a hint that he wasn't some kind of suicidal maniac.

Yet, he still wasn't at the point where he could take things easy.

'I guess expecting him to calm down so quickly after his world literally crumbled apart would be a little bit too much,' I thought, releasing an exhausted sigh.

"Who are those people?" the man finally spoke, changing his position so that his dong wouldn't flash right into everyone's eyes. Yet, even with this new position, it was clear that he wasn't all that comfortable with being naked in front of strangers.

"Don't you think it's a common courtesy to introduce yourself first before asking others for their names?" I spoke out, unable to take the prolonging silence for much longer.

I wasn't the type of person to passively watch how the events unfold. Sure, if it was absolutely necessary, I would be able to hold myself back… But on a general rule, I was much more interested in taking an active role in how the events developed.

With the question posed and my right eyebrow raised in a mocking expression, I awaited the man's answer.

"And who the hell do you think you are?" the man spat his words out, staring at me with disgust.

The disgust that I have never experienced in this world so far. But thanks to my life on earth, it was something that I was pretty accustomed to.

It was the look of someone who considered himself to be superior. A condescending look of a racist, fascist, or the pseudo-tolerant leftist of the latter ages.

A look that used to make me gnash my teeth together, rein my emotions, lower my head and just ignore it.

But those times were long gone. Because in this world, I was the one who had the power to revel in those oppressive ideologies. But I wasn't going to.

Compared to those people of the old word of mine, I had the balls to at least be a tyrant without hiding behind some stupid ideologies.

"I'm a man who can kill a worm-like you with a single swat of my hand," I explained, smiling cheerfully as I finished absorbing the energy this man once called his own and turned my head to face him directly.

For a moment, the two of us simply stared each other in the eye as if we were some kind of long-time lovers finally able to reunite yet somehow stopped from crossing those last few remaining steps.

The atmosphere of the surrounding area changed as the tension grew to the point it became palpable.

Before I could even notice, Mia stood behind me and placed her hand low on my spine.

There was no need for words for me to understand her intention.

Whatever was going to happen next, she was with me.

"Huh?" I suddenly shrugged, turning my head to the side as I felt the familiar sensation.

A sensation that didn't bode well for the idea of keeping this dick-measuring contest up.

Back a few hours ago, I might still hesitate whether or not I was right about this feeling. A few moments earlier, I would still consider whether or not to announce it outright.

But I had no more of those doubts right now.

"Another one is coming," I announced, turning my head towards the protobear's head far off in the skies.

Right now, there was no point in bothering with that man. If he could calm down and become an obedient little lamb in the next few moments, I wouldn't mind taking care of him in exchange for his knowledge. But if he wanted to act up, rather than fighting with him, I would sentence him to the death by leaving him to his own devices.

Still looking up, I could see the protobear nodding its head a little. Yet, even this little movement sent a gust of air surging about. It was so strong I nearly had to struggle to keep myself on the ground!

"MERCIFUL HEAVENS!" the man shouted when my interaction with protobear finally brought his attention to this massive yet stealthy companion of ours.

It wasn't that the protobear was still trying to hide, be it his presence or his influence. It was simply so damn enormous when it came to a human scale that one's brain would simply refuse to acknowledge its feet that were on our eye-level as a part of a greater being.

In other words, as long as one's attention wasn't brought to the rest of the beast, they would likely assume it was just some weird but still a natural topographic formation.

'This is going to get annoying pretty quickly,' I thought, shaking my head.

Then, I looked to the side at Mia's face. "Could you organize some clothes for him?" I asked, raising my hand and putting my forefinger on Mia's chin, only to turn her head to the side.

Just like I didn't want anyone to soil Mia's skin with their dirty and unworthy eyes, I didn't want her to be bothered by the unsightly look of that naked man either. And given how the situation continued to develop in a direction that would make the man follow along, getting him some clothes turned out surprisingly high on my priority list.

"Also, the next meteor won't strike anywhere near us," I added, moving my eyes back on the protobear's head. "Still, can you stop with that Buddha stance? It hurts my neck to look so high up!" I then quickly protested before the monster could respond in any way or form.

"How can you know that?" the protobear asked, its voice trembling a little, proving that I managed to catch him by surprise.

"The Buddha's stance?" I asked, slightly confused by the question.

Did this name hold some sort of importance in this world as well? Was it a coincidence or an actual jackpot?

"What, are you a devout believer of Jesus or something?" I asked, bringing the name associated with another big religion in my world.

"Those names aside," the protobear cut the conversation over the topic I brought in an instant, "how can you tell the meteor won't strike anywhere near?!"