Since the goal was to summon Orsaga's true body,
The summoning ritual that Ra intended to use was enormous in scale and incredibly complex.
Even though they had successfully arrived on Pluto, it wouldn't be completed in just a short while.
Meanwhile, in the 7,358,475th layer of the Abyss—[Eternal Obelisk Tower],
Orsaga's true body was preoccupied with other matters.
He was here to purchase some rare materials.
As one of the major trading hubs of the Abyss, this place saw a constant influx of merchants and trade caravans from across countless realms, offering resources far more abundant and accessible than those found in the [Lava Wastelands].
Inside a high-level area of the [Eternal Obelisk Tower]. Unlike the area Orsaga visited previously, this was a much more specialized and high-end zone.
Only Archdemon or entities with equivalent financial credentials could gain access.
No sooner had he stepped out of the corridor, following the attendant guiding him, than a hoarse voice—like that of a dried-up mummy—rang out in his ears, shouting:
"[Systems] and [Reincarnation Spaces]… not selling! Please help us out!"
"?"
Hearing that, Orsaga's interest was immediately piqued. His gaze shifted toward the source of the voice.
The shopkeeper, seeing the glint of curiosity in Orsaga's eyes, instantly sensed a potential sale. Completely ignoring the envious, bitter stare of the vendor beside him, he enthusiastically called out:
"Hey, handsome! I'm running a sale here! Come take a look!"
Hearing the word "sale," the neighboring vendor shouted in competition:
"Selling realms! Mid-tier realm blowout sale!
Buy three, get one free! Buy five, get two more!"
Trying to prove that his discount was more generous.
However, Orsaga wasn't interested in purchasing realms and simply ignored him.
He walked straight into the store selling [Systems] and [Reincarnation Spaces], and began browsing the catalog.
[Standard-type Systems], [Chip-based Systems], [Externally-loaded Systems]...
System Loadable Modules: Interdimensional Travel, Life Augmentation, Energy Conversion, Causality Detection...
[Biological Reincarnation Space]
[Higher-Dimensional Reincarnation Space]...
Loadable Modules: Interdimensional Travel, Bloodline Replication, Cultivation Frameworks, Perception Blocking...
"Pretty detailed classification…"
After skimming for a bit, Orsaga stroked his chin and casually clicked on the [More] button under System Loadable Modules.
Immediately, a mix of both mundane and utterly bizarre entries appeared on the screen.
[Slaughter Module: Accumulate energy through killing]
[Cross-dressing Module: Forces male hosts to wear women's clothes, and vice versa—the outfits get weirder over time]
[Coprophagia Module: Fresh and juicy]
[Auto-enhancement Module: Fully automated strengthening]
[Anime Module: What? You're also from the second dimension?]
[Sunbathing Module: The more you tan, the stronger you get]
"What the hell are these ridiculous things?"
While he was still trying to make sense of it all, the shopkeeper—an entity with fifty eyes—enthusiastically leaned in and said:
"Milord, we're a two-million-year-old establishment with a rock-solid reputation and guaranteed quality! We're currently running a limited twenty-year promotion. If you purchase a system during this event, we'll load five free modules for you!"
As he spoke, he pulled a tiny vial from the display cabinet and introduced it:
"This is the 27,747th edition of the chip-based system. Its size is 0.1 Solk units—over 300 million times smaller than a water molecule! Whether you plan to use it yourself, give it to a subordinate or friend, or even cultivate it into a gourmet delicacy—it's a top-tier choice!
Of course, you could let lower life forms play with it too… but that'd be a waste."
Orsaga glanced at the minuscule object suspended within the vial, then asked:
"What's the highest energy conversion efficiency you offer?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. Rubbing his hands together, he replied:
"Our top-tier model runs at about 1:0.92. The price, well… it's a bit steep."
When converting energy, some loss is inevitable.
Whether it's through slaughtering living beings or absorbing external energy, a portion is always wasted.
And once it's converted into usable energy, further loss occurs during actual utilization.
In Orsaga's current system, the energy conversion rate was about 1:0.98, meaning only 2% of the energy is lost during conversion. Utilization would then incur additional losses, depending on the complexity of the operation.
If he bypassed the system entirely and absorbed energy directly, Orsaga's personal conversion efficiency was around 1:0.87, losing approximately 13%.
And when it came to using that energy for self-enhancement or bodily reconstruction, his own techniques and knowledge resulted in roughly twice the energy loss compared to using the system. The final results were also inferior to what the system could deliver.
In short—it was a case of more effort for less reward.
Still, compared to when he had first come into being, the system's efficiency in absorption, conversion, and application had once been dozens of times greater than his own.
Now, Orsaga's personal energy efficiency had gradually caught up to that of the system.
While a gap still remained, the difference was narrowing.
Orsaga had a hunch—
Once he advanced to the level of [Demon Lord], that would be the moment when his own abilities fully surpassed the system.
At that point, the system would no longer be necessary.
He could accomplish everything on his own, and even better.
Feigning curiosity, Orsaga asked:
"Where did these systems come from, anyway?"
The shopkeeper clearly had answered this question countless times before. Without hesitation, he explained:
"The origins are ancient—long lost to time. There are many theories, but here's one with relatively high credibility: The very first system was discovered on a native of some alternate dimension. That individual's progress was unbelievably fast and his actions too high-profile, which attracted the attention of a powerful entity. Eventually, that big shot captured him, dissected him, and discovered the source of the anomaly. Along with the system, the secrets were unraveled."
"After some twists and turns, the core technology leaked out and spread like wildfire. And that's when systems of all shapes and sizes began to emerge."
"As for Reincarnation Spaces? Pretty much the same story. Another top-tier entity discovered and dissected one, cracked the core mechanics, and turned it into a commodity. These days, both are part of a mature industry chain. Old models get replaced, new versions roll out—there's always something new every few years."
After listening, Orsaga understood that what the shopkeeper knew was likely only the surface-level truth. There were surely deeper secrets he wasn't privy to.
Or perhaps, in one timeline, the story he told was true—but in another, it might not be.
In the end, not wanting to waste the vendor's goodwill, Orsaga purchased a standard version of the system, randomly loaded a few modules, and prepared to take it back for further study.
_____
T/N:
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