4 Her Explanation

"Like I've said before, we were rendered unable to change anything in Incrad. However, you are an anomaly. Essentially, a bug to the system made by them." Regis smiled.

"I can change you. Release you from the shell called Elgin the alchemist, and slide you into the roster of the next batch of Players. I can tinker with your identity, and hide you away from their eyes temporarily with some spells."

"However, the moment you start to grow exponentially, our enemies will end up locating you and render the protection I'll cast on you useless. Before that time comes, before you get discovered, you need to get strong. Stronger than anyone else, so strong that you become an irreplaceable figure in this lesser world. By doing that.. you will be able to fully utilize your power."

"I won't give everything to you in an instant, because that is just a recipe for courting death. You will have to go on your own adventure, and come into the Tower just like any other Player would."

Elgin's heartbeat sped up.

A Player. How many times had he envied those folks? Now, he was about to become one of them. It was a bit laughable.

Elgin nodded. "I agree. I want to participate."

It was almost an instant agreement. He didn't have an ounce of hesitation.

"That's a good answer." Regis praised. "There is one more thing that I want you to be aware of. It's more like a precaution than anything, but.. Our endless speculations have led to one possible answer out of many. It is a terrifying thought that we desperately want to avoid. In the case that we can't do that, I want you to do whatever you could with your powers to assist us."

"...Tell me more about that."

"The Great Cataclysm. A large-scaled event that could be triggered upon messing with dimensional realms without care. Strictly speaking, it's very unlikely for someone to wish this to happen since it would not give anybody benefits. It is an occurrence that will just continue to consume everything around it, obliterating billions upon billions of lives."

"We suspect that the perpetrators have something to do with a radical faction that has been growing a lot in the background recently. They call themselves the Phantasm.. Not much is known about them except for the fact that they show themselves in random locations, do whatever they like, saying that their motive is to 'restore the balance of the universe'."

"If the Great Cataclysm is their goal, then their involvement in Incrad won't only trigger a disaster for my Ruler, but rather the entire universe. No one can predict how bad a Great Cataclysm will turn out to be."

"What.. even you guys can't stop them, what can I do? My power will come from you, I won't be able to surpass you, no?" Elgin interjected the angel's claims.

It was unreasonable when he placed himself in Regis' shoes. Why would she go to such lengths and believe in him, who she has only met for less than an hour for? A human who currently did not even possess any substantial power?

"That's where the Players and their missions come in. Incrad's invasion is, by far, the biggest event that has ever happened. A full takeover of a realm. We can't interfere with the selection of Players coming in, but you are an anomaly."

Regis spun her hand in a circle once, and a translucent window appeared.

It was a wall of text that Elgin couldn't entirely comprehend. Real complicated stuff.

"This is perceived as the 'interface' that the attackers had used when they recruited the Players. Every single world has a complex management system to them, and interfaces are necessary to lay down the foundation of everything."

"The Goddess herself had said that, if there was an already existing inhabitant of the world that could separate themselves from the attackers' willful system, then we would be able to interfere using this kind of template.. Basically, we are going to forcefully insert you as a Player candidate and trick the system."

In the time spent to research this case, they had managed to trace down the structures of Players. The phenomenon of them coming in. Using this knowledge, they could essentially create a false entry. A character turning into a Player.

"Your role is the same as the other Players, with more things to do. No one has ever succeeded in clearing the mission, but if you come in and get involved, things might change. I want you to find out what's inside that thing, and what will come out of the mission's completion. The other one is to watch out for the Great Cataclysm, and figure out a connection between Incrad with their ultimate goal."

Elgin hummed in interest. This made more sense rather just than picking up a young man and granting him great power for no reasons at all.

He was basically going to be a scout for them, and his safety wouldn't be guaranteed at all. He was a gamble. If he succeeded, it could bring advancements to the situation. If he didn't, he would just be accepted as another of their failures and move on to another plan.

'Okay.'

"Is there anything else that I need to know?"

"For now, no. This won't be our last communication. During your reconstruction, I will assign a specialized helper.. You'll find out what it is. Again, please do not think highly of yourself just yet. Always remember who gave you the power, and what your real task is. Don't get conceited, for that will lead to nothing but destruction."

Regis' warning brought some chills down his spine. She must've used some magic when she relayed that message, because it immediately instilled a sense of fright in him even though her tone didn't change.

'Basically she's saying.. Don't get complacent, and serve your role well, hm?'

"I can't linger here for too long. I, Regis, expect a lot from you, anomaly of Incrad. Please.. for the sake of everyone involved, end this farce and prevent the Great Cataclysm from ever happening. We can't afford to fight that type of thing." Regis raised her hand towards the sky.

With it, a radiant light shone, and a scepter began to form in her hands. Gripping the weapon, she knocked it against the ground with great force.

Shing!

Elgin felt himself disintegrate and melt by the scepter's overwhelming aura. It was just in a split of seconds, but the intense pain that he got instantly knocked him out for good.

Whatever happened next was not part of his knowledge.