A Stick

When a child, so innocently handed me the stick that I feared, I felt like I had been overreacting.

"Here you go, big brother!" The young lad said with a small giggle.

Stunned, all I could say was, "Uh, thanks."

The moment I wielded the stick, however, the Gaea System reacted.

"What?"

I did not expect the Gaea System to react to something from this world... Was this stick from Earth?

[Detected a Divine Branch. Would you like to store it in the system? Y/N]

Baffled, I tried using [Absolute Awareness] once again. This time, I gained something for my efforts. However, I gained even more questions in the process.

I dropped a few silver coins into the boy's hands. He had been staring at me since earlier.

"Thank you for your help. Run along now."

"Oh! Awesome!" He exclaimed and returned to his parents who were clearly about to scold him. However, the sight of the silver made them reconsider.

Shaking my head, I resumed my appraisal.

It seemed like only a <World System> holder could remove the thick veil that enshrouded the stick. Learning about the term, <World System>, made my brain ache with its implications, so I put that aside for now.

Now, by giving the Gaea System a Divine Branch, I could basically supplement its abilities, helping humanity fight against the many dimensional invasions while gaining the system's favor.

The more I gave, the more the system would favor me, and the stronger Earth's humans could become.

After walking into the city and checking to see whether anyone had been following me, I clicked [Y].

The Divine Branch in my hand disappeared, and I was greeted with a beautiful white screen.

[The Gaea System has received a Divine Branch from Hunter Aventine Tidea. (1/42)]

[You have gained an increase in <Growth >. Each level-up will grant you an additional +1 to all your attributes.]

[Happy Hunting!]

"Hm,"

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I activated [Absolute Awareness] and peered into the world I once lived in. My gaze coursed through the Gaea System — the only thing that connected me to Earth.

***

Louis Hilves was breathing heavily as he clutched the spear in his hand.

"Bastard!"

Blood trickled down from a wound on his side, but he cared not for the pain. His eyes were locked onto the monster before him. A Marauder Goblin, carrying a huge morning star flail.

His party members had all collapsed beside him. Hunters who he had worked with while the world turned to shit.

People he trusted.

People he cared about.

However, Louis was close to losing hope. The Marauder Goblin was just too strong. He had no way to fight it.

—Boom!

The Marauder Goblin charged forward, his flail swimming through the air with ease.

—Crack! Crack! Crack!

Desperately, Louis dodged left and right. The concrete beneath his feet would crack with each strike of the flail.

If he was careless even for a moment, he would surely die.

'An opening!' Louis' eyes shone, and he stabbed his spear through the goblin's defenses.

—Ssuk!

It pierced through skin and flesh, but the wound was shallow.

The Marauder Goblin simply shrugged it off, and with a kick, sent Louis flying.

"Keheuk—!"

Louis spat out a mix of stomach acid and blood. His ribs had pierced into his lungs, and with the internal bleeding came the countdown of his death.

"Is... Is this the end?"

Louis watched as the Marauder Goblin primed itself for one last lethal strike.

Louis struggled to dodge, but his mind had grown hazy. He was seeing double and the world was gradually turning white.

It was then.

[Hunter A******* ***** has offered up a Divine Branch! All Hunters gain +30 to their Mind stat for the next [10 HOURS] and a bonus permanent stat when the duration ends!]

Power erupted within Louis' body, and the world suddenly stabilized.

His mind spun rapidly while time seemed to slow down. The Marauder Goblin's movements became clear to him at that moment. His spear flashed in his hand, pouring out three precise strikes he had never thought he could be capable of.

[Swallow's Three Movements]!

—Ssuk!

—Ssuk!!

—Slash!

Louis reacted in an instant, tearing the limiters of his body apart and exploding with extreme speed.

[You have surpassed your limits!]

[The Raid Boss, Marauder Goblin (LVL 15), has been slain!]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

Gasping for breath, Louis drank all of his remaining potions and opened up his status.

[Name: Louis Hilves]

[Level: 14]

[Health: 32/170]

[Mana: 30/30]

[Physique: 17]

[Mind: 16 (+30)]

[Spirit: 3]

"What happened just now? What's a Divine Branch? Who offered it up?"

Judging by the effects, a Divine Branch seemed like it was of great importance. To have offered up something like that for the sake of the world, Louis was filled with awe and gratitude.

"Bless your soul, wherever you might be."

Whoever it was, Louis owed them his life.

***

Similar scenes were occurring throughout the disaster-stricken Earth. Many used that moment to erupt with great power, tearing apart monsters with their bare hands. Others used it as a moment of inspiration, greatly furthering their abilities.

However, some weren't as grateful as Louis.

"That Divine Branch... Civilians cannot hold such power."

"Sir?"

"Look for the person who offered it up. No matter what, we need to know how they got it and prevent them from finding more. Judging from their latest action, it won't be long for their deeds to be advertised to the world, so it should be an easy find."

"Roger that, General! I will notify the others!"

The general nodded, satisfied with his underling's quick understanding.

"We cannot let this state of disorder prevail."

***

In an underground facility.

"Mobilise the assassins. I don't care if it's America, Russia, China, or whatever. Wage a silent war and find the owner of that Divine Branch."

"Shall we capture them for interrogation, Madame?"

"Yes, do that. I have a feeling that anyone who offers up a Divine Branch gets some kind of immense benefit. We must confirm whether this is true, and figure out how to find more."

"Your will shall be done."

***

"How cute,"

Aventine saw all of these scenes in the span of a single moment. The piercing headache was nothing compared to the sheer delight he now held.

"Look for me as hard as you can."

—HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Aventine's laughter echoed throughout the dark alleyway. His craze-filled voice brought with it an eerie tone.

A thief who wanted to hide in the same alleyway heard this and froze. He backed away and decided to find another place to count the day's earnings.

When Aventine's laughter began to fade, he shook his head and muttered, "I'm not even on Earth, you idiots."

Recalling the traumatic nights he had spent being chased by the international police, Aventine sighed in relief. The stress, the pressure, and the hopelessness of it all no longer bound him.

However, he did not fancy repeating those moments. It was no wonder that he was so desperate for power.

"Hooo,"

Aventine walked out of the alley and smiled.

"Traveling to a different world was indeed the best choice I have ever made."