“The [System] is a creation of the divine, made by gods. But there is something very important here with regards to how the gods are able to affect the world. You see, there are two factions and a neutral group, and whenever one of the two sides makes a move, each subsequent action they take becomes harder and harder, until the other group reacts, so they usually don’t do that, waiting for a response, which turns the whole thing into something of a chess match, with them taking turns acting.” Isaac explained, while the others listened with bated breath.

From there, he explained how the world had ended in the other timeline, how people had summoned monsters as weapons, tools, or out of sheer foolishness, slowly pushing it towards the brink.

How great warriors, champions, had risen, beating back the hordes for a while, until they stopped being able to gain XP from them and were therefore not growing in strength to match the ever-growing mass of beasts. To gain power, they’d summoned stronger beasts to gain more Levels. When it worked, it was great. When it didn’t … it failed rather spectacularly, not only creating a new source of monsters, but a source of beasts that were stronger than the ones that had been around before.

And then, finally, he finished his story.

“… and then there were just the three of us, up against a monster that could raze a country with casual ease. We won, but … no, I won. The others …” Isaac took a deep steading breath and continued “When I stood there, in front of the portal that the [Boss] had created and was spitting more monsters out into a world already overrun, I was ready to just jump through and fuck up anyone and everyone I came across.

“And then, he appeared. Janus. He told me about how I could go back, how that was a chance earned through sheer luck because they’d created it in response to some light meddling by the dark gods and how I’d met those through sheer coincidence. Then, I woke up in my bed on May 2nd, 2022, with a prompt in front of my face asking me if I want to become an [Office Drone].”

There was a long moment of silence, until Bailey finally, his voice hollow, asked “Isaac, how old are you?”

“Thirty-two.” Isaac responded in an equally despondent tone.

“So that’s it, then? The world ends in twelve years if nothing changes?” This time it was Raul who replied. Surprisingly, he sounded rather hopeful, as if he took it for a given that things would change.

Then Amy added “Things have changed, right? We’re not blindly heading for disaster anymore?”

“Everything has changed.” Isaac said “There are some minor changes, like how LA was attacked by a Stormheart Gestalt instead of a Wildfire Gestalt, and big ones some larger ones like the fact that the city is still standing. I caught a serial killer, jumped [System] research ahead by a few years and given out information to base future research on. [System] related law enforcement agencies are being created in an orderly fashioned, rather than in a desperate scramble. I even used information from the other timeline to make sure some of the nastier organizations got caught up in the wheels and crushed.

“But the [System] has also been changed to adapt to our improved circumstances, then changed again by the nominally ‘good’ gods as they used their change option to respond to the first alteration. Events weren’t a thing in the other timeline, but when we got them, we also got vastly nerfed autonomous summoning issues. Honestly, I think we lucked out on that front, that things improved, but I don’t know for certain.”

“I think the real question is why you decided to tell us about this now.” Patrick stated bluntly “What happened? Or is something nasty about to happen?”

And there it was, the question that was the most likely to lead to hurt feelings. Isaac sighed.

“There are a lot of factors that led to this. But the big one is that, well, it was time. I know you guys now, I trust you, and the longer I waited, the worse the situation would have been when I finally told you guys about it.

“Any one of us could walk out that door and have a new job five minutes later, with a salary in the millions and possibly a custom built skyscraper to boot, that’s what each and everyone one of us could do. But we’re all still here and working towards saving the world from the [System], that tells me I could talk to you about what is, without exaggeration, hubris or arrogance, the single greatest secret of the modern age.

“Also, I’ve hit the limit of what I can just give you in terms of research without outright teaching you what I know. Basically, my role here is the equivalent of a modern day army field medic ending up in the 19th century to assist Louis Pasteur. I know a lot of practical things, but my knowledge on the theoretical side of things is rather limited.

“Then, there’s the whole issue surrounding my how my knowledge of future events is basically useless now. I’ve changed so much that I can’t really predict what’s going to happen next. Maybe a few incidents on significant dates will still happen, but even that’s just a hard maybe.

“But the biggest reason is that things are about to become very, very dangerous. The first [Raid Boss] got summoned on October 3rd and while I sincerely hope I managed to prevent that specific incident, I can’t guarantee I managed to stop it. And even if I did, there will always be more. I’m telling you about all of this so that you can think of the questions you want to ask, and then I’ll give you the answers. If I’m not around anymore, it’s important that all my knowledge does not die with me.”

Suddenly, Bailey barked a laugh. He had the good grace to look embarrassed, but it was still a very weird reaction to the current situation.

“What?” Isaac asked.

“I’m sorry, it’s just … all those warnings I’ve given you over the months, about how you should be careful … I must have seemed like quite the nag.”

Isaac laughed sadly “Yes, you did, Adam. You’re a nag, and we all love you for it. You care and that counts for more than I can put into words.”

“Thank you.” Bailey said, and wiped at his eyes. It had been a purely symbolic gesture, but it got the sentiment across nonetheless.

“Ok, has no one else realized that there are literal gods that have a reason to squash us like bugs?” Amy broke in with a clear undercurrent of ‘I’ve stayed quiet on this topic for so long, why is no one saying anything’.

“Actually, that isn’t a worry. The cost for divine intervention increases the larger scale the consequences can be expected to be. We’re changing the world, and that makes us untouchable.” Isaac told her.

“What about our loved ones? I mean, I’m not really a big fan of my mom or my stepfather, but that doesn’t mean I want them to get struck by lighting or something.” She growled.

“An indirect attack on us is still an attack. I’ve talked to gods in the past and gotten a pretty solid grasp on how the divine power structure works. Any action taken with the intention of affecting a person who helps the entire world will carry a huge cost, and it doesn’t matter how direct or indirect it is. An attack against a social group that person just so happens to be a part of, an infinitesimal alteration that will eventually cause trouble for them, it all comes with the same exorbitant cost. The same goes for our loved ones, a strike against them will be seen as a lesser attack against us, as long as they’re attacked because they’re our loved ones. We’re safe.”

“Couldn’t they just … lie?” Patrick asked “Would whatever ‘judge’ controls this system notice everything?”

“No, because there is no such thing as a ‘judge’. Apparently, this whole system of checks and balances is baked into the very fabric of reality. Call it karma, call it whatever, intentions matter and are always registered. We’re safe.” Isaac insisted.

“Ok …” Amy trailed off and Isaac could practically hear the gears rattling in her head.

“Well, there’s something else I’d like to address. The elephant in the room, basically. Your manipulations.” Bailey said “I know why you did it, why you didn’t tell us and I get it, but … understanding does not erase hurt feelings. So if anyone has a problem, let’s deal with it.”

Five silent faces stared back at him for a long moment.

“As for me, I get it, but it’s important to me that, going forward, you remember that you can now talk to us. You don’t need a cover story for your suggestions anymore.”

“Fine.” Amy sighed “I’m not happy about being manipulated, but I get and I’ll need a little alone time, ok?”

Then, she slumped in her seat, looking defeated “Look, I really do get. And I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through, meeting people you’ve seen die, I …”

Her eyes narrowed “Did we know each other in the other timeline?”

Aaaaannd there it was. The big question. Had he known them, all their secrets and weaknesses, the things that would let him play them like a fiddle?

“Distantly.” Isaac said “I knew of Professor Bailey and his team, you were all famous then as well, and I was one of the stronger Summoners around, but as far as I can remember, we were never even in the same room together.”

“I …” she broke off with a strangled sound “… we’re all dead, aren’t we? As far as you’re concerned …”

“It certainly wasn’t fun.” Isaac shook his head.

“As far as I’m concerned, you did what you had to, and my feeling don’t matter.” Patrick threw in “I’ll deal with them on my own right. Expect a lexicon’s worth of questions tomorrow, though.”

Raul snorted “While I don’t think that’s a particularly healthy attitude to have towards your emotions, I agree with Patrick. I get why you did what you did, and I’ll have to think about it, but I’m fine. If you ever need to talk, I’m game.”

“I suppose there isn’t really much else to add, is there?” Karl asked “No judgement here and I’m here to help you save the world.”

He chuckled nervously “’help save the world’, now that’s a phrase I never thought I’d use in reference to myself, but I suppose I never expected to have magic either, so … you know what, I’m rambling, sorry, I’ll shut up now.”

That got a round of chuckles, and they didn’t even sound all that forced.

“Ok, but now I have a question: why don’t we just tell everyone? Make up a bunch of things, conduct a few targeted experiments to get the data we need, and then make sure everyone knows that the [System] will end the world so everyone stops using it?”

“Because that’ll never happen.” Amy replied “It offers too much power, if most of the world gives it up, all were doing is handing it over to the nastiest, greediest fuckers on the face of the planet. And if said fuckers mess things up, we won’t be able to fight back against the hell they’ve unleashed.

“And even if we somehow manage to stop those people, the [System] is too damn useful to stop using it. It can fix almost all of the problems humanity is facing at the moment, if used properly. Eventually, even if nothing else goes wrong, some doe-eyed idealist will create a plan about how one problem or other can be solved with the [System], except the plan will be far too simple and ignore some of the harsh realities of the situation, and then that is where the problems will come from.” Patrick added.

“Unfortunately, I agree. We can’t stop the [System], we have to use it. We’re surfing a tsunami at the moment, it’s giving us a great amount of speed, but the slightest mistake will see us crushed. We as a species need to keep going, keep getting stronger, alongside the monsters that are summoned, all the way to the top. Never growing so strong as to summon monsters no one else could deal with, not falling behind the peak of power, just …” Bailey had gotten up to give a grand speech, but then lost his trail of thought.

“… ride the tsunami?” Isaac suggested.

“Exactly. Now, I believe there are a bunch of things you’d like to tell us about?”

“Yeah. For example, I know a bunch of basic survival tricks and potion recipes. So, here’s how you can create a magical generator with a little blood magic and a summoned lighting elemental …”