Post-Apocalyptic Dispatch Society

"And I'll erase you from existence."

Rhizen's voice resounded like a heavenly decree, subtly affecting the power structure of the world itself.

As the world didn't have an innate power system, he was able to influence it easily. Though, his power wasn't strong enough to take action like Apocalypse.

All he was able to do was add simple restrictions using the connection his Pearl Buck shared with the world. While it was shielding the entire world from detection by the Systems, he added one more clause into it.

Restriction Order!

This was the power that he had stolen from the Systems, used to create Nacre. And now, he harnessed that power in its empirical state, unleashing it as suddenly, all the Blight Humans and Horned Humans around the world felt their heart rates jumping up in response, feeling that something had changed in them.

This was the Restriction Order in effect that prevented Blight Humans or Horned Humans from harming the common populace.

Though, this power wasn't absolute, as Rhizen wasn't able to wield it to its full potential. Had that been possible, he could have simply sealed all System related Skills and would have been able to destroy his enemies easily.

Unfortunately, the entirety of the Restriction Order's power was being harnessed to protect his home world, so he couldn't use it. So, using the tinge of power that he was able to unleash through his Nacre and Pearl Buck, Rhizen was able to add a simple clause.

But, even the effects of this clause weren't absolute as eventually, the Horned and Blight Humans would figure out a way to go past it.

'At least, it would prevent them from being able to openly harm the commoners.' He sighed in response, feeling that this was the most he could do.

Whether or not there was a power system, people in power always had the ability to affect the lives of those under them. If they were benevolent people, then the people lived happier lives.

But if they were scum, life was hell for the people under them. And having a power system only made this process easier.

'Though, this also allows the commoners a better chance to protect themselves or take revenge if the need arises.' He stopped thinking about it in the end, understanding that he alone wasn't able to assume a hands-on approach to the state of things that took place in the world.

Gradually, the aristocrats of the Lerni Empire became Horned Humans one after another as an official statement was published for the citizens to learn about. Moreover, Rhizen instructed the Lerni Royalty to turn the heads of various departments into Horned Humans too.

After all, if the Horned Humans were simply used in war, the Lerni Empire wouldn't develop. But, if the abilities of the Horned Humans helped in building structures, paving new roads, ports, clearing routes, voyaging, etc. then the Lerni Empire would truly develop.

That level of development would ensure that they would be ahead of the Fornol Empire, which was enough to restrict the Blight Humans, preventing them from taking action against Rhizen.

It would also allow him the time and manpower to find Yulna and take care of her. Currently, Yulna had hidden herself, always on the run by relying on the Mental Energy supplied by the Blight Humans.

The Blight Humans had first set up towers throughout the Fornol Empire where they resided, keeping watch over everything. The moment they spotted Rhizen, their thoughts would be directed at Yulna, alerting her to escape.

If he didn't wish to alert her, then Rhizen would have to transform into an insect and behave like an insect. Unfortunately, doing so would take him years to arrive at the Fornol Empire. It was just a waste of time, and in this duration that he spent travelling, Yulna would have improved upon her strength.

Even if she didn't grow by much, as long as she converted all her corruption into a power she could wield, she would reach the same level as a Celas. And without relying on his Luck, a Celas was a terrifying opponent that had a shot at killing him.

Therefore, Rhizen couldn't waste so much time. Due to that, he focused on strengthening the Lerni Empire as much as possible. With that, the Horned humans would gradually cover the entire world, reducing the locations where Yulna could hide at.

And eventually, if a dozen or so Horned Humans were to reach Stage 9, they alone would be able to chase after her, making things easier for him.

Moreover, just having another world under the control of the PADS meant more troops they could call upon to help them save the apocalyptic worlds.

Following that, Rhizen observed delegates from nearby Kingdoms arrive one after another, pledging their submission to the Lerni Empire in order to become Horned Humans.

The best thing about being a Horned Human was that as long as both the parents were Horned Humans, the child too would be born a Horned Human. This meant that eventually, everyone in the Lerni Empire would be Horned Humans.

Unfortunately, the same applied to the Blight Humans too.

So, he had to create a means to convert them into Horned Humans. 'Moreover, I have to innovate. Things have remained the same in four worlds till now. It's about time Apocalypse creates a countermeasure.'

Mystic Humans wielded the power of the Mutated Beasts that lived in their Origin Space. The Mutated Beasts could either be summoned out, transformed into or turned into a weapon to wield.

That was all there was to their power system. The Mutated Beasts could only grow in strength by increasing their number of horns.

The only aspect of change or evolution in their power system was the External Items. Depending on the necessity, they could change their External Items and create new ones.

There was also the scope of evolving the animals in their homes world to give birth to new varieties of Mutated Beasts, such as how they created the All-Devouring-Whale.

But, this was easier said than done. In the end, their change was innate and required a lot of time, planning, manpower, and a lot of luck to achieve.

Unfortunately, a moment's carelessness would allow Apocalypse to steal the fruits of their efforts. Through Yulna, they not only stole the power of her Mutated Beasts but also a Tower of Purification which allowed her to oppose him already by creating Blight Humans.

So, what Rhizen needed to focus on next was to steal from the Apocalypse. Only then would both sides be on the same page.

'I need to create a power similar to Compass that allows us to steal the fruits of labour of our enemies.' Thinking as such, Rhizen left the royal palace, arriving at the doorstep of a rather decent mansion, entering it.

The maid inside was stunned to see him before alerting the master of the house of his arrival.

"How's living in your own house been for you, Xuna?" Rhizen asked upon seeing the lady of the house arrive in a hurry to meet him.

"Master!" Xuna exclaimed in joy as she pointed at the horn growing on her forehead, "I already reached Stage 2!"

"Well done," Rhizen nodded in praise as he motioned for her to be seated, saying after observing the increase in Nacre in her Origin Space, "There's one thing you need to know about. It's an innate power that has always been protecting you."

"I have something like that?" Xuna became a tad excited in response. In the Lerni Empire, only she was acknowledged as Rhizen's disciple, garnering tremendous status.

As he wasn't narcissistic, he forbade people from calling him a God or anything along those lines, telling them to address him a Saint, as that was something he was already used to, for people in the PADS called him as such.

And as the sole disciple of the Saint that created the Horned Humans, Yulna's status was actually above the Emperor himself. After all, she was the first to reach Stage 2, the strongest among the Horned Humans.

And now, to hear that she had an innate power all along, Xuna wasn't able to reign in her excitement.

"Remember what I asked you when we first met?" Rhizen smiled in response.

Xuna's eyes widened in surprise, "Is it related to why I've managed to survive so long as a spy?"

"Pretty much," Rhizen nodded, saying in the end, "It's thanks to Coincidental Luck."

"Coincidental Luck?" Xuna tilted her head in confusion, unable to determine what it meant.

"Do you know what it means to be lucky?" He asked.

"Yes," Xuna nodded, "We always use that term whenever someone gets a windfall for things they hadn't prepared but still ended up benefitting from."

"Then, what do you think about coincidences?" Rhizen asked next.

"Chance encounters…?" Xuna said as her eyes slowly widened in surprise, "Y-You mean…"

"Yep, that's the power supporting you." Rhizen nodded with a smile, "You'll chance upon encounters that end up benefitting you."

He then shook his head, "Unfortunately, unlike me, you're unable to control this power. So, you're only able to benefit from it passively. That means that you wouldn't always benefit from it. And at times, you might even lose your life if you end up relying on it too much."

"Then, that means I wouldn't be able to take advantage…" Xuna just began to speak when Rhizen raised his hand, motioning for her to stop.

He then snapped his hand, gradually extracting a portion of her Coincidental Luck, causing it to resemble a blob that hovered before her, "Can you sense something different about yourself?"

"I feel like…something in me has changed, but…" Xuna shook her head, "I can't make sense of it."

"Don't worry, that's what I'm here for." Rhizen nodded, "I'll help you perceive Coincidental Luck. Even though you cannot harness it, as long as you can sense it, you'll be able to determine where your lucky encounters exist and actively pursue them."

"And, you'll also know when to stop relying on it based on the amount of Coincidental Luck remaining in you." He said, watching the blob retreat into her, "Also, through it, I'll ensure that you can perceive the Luck of everything."

"This way, you'll be able to recognise Yulna through her luck alone if you ever come across her in disguise," Rhizen concluded.

As Xuna was supported by Coincidental Luck, as long as he taught her well enough, she'll be able to rely on it and reach Stage 10 the fastest, thereby gaining the External Item of her world.

Moreover, as long as she grows strong, her Coincidental Luck too would grow to accommodate her strength. This would mean a stronger reservoir of Coincidental Luck that he could draw upon during times of need.

After all, a Rhizen that wielded Coincidental Luck was the worst nightmare of the Systems.