The Systemic Lands

Chapter LXXVIII – Operational Time Efficiency Tracker: 352,942,984 – The Hunted

My danger sense activated in an unusual way. I paused from killing another monster while assessing my surroundings. No hostile targets nearby. Calculating probable sources of threat. Long range observation most likely.

I quickly began to change my current location. The sense of being observed persisted. Location could not be determined. It was a general observation, that was using the energy of the Controller, but not the Controller. There was hostility present, a high level of hostility. Threat level could not be determined. Stealth was compromised.

Once I covered enough distance and reached another city, the observation stopped and I figured it out was only a temporary or local event. When it started up again a short time later, that assumption was no longer accurate.

As time continued to pass and I regained energy from monsters, and practiced drawing in energy, the hostile observation continued unabated. Perhaps it was a general change to the Controller and how it was observing everything. Unfortunately, I could not request information on such an event.

I soon settled back into my regular pattern as I hunted down monsters while moving towards the next city to kill all possible targets that had arrived. The hostility from being observed showed up once more. I quickly began to move again to move away. Whatever was tracking me wasn’t confined to one region. It was chasing me in some way.

As time progressed my primary motivator kept working on trying to find a solution to this problem. There was no way to trace the target back, but the most likely positioning was in the nearest city. Approaching could trigger a must stronger response.

I made that decision. Letting the situation continue any further could allow whatever was tracking me to develop a greater understanding of my movements and motivators. I turned towards the nearest city and began moving at a rapid pace directly towards it.

That was when I was discovered. I moved to escape, but there were no routes to get away. Hiding under the boulders, maneuvering away through tight areas, and counter attacking. Every attempt I made was countered.

As the fight continued my energy began to run lower and lower. The fight pushing my abilities to their very limit. Attempts to intercept the airship failed. Every second engaged in combat, the chance of turning around the situation decreased rapidly.

My energy reserves were rapidly falling, and I began drawing in more energy. It would take time to recover, but I couldn’t fail my primary objective and die. The attrition damage was quickly adding up. I had no skill that would be useful to counter all the summons that were being used to constantly put pressure on me.

I couldn’t spare the energy to try and find an option while obeying my directives. My motivators saw no path forward that I would survive, which was unacceptable. Any option to change my current circumstance was unacceptable.

If I could have retreated to a level 4 area, I might have been able to lose my pursuers, but those zones were not part of the areas I was allowed to act in. I was being worn down with no chance to escape.

I was hit with an Acid Shot, and then a second. My combat functions quickly began to degrade. I had failed my primary objective.