NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 517: THIS?!
"Do you truly believe I possess the power to manipulate that artifact?" Tartarus countered, his eyebrow raised in amusement.
"Manipulate the artifact?" Michael repeated, utterly bewildered.
"Hahahaha!" Tartarus chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. "Wow, you truly think I, or even the gods themselves, can manipulate it? They can interact with your world, yes, but to manipulate the artifact... that is a power of an entirely different magnitude."
"Then?" Michael prompted, leaving the question hanging in the air.
"Yes, the Supreme Queen herself created the System," Tartarus revealed, his tone now serious. "That is why you have been able to utilize your 'cheats' without detection or interference. You spoke of wanting to manipulate the artifact, but you have been doing so, in your own way, from the very beginning."
Michael's gaze drifted around the dim hall, his mind reeling from this new information. He turned back to Tartarus, his expression a mixture of awe and apprehension. "This inheritance... what exactly is it? Can it help me destroy Typhon? I know he is your son, but I will have to stop him, and that will inevitably lead to his death."
"I am aware of that," Tartarus said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have already disowned both him and his mother. You must do what you deem necessary. As for the inheritance?"
Tartarus fixed Michael with a steady gaze, a knowing smile returning to his lips. "I will grant you the complete and unrestricted powers of the Mega Cheating System. You will face no limitations in the use of your skills."
Michael froze, his mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of Tartarus's words. The System was the most potent force he had ever encountered. To wield its full power was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Absolutely," Tartarus affirmed. "But you cannot fully access this power without the true inheritance."
"And what is that?" Michael pressed, his heart pounding in his chest.
"The Supreme Queen."
Michael sighed deeply, the mention of the enigmatic figure adding another layer of complexity to his already bewildering situation. "I don't even know the Queen."
"You will soon," Tartarus assured him. "So, Michael Brian, are you ready to receive your inheritance?"
A surge of determination coursed through Michael. He thought of Mira, of his friends, of the looming threat of Typhon. There was no other choice.
"Yes," he answered, his voice firm and resolute.
Michael watched, transfixed, as Tartarus dissolved into a shimmering trail of golden light that arced gracefully towards him.
"What's this?"
He questioned aloud, his eyes following the luminous stream as it hovered momentarily before him, pulsating with a gentle warmth. Before he could formulate any further thoughts, the light surged forward with incredible speed, striking him squarely in the forehead.
Michael froze, a jolt of pure energy coursing through his very being. It felt as though every cell in his body was vibrating, sending shockwaves of raw power rippling outwards into the silent hall.
The air around him crackled and shimmered with unseen forces as the golden light completely integrated into him. In the next instant, his legs buckled, and he collapsed onto his knees, a searing heat spreading through his veins. Sweat beaded on his forehead, tracing hot paths down his temples.
"This...!" he gritted his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming sensation that threatened to consume him.
BOOOM!
A dense, almost tangible wave of energy erupted from him, instantly flooding the dim hall with brilliant light. The sudden illumination revealed the chamber's stark simplicity: bare stone walls and, directly ahead of Michael, tens of meters away, a single, imposing silver door.
"Michael, congratulations on becoming one with the System."
Tartarus's voice echoed in the hall, the words resonating with a strange finality before fading into the silence.
""Come my boy, I have been waiting.""
A voice, melodious and captivating, seemed to emanate from the silver door, its ethereal quality wrapping around Michael's ears like a silken thread.
"Uh?"
Michael raised his head, his confusion evident as he stared at the door. A single name echoed in the depths of his mind, unbidden yet undeniable:
"The Supreme Queen," he muttered, the words barely a breath.
""Muttering my name doesn't answer your question, come to me... I'm waiting.""
The voice sounded again, this time carrying a hint of playful impatience.
With a frown creasing his brow, Michael pushed himself to his feet, his body still thrumming with residual energy. He hesitated for a few seconds, his gaze fixed on the mysterious door, before letting out a slow sigh and beginning to walk towards it.
He stopped directly in front of the silver door, its smooth surface cool to the touch as he placed his hand on the ornate handle.
""Don't be scared, I don't bite.""
Michael raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement amidst his apprehension, and with a final, decisive movement, he opened the door.
___
[Abyssal.]
Whooosh!!!
Typhon materialized abruptly before the colossal black mountain that dominated the abyssal landscape. Behind him, Gaea, Hades, and Poseidon appeared.
***Darren is indeed powerful, but with the combined strength of my elder brother and siblings, we will be able to overcome him.****
Typhon declared, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the imposing mountain.
***Are you planning on destroying the mountain?*** Gaea inquired, her voice carrying the weight of the earth itself.
****That is the only way to free them.**** Typhon asserted, clenching his fist, the crimson energy within pulsing visibly.
****With my current strength, I can achieve it, and free my family.****
He drew back his arm, channeling a torrent of crimson energy into his fist, and with a mighty thrust, he unleashed a devastating energy blast towards the gargantuan mountain.
The three gods behind Typhon watched with bated breath as the crimson fist hurtled through the abyssal air and collided with the mountain's unyielding surface.
BAM!!!!
A deafening impact reverberated through the abyssal plains, followed by a network of hairline cracks that spiderwebbed across the mountain's black facade.
****This?****
Typhon recoiled slightly, a look of stunned disbelief washing over his face. The force of his attack, which he had expected to shatter the mountain, had barely left a scratch.