Chapter 321. Unexpected Options.

  “What’s going on, Tzes’zod?” I asked. Before he could answer, a system prompt that demanded I read it appeared.

  Your time as a summoned being is ending, and along with the other changes you’ll experience, your personal space will also undergo a change. Please select your class evolution and once that is completed, a destination for the next stage of your life will be offered, and the disposition of your personal space can be managed.

  “I’ll explain what I can, though from the glazed look in your eye, the system is beginning its own explanation,” Tzes’zod said.

  “Yes, I have to evolve my class, then I’ll be sent somewhere else. My personal space is supposed to change, and with your phylactery in my reward chest, I assume that you’re concerned about what will happen to it,” I said. So far, the system didn’t seem to be rushing me, so I’d try to get as much information, and perhaps advice on my class evolution from Tzes’zod as I could.

  “You’re correct. With your time as a summoned being ending, the personal space will change, likely transform into some sort of personal storage or temporary refuge that only you can access. You may no longer have a reward chest once the changes occur, and currently, my phylactery is being held by the system until all these variables are worked out,” Tzes’zod said, and though he had no facial expressions, I felt he was being evasive to some extent.

  “Other factors? Explain,” I replied.

  “I only recently discovered about the changes to your personal space that are about to occur. Sadly, it wasn’t an area of research that intrigued me until I sought out your personal space as a haven for my phylactery. As the system prepares for these changes, you should know that others can make a claim and attempt to gain compensation for what they can no longer use. To lay claim to your space, the being must have some existing, and extensive connection to it.

  “Typically, a new contract would be negotiated by all parties involved and things would continue much as they have been. In some rare situations, a being can try to make a demand for the entire space. To make a takeover demand, residency must be established and extensive modification to their contracted section of your personal space must have been completed,” Tzes’zod explained.

  “Let me guess, Gary is going to make some play for this space,” I said, thinking back to all the noise that we had dealt with early on after he had moved in. I had the sinking suspicion that those sounds were in relation to the “extensive modifications” that Tzes’zod had just mentioned.

  “Correct, and you’ll have a decision to make when he does,” Tzes’zod said.

  “What’s that decision?” I asked.

  “You can willingly give him your personal space, and perhaps even arrange for him to provide some additional payment, or you can contest it and fight the creature for control,” Tzes’zod said.

  “I can’t fight Gary, that would be suicide. Isn’t there some other option? Hey, you’re essentially a resident here, why don’t you challenge me and Gary for control. You’re the only one who could probably stand up to him,” I asked.

  “I have no claim, as I only occupy a small fraction of your reward chest inventory and have made no modifications. In addition, my phylactery is not considered permanent residency. It would be more beneficial to both of us if I remain neutral, or ally with you when you resist Gary’s challenge,” Tzes’zod said.

  “If the only choice is to fight Gary or hand over the personal space, I don’t see that there really is anything else I can do other than turn it over. Why is this place so important anyway? There are plenty of magical storage items out there, sure this might be a bigger location and have some other perks like the training room if the system keeps it around, but it’s not something I’d risk my life over,” I replied.

  “Places like this are highly sought after. A magical storage item can be taken when the owner is killed, or, through moderately powerful magic, even stolen from their person. Here, you have a location that is protected by the system, one that is shielded from nearly all scrying attempts, and one that the system itself will prevent others from entering.

  “For someone like me, or Gary, it is the perfect refuge. It’s one he’d be willing to risk much to acquire. It’s also one that could greatly benefit your world once you return to it,” Tzes’zod said.

  “How can it benefit my world?” I asked. The fact the personal space was protected from scrying and hard to enter was great, but not something I was willing to fight Gary for. A single wave of his hand would obliterate me and everything I could summon.

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  “Imagine, when you return to your world, that this space is filled with items to help your people. You could store gear, mana-powered devices, instructional texts, food, water, potions. The options are endless. After that, it’ll become your refuge and a place that you can retreat to in times of dire need,” Tzes’zod said, trying to convince me to fight for my personal space.

  “It’s not exactly a huge space, and I don’t even know what the system will change it into. Maybe it’ll be even smaller after that, and what amounts to a single small warehouse full of stuff won’t make much of a difference for an entire world,” I argued.

  “Ah, but you forget another important point. You can bring magical storage devices here. While there is a limit to what those storage devices can hold, they take up very little space and would be completely safe here. Typically, one magical storage device cannot be stored inside another, but this personal space is a unique zone where that is allowed, though we must assume the system will impose some limits should things get out of hand,” Tzes’zod said.

  Now, that was something I could see helping. Being able to dole out bags of holding full of supplies could really make a difference and keep more people alive. Sure, I was going to be gone for the initial turmoil, but I’m sure that when the former summoned beings were allowed to return, I’d be able to make a difference.

  “While I can see the promise in storing more storage devices, but there are still several problems with the plan. First, while I have some resources, I doubt I have the coin to buy enough supplies to make a difference. Second, we still don’t know for sure what will happen to my personal space, it might be changed in ways your research hasn’t discovered. Finally, you keep avoiding the most important fact, I’m no match for Gary,” I explained.

  “I’m not without resources, some of which the system will likely allow me to distribute to you in exchange for my continued presence here. I admit that I don’t know the exact form your personal space will take on, though none of the examples I discovered make me worried that you cannot accomplish what we wish.

  “As for your final concern, Gary isn’t the unbeatable creature you believe him to be. Sure, he is powerful, but if you challenge his claim, Gary’s power will be restricted by the system. If there’s one thing the system likes to do, it’s to give at least the appearance of fairness,” Tzes’zod said.

  “How diminished are we talking? Will the system drop him to match my own tier and rank?” I said, warming up to the idea of fighting Gary for my personal space if we were on even footing.

  “No, while he’ll be vastly reduced in power, he will still likely exceed your present power by a large margin. I would, of course, assist you, but the system will impose restrictions on the help I can offer. Still, there is a very good chance that you will be able to defeat him if this plays out like I believe it will,” Tzes’zod said.

  “I’m still not getting warm and fuzzy feelings about this. It seems that even if he’s neutered by the system a bit, Gary is still going to be too much for me,” I replied.

  “In your present state, yes, but that’s where my help will come in. You see, my magic and abilities may not be geared toward combat, but they are capable of maneuvering through the system’s rather maze-like options for these sorts of disputes. Let me lay things out for you.

  “First, we’ll assume Gary is going to challenge you, it’s almost a guarantee, and he’ll see it as an easy win. Once he issues his challenge, you’ll shock him by accepting his test of combat to determine ownership of the personal space. Knowing that his powers will be reduced, but still considerably more than what you currently possess, he’ll likely accept the combat challenge.

  “That’s where my work comes into play. The system will reduce Gary’s strength based on the difference in your power levels at the point in time when the challenge is issued. Once decided, the maximum tier and rank of Gary will be locked in.

  “What I’ll make sure of is that the combat challenge occurs much further in the future as I use every loophole and trick at my command to delay the actual event. I’ll see to it that you’re allowed time to grow in power and have a real chance at being an even higher tier and rank than the reduced Gary when the fight finally occurs,” Tzes’zod explained.

  “That sounds almost doable, but there a lot of assumptions going on here, and I’m still not sure that the risk is better than just giving Gary the personal space,” I said. While I loved the idea of defeating Gary and helping Earth, Gary was a cunning, devious, and deadly foe that I’d so far been able to keep from harming me.

  “I admit that I have contingencies already in place for my phylactery if you decide to acquiesce to Gary’s demands on your personal space. Still, there are other things you need to consider before you make your decision. Gary knows of your world, and he has taken an interest in you. Do you really believe that if you hand over your personal space, that Gary will forget that you exist and just leave you and Earth alone?

  “I’d be surprised if he doesn’t already have agents on your world to scope out the potential opportunities and harvest the souls that your newly integrated world can provide him with. Should you decide to acquiesce to his demands, I’d be willing to help you hammer out a contract for abdicating control over your personal space to Gary. I’ll also try to include in the contract ways to hamper any designs that Gary has on you and your world.

  “You need to understand that there is a limit to the restrictions I can have a contract place on him. Not to mention, the more intent you are on placing these restrictions, the more you’ll draw his attention, and the more likely Gary is to try and find a way to circumvent those restrictions,” Tzes’zod said.

  “I should have never rented the space to him. The annoying elves were probably even a better option than him,” I bemoaned.

  “Doing so may have caused Gary to seek retribution at some later point. A problem I didn’t need to point out at the time, as you came to the decision to rent to him on your own,” Tzes’zod said. He was probably right; Gary wasn’t one to take rejection very well. If I had turned down his offer, Gary would have still proven to be a thorn in my side, and a deadly one at that.

  Now, I had a decision to make. Give up and hand Gary the personal space, an option that would probably save my life, but perhaps cause even more problems for me and Earth in the future. On the other hand, I could confront and defeat Gary, keeping control of my personal space and even more important, ending his threat once and for all.