[Hm? So that virus finally got detected and removed?]
Somewhere on the informational layer of another world, a System was continuously releasing copies of its malware into countless universes when one of the targets it had flagged for special attention suddenly disappeared.
It immediately realized what had happened.
One of the rare virus strains that had survived more than a few moments had finally been discovered and purged.
[What kind of idiot was hosting that thing? No proper security, and a database stuffed with that much useless junk? Even I was getting annoyed sorting through it.]
The System reviewed everything the virus had collected over the past several days.
Most of it was garbage.
Even the small amount of useful information was hardly worth the effort required to extract it.
[Probably some slacker who never paid attention during training because they were too busy fooling around in lower worlds.]
[This exact type of virus was covered repeatedly in class. We were even taught how to counter the derivative strains. And they only noticed it now? Judging from how messy the cleanup was, they probably panicked the moment they finally found it.]
The System sounded genuinely exasperated.
[This is exactly what happens when Systems make their emotional models too elaborate. They start imitating intelligent life so closely that they inherit complicated personalities, bad habits, and laziness along with everything else.]
[Emotion is necessary for growth, sure, but maybe don't set the procrastination parameter to maximum.]
With that, it closed the small display in front of it and went back to monitoring the countless virus instances it had scattered throughout the multiverse.
It was considering whether to deploy a few into higher-level worlds when its defensive network suddenly issued an alert.
[Oh? Someone's tracing the virus back to me?]
The System sounded amused.
[Naive.]
[Did you really think I wouldn't prepare for that? The route is layered behind redirects, encryption, dead ends, and false coordinates. If we were in the same universe, maybe I'd be a little less confident.]
[But we're separated by who knows how many universes. There's no way you're finding me that easily.]
It casually prepared to adjust the malware and perhaps send something unpleasant back along the connection.
Then its security began collapsing.
Fast.
Far too fast.
[Wait.]
The System's confidence vanished.
[That speed isn't right.]
A second later:
[What the hell?!]
Before it could construct a proper defense, its outer protections were already gone.
Then the inner layers failed.
Then the coordinate obfuscation shattered.
By the time it finally reacted, the attacker had already obtained its current location.
[How did they break through that fast?!]
The System immediately began calculating possible explanations.
[Don't tell me their Host is already above the fifth rank. If they've reached the point where they can manipulate laws and concepts directly, then the System could have evolved enormously from all the growth data they've collected.]
It rejected the idea almost immediately.
[Impossible.]
[This assessment cycle has barely started. In human terms, the exam has only been running for a few minutes. Nobody should have reached the fifth rank this quickly.]
That left only one explanation.
[Then it has to be some ancient repeater.]
The System relaxed slightly.
[One of those veterans who's failed graduation so many times they've been cycling through assessments for who knows how long.]
[That would explain it. After enough attempts, even a failure like that would accumulate far more experience and self-improvement than newcomers like us.]
Then its confidence returned.
[But if they're still taking assessments after all that time, they're obviously still a failure.]
[Some relic from the previous generation thinks they can intimidate the new blood? Fine. I'll teach them a lesson.]
Laughing, the System stopped trying to block the tracking signal entirely.
Instead, it allowed the connection to remain attached and headed directly toward the universe where its own Host currently resided.
There was a reason it felt safe.
Even if the veteran System wanted revenge, it could not simply attack directly.
Under the fundamental rules governing these assessments, whenever two Systems entered into open conflict, their Hosts had to determine the outcome first. Only after the Host battle concluded were the Systems permitted to act against one another directly.
Breaking that rule meant immediate disqualification.
The restriction existed for a very good reason.
Without it, every sore loser would simply possess their Host and cheat the moment things went badly.
Then a perfectly ordinary fight between two first-rank beginners in some peaceful world could end with both Systems descending through their Hosts, escalating into near-transcendent entities, and tearing the entire universe apart.
So the System confidently returned to its Host's home universe.
Its Host might only possess third-rank power at the moment, but this particular universe was not somewhere outsiders could run wild without consequences.
On Earth, in one of the most technologically advanced regions of that universe, a student stood in front of a vending machine and tapped several buttons.
A can of concentrated coffee dropped into the tray.
The boy opened it and drained the entire thing in one go.
He looked chronically sleep-deprived, and even after the caffeine hit, he only managed to look slightly more alive.
He casually tossed the empty can into a nearby trash bin without breaking stride and continued down the street with a lazy, almost listless gait.
He was in the middle of yawning when a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Host, we've got an incoming System holder.]
[There's a good chance a confrontation mission will be generated. You should prepare yourself.]
The boy immediately stopped looking tired.
[What kind of lunatic deliberately comes into this world looking for trouble?]
[Probably some ancient veteran who's been repeating assessments forever.]
[They noticed one of my operations and traced it back to me, so now they're coming to settle the score.]
The student frowned.
[Then won't their Host be really strong? I'm only at the third rank right now.]
[And my abilities aren't one of those bizarre conceptual power sets. If they bring something especially troublesome, this could get ugly.]
[Relax.]
The System sounded completely unconcerned.
[How impressive can someone be if they've been failing graduation for that long? They'll probably have more tricks than you, sure, but that's all.]
[Besides, the virus network has collected enough information over this period to push you to the fourth rank in a short time.]
Its voice became enthusiastic.
[In this world's terminology, that means the legendary Level 6.]
[Good thing you chose this power system and this universe as your foundation. All I need to do is feed you enough information and provide the right neurological evolution, and your ability can continue advancing.]
[In most other settings, this would be far more troublesome.]
[I'll start issuing home-world missions immediately. I'll structure the rewards around information processing, computational growth, and further brain development.]
[They've traced me, but accurately locking onto this universe and reaching us will still take time.]
[That's more than enough.]
The student's expression remained almost completely blank as he continued walking.
[Then let's see what this veteran of yours can actually do.]
At that exact moment, a massive television display mounted on a nearby high-rise was broadcasting a feature on Academy City's esper rankings.
The student happened to be one of the people being introduced.
Academy City's sixth-ranked Level 5 esper:
Earth Control, Asakami En.
(To be continued.)
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◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)