Chapter 1803: Crownus

The Galactic Will in front of Ning was a being in the shape of a human, but it was the furthest thing one could be from a human.

Its face was blank, not just without expressions, but without any orifices. It had eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, but everything was sealed shut. It had no hair at all, except for tiny fleshy appendages coming out around its neck as if it were a lion’s mane.

Its hands had fingers, but only 3, all of which were thumbs. Its legs were stuck together, with nothing seen below.

It wore clothes, if it could even be called that. It was darkness folded in on itself many times such that it had a texture now.

Ning stared at the Galactic Will with express fury and hidden apprehension. The last time he was caught, he was tortured for so many billions of years. This time, he didn’t want that.

This time, he would fight this thing if that need existed.

However, he also had to worry about Ely and Emma. The two were suddenly gone, likely kidnapped by this Will. He couldn’t let his emotions get the better of him at this moment.

"Where is my family?" Ning asked the Galactic Will.

The Will’s face didn’t move, but it spoke quite clearly.

"I have taken a moment to excuse them from the conversation I hope to have with you. I have followed you for a while, host of the Energy System."

Ning didn’t show his frown, but he very much frowned on the inside. He had hoped the Will was only curious about who he was, but it seemed the thing actually knew his identity.

’System, why didn’t you warn me he was coming?’ Ning asked with an angry voice. ’I could’ve saved them.’

<The Galactic Will is capable of hiding its actions from the System.>

<Also, the one standing before you isn’t a real Will.>

<It is only its avatar, sent here to talk with you.>

Ning was a little taken aback. ’This isn’t the real Will?’ he thought. ’If I touch it, will I be able to link up with the real thing?’

<It won’t work.>

<This is not the real body.>

That was worse news. Not only were Emma and Ely taken away somewhere, the real thing wasn’t even here. No wonder the system hadn’t warned him in time.

’Does he think he has the power to capture me without his real body?’ Ning wondered. At this point, Ning had killed enough Constellations that his total energy was above 10 Octillions.

That was still much less than what a Galactic Will would have, but he wasn’t up against a Galactic Will. He was up against a part of it, an avatar.

Ning was certain he could beat it.

Of course, he couldn’t just attack — not without first figuring out where Ely and Emma were. On top of that, Ning was still curious about something else.

If the Galactic Will knew it could get the upper hand on him, why had it not come with its real body? It knew how he was already after all.

"So you have come to talk with me?" Ning asked finally. "What do you want from me?"

There was the faintest look of a smile on the horrifying face with no orifices.

"Yes," the Galactic Will said. "I have followed you since you first arrived in this galaxy and killed Meghilars. I had thought I sensed you leaving, but it appears you didn’t. That’s good for me."

It took Ning a moment to understand what the thing was talking about.

’It thinks I’m Nigel?’ he thought.

Nigel had been the one to kill Bayrus and then Meghilars. She was the one who left for the other universe. But the thing before him didn’t know that. It thought he was the one who did it.

’It thinks I’m strong enough to kill other beings like it,’ Ning realized. ’It thinks I can kill it.’

It now made sense why the Galactic Will hadn’t come here directly and instead sent an avatar.

"Well, you’ve found me. Now what?" Ning asked.

"I would like to employ your services," the Galactic Will said.

"Employ my services?" Ning asked with a confused look.

"Yes. I am very fascinated by the ideas of a system. Since you are a Host of the Energy System, I would like to learn from your system to create a system of my own."

Ning didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the thing for a moment while he thought through what the thing was asking for. It wanted Ning to voluntarily allow it to learn about the System.

"The Energy System above all condemns the making of systems, and you wish to ask for my help to make one?" Ning asked.

The thing paused for a bit before answering. "As far as I am aware, hosts of the Energy System only go after Wills that are harming others. If the system were not to harm someone, then I believe that is acceptable."

’Is that true, System?’

<You are allowed to help whoever you want, however you want.>

<So long as you do not consciously do something to hurt another soul, are you free to do it.>

The system was as clear as it could be for Ning. If he wanted to, he could help Crownus with making a new system.

"So, do you plan on forcing me to help you?" Ning asked. "Is that why my family is gone?"

"They aren’t hurt, and I will return them to you as soon as we’ve made our deal," the thing said.

Ning openly frowned. It didn’t sound like it was trying to take Ely and Emma hostage in order to force him. But then, how was it trying to get him to work for it?

"You said you wanted to employ my services," Ning said. "Then you must know that every employment comes with a payment. How do you plan on paying me?"