"Then there are the goblins," the Vice President continued, his tone heavy as he brought up another chart. "This here shows the spike in the Goblin Universe's space-time readings during the exact period when the goblins began losing their world. As you can see, something happened—an abnormal surge. After digging deeper, I discovered that it was the Goblin Universe's last act of desperation."
He pointed at the massive spike glowing on the screen. "It sent its goblins here—into our universe. Not just to Earth, but scattered across the galaxies. When I analyzed the space-time ripples throughout several galactic regions, I found signatures identical to those of the Goblin Universe surges."
The universe itself was running low on energy and would soon need to feed again, but now they understood the deeper problem. After the war, many had wondered how the goblins' numbers had dropped so drastically. Humanity had slaughtered over a billion upon billions of them, but for a race that once filled their entire universe, that number was far too small.
So what if they slaughtered a whole galaxy's worth of goblins? There should have been far more of those monsters out there.
It made sense now—they hadn't wiped them out at all. Countless goblins had escaped the war, hidden among the stars, waiting, multiplying. The thought alone sent a chill down everyone's spine.
But now it all made sense. The Goblin universe hadn't all of its goblins destroyed; it had sent them into their universe. The sheer number of goblins that had been transferred, combined with the countless systems the universe had granted to humanity, painted a grim picture.
What did that mean? It meant that those with powerful systems were consuming enormous amounts of the universe's energy. Their strength came at a cost. Every use of their abilities demanded mana, and every time mana was replenished, the universe's reserves were drained even further. Add to that the billions—if not trillions—of goblins scattered across the galaxies, each tapping into that same energy, and the result was catastrophic.
The universe was growing hungry again. Its energy was being consumed faster than it could recover, and the signs were clear. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before it sought out another universe to collide with. And when that happened, another devastating war would begin.
After hours of discussion, the world leaders finally concluded their meeting. The weight of their discovery hung over everyone like a shadow. They agreed to bring the matter directly to the President, leaving the ultimate decision in his hands. For now, all they could do was prepare—strengthen themselves, their guilds, and their defenses—for the inevitable conflict that loomed on the horizon.
"Mark, I almost forgot—on my way here, we came across someone," the Vice President said, turning toward the Lightning God Guild Master. He quickly recounted everything that had happened with Vector—the attack, the rescue, and the mysterious healing.
Mark's eyebrow lifted almost immediately as he listened. The details caught his full attention, and by the time the Vice President finished, a look of intrigue had settled on his face.
"Such a powerful healer…" Mark muttered, his tone thoughtful, before shifting to one of excitement. "Take me to him. I want to meet this Vector myself—and bring him into the guild."
Every guild in existence valued healers, but one capable of such miraculous feats was practically unheard of. If Vector truly possessed that kind of power, Mark would do whatever it took to recruit him, no matter the cost.
With a flash of lightning, the three of them shot into the sky, streaks of blue light cutting through the clouds. Only a few seconds later, they came descending rapidly toward the poorer district of the city—a scene that immediately drew the attention of everyone below.
The slums rarely saw system users. Most who lived there had no powers at all, so seeing figures streaking through the air and energy flaring above their homes filled them with fear. Doors slammed shut, curtains were drawn, and people hid away, praying not to be noticed.
"There he is," the Vice President's daughter said, pointing ahead.
Vector was walking down the street with a small bag slung over his shoulder, looking calm and unhurried as if he hadn't a care in the world. But the moment he felt their gazes, he stopped mid-step and turned his head slightly, his eyes locking in their direction.
He had sensed them instantly. The three exchanged a brief glance before moving without hesitation—flashing forward in unison and appearing directly in front of Vector in the blink of an eye.
"They told me how you helped them," Mark said as he stepped forward, his tone respectful yet filled with genuine interest. "I came to personally thank you—and to invite you to join the Lightning God Guild." He extended his hand toward Vector, offering a warm smile.
Vector glanced at the gesture for a brief moment before taking it, giving a firm but casual handshake. "No need for all of that," he said lightly, his tone calm and polite. "I have no interest in joining a guild."
Mark raised an eyebrow, still smiling as curiosity flickered in his eyes. "Really now?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Then tell me—what is your dream?"
"I do dream of one day starting a business," Vector said with a light shrug, his tone casual. It wasn't an ambitious dream, but it was an honest one. If his goal was to get rich, then starting a business seemed like the easiest path. And with his newfound luck, things should work out for him… right?
Mark chuckled softly at the simplicity of his answer. "In that case," he said, smiling, "how about I help you get that business started? Funding, materials, whatever you need—I'll provide it. And in return, you can act as our guild doctor."
It was a fair trade, and a generous one at that. His tone made it clear this wasn't an order but an offer, one made out of both respect and interest.
"I like my freedom," Vector said with a light frown, his tone calm but firm. He had no interest in being tied down or bound by obligations, no matter how tempting the offer sounded.
Mark didn't seem offended. Instead, he smiled, his expression thoughtful. "No problem," he said easily. "Then how about this—you work when you want, and you get paid for what you do. Let's say… one million per person you heal."
Vector's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the number. A million per person? That wasn't an offer—it was a fortune. He hadn't expected someone of Mark's status to throw out such a deal so casually.
"Sure, I don't see why not," Vector said with a simple nod, his tone as casual as ever.
The answer caught Mark off guard. For someone of Vector's skill level, a million dollars per person healed was almost nothing. In truth, even a hundred million wouldn't have been unreasonable for someone with his abilities. Unless… this was a test. Perhaps Vector was gauging him, seeing whether he was trustworthy or worth dealing with.
Mark considered this quietly before nodding to himself. Without hesitation, he reached into his storage ring and pulled out a checkbook. He quickly scribbled down a few details, signed it, and handed the check to Vector with a small, confident smile.
"Well, this is your pay, for not only helping them but saving their lives," Mark said with a warm smile as he handed the check over. "Again, you have my thanks."
Vector took it with a nod, not even glancing at the amount. He simply slipped the check into his pocket as if it were nothing important.
"Tomorrow, come to the Lightning God Guild Headquarters," Mark continued, his tone professional but friendly. "I'll have everything prepared for you by then."
Vector nodded once more in acknowledgment. "Got it. Thanks," he said with a light smile..
The two standing behind Mark, the Vice President and his daughter, offered their gratitude as well before the three of them vanished in a flash of light.
Left alone once again, Vector adjusted the bag on his shoulder and resumed his walk home, his steps unhurried, as though none of what had just happened truly mattered to him.
"…Wait—did he say the Lightning God Guild?" Vector muttered in disbelief, stopping mid-step as the realization sank in. He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out the check, his eyes widening as he read the name printed on it. It was signed by none other than the Guild Master of the Lightning God Guild himself—Mark.
But what truly left him stunned was the number written on the check. "Six hundred million…?" he whispered, barely able to process it.
"W-what?" Vector blinked a few times, staring at the check as if it might vanish any second.