My Talent's Name Is Generator Chapter 709: System Is Planning

"Following that," I elaborated, "we will enter the fray. It won’t be the final strike yet, merely a probe to gauge their strength. If we can extract some intelligence, that's a bonus. If not, there is no harm in grinding for some experience and farming levels while we are at it."

Mazikeen kept her gaze fixed on me, remaining silent.

At that moment, the bedroom door swung open.

North emerged, her silence speaking volumes. Her eyes locked onto mine, filled with a calm but piercing intensity.

The message was received instantly.

"I'll be right back," I informed the group, already in motion. I trailed behind North into the room, and the door clicked shut, sealing us inside.

The atmosphere felt heavy with silence.

"What's the situation?" I questioned, searching her face for clues. "Has something gone wrong?"

She hesitated for a beat. Her gaze remained fixed on me, her expression a mix of steadiness and tension, as if she were weighing the impact of the news she was about to deliver.

"The System just issued me a quest," she finally revealed.

My brow furrowed in thought. "When exactly?"

"Only a few seconds ago."

That gave me pause. The timing was far too convenient, far too calculated. My mind immediately raced back to my negotiation with Saleos—the handshake and the pact we had formed. It felt like a deliberate move, as if the System had been observing from the shadows, waiting for my decision before placing its own pieces on the board.

"What are the objectives?" I inquired.

She took a measured breath. "It mentions a construct known as the Eclipse Anchor located within this Grade Four rift. There is a core housed inside it. My mission is to annihilate that core."

I remained quiet, signaling for her to continue her explanation.

"According to the description, this tower obstructs the System," she added. "It prevents proper observation of the area and blocks interference. Anything within that perimeter becomes... a blind spot."

I blinked, processing the information.

An image flashed through my mind instantly: the massive structure looming nearest to the rift. It was the one emitting that eerie, crushing pressure—the site where the Eternal’s aura felt most suffocating.

"So that is its purpose," I whispered.

North went on. "As long as that core remains functioning, the System cannot provide aid to anyone inside. No support, no calibrations, no alerts, and no monitoring."

A cold sensation washed over me.

It brought back memories of the Hollow Star asteroid—that distinct feeling of being severed from the world, isolated from the fundamental laws. But this was significantly more dangerous. This wasn't just a remote location; it was an active war zone.

I let out a long, slow breath.

"So, the System wants you to rip off its blindfold," I remarked.

North met my eyes. "Or perhaps it wants to ensure you aren't wandering through the darkness alone."

I blinked again.

"Perhaps," I murmured. However, deep down, a different certainty took root. The System wanted a way to keep its eyes on me. Tying a quest to someone I cared for was the perfect method—not through force or overt threats, but a subtle hook disguised as a protective measure.

It was a masterclass in clean manipulation.

I exhaled a soft breath and found myself smiling. Reaching out, I gave her head a gentle pat.

"Don't stress over it. It’s a straightforward quest," I reassured her. "A confrontation with the Eternal was inevitable anyway. Whether the demons or I lead the charge doesn't change the outcome. You will be the one to shatter that core."

My smile faded slightly. "The primary obstacle is the tower itself. If my suspicions are correct, it will be the most heavily fortified position in their entire line of defense. Every vital asset they have will be concentrated there."

She nodded slowly, acknowledging the danger without protest. Moving closer, she pulled me into an embrace.

"Billion," she whispered, leaning her forehead against my chest, "please stay safe. You are taking far too many risks in such a short time."

I shut my eyes for a brief moment, resting my chin against her hair.

"I understand," I replied softly. "But trust me, there is a method to my madness. I'm not being careless."

I tightened my hold on her slightly, letting her feel my presence.

"And I give you my word," I said in a low voice. "Whatever happens, we will complete your quest."

She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes flashing with a mix of worry and sharpness.

"You idiot," she muttered. "It's you I'm worried about, not some quest."

"I know," I said after a short silence. "And I worry for you as well. I might not express it often, but I see how hard you push yourself. You never let up, even when you're at your limit."

Her features softened at my words.

"I appreciate it," I added. "For staying resilient when things turn grim. For moving forward even when fear takes hold."

"Just don’t go vanishing on me," she grumbled. "Not for the sake of the System, the war, or anyone else."

I leaned in, resting my forehead against hers.

"I won't," I promised. "That is one vow I intend to keep."

A sudden, sharp knock shattered the intimacy of the moment.

North tensed briefly and then let out a sigh. I released my hold and faced the entrance.

"What is it?" I called out.

The door slid open immediately, and Steve walked in. He caught sight of us and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Oh," he stammered. "Did I interrupt something?"

North stepped away, crossing her arms as her professional mask slid back into place. "Your timing is consistently terrible."

Steve rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah... my bad. But this is urgent."

That got my attention, and I straightened up.

"What's happened?" I asked.

Steve took a nervous gulp and looked at me with a gravity that signaled this was no joking matter.

"I just got a quest," he announced.

North’s eyes snapped toward him, and my own narrowed in suspicion.

"A quest?" I echoed.

He nodded solemnly. "Directly from the System."

My eyes thinned. One quest might be a fluke. Two indicated a calculated pattern.

"What are the orders?" I demanded.

Steve took a deep breath. "It says I have to steal the runic inscriptions and the blueprints used for the creation of the Infiltration Anchors."

The room fell into a sudden, deep silence.

For a heartbeat, even the distant roar of the war outside seemed to fade away.

"Steal them," North repeated in a low voice.

"Correct," Steve confirmed. "Not destroy. Not sabotage. I have to steal them. The entire process—the runes, the blueprints, the methodology. All of it."

I closed my eyes for a second.

The System was no longer just reacting to the situation.

It was actively strategizing.

First, North was tasked with taking down the Eclipse Anchor to restore the System's vision. Now, Steve was being deployed to seize the very technology the Eternals used to embed themselves within living hosts.

It wasn't just interested in us winning this rift.

It wanted us to dissect the enemy's secrets. I was certain the System already understood how those runes worked; after all, this wasn't the first rift in our universe's history.

When I opened my eyes, both of them were waiting for my reaction.

I let out a heavy sigh. "It seems the System has decided to stop being a spectator and start playing the game."

Steve gave a wry, tense grin. "So... I’m a thief now? And what are these Anchors anyway? Besides, I’m only a Grandmaster. Stealing from an Eternal?" He let out a dry snort. "Either the System has lost its mind, or it really has it out for you."

North shook her head slowly. "Hate isn't the right word. Manipulation is more accurate." She looked at me. "Or perhaps torture. Torturing you through us."

That thought made me pause.

"Alright," I said, cutting through the tension. "No more talk. We need a strategy."

I leaned back, my mind already calculating the next moves. The System wasn't handing out random tasks anymore. It was maneuvering us into specific roles, forcing us into contact with things we weren't supposed to encounter so soon.

Seizing the secrets of the Infiltration Anchors. Destroying the Eclipse Anchor.

Both missions struck directly at the core of the Eternal’s influence.

I couldn't be certain of the System's ultimate endgame, but one reality was undeniable.

It wasn't making requests. It was setting the board for a grander move.

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