Chapter 153 System bonus

Chapter 153: Chapter 153 System bonus

With Luna’s supermarket system now back—stronger, more advanced, and completely different from what it had been before—Luna finally decided it was time to use this opportunity properly.

Her two missing men were still somewhere out there. Kai and Adrian. She had spent enough time worrying about them. Now she was going to find them.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get moving," Luna declared.

Both men beside her immediately turned toward her. They stared at her as though she had just announced that they were going to fly to another planet using their bare hands.

"Moving like how?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like we’re some kind of mermaids or what? How exactly are we supposed to get there?"

Luna rolled her eyes. "Not now, Ethan. Of course I know we can’t swim all the way there. We’re going in another vehicle." She paused. "I’m getting a new one from my space."

The confidence in her voice would have been convincing if Luna herself had any idea where the hell the vehicles were now located. The supermarket space had evolved. Departments had formed. New sections had appeared. The entire structure of her space had changed so much that even Luna wasn’t entirely sure where everything was anymore. She certainly didn’t know which department stored vehicles.

But she wasn’t about to admit that. Not when she had finally gotten her system back.

Rowan crossed his arms. "Luna hasn’t even told us how the damn system changed." His voice became hotter. "And why did it only come back now? We almost died! This isn’t normal at all."

Luna sighed. She understood his frustration. She was frustrated too.

"My mind is still trying to process what all of this is supposed to mean," she admitted. "But I guess it’s evolution."

Rowan looked at her.

"The world is evolving, right? The monsters are evolving. The dangers are evolving. Everything is becoming more dangerous than before." She gestured toward the strange surroundings. "So maybe the system evolved too. It had to change in order to keep up with the world instead of becoming outdated."

Her explanation made sense on the surface. But Rowan still wasn’t completely convinced.

"And what about our powers?"

Luna’s attention immediately shifted toward him.

"They came from the crystals your system provided us," Rowan continued. "Do you think they could change too?"

Luna’s eyes widened slightly. She hadn’t considered that. If the system had evolved, and the world was evolving, and the crystals had changed their bodies and abilities, then perhaps their powers could evolve as well.

"Have you guys tried using your powers since the system returned?" Luna asked.

Ethan looked around. "I was just about to—" He suddenly stopped. His eyes moved toward the sky. "Wait."

Luna and Rowan followed his gaze. The darkness above them was beginning to change. The sky was getting brighter. And brighter.

The strange transition happened so quickly that Ethan’s expression changed. "Look at that."

Luna stared upward. "It seems like daylight is about to come back."

Ethan frowned. "And that’s going to be seriously damn weird."

It hadn’t been long since nightfall. Yet the sky was already preparing to bring back daylight. The world looked as if it had developed a broken clock. The moon and sun seemed to be taking turns whenever they pleased, completely ignoring the normal cycle of day and night.

Luna narrowed her eyes. She had already seen too many strange things since the apocalypse began. At this point, she wouldn’t even be shocked if the sun decided to rise in the middle of the ocean.

"So..." She looked toward the sea. "If daylight is coming back, then the water should retreat soon."

Rowan nodded.

Luna’s mind immediately began working. "Once the water retreats, we can use the vehicle to move across the exposed ground. We can scan the area while traveling and locate Kai and Adrian."

Both men immediately understood her plan.

Rowan was the first to respond. "The old me would have rejected this plan and told you we should wait." He glanced toward the dark sea. "But staying here is basically waiting to be eaten." He looked back at Luna. "If the water is going to disappear again, then we should move while we have the opportunity instead of sitting here and regretting it when the sea comes back."

Luna nodded. "Exactly."

Ethan grinned. "See? I told you we were supposed to be out there instead of sitting here waiting." He pointed dramatically toward the horizon. "If not for the Luna system always showing up at the most random damn time, we’d probably be cooked already."

Luna immediately turned toward him. "Hey!" She raised a finger. "Don’t talk to the system like that."

Ethan blinked.

Luna crossed her arms. "It saved us, didn’t it?"

She was trying to sound rational. The truth was that she was being extremely careful. Normally, Luna would have been the first person to complain about the system disappearing whenever it pleased. But after what had happened, she wasn’t taking any chances. The system had vanished when they needed it most, then suddenly returned stronger than ever. Who knew what would happen if she started insulting it again?

For all she knew, the damn thing had feelings. And she wasn’t about to test that theory.

Ethan stared at her. "You’re actually defending the system?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I currently need it."

Ethan’s mouth opened. Then closed.

Rowan quietly looked away, clearly trying not to laugh.

"Aww," Ethan muttered. "A supportive host. Isn’t that cute?"

"Don’t start."

Before their argument could continue, Ethan glanced toward the ground. "Well, we should probably get ready." The water had already begun retreating. The exposed ground stretched farther and farther into the distance. "We’re leaving soon."

The three of them began checking the area. They searched for anything useful they might have accidentally left behind during their time there. There wasn’t much. A few empty cans from the juice they had consumed. The remains of the small minibar they had used for snacks. Nothing else.

Rowan eventually turned toward the enormous statue that had served as their refuge. He walked over and placed both hands against it. "Finally." He smiled. "We’re moving out of this place."

Then he suddenly wrapped his arms around the statue and hugged it. "Love you, man." He gave the statue a few affectionate pats.

Luna and Ethan stared at him.

Silence.

Luna slowly turned toward Ethan. "When did Rowan become this expressive?"

Ethan looked at her. "And when did you start asking me questions?"

Luna frowned. "What?"

"You normally don’t converse with me." Ethan pointed at himself. "And when you do, I’m usually the least person you relate with."

Luna shrugged. "Don’t you like it?" She smiled innocently. "Because if you don’t, I could easily run to Rowan and leave you alone, Your Majesty."

Ethan’s face immediately turned red. "That’s not what I meant!"

Luna’s smile widened. "Then what did you mean?"

"Fuck, it’s nothing like that." Ethan rubbed his face. "I’m just saying that, like you said about Rowan becoming expressive, the same thing happened to you."

Luna’s smile faded slightly. "It happened after the supermarket incident."

Ethan nodded. "Exactly."

Luna didn’t answer. She simply looked toward the system panel.

The panel had changed dramatically. What had once been a simple blue interface was now completely different. A long horizontal line of glowing orange light stretched across the space. When Luna touched it, the light expanded. The panel unfolded into a three-dimensional projection.

A map of her domain appeared in front of them, rendered in layers of light and shadow. Luna stared at it. Even she had to admit it looked incredible.

She moved her hands across the interface, tapping several sections before sliding the final panel to the side. The system responded immediately.

[Kai Blackwood and Adrian Solis detected.]

Luna froze.

[Current location: Island approximately 500 kilometers from the host.]

Her eyes widened. Then another message appeared.

[Both targets are currently approaching a disaster that will place them in severe danger.]

Luna’s expression changed instantly.

Ethan and Rowan had been straightening their uniforms and fixing the rough patches on their clothing. The moment they heard the system, they stopped.

"What does that mean?" Rowan asked.

The orange light flashed again.

[To reach the targets without exposing the host to unnecessary danger, a new vehicle is required.]

Luna’s eyes narrowed. "Finally." She waited.

Then another message appeared.

[Host has not yet unlocked the remaining sections of the evolved supermarket space.]

Luna’s eyebrow lifted.

[Therefore, the system is providing a temporary bonus gift from the newly evolved standard system.]

Ethan’s eyes widened. "Bonus gift?"

Rowan stepped closer.

The system continued.

[Exclusive items and weapons will also become available as the host continues progressing.]

Luna’s fingers hovered over the panel. "Interesting."

The next message appeared.

[Automatic receiver initiated.]

There was a brief pause. Then—

[Reward granted for surviving until the current evolutionary stage.]

Luna’s eyes widened.

[Indestructible Aircraft obtained.]

[Functions: Land / Air / Water / Space.]

Ethan’s jaw dropped. Rowan stared at the panel. Luna didn’t even breathe.

The system continued describing the vehicle.

[The aircraft is capable of atmospheric and extra-atmospheric travel.]

[Structural durability: Indestructible.]

[Automatic navigation: Available.]

[Environmental protection: Active.]

Then the system went silent.

A shimmering light suddenly appeared in front of them. The three of them instinctively stepped backward. The light grew brighter. Something massive began forming inside it.

First came the outline. Then the metallic body. Then the wings. Then the reinforced lower section designed for water and land travel.

The light finally disappeared.

And what stood before them made all three of them stare.

The aircraft was enormous. Sleek. Futuristic. Its metallic surface reflected the strange daylight returning to the world. There was no obvious damage anywhere on it. No rust. No cracks. No exposed machinery. It looked like something that belonged in a civilization that had advanced hundreds of years beyond their own.

Ethan’s mouth fell open, Rowan stared silently. Even Luna couldn’t hide her grin.

Their jaws were hanging so dangerously that Ethan eventually lifted both hands and pushed his mouth closed.

"This..." He walked around the aircraft. "This is fucking cool." His excitement was impossible to hide. "I can’t believe it." He looked at Luna. "I seriously can’t believe it!"

Rowan smiled as he examined the vehicle. For once, even he looked genuinely impressed.

Luna stepped forward. Her eyes sparkled as she looked over the aircraft. The evolved supermarket system had disappeared when they needed it most. It had returned with new powers. New departments. New possibilities. And now it had given her exactly what she needed.

A way to reach her missing men.

Luna placed one hand against the aircraft’s metallic surface. A wide grin spread across her face.

"Come on, sweeties." She looked at Ethan and Rowan. "Let’s taste this baby girl and see what she can do."

The aircraft suddenly hummed. Its engines awakened.

And the entire statue trembled beneath their feet.