[Chapter 303. The Scale of Power]

They began their trek back through the desert. For a moment, Searanox considered heading toward the ruins where the floor boss dwelled, but ultimately decided against it. The sun blazed overhead, turning the endless dunes into a landscape of shifting gold that burned the eyes. There was no need to engage in a boss fight when they could simply walk out the gate—even if it took a bit more time to reach it.

Besides, he wasn't entirely convinced he could fight that giant snake without endangering the others. The memory of its massive scales, impenetrable as fortress walls, and the way it moved through the sand like water still haunted his thoughts. One mistake from him, and his carefully cultivated assets would be reduced to scattered remains across these dunes.

As they navigated the desert, his drones cleared all the beasts in their path. Crimson beams of light sliced through the heat, turning disguised scorpions and smoldering avians into ash before they could pose a threat. The hum of the drones was the only sound that broke the desert's silence, a stark contrast to the panting breaths of his companions.

After half an hour of walking, he drew closer to Carmen and held out his arm.

"Carmen, you were left out earlier..." His voice was low, nearly lost beneath the crunch of their boots on the sand.

She looked at his arm for a moment. Then, in slow, tender motion, she placed her hand on his arm and stepped closer. Her fingers trembled slightly as they made contact with the cool skin, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from the desert around them. Her head rested against his arm as her hand slid down, her fingers finally interlocking with his. It was the exact same way they had walked through the city in the past. Her heart beat faster as his fingers tightened around hers; she drew closer, holding onto him tightly. The scent of him filled her senses, making her feel both protected and utterly vulnerable at the same time.

In the next moment, his free hand brushed her cheek and lingered there. She leaned into his touch. The rough texture of his hand against her soft skin sent shivers down her spine. Carmen knew she wasn't as brave as the others, certainly not as straightforward as Sarah. But this, right now, was enough for her. She could just be close to him.

Her face flushed as her thoughts drifted back to the deep kiss he had shared with Vanessa, the possessive way he had claimed her lips making something tighten low in Carmen's belly. Tilting her head further into his touch, she wondered if perhaps, in time, she might find the courage to ask for more.

Then, her lips brushed against his hand—a soft, barely-there contact that sent a jolt through her. The sensation was warm and electric, sending tingles down her spine as she registered what she had just done. She had actually kissed his hand right here in the open, where Sarah, Iris, and Lana could see.

She pulled back instantly, her face burning with embarrassment and shock at her own boldness. Her gaze dropped to the sand, seeking an escape from her actions. The grains seemed to blur as her vision swam with shame and a confusing surge of want.

Searanox simply squeezed her hand. It was a silent acceptance that made her heart beat even faster, the sudden pressure against her fingers drawing her attention back to their joined hands. He said nothing, but the gesture was enough to calm her racing thoughts. His steady presence beside her was a silent promise that no judgment had been passed. Her mind drifted back to the way his fingers felt intertwined with hers—strong, calloused, yet somehow gentle in their grip. The desert heat seemed to intensify around them, but Carmen barely noticed, too caught up in the simple intimacy of the moment to care.

"Iris, if that was a Siege class skill, then there are others, right?" Searanox's voice cut through the desert heat as they continued toward the distant gate. "I assume the 'regular' ones are combat and support skills, since the System has already designated them as such." His mind was already cataloging this new information, fitting it into his growing understanding of the System's mechanics.

"Not quite," Iris responded, her silver eyes momentarily distant as she accessed the administrative knowledge embedded in her consciousness. "Skills are divided into five levels or tiers, whatever term you prefer." She paused as they walked past the smoldering remains of a scorpion his drones had eliminated moments before. "It begins with Combat class skills. They decide the outcome of a single combat encounter. They're very rudimentary and widespread across all classes and Awakened."

She glanced at Sarah, who was walking beside them with practiced grace despite the challenging terrain. "Sarah's Rift Step, for instance, falls into this category—powerful for individual skirmishes, but limited in scope." Her attention returned to Searanox. "Then there are the Siege class skills, as mentioned before. They can influence the outcome of an entire siege by themselves, like Vanessa's Celestial Downfall."

She stopped for a moment, her body tensing. Searanox could see that she was fighting the System, which was actively trying to prevent her from continuing. Her silver eyes narrowed, and her ears flattened against her head as if she were trying to block out a deafening internal noise.

"Then there are the War class skills," she continued, her voice strained. "Just like the siege ones, but on a bigger scale. These skills are rare, and would guarantee anyone who possesses one a high position on an integrated world. They can turn the tide of entire campaigns." She shuddered slightly. Carmen noticed Iris's distress, her own fingers unconsciously tightening around Searanox's hand.

"The next one is different..." Iris's voice began to warp, filled with pain, as if each word cost her something precious. "K-Kingdom class... they can... reshape a nation." Her breath hitched, and her normally composed demeanor faltered as she struggled against the System's influence.

Without a second thought, Searanox let go of Carmen's hand. Where he had stood a moment prior, only a puff of swirling sand remained. Before anyone could even register his movement, he reappeared directly in front of Iris. His fingers closed firmly around her muzzle as he looked down into her eyes, his own expression unreadable behind his sunglasses. The impossible display of speed made Sarah jump back with a gasp, while Lana stared with wide eyes.

"Enough," Searanox said, his voice low but firm, carrying an undercurrent of genuine concern that softened its edges. "Stop pushing. The System doesn't want you to share this information, and it's hurting you to try. I don't want to see you collapse again."

He held her muzzle gently yet securely, her silver eyes were wide with surprise.

"From what you said, there are five tiers... Combat, Siege, War, and Kingdom class skills. If the Kingdom class can reshape a nation, am I correct in assuming that the final tier would be World class?" He watched as she flinched violently at the mention of the final tier, her body tensing as if struck by an invisible physical force. A single drop of moisture welled in the corner of her eye, glistening in the harsh desert sunlight before tracking down through the soft fur of her cheek.

Seeing the sheer agony in her eyes, he relaxed his grip slightly, allowing her to draw a ragged breath. "That's all I need, dear. No need to answer this one."

`That brings up the question: what class are my skills? Do I have a Siege class, or even a War class skill?`

He pondered the implications, his mind racing. The possibility that he might possess such devastating power without even realizing it sent a thrill through him. His gaze swept over his companions—Lana looking on with wide-eyed concern, Sarah watching with interest, and Carmen studying the scene with analytical detachment—all blissfully unaware of the magnitude of what they had just learned.

Letting go of her muzzle, his fingers gently brushed her fur before he took a step back. The lingering contact left a trail of sensation that made her ear twitch involuntarily. She took a steadying breath, her chest rising and falling heavily as she fought to regain her composure in the aftermath of the System's backlash.

"Iris, before you fight through the pain to answer my questions, you should just tell me when it is information the System doesn't want me to know." His tone was level now, devoid of emotion as he addressed her directly, yet there was an intensity to his words that held her complete attention. "I can't imagine the pain you suffer when you tell me these things, but from what I can see, it must be immense. And from what the Golden Order told me in that corrupted dungeon, there are severe consequences for giving away this kind of information. I have a slight feeling that pain is not all they were afraid of."

At the mention of the Golden Order, Carmen's posture stiffened, her dark eyes narrowing as she processed this new piece of the puzzle.

"If that is what you want... I will refrain from answering those questions, and inform you about the limitations instead," Iris replied. Her voice was slightly hoarse, as if the words had been forced past an obstruction in her throat. She watched him with unwavering devotion, the silver in her eyes seeming to glow brighter as she made her silent promise to obey his command.

He caressed her cheek once more before turning away and walking ahead. His armored boots sank into the golden sand with each step, creating a rhythmic crunching sound that marked his steady progression toward the distant gate. The others fell into line behind him, their movements synchronized as if drawn by an invisible string attached to their leader. Carmen found herself glancing back at Iris, catching the faint outline of a smile on the wolf-kin's lips before it was hidden by the tilt of her head.

The desert stretched before them, an endless expanse of heat and light that seemed to mirror the vast, terrifying possibilities ahead.

`This is incredibly valuable information. The fact that these kinds of skills exist will entirely dictate how I have to approach the Empire in the future. If Vanessa can kill hundreds of beasts with a single Siege class skill despite her low level, then the true scale of power in this System is far beyond my initial calculations.`

`How would a War class skill behave? A single attack that could annihilate an army? Or perhaps something that could level fortified cities? How powerful would one have to be to wield a Kingdom class—or even a World class?`

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

`The System's protection will vanish in a few months, leaving this world wide open to threats that possess these skills. There is no way I can protect this entire planet.`

His mind raced through the grim implications. `Fortress walls would mean nothing. Entire regions could be wiped out in moments. Nations could be reshaped at the whim of beings wielding such godlike power.`

As they walked, his mind played through dozens of world-ending scenarios in vivid detail. Scenes of utter devastation played out in his consciousness with terrifying clarity. The explosion of a nuclear bomb that devastated an entire region would be mere child's play for apex beings under the System. He imagined landscapes turned to glass, armies dissolving into motes of light before they could even draw their weapons, and towering cities crumbling to dust with the wave of a hand. The scale of destruction was incomprehensible, yet the possibility of it was now very real.

His hand subconsciously tightened into a fist, his joints and tendons groaning slightly under the immense pressure. Even with all his current power, all his drones, all his carefully cultivated resources—he was nothing compared to what might come.

Finally, the dark structure came into view on the horizon: a massive, half-sunken stone gate with its two wings spread wide. Within it, a vortex of green and blue energy churned, casting eerie shadows that danced across the golden sands.

They had talked amongst themselves on the way back, but none had spoken to him. Their voices had been hushed, careful not to intrude on the fortress of his thoughts. They saw that he was deep in contemplation and didn't dare distract him. Sarah's usually bubbly demeanor was subdued, while Carmen's gaze occasionally flickered toward him, as if trying to decipher the complex equations running through his mind. Even Iris, who normally stood glued to his side, maintained a respectful distance, sensing the gravity of his mood.

Stepping through the portal and out of the Labyrinth, the sudden transition from the blistering desert heat to the cool, stone interior of the hall was jarring, making his skin prickle.

The dark hall was mostly barren, save for one exception. A team of ten adventurers stood near the center, completely decked out in the polished steel armor he had looted from the Fog Cliff Castle. The gear gleamed under the dim magical lighting, each piece perfectly fitted and bearing the intricate engravings of unknown smiths. They stood in a circle, their postures confident yet alert, their hands resting on weapons that would have been considered priceless artifacts just a week ago. Conferring amongst themselves, discussing tactics, their voices echoing slightly in the cavernous space.