"I have made sure that the work shifts are only two hours long, and there is a series of goals and rewards the children can attain as they progress. Most of them would rather keep advancing in the runes than leave, but I ensure they do not neglect their classes and time with their families."
Vlad could only sigh and accept it. He focused on the children and saw that they were indeed happy with their work, but he also understood that they liked it because of the incentives and schemes that Overlord had put in place.
Engraving runic lines was not fun as it required immense focus and precision, but the children associated it with rewards and praise.
Vlad gazed at the Rune Laboratory for a moment before turning around and leaving. Once he was outside, a contemplative expression arose on his face. The conversation that he had with Chief Counselor Aloz echoed in his mind.
’With Overlord, we might lose part of what makes a human civilization, human.’
What those words meant for Vlad was the lack of chance or luck. Overlord constantly monitored every move and guided people according to their skills, putting them on a path where they would encounter the greatest achievements. However, that also meant erasing chance from the equation or allowing people to explore new things that might interest them more.
It might not seem like much, but it was a core component of humanity, and it was slowly weakening due to the control and guidance of the A.I. Chip Clone.
He understood the importance of chance for humanity—it was the spark of creativity, innovation, and individual growth. Chance allowed people to discover their passions and strengths in unexpected ways. However, in a world teeming with dangers, the immediate need for safety and stability often outweighed the luxury of chance.
Under Overlord’s guidance, the citizens of Xaos City enjoyed a level of security and contentment that was rare in these apocalyptic times. Families could thrive, and children could grow up without the constant fear of death or suffering. This level of order and protection was invaluable, providing a foundation upon which a new civilization could be built.
Vlad stood pondering for some seconds, as all kinds of thoughts crossed his mind before finally, a sharp and cold gaze appeared in his eyes. ’This world is dangerous and full of monsters, yet with Overlord, I have now a city full of families that can enjoy the nights and children that can play games. Sacrificing chance for that level of safety and happiness is more than worth it!’
Not only was Vlad determined to follow this path, but he was also ready to enhance the power of Overlord and ensure the A.I. Chip Clone’s influence could reach every city he conquered.
With everything in order and the doubts in his mind erased, Vlad went back to the Xaos Tower and headed into the underground level. As soon as he stepped in, he felt how thick the air was with energy and noticed how pure and dense the tower’s energy pool had become over the past months.
Xaos City required a massive amount of energy, especially the Rune Factory and Alchemy Factory, but it was clear that Overlord’s energy reserves kept rising by the day, ensuring a very high surplus.
As he gazed at the energy, a curious light appeared in Vlad’s eyes as he focused on his body and summoned the power of the A.I. Chip. ’Chip, scan me.’
[Beep! Scanning the Host.
Lineage: Thunder Lord (Champion Tier)
Strength: 64.3-->83.4
Vitality: 73.4-->97.2
Energy Pool (Force): 4.9-->5.8
Lightning Forged Charge
A wide and radiant smile arose on Vlad’s face as he saw his stats. It had been a long time since he had scanned himself, and the improvements were massive. He had already risen one level in both flesh and blood, and the energy pool, and by the measurement, he was very close to the next improvement.
Although the enhancement of just one level in more than six months might not seem much, it was actually really impressive, especially since Vlad no longer focused all his Origin Force on his body but instead used 80% to nurture his Depravita Sky.
The best part for Vlad about the improvement was seeing that his vitality had nearly reached 100 points, which meant that his body would endure even more powerful runes, which would become useful very soon.
Vlad walked toward the energy pool and gazed at it for a moment before sending a command to the A.I. Chip. "Send to Overlord all the information about the Demon Soul Master Strength System."
As soon as those words came out of Vlad’s mouth, a stream of data emerged from the A.I. Chip and reached into the energy pool, where the core of Overlord’s code resided.
"Analyze the information and give me your best analysis." Vlad knew that the A.I. Chip Clone’s computational capabilities were superior to his as the Xaos Tower and its energy pool provided a better vessel than his soul force. Of course, as he rose in level, his A.I. Chip would continue growing stronger, unlike Overlord, which had no way of improvement without external help.
"Demon Soul Master Strength System. A path of power that can give birth to a class of powerful individuals known as Demon Soul Masters. These masters hunt demons, extract their souls, and use runic formations to seal them into their bodies.
The energy from sealed demon souls continuously nourishes the master’s body and soul, aiding in cultivation and faster advancement. As the master seals more demon souls, a positive feedback cycle comes into effect, making them stronger, and allowing them to subdue even more powerful demons and continue advancing.
The improvements are not limited to training, as Demon Soul Masters can use part of the abilities of the sealed demon souls, greatly enhancing their combat prowess, or they can go beyond that point and summon the demon soul to fight by their side."