Chapter 49: The Path Forward

The Research Assistant remained silent for several seconds.

I didn’t interrupt it.

Unlike my previous questions, this wasn’t something that could be answered with a simple calculation.

It had to evaluate everything I currently possessed—my abilities, available funds, the threats I would eventually face, and the most efficient path toward my long-term goals.

Finally, the familiar calm voice broke the silence.

“Analysis complete. Recommended development path consists of four stages.”

I leaned back slightly, giving it my full attention.

“I’m listening.”

“Stage One: Upgrade the host’s Magicule Body.”

The recommendation didn’t surprise me in the slightest.

In fact, it matched what I had already been considering.

“Why?”

“The host’s current Magicule production is insufficient for long-term development. It restricts Skill creation, Skill analysis, and future upgrades.”

I nodded slowly as the explanation continued.

“Magicules are the primary energy source for all future Skill-related functions. Without sufficient Magicule production, the host’s future growth will be significantly limited.”

That made perfect sense.

Powerful abilities meant very little if I didn’t have enough energy to support them.

“What comes after that?”

There was a brief pause before the Research Assistant replied.

“Stage Two: Increase Diablo’s release percentage.”

A faint smile appeared on my face.

“I expected that answer.”

Diablo was already my strongest combat asset despite being heavily restricted.

Even a small increase in his release percentage would dramatically increase his overall combat ability.

“Reason?”

“Current analysis indicates Diablo possesses the highest combat value among all of the host’s available assets. Improving Diablo provides the greatest immediate increase in combat capability relative to the required investment.”

I nodded in agreement.

There wasn’t much to argue with.

Diablo alone was already capable of overwhelming almost every opponent I was likely to face in the near future.

Strengthening him would provide far greater returns than purchasing several smaller upgrades that only offered marginal improvements.

“And after Diablo?”

“Stage Three: Acquire an additional Primordial Demon.”

A faint smile appeared on my face.

“I had a feeling you’d say that.”

It had already been part of my plan.

Once Diablo recovered enough of his original strength, summoning another Primordial Demon was the logical next step.

“Reason?”

“Current analysis indicates that expanding the host’s available forces provides a greater increase in long-term capability than allocating all resources to a single subordinate. An additional Primordial Demon will significantly improve combat effectiveness, operational flexibility, and future development potential.”

I nodded.

That was exactly what I had been thinking.

“And the final stage?”

There was a brief pause before the Research Assistant answered.

“Stage Four: Preserve all remaining funds until the host is capable of purchasing Great Sage.”

A quiet laugh escaped my lips.

“So that’s still the ultimate goal.”

“Affirmative. Great Sage represents the greatest qualitative improvement currently available to the host. Current funds remain insufficient.”

I wasn’t surprised by the answer.

Even after exchanging all the Vibranium, I was still a long way from one hundred trillion dollars.

Still, the overall plan was exactly what I had envisioned from the beginning.

Strengthen my foundation, increase Diablo’s power, expand my forces, and then save everything for Great Sage.

It was simple, efficient, and exactly the kind of long-term plan I preferred.

A faint smile formed on my face.

“I have to admit… that’s almost identical to the plan I already had.”

“Affirmative. Current probability of maximizing the host’s long-term growth using this development path exceeds ninety-seven percent.”

I slowly nodded.

Good.

That meant my instincts had been right all along.

Now all that remained was deciding where to begin.

The conversation should have ended there.

Instead, another thought crossed my mind.

“Research Assistant.”

“Awaiting instructions.”

“You mentioned Skill creation earlier. You said increasing my Magicule production would improve Skill development.”

“Affirmative.”

I folded my arms.

“What exactly did you mean by that?”

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation before the Research Assistant replied.

“This unit is capable of creating, modifying, and optimizing Skills up to the Advanced tier.”

I blinked, my attention sharpening.

“Creating? You mean improving Skills I already have?”

“Negative. This unit is capable of designing entirely new Skills.”

That answer caught me completely off guard.

“Entirely new?”

“Affirmative. Provided sufficient information and Magicules are available, this unit can combine existing principles, analyzed data, and the host’s requirements to construct original Skills that have never previously existed.”

A slow smile spread across my face as the implications sank in.

That was far more valuable than I had expected.

“So I don’t need to discover a Skill before I can obtain it.”

“Negative. This unit is capable of designing original Skills.”

I leaned back, my mind racing with possibilities.

If that was true, then the limits I had imagined for the System had just expanded dramatically.

Every battle I fought, every piece of technology I analyzed, and every supernatural ability I encountered could potentially become the foundation for an entirely new Skill.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Let’s test your limits.”

“Awaiting instructions.”

“What if I wanted a Skill capable of creating metal?”

“Possible.”

The immediate response didn’t surprise me.

“What about Vibranium?”

This time, the Research Assistant didn’t answer right away.

Several seconds passed in complete silence.

“Analyzing.”

Unlike every previous question, this one clearly required considerably more processing.

I waited patiently, watching the translucent panel in front of me.

Finally, the familiar voice spoke again.

“Feasible.”

I blinked.

“Seriously?”

“Affirmative. An Advanced-tier Skill capable of generating Vibranium can be designed.”

For the first time since purchasing the Research Assistant, I was genuinely stunned.

A slow smile spread across my face.

“If that’s true then I don’t need to conquer Wakanda after all.”

Of course, nothing inside the System was ever that simple.

“There has to be a catch.”

“Affirmative.”

I smiled.

“I figured.”

“Designing the Skill requires one billion Magicules.”

I paused for a moment.

Honestly, that wasn’t nearly as expensive as I had expected.

Considering what such a Skill could potentially accomplish, the creation cost almost seemed reasonable.

Before I could say anything, the Research Assistant continued.

“The creation cost is only the initial expenditure. The operational cost is significantly higher.”

My smile gradually faded.

“How high?”

“Generating one gram of Vibranium requires one hundred million Magicules.”

I fell silent.

One hundred million Magicules…

For a single gram.

A slow breath escaped my lips.

Suddenly, the System’s exchange value of one hundred million dollars per gram no longer seemed unreasonable.

If it demanded that much energy simply to create a single gram, then Vibranium truly deserved its reputation as one of the rarest materials in existence.

A faint smile returned to my face as everything finally clicked into place.

“So that’s why you placed upgrading my Magicule Body above everything else.”

“Affirmative. Without sufficient Magicule production, even the most powerful Skills remain impractical.”

I slowly nodded.

Everything finally clicked into place.

Up until now, I had thought money was the foundation of the System.

I had been wrong.

Money only allowed me to buy opportunities.

What truly determined my future was Magicule production.

The more Magicules I could generate, the more powerful the Skills I could create, the stronger those Skills could become, and the greater the possibilities that opened before me.

Suddenly, the Research Assistant’s entire roadmap made perfect sense.