Reincarnated with a lucky draw system

Chapter 543: DEFECTS

He refrained from asking any more questions after that, letting the weight of the revelation settle in his mind.

"We are here," Trunk finally announced.

They hovered before a flat world, roughly the same surface area as Earth.

Its grey surface stretched out endlessly beneath them, cold and featureless at first glance.

"Where is this?" Nightflame asked.

Trunk gave no reply.

Instead, he waited silently, as if expecting someone.

It didn’t take long.

A group of well-armed men stepped forward from the surface, their weapons gleaming dully in the colorless light.

Their leader’s eyes immediately locked onto Nightflame with sharp suspicion.

"Trunk. You are here again," the leader said, never taking his gaze off the newcomer.

"Yeah. I am," Trunk nodded calmly.

"Who is he?"

"A friend," Trunk replied without hesitation.

"Very well. Let’s go inside," the man said, nodding in acceptance.

"You will be safe now," Trunk smiled at Nightflame, reaching over to tap his shoulder reassuringly.

Nightflame simply nodded and followed closely behind.

The group descended onto the flat planet.

As they moved across its surface, Nightflame noticed structures built everywhere, dense clusters of buildings covering the grey ground like metallic scars.

One thing stood out clearly in his sharp eyes.

Huge antennas rose at every corner and edge of the planet, towering and ominous.

"Those are space storm diffusers," Trunk explained as they walked.

"They prevent this planet from being hit by space storms and randomly changing location.

They’re very expensive, you know. Not many planets or organizations can afford them."

Nightflame nodded in understanding, taking in every detail.

The group passed through the main gate of the facility, moving through layer after layer of strict protocols and security checkpoints.

Armed guards watched them with cold, calculating eyes at every turn.

Finally, they boarded a space vehicle, an ugly, bulky shuttle that looked crude and patched together.

Yet its functionality was clearly all that mattered in this broken universe.

"Space shuttle," Trunk continued as they settled in. "Another rare product that only the wealthy can have.

It was built by the Mad One and distributed only to those who offered something of equal value in return."

Trunk had quickly become a willing guide, quietly informing Nightflame about everything they encountered.

"We are here," the leader of the guard team announced as the shuttle came to a stop.

They stepped down and once again passed through another round of heavy protocols.

This time, a strange-looking band was fastened tightly around Nightflame’s wrist.

"Security reasons," Trunk smiled, raising his own hand to show an identical band.

The group finally entered a heavily guarded room.

The security here was on another level. Guards stood everywhere, weapons ready, eyes sharp.

Compared to the previous checkpoints, those earlier ones now felt like child’s play, mere protocols for toddlers.

The atmosphere inside the room was thick with tension and watchful silence.

"My lord," Trunk said, bowing his head low in deep respect.

A huge man sat upon a massive throne at the far end of the hall.

He was half man, half gorilla, broad-shouldered and towering, with thick, powerful arms and a barrel chest covered in coarse dark fur.

His face was brutally ugly, twisted by scars and raw power.

A long, jagged scar ran across his entire chest, pale and raised like a permanent warning.

"Hmm. Trunk. You are here," the gorilla-man rumbled, his voice deep and impatient.

"I hope it is worth it this time. The last chick you brought died far too quickly."

He pointed lazily toward a corner of the room.

There lay the body of a woman, still fresh.

She had large white wings like a chicken’s and a sharp beak where her mouth should have been.

Her lifeless eyes stared blankly at the grey ceiling.

"I’m sorry, my lord," Trunk replied quickly, his voice trembling with nervousness.

"She was the best I could find on short notice. I truly believed she would satisfy you for a while, my lord."

"Indeed," Scar said, waving the matter aside. "Now let us talk business. What do you have for me this time?"

"I presume that will be me," Nightflame answered calmly, stepping forward without hesitation.

The moment his foot moved, guards surged from every shadow and corner.

They surrounded him instantly, weapons raised, eyes cold and ready.

"You brought me here to sell me, right?" Nightflame asked Trunk, his tone flat.

"Kikik. You are right," Trunk laughed, the sound echoing sharply through the hall.

"You finally realized, huh? Never expected to meet such a fool. To not even suspect for so long. Hahahahah!"

His laughter rang loud and mocking, filled with cruel delight.

"You must be Scar," Nightflame said, turning his gaze to the half-gorilla man on the throne.

Scar refused to answer.

He simply stared down at Nightflame with bored contempt. It would be beneath him to speak directly to a soon-to-be slave.

"How much do you want?" Scar asked Trunk instead.

"Protection for a decade and enough resources to last that long," Trunk began, his voice growing bolder as he bargained.

"Don’t you dare get greedy with me," Scar growled angrily. "I don’t want to kill you."

"My lord, it is a fair bargain," Trunk said in a rush, fear flashing across his face.

"Look at him. He is perfect. Not like the others. He barely has any defects. I’m sure HE will be pleased."

"Hmm. You had better not be tricking me this time," Scar replied, eyes narrowing. "He had better have a low defect level."

"I promise you, my lord."

"Very well. It is a deal. You may leave."

"I’m sorry, my friend," Trunk said, turning to Nightflame with a wide, satisfied smile.

"But I just have to survive. It is a cruel universe we live in. We have to protect ourselves."

Nightflame ignored him completely.

"So when you say protection," he asked Scar directly, "do you mean you protect his life? What happens when I kill him?"

"Hah! Kill me?" Trunk burst out laughing again. "That’s impossible. Do you know what is on your wrist? It is a limiter. It prevents you from using even a single ounce of your strength!"

A single cold side glance from Nightflame was enough to silence him instantly.

Scar said nothing. He simply watched the entire exchange with open amusement, leaning back on his throne.

"I have a proposition for you instead," Nightflame said calmly, his voice steady and low. "I will spare your life. In return, you obey me."

"What nonsense do you think—" Trunk started, anger rising in his throat.

"You talk too much," Nightflame cut in coldly. "Shut up."

In that same instant, a dark being slipped out from Nightflame’s shadow.

It moved with blinding speed and tore straight into Trunk’s throat with a single, decisive strike.