Chapter 89: System Restrictions

Ethan stared at the notification for several seconds before trying again

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`

[Ding!]

[Undead Summon has been detected.]

[Target: Wolf Alpha— Rank B Devil]

[Summon has failed]

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He tried it again...

```

[Undead Summon has been detected.]

[Target: Wolf Alpha— Rank B Devil]

[Summon has failed]

```

His eyebrow twitched. It was when he was about to try yet again when the system finally decided to explain itself...

```

[System notice: Restriction has been placed on host]

[Devil-class undead Summon has been locked]

[Host is in possession of too many bound Devil class undead]

[Requirement: Host is required to be Rank B or higher to successfully summon Devil-class undead]

[Single Devil-class storage does not apply this gate]

[Current Rank: C]

```

Ethan read it twice. "You’re joking."

So the system now won’t let him to use either of the devil classes because he now had two of them and was below them in rank?

Bullshit!

Since when was that even a rule?

And why did that have to get enforced now?

"You’re definitely joking..."

Expect, the system didn’t joke. He genuinely was unable to summon the alpha and the cyclops.

He tried it several more times. It had been confirmed.

He had almost died for that devil class kill, ignoring the other corpses because he had hoped for a better one later.

He cleared a dungeon all by himself, had to outrun MCA hunters before they caught him, and even spent extra energy in raising it only for the system to suddenly place a restriction on him because he had "too many bound Devil class undead."

He sat on the ground. He was very pissed right now...

Aside from the EXP rewards and skill refinement, he had gained almost nothing from that clear. The one practical and usable reward was now locked because of some dumb restriction.

"Wait a minute..."

Too many bound undead?

There were just two...

Was the system calling him weak?

He, Ethan Shaw. The one who defeated a devil class monster with boneless centipedes all by himself weak??!

Nahhh...

"Don’t fuck with me."

He reached into his shadow serval more times only to be met with the same results and finally giving up, he slumped against the wall and stared at the system notification so long, it was almost as if it was taunting him...

Now, the Ethan from a week ago wouldn’t have had any issues with this. Since he new that if he leveled up, he would move on to the next rank.

But now, he needed four more levels in order to achieve that... four levels where each of them had increasing Exp thresholds.

At this rate, even a month wouldn’t be enough grinding time...

He ran a hand through his hair... "what a load of bullshit."

He dismissed the screen, clicked his tongue and grabbed his bag hard enough that the strap made an audible sound against his palm.

He cursed under his breath, and left the east grounds before he did something stupid that would lead him to regret it later.

***

When Lila realised that he was back she asked without looking up from her phone: "So, who did you manage to gross out this time?"

"No one." Ethan slammed the door hard enough to make her turn. "That’s the problem."

He went to the fridge and opened it. "This System is pissing me off..."

She set her phone down and after taking in the look on his face, she asked, "what wrong?"

She was in one of his shirts again, a baggy black shirt that was long enough to reach just above her knees. Ethan noticed this and decided to ignore it as he replied.

"I had another objective yesterday. And when I cleared it I managed to bring another devil class monster back with me...."

"But when I wanted to train with it, the system comes up and tells me that I have too many bound undead. And j need to be in a higher rank to be able to use it. Like are you shittng me?"

Lila blinked. "So wait, you’re angry because the system told you that you have too many toys?"

"I’m angry because I can’t use them."

"That’s—" She stopped, and a snicker escaped her lips.

Ethans eyes narrowed. "Are you laughing at me?"

She forced it down and waved her hands. "Me, no. No. I’m just... wow you look really cute when you’re angry."

Was this woman actually being serious right now? "It is not cute. The system literally called me weak. I’m not weak! I killed a Devil once all by myself dammit!"

This time, she didn’t bother to hold in the laugh. She placed her head on her hands on the cushion of the couch, tilted her head and spoke in a soft voice...

"You’re stomping around like the a kid who just got denied candy. It’s really cute."

He narrowed his eyes. Why would she tease him at a time like this? "Stop calling me cute."

She stood, walked over to him, and poked the center of his chest lightly. "No, I won’t. Sit down before you throw a tantrum. I’ll something for us."

He clicked his tongue and looked away. "I’m not hungry."

This time she poked his cheek. "I didn’t ask. Sit down and wait while I cook up something. If I’m going to have to watch you pissed all night, I’d rather do it with a full stomach."

She walked to the cabinet, then the fridge, pulling a few ingredients and lighting the stove. "Also, I’ve been training. Flame control’s cleaner, and I can create larger flame constructs. Still need to work on it so it doesn’t drain too much too fast."

Ethan who sat at the counter with his chin in his hands looked at her. He was still annoyed, but annoyance couldn’t change the fact that he was actually impressed hearing this.

"Show me later?"

"Maybe," she smied, "only if you stop radiating murder intent like that would solve anything. It’s not like you could beat up the system."

"Believe me, if I could, I would."

She laughed. Oil hit the pan and sizzled as she went quiet. "Need to rank up huh..."

"I need ten levels for that. Currently at level six." He dragged a hand down his face. "Tournament is in less than a month, I’m stuck at rank C and the system just locked my two best flighters behind a letter I can’t reach in time unless it hands out another impossible objective."

Lila shrugged. "You’re making it sound like the end of the world. You’re not crippled. You still got other means to fight don’t you? Work on that instead of beating yourself up. Who knows, maybe they system is actually doing you a favor..."

He huffed, and Lila laughed as she finished preparing the food.

They ate while Ethan listened to her talk about how her constructs work. He listened, nodding where he understood and asking questions when he didn’t, pushing the thought of the restriction aside for now.

When they finished, he did not go back out to train. Annoyance had burned already burned out the productive part of him. He just wanted the day to end already...

By the time the sun completely set, and they had spent the most of the evening together, they went to their room doors ready to retire for the night.

Lila paused at her door, her hand on the frame, and looked back. "You still mad?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "A little."

She stepped in, placed both her hands on his cheeks and looked directly into his eyes. "You’re being petty, you know that, right?"

Her gaze softened as she smiled and caressed his cheek with her thumb. "Still cute though."

She leaned in and kissed him, pressing her lips firmly against his. Her lips were warm, he could feel her breath on his face and she stayed like that for a few moments before finally pulling back.

"Goodnight." Saying that, she turned to her room, entered and locked the door leaving Ethan stunned in front of his door.

Ethan stood a second longer, shook himself out of stupor and then entered his own room, shut the door, and lay down on a mattress.

Two Devils in Storage locked because he was at rank c, four levels before the next rank up, the tournament as well and the fact that he was the "rogue" that beat the hunters to a new manifestion.

He stared at the ceiling for a few moments, then made up his mind on what he would do the following day.

"Might as well check on Nora tomorrow..."

She would have had enough info on Brimstone by now. He would get the information he needed, make plans accordingly, and see what she knew about Dungeon resource value. Why people risked rogue labels for clears and whether it was truly worth the risk.

He turned to the other side of the bed. On any other day, Lila would be there, sleeping and taking up space.

He sighed and let sleep take him, preparing for whatever awaited him tomorrow.