SSS-Tier Extraction: From Outcast to Overgod!
Chapter 51: Converging Rivals

Chapter 51: Converging Rivals

The Weaver’s calm, synthesized voice faded, but the information it had given him remained, stark and clear on his tactical map.

The red dots representing his rivals were getting closer. He estimated he had minutes, at best, before the first of them arrived. There was no time to gawk at the magnificent machine or ponder the mysteries of the universe.

It was time to get ready for a fight.

He immediately turned his attention to the loot he’d just acquired from the two Labyrinth Wardens. The two "Warden Power Matrixes" were still in his inventory, humming with contained energy.

They were powerful, but just sitting there, they were useless. He needed to extract their secrets, and he needed to do it now.

He pulled out the first power matrix. It was a perfect, heavy cube of dark metal, covered in complex, glowing circuitry. He placed his hand on it and activated his Ultimate Infinite Extraction System.

He didn’t just want raw power; he wanted the knowledge within. He focused his intent, searching for the defensive protocols that had made the Wardens so tough.

His system, now incredibly powerful and efficient, latched onto the matrix’s core programming. It was like downloading a massive file directly into his brain. The process was intense, a flood of complex data about energy fields, damage mitigation, and shield harmonics.

"You have successfully extracted the B-Tier talent: ’Adaptive Shielding Protocols’!" the system announced.

Description: When using compatible defensive technology such as a Kinetic Field Projector or other shield-generating artifacts, the shield will dynamically analyze incoming damage and re-calibrate its energy frequency to better resist that specific damage type.

"Now we’re talking," Ryan muttered, a grin flashing across his face.

This was a huge upgrade. The Kinetic Field Projector he’d found was a good panic button, but it was a one-trick pony. With this new talent, any shield he used would get smarter with every hit it took.

It would learn, adapt, and become tougher. He still needed to find a way to repair or replace his projector, which had been shattered by the Array Sentinel, but having the software before the hardware was a good start.

He extracted from the second matrix and, while he didn’t get another talent, he did manage to pull out a "Reinforced Alloy Schematic," a blueprint for a stronger type of armor. He filed that away for later.

Next, he needed power. He was about to face multiple high-level opponents in what was sure to be a long, drawn-out battle. His own personal energy reserves were high, but not infinite.

He looked at the magnificent god Weaver floating in the center of the chamber. It was the biggest power source he had ever seen. The air around it was thick with pure, untapped god energy.

He cautiously approached the edge of the platform closest to the Weaver. He was the "Primary User," so hopefully, it wouldn’t get angry if he siphoned off a little bit of juice.

He activated his "Energy Siphon" talent, not aiming for a specific component, but for the ambient field of energy surrounding the machine.

It was like dipping a cup into a boundless ocean.

A stream of pure, clean, incredibly potent god energy flowed into him. It was far more powerful than the energy he’d siphoned from any Anomaly or power core. It filled his reserves in seconds, pushing them past their normal limits.

He felt super-charged, every cell in his body humming with power. His Charged god Power Core, which he had clipped to his belt, also began to glow brightly as it absorbed the excess energy, becoming overcharged and humming with a new, higher-pitched frequency.

And then came the best part. This unique interaction, this direct link between his system and the heart of the Sector’s power, was recognized by the god Interface as a monumental achievement.

"For successfully interfacing with and drawing power from a Prime Sector Confluence Point, you have been awarded +1000 god Points!"

The massive influx of experience was more than enough to push him over the edge. A brilliant, golden light enveloped him, far more intense than any previous level-up. It was a deep, fundamental upgrade, fueled by the purest energy he had ever encountered.

"Congratulations! You have reached Level 8! All base stats increased by +5! You have gained +3 Flex Essence Points!"

The power that washed through him was immense. He felt stronger, faster, and more mentally sharp than ever before. His connection to the god System, to the Weaver, deepened in that moment. He felt less like a visitor in this world and more like a part of its operating system.

Just as the light from his level-up faded, the first of his uninvited guests arrived.

From a dark corridor at the edge of the vast chamber, a group of figures emerged. They moved with a silent, deadly precision, their movements perfectly coordinated.

They wore sleek, crimson armor that seemed to absorb the chamber’s soft light. At their head was a man whose presence commanded attention: Tom "Shadow" Kane, the leader of the Crimson Banner.

His eyes, sharp and intelligent, swept across the chamber, taking in the incredible sight of the god Weaver, before finally settling on the lone figure of Ryan Stone standing on the central platform.

Kane’s face was a mask of cool calculation. His S-Tier talent, "Strategic Mimicry," was already at work. Ryan could almost feel it, like a faint pressure in the air, as Kane’s mind analyzed the chamber’s layout, the potential choke points, the defensive positions, and Ryan’s own stance.

He was a living supercomputer designed for tactical warfare.

He didn’t gloat or taunt. There was no time for that. This was not a formal challenge; it was a race for the ultimate prize. Kane simply raised his hand and gave a sharp, downward chop. It was a silent, unmistakable order: Attack.

His elite Crimson Banner squad spread out at once, their movements a flawless display of a perfect pincer formation.

Two moved along the left wall, two along the right, while Kane himself advanced down the center, his eyes never leaving Ryan.

They were trying to surround him, to cut off any escape route and overwhelm him with a multi-directional assault. It was a classic, effective strategy.

And it was exactly what Ryan was expecting.