Even distant galaxies, though spared complete destruction, weren't untouched by the war, flung further into the cosmic void by the lingering power of star energies.
Countless stars and planets were cast adrift, some colliding and shattering into cosmic dust.
And this…
This was merely the lingering power of two Tier 6 galaxy cluster-level beings clashing.
Vast clouds of cosmic dust drifted through space, fundamental particles violently colliding, sparking fleeting flashes of light before being crushed by the overwhelming star energy.
An incredibly sharp crimson blade severed a river of stars, tearing through the cosmos. Upon sensing the spacetime energy shield around Mei,
Star Silver struck with a single blow, the attack piercing the spacetime barrier and landing squarely on Mei's body, severing an arm.
At that moment,
Mei's powerful regenerative abilities manifested, the severed arm instantly reattaching, leaving no trace of the wound.
"Incredible!"
Mei marveled inwardly. This was the first time anyone had broken through her spacetime shield and injured her.
"You're not bad yourself."
Star Silver felt a strange excitement, a sensation he hadn't experienced in ages – a truly worthy opponent.
Even among the strongest in the universe, Star Silver hadn't had such exhilarating combat in far too long.
But this remained a fight to the death, not some camaraderie through martial arts. Both were striving with all their might to eliminate the other.
Holding nothing back.
Bang!
The resonant clang of the crimson blade, carried through the star energy, echoed in Mei's mind. Star Silver's gaze sharpened, the palpable sense of danger sending a chill down her spine.
Whum—
Simultaneously.
Star energy from millions of light-years was instantly drained as Mei, her instincts reacting to the imminent danger, unleashed the full power of her [Super Burst]—a strike amplified ten thousandfold!
Boom!
A strike transcending causality landed squarely on Mei. The violent attack reduced her body to its fundamental informational state.
At the same time,
The ten-thousandfold power of the Super Burst ripped apart the fabric of spacetime. Hundreds of millions of light-years of celestial bodies and space were utterly annihilated, the cosmic space shattering into a crystalline pattern before being compressed into dust and devoured.
The attack, which had gathered the star energy of millions of light-years, possessed immeasurable power, instantly expanding into an unimaginably large supermassive black hole upon its emergence in the universe.
Star Silver was swallowed by the black hole's core, the unparalleled force crushing all matter instantly into fundamental informational quanta, a quantum foam.
Then,
Cosmic space fell into prolonged silence.
Mei ceaselessly repeated the cycle of life and death under that causality-defying strike, while Star Silver was eternally trapped within the supermassive black hole.
However,
With each cycle of life and death, Mei's power and aura intensified, as if accumulating the energy of a Big Bang.
[Death Evolution] was repeatedly activated.
Mei was steadily growing stronger!
Thump… thump…
Star energy and psionic fluctuations grew increasingly intense, pulsating like a heartbeat, reverberating throughout the cosmos, a powerful life force surging.
The battle's commotion was immense, the lingering star energy expanding outward, alarming many galaxy-level powerhouses.
Among them were even several Tier 5 powerhouses.
The distance was vast; they couldn't observe the battlefield directly, only detecting an unimaginably massive supermassive black hole.
Just seeing this, the Tier 5 powerhouses broke out in cold sweat. Upon closer inspection, they saw that galaxies across hundreds of millions of light-years had suffered devastating blows.
Vast numbers of galaxies were being drawn into and crushed by the black hole.
"What in the cosmos has happened?!?"
"A void cataclysm?"
"No…"
"This…this is a Tier 6 battlefield!"
Hearing this,
More than half of the Tier 5 powerhouses who had flocked to the scene immediately fled. A galaxy cluster-level battle was far beyond their capabilities; they were mere Tier 5 beings, their lives utterly insignificant in such a conflict.
"There are only a handful of galaxy cluster-level powerhouses in the universe. Who's fighting whom?"
"Don't know."
Thump… thump…
At that moment,
A heartbeat-like tremor pulsed through the sea of star energy, causing the powerhouses to startle. It was an overwhelming surge of star energy, so powerful it left them breathless.
Before this might, they felt infinitesimally small, like humans gazing at the boundless cosmos. The Tier 5 powerhouses' faces paled.
The cosmos itself began to subtly tremble.
The Tier 5 powerhouses' faces changed drastically.
"Run!"
"Get far away from this battlefield!"
"The battle isn't over yet!!"
Boom!
Limitless star energy erupted suddenly. Mei, with a domineering aura, escaped the causality-defying strike, finally breaking free after using Limit Break.
At this point,
Her power was at the peak of Tier 6; without Limit Break, she would be at the pinnacle of Tier 5. Ideally, she would have used Death Evolution to ascend to Tier 6 and escape the cycle of life and death, but time was of the essence. Mei feared Star Silver might escape before her, which would be highly disadvantageous.
Simultaneously,
The supermassive black hole was cleaved open. Star Silver, seemingly reborn, emerged, facing off against Mei from a distance, but his aura was already subdued.
"Tch."
Star Silver showed no emotion, sheathing his crimson blade. "You're far stronger than I anticipated. Continuing this fight would likely result in my defeat."
Though not death; escape would be simple.
His fighting spirit quickly vanished. Star Silver produced a black crystal and tossed it to Mei. "This thing masks Star Spirit energy fluctuations. Wearing it will sever pursuit from Star Spirit hunters."
Mei received the black crystal, slightly confused.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Star Silver explained, "Continuing this fight is pointless. I'm not planning on dying here, but I can't ignore my orders from above. Consider this a convenient favor. If they can't track you, they'll assume you're dead."
He didn't care about the Gaia consciousness' orders, or perhaps he simply resented the Gaia consciousness for a long time.
Mei accepted the crystal.
"Then I accept this favor."
"Right."
Star Silver added a final instruction. "Consider the battle tokens earned as a gift. But keep a low profile. If you continue blatantly destroying galaxies and disrupting the cosmic balance, the Gaia consciousness won't stand idly by. At least until you're confident you can destroy this universe."
Mei didn't quite understand Star Silver's unusual consideration.
"Our relationship isn't close enough to warrant such favoritism – first a convenient favor, then warnings about the Gaia consciousness. What are your intentions?"
"Intentions?"
Star Silver smirked. "I've resented the Gaia consciousness for a long time. I sense great potential in you. Maybe someday you can help me overthrow the Gaia consciousness. Does that suffice as an explanation?"
Honestly,
The Gaia consciousness has always treated them as mere tools, and Star Silver has long resented this. He genuinely wants to overthrow the Gaia consciousness of this universe.
Mei remained skeptical of Star Silver's intentions, but she was more concerned about something else: "From what you say, this universe's Gaia consciousness has developed sentience?"
Star Silver affirmed this.
Before leaving, he reiterated his warning. "Therefore, keep a low profile. Avoid provoking the Gaia consciousness directly. That would be a catastrophic event, involving universe-level power."
The implication being, grow slowly and steadily. They currently lack the strength to oppose the Gaia consciousness, and they shouldn't court death by being reckless.
Mei understood.
The Gaia consciousness of this universe had actually developed sentience – an unexpected and incredible miracle occurring within this universe.
In short,
The black crystal Star Silver gifted her masked Star Spirit fluctuations, temporarily resolving the threat of Star Spirit hunters, eliminating immediate major concerns.
However,
Star Silver's apparent indifference to Star Spirits didn't mean that all powerful beings in this universe shared that attitude.
Mei was acutely aware of this.
Assuming everyone held the same apathy as Star Silver would be naive. It was entirely possible that some beings were sworn enemies of the Star Spirits.
And that turned out to be the case.
This universe's Gaia consciousness indeed hates Star Spirits, but those Star Spirit hunters weren't simply following orders; they genuinely loathed Star Spirits.
A deep-seated hatred stemming from a blood feud five billion years old, one that refuses to die. Star Spirits had accumulated too many enemies across countless universes, digging a massive pit for newly born Star Spirits.
Looking around the cosmic space, nearby galaxies were utterly destroyed by the battle's aftermath. Nearly a hundred million light-years' worth of faith markers had mostly become Mei's tokens.
Opening the faith marker shop, a staggering number filled her vision.
[Remaining Tokens: 579.2 Billion]
She still needed over 400 billion more to purchase the complete legacy of the four Unified Force Forms. Obtaining them without blatant destruction was a monumental task.
Mei continued her old method, eliminating faith marker holders within a five light-year radius at a time to gather tokens.
Slow, yes, but it was low-key and safe. It was a viable method of gathering tokens, and she had no complaints. Grow quietly, then explode across this universe!
By then,
Mei wouldn't care if this universe's top powerhouses hunted her or if the Gaia consciousness hated her. Anyone threatening her life would die!
Currently, Mei's normal state combat power was at the pinnacle of Tier 5, with star energy perception and control reaching a 3 million light-year radius. Her Star Spirit level was LV25.
While seemingly only a step away from Tier 6 galaxy cluster-level power, the difference was actually vast. Mei, after utilizing Limit Break, could unleash Tier 6 power, a single strike capable of obliterating hundreds of galaxies – a power far beyond Tier 5.
The disparity between Tier 5 and Tier 6 was astonishing. Tier 7, universe-level power, was likely even more unimaginable – a force Mei couldn't contend with.
Even with Death Evolution, she wouldn't recklessly confront the Gaia consciousness directly, lest she meet an untimely end.
As for that Gamma kid, Mei had no idea where the rift had sent him, only hoping for his good fortune.
Whum—
Mei controlled the universe's star energy, rapidly gathering it. The abundant star energy first formed matter, then continuously created various celestial bodies, adorning the cosmic space.
A colossal black hole was created, its immense gravity pulling in countless celestial bodies, slowly rotating around it, forming a shape identical to a galaxy.
The New Milky Way!
Mei's newly created galaxy had a radius of approximately 1 million light-years, containing over a hundred trillion stars. She retrieved the Solar System from her Personal Spatial Storage and placed it within the New Milky Way.
Relocation complete.
Spacetime energy enveloped the entire New Milky Way, spacetime accelerating dramatically.
The Star Spirit will settled among the stars, silently nurturing life, countless beings flourishing and thriving.
After completing all this, Mei withdrew the spacetime energy and departed, leaving the future development of Earth and the New Milky Way to chance.
Shortly after Mei's departure, a streak of light shot out from Earth. A crimson, scaled behemoth was vaguely visible.
"Roar!"
A silent roar reverberated through the cosmos, causing intense energy fluctuations. The long-dormant youth finally entered the Milky Way, beginning his own story.
The New Milky Way lacked faith markers; Mei needed to find new hunting grounds.
Tier 5 powerhouses weren't uncommon in the universe. Thanks to the faith marker shop, many had survived and transformed into landowners.
But considering the countless trillions of galaxies in the universe, Tier 5 powerhouses were like drops in an ocean, rarely encountered.
Mei quickly found a new hunting ground: a galaxy 100 million light-years from the New Milky Way, a civilization known as the Sail System.
The Sail System was a full-fledged galaxy, similar to the Milky Way, with a radius of 100,000 light-years, boasting over ten trillion stars and numerous civilizations.
This naturally included faith marker holders.
Whum—
In an instant,
Spacetime energy enveloped the entire Sail System, accelerating spacetime. Mei entered the accelerated spacetime, employing this method for faster harvesting.
Mei could only sense faith marker holders within a 5 light-year radius. Without spacetime acceleration, harvesting the faith markers across 200,000 light-years would be an arduous task.
During the prolonged faith marker harvest, messages appeared:
[Tokens Acquired: 1000]
[Tokens Acquired: 3400]
[Tokens Acquired: 25000]
[Tokens Acquired: 140000]
…
Quickly,
The Sail System's faith marker holders were completely harvested, yielding 3.2 billion tokens for Mei. The spacetime energy receded like a tide, returning to the Spacetime crystal.
[Remaining Tokens: 582.4 Billion]
Fortunately, she had the Spacetime crystal. Otherwise, a month's rest wouldn't be enough to harvest a single galaxy. Sensing a nearby galaxy, Mei quickly moved to her next target.
Meanwhile,
Gamma vaguely awoke, his eyes opening to a massive fissure before him – a hole torn in the fabric of the universe, with cosmic energy pouring in.
"You're finally awake!"
A powerful figure resembling a cosmic behemoth clapped Gamma on the shoulder, a friendly smile on his face. "Welcome to the Void Realm."
"Huh?"
Gamma was still disoriented.
The figure shoved a gun into Gamma's hand, then picked up a metal staff radiating green light, grabbed Gamma, and charged towards the void rift.
"Prepare for battle!"
Gamma's face was a question mark.
"What…what's going on???"
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
[Remaining Tokens: 623.7 Billion]
Finally,
Mei's remaining tokens exceeded 600 billion, leaving less than 380 billion to purchase the complete Unified Force Form.
She estimated that two or three more months would suffice. Once she evolved into a Unified Force Form Star Spirit, Tier 7 universe-level power would be within reach.
In the Unified Force Form, Mei would possess Tier 6 galaxy cluster-level combat strength in her base state, and with [Limit Break], Tier 7 would be plausible.
It's crucial to understand that high-level abilities and items don't automatically grant equivalent power.
Mei's [Fundamental Core] is a Tier 6 Star Spirit legacy artifact, but she hasn't reached Tier 6, as she doesn't possess Tier 6 strength in her normal state.
Conversely,
If someone possesses an item granting them Tier 6 power, they are considered a Tier 6 powerhouse, regardless of their inherent strength. They effectively possess Tier 6 power.
Mei, however, relies on pure self-cultivation, the truest path to power, eschewing reliance on artifacts.
Entering Hyperdimensional Space.
At the final twenty-four hours of the thirty-day period on the interface, the new world mission information updated. This was Mei's first tethered mission after advancing to Tier 2.
[Mission Type: Tethered Mission]
[Mission Difficulty: Tier 2]
Tzzz—
Mei's figure flickered and vanished.
...
This was a vibrant world, brimming with life, showing no signs of decay or destruction. A modern, technologically advanced society bustled with activity.
Telephones.
Networks.
Airplanes.
Professionally dressed people hurried to work; everything appeared peaceful and prosperous. Star energy readings scanned the planet, Mei focusing her gaze on a particular direction.
"Eastern Special Zone."
The spatial interface appeared.
[Main Mission · Phase One: This is a world dominated by void energy. To uncover this world's secrets and dangers, you must first master void energy.]
[Mission Reward: 1000 points]
After reaching Tier 2, the Main Mission Phase One rewards were significantly higher than in Tier 1, at least not the paltry few hundred points.
…
[Name: Mei]
[Grade: Tier 2]
[Points: 1,068,600]
[Abilities: Star Spirit · LV25, Planck Membrane Lifeform, Limit Break · LV10, Super Burst · LV11, Death Evolution]
[Items: Personal Spatial Storage ·Galaxy, Chapter of Gaia, Tyrant's Heart, Fundamental Core]
…
Mei first tossed the Fundamental Core into the Planck Membrane.
While seemingly an ordinary planet, it actually concealed incredibly powerful supernatural energy. The basis of this supernatural power was the void energy mentioned in the first phase of the Main Mission.
Void is the origin of all things; even universes and worlds are born from it. Mei understood this.
It wasn't limited to Voidborn; many advanced civilizations in the universe shared this theory: the void is infinite, encompassing countless universes and worlds.
The void is filled with chaotic, unformed void energy, the most fundamental and primordial energy – the origin of all energy and matter.
In short,
A world might not be able to utilize star energy, but absolutely no world could exist without void energy, as it is the very fabric of existence.
Based on void energy, this planet developed an incredibly powerful energy system, but it remains a secret to ordinary people.
Four large special zones were established on the planet for research and development of void energy systems. These four zones were isolated from the outside world, strictly prohibiting the diffusion of supernatural power.
The closest to Mei was the Eastern Special Zone.
Despite this planet's inhabitants struggling to reach the moon, these four zones concealed power capable of destroying a galaxy.
Supernatural abilities aside, the four special zones publicly declared themselves scientific research zones, conducting the world's most advanced scientific research.
In a sense, this was true.
They were involved in supernatural research, but not in an antiquated way. The application of void energy originated from ancient times, yet the four zones employed highly advanced and scientific research methods.
[Target detected]
[Authority installation in progress]
[Installation complete]
[Random upgrade selection in progress]
[Random selection: Guaranteed Hit]
[Guaranteed Hit complete]
…
[Upgrade Task 1: Ascend to the position of Demon God; progress 10%, Guaranteed Hit level increases by one.]
[Upgrade Task 2: Ascend to the position of Demon God; progress 20%, Guaranteed Hit level increases by one.]
[Upgrade Task 3: Ascend to the position of Demon God; progress 30%, Guaranteed Hit level increases by one.]
…
There were ten Upgrade Tasks in total. Legend had it that the supernatural realm contained high-level entities called Demon Gods, and the ultimate goal of the Upgrade Tasks was for Mei to become one.
Sounds troublesome.
Time to examine this randomly acquired ability.
—
[Ability: Guaranteed Hit]
[Level: LV1]
[Description: Each attack has a 1% chance of triggering a guaranteed hit effect.]
—
Guaranteed hit!
Mei had long desired a causality-based or conceptual ability. Whether it was the guaranteed-hit arrow of the Stargazer world or Star Silver's causality-defying strike, such abilities were immensely powerful.
Now, her wish was finally granted.
Once the Upgrade Tasks were complete, the Guaranteed Hit activation probability would likely reach 100%. Just thinking about it filled Mei with anticipation.
High stats were good, powerful mechanics were better, but mechanics always had limits. Mei had barely escaped Star Silver's strike.
But high stats combined with overpowered mechanics meant invincibility!
A car sped past.
A black business sedan, with the ferocity of a race car, aggressively slammed into her, screeching to a halt, leaving two deep black tire marks on the ground. Four men in black suits and sunglasses jumped out and forcefully bundled Mei into the car.
Then sped away.
In the car,
A man in sunglasses politely apologized to Mei.
"Excuse me, miss. We had to resort to this method due to urgent circumstances. Please forgive us."
Mei nodded in understanding.
The man then handed Mei a business card. Mei examined it; it read "Eastern Special Zone" and "Yuan Clan Heavy Industries."
Meanwhile,
In the Eastern Special Zone, within the 0-Point Elite Academy, a blonde woman with long hair hung up the phone in frustration. "Tch, so close! Another talent lost."
...
The Eastern Special Zone houses three major scientific research and educational institutions, all dedicated to cultivating a new generation of powerful individuals, engaged in fierce competition.
Yuan Heavy Industries.
0-Point Aerospace.
Void Agency.
These three represent the three major factions of the Eastern Special Zone, each possessing immense financial resources, continuously pouring them into their respective research institutions and educational systems.
Mei unexpectedly gained legal status in this world, even becoming a special recruit of the Eastern Special Zone, at a time when the three major factions were locked in a fierce talent acquisition war.
The other two institutions were slightly slower; Mei was snatched up first by Yuan Heavy Industries. The 0-Point Aerospace educational institution was called the 0-Point Elite Academy.
Yuan Heavy Industries didn't have a formal educational institution. Its supernatural power system had been passed down from ancient times, with certain ancient legacy families deeply rooted in this tradition.
Therefore,
Yuan Heavy Industries followed a traditional, familial educational system – conservative, dogmatic, and focused on a familial elite education, astonishingly old-fashioned.
Returning to the Corridor Courtyard.
Yuan Heavy Industries' familial education primarily takes place within the family courtyards, characterized by their exceptionally long, labyrinthine corridors.
Hence the name,
Corridor Courtyard.
His footsteps echoed on the wooden floor. A middle-aged man, his face reflecting strict adherence to tradition, led Mei into the courtyard.
"According to regulations, to sever ties with your former identity, you must adopt a new name. If you can't decide, we can choose one for you."
Mei thought for a moment.
"Let it be 'Aurelia'."
A name utterly devoid of meaning.
"From now on, that's your new name."
Mei had learned about the method to ascend to the position of Demon God upon arriving on this planet. Even though the four special zones kept this ancient knowledge tightly sealed, it couldn't escape Mei's star energy perception.
This wasn't something that could be achieved through mere human effort. Ascending to the position of Demon God required strict adherence to a ritualistic process, and the Eastern Special Zone fulfilled those conditions.
Mei thus conveniently joined Yuan Heavy Industries.
Many students lived in the Corridor Courtyard, learning how to control basic supernatural forces, sometimes collaborating with other Eastern Special Zone institutions on joint development and research.
This year's new students only comprised one-quarter of the total student population. The familial elite education system couldn't accommodate a large number of students. Compared to the other two educational institutions, the Corridor Courtyard had a significantly smaller student body.
Yuan Astran was seventeen years old, raised in the Eastern Special Zone, exposed to supernatural powers earlier than most. A year ago, he was selected by Yuan Heavy Industries and entered the Corridor Courtyard for training.
Within a week, he'd mastered void energy manipulation. His exceptional talent earned him the title of "absolute genius," and within a year, he became a prominent figure in the Corridor Courtyard.
In terms of strength,
Astran was arguably the strongest in the Corridor Courtyard. Though he didn't boast about it, he wasn't arrogant.
Deep down, however, he possessed immense confidence in his abilities. He believed he was superior to everyone else in the Courtyard.
Until one day.
His teacher brought a young woman.
"From today onwards, Aurelia is the newest member of the Corridor Courtyard."
Aurelia—
The moment Astran met Mei's gaze, he felt as if he were gazing at the boundless cosmos. Before that vastness, he felt like a speck of dust.
This was a precognitive sensation stemming from his own supernatural abilities. Astran froze, bewildered by this intuition.
Yet, he was certain that if he fought Mei, he would lose. It was like a human gazing at the stars; you wouldn't believe yourself more powerful than the cosmos itself.
Why?
Why this premonition?
This was just a newborn, someone who hadn't even mastered void energy!
He collected himself.
Astran fell into a long silence.
Then, noticing Mei disappearing from the courtyard, he asked a fellow student, "Senior, what do you think of the new student?"
The student pondered for a moment.
"Strange."
"…"
Astran said nothing.
Thus,
The tranquil courtyard life began.
The supernatural system of power was called 'Self-Awareness,' essentially similar to magic, spells, and techniques; void energy powered these methods.
While the four special zones possessed galactic-level power, the students in the courtyard were mostly novices, with only a few possessing Tier 2 abilities.
Mei waited without pressure.
This was an excellent opportunity. As a Star Spirit, Mei could control numerous types of energy, including star energy, but she would undoubtedly encounter exceptions in the future.
The Stargazer world was a prime example; star energy was stubbornly inert, incredibly difficult to manipulate. If, on some future world mission, she couldn't use star energy or vacuum zero-point energy, the mage template would be rendered virtually useless.
Taking advantage of this opportunity to master void energy – infinite and truly ubiquitous – Mei decided to exploit its inherent properties.
From this point,
She abandoned star energy.
Embracing the void!
In the empty courtyard, Mei's star energy dissipated. Following this world's method, she effortlessly sensed the void energy.
The void energy, chaotic and unformed, surged into her body. Instantly, her body manifested lines resembling electrical circuits—void conduits radiating purple light.
Void energy conduits rapidly formed on Mei's body, then extended into the void behind her, disappearing, successfully taking root in the void.
Just like a Voidborn.
While residing within a universe, true void is difficult to access. True void exists beyond universes and worlds, yet everything originates from the void. The void, broadly defined, encompasses universes and worlds. Thus, even within a universe, one can absorb infinite void energy.
Mei felt the void energy within her, as easily controlled as star energy.
[Main Mission · Phase One · Complete]
[Points Acquired: 1000]
[Main Mission · Phase Two: Self-Awareness is the fundamental power of this world. Based on your mastery of void energy, create your own Self-Awareness set.]
[Mission Reward: 2000 points]
Soon,
Void Wanderers from this mission world entered the four special zones. Some, like Mei, did so as students.
Others directly manifested as supernatural villains, forcibly entering the four special zones. Their methods of arrival were diverse and impressive.
...
Self-Awareness.
Think of it as a programming language, like writing software. To achieve different computations and results, different programs must be written.
Utilizing void energy to create and activate Self-Awareness allows for manipulation of reality to a certain extent. Call it magic, spells, or sorcery; it's essentially the same thing.
However, after entering a modern, technologically advanced society, Self-Awareness is the preferred term. Furthermore, as the name implies, it's numbered.
After modern scientific categorization and organization, all spells and magic were integrated and reorganized based on their nature and effects into several hundred Self-Awareness.
Self-Awareness 101 to 500 are considered practical Self-Awareness. From constructing objects to energy conversion, the fundamental Self-Awareness are included here.
From daily life to industrial production, scientific research, and even combat applications, these 400 Self-Awareness are versatile enough to meet virtually any need.
Self-Awareness 1-100, however, are not considered practical Self-Awareness. Practical Self-Awareness implies accessibility and usability by anyone. The first hundred, on the other hand, are unique and exclusive.
Returning to the main topic,
Practical Self-Awareness can be combined like building blocks, reaching extreme complexity and unleashing power based entirely on the user's skill.
High-level practical Self-Awareness users sometimes clash with unique Self-Awareness holders. Rarity doesn't equate to combat strength; it all depends on individual skill.
The second phase of the Main Mission—creating one's own practical Self-Awareness set—requires Mei to combine practical Self-Awareness to create complex, personal Self-Awareness sets.
It's not about simply possessing the basic practical Self-Awareness.
This wasn't a problem for her; Mei's level and nature were too high. Creating extremely complex and powerful practical Self-Awareness sets was effortless.
Projection.
Construction.
Attribute conversion.
Void conduits flickered and vanished, purple energy blooming. Void energy constructed Self-Awareness in mid-air, instantly displaying various effects.
A flame in Mei's hand continuously changed its properties and form. Astran silently appeared beside her, observing the flames.
"Is this your Self-Awareness?"
Since that day, he'd been paying close attention to Mei.
Mei asked,
"What do you think?"
"May I test the power of this Self-Awareness?"
Mei had mastered Self-Awareness creation shortly after entering the courtyard—a speed that was astounding, piquing Astran's curiosity.
He desperately wanted to know Mei's strength. He needed to confirm his intuition: would he truly lose to Mei?
Astran was intensely competitive.
Hearing this,
Mei looked peculiar.
"You want to try?"
"Yes."
Astran's expression was serious. He assumed a fighting stance, deploying his Self-Awareness. "I'll defend with all my might. Don't worry about injuring me. Although I've only been here a year, I have confidence in my abilities."
"…"
"Hahaha!"
Mei found it amusing and laughed.
"Alright, let's see what you can do."
"Bring it on!"
Astran prepared himself.
A second later.
Boom!
A deafening series of explosions echoed through the courtyard. A figure smashed through more than a dozen walls before stopping, lying on the ground, utterly disheveled.
Astran was bewildered.
What just happened?
Void energy is indeed limitless, but that doesn't mean Self-Awareness power is infinite. Stronger individuals can instantly control larger amounts of void energy to create more powerful Self-Awareness. This is the key to determining a Self-Awareness's strength.
In other words,
Theoretically, Mei, at her peak, could instantly utilize the vast void energy within a 3-million-light-year radius to create a Self-Awareness, unleashing an unparalleled attack.
Astran's defeat was insignificant, merely a playful demonstration by Mei.
"How was that?"
Students from the courtyard rushed over, their faces full of astonishment at the holes in the walls. Seeing Astran lying on the ground, their shock deepened.
"Yuan?"
"Knocked out?!"
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Astran lay on the ground, staring blankly at the clear sky, lost in thought. When he finally recovered, Mei was long gone.
[Main Mission · Phase Two · Complete]
[Points Acquired: 2000]
[Main Mission · Phase Three: Legend says ten Demon Gods of supreme power exist in this world. Unbeknownst to many, this world is constantly threatened by the power of the Demon Gods. Investigate the cause.]
[Mission Reward: 4000 points]
Phase Three of the Main Mission was troublesome. Mei sensed the ubiquitous void energy permeating the entire planet, even the entire galaxy.
But she found nothing.
Many secret cults worshipping the Demon Gods existed both inside and outside the four special zones, some bordering on madness. But Mei hadn't yet found any cult preparing for a large-scale action.
The crucial clues hadn't yet surfaced. Mei could only wait, using the time to complete the Upgrade Tasks.
The ten Upgrade Tasks, to ascend to Demon Godhood, required ten sequential steps. The first was obtaining the Demon God sigil; the second, the ritual with a priestess; subsequent rituals followed, each step crucial.
In reality,
Demon Gods were secrets and legends to ordinary supernatural beings. However, the leaders of Yuan Heavy Industries and the higher-ups of the various educational institutions knew that the Demon Gods were more than just legends.
They truly existed!
Furthermore,
The four special zones never ceased their research into Demon Gods. The ultimate goal of the Self-Awareness power system was to become a Demon God, and the ascension rituals never stopped.
Mei didn't need to forcibly control the planet to perform the ascension ritual. The ritual was already ongoing; she just had to join naturally.
For over a thousand years, the Yuan clan had striven for Demon Godhood, even if the ascendant wasn't a Yuan clan member but a student they educated.
This was the fundamental meaning and value of the Corridor Courtyard, the thousand-year aspiration of the Yuan clan, for which they would pay any price.
They were people who yearned to glimpse ultimate truth. Whether or not they possessed the power of a Demon God was inconsequential; what mattered was that the truth came from their hands.
This was their ultimate pursuit.
Night fell.
A bright moon hung high; water trickled in the courtyard.
Ancient texts lay before Mei; moonlight illuminated a strange symbol—the Demon God sigil, the first step in the ritual.