051. [Echoer]
Liuer's response was unexpected for Li Aozi; it was the first time he'd heard about the effects of sequential omega energy.
"[Gravity] is a relatively mild omega energy. Even if it gets out of control, it's far better than other sequential omega energies."
Liuer paused her work and asked seriously,
"I thought you possessed the same omega energy as mine, but it turns out you hold others as well… Are you trying to live a fate worse than death, kid?"
"Take it easy, Mr. Liuer," Li Aozi reassured her. "Omega energy itself isn't a problem. As long as it's controlled, there shouldn't be any issues."
"Yes, true. Nuclear energy isn't a problem either, but would you run around the streets carrying nuclear waste?"
Liuer's sharp retort hit him squarely, and before Li Aozi could argue, she turned, pacing back and forth as she considered for a moment, then asked,
"What exactly do you want me to help with?"
"Why bring that up all of a sudden..."
Li Aozi muttered, though a thought stirred within.
—Finally triggered the storyline.
"Do you think I'll let you leave the lab in this condition?"
"Alright." Li Aozi replied with the reasoning he'd prepared, "My path has stagnated. I can't advance any further. I heard rumors that members of the Collective had researched further developments in omega energy, so I came to find you."
"Good, so you do want to live."
Liuer replied coldly,
"If it were another type of omega energy, I really wouldn't be able to save you. But I've been studying [Gravity] omega energy for forty years. If you're willing to trust me, maybe there's a new way forward. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise?"
"Otherwise, just wait to die."
Liuer spread her hands.
"You're almost at Gamma rank. It's not obvious yet, but soon your transcendent genes will start collapsing inward, compressing all internal information until it forms a singularity. This singularity will keep expanding, swallowing up everything about you."
"Once you reach Delta rank, if you haven't progressed on your path, you'll become a mini black hole, pulling in everything around you."
"You're not kidding, are you..."
"Believe it or not, the facts will prove it."
Liuer pointed at Li Aozi's eyes.
"Have you noticed that every time you use omega energy, the color of your eyes changes?"
Li Aozi answered honestly,
"When using gravity, a golden ring spreads across my eyes."
"Not bad."
Liuer nodded.
"Gravity is different from other omega energies. It requires more information as sustenance, so the access rights are housed in your brain, gradually consuming it, causing it to collapse first. You'll initially become a slave to this authority while your body still lives, instinctively seeking energy, pulling objects toward you, eventually turning into a black hole."
"So, I'd be..."
"But the authority invasion of gravity isn't without a solution. Watch closely."
Liuer raised her hand, manipulating gravity to create ripples in the space around them. She reached into the distortion and slowly retrieved a glass jar.
"Just like this."
Liuer spoke calmly, placing the jar before Li Aozi. Inside was the head of a middle-aged woman, golden eyes quietly observing him.
The woman in the jar slowly spoke, her voice echoing through the space as Liuer's voice resounded,
"Cut off your head and place it in a gravity-warped temporal cage. That way, you'll stay alive."
The space on Liuer's bio-modified neck shimmered like colorless flames, an undeniable presence.
"That'll definitely kill me!"
Knowing the process, Li Aozi deliberately smirked and remarked,
"Can I refuse? Isn't there another way?"
"There isn't. You carry [Gravity], a sequential omega energy, and even others as well. Without this, no one can change your fate."
Liuer turned, put away the glass jar, and sighed.
"This is also a path. If the Collective's research had continued, it might have led to a new path to godhood—using [Gravity] as the core to affect and interfere with the real universe's ultimate path."
"Is there really no other option? My body's been bio-engineered." Li Aozi tried probing.
"No—you didn't notice my body's also bio-engineered?"
Liuer tapped her chest.
"Come to think of it, you practically walked right in. If you don't choose this path, I'll have no choice but to keep you under observation."
Li Aozi fell silent, discreetly assessing his own state.
His signal transmitter was blocked, and with the strength of Liuer and the old man called 'Tro,' he'd have no chance of breaking out without Flanna's help.
And it didn't end there.
Li Aozi looked up to find Tro quietly emanating a personal aura, vast and overwhelming, filling the underground lab like waves crashing through it, thickening the air like jelly and mercury, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
[Eye of Truth] activated, and Li Aozi quickly saw Tro's details:
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[Name]: Tro (Warning! Extremely Dangerous!)
[Race]: A1-Colton Type Humanoid
[Gender]: Physiological Male
[Age]: 388
[Template]: Berserker NPC (Damage Output Rate +300%, Ignores Class Effects)
[Affiliation]: Life Collective (Disbanded)
[Total Level]: lv.120
—[Primary Class]: Destruction Path—[Absolute Blade Lord].lv.120 (MAX)
—[Secondary Class]: None
[Class Rank]: Zeta (ζ, sixth Greek letter)
——————————
With a pure primary class at level 120, his combat power was terrifying. With his template, no one of the same class rank could survive against him.
Especially with the [Absolute Blade Lord]... this class's ultimate path, the [Twilight Sword Saint], was absolutely dominant in one-on-one battles.
[This old man must have been the Life Collective's mad dog!]
Though Tro carried no weapon, the difference in levels and class rank was overwhelming; defeating a Beta rank would be as easy as crushing an ant.
They were dead serious.
Liuer seemed to give him a choice, but in reality, there was no choice at all.
With this setup, they truly planned to keep him confined.
Note Liuer's wording: she said, "If you don't choose this path, I'll have no choice but to keep you under observation." But she didn't say that stepping onto the [Echoer] path would let him leave.
Even if he advanced, Liuer likely wouldn't let him go easily.
Liuer's will was unshakable; her [Charisma] and [Intelligence] were high, making it impossible to sway or convince her.
But Li Aozi had prepared for this from the start.
Discreetly reaching into his chest, he used the action to cover his next move, spending 30,000 points from the [Shop] to purchase a bottle of Orlaville's premium liquor—[Wrath of the Wind].
[Name]: 'Wrath of the Wind' Fine Wine
[Category]: Consumable / Limited Edition
[Description]:
"I tasted the sweeping winds, with a clear, icy fury on my lips."
In his youth, Mr. Orlaville traveled the universe, befriending a charming wind elemental woman. They hit it off immediately. But not long after, her kin were enslaved by a mage, and in her grief and fury, she transformed into a hurricane, perishing with her captor.
Raindrops fell on the enchanted stone, and looking up, he saw no trace of her.
[Effect]: Grants 99% immunity to physical damage and a 50% speed boost for 350 seconds.
[Price]: 30,000 points
————————————
He didn't dare hold back this time, spending another 19,800 points at Glinna's to buy a [Dragon Blood Amber].
Though not very useful, it could summon an amber dragon that replicated his attributes, skills, and combat style.
The key was its high health points; combined with Li Aozi's attributes, it could reach over 100,000 points.
This would definitely buy some extra time.
With these preparations in place, Li Aozi felt confident. He looked up at Liuer, who stood with arms crossed, gazing at him.
"Have you made up your mind? If you decide to step onto this path, there's no turning back."
[/////Quest Updated/////]
[Current Quest: "Astral Echo"]
[Completion Conditions]:
A. "Pessimistic World"—Alde Medkash Liuer's research concerns the nature of omega energy, this mysterious power, which is actually the Creator's authority. Absurd. Your body can't withstand this power and must isolate the head to prevent it from being corrupted by [Gravity] omega energy.
This power is so overwhelming that even cutting off your head wouldn't make you give it up. Fortunately, Liuer has suggested a way: develop [Gravity] in a different direction to generate temporal ripples. Only this will let you reach transcendence.
Reward: [Mutant] will transform into [Echoer]
B. "Wings of Freedom"—Although Liuer's intentions are correct, willing to sacrifice a small price for the safety of the universe, unfortunately, you are that price.
Will you survive confinement or escape with your own strength to face this unfortunate fate?
You chose to rely on yourself. Despite the harsh future ahead, you continue to confront this brutal destiny.
Reward: 5 million experience points. (Granted upon successful escape)
C. "Chain Pursuit"—Liuer is a former member of the Collective. As a top academic authority, her power far exceeds your expectations. Should you choose to escape, you'll face numerous powerful hunters in the days to come.
Gather as much information as possible to prepare for contact and combat with Liuer's students.
Rewards:
Achieve 50% information collection: 50% damage reduction and 50% damage boost against Liuer's students.
Achieve 80% information collection: Can exploit students' weaknesses, reducing the number of hunters.
Achieve 100% information collection: Liuer's students will not pursue you.
————————————
"I've decided."
Li Aozi said:
"I choose to step onto the [Echoer] path."
Liuer nodded, then gravity pressed down on Li Aozi as she activated the machine. The bio-mechanical arms swiftly moved to secure his neck, and after reading his vitals, she administered a custom anesthesia.
"A wise choice."