【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】

  The Main Mission description remained the same, but a slight change had occurred in this world's void; the ten Demon Gods were now things of the past.

  Completing the Main Mission wouldn't be difficult. Mei, using her Void Demon God power, could simply destroy this world, thereby uncovering the truth.

  However, she wasn't in a hurry.

  This world still possessed immense potential; the ascension ritual could continuously create Demon Gods wielding conceptual-level Self-Awareness.

  By gathering enough powerful lower-level conceptual Self-Awareness, Mei might even integrate a powerful higher-level conceptual Self-Awareness.

  The Main Mission could wait until this world's potential was exhausted.

  Ascension to Demon Godhood was essentially a process of breaking through the world's limitations to become a Void Demon God, the ultimate manifestation of this world's power.

  Each Demon God's birth drew power from the world. Energy is conserved; conceptual Self-Awareness didn't appear out of nothing; they originated from this world's power.

  Mei estimated that ten or more conceptual Self-Awareness could still emerge from this world, serving as prey and nourishment.

  She waited in the void beyond this world,

  Patiently awaiting future challenges.

  This world's unique power system limited the maximum number of Demon Gods to ten, but that was still too many for Mei.

  One Demon God was sufficient. She intended to harvest those who challenged her, those who dared to replace her as the sole Demon God.

  Mei was determined.

  Whum—

  Causality Manipulation activated.

  An incredibly complex and vast Self-Awareness structure enveloped the universe. Mei set the number of Demon Gods in this universe to one and altered the ascension ritual interval to ten years.

  Ten years was the limit. Shorter intervals would deplete the universe's energy too quickly, leading to destruction. Previously, the ritual occurred every thirty years.

  Additionally,

  The effect of a conceptual Self-Awareness couldn't exceed the user's current level.

  Therefore, Mei entered Limit Break to utilize her Tier 7 power, as Tier 6 wasn't sufficient to manipulate the entire universe's causality.

  After manipulating the universe's causality, a Demon God sigil appeared on Mei's palm, and a corresponding sigil appeared on Chloe's forehead in the mortal realm.

  In the subconscious, Mei's divine presence manifested.

  "Chloe."

  "Lady Aurelia!" Chloe's tone was respectful.

  Mei spoke concisely. "From now on, the ascension ritual will occur every ten years. Aspirants will no longer be limited to the four special zones; devout followers may also participate."

  "Understood. I will convey your will."

  The divine manifestation was complete.

  In the quiet, spacious courtyard, the gentle sound of flowing water could be heard. Chloe, dressed in priestess attire, picked up the Celestial Decree, which lay on a stand.

  This blade, originally a sacred relic of the Ten Gods Sect and Genzo's weapon, couldn't be directly used by Mei, but now served as Chloe's weapon.

  She was a skilled swordswoman; while the Celestial Decree's power didn't elevate her to Tier 5, it made eliminating Tier 4 opponents effortless.

  Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

  After Mei manipulated the world's causality, the ascension ritual's interval was significantly shortened. The four special zones developed rapidly, cultivating more talented aspirants.

  The strongest member of the Yuan clan was now Astran. In ten years, he was nearing the peak of Tier 3 and attempting to reach Tier 4.

  However,

  As Mei's attendant, he wouldn't challenge her in the ascension ritual, especially given his age.

  The ascension ritual was for the young.

  It was worth noting that many cultists and members of secret societies would participate in this ascension ritual.

  Not every ascension ritual produced a conceptual Self-Awareness. Those who reached this stage were exceptional geniuses and powerful figures.

  To maximize the creation of powerful conceptual Self-Awareness, Mei had expanded the pool of aspirants, resulting in a massive influx of cultists into the four special zones.

  Ten years had passed; several generations of students had graduated from the Eastern Special Zone. Those who remembered the ascension battle were now instructors or researchers.

  Of course,

  Most became ordinary civilians. In the Eastern Special Zone, only those who didn't possess Self-Awareness powers were truly considered ordinary.

  The new, vibrant influx of students were either naive newcomers or genuinely ordinary individuals recruited from outside the Special Zone.

  They lacked knowledge of the past battle. Those who experienced it firsthand still felt immense shock when recounting it.

  Mei was the first to ascend to Demon Godhood in a thousand years. As witnesses and participants in this legendary event, they shared in the glory.

  Normally, the ascension ritual was a closely guarded secret, even for students and most of the population. Even without their memories being erased, they only remembered a great battle ten years ago; they were ignorant of the details. Only those from cults or secret societies possessed knowledge of the truth.

  The current situation was no different.

  Most of the new students were unaware; only those connected to Demon God cults or secret societies knew the secret.

  Yuan Zong was one such unaware freshman, a seventeen-year-old sophomore at 0-Point Elite Academy. His practical Self-Awareness set, "Super-Slow Perception," made him a peak Tier 2,

  the strongest among the freshmen.

  His Self-Awareness set could significantly slow down the perception of all objects and beings, to the point of seeming to stop time in extreme cases. His combat strength was formidable.

  At dusk, in a subway station, the tall, thin Zong scrolled through his phone, listlessly watching unfunny videos.

  "Boring."

  A train slowly pulled into the station. Zong, head down, followed the crowd towards the train, then suddenly stopped, frowning.

  Someone behind him bumped into him.

  "Hey, hurry up…"

  Boom!

  Before he finished, the subway station violently shook, then instantly collapsed with a deafening roar.

  Whum—

  In an instant,

  A complex Self-Awareness structure rapidly manifested around Zong, instantly encompassing the entire subway station, halting the collapsing structures.

  Even the panicked crowd froze.

  This ability, even among Tier 3 powerhouses, was exceptionally potent, solidifying Zong's reputation as the strongest freshman.

  "Again?"

  Zong sighed, more out of annoyance than anything else.

  As an aspiring powerhouse, he was a frequent target of those seeking to claim the title of strongest, leading to constant challenges and attacks.

  He was used to it.

  Zong found these actions tedious and pointless. He efficiently dealt with his attackers.

  He moved through the slowed time as easily as walking on solid ground, quickly locating the attacker near the station exit.

  A third-year student from 0-Point Elite Academy. Zong rarely bothered remembering names, only confirming their identity.

  The attacker's reaction time was severely hampered by Super-Slow Perception, though the attacker remained oblivious, only perceiving Zong's speed as incredibly fast.

  Almost teleportation.

  Zong had no interest in fighting; he spotted a rock on the ground and casually kicked it towards the attacker.

  Boom!

  The rock, like a cannonball, tore through the air, creating a sonic boom, piercing the attacker's body and creating a bloody hole.

  The attacker died instantly.

  However,

  Super-Slow Perception was still active; the attacker didn't even realize he'd been attacked before dying.

  Zong's destructive power was terrifying, not due to a powerful Self-Awareness set, but to the simplest practical Self-Awareness.

  Converting void energy into physical strength and stamina, the more void energy absorbed, the greater the short-term power increase—a basic technique for beginners.

  The only difference was Zong's exceptional ability to absorb void energy. Others couldn't match his speed, making his basic, powerful-strike Self-Awareness devastatingly effective.

  "Sigh, you're quite brazen."

  A familiar voice echoed.

  Zong was surprised.

  "Teacher Derek?"

  Whoosh—

  A gentle breeze blew. Clear water flowed nearby. Derek, holding a rock, skipped it across the water's surface, casually describing his observations.

  He was now an instructor at 0-Point Elite Academy, renowned for his exceptional abilities and theoretical knowledge.

  Previously, he hadn't understood the significance of that battle, but now he knew. He was an aspirant selector for this ascension ritual.

  He had to select an aspirant to represent 0-Point Elite Academy, leading them through the ascension ritual. His choice: Zong.

  This wasn't just a mission. Understanding the truth of the ascension ritual, he fully grasped the caliber of Astran.

  Astran had always been Derek's idol and aspiration; he wanted to experience the intensity of Astran's journey.

  He craved such a challenge.

  "The ascension ritual?"

  Zong's eyes lit up. He was tired of the mundane routine, of weak opponents who didn't excite him.

  He was immediately intrigued.

  "So I have a chance to fight true powerhouses?"

  Derek nodded.

  "From our academy, the Corridor Courtyard, the Void Agency, and even the other three special zones, if you reach that stage."

  "I'm in. I'm tired of this dull life."

  Zong readily agreed, a delighted smile spreading across his face. He was curious, "By the way, has anyone ever truly ascended to Demon Godhood? I mean, proper records, not ancient legends."

  "Yes."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Only this Derek could answer definitively.

  "Really?"

  Zong was stunned; he'd thought it was just legend. Derek's next words were even more unexpected.

  Derek smiled. "You might find this hard to believe, but I witnessed the only person to ascend to Demon Godhood in a thousand years."

  "Seriously?!"

  Zong's eyes widened.

  Derek's memory drifted back to that day ten years ago, recalling a figure whose presence was impossible to ignore, leaving an indelible impression.

  "It was only ten years ago. You came from outside the Special Zone, so you likely don't have that memory. Just know that it was an unbelievably powerful person. If you have the potential, you'll experience her power in the final ritual."

  "Fighting a Demon God? That's incredible."

  "Indeed. What's even more incredible is that someone could slay a Demon God with a mortal body. You can't imagine their power until you reach that level."

  True.

  Zong couldn't imagine such power. He was still just a Tier 2 novice, the strongest among the freshmen.

  But among true powerhouses, Tier 2 was insignificant. Now, having learned the vastness of the world, Zong couldn't contain his excitement.

  This was his true stage!

  "It's beginning again."

  Luo Changkong, over the past ten years, had completed Phase Two of the Main Mission, significantly improving his combat strength with the Self-Awareness system.

  However,

  Phase Three of the Main Mission remained unsolved. The Raitei Legion's intelligence network had expanded, infiltrating the Eastern Special Zone's powerful factions, gaining a deeper understanding of the ascension ritual.

  Luo Changkong, frequently contacting the Ten Gods Sect, received orders to bring a ten-year-old girl into the Eastern Special Zone.

  "What's your name?"

  "Tian Rei."

  The girl was cold and carried an oversized longsword—a stark contrast to her small stature. She was the current Saintess of the Ten Gods Sect.

  The longsword she carried, "Wind's Decree," was a sacred relic forged by the Ten Gods Sect, inspired by Celestial Decree, possessing immense power.

  Luo Changkong didn't care about the details; his job was to secretly bring her in, then leave.

  ...

  The Yuan clan's reputation soared after the last ascension ritual, and while they had strong aspirants this time, they couldn't match Mei's dominance.

  This time,

  Zong was the Eastern Special Zone's most promising aspirant; his peak Tier 2 strength was already formidable at the start of the ritual.

  Especially since his potential was immense.

  Beyond the universe,

  Mei drifted in the void, her majestic aura surrounding her, keenly observing the mortal realm. Shiro zipped past in a swimming motion.

  "Woof—"

  The void was boring. She hadn't found any interesting Void Demon Gods, causing some slight dissatisfaction.

  Time was meaningless in the void. Mei, with accelerated perception, observed the mortal realm, taking everything in.

  The ascension ritual followed the same procedure. Zong and the others received their Demon God sigils, then began selecting priestesses.

  The situation mirrored the last ritual; the Eastern Special Zone was attacked again, this time by the Ten Gods Sect, but this attack was directly connected to Mei.

  Mei's gaze fell on a ten-year-old girl; realizing her identity, she smirked. "Rei, here for revenge?"

  Tracing the unclosed causal loop to its origin, Mei found the initial cause. In the subconscious, Rei's fate was decided by Mei.

  Then,

  Mei's gaze fell upon Zong. His talent and potential were exceptional, but not enough.

  That talent and potential alone wouldn't suffice for the ascension ritual's final stage. Causality Manipulation subtly altered Zong's life and future.

  Zong could be even stronger. Mei subtly changed his future, allowing him to progress further and become more powerful in the ascension ritual than originally destined.

  Only then would he create his unique conceptual Self-Awareness, revealing its power to Mei.

  This was Mei's current power; she could effortlessly decide a person's future. She couldn't see a person's entire future, but she could determine what kind of future and fate that person would have.

  Life's causal loop closed only at death. Before death, Mei could freely manipulate anyone's life, deciding their ultimate fate.

  As a Void Demon God, Mei's power utterly surpassed the ten Demon Gods. Overcoming her control and resisting her would be incredibly difficult.

  If she could be defeated, she would accept it.

  With eyes that seemed to penetrate all things, Mei drifted in the void, observing the events unfolding in the mortal realm.

  "The show begins."

  Mortal realm, Eastern Special Zone.

  Rei, carrying Wind's Decree, approached the arena. Before she got close, the blade unsheathed, her small body wielding the long sword, unleashing a sharp attack.

  "Attack!"

  Boom!

  A massive strike silenced the guards' shouts, cleaving the arena in two, leaving a colossal scar on the ground.

  "Heretics are unforgivable!"

  Rei's gaze was unwavering, not like a child's.

  The Ten Gods Sect acknowledged the ascended Demon God's status while simultaneously condemning the ascension ritual as unforgivable heresy.

  This seeming contradiction wasn't conflicting. Defying a Demon God was unforgivable blasphemy; however, being a Demon God yourself changed everything.

  Inside the arena,

  Zong was truly shocked by the attack. Even with his preparation, Rei's strike effortlessly shattered his Super-Slow Perception field,

  cutting through it like soft tofu.

  His heart pounded; he experienced true power for the first time. Turning, he saw the high priestess drawing her sword. She was only the ritual conductor, not involved in the pact-making process.

  She'd already made her pact.

  A murderous aura filled the arena, sending a chill down Zong's spine. He was curious. "Teacher Derek, what's going on?"

  Derek remained calm.

  "Cultists. They see the ascension ritual as heresy."

  "What about that priestess?"

  "A Demon God's representative."

  Zong was astonished. "That one?"

  "The one from ten years ago."

  "!!!"

  Unbelievable; legend stood before him. Zong's eyes widened. Before he could fully recover from his shock, Rei unleashed another attack.

  In that instant,

  The blade clashed. Chloe, wielding Celestial Decree, deflected Rei's strike. The powerful attack, about to land, suddenly veered upward.

  Boom!

  The sky seemed to be cleaved in two. Rei stumbled, only to find Celestial Decree pointed at her.

  The girl's eyes were defiant, unafraid.

  "That's my father's sword. Return it."

  Rei was very young when Genzo died; due to various circumstances, she was raised by her mother within the Ten Gods Sect.

  "Take it if you can."

  Chloe sheathed her sword, then calmly arranged Rei's future.

  "You'll remain with the Yuan clan and train in the Corridor Courtyard. Let me see how strong your hatred is, how much potential it unlocks."

  This ascension ritual was too late for Rei; Chloe, following Mei's instructions, secured Rei a place in the next ascension ritual.

  "You'll regret this,"

  intense hatred simmering behind her defiant eyes, Rei vowed to Chloe, "I will destroy your faith!"

  Rei knew exactly who had killed her father.

  Inside the arena,

  Zong gazed at the sky-cleaving strike, his excitement barely contained. This was the power he craved. "This is the strength of a representative…"

  The ritual continued; the surviving aspirants chose their priestesses, signaling the start of the most intense phase: the Blood Oath.

  Zong, his fists clenched, asked Derek, "Teacher, what was the Blood Oath like ten years ago? With her participation, it must have been intense."

  "Utterly devastating,"

  Derek replied. "I heard she ended the Blood Oath with a single strike."

  “…”

  Truly horrific.

  Zong realized he had underestimated her power. What kind of monster possessed such overwhelming strength?

  ...

  This year's Eastern Special Zone Blood Oath was incredibly intense. Zong possessed overwhelming strength among the aspirants.

  While he lacked the power to end the Blood Oath with a single strike, he secretly aimed to eliminate all aspirants, matching Mei's past achievement.

  However, by the end of the Blood Oath, he hadn't eliminated everyone; several strong aspirants survived.

  This left Zong feeling regretful.

  After the Blood Oath, the selection of Unique Self-Awareness began. Ten years later, the Eastern Special Zone once again had ten sealed Unique Self-Awareness.

  Unlike Mei's path,

  Zong would have to continue battling other aspirants, seizing their Unique Self-Awareness to create even more powerful, higher-level Self-Awareness.

  From this moment, his fate subtly changed. Supreme power altered his life and future, leading him to effortless victory.

  Unique Self-Awareness.

  Fundamental Self-Awareness.

  Then, Conceptual Self-Awareness.

  Zong defeated all the Eastern Special Zone aspirants, combining all the Unique Self-Awareness to create a more powerful, higher-level Self-Awareness.

  Compared to Mei's integrated higher-level Self-Awareness, a purely created higher-level Self-Awareness was inferior, but it didn't prevent the creation of a conceptual Self-Awareness.

  When Zong perfected his Fundamental Self-Awareness, combining all the Unique Self-Awareness into a flawless whole,

  he had created his own conceptual Self-Awareness.

  A lower-level conceptual ability.

  Slowdown!

  Its effects were highly focused but not versatile, undeniably lower-level. This power was created by extending the concept of his Super-Slow Perception Self-Awareness set.

  This world's power couldn't produce powerful higher-level conceptual abilities related to causality. Creating a lower-level conceptual ability was already impressive.

  A multiversal world might allow for higher-level concepts.

  However, Mei didn't choose this path.

  Even without creating a conceptual Self-Awareness, aspirants could still proceed, obtaining one from others through the ritual's rules.

  This was extremely difficult.

  Therefore, once someone created a conceptual Self-Awareness, the outcome of the ascension ritual was practically decided; conceptual powers were difficult to match.

  Ascension Ritual.

  Ritual Conclusion.

  Step by step, Zong proceeded to the final stage, summoning a Demon God and then slaying it to take its place.

  Rumble!

  The summoning ritual commenced. The sky darkened rapidly; thunder roared like frenzied snakes; the heavy air pressure caused immense unease.

  "Finally!"

  Zong's conceptual Self-Awareness swirled around him, ready to be deployed. Excitement was evident on his face; he was curious about the Demon God's power.

  Could it truly surpass his own?

  Zong had never experienced defeat. With his conceptual Self-Awareness, he possessed the strength and right to challenge a Demon God.

  He had reached his peak, viewing himself as the strongest. Even facing a Demon God, he felt no fear.

  Was he a challenger?

  No.

  This was an equal contest!

  Zong didn't believe a Demon God was inherently superior; strength was the ultimate measure. He was confident in his abilities.

  He couldn't imagine the opponent's power; as a Tier 2, he hadn't grasped conceptual power.

  Zong's confidence stemmed from his belief that he had reached his peak; however, his opponent far surpassed his understanding!

  Meanwhile,

  Chloe and Zong's eyes shone with anticipation.

  Rumble!

  Deafening thunder roared; terrifying void energy fluctuations shook spacetime, an indescribable pressure descending, then instantly vanishing.

  The momentary pressure felt as if the world were about to end; even those far from the ritual felt their hearts skip a beat.

  "More terrifying than the last time…"

  Fear gripped some.

  A majestic figure slowly materialized. Astran's face lit up; Chloe remained expressionless, but her eyes revealed emotion.

  "Lady Aurelia!"

  "Lady Aurelia!"

  Meanwhile,

  Derek's fists clenched in anxiety. He saw Mei again, but their roles were different; two encounters felt like lifetimes apart.

  Hearing this,

  Zong was astonished.

  He realized that the descending figure was the same Demon God from ten years ago, the Yuan clan's Aurelia. His excitement grew.

  Teacher Derek had often mentioned her, fueling Zong's desire to test his strength against her. He was eager to witness the new Demon God's power!

  "Yuan."

  "Chloe."

  Mei surveyed the ritual grounds; the Eastern Special Zone's buildings were nearby. She felt good; she had returned.

  Then,

  Her gaze fell upon her challenger.

  "Zong."

  Whum—

  Instantly engaging in a mental battle, Zong unleashed his conceptual Self-Awareness the moment Mei fully manifested, confident yet aware of his opponent:

  a Demon God!

  His only goal was to defeat her, using his full power without giving her any opportunity to react.

  The moment Slowdown deployed, the world seemed to freeze; spacetime appeared to stop. Zong moved swiftly before Mei.

  Vast void energy was instantly converted into destructive force, unleashed in a furious assault on Mei.

  However,

  While spacetime should have frozen, Mei observed Zong with interest, remaining motionless as he attacked.

  Mei had subtly altered the outcome of Zong's attack; it couldn't hit her. The distance between them seemed infinite, preventing Zong from reaching her.

  Zong was incredulous.

  Was this the power of a Demon God?

  No.

  This was the power of this being!

  Seeing the immense difference between them, Zong felt a shock he'd never experienced, realizing he couldn't comprehend Mei's strength.

  "A decent concept, but not strong enough."

  Mei stated, her hand reaching across the infinite distance, effortlessly sending Zong flying, shattering his Slowdown concept.

  Bang!

  Void energy surged; Zong's complex Slowdown Self-Awareness collapsed. His body smashed through the Northern Hemisphere, leaving him dazed and adrift in space.

  A lower-level conceptual ability had been completely countered by a higher-level one. All resistance was futile; they were not competing on the same level.

  Zong's confidence shattered.

  Zong finally understood the being's power, realizing that she was truly legendary, the only person in a thousand years to ascend to Demon Godhood.

  He was no match for her.

  With a mere thought, Mei returned Zong to the arena, his body now covered in ghastly wounds.

  A single blow.

  Zong was utterly defeated.

  He asked a question that even he found absurd, "What concept do you possess, that allowed you to defeat me so completely?"

  Of course,

  Mei didn't answer. She wouldn't easily reveal her abilities unless necessary; that would be dangerous.

  Understanding the nature of a power allowed for countermeasures. While countering Mei's concepts was incredibly difficult, it wasn't impossible.

  She wouldn't put herself at risk.

  Mei wasn't entirely certain of obtaining Zong's conceptual Self-Awareness.

  Even the ten Demon Gods, as the world's ultimate bosses, had variable drop rates. Zong, a mortal, had an uncertain chance of dropping his conceptual Self-Awareness.

  That was determined by Hyperdimensional Space.

  Mei's Causality Manipulation couldn't influence this. If she could directly manipulate the drop rate, she could have easily ascended.

  "Is it over?"

  "What just happened?!"

  Derek was bewildered; he'd only just realized the extent of Zong's near-destruction.

  He knew how powerful Zong had become after obtaining his conceptual Self-Awareness, yet he was defeated instantly. He couldn't comprehend Mei's strength.

  This wasn't a battle he could understand.

  Ten years ago, he couldn't comprehend Mei's power; ten years later, it remained the same. He had never dared to aspire to Mei's level; Astran was already his ultimate goal; he wouldn't dream of pursuing Mei.

  "Forget I asked."

  Realizing his question was foolish, Zong retracted it. He wasn't overly concerned about victory or defeat, only slightly regretful.

  "At least I witnessed greater power; it wasn't a waste."

  As he finished speaking,

  Bang!

  Zong's body completely disintegrated, dissolving into primordial void energy. A stream of light appeared before Mei.

  【Ability Acquired: Slowdown Self-Awareness】

  ——

  【Ability: Slowdown Self-Awareness】

  【Level: LV1】

  【Description: Conceptual power capable of slowing down everything, approaching the effect of time stop.】

  ——

  As Mei expected, there were no surprises; the conceptual Self-Awareness had manifested; another conceptual ability fell into her hands.

  Everything was over.

  Derek remained silent, assuming the worst, when a surge of void energy enveloped them, a massive strike hurtling towards them.

  Chloe moved to draw her sword but was stopped by Mei.

  "Aurelia!"

  A young voice, filled with rage and hatred, echoed. Rei, her small body wielding Wind's Decree, leaped, unleashing a furious attack on Mei.

  However,

  Without any apparent movement from Mei, the incoming attack dissipated. Rei, clutching her sword, was frozen in place, unable to move.

  Her father's killer was before her, yet she couldn't strike. Rei gritted her teeth, unable to contain her rage. "Return my father to me!"

  A more mature individual might have bided their time, waiting for the final stage of the ascension ritual. But Rei was just a ten-year-old child.

  Even if she tried to act mature, she was still a child. Seeing her father's killer ignited her rage uncontrollably.

  Only a child would cry, "Return my father to me!" A pragmatic person would simply kill their enemy.

  Or be killed.

  Mei calmly looked at Rei. "You're too weak. You don't even have the right to swing your sword before me. Your cries are meaningless."

  “…”

  Rei said nothing, only glaring at Mei, like a wolf cub with fierce eyes. She needed something to ignite her hatred, something to strengthen her resolve.

  "You need at least your father's strength to take revenge. Otherwise, you don't even qualify for a death struggle; killing you is pointless."

  Mentioning her father further enraged Rei—precisely Mei's intention. She wasn't toying with Rei's feelings, but this hatred would strengthen her,

  potentially allowing her to create a surprising conceptual Self-Awareness.

  "I'll give you a chance at revenge. Ten years from now, show me if you possess that strength. At least I'll give you the opportunity for a death struggle."

  Defeating Mei?

  Virtually impossible.

  Rei's fate was predetermined; Causality Manipulation ensured her life and future would conclude in only one way.

  Hers was not the only predetermined fate.

  Zong's was as well.

  Rei hissed, "I will take your head!"

  "I look forward to your growth."

  Having set the time, Mei slowly vanished. Before leaving, she instructed Chloe, "Chloe, train her well."

  "Understood."

  Then,

  Mei returned to the void.

  In the void,

  Mei fell into contemplation, wondering if her humanity was fading. She quickly realized it hadn't; her humanity remained.

  It hadn't vanished.

  Only when pursuing power did she become cold, exhibiting more divine qualities, demonstrating decisive ruthlessness from the start.

  She hadn't changed much.

  However,

  The path to power was cruel; combat was a life-or-death struggle. The cosmos didn't reflect humanity; it didn't allow for mercy.

  Her power wasn't yet sufficient for her to show mercy; even against Zong, Mei had been serious and cautious.

  She couldn't afford any accidents.

  "Woof?"

  Shiro approached, curious.

  "Nothing."

  Mei shook her head.

  "Woof."

  Shiro rubbed against Mei; it sensed Mei's loneliness. She had always been alone, and she was used to it.

  Or perhaps,

  She enjoyed it.

  Mei turned her attention to the mortal realm. Time flowed swiftly; ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Rei, no longer a child, had blossomed into a young woman.

  Under Chloe's tutelage in the Corridor Courtyard, her immense potential flourished, rapidly reaching Tier 3.

  With Wind's Decree, she was poised to become the strongest aspirant before the ascension ritual even began.

  Unlike last time, she had a more dominant position than Zong.