NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC71: Traitor (4)
Chapter 71: Traitor (4)
Sector One, Inner District, City Lord Mansion.
Deep within the mansion was Lia's room. Inside, Lia peered into her phone with a saddened look on her face.
The video now showed Grey being cornered and him eliminating the Duskwood Family evolvers.
She was both angered and sad seeing the scene, but she couldn't do anything for now.
If she tried anything right now, it would only put both Grey and herself in danger.
She remembered the conversation Grey and she had the previous day.
...
"You..." Lia stared at Grey as he walked toward her, speechless. "Just what are you...?"
She couldn't help but ask. What she had seen today was simply unexplainable and unimaginable.
"Are you really sure that you aren't the reincarnation of some ancient demon?" Lia had asked this before, and she asked it again because she really couldn't tell anymore.
Hearing this, Grey laughed out loud and replied, "What can I say? I'm just extremely talented like that."
"What sort of talent lets someone skip a few levels and reach the strength of a late-stage first-ranker a week after evolving?" Lia asked, her expression darkening.
"Well, we're on the same boat in that aspect," Grey smiled. "You yourself have never experienced a bottleneck, have you? The only thing stopping you right now is accumulation of energy. In fact, if you were thrown into a pool of spiritual energy, you would most likely come out as a second-ranker."
"Huh?" Lia's expression changed slightly when she heard that. "How do you know about that?"
Lia was stunned.
Immortal cultivators were more prone to bottlenecks, as it required a thorough understanding of immortality and heavenly dao to progress. Most importantly, heavy bottlenecks demanded lots of refinement of energy to break and overcome. The more talented you are, the easier it is to break those bottlenecks, but she didn't have anything like that.
Since the time she became an evolver, almost a month ago, she had never encountered a bottleneck. She had not really spoken about this to anyone other than her own father.
"You... how do you know that?" Lia asked in shock. "I've never told anyone about this before."
"I'm extremely talented at guessing too," Grey said while spreading his hands.
"Did you also guess that something was going to happen to me?" Lia asked in a serious voice. "Is that why you warned me not to go outside the City Lord Mansion?"
Even without Grey saying anything, she confirmed one thing.
The guy in front of her had predicted the future.
She refused to believe it was mere coincidence.
She hadn't taken his warning seriously at first and had already put it out of her head after getting back home.
But forgetting his warning was the biggest mistake she had made. He told her to trust her intuition.
She should have noticed the problem then and there.
"Can you see into the future?" Lia asked after a pause.
She wanted to hear it from Grey himself.
"No," Grey shook his head. "I'm a mere first-rank evolver, a being that cannot even utilize laws. What makes you think I can look forward into the river of time?"
"Then how did you predict this?" Lia asked in a rushed tone.
"I just have special eyes," Grey said after a moment. "I saw an Omen of Death on you. I didn't predict the outbreak of the corruption field or the attack of the High Order. I just knew that you would die in the coming days."
As he spoke, a flicker of golden light flashed in his eyes. "However, that omen is completely gone now. Death no longer accompanies you."
"What are you, a fortuneteller?" Lia couldn't help but say.
The way he worded things made it sound like he was some scammer fortuneteller.
But Grey didn't look like he was joking.
"Death accompanying me..." Lia shook her head.
She realized that if she hadn't picked up Maris's call and rushed into that abandoned warehouse facility, everything that happened today would not have occurred.
Thinking about Maris made her sad.
"My friend... she is dead," Lia bit her lip and said, pain in her voice. "The High Order is behind it. They forced her hand and threatened her family and brother. I've known her for a long time. She places great importance on her family... she..."
Tears rolled down Lia's face.
Seeing this, Grey froze with an awkward expression. He didn't expect Lia to burst out crying and speaking truthfully, and he didn't know how to comfort her.
Eventually Lia stopped crying and Grey just stood there awkwardly.
"Grey," Lia called while wiping her eyes. "I want to know about that creature that killed my friend."
"I know something about the Abyss and the High Order," Grey said. "Please tell me, Grey!"
Grey sighed slightly and then began recounting everything he knew about the Abyss and the High Order, of course leaving out matters of outer space and otherworlders.
"What? Corruption fields are created by the Abyss? An invading force that wants to destroy Blue Star?" Lia's mind reeled from the amount of information she received from Grey.
It turned out he knew a lot more than she had thought.
"The matter of the Abyss is something your father himself probably doesn't know about," Grey said. "It's best if you keep it from him."
"Yes," Lia nodded. "I won't tell anyone about this at all."
"Good," Grey said.
Then a thoughtful expression appeared on Grey's face.
"Lia, I want you to do something for me, and I want you to do it exactly as I tell you. Can you do it?"
"What is it?" Lia asked, confused.
"I want you to fall unconscious here," Grey spoke steadily. "It's obvious that the Duskwood family won't let you or me go now that they know we know their secrets. Sooner or later, they will likely find out about us and go to extreme lengths to take us out. And when that time comes, the people of Nova City will choose to believe the Duskwood family. the ones who've guarded this city for generations, rather than me."
"That's right!" Lia's expression suddenly changed to terror. "The Duskwood family has a soul lamp. It can record a fragment of what a person saw before dying. They will be able to trace you with that."
"I figured as much," Grey said with a frown. "The abyssal being likely had a soul lamp with him and it won't take long before they make a move against me. What move, I don't know, but worst case scenario I'll have to run from Nova City and hide for a while. Of course, you won't be safe at all either since you were inside the corruption field with me during that time. They will hunt you down as well."
"And for that, I want you to fall unconscious," Grey said, his eyes flashing. "That way you can tell them that you only remember seeing your friend and then collapsing."
"Listen carefully, Lia. If you disobey, it won't just be you in danger, it will drag me down too. Don't make a move. Do nothing but stay hidden and focus on your cultivation. That's the only way to survive. As the City Lord's daughter, they won't probe your memories, but the Duskwood family, once they find out, not even the City Lord can save you. Everything hinges on staying invisible for now."
...
"One day, I'll eliminate the Duskwood family myself," Lia said, pain on her face.
Her savior, her now trusted friend who had come to her rescue, was now being hunted down like a dog in the street. Without him, the entire Nova City might have been destroyed.
Her heart burned with fury and helplessness as she saw the hate comments flowing.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC72: Traitor (5)
Chapter 72: Traitor (5)
Duskwood Family Mansion.
Alaric and Malric sat inside the office room with cold, calculating eyes as they watched everything unfold on the screen with a calm yet chilling expression.
"That brat killed our 9th level 1st ranker," Malric spoke, a hint of killing intent lacing his tone. "Once we get him in our hands, I'll make him pay the price."
"Calm down, Malric." Alaric spoke with a dignified expression. "The Ironfang family has ever so gracefully decided to help us with the injustice we suffered and dispatched Leo Fang to bring Grey back. He should already be on the way."
"The same people that we are trying to eliminate are helping us." Malric sneered. "How ironic."
As they were talking, the livestream showed Grey bursting out of the residential sector.
"Looks like he's here," Alaric sipped his tea calmly. "Now that brat won't be able to escape."
Grey's danger senses flared as he rushed out of the Residential Area with bottleneck speed.
A 2nd ranker had arrived.
And it was none other than Leo Fang, one of the top experts of Nova City.
[It's Leo Fang! That kid's done for!]
[The demon will finally be subdued!]
[That kid won't be able to run now! There is a huge disparity between an early 2nd rank and a late-stage 1st rank.]
[Kill him! Kill him!]
"Demon!" Leo Fang's booming voice rang from the sky as he flew down with killing intent. "Stop right there! Today, I, Leo Fang, will serve justice for the Duskwood Family!"
As he said that, he waved his hand and instantly, powerful True Energy erupted from him, taking the form of a massive tiger.
"Tiger Style - 1st Form!"
Roar!
The ferocious roar echoed across the entire Nova City as the tiger enlarged in size and rushed towards Grey with terrifying speed.
Grey gritted his teeth and immediately activated Flawless Mirror Circle.
He had already crafted another one after using it on Zeryth the other day. However, the talisman was unstable and could only redirect one attack with around 3x amplification.
Bzz!
The Mirror Circle array talisman burst out from Grey's spatial ring and clashed with the tiger manifestation.
Boom!
The entire Central Plaza trembled as the manifestation struck the array.
The civilians nearby saw this scene and immediately scattered like frightened animals, running in panic.
In the next moment, the tiger was sucked into the array and instantly, an even larger tiger formed and swung back at Leo Fang, shocking everyone watching.
Caught off guard, the manifested tiger crashed into Leo Fang and flung him downwards.
Boom!
Leo Fang crashed into the ground, forming a crater.
[What?!]
[How is this possible?!]
The entire livestream exploded in shock and disbelief.
He just sent a 2nd rank evolver flying!
"Now!" Grey's eyes flashed as he overlocked his legs beyond limit and charged forward. Nexus energy crackled violently as he shot toward the City Exit just past the Central Plaza.
He knew Leo Fang was definitely unharmed, as a mere talisman of his level couldn't inflict actual damage.
But the moment he thought that, Grey's expression froze.
Leo Fang had appeared right beside him.
"You demon! I shall stop you now!" Leo Fang roared and punched forward with killing intent.
Grey's pupils contracted as he saw the incoming punch.
If that punch landed, he would be obliterated.
No!
His eyes began glitching rapidly.
Nexus energy surged through his body, rushing through muscles and neural pathways like a tidal wave.
The incoming punch slowed in his perception. Grey clenched his fists and punched forward to meet it head-on.
Boom!
The instant their fists collided, an overwhelming shockwave rippled across Sector Six. Buildings around them collapsed like cards under the pressure.
The nearby civilians screamed and fled once again as the ground cracked.
Leo Fang's body was flung across Sector Six like a broken kite.
His expression twisted in disbelief. A faint pain spread through his arm, and he realized it was numb and slightly distorted.
He was injured!
By a 1st rank evolver at that!
But Grey's condition was even worse.
Purple-black blood gushed from his orifices as he stood trembling, body stained in blood and shaking violently while coughing a mouthful of blood.
His entire body was on the verge of collapse.
The force from before had sent strands of True Energy rampaging inside him. Every nerve screamed in agony, and a splitting headache hammered against his skull, threatening to shut him down.
He had pushed Nexus Overlock beyond its limits.
If he forced it further, he would die from energy backlash.
He couldn't use Death Ascension again either. Doing so would allow him to reach 2nd rank and possibly kill Leo Fang, but his unstable foundation would shatter, and he would die on the spot.
No matter what he did... death loomed.
But how could he accept that?
Grey's spatial ring flashed, and he pulled out a healing potion. He drank it in one gulp, a painful smile on his lips as his headache eased slightly and strength began to return.
However, it couldn't fully heal him. It was a low-grade potion, and now that he wielded the power of a 9th level 1st ranker, it couldn't suppress the True Energy invading his system or fully heal the internal injuries caused by the energy.
For now, he could only force it down into his Elixir Field using Nexus energy to suppress it.
With a pained look, Grey stared at the drone watching him. Then he rushed toward the City Exit at extreme speed, though slightly slower due to his injuries. He had sent Leo Fang flying to the other side of Sector Six.
If he used this moment... he could escape.
Through the pain, he ran.
Duskwood Mansion.
"How is this possible?" Both Alaric and Malric shot up from their seats in disbelief.
"No. This can't happen." Their expressions darkened.
The kid would escape at this rate.
Grey rushed towards the City Gate with bottleneck speed. At the tollgate, an army of evolvers were waiting. They were either mid-stage or late-stage evolvers, the strongest among them being at the 8th level.
Some bore the Duskwood Family insignia.
"Out of my way," Grey said coldly as condensed energy beams formed around him and shot forward toward the evolvers.
Crimson Fang Surge!
The late-stage evolver tried to dodge, but before he could even move, the beam pierced past his head, dropping him instantly. The other beams followed, cutting down the remaining Duskwood-aligned evolvers. Only the military personnel, mid-stage evolvers, were left frozen in terror, too afraid to move.
At the same time, Nova City was in chaos.
[How can this happen?! How has he not been caught yet?! What sort of monster is this?!]
[Demon! He's a demon! How is he so strong?!]
[Not even a 2nd ranker could stop him!]
Then, everyone saw Grey turn toward the drone.
With blood still leaking from his lips, he smiled.
"Duskwood Family. Count your days," he said coldly, a faint smirk appearing through the pain. "If you believe you can do anything to me, then you are severely mistaken. This won't end here. In fact, it's only the beginning."
Grey laughed, even as Leo Fang rushed down from the skies behind him, still some distance away.
"Once I, Grey Lockhart, return to Nova City... it will be to uproot the Duskwood Family completely."
With that, Grey shot out of the City Gate and into the Outer Ring. The drone, restricted to Nova City's boundaries, hovered at the edge as the world watched Grey disappear into the dense forest.
––
Duskwood Mansion shook with killing intent.
Alaric stood in the office, True Energy raging around him.
"He escaped!" he roared. "He escaped!"
"I don't care what happens! Call upon all Tiger Claw gang members and mobilize every force in Nova City! Find that kid in the Outer Ring no matter what!"
––
"My son... he escaped." Richard slumped onto the sofa, relief washing over his face.
Alissa watched the livestream with a complicated gaze. She had seen everything that needs to be seen.
"When will we meet again?" she whispered.
––
"He escaped." Lia exhaled deeply and collapsed onto her bed.
A solemn light flickered in her eyes.
"It's just the beginning."
–
Evan and the Immortal Lady watched the stream quietly.
"That kid was set up," the Immortal Lady spoke. "With his evolutionary path, he has no reason to side with the High Order."
"We never got the chance to meet him, Master," Evan said with worry.
"We will meet him soon." The Immortal Lady's voice held certainty. "Give it time. He will return to Nova City... stronger than ever."
With a fire blazing in his heart, Grey ran. He ran without looking back. He ran through the Outer Ring forest, breath ragged, vision throbbing with pain. But he didn't stop.
He wouldn't stop until he left the entire Tri-City Province behind.
He wouldn't stop until he carved his path to survival with his own hands.
"Confirmed route. I've calculated a safe path to leave the Tri-City Province, Grey," Eterna's calm voice echoed in his mind. "Once you cross the Southern Ridge, they will no longer be able to track you."
Grey didn't respond.
Today had been a monumental day. So much had happened that everything seemed to shift entirely. And all of this had started because he chose to lend a helping hand, to save his personal wallet, Lia.
Did he regret it? Perhaps. But in the end, if he hadn't stepped in, maybe not even his sister and father would have survived the High Order's attack after the City Lord fell.
If he hadn't intervened, Nova City might have become a barren land, devoid of civilian life, ruled entirely by the High Order.
His blood-soaked figure vanished between the trees, swallowed by the shadows of the Outer Ring.
His story in Nova City had ended.
But it was also the beginning of a brand new tale.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC73: Ashspire City, new beginning (1)
Chapter 73: Ashspire City, new beginning (1)
Time waits for no one. In the Blue Star, two months had gone by in a flash. It was almost winter and the weather had become increasingly cold.
That was even more prominent in Ashspire City, which sat in the dead north of the Southern Region, far, far away from Nova City in the other part of the Southern Region.
Ashspire City. It was a third-rate city like any other in the Southern Region, however among other cities this particular one stood out.
Of course, not because it was a great city with good education, good people, and abundant resources.
Rather, it was because it had decent education, a large amount of resources comparable to several second-rate city, and mainly because of its people. The people in the city ran the full spectrum, from extremely good to extremely bad.
The city was infested with gangs, and they went about lawless without a care.
In Ashspire City, there were more middle-stage second-rankers than in any other third-rate city, yet this place ran lawless most of the time with no one to stop the criminals.
That was because this city was not fully under the control of the City Lord or the Federation. This city was run by corporations and companies.
Here, the Evolver's Association and the City Lord held no absolute power like in Nova City.
Another aspect of Ashspire that made it stand out was the main evolutionary path everyone followed here.
Ranked 11th in the First Rank Evolutionary Ranking System: the Cyborg Evolutionary Path.
Blue Star had extremely advanced technology, far surpassing Earth, and the existence of a cyborg evolutionary path was no surprise. People implanted cybernetics — advanced technology to grow stronger and assimilate with their cyberware.
The limit of the cyborg evolutionary path for now was only at early second rank, as no one had managed to find the law to comprehend and fully merge with the evolutionary path yet.
None seemed to master it, but it was still strong and Ashspire City was filled with practitioners.
Ashspire City, Sector One.
"Have you guys heard?"
"Hear what?"
"About the expert formation master that suddenly appeared in Ashspire City. It's said that person is a two-star formation master. We now have another two-star formation master."
"It significantly boosted the reputation of our Ashspire City, with people from the neighboring cities coming to our city to personally seek guidance from that master."
"I also heard that Miss Valeria from the Azrael Corporation has been commissioning formations from this master and buying a large stack of them. Looks like she has taken a liking to him. She is usually cold and indifferent toward everyone, treating everyone like air."
"The rumor is that she is from the Ten Floating Cities. Of course, she wouldn't take anyone from a third-rate city like Ashspire City seriously. Of course, rumors are just rumors and I will still continue being Miss Valeria's fan. To rise as one of Ashspire City's hegemons in her early 20s is no easy feat, and she commands three middle-stage second-rankers. A goddess like her shouldn't live here."
"Forget that. What do you guys know about the Aether Evolutionary Path?"
"The Aether Evolutionary Path? Who doesn't know about it? People went crazy over it and some even shifted to the Aether Evolutionary Path as soon as news spread that it was effective against corruption fields. Aether energy is a natural bane to corruption fields. I truly wonder who made this evolutionary path. It has been mentioned that many experts from the Ten Floating Cities have been searching for its creator, even the Federation Master himself. But Eterna has the information tightly sealed. Not even the Federation Master can see it."
"Yes. That's right. Aether evolutionary path has a lot of potential, however I don't think it will be able to reach the level of the top three paths. Sure, they have deduced a way to strengthen the mind, body, and energy with a high success rate, but it is still not enough to reach middle-stage second rank. It will become just like the cyborg evolutionary path."
"You're just a hater. I've transferred my path to Aether evolutionary and if you dare, come fight me. I'm afraid against my current prowess you won't be able to hold a candle against me."
As fellow evolvers who lived and worked in Sector One talked with each other, an explosion rang out not far from them. It came from a three-story building everyone knew.
It was one of the den of the Black Viper Crew.
Ratatata!
The sound of heavy shooting and firearms rang out from within the building.
Inside.
Almost ten Black Viper Crew members wearing black bandanas with the picture of a viper shot toward one corner of the building, all with terrified expressions.
They all had cybernetics on their bodies with intricate patterns. From head to torso, some had weapons extending from their hands, some from their heads.
"Shoot that guy!" a member shouted with an enraged expression. "Kill him! He knows about us! He cannot get out no matter what!"
However, just as he said that, his body, covered in cybernetics, began twitching and sparks came from him. He fell to the ground lifeless.
"Alright folks, stop wasting your ammo and queue properly so that I can eliminate you," a playful voice resounded from the corner of the smoke-filled area.
"No. Nine is down, everyone!" another member shouted in panic. "Kill that guy! You bastard, ByteRipper, what the hell are you doing? He is taking down our people. Why aren't you redirecting his signals?"
"I... I can't!" the member with red glowing cybernetic eyes stammered. "I can't sense his cybernetic presence or his internal chip!"
As he said that, his body began twitching like the previous member and he too fell to the ground with a terrified expression.
As soon as the hacker of the team fell, everyone stopped shooting and looked at his body in horror.
Even the person with hacking cybernetics, someone who could hack into anyone's brain as long as they were a cyborg, the ByteRipper, had fallen.
"You lot are kind of weak for a bunch of late-stage first-rankers, aren't you?" the cold yet playful voice rang out again.
The smoke near the voice cleared up and a young man appeared in everyone's vision.
This young man had long black hair, deep purple eyes, and a wide grin on his face.
It was none other than Grey!
"Are you guys really working for the High Order? I'm starting to have my doubts about how weak you guys are. Either way, you deserve to die for the crimes you've committed, so it doesn't matter."
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC74: Ashspire City, New Beginning (2)
Chapter 74: Ashspire City, New Beginning (2)
"You bastard! You will pay for what you did against the Black Viper Crew and the High Order!" a Black Viper member shouted, his voice distorted by the cybernetic implant on his face.
Then his cybernetic arms shifted and unfolded, revealing a missile launcher.
Without thinking twice, he launched it straight at Grey with an enraged expression.
Whoosh!
The Missile shot toward Grey at lightning speed. However, Grey had a calm expression on his face facing the attack.
To him, it looked like it was moving at the speed of a snail.
His eyes flashed for a moment, and within his interface, new data appeared.
[Missile Model B-4301 has been breached and redirected]
Immediately, the Missile charging at him changed its course and flew right back to the one who launched it.
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave spread across the ground floor. The member who had fired it was evaporated out of existence, and the nearby members fell one by one from the explosive heat from the missile.
"Such firepower," Grey muttered, surprised. "Firearms in this age are definitely not something that can be overlooked. If that had hit me, it would've wiped me out completely."
As he spoke, he looked to the side. There were still members alive. His eyes flashed again, numbers and binary codes appearing in his mental interface, and a new window opened.
[Access Granted]
Below it were several options:
[Overheat – Overheat the cybernetics.]
[Short Circuit – Short-circuit the cybernetics.]
[Neural Pathway Burnout – Fries the neural pathways.]
These were part of Grey's arsenal of forged hacks, prepared to activate instantly with a thought. With his hacking interface, these cyborgs were incredibly easy to deal with.
Of course, that only applied to those around his level. If someone stronger appeared, cracking their internal software would take time.
Swiftly, Grey targeted the remaining members and activated Short Circuit and Neural Pathway Burnout.
It consumed a lot of mental energy, but he wasn't worried about running out.
"Arghh! It Hurts!"
The rest of the members fell one by one, until only Grey was left standing there alone in the room filled with lifeless bodies.
He turned toward the elevator. There were more floors above, and more members likely waiting to ambush him the moment he entered.
This place was filled with mid-stage and late-stage First Rankers. Even a peak 12th-level First Ranker would be burnt out fighting that many Evolvers at once.
"Time to enter the second floor," Grey said as his eyes flashed. The elevator, which had been shut down, suddenly activated and opened for him.
He stepped inside and pressed the button for the second floor out of the three available. The doors closed, and soft, casual elevator music began to play.
Grey stood calmly until the elevator stopped. The doors slid open slowly.
Directly in front of him stood a group of Black Viper Crew members, all armed and ready.
"Open fire!" a member shouted. "Kill that bastard!"
Ratatata!
Almost thirty members opened fire at once. Some launched Missiles, others fired assault rifles with deadly precision, and some threw grenades.
Seeing this, Grey waved his hand subtly. "Nexus Convergence."
The air before him twisted, and a mass of purple-black energy appeared like a miniature black hole. Instantly, everything, including the missiles and grenades, was sucked inside.
"W-What the hell is that?" a member shouted in disbelief.
Grey smiled brightly. "It's my new technique I managed to forge recently. I definitely didn't plagiarize it from a Abyssal Being!"
With a flick of his finger, the black hole rushed forward. In an instant, the crew members vanished without a trace.
Grey nodded slightly, pressed the button for the third floor, and waited as the elevator rose again.
Just like before, more members were waiting for him there.
"Just how many of you are there?" Grey said, twitching his lips. "Does being a member of the Black Viper Crew pay that well? Or are you all just bad at making life decisions?"
"Attack him, everyone!"
A member shouted. Hearing this, Grey sighed softly. "Mimi."
Bzz!
A terrifying shockwave erupted from where he stood. For a moment, the entire third floor was bathed in a flash of silver lightning. Before the members could even react, they all collapsed to the ground.
"The strongest here is only an eighth-level First Ranker. For you, that's nothing," Grey said with a small smile as he stepped onto the third floor, now littered with fallen bodies. "Nice work, Mimi."
"Mimi~!"
A silver cat flashed onto Grey's shoulder, rubbing its face affectionately against his.
Grey softly scratched its chin as he looked around the floor. From the corner of his vision, he spotted another elevator.
"Is that the way to the secret floor?" he muttered, striding over. Using his interface, he accessed the elevator.
He noticed that it had strict access restrictions, but it took him less than five seconds to crack the system and open the doors.
Inside, there were two buttons—one for this floor and one labeled "Secret Floor."
"They couldn't make it more obvious," Grey muttered as he pressed the button. The doors closed, and once again, the elevator music played as it descended.
It didn't take long to reach the so-called Secret Floor. As the doors opened, a completely new environment appeared before Grey's eyes.
Cold air swept past him. The space was nothing like the run-down floors above; this place was clean, metallic, and lined with several doors and rooms.
There was no doubt about, this was a secret lab!
The other thing he noticed was that there were two guards. As the elevator doors opened abruptly, the guards immediately went on alert and turned to face Grey. But before they could even shout, their bodies twitched, sparks flew off from their heads, and they collapsed to the ground.
"Hm..."
"Looks like I've finally found a clue."
The intel he received wasn't wrong. The Black Viper Gang has indeed been working for the High order from the looks of it and they were conducting some sort of experiment here.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC75: Ashspire City, The Beginning (3)
Chapter 75: Ashspire City, The Beginning (3)
Grey strode around the laboratory. There were plenty of rooms, and every room was tightly sealed. There was no way to see through the rooms, he also felt a barrier forcing his mind perception out, so there was only one thing left to do. Enter one and find out.
Grey chose the one closest to him. Considering there were no handles on the door, it was most likely technologically locked, and from the looks of it, it was locked from the inside.
Grey accessed his interface and immediately, a formation appeared in his head. He cracked it down one by one and the door in front of him opened up with a pressurized hiss as air was released from the seal.
Grey peered inside the room and entered.
Huge human-sized tubes, computers, many holographic screens and countless wires appeared in Grey's vision. In the dead center, there was a guy wearing a lab coat and a mask. In front of him lay what appeared to be a civilian with cybernetics, unconscious. He had a crystal in his hand and it flashed with a mysterious light.
He was just about to push the crystal into the unconscious civilian's body but he froze midway when he saw Grey enter.
"You! Who are you?" The lab member asked with a hint of caution. "Who let you in? Guards!"
He shouted for the guards, but no one came.
Grey, on the other hand, was staring up and down at the person wearing a lab coat. He waved his hand and immediately Heaven Seizing Hand shot out and undid the person's mask.
What appeared in Grey's vision was a person with an average face and deep red eyes.
Grey then activated True Origin Sight and immediately, he saw a fluctuating pool of dense black energy within the person. Abyssal energy.
"You are actually stable with Abyssal energy in your system?" Grey curiously looked at the person from head to toe. He looked just like any other ordinary human being.
Nothing like Cedric, who he fought and who underwent an earth-shattering transformation.
"How do you know about the Abyss?" The lab member asked in panic, and immediately his aura surged. He unleashed the aura of a mid-stage 1st ranker.
However, Grey was unbothered. He leisurely pulled up his hacking interface and logged into the local database server of Ashspire City.
With experience from hacking into Nova City's local database, it didn't take him long to crack it and gain access to this city's database either, even with a lot of ByteRippers around and he had been using it to go around the Ashspire city for the past months.
He then used the database to cross-check faces in the database and what came up was a 0 percent match with people in of Ashspire City.
Even if the person was someone who entered here temporarily, they would still have their picture recorded and stored in the database.
This meant this guy was without a doubt a High Order member. Only they could manipulate technology to this extent, and of course the Abyssal energy already confirmed that fact.
Confirming it more rigorously wouldn't hurt anyone.
"To think I would run into one here." Grey smiled faintly. "Alright then, Mister High Order Member, what are you doing here?"
However, instead of answering him, the lab member charged at him without any explanation.
Seeing this, Grey waved his hand slightly and the member froze in place, suspended in the air. Then, an oppressive force descended onto the lab member.
"Y-You! Let go of me!" The lab member's expression twisted in terror.
He felt his body being crushed slowly.
"Sure." Grey spoke. "I'll let you go if you explain what is happening here."
He looked over to the unconscious civilian and the crystal.
"Is that a Law Crystal?" Grey asked curiously. It wasn't his first time seeing it. He recognized it in one glance.
"I-I cannot say anything!" The lab member said in a rushed tone. "I will instantly die if I speak anything. The High Order has complete control over us. They have performed a curse technique on me!"
"Huh?" Grey tilted his head with a glint of surprise. "That's certainly news to me."
Then, Grey smiled calmly and unleashed Nexus energy. "Don't worry. The curse won't activate in my presence. You feel it too, right? The Abyssal energy within you is now completely suppressed. That curse technique must need Abyssal energy to activate. With me here, it won't activate."
"I won't say it!" The lab member said gravely. "Whoever you are, you are messing with the wrong people. You'll regret this."
Grey wore a bored expression when he heard this.
He curled his hand into a fist and immediately, the lab member's expression froze and the sound of bones snapping rang out within the room. Blood began gushing out from the lab member's orifices.
"Arghhh!" The lab member screamed in pain, and the pain grew stronger with each passing moment.
He knew he would be crushed to death at any moment.
"Alright alright! I'll tell you!" The lab member screamed in agony and began speaking. "This lab was made for Cybor—"
However, just as he began speaking, he abruptly froze and the Abyssal energy inside him surged out of control.
Noticing this, Grey tried to take action by suppressing the energy with his natural Nexus energy, but it was already too late. The lab member's eyes flickered in terror and then his head dropped forward, lifeless in the air.
"He wasn't joking, huh?" Grey shook his head and tossed the body aside before walking up to the civilian.
He connected his interface with the civilian's cybernetics and checked his condition.
"He's in a half-dead state. I see several traumas and signs of torture from the data complied from his cybernetic chip inside his brain." Grey frowned slightly.
Then, he turned his attention to the Law Crystal next to him. Law Crystals were utilized to comprehend laws. A higher-leveled evolver could trap laws into these specific crystals for lower-level evolvers to comprehend.
[Your Comprehension Defies the Heaven! By observing the Law Crystal of Machinery, you have gained insight into the Law of Machinery]
'Law of Machinery?' Grey had a confused expression on his face.
He had never heard of something like that before.
With no further hint, Grey turned his attention to the computers. He swiftly hacked into them and information started pouring into his head.
Soon, he began going through the files.
"Test #21, The test subjects reacted violently to the Law of Machinery. The law cannot be controlled fully by current cybernetics, changes have to be made."
"Test #41, The test subjects have gone berserk. Forced comprehension of the Law of Machinery resulted in the death of test subjects."
"Personal Data, The higher ups are angry at the lack of progress. They want to force the Law of Machinery out earlier to deal with Subject Et—"
However, just as Grey was reading it, an error popped up in his interface.
[Error! Data has been wiped]
"Someone erased the data." Grey's eyes narrowed.
At the same time, he suddenly sensed multiple presences outside the room.
Grey activated his Mind Perception and peered beyond the walls.
Outside the room stood several lab-coated members, Black Viper Crew members, and a burly man. The lab members were middle-stage 1st rankers, and among the Black Viper Crew were late-stage evolvers, around level 8 or 9 of the 1st rank. However, the burly man gave off a presence far stronger than all of them combined.
Grey immediately activated his Appraisal skill to check the burly man's rank.
[Power: 1st Rank, Level 10]
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC76: Ashspire City, New Beginning (4)
Chapter 76: Ashspire City, New Beginning (4)
The lab room's door opened, and Grey slowly walked out with a smile on his face.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Grey asked with a kind smile. "Why are you all gathered together? Is there something going on? Let me know too!"
He spoke as if they were his close friends, people he saw every day.
"..."
The members silently stared at Grey with blank expressions.
Is there something wrong with this guy?
Why is he smiling and talking to us like we're his friends?
We're here to take him down!
And besides, didn't this guy kill all of our men?
"Attack!" the burly man shouted with an enraged expression. "Don't let him get out of this building!"
"YES!"
The lab members and the Black Viper Crew rushed toward Grey, their immense killing intent spreading through the air.
All ready to eliminate him.
Grey merely laughed at the sight and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the Black Viper Crew members dropped dead as their neural pathways burned out, and the lab members, who weren't cyborgs, were crushed to death by a sudden invisible force which was his Heaven Seizing Hand.
Now, only the burly man remained, a 10th Level, 1st Rank Evolver.
"How is this possible?!" the burly man froze, staring at Grey in disbelief as sweat trickled down his face.
"Looks like you're the main guy here," Grey said calmly. "That's why I left you for last."
Grey strode toward him, his eyes gleaming faintly. Seeing this, the burly man immediately reacted.
He was a fire Elementalist who followed the Elemental Evolutionary Path. At once, abyssal energy surged through his veins, and crackles of black fire appeared in his hands before condensing into a sphere of searing flame.
"Flare!" the burly man roared, hurling the attack toward Grey.
Boom!
The blast landed directly where Grey stood, engulfing him in a massive flare of black fire. The air twisted and distorted from the heat, but because of the reinforced materials the lab was built from, the walls and floors remained intact.
The burly man didn't stop there. He couldn't sense Grey's level, but the aura around him was enough to make him cautious. Grey was strong, possibly even on his level.
He couldn't afford to stop attacking.
"Flare! Flare! Flare!" he shouted again and again, sending a barrage of fiery blasts that landed in rapid succession.
Each explosion shook the floor, filling the room with dense smoke and heat. Any normal 10th Level Evolver would have been cooked alive by now.
That guy should definitely be dead by now!
"The Elemental Evolutionary Path, huh?"
A calm, chilling voice echoed through the smoke, causing the burly man's expression to twist in horror.
As the flames cleared, Grey's figure appeared once again, completely unscathed.
"The Elemental Evolutionary Path is very interesting," Grey said casually, his tone amused. "It's the easiest path to reach the middle stage of the 2nd Rank since it allows the user to unleash elemental spells and sense the elemental laws early. I've been wanting to research it for a while now."
Before the burly man could respond, Grey's figure flickered and vanished.
"But as for you," Grey's voice came from behind him, "you can die."
Bang!
Grey's fist slammed into the burly man's chest with immense force, sending him crashing into a nearby wall. The impact created deep cracks across the surface as the man coughed up blood.
Grey raised his hand and motioned mockingly for him to come closer, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Enraged, the burly man roared and flared his abyssal energy. Black flames coiled around his arms like serpents of lightning.
Grey could tell from a glance that this guy was a Physical Augmenter. Physical Augmenters were those who infused elemental energy into their bodies to enhance their strength, speed, and durability. Every one of their attacks carried the destructive force of their element.
The burly man fully augmented his body and took a thunderous step. His figure blurred and launched forward like a cannonball.
Grey narrowed his eyes and shifted his footing slightly. The moment the burly man entered striking range, his arm burst into black fire, and he swung an upward punch straight toward Grey's chin.
Bang!
Grey deflected the strike with the back of his forearm, redirecting the force to the side.
Before the shockwave could fade, the burly man twisted his hips, igniting his leg with fire, and swept at Grey's legs with a blazing kick.
Grey lightly hopped back, his cardigan fluttering as the kick passed just an inch from his ankle, leaving a charred mark on the floor. The moment he landed, another fiery fist came rushing toward his head like a meteor.
Grey tilted his body, the flames brushing past his cheek.
This time, Instead of retreating, he stepped forward sharply, his movements precise and fluid. His fist coiled tightly at his waist.
In the same breath, he struck with nexus energy surging forth.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave exploded outward. The lab lights flickered violently as the impact sent vibrations through the entire floor. Grey's punch pierced through the burly man's guard effortlessly.
There was no struggle, no resistance, only a clean hit.
A gaping hole tore through the man's chest. Abyssal flames flickered weakly as his body trembled and staggered backward.
"You... bastard!" the burly man coughed blood, his eyes filled with disbelief before his body hit the ground lifelessly.
"Not bad," Grey said, nodding slightly. "With my level reaching six, I'm able to match a 10th Level, 1st Ranker in combat."
During the past two months, he hadn't been idle. He had worked hard to stabilize his foundation and had finally managed to reach Level 6 in strength.
"I guess that's about everyone," Grey murmured and stretched lazily.
The entire building was now silent. The only living beings left were the unconscious civilians locked inside the rooms and Grey himself.
"Still, to think they were conducting experiments like this," Grey said, shaking his head.
He knew the High Order was up to something. They had an ulterior motive behind these experiments. He couldn't access all the data, but he suspected it had something to do with the Cyborg Evolutionary Path.
"Could the Cyborg Evolutionary Path be a byproduct of the High Order?" Grey muttered thoughtfully.
Just then, a notification blinked on the corner of his interface.
It was a call.
A call from someone named Valeria.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC77: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (1)
Chapter 77: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (1)
The call connected, and a voice came from the other side.
"Little Brother Grey~"
The voice carried the charm of a mature woman; seductive, smooth, and sweet to the ears.
"Yes, I'm here, Miss Valeria," Grey said with twitching lips when he heard her voice.
Sector One, Top Floor of the Azrael Corporation Building.
In a room adorned with elegant wallpapers, towering see-through glass walls stood firm, separating the peaceful interior from the bustling city outside. Light flooded through the transparent panes, casting soft shadows on the polished floor. Beyond the window, the horizon stretched endlessly, gracious skyscrapers, drifting clouds, and the faint shimmer of life far below.
Near the glass wall sat a woman in a luxurious black chair.
She wore a professional and formal outfit: black stockings wrapped around her long legs, a fitted pencil skirt that accentuated her curves, and a white shirt with the top button undone, slightly revealing her chest. Draped over her shoulders was a red coat that made her stand out even more. Her long black hair cascaded down smoothly, framing a beautiful face with deep red eyes and a small black mark near her red lips.
She was Valeria, the sole owner of Azrael Corporation, a conglomerate that controlled most of Ashspire City.
Next to her stood two men dressed in professional bodyguard uniforms. Both were extremely powerful Evolvers, if they acted, no one in Ashspire City would dare disrespect Valeria again.
Valeria was now speaking on the phone, her voice as sweet as honey. "Little Brother Grey~"
"Yes, I'm here, Miss Valeria," Grey's voice came from the other side.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for you here?" She spoke slowly, parting her soft lips into a faint pout. "You were supposed to be here an hour ago. Big Sis is sad~"
The two bodyguards standing behind her shuddered when they heard her speak.
Miss Valeria hated being kept waiting the most
Yet, oddly enough, she didn't sound angry. Her tone was light and playful, something she rarely showed anyone.
Back in the lab.
Grey shook his head when he heard her tone. "I got sidetracked. I managed to find traces of the High Order and dealt with them. I'll send you my location so you can check it out."
Azrael Corporation was one of the few organizations he trusted. He had already combed through their database once and found nothing suspicious — no connection to the High Order among the many corporations in Ashspire City.
Besides, if not for Valeria, he wouldn't be where he was today. During his escape from Nova City and the Tiger Claw Gang, she was the one who found him unconscious and took him in. She cared for him for nearly two weeks until he woke up. He had overused the Nexus Overlock, exhausting both his mind and soul, if not for her, he would've either been captured by the Tiger Claw Gang or eaten by a mutated beast.
Since then, they had formed a business relationship. Grey crafted formations for her, and she paid handsomely in return.
They were pure business partners.
Of course, that was only Grey's side of the story.
Just then, Valeria's voice softened with concern. "The High Order? Little Brother Grey, are you hurt? Don't worry, I'll send an army of a hundred right away!"
Her playful tone shifted instantly — her red eyes sharpened as she glanced at her two bodyguards and gestured firmly.
The two men straightened and immediately took out their phones, ready to mobilize.
"..." Grey's lips twitched. "No need for that. I've already dealt with them myself. But I still suggest sending someone down here. I'm inside one of the Black Viper Crew's hideouts. The experimental lab is directly beneath their building. I believe the Black Viper Crew is collaborating with the High Order. They were running some kind of experiment, but before I could read the data, it was erased."
"The Black Viper Crew?" Valeria tilted her head slightly, her red eyes gleaming with interest. Then, a smile slowly curved her lips. "What a wonderful piece of news."
Everyone knew of the Black Viper Crew — but few knew who truly backed them. They were funded by Interwire Corporation, a major cybernetics manufacturer that specialized in the Cyborg Evolutionary Path.
They were also Azrael Corporation's rival.
"Little Brother Grey, you've indirectly helped me uncover their experimental lab!" Valeria smiled gracefully, her tone teasing yet sincere. "Big Sis isn't mad at you anymore~"
Though she spoke playfully, genuine gratitude glimmered in her eyes.
"I've sent the corporation's Evolvers to your location, Little Brother Grey. Come to headquarters," Valeria said with a gentle smile. "Big Sis will be waiting for you here~"
"Alright," Grey replied and ended the call as he entered the elevator. "I'll meet you there."
He honestly didn't know why she always wanted to meet him personally whenever he delivered new batch of formations, but he didn't mind. After all, she had saved his life, showing her some respect was the least he could do.
With that thought, he swiftly left the building where the experimental lab was located.
He was originally heading straight for Azrael Corporation's headquarters, intending to deliver the new formations to Valeria. But then, Eterna notified him that her coverage didn't extend inside the building, and she couldn't detect any signals from within.
That immediately raised his suspicion. This usually only happened when the High Order was involved, so he definitely needed to check it out. It wasn't a waste though; he had gathered useful information here, and with Valeria's help, he might be able to uncover even more.
As soon as he finished thinking, several AVs (Aerial Vehicles), faster than standard cars, descended in front of the building and docked one after another.
The AVs opened, and several Evolvers in tight, tech-integrated armor marched out. Each emitted a powerful presence, all were late-stage 1st Rank Evolvers, with one even at the 2nd Rank.
The 2nd Rank Evolver stepped forward and saluted sharply. "Master Grey, thank you for sharing this intel with us. We of Azrael Corporation will handle everything here! The Miss is waiting for you at headquarters."
A 2nd Rank Evolver acting respectfully toward Grey, if anyone saw this in public, it would cause a storm.
After all, he was a mere 1st rank, while this guy was a 2nd ranked evolver.
"Yes," Grey nodded calmly. "I'll be on my way now."
With that, he strode out of the building, leaving everything to Azrael Corporation's men, and headed straight for the headquarters.
The headquarters wasn't hard to find, it stood tall and magnificent, visible from anywhere in Sector One of Ashspire City.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC78: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (2)
Chapter 78: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (2)
Grey entered the ultra-fast elevator of the Azrael Corporation. It didn't take him long to get to the headquarters.
After pressing the button for the topmost floor, the 150th floor, the elevator closed itself and shot upward. He could feel it rising faster and more forcefully than normal elevators due to its incredible speed.
In less than a minute, the elevator passed countless floors and arrived at the 150th.
Pssh!
The elevator door opened automatically, and Grey stepped out.
This particular floor had only one massive room. It was spacious and luxurious, just like the rest of the building. However, this room, or rather this entire floor, belonged to the sole owner and CEO of Azrael Corporation, Valeria Everhart.
As soon as he entered, he noticed the room was rather empty, with only Valeria's two bodyguards standing by.
When they saw him, they saluted slightly and spoke. "Miss Valeria will be here shortly. Please sit, Master Grey."
Grey simply nodded and sat down on the sofa.
He didn't have to wait long. Two gentle hands suddenly came from behind and softly wrapped around his shoulders. A faint, elegant fragrance filled the air.
"Little Brother Grey~" Valeria's sweet voice rang out from behind. "You're here!"
"Yes, Miss Valeria," Grey replied with twitching lips.
This woman, in particular, was always overly familiar with him. She often hugged him like this out of nowhere.
But he knew she was just teasing him, so he didn't mind.
Then Valeria let go of Grey and walked around to sit beside him, settling close enough for their shoulders to nearly touch.
She gestured to her guards, who reacted instantly and walked to the bar in the corner. They took out two bottles branded with exquisite embroidery and intricate markings. These didn't seem like ordinary drinks.
Valeria smiled sweetly. "How about we share a cup, talk about our past and hidden secrets, and spend the night together with Big Sis?"
"I'm not old enough to drink yet," Grey said, shaking his head. "And I have other things to do after this."
"You're no fun~!" Valeria pouted and lightly punched his shoulder, pretending to be upset.
Then she poured herself a drink and took a graceful sip.
Grey spoke next. "I have the formation here. Where do you want me to put it? Or do you want to check the quality before that?"
"No need," Valeria replied with a smile. "You are an exalted 2-Star Formation Master. How would I dare to question the quality of your formations?"
Grey smiled faintly. Over the past two months, he hadn't been idle. He had been looking for ways to earn money. With his personal wallet still stuck in Nova City and plotting revenge, he could only depend on himself. That was why he joined the Formation Masters Association.
He had studied several 2-Star arrays and immediately applied for the exam. Because 2-Star formations required enormous amounts of energy, he initially struggled to complete one, but in the end, he used the Cosmic Energy Conversion Diagram to absorb vast amounts of cosmic energy and successfully formed the arrays. That earned him the 2-Star Formation Master title and his official license.
Valeria raised her slender hand, revealing a sparkling spatial ring.
"Just send the formations here," she said while pointing at it. "We can hold hands to make the process faster."
"No need." Grey rolled his eyes and then eyes flashed as he connected to Valeria's spatial ring remotely. Then he linked it to his own prototype ring, one he had brought from Nova City, and initiated the transfer.
Immediately, both their spatial rings flickered, and the transfer was complete.
Valeria took out her phone and tapped on it. A moment later, a notification appeared in Grey's vision.
[Amount credited: 20,000 Union Credits from Sender: XXX]
This had been his income every week since he arrived in Ashspire City. He couldn't deny that life here was far easier than in Nova City. Though he still missed his mansion, Eterna had once told him that once he built a new one, it would be permanent, but if he wanted to move it here, he would need to pay a huge fee. So, he hadn't bothered yet.
"There, I sent you the money," Valeria said, smiling before taking another sip of her drink.
"Aren't you curious why I've been buying so many formations from the association?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"I'm not really interested," Grey said calmly. "I'm sure Miss Valeria has her reasons. You're a busy person, after all."
He honestly didn't want to get too involved with Valeria. He already knew she was someone from the Ten Floating Cities of Blue Star, the fabled cities that looked down on thousands of cities below.
Someone from there was bound to be powerful and influential. His appraisal skill couldn't even see through her level, which meant she was likely a mid-stage 2nd Ranker or perhaps even stronger and over that, she had an ever bigger secret.
So, it was better to keep a respectful distance from her, since he had no means to protect himself if things went wrong.
"How rude," Valeria said with a playful pout.
Grey Lockhart, he was a man immune to her charm, indifferent to her presence, and unaffected by her beauty. Everyone else treated her with awe and respect, yet he barely showed interest, only appearing when necessary out of obligation.
She found it both amusing and frustrating.
"But I'll still tell you!" Valeria said, her tone brightening. "You should already know that this city is controlled by three major corporations: Interwire Corporation, Azrael Corporation, and Echelon Corporation. All of us despise each other and are constantly at each other's throats."
She poured herself another drink before continuing. "It's only natural for things to be this way. What we all want in the end is complete control over the city and its resources, to advance development and research, and to become the one true empire that dominates the market. So, a war is inevitable. Recently, the other corporations have been making moves. With things like this, Azrael Corporation has no choice but to step up."
Her deep red eyes shimmered with ambition as she smiled softly.
"A great war is going to start soon," she said. "A war that will reshape this city."
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC79: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (3)
Chapter 79: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (3)
"Is that so," Grey said with a blank look on his face.
What war?
He didn't care about all that. What he cared about was growing stronger and paying Nova City a visit. And now that the High Order had made themselves his enemies, they wouldn't be exempt from that list either.
He was a man with a simple principle, if someone wanted to kill him, he would happily return the favor.
"Alright, I'm sure you aren't interested in those things at all," Valeria laughed and spoke. "How about this, to make up for keeping you bored, I'll tell you something interesting in return."
"Something interesting?" Grey's ears perked up.
When Valeria mentioned the word "interesting," then it would definitely be interesting.
"The sudden pressure between the three corporations is also because of that," Valeria smiled gracefully as she waved her hand. The table in front of her shifted, and a holographic projection appeared from it.
It displayed what appeared to be a picture of a fissure suspended slightly above the ground.
"It's because of this," Valeria said as she zoomed in. "A secret realm."
"A secret realm!" Grey's eyes flashed.
He definitely knew what a secret realm was, almost everyone in Blue Star did.
"That's right. A secret realm," Valeria explained.
"They are different inner spaces within Blue Star. They exist as separate dimensions but remain closely connected to the planet itself. Inside, time flows differently, often at a slower or faster rate depending on the realm. No one knows where these secret realms come from, only that they are part of Blue Star's structure. Some of the larger ones are said to be hidden deep within the Silver Blue Sea, though it's extremely rare for any of them to appear."
"This particular secret realm has existed near Ashspire City since ancient times, long before the city itself was built. Records suggest it predates Ashspire by several thousand years. Even now, it remains mostly unexplored. The reason is simple, it only opens once every five hundred years and stays open for a single day."
"Five hundred years ago, there were no corporations. But now, with how much the world has changed, the three major corporations are already at each other's throats. Each one is trying to secure more entry quotas from the City Lord. In the end, the corporation that manages to retrieve the most valuable resources and artifacts from the secret realm will be the ultimate victor."
"Is getting a quota from the City Lord the only way to get into the secret realm?" Grey inquired.
He didn't care about the other details, what he cared about was the way to get in.
Secret realms were teeming with opportunities, and people from all around would come to enter them and find chances to grow stronger. Those places were littered with trials and resources.
He had to get in no matter what.
Hearing Grey's question, Valeria smiled. "Of course, that's the only way to get in. The security around the secret realm is extremely strict. The new City Lord even personally guided the people into building a huge, towering fortress around it to prevent trespassers from entering. It's only accessible to the top families of Ashspire City and the corporations that paid a huge price to get in. And since it's opening in less than five days, the rates have gone up even higher."
She leaned back. "However, knowing you, you probably want to get in too, right?"
"Yes." Grey nodded. "Is it possible for me to request a quota from you, Miss Valeria? I want to get in and explore the secret realm. I'm willing to pay you a large amount of Union Credits."
Hearing this, Valeria smiled. "Little Brother Grey, there's no need for formalities between us."
She spoke gently. "If not for you, I would still be in constant pain."
She smiled.
She naturally had a reason why she treated Grey differently.
She still vividly remembered the day when Grey noticed the problem with her body, the same thing that had haunted her since she was young. Not even the top experts of the high floating cities could help her with her condition, which made her body heat up uncontrollably like a fever at night. No one knew why.
However, things changed when Grey entered her life.
He helped her alleviate the pain.
And it was done by him modifying the technique she cultivated.
Grey merely smiled at her. "You saved me, I saved you in return. There's no need to think much about it."
At the same time, his cheat was active when he spoke.
[Your Comprehension defies the heavens! By being close to a person with True Heavenly Sun Physique, you've gained insight into the 'Law of Heavenly Fire' and 'True Heavenly Sun Physique'.]
Grey was speechless when he saw this for the first time after waking up.
That's right, this woman, she was someone with a Heavenly Physique.
He didn't know what it implied, but this physique was definitely something incredible, and he could comprehend it.
She herself didn't seem to be aware of it.
Her condition of severe heat was also due to this physique. All Grey did was modify her technique to match her physique. From the looks of it, there were no actual techniques to cultivate this physique in the entire Blue Star.
When he met the Immortal Lady again, he would definitely ask her about it.
"You are my benefactor," Valeria said, shaking her head. "And big sis will remember your kindness even to the day I die."
She then took out her phone and fiddled with it. Soon, a notification appeared on Grey's interface.
He swiftly opened it to see what it was.
[Secret Realm Permit]
[Ownership: Grey Lockhart]
"How much did this one quota cost you?" Grey inquired in a surprised tone.
She said it herself, only a few people could enter, and each quota would cost a lot.
"Don't worry about it," Valeria smiled brightly at him. "I knew you would want to enter the secret realm, so big sis managed to get an extra quota for you. It wouldn't make a difference if there's one more."
"Thank you, Miss Valeria," Grey said with gratitude. "I will definitely repay you someday in the future."
"Repay me?" Valeria laughed and spoke. "How about you drop calling me 'Miss Valeria' and just call me Valeria?"
"Err..." Grey gave her a blank stare and then spoke. "I'm afraid I can't do that. Dad taught me to respect my elders."
"..." Valeria's expression darkened when she heard this. "Hey! I'm not that much older than you! Just three years older!"
Then she shook her head and took another gulp from the bottle. "You're so difficult to deal with."
To this, Grey simply spread his hands.
"Alright, Miss Valeria. I'll be going now. I've got some things to take care of. I'm already late, and my cat is waiting for me at home," Grey said as he stood up. "I'll contact you about the secret realm."
"You're leaving so soon?" Valeria said with a sad pout. "Are you really going to leave big sis all alone here? Looks like she'll have to spend all night all alone again."
"..." Grey shook his head speechlessly.
While people sometimes told him he had something wrong with his head, compared to Valeria, it wasn't much.
Perhaps he too would become like this in the future?
"I'll take my leave. I'll bring you the new batch of formations next week like we agreed," Grey said as he began to leave.
"Bye, Little Brother Grey~" Valeria waved her hands enthusiastically as she sent Grey off.
Soon, he entered the elevator and left, leaving Valeria staring at the spot in silence.
...
Leaving Azrael Corporation, Grey directly headed home. On the way, he entered a fast-food restaurant, ordered takeout, and soon arrived home.
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NEXUS ASCENSION: MY COMPREHENSION DEFIES THE HEAVENC80: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (4)
Chapter 80: Azrael Corporation, Law Comprehension (4)
Grey's new home was actually a mansion in the Inner District of Ashspire City, extremely close to Valeria's mansion.
The Inner District, unlike Nova City's, was filled with mansions. From the start to the end of the Inner District, there were mansions everywhere.
This city, while still being third-rate due to not having a late-stage 2nd ranker to promote it into a 2nd-rate city, had more middle-stage rankers than one could count on both hands.
The corporations controlled the city, while the families of the city, with ancient inheritances and traditions, silently supported and promoted them.
These families were the Graveson Family, Valenford Family, Wynters Family, and Langford Family.
There were, of course, other families with middle-stage 2nd rankers, but only these families had any real influence in Ashspire City.
This mansion was a gift to him from Valeria, and he didn't reject it. Although he couldn't customize it like his own mansion, it was still huge and comfortable to live in.
A lot had happened in the past two months. During that time, he had also been secretly keeping tabs on his sister and Lia. Of course, they didn't know. He couldn't afford to use his real ID right now. They would definitely be tracking it. Even if he routed the signal through multiple layers, someone would still find out through the other party's phone. Especially Alissa, her phone was definitely under surveillance for anything remotely connected to him.
Grey entered the mansion and immediately brought out Mimi, who jumped around as soon as she appeared. Then, sitting down on the long sofa in the living hall, he clapped his hands, and the lights turned on automatically. A server robot abruptly appeared and poured him a glass of what appeared to be an energy potion.
He turned on the TV and called out to Mimi. "Let's eat our food, Mimi. Come here."
"Mimi~" Mimi happily skipped toward him and began devouring the food with him while watching TV.
Within two months, many changes had happened. First of all, the Tri-City Province Tournament had taken place as intended, and naturally, the team filled with overpowered people, Lia, Evan, and Alissa, won effortlessly. They had moved on to the next tournament, which would determine the sole genius of the entire Southern Region.
The tournament was supposed to happen this month, and it was actually being held in cities near Ashspire City, or rather, the Three Guards Province. The tournament would take place in Silverguard City, Ironveil City, and Dawnwatch City.
The tournament was originally supposed to happen in Ashspire City. It was, after all, one of the top and most well-known cities in the Southern Region.
However, the corporations weren't happy about it for some reason, and it was then pushed to happen within these three cities, which were governed by a single City Lord who was a late-stage 2nd rank Evolver, making all three cities under him 2nd-rate cities.
And being close to Ashspire city, he believed a reunion with his sister and his personal wallet wouldn't be that far.
Recently, more and more people had begun coming to Ashspire City from the Three Guards Province.
He knew all about it since he was a 2-star Formation Master, and with Valeria's explanation, he believed it had to do with the Secret Realm.
The news of the Secret Realm should have already spread far and wide by now. The other cities were surely already on the move.
Of course, none of that concerned Grey. He would enter the Secret Realm and find some opportunities to break through.
His foundation was now solid; the only thing he lacked was the right opportunity to break through, and he believed the Secret Realm might hold the answers to that.
"But for now, I should comprehend the law." Grey's eyes flashed. "I'm sure that by today, I'll be able to complete the comprehension of the law."
After eating his large amount of junk food, Grey made his way into a huge room. It was rather empty, with a floating anti-grav desk, a holo-computer, which was a standardized computer in Ashspire City that utilized holograms instead of monitors, and an empty shelf.
He climbed onto his bed and sat down cross-legged, and immediately, a Law Crystal appeared in front of him.
It crackled with a dense patch of lightning, and just looking at it could induce all sorts of emotions.
[Your Comprehension defies the heaven! By observing the Law Crystal containing the 'Law of Heavenly Tribulation,' you've gained insight into the 'Law of Heavenly Tribulation.']
For the past two months since waking up, aside from building his foundation and solidifying it, he had also been comprehending laws.
He needed to comprehend laws early, as it was a necessity to advance to the middle stage of the 2nd rank. And being the owner, he had to preplan everything.
Normally, one wouldn't have the sight or enlightenment to perceive laws at the 1st rank. Only some Elementalists following the elemental evolutionary path could do it, and even they were in the minority. Only 2nd rank beings could even slightly gaze at the laws.
That case was even more prominent with higher laws like the Law of Heavenly Tribulation. In fact, if an ordinary 2nd rank Evolver saw the Law Crystal containing the Heavenly Tribulation Law, they wouldn't be able to distinguish it from the ordinary Law of Lightning at all, and in return, they would only comprehend the Law of Lightning from it.
But Grey?
His comprehension defied the heavens.
Not only could he perceive it, but he could even comprehend it. And he believed he was one step away from fully comprehending the law and undergoing a Law Transformation.
What is a Law Transformation?
It's a transformation that occurs within one's body, the body and the law one comprehends align perfectly, forming a complete bond and causing a drastic increase in strength.
This is what differentiates an early-stage 2nd ranker from a middle-stage 2nd ranker. That is also the reason why an early-stage 2nd ranker will never be able to even slightly hurt a middle-stage 2nd ranker.
Laws stood above flesh, and with Law Transformation, one would have complete affinity with the said law.
Every move, every action would carry the effect of the law, even a punch could cause it to erupt.
That was the difference it made.
And he believed he could comprehend the law that was the bane of existence itself today and undergo Law Transformation with it.
"Hopefully, I won't invite another Heavenly Tribulation," Grey mumbled as he took the Law Crystal into his hands, closed his eyes, and began focusing on it.
His senses, his mind, his perception, everything was focused on the crystal.
It was time to comprehend the law that shouldn't have been possible to comprehend and reach new heights of power.
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