The last time Eishi received a milestone was when his number of confidantes reached ten. That was when he got the [Potential Enhancement Fruit]. It remains the most important fruit in his possession. Its ability to upgrade any ability to S-rating, and then to SS-rating is heaven-defying. Though it was limited to two usages during one's lifetime, it changed his confidantes' fate.
Then there was the other milestone reward from way back, which were the 'Favorability Lock' that bordered mind-control and the [Equipment Enhancement Card] that he hasn't used up until now.
Recalling the latter made Eishi wince.
'The ability to never betray me…'
That meant even if he did something so horrific and disgusting, they wouldn't be able to go against him. They would accompany him until the end. It was one of the things that made Eishi snap back to his former self… at least partially.
If he committed something seriously wrong, it would no longer be just him who would suffer; his confidantes would too.
'I can't let them follow me to my consequences…'
Eishi scrolled down and saw the new line of text.
[Milestone successfully reached. Reward: Talent Synthesis Function, Spatial Backpack +1,000,000 Cubic Meters, Criteria Revision]
The moment he laid his eyes on the reward, he was stunned. It was a system function, not a tangible benefit. He closed the notification menu and looked for it at the main menu. Beneath everything was the [Talent Synthesis] button.
'Talent Synthesis? What can it do…'
After a brief skim, Eishi fell silent. He completely retracted his earlier words.
This function was too damn useful!
[Talent Synthesis]
-Compatible talents can be synthesized into a higher-level talent. There are no limitations to its rank whatsoever.
-Can be used on others.
-Can be used once a day.
He didn't even hesitate. He went straight to the synthesis menu, which showed two squares with a "plus sign" inside. The 'Synthesis' button was placed between them. When he clicked on the plus sign icon, it listed every single talent Eishi possessed. He could freely select everything.
'There are so many webnovels that have the Space-Time thing…'
He unhesitantly placed the 'Time Dominator' on one of the plus icons. When Eishi clicked on the second one, a lot of talents were grayed out. Only the 'Space Exalted', 'Law Penetration', and 'Cosmic Barrier' remained shining with white light. It was a no-brainer option. He directly chose 'Space Exalted'.
Once the two talents were filled up, the 'synthesize' button lit up. The moment he clicked it, Eishi was greeted by a blinding white light.
'What…'
Eishi's consciousness soon fell to tranquility.
…
…
…
An unknown amount of time passed. His shut eyes opened. His pupils dilated before he came to his senses.
'Where am I?'
Eishi recalled the last thing he could remember. He reviewed his gains from unlocking four more confidantes. One of them was the [Talent Synthesis] function. Seeing it, he recalled the fusion of space-time superpowers. He just so happened to have an SSS-rated [Time Domination] as well as an SSS-rated [Space Exalted]. He surmised that fusing the two would result in a stronger superpower, possibly one that surpasses the SSS-rating.
As soon as the synthesis was over, Eishi's consciousness uncontrollably slipped to darkness.
He put aside these thoughts and scanned his surroundings.
'Isn't this my room?!'
Eishi was startled by the familiar sight. It was the same room he lived in this world for the past eighteen years. It was smaller compared to his villa's luxurious bedroom that could fit twenty people at once. It possessed a distinct sense of coziness, however.
He stood up from the bed, gripping the corner of its mattress. For a moment, he felt like he had returned to the past—to the no-name Eishi who didn't have much in his name save for his dead parents' money. Compared to his confident self who managed the affection of nineteen women, it was too far-fetched.
He sighed softly.
'Nobody is satisfied with being at the bottom… no one.'
Eishi stood up and walked out of his bedroom. The familiar wooden staircase greeted his sight. He instinctively extended his spirit outwardly, only to discover he couldn't do so. It was one of his greatest reliances as of the moment. It was akin to a built-in radar that could detect almost everything around him.
'Something's definitely wrong with me…'
When he tried to exert his strength, Eishi found himself reverted back to a mortal. Everything he had gained in the past two months disappeared as if it was a dream.
'Is this an illusion?'
Everything became clear the next second.
[Eishi Hiraoka]
Innate Talent: Lord of the Universe (EX, Seventh-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Spatial Backpack (6,410,000 Cubic Meters), Constitution Boost (SS, Fourth-order), Weak Electricity (A, Fourth-order), Spirit Boost (B, Fourth-order), Metal Sharpening (A, Fourth-order), Clairvoyance (A, Fourth-order), Transcendent Regeneration (SS, Seventh-order), Law Penetration (S, Fourth-order), Qi Burst (S, Fourth-order), Cosmic Barrier (S, Fourth-order), Sun's Essence (SS, Seventh-order), True Dragon Will (SS, Seventh-order)
Converted Talent: Sex Fiend (SSS)
Life Level: Seventh-order, One-star
Strength: 13,411 (71,078)
Agility: 13,370 (70,861)
Constitution: 16,770 (131,191)
Spirit: 20,235 (107,246)
The familiar system panel appeared in his eyes. His attributes remained unaffected, and so was his non-exclusive talents. It was his innate talent that changed.
'Lord of the Universe… EX… how cliched.'
Synthesizing the two talents resulted in an EX-rated talent. Eishi didn't know how it would fare when compared to others. But, he thought of the [Sex Fiend] that was supposedly a 'Unique Skill'. It was classified as SSS-rated in his system.
'If EX corresponds to Ultimate Skills…'
He felt extremely satisfied with this choice of his. He couldn't help but think of his other skills. He has four SS-rated superpowers: Constitution Boost, Transcendent Regeneration, Sun's Essence, and True Dragon Will. Following the pattern of two SSS-rated superpowers turning into an EX-rated skill, he was bound to receive two SSS-rated talents!
By then, he could gain another EX-rated superpower.
'I need to get out of this place.'
Eishi's mind became clear with this strong motivation. He closed the panel and went downstairs. The dining room and the living room were merely separated by a counter. He immediately spotted the woman with long, blonde hair. Her bare back was revealed in his eyes. She wore a lone pink apron, nothing else.
She turned around and met his gaze. The latter immediately knew she wasn't Mahiru. Anger flooded his mind, but he chose to stand still. His eyes never shied away from "Mahiru's" gaze. He saw, in real-time, how her eyes' emotions changed from caring to pure indifference.
In a blink, Eishi found himself seated in the living room's sofa. Sitting in front of him was "Mahiru". The flat-screen television was replaced with a mirror image of the sofa Eishi sat on. She crossed her right leg atop her left, lifting the pink apron high above her legs. It exposed the moist pink slit hidden between her hips.
The sudden change left Eishi feeling more vigilant. He couldn't be careless at this moment!
"I had no expectations left. You truly surprised me, variable."
"...Who are you?"
His question didn't receive an answer until three seconds later. The pink vulva became moister, tempting his mind.
"I am the world."
"Like a world will?"
"It is indeed like that."
He was speechless when Mahiru stated it in a matter-of-fact tone.
"This world isn't supposed to be like what it is now. I assume you are aware of it."
"..."
Her knowledge sent chills to his bones. Eishi hadn't told anyone about his identity as an otherworlder. The fact this 'World Will' knew about it highlighted her danger. She, on the other hand, did not mind Eishi's reaction. She continued explaining things to him.
The Mahiru in front of him wasn't truly Mahiru, but a manifestation chosen by the World Will to talk to Eishi. It did not have any other forms, hence it chose to turn into the person closest to Eishi.
"The anomaly emerged from its creation billions of years ago…"
Earth's development paralleled many other Earths. The World Will surmised that it caused a convergence effect. It attracted other Earths from other worlds to fuse with it. In turn, countless stories intersected and overlapped. Whenever another Earth fused with this Earth, it directly altered the course of history. The only thing the World Will ascertained was that there are 'stories' that are preserved—basically protagonists who bestowed upon the luck of a world. That was how this mixed ACG world came to life.
"It has been occurring since the beginning of time. The world has no other choice than to adapt."
"Is this development normal? What about other worlds?"
Thinking of other worlds—one of which was visited by Aki—he couldn't help but ask.
"Earth is special. It is the intersection of countless worlds. Its ability to attract and assimilate other Earths had long turned it into an inimitable treasure in the eyes of others… including high and mighty gods."
"Then why haven't they taken action yet?" Eishi asked.
That was the thing he wondered about the most. The so-called 'boss' of the seventh-order whale and swordfish was a suspected ninth-order lifeform. He doesn't have a clue how strong they could be, but based on his current strength, they could destroy a planet with a few punches.
Mahiru saw through his thoughts in an instant and replied:
"Because Earth is inherently chaotic."
Earth's nature to anchor every other Earth caused it to become 'chaotic'. It was similar to the quantum phenomenon experimented by Schrodinger. In the eyes of other worlds, Earth exists, and at the same time, it does not. Because of it, they cannot directly interfere with it.
"Earth's nature to assimilate has reached its limits once it faced either, stronger Earths."
Mahiru's indifferent eyes turned slightly complex, grieving the calamity it faced. Her right foot swayed mid-air, involuntarily showing her distress and dissatisfaction through it. Eishi was momentarily stunned when he saw such a cute gesture. A moment later, Mahiru also acknowledged it.
"A human ruled by his dick. You are fortunate to be able to control those impulses through those strange means of yours."
Hearing her emphasis on those 'strange' means, his eyes lit up.
'This terrifying entity hadn't noticed the system? There is more leeway than I thought.'
Although he maintained a vigilant front, he felt slightly less tense. It meant that the system's capabilities far exceeded its limit. He didn't know whether the system has a self-protection mechanism once it was forcibly pried open, but Eishi hoped it has one.
Mahiru continued her story-telling, not minding his apparent 'daze'.
"It didn't take long before Earth was stuffed to the brim with other Earths. Those Earths did not possess supernatural capabilities. Those that did, however, bore a heavier weight."
In her words, Earth was a balloon. Every time it assimilates other slice-of-life Earths, it is filled with water. It didn't pose much trouble for Earth at the beginning. The problem came when too many Earths stacked up.
The breaking point came from the Earths that possessed supernatural nature. It was no longer water that was placed inside, but a clay brick. Needless to say, it tore open a hole in the balloon.
That was what happened with Earth and the rifts.
Since they cannot fully assimilate with Earth, they wound up forming a bridge. Rifts are the opening to this bridge. It could be said that the current Earth is riddled in holes with how many rifts there are at the moment.
"Earth cannot assimilate the other Earths, and the opposite is the same."
Eishi caught onto her phrasing.
"Other Earths also want to assimilate ourEarth?" He asked.
"Correct." She paused, licking her lips temptingly, before continuing, "Every world has a thing called World Origin. It is the special energy that escapes with every rift's opening. One of its effects, as you may have seen, is to increase one's life level without repercussions."
She continued elaborating on its effects. For individuals, it could increase their life levels. This equates to longer lifespans and greater individual power. It could also heal injuries, upgrade talents, comprehend various things, and so on. Its value was even more apparent to the world.
Having more World Origin makes a world stronger. It enables them to produce stronger individuals, disengage other worlds' invasion, and produce intelligent lifeforms tied to the world itself. A World Will helps regulate many other aspects regarding a world. A world without it was simply different from worlds that had one.
"Our Earth has already assimilated countless other Earths already." Her eyes narrowed into slits as she looked at him provocatively. "Mn, it's like how you stuff your women's wombs with your milk."
"..."
For a moment, Eishi was almost tempted to stand up and correct this unscrupulously lewd World Will.