[: 3rd PIV :]
"But still…"
Daniel crossed his arms slightly while staring at the endless skies above.
"I am honestly curious how many planets we actually need to conquer."
Even after hearing the conditions earlier, he still wanted a clearer understanding of the scale involved.
Because depending on the numbers, this task could either be manageable or completely outrageous.
Mika became quiet for a moment.
Her expression slowly turned serious as she began mentally calculating the requirements.
Planetary evolution was not a simple matter.
Especially when discussing Divine Tier ascension.
Even ancient factions carefully prepared for eras before attempting such growth.
Meanwhile, Daniel was already planning it immediately after receiving the mission.
Honestly, Mika no longer knew whether she should admire him or worry about him.
Eventually, she finally spoke.
'From Low Tier up to High Tier, planets generally do not need to conquer or absorb other worlds to evolve.'
Daniel listened quietly.
Mika continued explaining.
'As long as the internal growth of the planet continues properly, natural evolution is possible.'
'Population growth.'
'However…once a planet attempts to cross into the Divine ranks, everything changes.'
Daniel immediately focused more seriously.
Because this was the true issue.
Mika slowly inhaled before revealing the first requirement.
'To ascend into a Low Tier Divine Rank…'
Even she looked slightly overwhelmed.
'The estimated requirement is approximately one thousand High Tier planets.'
Daniel's expression immediately stiffened slightly.
But Mika was not finished.
'With ten thousand Mid Tier planets.'
'And one hundred thousand Low Tier planets.'
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Daniel stared blankly for a second.
"…What?"
Mika gave a helpless smile.
'I told you earlier that Divine evolution is absurd.'
Daniel rubbed the side of his forehead slightly.
"One hundred thousand planets for only the lowest Divine rank…?"
Even he genuinely felt a headache hearing those numbers.
Because planetary conquest was not some simple game.
Every world possessed civilizations, rulers, factions, and powerful existences.
And yet those numbers were only for entering the first Divine stage.
Daniel suddenly had a very bad feeling about the next requirements.
Mika noticed his expression and sighed softly.
'It gets worse.'
"…Of course it does."
Mika continued carefully.
'If we are talking about Mid Tier Divine Rank…then naturally the requirements increase drastically.'
Daniel already felt mentally exhausted before she even finished.
'For Mid Tier Divine evolution…'
'We would need approximately one thousand Low Tier Divine planets.'
Daniel's eyes twitched slightly.
'One hundred thousand High Tier planets.'
'One million Mid Tier planets.'
'And one hundred million Low Tier planets.'
The moment Mika finished speaking, Daniel genuinely went silent.
Even the system became unusually quiet.
Several seconds passed before Daniel finally spoke.
"…That is not evolution anymore."
He slowly exhaled.
"That is cosmic level insanity."
Mika laughed awkwardly.
'You finally understand why Divine ranked worlds are considered impossible dreams for most factions.'
Daniel honestly could not even argue.
Because those numbers alone were enough to make entire civilizations despair.
But then, he remembered something.
There was still one final stage remaining.
Daniel slowly looked upward.
"…And High Tier Divine Rank?"
The moment he asked that question, Mika herself hesitated.
Because even speaking those numbers aloud felt absurd.
But eventually, she answered.
'If we are aiming for High Tier Divine Rank…'
Her voice became quieter.
'Then the required scale becomes unimaginably large.'
Daniel already felt another headache forming.
Mika continued slowly.
'We would need approximately one thousand Mid Tier Divine planets.'
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
'Ten thousand Low Tier Divine planets.'
The silence became heavier.
'One million High Tier planets.'
'One hundred million Mid Tier planets.'
'And one billion Low Tier planets,
The moment Mika finished, even the surrounding atmosphere became strangely quiet.
Daniel genuinely stood there speechless for several moments.
A billion planets.
The scale was so ridiculous that even Daniel momentarily questioned whether the Universe had gone insane assigning him this task.
The system finally spoke weakly.
[: …Host. :]
"Do not say anything."
[: I was only going to offer emotional support. :]
Daniel sighed deeply.
For the first time in a while, he truly felt overwhelmed.
Not because the task was impossible.
No,Daniel genuinely believed he could eventually accomplish it.
Given enough time, strength, and preparation, he truly believed he could reach that level.
But the problem was not capability.
It was time.
Time was the greatest issue.
Daniel's expression slowly became more serious.
Because unlike before, now he knew the Universe was dying.
Its lifeforce was weakening constantly.
And every second wasted mattered.
'Just when I thought I had finally become strong enough…'
His gaze slowly lowered.
'Time still refuses to stand on my side.'
For the first time since obtaining the path of Bearer of Singularity, Daniel felt pressure.
Real pressure.
Not from enemies.
Not from battle.
But from the realization that the scale of what awaited him was far greater than he initially imagined.
Mika quietly sensed the change in his mood.
Her expression softened slightly.
'Daniel…'
Her voice became gentler.
'You do not need to carry everything alone.'
Daniel remained silent.
Mika continued softly.
'Yes, the requirements are terrifying. But you are not alone anymore.'
'You have me.'
'You have the Fifteen Rulers.'
'You have an entire world willing to follow you now.'
A small smile appeared on her face.
'And honestly…if anyone can achieve something this ridiculous…it would probably be you.'
Daniel stared quietly at the skies for a moment longer.
Then eventually, a faint smile appeared on his face again.
"…A billion planets, huh?"
He let out a small laugh.
"That sounds troublesome."
The system immediately responded.
[: Troublesome? That is your reaction? :]
Daniel smirked slightly afterward.
"But…"
His eyes slowly sharpened once more.
"…not impossible."
As Daniel madebup his mind all of the sudden, the Universe has made its final decision.
[: Daniel Valenhardt…the Will of the
Universe has placed its hope upon you… :]
This time, something was different.
Daniel immediately noticed it.
The Will of the Universe…contained emotion.
Not artificial responses.
Not cosmic indifference.
Not the grand and overwhelming declarations it always made previously.
But genuine emotion.
There was hope, fear and desperation.
It was subtle yet unmistakable.
And for the first time since their conversation began, Daniel realized something.
The Universe was truly afraid.
Afraid of dying.
Afraid of disappearing.
Afraid of eventually reaching an irreversible end.
And now, it had decided to gamble everything on him.
[: You who are aware of the condition of the Universe… :]
[: You who understand the existence of the seal… :]
[: You who know of the Unravelers… :]
[: Have now been acknowledged as the final variable capable of altering fate itself. :]
The moment those words appeared, the entire Universe trembled.
Every layer of existence subtly shook as though the Universe itself had made a final decision.
Even the system became silent.
Because it understood the significance behind this moment.
The Universe was no longer merely supporting Daniel.
It was entrusting itself to him.
Then, the Will of the Universe spoke once more.
And this time, its voice carried absolute authority.
[: The Will of the Universe has declared an Absolute Edict. :]
The moment the words "Absolute Edict" appeared, reality froze and time halted momentarily.
The stars stopped moving.
The flow of mana across countless worlds paused briefly.
Even causality itself seemed to wait.
Because unlike ordinary decrees, an Absolute Edict was something even the Universe itself could not revoke once declared.
It was law.
Permanent and eternal.
Then the Edict revealed itself.
[: Absolute Edict: Reign of Supremacy :]
The moment the name appeared, a massive shockwave spread across existence.
Daniel's infinity mark glowed violently over his chest.
The Persona of the Universe resonated powerfully as if responding directly to the Edict.
Then the effects began manifesting.
[: Whenever Daniel Valenhardt chooses to conquer a planet, dimension, realm, territory, or any form of governed existence… :]
[: All beings under his reign, including Daniel himself, shall have their total stats increased by one thousand times. :]
Daniel's eyes widened slightly, but the announcement was not finished.
[: Meanwhile, all conquered beings resisting his reign shall have their total stats reduced by fifty percent. :]
The atmosphere shook violently.
An entire cosmic scale warfare authority had just been created.
Not only empowering allies, but suppressing enemies simultaneously.
And the scaling difference was horrifying.
Then came the second effect.
[: All beings under Daniel Valenhardt's reign shall experience exponential growth. :]
[: Experience acquisition shall increase by one thousand times. :]
[: Affinities, comprehensions, talents, understandings, and all forms of learning capabilities shall increase by fifty times. :]
Daniel genuinely became stunned hearing this.
Because this was no longer ordinary support.
This was forced accelerated evolution on a universal scale.
An entire empire capable of evolving endlessly.
Then, the third authority appeared.
And the surrounding dimensions instantly distorted.
[: No planets, dimensions, realms, territories, or external existences may invade, enter, forcefully descend, or breach territories under Daniel Valenhardt's reign without his permission. :]
The moment those words appeared, countless hidden laws throughout existence changed instantly.
The authority was absolute.
A protection granted directly by the Universe itself.
Not even divine invasions would bypass it.
But the next line was even more absurd.
[: Any guest allowed entry under Daniel Valenhardt's permission shall be incapable of harming, injuring, corrupting, or destroying beings and territories under his reign. :]
Even Daniel paused slightly at that.
Because this meant one thing.
Within his territory, the Universe itself would enforce peace under his authority.
The system immediately realized the implication.
[: Host… do you understand what this means? :]
Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly.
[: This means your territory has effectively become a universal sanctuary protected directly by cosmic law itself. :]
The system sounded genuinely shaken now.
[: Even ancient factions would go mad trying to obtain a territory with this level of protection. :]
But then, The final authority appeared.
And the moment it did, the entire Universe fell silent.
[: As long as Daniel Valenhardt, who has fused his existence with Mika, continues to live… :]
[: All beings under his reign shall be defined as 'Immortals'. :]
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Daniel himself froze slightly.
Immortals.
Not metaphorically.
Not symbolically.
But literally defined by the Universe itself.
The announcement continued.
[: In the event Daniel Valenhardt's reign faces unavoidable defeat… :]
[: All territories, worlds, dimensions, and beings under his authority shall immediately be transferred into a separate hidden dimension. :]
The surrounding void trembled endlessly.
[: No existence shall detect them. :]
[: No existence shall locate them. :]
[: No existence shall perceive them. :]
[: No existence shall invade them. :]
[: No existence shall reach them. :]
The system finally spoke weakly.
[: …This is not protection anymore. :]
[: This is the Universe itself refusing to allow your civilization to perish. :]
Daniel slowly stared at the endless announcements before him.
And for the first time since obtaining the path of Bearer of Singularity, even he felt stunned.
Because what the Universe had just granted him…was not merely support.
It was favoritism on an absurd level.
No, it was the final desperate gamble of a dying Universe trying to ensure the survival of the one existence it believed could save it.
