Even though Hortus seemed like any normal Synthetic World, Synthetic World and normal themselves were oxymorons.
It seemed to exist in the Inner Space like its peers, but in reality, it's a separate space-time in itself and showed the characteristics of being a separate cosmos.
Like every other Synthetic World, it's extremely useful to carry armies across interstellar distances. But its usefulness far surpasses that by allowing the lord of the world to 'bestow' powers upon others and even forcefully strip them off.
Synthetic Worlds themselves were exceedingly rare and usually only found in Kingdoms or Empires.
They're the living testimony of an ancient power that reached the peak of all divine paths.
Opening up a separate space-time field? Possible. Creating new life and death cycles? Sure. Constructing a new order and chaos in a domain? Yes.
But doing all three at once? No one, not even the best powerhouses of today could forge something like a Synthetic World.
All these Synthetic Worlds were failed experiments. Hortus was the only successful product.
That's why, even though its lord was currently only a rank 1, Hortus could play with even a rank 3 powerhouse.
"Why? Why did it revert back to before?" Neihor touched his clothes and muttered in a disbelieving tone.
His wrinkled clothes after all the travel were now back to how they were when he first appeared in this place.
"My broken belt got back together?"
"The scratches on my arm…"
The six havocs also realized that they didn't just stumble upon another evergreen forest but simply reverted back in time.
The havocs collapsed onto their knees and looked at their surroundings with dread. Where the hell did they end up?
"No, we can't give up." Neihor urged them. "It shouldn't be possible for this prison to do this endlessly. We just have to crack the limit."
His words filled his subordinates with hope and they all resumed their escape once again.
"…It's funny, isn't it?"
"I said I'm sorry." Varian bowed his head sincerely.
"No, it's very funny to watch them get played in a loop they can never get out of."
"Yeah." Varian nodded.
Like the Twilight Zone—Forbidden Ground of Life and Death or precisely speaking, the experimental ground of Life-Death, the region they were thrown in was the experimental ground of Space-Time.
"It's very funny to watch these haughty guys break down." Varian smiled as he stared at the screen showing havocs slowly going crazy.
"And it's also very funny to come here and leave without visiting me."
"How the hell are they two related? You're being unreasonable." Varian looked at Sia with a dumbfounded expression.
"Yes. I'm being unreasonable. Bite me, Mister." Sia grinned at him with a mad gaze.
"Don't think I won't dare, woman." Varian showed a serious expression. Did she really think that he'd be bullied? Hm?
"Woman? Oh, good. Very good. Looks like someone forgot his wife. What's next? You got a new girlfriend?" Sia crossed her arms and squinted at him with a dangerous smile.
"You look beautiful even when you're angry." Varian pressed his lips on hers.
"I…" Sia wanted to argue and rebel. But in the end, her shoulders relaxed and she closed her eyes.
After a few minutes of reunion, the two parted and looked at the screen again.
"So…" Sia felt embarrassed for giving in too easily. Was she too weak to fall for his sweetness? But when he was like that, she didn't really want to quarrel anymore.
She decisively changed the topic. "You're already strong enough to hit rank 2s. Do you really need the artifacts?"
Varian pinched her soft cheek like she asked a stupid question and answered. "The artifacts boost is relative to the rank I. So, no matter what rank I am at, they're going to be really helpful."
That's the primary reason he's so willing. Instead of being useful at rank 3 and getting useless at rank 6, they'd be important throughout.
He could already fight across a rank. But now, he might be invincible in the next rank and even afford to put up a fight against someone two ranks higher.
For others, it wouldn't be much of a change. But it's a world of difference for Varian. With artifacts, he could fight rank 3. He'd lose badly but he wouldn't die. What would happen then? He'd grow at an explosive pace! The stronger the enemy, the better!
Once the artifacts were made, his speed of improvement would reach a new height.
"You are going to grow stronger even faster? This is crazy." Sia exhaled deeply. "I married a monster."
"A monster indeed." Varian grinned with a mischievous expression.
"N-Not that." Sia's face flushed and she glared at him in embarrassment.
"Then I have to prove myself."
"Stop! I can't bear it alone!" Sia backed off like a frightened rabbit and looked at him with apprehension. "Wait until Sarah ends her seclusion."
"Tsk. Weakling." Varian said with a face of mock contempt just to infuriate her.
"Excuse me?" Sia bit his shoulder like an angry cat and looked at him with fierce eyes. "Who are you calling weak?"
"A girl who backed off from a match she knows she can't win. It's not just being weak, it's also cowardly." Varian's words sparked her pride.
Sia knew he was just joking but she still didn't want that title. Moreover, those nymphs made it clear that they were all vying for her husband. She beat them all up in anger. And now, she's just backing off in front of the very man she beat them up for?
"Y-You…damn it! Come on! Let's do it!"
Varian glanced at Neihor and gang for one last time. He'd use them for the ritual soon but Neihor should weaken to at least late rank 2 before that's possible.
Anyway, his 'session' with Sia would take a day. By then, Neihor would be drained dry and the ritual could be pushed.
"Let's go, cutie." Varian laughed and the two disappeared into the depths of the palace.
