The process of binding the Universal Core wasn't any different from binding a regular World Core.
In fact, Damien barely felt a change while he was doing it.
Sure, his Universal Law comprehension increased immensely, to the point where he felt like he could directly control the universe if he went back, but that wasn't unexpected, nor was it something that gave him immense joy.
After all, Universal Law was a contained power. It only worked under certain circumstances, and overall, it didn't have much benefit for him.
Not that he didn't want it.
Since Universal Law was a concept close to the root of existence, it was an important stepping stone for him. Later, when he reached the point he was aiming for, this comprehension would make it infinitely easier for him to overcome the final barrier.
However, that was only his feeling in the moment.
The Universal Core was still an external entity at this time, so naturally, he could only feel its effects as such.
When he finally took it into his body and incorporated it into the Sanctuary…
"Ah…"
An exclamation of wonder left his mouth unknowingly.
He wasn't used to this feeling at all.
He felt elevated.
And suddenly, he realized just what he was doing.
He was binding a universe.
A fucking universe!
This wasn't some ordinary moment. It wouldn't just be a heightened version of binding a World Core. If it was just that, then how could it be considered a universe?!
He didn't get it at first. He was so used to events like this granting him something that he neglected the actual benefits he was receiving.
There was no direct increase in a piece of his strength. His mana didn't increase, his laws remained the same as they were, and the Void didn't show any reaction.
However, his "league" increased.
His "state of existence" reached another level, and the effects of that only presented themselves once he incorporated the Universal Core into his strength.
League was a strange thing that lower existences couldn't understand.
League and Legend were two concepts that defined one's self in ethereal ways, establishing one's identity in the universe.
Understanding the truth behind Legends was the key to entering the nine revolutions and beginning the path to Divinity, but league didn't have this kind of significance.
Because league was a concept intrinsically linked to the soul, the realm of higher existences.
One's league would naturally rise with practice, but there weren't many ways to unnaturally raise it. One had to do something absolutely impossible for their league to be affected by their actions.
Even when Damien made impossible achievements in gaining Elemental Law through the Void, his league didn't experience a change.
But in this moment, the entire existence that represented him was raised to a new level.
Euphoric wasn't a great enough word to describe his current emotions.
Because league, being this kind of esoteric concept, had unprecedented effects on one's strength.
Just like the Blessing of Foundation he received in the Severed World, the increase of his league would comprehensively boost his strength in every facet.
He was getting stronger exponentially.
It was truly beautiful.
Yet, Damien could only feel it for a few seconds before he was forced to divert his attention.
Now that the Universal Core was gone, the fragmented dimension would start to collapse. It was his job to make sure this collapse worked in his favor!
'Alright, let's get to work.'
He cracked his knuckles and spread his arms to the side.
'I have all the necessary comprehensions, but this is my first time doing this, so I can't let my concentration waver.'
He didn't let the seriousness affect him much, but he understood it well.
If he failed here, he'd spend another decade in the Abyss aimlessly walking towards Al'Katra.
Yong An was over 500 years old now, but when they met, he was at most 150.
What if this dilation happened in the opposite direction?
What if the ten years he spent here translated to 100 in the universe?
What if he went back and found everything he worked to protect gone?
He couldn't allow that.
Huu…
He took a deep breath and grabbed hold of his Celestial Mana web, infusing Void Mana into its structure.
'Facilitation…'
It wasn't a matter of control, but a matter of slightly altering the natural flow of events to his benefit.
He had to be incredibly precise in his tweaking, and for that purpose, he let go of all other thoughts.
The fragmented dimension's walls broke down, and the Abyss' mana flooded in.
Under Damien's Void Mana, it wasn't allowed to rampage as it pleased, but it tried its best to get out of his control.
'Guide them…slowly…'
He was like an artist. Every movement of his arms was a stroke of this cosmic brush that dictated the nature of the world.
As the forces of the now-broken universe embraced chaos, he used the Void to slowly introduce and integrate them with the Abyss itself.
The space he was standing in was shrinking.
He could feel the Abyss encroaching upon him.
He wasn't moving, but it was hard to feel like he was standing still. It felt like he was on a small boat rocking in the push and pull of the deep ocean.
But luckily for him, he wasn't an ordinary man, but the god of the sea himself!
The process was hard to describe in many words. After all, chaos was defined by disorder for a reason.
The fragmented dimension and the Abyss slowly became one under Damien's influence, until eventually, Damien was no longer trapped in space.
The Abyss was all around him before he knew it.
The question was…
Where was he now?
"Huu…"
Damien exhaled again and opened his eyes.
Slowly but surely, he removed his control from the environment and allowed it to flow naturally.
That movement…
That movement was the eruption of an underwater volcano.
A tsunami rose in a single instant, randomly pushing him through the Abyss.
'This is the most important part.'
He focused, and focused, and focused.
He pulled the strings of fate with all his power to bring about the outcome he desired.
Until finally…
'I did it.'
The world stilled.
The Abyss returned to its usual chaotic calm.
Damien didn't waste any time and directly focused on the smoke-like path leading him to Al'Katra.
How much time was left?
Every time he checked in the past, the answer was several years. The number of years obviously decreased with time, but it was never linear and never followed the amount of distance he'd covered, so he was a bit scared of the results of his last bargain.
However…
A smile lit up his face.
His eyes sparkled with happiness.
'6 months.'
It wasn't a vague estimate like usual, but a direct representation of time.
If he moved in a straight line from this point, he'd reach Al'Katra in half a year without a doubt.
But that wasn't the reason for his grin.
Because as long as he took a few shortcuts…
'...I can definitely cut that down even more.'
Finally.
The Abyss was nice, but he was tired of it by now.
This wasn't what he came for.
So now that his goal was right in front of him…
Why wouldn't he be happy?
