"Y-you…how could you…?!"
The 11th Elder, thoughts leaked through his mana, but before they could be completed, his two halves were completely severed, falling to the ground and turning into shards of shattered ice.
Damien cracked his knuckles and stretched. 'For my first fight against a 4th class, it was disappointing. Well, this guy probably only reached that level by piggybacking, so it isn't a surprise.'
Information on war wasn't the only thing Damien gained from Alaric. Living 10 years in the latter's body, he understood that the 4th class level wasn't always as glorious as it looked.
The thing that made 4th class special was the fact that one needed to pass through the Universe Baptism to reach it. This was a barrier that caused many aspiring existences to die before fulfilling their potential.
And of course, to break this barrier with one's own strength was what it meant to be a true 4th class. Those who did so were the ones who deserved such a title.
But there was another category as well. Since war needed great strength, the people of Alaric's time began boosting people to 4th class.
Pills, special treasures, even outside help. All of these things were allowed when one was subjected to the Universe Baptism. There wasn't some restriction that made the Baptism more difficult if someone else tried to help. The strength of a Baptism would vary from person to person, but that was the extent of that.
Because the universe was fair. It didn't care what methods one used. But at the same time, strength was something to be earned, not granted.
Even if the degree of Baptism was unchanging, the gains one received from it were never constant.
To overcome Baptism with one's own power means to monopolize all the strength the Baptism provides. It means getting more than just a glimpse at Laws, furthering progression through them at a rapid pace.
But if one passes the Baptism with the help of others, they wouldn't gain such benefits. Depending on the level of help, the benefits could be reduced to just a fraction of the insights one gained on one's own, or even one at all.
And at that point, there was no difference between breaking through to 3rd class or 4th class. It was just a jump in power without any qualitative change.
This was the kind of Baptism the 11th Elder must've gone through. There was no way to compare him to the other 4th class existences Damien had met. Hell, even Lucius, who was still at the entry-level himself, was leagues better than the 11th Elder.
'Still, utilizing Laws is such an interesting feeling.'
Damien twiddled his fingers, playing around with an illusory essence that danced through them. This essence was similar to the spatial mana he usually used, but at a far higher purity and density. The profundity of this essence wasn't something Damien had the qualifications to grasp yet.
Of course, it was mana born from Spatial Laws, rather than a simple affinity.
'It's a shame. If I could make this power mine and comprehend Laws at the 3rd class, I'd be invincible until someone at the White Dragon King or Elvira's level shows up. But, there's a reason why the Universe Baptism exists as a gateway to this power.'
A trail of blood leaked from Damien's lips as he smiled wryly. The power of Laws wasn't something he should be allowed to use.
As for how he did so, that was quite obvious. As the master of the world itself, how could he be restricted from utilizing its Laws?
The only constraint, besides the toll taken on his body, was the fact that these Laws could only be used while he was on a planet he had bound already.
At the moment, only the Cloud Plane and Earth fit this requirement. Though, Apeiron would soon join.
'After the Xue Clan is dealt with, it'll be time to start a witch hunt on this world. At that time, I'll head over to Apeiron and bind it, so that I can purge over there as well.'
Future plans were coming along steadily. As long as nothing interrupted him in the coming months, he'd be able to adequately prepare for the war that was around the corner.
But, counting on luck wasn't something Damien enjoyed doing. Rather than hoping his plans wouldn't be interrupted, he'd actively make sure to not allow himself to be interrupted.
'Hmm, but first, we should take care of the current problem.'
Damien spread his hands, allowing the Spatial Laws dancing around his fingers to spread into the atmosphere. Within seconds of him doing so, the shattered space he was currently inside repaired itself fully.
BOOOM!
A massive explosion rang out the second Damien reappeared in the world. His body became illusory, letting the shrapnel flying through the air pass right through him.
"Hey, hey! I know it's a hard fight, but watch where you're aiming!" He shouted into the dust cloud that had formed at his side.
A flash of pink shot out from within, arriving in front of him. "Sorry, sorry. It's a bit hard to control my power nowadays, you know?"
Damien rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. You're the illusion freak who can turn physical objects ethereal. You're telling me it wasn't on purpose?"
Rose looked away innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about. How was I supposed to know you were over here?"
Damien looked at her with a deadpan expression. She wasn't even trying to hide the grin on her face.
Seeing her act so cheekily, Damien nodded. "Alright, after the fight is over, it's punishment time."
"Oh? And how are you going to punish me?"
"Why don't you find out on your own?"
"Hmm, let me guess…you'll do me the same way you did Elena?"
Damien's eyes widened into saucers. This woman…he forgot how scary she could be.
But, if she already knew, there was no point in hiding it. "No, no, no. Trust me, I'll make sure to give you 10 times what Elena got."
"Is that a challenge?" Rose smirked. She looked him up and down as if asking him if he really had the ability to do what he said.
Damien grinned. "It's a promise. Also, watch out behind you."
Rose rolled her eyes. "That's nothing. Do you think your benevolent and amazing first wife has been lazing around for the past year?"
"So you haven't been? Last I checked, you were so obsessed with Earthen entertainment that you started making illusory TVs when you couldn't watch at home."
"Tch. We don't talk about that. Anyway, if you're so doubtful, then just watch me!"
As she spoke, a mountainous boulder appeared above her head, dwarfing her by tens of times. If that thing fell on her, she was guaranteed to be crushed to death.
But Rose didn't hesitate. She extended her arm gracefully, tapping the boulder gently as if it was just a marble.
But that action was enough. The boulder's outline turned hazy. And although it still dropped onto Rose's head, it passed through her body as if it was a simple projection.
Damien grinned in approval. Rose was always fast in improving, to the point where her speed shocked even him sometimes. To do something like this was the least he expected from her.
'It's not that she turned reality into illusion, it's more like she transported it into an ethereal Plane, separating it from reality as a whole. Does that count as an illusion affinity, or is Rose just a monster?'
Regardless of how she did it, what mattered was that she had done it flawlessly.
Damien sat down in the air. At some point, a chair had appeared below him.
'What a considerate wife.'
Rose smiled and turned around, returning to the battle at hand. As for Damien, he sat with his legs crossed, eagerly awaiting the battle his wives were planning to show him.
