Atticus' speech about the Death Emperor Star went on for far longer than Damien would've preferred, but by the end, he'd already decided that it was his next destination.
From Atticus' words, Damien realized that while Hidden Death Valley was indeed an academy as he dreaded, it wasn't so simple. Under that veil was a military institute in disguise.
"Death Emperor Star is one of the most dangerous stars in our sector. Nearly every inch of its surface is a death zone, excluding Hidden Death Valley. Those who choose to attend its institute aren't there for fun, they're there to push themselves in the harshest conditions possible. I know I'm the one who invited you, but truthfully, it isn't wise to go if you aren't ready to risk your life. The death rate amongst those who do is…far worse than you can imagine." Atticus said.
Damien nodded his head in understanding. Atticus didn't sugarcoat his explanation at all. He made it crystal clear just how terrifying Death Emperor Star truly was. But this gave Damien a clearer picture of the institute itself.
It wasn't just some place for geniuses to go and train. It was a military institution meant to turn them into killing machines. Hidden Death Valley was most likely established as a method to rapidly raise geniuses before the war grew to an irreversible scale.
After all, in a universal war like the one occurring, there were three battlefields. The true warzone in Eden, the plant races' domain, the silent war between experts, and finally, the battle between the younger generation.
The most embarrassing defeat the universe had faced thus far…was in the last category.
Damien sighed as an ethereal golden scroll appeared in his eyesight. This was the Dimensional Leaderboard, or at least the small version he could access without being registered in its records.
Throughout that list were 99 foreign names and one he knew. However, among those 99, over 30 were only referred to by their titles.
These 30 or so individuals…were Nox beings.
The older generation couldn't touch the younger generation; this was one of the compromises made by the Nox and universe experts to avoid catastrophic losses to both sides so early in the war. And using this compromise, the Nox sent a few geniuses to enter the universe and wreak havoc.
Naturally, they targeted the Dimensional Leaderboard. What better way was there to slap the universe's youths in the face?
But this slap resounded far louder than anyone would've expected.
At the very top of the Dimensional Leaderboard, glaringly obvious in blood-red letters, was a single name.
Saint King.
The number one genius in the entire Grand Heavens Boundary, this spot was being held by a Nox.
The universe had experts. The older generation had already reached saturation, containing an untold number of 4th classes and even many Demigods.
However, the younger generation desperately needed to improve. If they couldn't…
Damien shook his head. There was no need to think about "what ifs." All he needed to do was make sure that spot would belong to a true denizen of the universe.
Himself, of course.
The top of the Dimensional Leaderboard was his goal since the second he learned of its existence. Now that he learned there was actually a Nox waiting for him there, why would he be saddened?
That just meant Damien didn't have to care about his enemy at all. He didn't need to be mindful of the fact that the geniuses he was facing would be his comrades in war later.
He grinned as he thought about face-slapping a Nox genius. He needed to have a nice and long talk with their race anyway, so wouldn't it be better if he beat them into obedience first?
"I'm going. Take me there." He said firmly to Atticus. It didn't take long at all to make his decision.
Atticus looked deeply into his eyes, clearly sensing his determination. He nodded just as firmly in response. "Great! I knew you weren't weak! But, we have to wait for the Mystic Realm to close before we leave…"
Damien clicked his tongue in derision. "You think this tiny Mystic Realm can stop me from going where I want to go? Tch. Give me an hour and I'll have this damn place collapsed."
"Ah, but—" Atticus tried to say something, but Damien had already vanished. He really couldn't understand this mysterious genius. With how succinct their conversations were, one would expect Damien to be a cold and indifferent man. However, he wasn't like that at all. He was expressive and didn't hide his emotions, which made his behavior even stranger.
Atticus furrowed his brows. 'Maybe…he just doesn't like me?'
With a downcast expression on his face, Atticus sat down and silently waited for Damien's return.
Besides, he was curious if Damien could really pull it off.
Collapsing a Mystic Realm…what kind of rank would he debut at on the Dimensional Leaderboard if he could pull off such a stunt?
Frankly, Atticus couldn't wait to find out.
***
While Atticus was wondering whether to brood or watch on in anticipation, Damien had already arrived in the Black Demon Lightning space.
His goal for coming was simple.
"You like this stuff, right? Go devour it all!" He shouted.
His aura burst forth. Pitch-black Void Mana wantonly spread from his body and permeated the atmosphere. As it did, it immediately shot into the Black Demon Lightning Sea below!
Damien didn't understand Void Mana yet, but if it wanted to act like a sentient creature, he'd treat it like one. And one thing he did know for sure was that the Void was insatiable.
While it was true that Damien could collapse this Mystic Realm with Dimensional Magic and All-Seeing Eyes alone, that would take an unknown amount of time and effort to accomplish.
The easiest way to collapse the Mystic Realm was to simply destroy it until it forcefully ejected everyone within.
And that was exactly his plan.
Void Mana snaked through the Black Demon Lightning Sea, nearly invisible in the realm of blackness. However, as it devoured and devoured, its color began to overtake the sea itself.
It had to be said, this devouring wasn't initiated by Damien nor did he receive any strength from it. In fact, he didn't even know where the Black Demon Lightning was going. In his perception, it seemed to just vanish into thin air after being devoured.
But he didn't mind. It was the same reason he gave Atticus the lightning seed. Right now, he didn't want more power. Before he began adding more to his plate, he first needed to finish what was already there.
The key was Death Emperor Star. If it was truly as Atticus said, Damien could rapidly understand his strength through the star's trials and even improve on it afterward.
But before that could happen…
The Black Demon Lightning space began to quake. Unlike the space cracks that formed during battle that would heal over time, the cracks emerging in space at the moment were irreparable.
Shattered spatial fragments fell through the air like snowflakes. In the space they once occupied, a hazy image of the Real Plane appeared.
Unfortunately, this exit didn't lead to any place Damien knew. Because he was shattering the Mystic Realm instead of naturally exiting, the exit point itself would be the Mystic Realm's true location in the universe.
But Damien didn't care. He had no reason to.
Damien separated a portion of his mana and latched onto the connection between the Mystic Realm and the Real Plane. Next, he activated Warp and merged the portal that formed from it to the Dawn World where he came from.
Just like that, an exit was formed without a hitch.
"Light work," Damien commented with a smile. Now, all that was left to do was drag Atticus into the Divine Realm and use him as a taxi to get to Death Emperor Star.
