Colonial Suit

Before him was the entrance to the next level. One step down, and he would enter the core of the ruins. Krodir's secrets would unfold before him, along with immense power and endless resources. Krodir's accumulation of nearly ten thousand years—everything represented the power to change the universe. Throughout the universe, countless individuals and civilizations yearned to obtain all of this.

Yet, Blood瞳 couldn't bring himself to take that step.

He recalled Dirk's last words: "When you obtain power, you'll discover you're not as virtuous as you imagined."

Why would Dirk say such a thing?

Blood瞳 pondered silently, then lowered his head and sighed softly.

What did he need resources for? What did he need a civilization's legacy for? Ultimately, he only wanted power—pure, personal power. He didn't want to dominate the universe, nor did he want to awaken an ancient civilization bent on invasion. All he wanted was to protect himself and his companions, to survive.

So, Blood瞳 turned around and spoke again, "I have two questions."

"Speak..." Dirk said from atop the altar, without turning his head. His fingers still caressed the painting, seemingly unconcerned by Blood瞳's change of heart.

"I want to know..." Blood瞳 stared intently at Dirk, asking in a deep voice, "When I obtain what's below, will I have to assume any obligations? For example..."

"For example, reviving Krodir's civilization," Dirk interrupted, his expression still as calm as ever. "I know what you're worried about. But if you gain power, will you be changed by it?"

"No!" Blood瞳 answered decisively. This question required no thought, for that was simply who he was. Between power and freedom, he would undoubtedly choose the latter.

Dirk nodded, as if he had expected Blood瞳 to say this. "If that's the case, what are you worried about? Krodir won't force anyone. If you don't want to do it, no one can force you."

"I understand," Blood瞳 took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief. Then, he asked his second question, "This Diabolos you speak of... will it really destroy the universe? If it destroys, what form will it take?"

This time, Dirk didn't answer immediately but pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "This is a future destined by fate. Knowing too much isn't necessarily a good thing for you."

"If I can't escape the shackles of fate, I must at least see the path of fate," Blood瞳 replied without backing down, a determined glint in his eyes.

He had to know... because he needed to know.

Since Diabolos was so dangerous, he had to find a way to prevent it from appearing within himself, regardless of whether this terrifying existence was actually him. Blood瞳 didn't believe in so-called fate or the future. He only believed in his own will! If Diabolos was truly going to be born within him, he would strangle it at birth!

But Dirk didn't know Blood瞳's thoughts, he just slowly said, "The universe is actually a collection of energy rules. You should know this."

Blood瞳 nodded. This was the basis for Cosmic Warriors. In fact, the reason Cosmic Warriors could obtain the power to destroy planets was because they had mastered the dualistic energy rules. In other words, they had come into contact with the secrets of the universe's structure. Whether it was a living being, a planet, or something else, everything ultimately originated from energy rules. When energy rules were affected, no one could avoid it.

But how were energy rules created?

"The universe isn't created, it only cycles," Dirk said softly. "A universe, from the beginning of its cycle, is actually divided into two parts. One part belongs to the positive rules, which are the dualistic energy rules we come into contact with," Dirk explained. "It constructs the entire positive side of the universe, including various material entities, planets, and also space and time. In a sense, the existence of the universe is the existence of positive rules. Any damage to positive rules also means damage to the universe."

Blood瞳 nodded. He could understand this explanation because he was a beneficiary of the rules. From the moment he entered Meteor, he increasingly realized the ubiquity of dualistic rules. Even a drop of water or a breath involved the operation of dualistic energy rules.

"But..." Dirk's voice suddenly intensified. "Dualistic energy rules aren't the only thing in the universe. Beneath this universe, there's something else that isn't a rule but possesses eternal characteristics like a rule. It isn't touched, it isn't utilized, and even discovering it is almost impossible."

"We call it 'End'. It means the end," Dirk stopped moving his fingers and finally turned his gaze to Blood瞳, faintly revealing a trace of sorrow.

"You don't need to know about its discovery. You just need to know that 'End' isn't allowed to appear in the universe because it's the opposite of energy rules. When 'End' comes into contact with the rules, there's only one result: the destruction of the rules."

"That's impossible," Blood瞳 said immediately.

Rules couldn't be destroyed. This was common sense in the universe because everything existed based on rules. Just like the Cosmic Warrior's level system, Meteors and Comets could sense rules, Planetaries and Asteroids could utilize rules, and Stellar could modify rules, but no one had ever heard of anyone erasing rules because that in itself was a denial of existence.

If even the rules didn't exist, what was the universe? A blob of paste?

Looking at Blood瞳's surprised expression, Dirk's gaze became even more sorrowful. He raised his head, as if seeing someone or something from the past.

"In this world, nothing is impossible."

"The universe is infinite because of the infinity of dualistic energy rules. But if we disregard material form and observe from the perspective of rules, the universe is actually a sphere. The surface is the strongest level of dualistic energy rules, with various celestial bodies and materials emerging and constantly evolving. Deeper is subspace, where the structure of dualistic energy rules weakens and matter decreases significantly. Then there's anti-space, where it weakens and decreases further."

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"Because space and time are products of dualistic energy rules, people won't feel the disappearance of rules. They'll only recognize this as a special cosmic environment. But have you ever noticed that no matter how powerful your strength is or how brilliant your civilization is, you can only reach the fourth level of anti-space, which is the abyss, but you've never entered the fifth level?"

"............" Blood瞳 felt his mouth dry and unconsciously swallowed. "What?"

"Because..." Dirk glanced at Blood瞳 and said vaguely, "The fifth level doesn't exist at all."

"What I mean by doesn't exist isn't that it really doesn't exist, but that within the framework of dualistic energy rules, it isn't allowed to exist. Or rather, it can't be explained or defined. But in reality, the fifth level of anti-space does exist. Like the sphere of the universe, it's actually the core of the sphere, the only difference being that this level doesn't have any dualistic energy rules. Instead, it's replaced by something new. That is 'End'."

"Which is, Diabolos!"

"When Diabolos leaves the fifth level and enters the normal universe."

"The entire universe system will lose its rationality of existence, leading to a chain reaction of collapse."

"Inevitable, irreversible," Dirk stopped explaining and turned his gaze to Blood瞳 again. His eyes were filled with sorrow and pity.

"Whether you want to or not, Blood瞳, you will destroy this universe."