"What kind of opportunity?"
Having confirmed her relatives were safe, Dragon Queen Alysta turned her attention to the tantalizing topic of the opportunity mentioned by the Ten Thrones Sovereign.
"An opportunity sufficient for me to ascend to the next level," the Sovereign replied, his words leaving Alysta momentarily stunned.
"An opportunity for you to ascend further?" murmured Muria, who had been quietly attentive, now visibly shocked.
The strength of the Ten Thrones Sovereign was conservatively estimated to be in the third tier of epic rankings—Creation. At this level, a deity could create a fully functioning world from scratch, perfect in its laws and self-sustaining.
For beings at this pinnacle, medium or small worlds held no allure, and resources like source energy could be acquired with ease. To further ascend, such beings typically required either a macrocosm or some extraordinarily rare treasure hidden in the perilous expanse of the void.
"Isn't a macrocosm the only place capable of fostering resources sufficient for your advancement?"
"Indeed. This opportunity originates from a uniquely extraordinary macrocosm."
"Ten Thrones Sovereign, how does this relate to a macrocosm?" Muria's confusion was palpable. The Sovereign had embarked on a mission to investigate the disappearance of multiple epic beings due to his son's involvement. How had the matter expanded to include a macrocosm?
"Muria, this all started with your son, Aeolos. He is extraordinarily fortunate—or perhaps deeply unfortunate. His first reincarnation landed him directly in a macrocosm."
"That's impossible!" Muria instinctively retorted. Aeolos, with his current strength, would struggle to find benefits in a macrocosm, likely facing immense peril instead.
Furthermore, the process of ascending to epic status typically occurred within medium worlds. Transporting Aeolos from one such world to another could be chalked up to an error, but transferring him into a macrocosm? That was no accident; it was a deliberate death sentence.
"Don't overthink it, Muria. Aeolos reincarnated into a world that appears to be a medium world on the surface but is, in essence, part of a macrocosm," the Sovereign clarified, preemptively dispelling Muria's dark conjectures.
"Part of a macrocosm?" Muria was astonished. What kind of circumstances could disguise a fragment of a macrocosm as a medium world?
"You are familiar with cluster organisms, correct?" The Sovereign, seeing Muria's bewilderment, wasted no time in elaborating, "An individual that is an entire species, and a species that functions as a single individual."
Muria nodded. He was indeed familiar with the concept—an organism made up of countless smaller entities, merging into a single consciousness during crises, becoming vastly more powerful as a unified entity.
"The macrocosm Aeolos entered functions similarly," the Sovereign revealed.
"There exists such a macrocosm?" Muria was stunned as the Sovereign's explanation painted a vivid picture. The macrocosm consisted of innumerable small worlds, scattered like islands in the void. Each seemed insignificant individually, but collectively, they were a part of a greater whole—a singular macrocosm.
"It is indeed extraordinary. Even I am encountering such a phenomenon for the first time. But this is the nature of the void: endlessly surprising and full of creations beyond imagination," the Sovereign said with a faint smile.
"If that's the case, it means my grandson and I are also eligible to enter," Alysta quickly deduced, her eyes shining with eager anticipation.
"Exactly. I came here to inform you both. Titans, Seraphim, and Metallic Dragons are all preparing to send a contingent of epic beings into this macrocosm," the Sovereign explained matter-of-factly.
"Ten Thrones Sovereign, where is the coordinate? Give it to me!" Alysta, brimming with impatience, spoke urgently.
"Don't rush. There are some matters to clarify first. Despite its cluster-like nature, this remains a macrocosm. You cannot forcibly break into it with your true body," the Sovereign warned.
"Then we'll use the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Technique to enter. Once inside, I'm sure we can soon liberate our true selves from the constraints of our reincarnated forms," Alysta surmised confidently.
"If you don't mind facing the macrocosm's hostility toward foreign epics, then yes, you should be able to free your true bodies relatively quickly," the Sovereign acknowledged.
"Being a cluster macrocosm, it is unpredictable what you might encounter. Meeting a deity freely walking the land is not out of the question."
"A freely active deity?" Muria's expression turned peculiar. Normally, deities were confined to their domains, no different from epic beings. Encountering one in a reincarnated state was indeed a daunting prospect.
"Exactly. When Erathia's deities first emerged, they roamed freely. Only after the world's laws became more structured did they face restrictions, able to manifest in the material plane only as peak legendary avatars," the Sovereign explained.
"The idea of facing a deity in a macrocosm… It's intriguing," Muria muttered, his tone a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"One more critical point: the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Technique will not function as seamlessly as before. There will be anomalies."
"What kind of anomalies?"
"Upon reincarnating, your primary consciousness will be suppressed temporarily. During this time, the secondary consciousness birthed by your reincarnated body will act autonomously, beyond your control."
"That's risky. If the reincarnated form causes problems, won't the true self be exposed?"
"Indeed. However, the risk is manageable," the Sovereign assured them, his gaze steady. "So, are you ready to embrace this opportunity?"
"I will not retreat from such a challenge," Alysta declared without hesitation. The Sovereign's gaze shifted to Muria.
"My son was the first to enter, and my bloodline already warned me of the dangers he faces. Following him were my wife, my parents, and my grandfather… I have no reason to refuse," Muria said decisively.
"Very well. Here are the coordinates. You may proceed on your own," the Sovereign said, his towering form beginning to fade as the massive rift in space healed itself.
"Wait, why not let us return and use the Multiversal Transit Hall to arrive?" Muria asked, surprised by the abrupt departure.
"Because I'm here!" Alysta replied with a glance at her grandson. "With these coordinates, I can take you there directly. Why waste time?"
"Oh, right," Muria chuckled awkwardly, realizing he'd underestimated his grandmother's capabilities.
"Any unfinished business? If not, we'll leave immediately!" Alysta's eagerness was palpable.
Muria glanced at the Whale God beneath him, then at the feigning-dead Mecha God nearby.
"For now, this will do. I'll return here eventually," he said, standing on the Whale God's back and declaring his intent.
"Suit yourself," Alysta said dismissively. Stretching out her crystalline claws, she conjured a shimmering droplet brimming with multicolored brilliance. As its power surged, the void twisted, and the two Titans vanished on the spot.
"Not taking me with you?" The Whale God muttered, feeling the sudden emptiness on its back. For all its bluff and pretense, it had dared not make a sound during the entire conversation.
"Dream on. Why would they bring you along?" the Mecha God, now reassembled, scoffed.
"I am his mount."
"For a thousand years. If you'd agreed to ten thousand, you might have been invited. Too bad!" the Mecha God quipped, finding solace in the Whale God's predicament.
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