Across that unfathomable epoch spanning 10^64 years.
Aside from functioning as a [Potential Infinity Energy Source],
Seraphine had uncovered another crucial property, or rather, a foundational function, of the [Negative Boundary's Demonic Seed]: [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation].
Through her rigorous research, she determined that this distinct capability was the primordial root behind the attribute-doubling mechanic of the [Infinite Attributes] system.
One could even argue that for the countless system hosts scattered across infinite space-times, the sole reason they could achieve the game-breaking feat of exponential stat doubling was driven entirely by this [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation].
Meanwhile, the stable maintenance and complete execution of the [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation] function relied entirely on an esoteric symptom known as the [Dual-Realm Correlation], which manifested between the Essential Realm and the Phenomenal Realm the moment the Positive and Negative Dimensions intersected and canceled each other out.
A so-called symptom denotes the [Pre-expression] or [Pseudo-manifestation] of a phenomenon.
It is a [Sub-phenomenon] poised in a quantum-like state between emerging and not emerging.
Thus, stripping away the jargon, the core reality of the [Dual-Realm Correlation] symptom simply described an imperfect, intermediary state of mutual interference between the Essential Realm and the Phenomenal Realm.
Because it was imperfect, it pseudo-manifested.
And because it pseudo-manifested, this [Dual-Realm Correlation] remained an indeterminate symptom rather than a crystallized, deterministic phenomenon.
Simultaneously, based on Seraphine's research and deductions, she posited that the unfathomable Essential Realm towering above the Phenomenal Realm was almost certainly a domain of true Actual Infinity.
Naturally, it leaned toward Actual Infinity in the mathematical sense, such as Aleph-null, Aleph-one, Aleph-two, or even Aleph-three and higher transfinite cardinalities, rather than [Absolute Infinity] in the philosophical or conceptual sense.
[Absolute Infinity] is practically synonymous with omniscience and omnipotence.
Contrasted against the various mathematical infinities, the gulf between them is astronomical, utterly incomparable on any scale.
Consequently, as a true domain of Actual Infinity, even an infinitesimal, one-over-infinity fraction of the Essential Realm must inherently remain an Actual Infinity itself.
Therefore, following standard logic, once the Essential Realm and the Phenomenal Realm establish a perfect state of mutual correlation, the Interference Force transmitted from the Essential Realm into the Phenomenal Realm must inherently be a True Infinity, rather than a Finite Count.
Howbeit, if the mutual correlation occurring between the Essential Realm and the Phenomenal Realm remains imperfect, the [Dual-Realm Correlation] naturally degrades from a deterministic phenomenon under [True Manifestation] down to an indeterminate symptom of [Pseudo-manifestation].
Consequently, that Infinitely Large Interference Force beamed down from the Essential Realm into the Phenomenal Realm inevitably degrades into a Finite Count Interference Force, ensuring that the affected entity within the Phenomenal Realm undergoes a strictly Finite Count transformation rather than an Infinitely Large leap.
And the reason the [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation] function within the [Negative Boundary's Demonic Seed] can successfully operate and maintain stability is precisely because it harnesses this exact esoteric symptom.
Put simply, the operational mechanics behind the [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation] function involve obliquely siphoning that imperfect Interference Force flowing from the Essential Realm to the Phenomenal Realm, using it to exert an imperfect modification upon an entity in the Phenomenal Realm, triggering massive shifts across one or several of its intrinsic properties.
One possible manifested outcome of this mechanism is exponential attribute doubling.
"What if..."
Seraphine quietly gazed at the ghostly Negative Boundary's Demonic Seed resting in her palm, a flash of inspiration hitting her as she murmured under her breath:
"What if there's a method to convert that imperfect Interference Force flowing from the Essential Realm to the Phenomenal Realm into a perfected state of Interference Force?
Wouldn't that mean I could... infinitely rewrite my own reality? For instance... instantly setting my attributes to a true Infinitely Large scale?"
Of course, that was merely an idealized thought experiment.
In practice, it was utterly impossible,
because back in that 'lost' temporal branch, Seraphine had already run countless exhaustive trials testing this exact theory.
In the end, every single trial concluded in failure.
Every experiment pointed toward one brutal truth:
completely eliminating the inherent imperfection of the [Dual-Realm Correlation] symptom was utterly impossible.
The intrinsic imperfection embedded in this symptom was very likely Infinitely Large itself.
Because only an Infinitely Large entity can truly alter an Infinitely Large state.
Furthermore, based on exhaustive deductions and experimental results, Seraphine determined that the [Dual-Realm Correlation] between the Essential Realm and the Phenomenal Realm could almost certainly only exist as an [Indeterminate Symptom], and would never manifest as a [Deterministic Phenomenon].
In other words, a perfected state of interference exerted by the Essential Realm onto the Phenomenal Realm existed solely in abstract theory, never in concrete reality.
As for the underlying cause, she remained in the dark for now.
Seraphine only knew that through relentless calculation and research, the mathematical probability of a deterministic Dual-Realm phenomenon ever occurring... was strictly zero.
Take note: it was strictly [Zero], precisely = 0, not merely [Approaching Zero].
Seraphine found this profoundly baffling.
Why... would there exist an event whose probability of occurrence was an absolute, hard zero?
In her view, across the boundless Singularity Swarms and infinite space-times of the cosmos, even the emergence of a cultivation system where grinding "Genshin Impact" allowed one to ascend dimensions, where the deeper one's Genshin brainrot, the faster the ascension, wasn't entirely out of the question.
Because True Infinity will inevitably spawn infinite miracles,
no matter how astronomically low the odds might be.
Yet reality is cold and indifferent, simply existing as it is, utterly unbothered by whether a tiny Finite Count lifeform like her accepts it or not.
Thus, Seraphine's notion of leveraging [Probability Theory - Reality Strong Selection] to manipulate this scenario was reduced to a pipe dream.
Because the core prerequisite for [Reality Strong Selection] to succeed was that the target reality had to possess a non-zero probability.
If not even a shred of possibility existed, the entire premise collapsed into nothingness.
Therefore, Seraphine's earlier murmur was nothing more than an idle musing.
"Even though the imperfect nature of the Essential Realm's Interference Force is irreversible, however..."
Gazing at the Negative Boundary's Demonic Seed in her palm, Seraphine's Eye of Transcendence flared.
HUM——
In a flash, buried within the Positive-Negative Dimensional architecture of the Demonic Seed, the wildly intricate [Model Framework], which sustained the entire operational mechanism of [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation], was forcefully mapped and extracted, condensing from illusion into reality as a shimmering cluster of radiant phantom threads hovering in the center of Seraphine's boundless palm.
"...that doesn't mean the inflation output of the Negative Boundary's Demonic Seed is set in stone."
WHOOSH——
The moment the words left her lips, that mesmerizing, brilliantly radiant cluster, the [Negative-Positive Dual Inflation Model Framework], began undergoing radical, peak optimization under the force of her will.
In an instant, the entire 'thread cluster' flared violently, releasing a cataclysmic brilliance eclipsing the Genesis Big Bang by a factor of several 10^108.
Under this blinding glare, the boundless cosmos across all directions erupted into an uncontrollable, boiling frenzy in a flash.
In reality, through Seraphine's perspective, having dissected the Demonic Seed inside out, its embedded [Model Framework] was remarkably crude, or rather, completely raw and primordial.
Yes, entirely primordial.
It was so crude it looked utterly unengineered, as if naturally coalesced from raw cosmic chaos.
Its architecture clearly possessed immense room for optimization, yet its elusive creator, if one even existed, seemed blind and crippled, having never bothered to refine or perfect it.
For instance, the baseline Demonic Seed Seraphine had carried possessed a native multiplier of merely doubling once per day.
Yet according to her calculations, pushed to absolute peak optimization, scaling it straight to one Googol-fold per second was entirely feasible.
When that happened, if some 'lucky' soul ever bonded with this Demonic Seed, after merely a single second, they would command a terrifying force far eclipsing the total mass of the observable universe.
Of course, within that very same second, their sanity would shatter, corrupting them into a world-ending demon lord.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ——
After a grueling hour of non-stop optimization, that cluster of Negative-Positive Dual Inflation [Model Framework] finally settled, fading back into that ghostly, semi-transparent state.
And after that hour of upgrades, this [Model Framework]'s scaling output officially hit one Googol-fold per second.
"Is this already the ceiling?"
Seraphine shook her head in disappointment. "What good is a single Googol-fold multiplier to me? Even if it scaled by 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128-fold every second, what difference would it make?"
Indeed, what she needed now was definitely not standard linear or exponential rate increases.
What Seraphine truly sought was a higher-order hyper-scaling mechanic: one that transcended addition, transcended multiplication, transcended exponentiation, and even surpassed tetration.
Regrettably, she could find virtually no shortcut leading toward that plane.
The "Full-Dimensional Skyroot Codex" she had been cultivating all along might... have also hit its final limit.
Indeed, when Seraphine originally conceived the technique, she had been far too optimistic.
When she drafted and designed the Full-Dimensional Skyroot Codex back then, she theorized it would carry her all the way to 10D.
Yet the brutal reality was... the Full-Dimensional Skyroot Codex would likely struggle to even gain a solid foothold in the higher tiers of 6D.
However, thinking it through, this was only natural.
Consider the reality: infinite space-time is endlessly vast, and as a Finite Count lifeform, Seraphine was utterly minuscule when contrasted against True Infinity.
With her shallow foundation and limited knowledge back then, what right did she have to forge a single methodology capable of ascending dimensions all the way into the Infinitely Large domain without a single bottleneck, flaw, or detour?
Just as she previously abandoned the pseudo-four-dimensional Divinitas path to pivot toward true 4D.
The present Seraphine would likely have to discard her old frameworks once again, pioneering a brand-new art or forging an entirely new paradigm to truly conquer high-tier 6D, and perhaps even touch that higher, more enigmatic 7D realm.
"Whatever. Since the road ahead is hazy, let's ask probability."
Waving her hand to store away the Demonic Seed and erase that cluster of [Model Framework], Seraphine engaged her interference field with a single thought, seizing total dominion over those 10^10^74 Coordinated Foams to initiate [Reality Strong Selection].
That's right, she could now execute direct probability manipulation without needing external probability arrays or Deep Blood as crutches.
When it came to the realm of [Interference], those tech-reliant hacks would never comprehend the sheer heights Seraphine operated on.
HUM——
Across this boundless Non-Static Global-Inflation universe, the 10^10^74 Coordinated Foams scattered throughout every spatial sector froze instantly, then, after detonating cataclysmic space-time tsunamis spanning Googols of light-years across, they dissolved in a flash.
In that heartbeat, Seraphine's perspective detached completely from material reality, effortlessly ascending to tower high above the River of Time.
BOOM——
Just like her previous ascension to 6D, dense physical probability clouds, far more vast and tangible than before, materialized once again, wrapping around Seraphine layer upon layer.
Thus, in a flash, Seraphine witnessed infinite possibilities unfolding for her very next instant.
These infinite possibilities represented countless branching realities she could potentially step into.
Selecting any of them at will and expending the necessary 'fuel' would stretch its probability of occurring toward the Infinitely Large, manifesting it fully into concrete reality.
Scanning across these infinite potential realities, Seraphine swiftly bypassed the vast majority of mundane paths, absurdly bizarre scenarios, or outright suicidal options, calmly fixing her gaze upon... the reality of ascending to 6D Universal Venerable.
With a single glance, clarity settled in.
Even burning through the immense 'fuel' refined from all 10^10^74 Coordinated Foams... was far from enough to push the probability of achieving 6D Universal Venerable to its absolute peak.
Seraphine had fully anticipated this.
"Achieving 6D Universal Venerable likely requires strict prerequisites, attempting to brute-force it without meeting these conditions demands an astronomically absurd expenditure of probability 'fuel'."
Reaching this conclusion, she immediately grounded herself in the surrounding dense probability clouds while engaging Cosmic Intellect, Eye of True Revelation, Chaos Calculation, and Transcendental Perception to commence a bounded deduction.
Calculating every absolute prerequisite needed to attain 6D Universal Venerable.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ——
In an instant, the infinite clouds radiating probability ripples burned away at extreme speed, converting into tens of 10^56 wisps of esoteric divine radiance that spiraled violently around Seraphine.
This intense deduction ran uninterrupted for ten full minutes.
Only then did Seraphine finally catch sight of the foundational prerequisites for becoming a 6D Universal Venerable.
Known as the Three Fundamentals of a Universal Venerable.
Comprising three distinct conditions.
Requirement One: Locate 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128 nascent Non-Static Global-Inflation universes less than a second old, termed [Primordial Foams], and devour every single one of them simultaneously.
Requirement Two: Devour another 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128 static 3D Great Boundaries.
Requirement Three: Evolve one's Root Divinity to its absolute endpoint, attaining the Supreme Tier.
Unify all three, burn an identical payload of 10^10^74 Coordinated Foams as probability 'fuel,' and one could achieve the state of 6D Universal Venerable.
The split second after Seraphine deduced the Three Fundamentals of a Universal Venerable, suddenly...
WHOOSH!!!
The boundless, dim celestial vista surrounding her vanished without a trace.
Her perception and consciousness abruptly plunged into that fleeting, almost imperceptible reality of [Becoming a 6D Universal Venerable].
Perhaps due to the sheer proximity between her present state and this potential timeline, Seraphine's consciousness effortlessly traversed straight into that future moment.
"So that's how it is. It's offering me a test drive... letting me experience what it actually feels like to be a 6D Universal Venerable?" She murmured with an intrigued smile.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ——
The instant Seraphine's consciousness locked into this future reality where she stood as a 6D Universal Venerable, she was astonished to feel... that infinite space-time had completely come to 'life.'
All of existence was fanatically chanting her name, expressing boundless terror, worship, and absolute submission:
"Seraphine! Seraphine! Seraphine! Seraphine! Seraphine!"
"Rule over us! Conquer us! Annihilate us!"
"We yearn to be trampled by your feet! We beg to be crushed beneath you! We gladly offer our deaths for your glory!"
Having entered this [Indeterminate Reality] and tasting the apex might of a 6D Universal Venerable, Seraphine... found herself entirely incapable of comprehending just how terrifyingly powerful 'she' had truly become.
She only knew that with every passing Planck second, all aspects of "her" power surged via hyper-computational operators far transcending level-four tetration and power towers, multiplying beyond measure at an unfathomable rate.
Before this absurd, hyper-computational scaling, even those once-unattainable String Gods and String Ancestors were reduced to infinitesimal motes of dust,
as was infinite space-time itself.
Tasting the absolute power of a 6D Universal Venerable, Seraphine felt... that regardless of whether a 3D Great Boundary was Static or Non-Static, regardless of how long it had endured or how eternally it inflated,
and regardless of any 4D or 5D cosmic space-time, whatever its dimensional geometry or boundless scale, everything before 'her' was reduced to meaningless specks of dust, unworthy of even a glance.
With a single shift of her gaze, countless worlds would be obliterated.
Yes, literally countless.
Although not a true Actual Infinity, according to Seraphine's perception... the sheer scale of a 6D Universal Venerable was simply too monstrous.
Numbers like septendecillion, 10^64, 10^3003, or 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128... all such numerical metrics would only insult the true might of a Universal Venerable, failing to capture even a fraction of its majesty.
Thus, only an abstract, qualitative term like "countless" could barely begin to convey the awe-inspiring power of a Universal Venerable.
Furthermore, beyond the hyper-computational scaling exploding across every parameter with every passing moment, Seraphine sensed that "she" wielded an earth-shattering authority, one completely beyond the grasp of numerical tiers, outright transcending the concept of scaling metrics altogether.
"Is this... the Force of Absolute Truth? Or an extraordinary power native to Supreme Divinity? Or perhaps an esoteric authority exclusive to a 6D Universal Venerable?"
A wave of intense curiosity sparked in Seraphine's heart.
Unfortunately, regarding the power wielded by "her" within this [Indeterminate Reality], which existed outside the past, present, and future of the true timeline, Seraphine felt... a thick veil separating them at all times.
She could neither perceive it with complete clarity nor wield absolute control over it, only able to passively witness and experience it from within.
Indeed, the "reality" Seraphine currently inhabited was by no means a deterministic future, nor did it share the slightest connection with parallel universes.
In truth, whenever apex entities like Seraphine or the String race, who possessed absolute space-time uniqueness, anchored themselves within a universe, that reality was physically incapable of branching into alternate timelines.
Yes, absolute space-time uniqueness was just that tyrannical.
Only after unique entities like Seraphine or the String race departed would that universe reset its causal state, reactivating its timeline-branching mechanism to relentlessly spawn endless parallel universes within the Singularity cluster.
Therefore, the "reality" Seraphine currently inhabited was structurally identical to the [Dual-Realm Correlation] symptom, an [Indeterminate Reality] poised between [Manifestation] and [Non-manifestation].
It could be deemed existent, yet just as easily considered nonexistent,
because this Indeterminate Reality produced zero effect on the true timeline, only capable of exerting a subtle influence upon Seraphine herself residing within the [Fixed Reality].
This influence was the direct experiential awareness of this Indeterminate Reality.
"Exerting an influence... upon myself..."
Suddenly, Seraphine's Eye of Transcendence snapped wide open as a radical idea ignited in her mind:
"Since 'I' have already achieved 6D Universal Venerable here, my Divinity must have reached the Supreme Tier, wielding the Force of Absolute Truth, and my Authority of Change must have undergone a cataclysmic evolution, granting me vastly superior reality-warping dominion.
Could 'I' weaponize the Force of Absolute Truth + Authority of Change + the peerless might of a Universal Venerable residing within this [Indeterminate Reality], leveraging the metaphysical link between 'her' and me, to forcibly rewrite the version of myself existing in the [Determined Reality], bypassing the Three Fundamentals of a Universal Venerable and all tedious grinding, to directly ascend to 6D Universal Venerable right now?!"
In truth, Seraphine had no idea whether the power of a 6D Universal Venerable could transcend time and causality, or breach the unfathomable veil separating [Indeterminate Reality] from [Fixed Reality].
Yet her personal philosophy had always been, execute the moment the thought strikes!
Fuck it, let's roll!
Even if it doesn't pan out, gaining even a sliver of interference is pure profit.
Any win is a gain, and failing costs her nothing.
Even if it only 'slightly' upgraded her scaling model in [Fixed Reality], say, bumping it to tetration-tier, that would still be a colossal jackpot!
In that split second, Seraphine channeled all the overwhelming might of "her" in this [Indeterminate Reality], tracing the metaphysical 'Path' mapped by her Transcendental Perception, surging thunderously toward the true version of herself anchored in [Fixed Reality].
HUM——
Right at that critical juncture, the boundless, dim cosmic void around her blurred violently, fracturing into nothingness.
ROAR——
Amidst the crashing roar of cosmic tides, Seraphine's consciousness was abruptly dragged back onto the plane of the River of Time.
"Why so sudden...? What just happened? Is... the test drive over?!"
Perplexed, her heart skipped a violent beat.
Dazed and bewildered, Seraphine looked up toward the heavens, only to witness...
In the deepest abyss of the firmament infinitely far above, where chaotic illusory currents surged and washed incessantly, that colossal Bronze Arrowhead, ancient beyond measure, riddled with countless gouges and cracks, wide enough to blot out half the celestial vault, shattered its eternal stillness to blaze with boundless, primordial azure radiance.
Under this majestic, infinitely heavy divine glare, the boundless, raging River of Time beneath it fell dead still in an instant, unable to stir even a single droplet or ripple.
As if... it had died entirely.
In a single heartbeat, Seraphine understood everything.
"So that's how it is. It was this enigmatic bronze arrow pulling the strings.
It... strictly forbids me from tampering with [Fixed Reality]; it can actually... suppress the River of Time itself!"
Having only caught a fleeting glimpse of the bronze arrow, Seraphine, her mind reeling in pure shock, was violently yanked back into material reality.
And that intoxicating, boundless omnipotence granted by the peerless might of a 6D Universal Venerable... quietly slipped away into nothingness.
For a moment, Seraphine felt a profound, hollow wave of loss.
Yet an instant later, she ruthlessly severed this meaningless emotion, pivoting toward a rigorous analysis of how to smoothly fulfill the Three Fundamentals of a Universal Venerable.
"Devouring 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128 static Great Boundaries is a walk in the park, just a single thought.
Devouring 10^37218383881977644441306597687849648128 initial Primordial Foams spawned within less than a second of a Non-Static Global-Inflation Great Boundary's birth is also trivial: simply calculate, locate, and seize a single Primordial Foam, freeze its local timeline, and mass-clone it via the Authority of Change.
The only real bottleneck is this Supreme Divinity..."
Seraphine murmured in hesitation, "...which is a bit of a headache."
Indeed, the first two of the Three Fundamentals of a Universal Venerable were trivial to her, easily resolved with a single thought.
However, attaining Supreme Divinity, or rather, breaking through to the Seventh Realm of Dawn: [Divine Deduction to Absolute Truth, Wondrous Encompassing of the Myriad]... was genuinely tricky right now.
Although according to Seraphine's deductions, stepping into the Seventh Realm required only a single condition.
That condition... demanded that Seraphine harvest the [Source Rules] of one Googol Singularity Swarms.
A so-called Source Rule refers to the core pillar rules that anchor and define the macroscopic reality of an entire Singularity Swarm, giving birth to and governing the chaotic web of laws across the infinite space-times within that Swarm.
By analogy, the Source Rules are a sky-propping world tree.
The infinite rules governing the endless cosmic space-times inside the Swarm are the countless branches sprouting from this ancient trunk.
As for the specific sectors within each cosmic space-time, harboring distinct physical constants or unique operational laws, they are merely the endless leaves and blooms growing upon those branches, whether lush, withered, needle-thin, broad, or rugged.
Likewise, the Seventh Realm of Dawn could birth the Force of Absolute Truth, capable of arbitrarily rewriting and redefining the rules of any space-time at absolute will.
Yet stepping into this tier, or birthing the Seventh Realm of Dawn, required gathering an immense catalog of Source Rule samples to cultivate the fertile metaphysical soil embodying the 'Ten Thousand Arts and Dao.'
Just as every spatial position within a universe possesses its own space-time coordinates, and every universe in a cluster has its own space-time beacons.
The infinite Singularity Swarms drifting beyond the String Swarm each possess a corresponding [Space-time Landmark].
However, unlike standard beacons or coordinates, the data defining a landmark is overwhelmingly intricate and profound, devoid of simple numerical values; attempting blind jumps based on guesswork would inevitably leave one stranded in uncharted space-time.
After combing through Heavenly Hegemon's memories, Seraphine learned that with verified space-time landmark data, one could travel to the target Singularity Swarm via the [High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel] running through the [High-Level Realm of Phantasm].
As for what the High-Level Realm of Phantasm and the High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel were, Heavenly Hegemon's archives held comprehensive records.
According to those archives, the Realm of Phantasm is divided into three tiers: Low, Mid, and High.
The Low-Level Realm of Phantasm is an Idealistic domain aggregating and interconnecting the collective imagination, mental projections, and dreamscapes of all sapient lifeforms across all Static, Non-Static Global-Inflation, and other 3D cosmic space-times within a single Swarm.
The Mid-Level Realm of Phantasm is an Idealistic domain aggregating and interconnecting the collective imagination, mental projections, and dreamscapes of all sapient lifeforms across all 4D and 5D cosmic space-times within a single Swarm.
Theoretically speaking, although 4D and 5D intelligent lifeforms within the String Swarm are exceedingly rare and extremely difficult to sustain stable survival, because the number of 4D and 5D universes is infinite, the Mid-Level Realm of Phantasm of the String Swarm remains Infinitely Large.
The High-Level Realm of Phantasm differs fundamentally from the previous two: it is the Idealistic domain aggregating and interconnecting the imagination, mental projections, and dreamscapes of all 6D sapient lifeforms across the 6D space of every Swarm, which are also theoretically infinite in number.
And the so-called High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel naturally refers to the Creeping Sea rivers coursing exclusively within the High-Level Realm of Phantasm, spanning and traversing across infinite Singularity Swarms.
Generally speaking, unless a lifeform traverses the High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel within the High-Level Realm of Phantasm, departing one's native Swarm to reach another is fundamentally impossible.
The logic is straightforward: a Finite Count lifeform relying on standard finite vectors cannot cross an Infinitely Large expanse.
Concurrently, because the High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel linking infinite Singularity Swarms is itself infinitely vast,
lacking verified Space-time Landmarks means any Finite Count entity entering the High-Tier Creeping Sea Channel is doomed to remain permanently stranded in some 'tiny' crevice among infinite, endless crossroads, drifting until the end of time.
Precisely for this reason, Space-time Landmarks across the various Swarms have always served as critical strategic assets for the String race Civilization, strictly controlled and locked down by the String race military.
Of course, that's just the official line.
Policies from above are always met with loopholes from below.
Where there are people, there is profit; where there is profit, trade inevitably thrives.
Those standing closest to the pie are rarely incorruptible.
Regulations usually start off ironclad.
Yet over time, enforcement erodes, shifting the landscape entirely.
Degenerating into a playground of power, leverage, and credits.
Because inter-Swarm transit is strictly gatekept, cross-Swarm 'specialty goods' fetch astronomical black-market premiums, and fugitives find it far easier to vanish off the grid, spawning smuggling rings, syndicates, and snakehead cartels.
These entrenched syndicates and cartels hold varying caches of Swarm landmarks in their vaults.
As for how they acquired those landmarks, it was invariably tied to dirty palms within the String race military brass.
For instance, the notoriously corrupt Heavenly Hegemon possessed the Space-time Landmarks for dozens of foreign Swarms, including the Desolate Ancient Swarm, Sea Sand Swarm, Ancient God Swarm, Gluttony Swarm, Collapse Fog Swarm, Rotting Calamity Swarm, Gloom Barrier Swarm, Radiant Swarm, Dead Frost Swarm, Vile Velvet Swarm, Ape God Swarm, Wild Owl Swarm, Shrouded Rain Swarm, Phantom Mirage Swarm, Recurrent Trace Swarm, Curved Domain Swarm, Ghost Pond Swarm, Celestial Fox Swarm, Calamitous Sin Swarm, Secret Seal Swarm, Titan Swarm, Matrix Swarm, Sumeru Swarm, Lunar Swarm,....
Yet a few dozen landmarks remained a pitiful drop in the bucket, nowhere near what Seraphine required.
Therefore, she had to engineer a way to harvest landmarks straight from the String race military's databases.
And to pull that off, only a single viable path remained.
Namely: hijacking Heavenly Hegemon's identity to establish contact with his true backers behind the scenes.