Strength.
No matter the time, one's personal strength is always paramount.
Novak shook his head, smiling ruefully.
After Satan's form faded back into the Ring of the King of Hell, Novak spent a moment chatting with the sisters before leaving. It was evident the Revenant sisters were still acclimating to their new surroundings.
The abilities of these earth-bound spirits were extraordinary—within the confines of their room, they held impressive powers. However, beyond it, their abilities would diminish sharply. This limitation made it difficult for them to increase their strength. But as spirits, they faced no danger in White Emperor City, nor was there any pressing need for them to improve.
As night enveloped the city, Novak, having finished his planning for the Abyss, turned his focus once more to strengthening himself.
Over the last three days, he'd fought tirelessly on the tenth floor of the Abyss, raising his level from 13 to 17—a remarkable leap of four levels in such a short time. For most, this rate of progression would be unimaginable. Evolutionaries typically rely on Secret Realms to increase their power, but facing hordes of zombies outside, they risk assimilation as their strength grows. As evolutionaries and their adversaries—mutant beasts and zombies—evolve concurrently, this progression is relative and fraught with challenges.
In contrast, the Abyss presented Novak with his ideal training ground. Not only was it his territory, his divine kingdom, but it also offered the perfect environment for growth. While it lacked rare equipment due to the Cosmic Will absence, everything else made it a paradise for advancement.
Despite the impressive level gains, Novak's greatest achievement was his progress with the Blacklight Virus. The mass devouring of demons had provided a bounty of evolution points, allowing the virus to grow significantly. Though each successive devouring yielded fewer evolution points, as demons were a higher-tier species, the value of consuming them far surpassed that of viral mutants like zombies.
The most crucial outcome, however, was the demon blood the virus had extracted and refined.
Glancing at his private storage, he saw the gluttonous tendrils of the virus still working, breaking down every last bit. He wondered if it might condense an SSS-grade demon blood.
With a sigh, Novak lay down, resuming his steady path of self-strengthening. The Blacklight Virus had reached a new evolutionary threshold, and he focused his mind on this feedback loop.
At 17% awakened, the virus offered a wealth of potential, and the 308 evolution points displayed were staggering. Demons truly were precious resources. They ought to be honored by the opportunity to enhance their master's power.
Satisfied, Novak closed his eyes to rest.
Meanwhile, White Emperor City, under the cover of night, was also experiencing subtle shifts amidst the extraordinary.
In front of a villa, Daphne stood with Nicole and others by her side. Facing her were four individuals—three men and one woman—whose intentions seemed anything but ordinary.
In the past, White Emperor City permitted evolutionary forces to coexist within its borders.
After all, in this apocalyptic world, trust was scarce. However, finding a few reliable allies to form a small team could provide a vital advantage, whether venturing into secret realms or navigating the wilderness to hunt zombies.
But a team was just that—a small squad. When the number of teams multiplied, ambitions grew in tandem, often pushing toward the formation of a guild. With this came the allure of power, and with it, a desire to expand authority.
The individuals standing before Daphne were no different.
"What exactly do you mean by this?" she asked, her tone sharp.
"My lady," one of the men responded, "White Emperor City is vast, and with Lord White Emperor's fate uncertain, we feel we've earned a measure of authority. After all, we have contributed to the city's construction—why shouldn't we claim a share of the governance?"
A sneer crept onto Daphne's face. Of course, with Novak's whereabouts unknown, they wouldn't dare take any bold actions—they were simply testing her, probing for her limits and those of White Emperor City itself.
"Is that the consensus among all of you?"
The four exchanged glances but remained silent. Behind them stood a few elite evolutionaries, each a trusted confidant, many already well-established with powerful abilities.
It was this strength that had given them a foothold in White Emperor City. But ultimately, such leverage meant little. Daphne's smile didn't waver as she received their silent answer.
"Nicole," she called.
Nicole moved instantly.
The rules of the apocalypse were simple: power ruled. These individuals had believed they possessed enough power to bargain with Daphne and the authority of White Emperor City itself. But, in truth, they had made the gravest miscalculation. Blinded by greed and the allure of power, they'd unwittingly become pawns.
To make an example of them was, in essence, a classic move: kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
Suddenly, a force overcame the would-be challengers, weakening their abilities dramatically. And in the next instant, the Demon Hunter's blade slashed through the air. Nicole's strength, already formidable, was now bolstered by her Demon Hunter skill.
Within minutes, blood flowed like a river in the villa's courtyard.
Some residents in White Emperor City were aware of the commotion, some were oblivious, and others simply chose to ignore it, acting as if nothing had happened.
The following day, White Emperor City was as it had always been, the leading stronghold of Kepler's evolutionaries, unchanged.
Novak didn't even inquire about the incident. If Daphne, once Queen Song, couldn't handle such minor insurrections, she wouldn't have held her title in her past life.
What truly occupied Novak's thoughts lay elsewhere.
The transformation induced by the Blacklight Virus was now so advanced it no longer caused him to lose consciousness. However, as his cellular awareness heightened, he preferred to keep his mind focused on the group chats and forums.
Only Novak knew that a truly significant event was unfolding in recent days.
In Chat Group No. 001, a large-scale operation had just been launched.
They were calling it: Operation Somi Raiders.