In the end, Luo Shu remained awake through the entire night. However, the reason for his sleeplessness was not due to the open or subtle rivalry between Mira and Kisara, but because he was busy organizing and studying the intelligence he had gathered.
Inside the Astronomy Club's interdimensional space, Luo Shu sat at the head of a long stone table. Before him lay a blue, rhombus-shaped gemstone. This was a crystallized fragment of the Knowledge Authority, stripped from the knowledge demon Vasaggo of the Divine Realm rank. It was the main subject of Luo Shu's research throughout the night.
Over the previous evening, he had repeatedly studied how to utilize this shard of knowledge power, eventually coming up with several relatively effective methods. "The first method," he explained, "is for me personally to use my mental power to draw on the power of the Divine Kingdom as the energy source to activate the fragment's power." "The result of doing this is that the fragment temporarily acts like a question-answering machine. As long as I ask it questions, it can access its own knowledge base and provide me with appropriate answers." "In some ways, it functions like an encyclopedia of mysticism, with material originating from the memories of Vasaggo—this Divine Realm-level being." "A god-level existence granting me answers with extremely high authority."
"The second method of use," Luo Shu continued, "is knowledge bestowal through the fragment's power." "This allows me to imbue others with knowledge I possess, or knowledge known by Vasaggo, and simultaneously acts as a powerful offensive tactic." "Heh heh, Ishaha's overload of knowledge — the massive infLacus that filled his soul and nearly burst it — was the direct result of dragging Vasaggo into this Divine Kingdom, angering that Hellish noble prince. That, in fact, was this kind of knowledge-bestowal assault." "Using overwhelming waves of knowledge to burst the enemy's soul. If it can't burst, the opponent gains immense knowledge in exchange? It's really a move that tests one's luck." "But the lucky ones are in the minority. This deluge of information is an attack so powerful that even I, as a Harbinger of Calamity, and higher-ranked beings, probably couldn't withstand it. So this move belongs to the semi-divine-level killing techniques?" "So this means I've obtained a kind of semi-divine method in advance?"
After all his nighttime toil, he had distilled these two methods of operating the authority fragment, but Luo Shu felt no waste of time; instead, a sense of reassurance filled his heart. The ways of using the knowledge authority shard—whether to answer questions or bestow knowledge—were exactly what Luo Shu desperately needed at this moment. Both could greatly compensate for his weaknesses.
Regarding knowledge of the mystical side, or techniques from semi-divine high ranks, these would enrich Luo Shu's otherwise barren foundation.
Thinking this, Luo Shu toyed with the authority shard in his hand, narrowing his eyes. He took a deep breath, gripped the rhombus-shaped blue gemstone tightly, and summoned the power of the Divine Kingdom into it with full effort. Invisible winds swirled around Luo Shu's hand, and slowly, a force was injected into the gemstone in his palm.
At that moment, Luo Shu raised the question he cared about most: "How should I increase the power of the Harbinger of Calamity and advance to the next tier?"
That was right—what he wanted most now was a way to grow stronger without relying on points.
After all, starting from the elite rank, ascending to the hero rank required hundreds of thousands of points and a ritual. This made Luo Shu seriously consider alternative ways to gain power.
Otherwise, if he relied only on points, although he might advance within a few years, knowing he possessed such a treasure as the Divine Kingdom, Luo Shu realized this grinding approach was not suitable for him.
When bearing such a secret treasure, Luo Shu now felt as if everyone he met wanted to harm him. Hence, strength had become his most urgent need.
So the first thing he did after returning home was to study ways to use the knowledge authority fragment. After figuring that out, he immediately sought methods of advancement beyond points. Although Vasaggo had misunderstood his identity and was injured from the Divine Kingdom incident, Luo Shu alone knew that if they were to truly fight, Demon God Vasaggo would definitely melt him instantly.
Under such circumstances, anyone who didn't hurry to get stronger was surely out of their mind.
And now, Luo Shu searched for ways to evolve besides earning points.
Because of his demand, the knowledge authority shard responded to his inquiry.
In a daze, Luo Shu's vision blurred.
When it cleared again, he had transformed into a traveler with an indistinct face.
This traveler wandered through various city-states, each with its unique customs.
With his journey, multiple disasters began to appear in once-harmonious and friendly city-states.
There were earth fissures caused by drought, resulting in nothing but barren crops.
There were muddy floodwaters destroying fields, causing deluges.
There were heavenly thunderbolts striking old trees, sparking raging forest fires.
There were sly-faced men whispering into the ears of gold-adorned nobles, soon followed by scenes where armored nobles astride fierce horses led armies to conquer a city-state.
This faceless traveler moved either by chance or stalking these disasters, and each time, he came into contact with the catastrophe, carefully collecting it, absorbing it within himself. Then at the right moment—not more than three days later—he would unleash calamity onto others.
Like a disaster dispenser, wherever this traveler passed, calamity would follow.
However, these calamities were mostly challenges people could overcome.
Though painful, if one persevered, they would quickly cross the hardship. At that time, the traveler would stop by those who overcame the calamity and stay to offer some support.
Each time he stayed and assisted, the aura of calamity around him deepened.
Until finally, a strong aura of calamity radiated from inside out of the traveler. At the same time, Luo Shu noticed the traveler smiled—he revealed his face in that instant, then laughed.
The scene ended, and Luo Shu's eyes cleared instantly.
He contemplated the visions he'd just witnessed and drew his conclusion: "To gain strength at the Harbinger of Calamity stage, I need to absorb calamity, then spread it to others—to bring hardship and the capriciousness of fate to them." "When they overcome this calamity, it feeds back power to me, raising my strength?"
"No, it's not just that. Simply spreading calamity also boosts power. The strength from spreading calamity and the strength from others overcoming it are two sides of the same coin." "The stronger those I've bestowed with calamity become, the greater the feedback they contribute to me." "And if the calamity I've inflicted is overcome by others, I receive new feedback as well—what we commonly call 'double dipping.'" "Meaning, if I spread calamity, I get at least one round of reward from spreading, and if I'm lucky, a second round from the overcoming of calamity?"
Thinking this, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes and spoke heavily: "Is this what it means to be the Harbinger of Calamity?" "Bringing calamity, chasing calamity, yet leaving people a tiny bit of hope—just like the very embodiment of the Harbinger of Calamity."
At that, Luo Shu let out a chuckle, rubbed the rhombus gemstone, and then squinted. "I don't like this way of gaining strength." Luo Shu hated the idea of spreading calamity to ordinary people—this only added burdens of innocent suffering. Having been weighed down by family gambling debts before transmigration, he disliked this method of using powers.
Therefore!
"I want to bestow calamity on the strong, on those powerful, secret organizations who bring calamity to others."
"When the hero grows angry, he draws his sword against even stronger foes!"
"That is the Harbinger of Calamity that I envision!"