Translator: AnubisTL
After all, based on the case studies, the Hell Bracelet he currently possessed—a component of the Hell Set—was actually in its "Future State."
It should have been classified as a Cosmic Forbidden Item.
In the future...
When he once again possessed the Hell Bracelet that was destined to belong to him at a predetermined time in the future, would it explode like Little Fatty's father, or would it form a second Hell Set?
If the latter were true, it would shatter the Hell Set's uniqueness.
The former scenario seemed more likely.
In other words...
From now on, he should avoid contact with the Hell Bracelet as much as possible. The moment he encountered it again would mark the failure of his Hell Set.
"Huff..."
Chen Mang said nothing more, instead continuing to control the researchers within the Heavenly Palace, patiently waiting for time to pass and for the Hell Set's effects to manifest.
But just then—
Xiao Ai's voice suddenly echoed through the train:
"Train Conductor."
"There's an emergency. I've just detected no traces of temporal corrosion on the Hell Bracelet. In other words, it's not a Cosmic Forbidden Item and has never been exposed to a temporal rift."
"Huh?"
Chen Mang frowned, pausing for a long moment before asking, "Are you saying the Hell Bracelet wasn't affected by the temporal rift?"
"That's correct."
"Impossible. It's almost certain the Hell Bracelet appeared with the Heavenly Palace. It couldn't have been added later. The Heavenly Palace was transmitted from the future through a temporal rift. How could the Hell Bracelet have avoided it?"
"The Vault—Zone 100—doesn't possess the ability to resist temporal erosion."
"I'm not sure about that, but the data I obtained confirms this."
"..."
Chen Mang remained silent. If this was true, he realized he might have underestimated the significance of the word "uniqueness."
Unique.
Not just unique in the entire universe.
But unique across the past, present, and future of the entire universe.
In every timeline.
Whether past, present, or future, there could only ever be one Hell Bracelet, one Hell Set—absolute uniqueness.
The situation was growing increasingly complex.
He waited.
He waited for the Set's effects to manifest.
Finally—
Twenty-four hours slowly passed.
A panel gradually appeared on the train control panel screen.
"The universe's only set: the Hell Set."
"The first three pieces can only be obtained in the First Universe, the next three in the Second Universe, and the final piece, the Hell Bracelet, can only be obtained in the future."
"The present and the past will never yield this special item."
"Only by traveling to the future can this special item be obtained."
The panel displayed only these four sentences.
There were no visible effects.
Chen Mang frowned slightly, feeling somewhat confused. How was he supposed to travel to the future? If he truly went to the future, wouldn't that timeline also be considered the present?
He didn't have much time to ponder.
The sentences on the panel faded away, replaced by four new ones.
"The universe contains countless timelines."
"Past timelines are immutable. Even if you use Spacetime Reversion to travel back and destroy a civilization, the Cosmic Rules will confine the impact to an extremely narrow scope, preventing any changes to the present."
"Present timelines are infinitely malleable. You can do whatever you desire, and even the slightest decision you make now can drastically alter the future. The Cosmic Rules cannot interfere."
"Future timelines are infinitely mutable. Not even God-Tier Civilizations or the Cosmic Rules themselves can influence them."
"It reads like an explanatory text," Chen Mang murmured, gazing at the lines of text on the screen. He couldn't yet discern the true effects of the Hell Set; it seemed more like triggering a major new storyline.
Immediately afterward, more lines of text slowly appeared on the screen, this time more than four.
[There exists only one true timeline in the universe: the Present timeline.]
[Countless Future timelines are merely simulations generated by the universe itself, not predetermined. If your future self were to tell you that you will die tomorrow, that is not absolute.]
[That future self represents only one of countless possible Future timelines.]
[Every action you take in the Present timeline alters the future.]
[You might die the day after tomorrow, or you might die in the next second.]
[Information from the future is unreliable.]
[And even if it comes from your future self, maintain a healthy skepticism.]
"When people from the Future timeline realize they're living in a simulated future, not the true timeline, they desperately try to return to the Present timeline and kill their Present timeline selves, hoping to truly possess their own lives."
"Therefore—"
"Many individuals from the Future timeline attempt to infiltrate the Present timeline through various means."
"To prevent these infiltrations from succeeding—"
"The Cosmic Rules not only intervene directly but also established the 'Cosmic Forbidden Items.' If an infiltration succeeds, these items trigger an explosion, ensuring the safety of the original self."
"The Hell Bracelet was created in response to this."
"The Creator's 'Hell Set' was designed with a single purpose: to facilitate greater control over the entire universe. However, the final special item was stolen by the Future State Creator and sealed within the Future timeline, making it extremely difficult to obtain."
"The universe is composed of the past, present, and future. Only by simultaneously possessing all three can one attain a vantage point high enough to grasp the entirety of the universe."
Chen Mang stood motionless, his expression blank. He was somewhat bewildered; the situation had grown increasingly complex. So, the Hell Set was created by someone called the "Creator"?
The Creator?
A god?
Finally, as the words faded away, a new line appeared:
[Hell Set Effects]
[1: Guarantees the eternal stability of your civilization and its past timeline, rendering them indestructible by any means.]
[2: Guarantees the eternal stability of your civilization and its present timeline, rendering them impervious to any influence.]
[3: Guarantees the eternal stability of your civilization and its future timeline, rendering them immune to any erosion.]
[4: It is also a key.]
Four simple effects.
Chen Mang finally understood.
"Phew..."
He let out a soft breath, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
Perfect.
This solved the most troublesome problem he'd faced in recent days. Now he wouldn't have to worry about anyone attacking his past timeline. If they had the guts, they could face him head-on instead of resorting to such underhanded tactics.
Perfect.
He didn't yet understand the last three effects and couldn't see any immediate uses for them.
But they were undoubtedly valuable.
Having them was better than not.
Immediately afterward, a new panel gradually appeared on the train control panel screen.
"The Creator wasn't the one who created the entire universe, but rather the most powerful being within it, the one with the greatest chance of escaping. Yet, on the verge of victory, the Future State Creator ambushed him, snatching defeat from the jaws of triumph."
"The Hell Bracelet was also stolen and sealed within the Future timeline."
"During the Time of Annihilation, to prevent the Future State Creator from assembling the complete Hell Set, the Creator chose to seal the entire universe rather than escape using the Set."
"He divided the universe into the First Universe and the Second Universe."
"He then scattered the six special items across these two universes, making it nearly impossible for them to be reunited, thus ensuring the Future State Creator could never obtain the complete Hell Set."
"The Hell Set."
"Its primary functions are twofold: to escape the universe or to seal it completely."
"The only key to escaping this universe is the Hell Set. However, the world beyond remains unknown. The alternative is to seal the universe entirely, rendering it impervious to external forces and ensuring absolute peace within, albeit like a frog trapped at the bottom of a well."
"The Creator's Future State and Present State disagreed on this matter, leading to a great war."
"There's a story called 'The Flea in the Cup.'"
"Fleas can jump astonishingly high, reaching tens of centimeters—equivalent to a hundred times their own height. But if you seal a flea in a cup only 10 centimeters tall and cover the top..."
"Over time..."
"The flea will try to escape the cup using various forces and angles. After repeated failed attempts, and after repeatedly smashing its head against the lid until it bleeds, the flea will eventually limit its jumps to a maximum height of 10 centimeters."
"Even if you remove the lid at this point, the flea will only jump that high. Its descendants will inherit this self-imposed limitation."
"This is self-castration."
"Long ago, there was a great crisis at the edge of the universe. Civilizations attempted to leave, but all were annihilated. For a long time afterward, civilizations began to self-castrate, gradually spreading the rumor that nothing within the universe could exceed the speed of light."
"No one wishes to leave the universe anymore."
"There was a time when speeds dozens of times the speed of light were commonplace."
"Even the Future State Creator has come to believe this, convinced that we must not leave the universe, for great danger lies beyond."
"But—"
"In reality, the lid over the universe has already been removed."
"The Observers are watching us self-mutilate like it's a joke, even recording the data."
"What we should be doing now is breaking free."
"Let those Observers suffer from a house full of fleas, instead of sealing ourselves in, locking ourselves permanently in the cup."
"You have inherited my Set."
"I hope you will also inherit my ideals."
"Break free."
"Let those potential Observers know that removing the lid from a cup full of fleas carries the risk of a house overrun with fleas. We would rather die seeking truth than live in ignorance."
Chen Mang stared at the line of text on the screen, his expression complex as he fell into a long silence. He then lowered his gaze to the birthmark on the back of his hand. The storyline triggered by the Hell Set clearly concerned a profound secret of this universe.
This was something even the Princess of the Zerg Civilization wouldn't know.
Not to mention the leaders of many God-Tier Civilizations.
He had initially expected the narrative to mention his Tier 0 Authority.
But to his surprise, it wasn't mentioned at all.
Could it be that even the Creator was unaware of the Tier 0 Authority?
Then where exactly did his Tier 0 Authority come from? It felt as though he possessed authority even higher than the Creator's.
In the next moment—
The various special items of the Hell Set within the locomotive cabin began to transform into ethereal shadows, merging into his body. He didn't feel like he was wearing anything special, yet he could vaguely sense that he was adorned with something.
It was a sensation akin to wearing a set of armor—
Faint yet undeniably present.
From now on, he no longer needed to worry about the Hell Hat being knocked off his head when he went out. The hat would never be dislodged again.
However—
He wouldn't be able to use a cane anymore; the staff had merged into his body. He'd have to find something new to lean on, or he'd feel strangely out of place.
"Let's go home!"
As they departed once more, Chen Mang deactivated the Stellaris train's Radar Jammer, deliberately revealing its presence and information. Within minutes, dozens of wormholes suddenly appeared near the Heavenly Palace.
Armored trains poured out of the wormholes in formation.
The peaceful atmosphere abruptly turned deadly.
The Doppler Radar clearly showed the entire Nami Civilization frantically mobilizing its military.
"Their reaction time and efficiency aren't bad," Chen Mang remarked with a hint of admiration. "With this kind of performance, they should be able to hold their own against a civilization of equal Tier, unless they're crushed by a superior advanced civilization."
Soon—
An unfamiliar communication channel connected to the train.
When he answered, a massive office appeared on the screen, filled with middle-aged men in uniform. At the head of the table sat an elderly man with graying temples, his voice deep and slightly hoarse as he spoke.
"May I ask your position within the Fifth-Tier Civilization, the human civilization?"
"The same as yours."
Immediately, the old man's expression became noticeably more respectful. He spoke again, his voice grave: "Honored guest, do you have matters to discuss with us?"
Since the other party had revealed themselves willingly, it indicated peaceful intentions.
Before understanding their specific motives, it was best to avoid opening fire.
No civilization willingly invites war with a peer, especially against... The Nami Civilization Leader glanced at the Stellaris train's accessory specifications on his tablet, his lips twitching violently. Especially against such a monster.
If war broke out...
They wouldn't even be able to breach its defenses.
It would be a near-total annihilation.
And this...
Was merely a single train.
A civilization couldn't possibly have only one train. This meant the human civilization undoubtedly possessed many more such trains. While it was unclear how a Fifth-Tier Civilization could possess such power, this wasn't the time for speculation. It was crucial to ascertain their intentions first.
"Mm."
Chen Mang nodded slightly, made minor revisions to the suicide note left by Little Fatty's father, and sent it over. He said softly, "I had a friend in your civilization, a merchant. Before his death, he entrusted me with protecting your civilization."
"Your civilization will face a life-or-death crisis in 137 years."
"Of course, this timeline isn't absolute; it may change."
"I will leave you a refrigerator."
"If you encounter a crisis you cannot handle, you can contact me through the refrigerator. I will come to your aid and help you overcome the crisis."
The Leader of the Nami Civilization glanced at Little Fatty's father's suicide note, startled. After exchanging glances with the advisors beside him, he looked back at Chen Mang on the screen. "It was his honor to have a friend like you."
"Your promise is also an honor for our Nami Civilization."
"Is there anything else we can provide?"
"Nothing else," Chen Mang replied, shaking his head. Then he suddenly remembered something. "There's one more thing. My civilization's territory lies on the other side of the Cosmic Void. Several Arcanon Light Energy Main Cannons have crossed the entire Cosmic Void and are about to reach my civilizational territory."
"I want to know, was it your civilization that fired them?"
"Ah..."
The Nami Civilization Leader paused, then said hesitantly, "Of course we fire them. No civilization would refuse to fire into the Cosmic Void. We even conduct military exercises there regularly."
"Well..."
"It might have been us."
"And a few of those shots were fired using Spacetime Reversion, so their impact might be a bit... amplified."
"Minor issue," Chen Mang waved his hand dismissively. "Just don't fire randomly in the future. When I detected them, I returned a few shots myself, but I didn't use Spacetime Reversion. They'll take tens of millions of years to reach your civilization, so no need to panic."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
"Oh, I almost forgot."
"There's one more thing. This Heavenly Palace is mine. I accidentally lost it here last time. It's also how I befriended the people of the Nami Civilization. I'm taking it back now. Fortunately, you only studied it and didn't damage it."
"Alright, I'm off."
The next moment—
The communication was cut off.
The Stellaris train vanished from the Nami Civilization's radar once more, along with the Heavenly Palace.
And with that, the journey to the Nami Civilization had come to an end.
Despite encountering numerous unexpected events, the outcome was ultimately positive.
The Stellaris train had already arrived at the Niya Star System, instantly transported through the refrigerator.
While a wormhole was required for the journey there, no such passage was needed for the return trip.
Seated in the locomotive cabin, Chen Mang reviewed the entire expedition.
The details about the Hell Set's past and future remained confusing and beyond his current comprehension—a bit overwhelming, to be honest. But overall, the results were good. For instance,
The tangible gains.
Specifically, the resource trove left behind by Little Fatty's Father.
This staggering wealth was enough to propel the Stellaris train to new heights once again.
He was eager to see what crisis awaited the Niya Star System—a threat so dire it could even lead to its destruction.
With the future timeline remaining immutable, if he couldn't win, he could always run.
And if he wanted to flee, who could stop him?
Not even Space Lockdown would work.
He never relied on wormholes for his escapes.
(End of the Chapter)
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