Orion gasped for air, the cold air rushing into his lungs. He suddenly sat up. He was back to being a ten-year-old street urchin in Belobog's Underworld. This was the second time, and he was more or less used to this sense of displacement, recovering quickly.
"System, settle the rewards!" he said impatiently.
A mechanical voice responded.
[This simulation's overall evaluation: Final Grade!]
[You came from humble beginnings, yet by your own strength, you ascended to the ranks of an Emanator of Destruction, earning Nanook's approval for your actions. Countless civilizations met their demise at your hands, especially in your revenge against the Xianzhou, where you, with astonishing strategy, utterly destroyed that once glorious civilization, truly a genius among villains! Undoubtedly, you are already a great villain who makes the cosmos tremble! However, as a pawn of the Will of Destruction, you still have the potential to advance further.]
[Evaluation Reward: Villain Value +2000!]
[Final Settlement: A total of 7800 Villain Value points obtained in this simulation!]
Orion's heart skipped a beat. Final Grade! Higher than the last time's Universe Annihilation Grade! Moreover, the pure Villain Value obtained in this simulation was nearly three times more than the last time! Adding the remaining 660 points from before the simulation, he now had a total of 8460 Villain Value. This number was enough to redeem several entries.
[Based on this simulation's evaluation, the Host will receive one free opportunity to permanently redeem a [Blue and below] entry from the initial three talents, and can use Villain Value to redeem other entries that appeared in this simulation.]
[Would you like to view the reward list and proceed with redemption now?]
"View!"
A translucent interface appeared before his eyes.
Free Entry Three-Choose-One:
Foresight (Purple): Your perception becomes exceptionally keen, generating strong intuitive warnings for impending direct attacks, greatly increasing the possibility of evasion or parrying (Passive).
Growth Potential: If upgraded to Golden or above by consuming Villain Value, its effect will undergo a qualitative change: It will not only foresee the occurrence of attacks but may even briefly predict the opponent's moves within the next 1-5 seconds.
Requires 5000 Villain Value.
Golden Threads of Fate (Golden): You can expend a portion of your mental energy to emit 'Golden Threads' into the surrounding environment, imperceptible to mortal senses. These threads can silently attach themselves to various corners of the environment, weaving into a vast monitoring network. Within the effective coverage area of your 'Golden Thread' (the coverage can be expanded by investing more energy and deepening control over the ability), you can selectively perceive everything happening within that range.
Requires 10000 Villain Value.
Resilient Mind (Blue): Your mental core is relatively stable. Increases your resistance to mental interferences such as fear, charm, and confusion, making you less susceptible to external wills.
Requires 2000 Villain Value.
Orion looked at these entries without much thought. Golden Threads of Fate! In the simulation, he had relied on this entry to build a vast intelligence network, ultimately escaping the Xianzhou. Its value far exceeded those ordinary combat entries. In a place like the Underworld, where information was scarce and dangers lurked, mastering information meant mastering the initiative. With it, he could more precisely control the situation, avoid risks, and even accelerate his progress to the Overworld.
Though Foresight was also very tempting and had growth potential, suggesting entries could be upgraded? But the Purple entry, like the Blue Resilient Mind, clearly had a lower priority than the Golden one.
"I choose Golden Threads of Fate!"
[Selection confirmed. Golden entry [Golden Threads of Fate] has been permanently loaded onto the Host's template.]
An invisible force surged into his glabella, as if something had taken root in Orion's mind. He closed his eyes and could feel some faint, outward-extending tendrils, the nascent form of the "Golden Thread."
Very good. Next, was the paid redemption.
Redeemable Entries List for this Simulation:
Orion looked at the list. At first glance, he was stunned.
Emanator of Destruction (Purple):
Entry Effect: Grants the identity of an Emanator of Destruction, increases affinity with Destruction, other specific effects unknown.
Villain Value required for redemption: 6000 points.
Emanator of Destruction? Purple? He rubbed his eyes, making sure he hadn't misread. In the simulation, he was a genuine Emanator of Destruction, possessing the power of destruction, capable of annihilating stars with a flick of his finger. But why did this Emanator of Destruction entry only state that it would grant an identity? Since it was an Emanator of Destruction with an affinity for Destruction, shouldn't there be a power increase? He just didn't know how much power would be enhanced if it was a Purple entry? And, other specific effects unknown… Was this asking him to gamble with Villain Value?
Orion temporarily suppressed this entry and continued to look down.
Stealth (Blue):
Entry Effect: Can actively conceal one's aura and traces, greatly reducing the chance of being discovered by enemies. Passive: 100% ability to hide true strength, making one unfathomable.
Villain Value required for redemption: 2000 points.
This entry itself was good, especially the ability to conceal traces, which perfectly suited his current needs. Wait a minute. Emanator of Destruction plus Stealth… One grants the identity of an Emanator, the other hides aura and strength. These two entries, how did they look like a complementary combination? As if the system was hinting to him that if you want to take on the identity of "Emanator of Destruction," you'd best hide yourself well. But if the Emanator of Destruction entry was just an empty shell of an identity, what was the point of hiding a non-existent power? There should be a power increase, and… there must be something fishy in that "specific effects unknown"! Perhaps it was some kind of ability that could only be triggered by possessing the "Emanator of Destruction" identity? Or some kind of influence?
Orion's heart beat a little faster. This was a big gamble. To bet 6000 Villain Value on the unknown effect of a Purple entry. The risk was not small, but the potential reward could be much greater than what appeared on the surface.
He took a deep breath and continued to look down.
Star Core Spirit (Golden):
Entry Effect: Possesses a Star Core within, gaining power and abilities equivalent to a star. If you die, you can blow up surrounding planets with you.
Villain Value required for redemption: 10000 points.
Seeing this entry, Orion's eyes widened sharply. This entry was from the last simulation, but it had changed from Purple to Golden! And the effect had changed too! Last time it was "specific abilities unknown," this time it directly stated "gains power and abilities equivalent to a star"! If he redeemed this entry, wouldn't he gain a protagonist template? Possessing the power of a star, and if he died, he could take others down with him! Ten thousand Villain Value for a Golden entry, and one of those protagonist-only entries, absolutely worth it!
Unfortunately… He looked at his remaining Villain Value: 8460 points. He was still short over a thousand. This entry, he couldn't afford it for now.
He shifted his gaze to the remaining entries.
Gambler's Luck (Purple): 5000 points.
Sneak Attack (Blue): 2000 points.
One-Slash Termination (Red): 30000 points.
Insectoid Hive (Red): 40000 points.
The Red entries were still astronomical figures, out of reach. He could afford Sneak Attack and Gambler's Luck, but he currently had entries he wanted more.
Emanator of Destruction… 6000 points, a large chunk of his current Villain Value. If he won the gamble, he might gain unexpected huge returns. If he lost, well… it wouldn't be a loss either, would it? At least in the Underworld, almost no one could threaten him, who was already the behind-the-scenes leader of the Geomarrow organization. Just the Golden Threads of Fate was enough for his current situation and status.
Aglaea could control the Holy City for hundreds or thousands of years with just the Golden Threads. With the Golden Threads, couldn't he control a small Jarilo-VI?
Then, Orion stared at the Emanator of Destruction entry, deep in thought. To gamble, or not to gamble? He weighed it in his mind. This entry granted an identity, with unknown increased strength…
"System." Orion asked in his mind. "Can this [Emanator of Destruction] entry be upgraded?"