"Interesting."
Nolan's voice was very low.
He put down his pen, his fingertips tapping unconsciously against the erroneous model.
"A very interesting error, Yao."
A flash of understanding crossed Yao's eyes; she did not ask further, simply waiting quietly.
She knew that when her master wore this expression, it usually meant he was thinking.
"The assignment... leave it with me for now."
Nolan's voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm, there were surging undercurrents.
"Your 'error' has given me a bit of inspiration.
Although it might be useless, it could also be a seed."
Nolan looked at Yao, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint arc—one that was far more genuine than when he had been grading the assignment earlier.
"It seems you submitted this assignment... at just the right time. Perhaps we should go to the lowest level of the library and rummage through those useless old piles of paper.
Regarding erroneous magic, and some sort of rule beyond them that they might point to?"
Yao stood up, her white robe falling around her. A knowing smile appeared on her face as well.
"As you wish, Master.
However, the assignment still needs to be graded."
"It will be. But before that, you need to accompany me to find some warriors."
The figures of the master and apprentice disappeared silently into the warm study filled with books, leaving behind only the light of the fireplace, stubbornly flickering amidst the shadows of destruction outside the window.
— —
Flickering Realm!
"Chthon."
Nolan arrived here once again; although only a few years had passed, it felt like a very long time.
"Demon King."
Chthon slowly emerged from the darkness, a hint of shock appearing in his eyes.
"You are approaching the Multiverse level."
Nolan sensed Chthon's aura. It was normal; Wanda had absorbed the power of another version of herself and reached the Single Universe level, so as the possessor of Chaos magic,
there was no reason for Chthon not to have become stronger.
"...Why do you seek me?"
Chthon asked directly.
"I have come to ask you to participate in a war."
Nolan looked straight into Chthon's chaotic eyes.
"As a price, I can help you develop followers, spread your Black Magic knowledge, and let your name and power resonate in every corner of the Universe.
I will help you break through your current bottleneck, become a true Multiverse-level entity, and perhaps reach even higher realms."
"All Multiverse-level entities must participate in the war."
Nolan's words were decisive, carrying an unquestionable mandatory tone.
"And in my view, only those who have reached the Multiverse level can possibly provide truly effective help in that war.
For every additional Multiverse-level entity, we have one more glimmer of hope to shift the tide of battle and tear through the Shadow."
Nolan's subtext was naked and cold: Chthon, you are not yet qualified to be forcibly conscripted because you are not Multiverse-level.
But you have the potential, and I can be the catalyst to ignite this potential for you.
This war is your ticket to higher power.
Chthon was silent.
Develop followers!
Spread Black Magic!
This was the most fundamental source of his power!
Faith is the anchor, knowledge is the seed; being able to sow them into the vast soil of the Universe meant his power would experience an unprecedented, explosive growth!
Breaking through the shackles of the Single Universe level, stepping into the halls of the Multiverse level, or even touching the faint possibilities beyond? The price Nolan offered precisely struck his deepest desires.
"The price..."
Chthon's voice finally sounded again, the ancient laziness replaced by a cold and greedy playfulness.
Chaotic energy condensed and twisted around him, manifesting into countless blurry faces screaming and wailing; these were the phantoms of followers, the embodiment of Black Magic power.
"What a tempting poison.
Demon King, do you know what you are promising? Releasing my knowledge is releasing chaos itself.
The madness of followers, the corruption of Black Magic—these will all become part of the war, and may even devour some Worlds earlier than the Shadow outside the window."
"I know."
Nolan's voice did not waver in the slightest, even carrying a kind of near-cruel rationality.
"But war itself is the greatest chaos and corruption. It is devouring everything, including the foundations upon which order and life depend.
When the entire Multiverse faces destruction, local chaos and corruption are acceptable costs, and even necessary weapons.
I need your power, Chthon, not as a sealed specimen, but as the sharpest weapon on the battlefield.
As for what comes after..."
Nolan's lips curled into a cold arc.
"If we win, we will naturally have the time and power to 'clean up'. If we lose, nothing matters."
"Now tell me your answer."
He responded to Chthon's questioning with the most realistic logic.
In the face of survival, morality and side effects are secondary.
Power is the only hard currency.
Chthon's face, composed of chaotic energy, seemed to twist, as if laughing.
It was a laugh that showed appreciation for Nolan's coldness and pragmatism, and extreme excitement for the coming feast of chaos.
"Demon King, you are becoming more and more to my liking.
A war sweeping through the Multiverse, an opportunity for my power to expand, a stage to sow chaos and darkness to an unprecedented extent.
I have no reason to refuse. Let me be the sharpest weapon; it doesn't matter if I am destroyed after being used."
It was not self-abandonment, but an extreme desire for the pinnacle of power that transcended all scruples.
In order to glimpse that "light at the very top," he was willing to become the most dangerous weapon, even if it meant being smashed to pieces in the end.
This pure, inhuman madness was exactly what Nolan needed most right now..
Nolan also smiled.
He liked straightforward people.
"Let's go. Leave this place and come with me to Earth."
Nolan flicked his fingertips, and a black rift suddenly appeared.
When they passed through the passage, the scene before them surprised Chthon.
It was a magnificent sanctuary; the surrounding walls were carved with ancient runes and patterns, emitting a mysterious aura.
In the center of the sanctuary, numerous mages were busily manipulating magic circles in their hands, which flickered with dazzling light.
Chthon saw a few familiar figures.
Nightmare, Satannish, and the Vishanti—these once-famous dimensional demons were now, like prisoners, tightly bound by golden runic chains.
Their bodies emitted a faint light, clearly suppressed by these chains.
"Master, there is still one position here."
Yao's voice rang in Chthon's ears. He turned to look and saw an orange magic circle lighting up in Yao's hand, clearly prepared for him.
Nolan said at this moment: "Chthon has voluntarily joined the war; he does not need persuasion."
A sound of amusement escaped Chthon's throat.
"So, they are not willing to join this war."
"The first two thought that since they hadn't reached the Multiverse-level threshold, they could avoid this war. As for the Vishanti..."
Nolan's gaze fell on the three separated ancient entities.
"The Trinity does indeed possess Multiverse-level power.
Unfortunately, they chose to split themselves apart in an attempt to evade mandatory conscription. So, I had to 'invite' them here to have a good talk and persuade them."
"Persuade?"
Chthon laughed in a low voice.
"What a gentle term, Demon King."
"Efficiency first, Chthon."
Nolan's expression remained unchanged.
"And compared to Dormammu, Shuma-Gorath, and Mephisto, I have already been very gentle."
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