That evening, Cao Ye stood by the window of his room, looking out over the night view of Orario.
His mood felt strange.
Just yesterday he had been living in a run-down rented room.
Today he was living at the very top of Babel Tower.
Life really was unpredictable.
"My Imaginary Attribute… even though this world shouldn't have imaginary space, why do I feel like I can still use it?"
The sensation was strange.
As if responding to his thoughts, magic gathered in his hand.
A tiny crack slowly appeared in space.
Cao Ye's eyes widened.
He had only been experimenting—but it actually worked.
In the Fate series, Imaginary Magecraft was extremely rare.
The most famous user was Matou Sakura.
Her black shadow could absorb attacks into imaginary space, effectively nullifying them.
Looking at the small dimensional crack before him, Cao Ye saw a possibility.
He didn't know what lay beyond the crack.
But that didn't matter.
If he developed this ability further, it might become incredibly powerful.
Imagine in battle:
Your attacks can't reach me—but mine can reach you.
That would basically be cheating.
"Let's test it."
He picked up a teacup from the table and opened another crack.
The cup was instantly sucked inside.
But suddenly—
His magic power began draining rapidly.
Within seconds, more than half of it disappeared.
Cao Ye panicked and immediately stopped the magic.
The crack closed.
"That was dangerous…"
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
Experimenting recklessly with unknown abilities could easily get him killed.
His new life had just begun.
He didn't want to die already.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Cao Ye froze for a moment.
Then he understood.
His boss must want to see him.
After all, ordinary people couldn't come to this place.
He opened the door.
Standing outside was the massive figure of Ottar.
"Lady Freya wishes to see you."
"Now?"
"Now."
"Alright."
They walked down the corridor.
Since the rooms were next to each other, it only took a few steps.
"Lady Freya is inside."
"And you?"
Ottar didn't answer.
He simply stood there like a statue.
Cao Ye twitched slightly.
Fine, just you wait.
When I climb onto the goddess's bed someday, I'll complain about you in her ear.
He knocked.
"Come in."
Freya's lazy voice sounded from inside.
When Cao Ye entered, he saw her wearing a thin silk robe.
In the dim lighting, she radiated an overwhelming charm.
But something felt… strange.
"Lady Freya."
"Come sit, Cao Ye."
Her seductive smile and beauty made Cao Ye's blood rush.
Wait…
Did she call me here tonight to sleep with her?
Earlier she rejected him.
Did she change her mind?
Long nights, lonely bed?
But the more he looked at her, the stranger it felt.
The Freya he knew did not need to act seductive.
Simply existing was enough.
The woman before him looked like someone imitating Freya.
"You… who are you?"
"Hm? Who am I? Cao Ye, did you forget your own goddess so quickly?"
Suddenly—
A terrifying divine pressure filled the room.
Cao Ye was forced to one knee.
His bones creaked under the pressure.
But that only confirmed his suspicion.
"You're not Freya."
"Impersonating a goddess is a serious crime. Once you're captured, you'll suffer for it."
At that moment, the malice within his soul began stirring.
The power of All the Evil of This World finally revealed a fraction of itself.
Black mist erupted from his body.
His magic turned pitch black, just like the corrupted Holy Grail.
"What is this—?!"
The fake Freya was shocked.
The black mist formed a giant hand and grabbed toward her.
If it touched her, the endless evil would cling to her like a parasite.
Even heroic spirits were corrupted by the black mud of All the Evil of This World.
Cao Ye himself could withstand it only because the system protected his soul.
Anyone else would be devoured by the malice.
"I can't dodge—!"
The woman's pupils shrank in despair.
Then—
"Enough."
BOOM!