Published at 17th of February 2026 7:11 am

Chapter 2005 Trying to make history

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"...Then let us try."

Richard slowly cracked his neck to the right, then to the left, the dull sound echoing faintly in the stillness around him. He exhaled, steadied his breathing, and then sat back upright, settling into a perfectly balanced meditative posture, his spine straight and his presence calm yet resolute.

(...Are you truly ready? Are you mentally and physically prepared to undergo the Trial of Worthiness?) Juri asked hesitantly, her voice carrying a rare trace of concern. (Only those with near-perfect affinity can even hope to break through to a World Cataclysm for a reason. And moreover... only a single individual in the entire recorded history of the Young Sector has ever succeeded in breaking through to a World Cataclysm for a reason.)

It was a well-established and unforgiving rule: only those whose affinity approached or exceeded 90% could even attempt a breakthrough to a World Cataclysm.

That affinity might be divine and innate from birth, as in Raiden's case. It could be a permanently acquired affinity forged through the second cultivation path by integrating beast blood, like Aro. Or, it could be a temporary, forcibly elevated affinity obtained through extremely powerful and dangerous elixirs.

The reason was simple yet terrifying-the enormous qualitative leap between a Martial Emperor and a World Cataclysm.

Unlike all other realms, the gap specifically separating a Martial Emperor from a World Cataclysm was vast beyond reason-so vast that, in theory, three or even four entirely new cultivation realms could be inserted between them merely to soften the disparity and make it comprehensible.

Because of this, even with the tremendous advancement, terrifying techniques, and overwhelming combat power possessed by the followers of the True Beginning Empire, the number of individuals capable of narrowing that gap and standing against a World Cataclysm remained exceedingly small. Each of those rare figures relied on a unique advantage of their own to survive such confrontations.

Most often, the deciding factor was that the opposing World Cataclysm was weak-lacking high-grade equipment, suffering from unstable foundations, or relying heavily on a minor law rather than a fully realized major one.

For instance, each commander of the Imperial Guard possessed the strength to confront a World Cataclysm head-on, and in rare cases, such battles could even end in killing them.

However, if all Imperial Guard commanders were to assault a single World Cataclysm originating from a Behemoth galaxy, the result would not be a battle at all-they would be utterly humiliated, crushed without dignity.

Returning to the qualitative leap itself. This leap transformed the energy-gathering center within the body into a core, one capable of amassing and sustaining enough power to rival that required to maintain a small planet. Such an existence was inherently undesirable for planetary spirits, and thus, large numbers of beings were never permitted to reach this level of power.

Only the very best-the strongest, the most resilient, and the most unwavering -could even hope to face the Trial of Worthiness. And of those, less than one percent of those who dare try would emerge successful.

"I know it won't be easy," Richard said calmly, his voice steady and devoid of hesitation, "but I've been preparing myself for this trial for all these years. Every risk, every limit-I accounted for them. Of course, I'm ready."

A confident smile appeared on his face as he lowered his gaze to the dark coin resting in his palm. "And with this stabilizer," he added, his grip tightening slightly, "I'll be far stronger than most World Cataclysms the moment my breakthrough is complete."

After finishing his words, he reached into his ring and retrieved several vials of elixirs, swallowing them one after another without pause. These were substances designed to drastically increase affinity with the primary Law of Life and the primary Law of Fire. Judging by the sheer quantity alone, it was clear he had not been the slightest bit conservative with the dosage.

Moments later, Richard closed his eyes, focusing entirely on refinement. The elixirs dissolved into pure energy, circulating through his body, surging through his veins, his organs, and his flesh, leaving not a single cell untouched as his internal world began to shift in preparation for the trial to come.

(That small coin...) Juri murmured softly, her thoughts heavy with concern. (You fused dozens of Black Plague cores that you had been collecting over centuries alongside Serene, then compressed them into that tiny object using an overwhelming amount of life energy. After that, you refined it with the Fire of Life for more than twenty years until it finally took on this compact and restrained form. It will undoubtedly function as a stabilizer-without the slightest doubt, it would be classified among the upper echelon of stabilizers anywhere in the universe. But why refuse to search for other options? I truly don't feel that using Black Plague cores is the best possible choice...)

"But after the discovery I recently achieved, I could not ask for a stabilizer more compatible with me," Richard replied in a low, steady voice, his eyes still firmly closed, his expression calm. "This is, without question, the stabilizer that will aid me the most in the next stage."

His fingers tightened slightly. "Where would I even find a better one? I could ask my brother Theo for a stabilizer, and he would never refuse me. I know very well that he knows exactly where I am-and he may very well be watching me even now... but what could he truly offer me?"

Richard paused briefly before continuing, his tone unwavering. "Even the heart of a planet, or the core of a star, would be far less useful to me than this."

(....) Juri fell silent. She did not argue further, yet the uncase lingering within her was unmistakable, evident even through her wordless pause.

In truth, this presented yet another grave problem. The stronger the stabilizer, the harsher and more merciless the trial became. And this stabilizer-crafted from the cores of dozens of Black Plagues under the conditions of a World Cataclysm and a Nexus State-was absurdly powerful. It could be said, without exaggeration, that it rivaled a newly born Blue Plague core!!

Now, the Trial of Competency would no longer be singular in nature-it would become a triple ordeal...

A test of law affinity within Richard's energy-gathering center.

A test of the stabilizer's raw strength and resistance.

And a final test targeting the restraints and lingering limitations he carried from

the Young Belt.

This was destined to become a catastrophic spectacle.

"Alright." Richard snapped his eyes open, a sharp glint flashing within them.

"Everything is prepared. Let's begin."

After those words, Richard moved the black stabilizer closer to his energy-gathering center, and immediately, a strange and unsettling scene began to unfold...

Bands of dense energy erupted outward from Richard's energy-gathering center, surging forth like living entities. They twisted and coiled around the black coin in his hand, layer after layer, before gradually dragging it toward his lower abdomen. At the same time, Richard's body began to flicker erratically, pulsing with unstable light, and distinct changes started to ripple through his torso-it was clear that his body itself as actively preparing to receive the stabilizer.

However, the process did not proceed with the expected smoothness... The stabilizer suddenly halted in midair. No matter how fiercely the energy bands tugged at it, it refused to move an inch, as if an equally powerful opposing force was pushing it backward.

Then-

Disturbance Disturbance

The sky above Richard's head began to emit deep, displeased rumbling sounds,

as though reality itself were expressing rejection. Dark clouds formed instantaneously, converging and spiraling together into a massive vortex, giving the unmistakable impression that the end of the world was drawing near.

Moments later, it began to rain.

But what fell from the heavens was not water...

It was fire.

Millions of tiny, intensely white flames descended gently from the vortex,

drifting downward in silence. They fell like celestial lanterns, floating softly through the air, illuminating the darkened world below as though seeking to

light an endless abyss.

Even Richard could not help but raise his head, momentarily forgetting the danger as he gazed upon the breathtaking sight. Almost unconsciously, he

murmured, "Beautiful..."

But-

Whoooosh-

The descending flames began to touch the ground one after another.

The yellow plain that stretched endlessly to the horizon was engulfed in an instant, transforming into a vast, roaring sea of fire, as the world itself seemed to ignite beneath the falling light.

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