The Ice Emperor was truly on a completely different level from everyone else. Even with Kayden hiding his presence, he was found. How that was possible remained a cruel mystery he couldn’t decipher.
"Hello, Kayden. What brings you to my domain?" The Ice Emperor hadn’t expected Kayden to appear so soon.
"I need protection to reach the ninth realm. I can trade my services or offer a vow of faith." Kayden wasn’t sure what he could possibly offer to a mage of such magnitude, but he was willing to try.
"I want you to choose to visit my universe before any others, with no other conditions of affiliation." Kayden knew this was both an invitation and a trap, but unfortunately, he had no other option.
"As long as you guarantee my safety at all times during this visit, we have a deal." Kayden wasn’t foolish and added an additional condition without hesitation. The Ice Emperor accepted without the slightest reluctance.
"Of course. When the time comes, we can make an oath before the heavens to ensure both sides are satisfied. When will you ascend to the next realm?" Kollen didn’t try to pressure Kayden too much at this moment; he knew it wasn’t the right time.
"Now," Kayden replied immediately.
"Then go ahead. No mage will touch you before or after your advancement while I am here." With the Ice Emperor’s words, Kayden began his ascension process.
This time, things were very different from usual. Instead of golden clouds and other typical phenomena, crimson clouds spread across the entire universe. There wasn’t a single point in all of existence that wasn’t covered by them. For the weak, it felt like the end of the universe; for the strong, it was a unique event.
Once again, all the mages capable of reaching the location spent every treasure they had to arrive as quickly as possible. This time, it felt as though the heavens themselves were delaying, as if waiting for the correct audience for this grand spectacle. The gods who had come to play in this universe were all now awake and watching Kayden. To them, this was a unique event, but at the same time, something they had witnessed a few times before.
In Yan’s universe, the number of gods watching Kayden’s feats had increased drastically compared to last time. Now, it wasn’t just the mages of this universe watching—gods from their realms were following the events of Kayden’s life. The boy had practically become a living legend.
"Kayden Heart," a voice emerged from the crimson clouds. There was no form, no discernible features, nothing that could be identified. This voice echoed inside the minds of every mage in the universe. "You are the first mage from your universe to be deemed worthy of challenging the heavens. Honor our expectations."
As soon as the voice finished speaking, the universe... stopped. All laws and all living beings were frozen in time. Most could still think and perceive what was happening in Kayden’s ascension event. Even first-realm mages could feel, from an absurd distance, what was taking place. But even Matheus became incapable of moving. The weight of the heavens was overwhelming.
The crimson clouds parted, revealing the thrones that always appeared. This time, figures occupied all of them. Once again, no one could perceive these figures—only the sheer power of the thrones radiated throughout the universe.
The pressure of the thrones was overwhelming. Not a single mage could feel at ease in the presence of these chairs. They all felt like ants. The most insane part was that they could only feel the presence of the thrones. Even the strongest gods watching this event felt like mere insects. They weren’t even capable of sensing the presence of those seated upon the thrones.
In one of the chairs, an immaterial, translucent golden figure appeared, completely devoid of any discernible traits. No gender, no race, not even an aura could be perceived. It was as if the being present was an existence impossible to comprehend through any logic. Paradoxically, the chair upon which it sat exuded a presence greater than its own—something beyond the understanding of nearly all present.
This was the figure that had always presided over these events. Alongside it, the other beings began to rise from their seats. In the end, all nine thrones had their figures standing and looking directly at Kayden. Regardless of how strong Kayden’s mind was, at this moment, he felt the greatest pressure of his life. Even the massive golden eyes he had seen at the beginning of his journey paled in comparison.
"A challenger of the heavens must honor the most insane expectations," one of the Nine spoke. There was no discernible feature to its voice, yet it was possible to tell they were different individuals. "Survive the nine lightning bolts, and you shall be the first graduate of this universe."
The simple act of raising a finger from that being tore through space itself. Its body was stronger than the very fabric holding the universe together. It raised the finger above its head, and a lightning bolt descended—one without color, without form. All that could be perceived was that it was lightning. A law in its living, pulsating state. No one knew, no one could even fathom what exactly that lightning was. Not a single god watching could understand it.
The complexity of that lightning bolt surpassed even that of a high-level fundamental law. Kayden made that realization at that moment—it was utterly insane. Not even the gods could comprehend how perfect a being had to be to unleash an attack of such caliber.
Kayden felt the shackles of the universe release him. Ever since he had surpassed the limits of this universe, he had felt as if invisible chains restrained his movements every second of the day. This was like the first breath of a man who had been buried underground for decades.
The simple act of raising a finger from that being tore through space itself. Its body was stronger than the very fabric holding the universe together. It raised the finger above its head, and a lightning bolt descended—one without color, without form. All that could be perceived was that it was lightning. A law in its living, pulsating state. No one knew, no one could even fathom what exactly that lightning was. Not a single god watching could understand it.