Astonishment (1)
Ah.
A gasp slipped from my lips.
Amid the shivers wracking my body, I tasted ecstasy.
You have glimpsed the truth of All Phenomena.
A vast black wave unfurled before my eyes.
It was the universe.
Infinite.
Profound.
Hundreds of billions of stars whispered with faint light, dancing within those waves.
Each star seemed serene, but peering closer revealed them tangled by mutual gravity, weaving new destinies.
Sometimes colliding in ruin.
Sometimes merging to birth new life.
In that instant, a colossal vortex of light emerged at the heart of the black waves.
It spun endlessly, devouring time and space like a black hole—yet another world seemed hidden within.
A chaos beyond color or form, an infinite abyss cradling all possibilities.
Beneath it stretched slender lines of galaxies.
Their tangled, neural-web structure made the universe feel not like mere space, but a living being.
And enveloping it all: darkness.
This was no mere absence.
It was a quiet power that embraced all light, proving its own existence.
Before this infinite vista, I realized how insignificant I was.
Yet at the same time, being part of this grand cosmos filled me with exhilaration.
All Phenomena was no distant sight—it was truth connected to me.
The universe was no longer far away.
It existed within me, around me, in every moment.
Your Small Universe begins to bloom.
This was the moment my soul's vessel expanded.
You have attained enlightenment.
You have ascended to the 10th Circle realm.
Your Dragon Heart grows.
The energy of your Dragon Blood deepens.
You draw one step closer to the Dragon God Body.
Flash!
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
A tremendous wave of mana surged from my body.
Thump!
My heart pounded.
I felt the Dragon Heart expand in real time.
Kwaaaaa.
At the same time, the mana particles flowing through me intertwined even more densely.
My mana patterns solidified, and density soared.
Now, even the same amount of mana would let me cast far more potent spells.
"Huuuuh..."
I exhaled the breath I'd been holding.
Opening my eyes, the world looked brighter than before.
Mana particles in the air became visible.
So that's what it is.
I reached out, drawing in the atmospheric mana.
It flowed like water at my touch.
The realm of harmonizing with external mana.
That was the 10th Circle.
Now I get why Lulumiel's magic was stronger than mine, even for the same spells.
I instantly grasped the principles of her Buff & Debuff magic.
Lulumiel had started from this very foundation and evolved toward amplifying or diminishing others' stats.
"Master!! Congratulations on completing the 10th Circle!"
"Ooh. We offer our heartfelt congratulations on your ascent to this glorious realm!"
"Congratulations on the shining glory of the 10th Circle."
"Keron. Congratulations on Master's achievement."
The guardians rushed over in a flash, showering me with praise.
"Thanks, everyone."
I grinned back at their cheers.
Then I turned to the massive insects pinned down nearby.
Over a hundred of them.
These were the ones I'd subdued for tomorrow's kills, thanks to the daily level-up cap.
"Ka, karrrr..."
"Kirrrruk..."
"Keruk."
As I stepped closer, the giant scorpions in the front lines shuddered violently.
Early 200s level.
They were trembling in Fear from the aura radiating from me.
A reaction I'd never seen before.
"Lulu! They're feeling fear from Master's aura!"
"It seems Master has delved even deeper into the power of the great being."
"These lowly vermin must sense the great being's dignity all the more intensely."
Just as the guardians said.
My deepened Dragon Blood aura was the cause.
A moment where I truly felt my power's surge skin-deep.
Tomorrow, I'll finish these off with my own hands.
The next day.
I stood before them again.
"Kirrr!"
"Ki, kieeek...!"
"Jirr..."
They cowered just as greatly as yesterday.
Whirl, thunder.
I tested Dragon Words on them right away.
Infused with my newfound 10th Circle enlightenment.
Kwarrrrumble!!!
Crimson lightning crashed down amid them.
"Kieeeek!!"
"Jirrrruk!"
"Keeek!!"
The effect was tremendous.
The crimson thunder ignited high-temperature plasma, incinerating the electrified bugs on the spot.
Sizzzzzzz!!!
The acrid stench filled the air.
In a single day, I'd wiped out over a hundred.
I was incomparably stronger than before ascending.
Previously, taking down one or two at once would have been my limit.
"Jirr..."
Thud.
As the last giant locust collapsed.
My level rose once more.
"Whoa, Master. You've gotten insanely stronger overnight."
"Seriously, get a bit stronger and you'll surpass us."
"Lulu! Seeing Master grow makes me so proud!"
The guardians' praise was even more fervent than usual.
They clearly felt my growth too.
"Thanks, everyone."
I smiled and continued.
"As I said yesterday, we'll head back to the lair now, then south to find Azkai's Lava Emperor Stone. But first..."
I turned my head.
Azkai stood there.
"Azkai."
"Yes! Master!"
He stepped forward at my call, oblivious to why.
I deepened my smile.
"Everyone knows how vital Azkai's been, right?"
"Yes!"
"Of course! Without Azkai, we couldn't have swept those bugs."
"Lulu! Azkai's our core."
The guardians voiced fierce agreement.
"Heh. I'm deeply honored by Master's direct praise."
Azkai looked bashful, unlike his usual self.
First time seeing this. Azkai's kinda cute.
"To honor Azkai's contributions, I'm granting him a reward."
"A reward?"
"Ooh..."
I pulled twenty ★ gems from my subspace pouch.
Shiiiine.
They gleamed brilliantly.
"Azkai, absorb these and advance to 9-star."
"...!"
His eyes widened hugely.
First time seeing them bulge like that. He was that shocked.
"Kuh. Azkai deserves this reward from Master!"
"Master's acknowledged you. Congrats. Kinda jealous."
"Congratulations, Azkai! I'll work harder to earn Master's recognition like you! Lulu!"
"Keron. Seeing Azkai spurs me on. Congratulations."
The guardians' cheers poured in.
Azkai bowed deeply, moved.
"Thank you, Master. Azkai will shatter bones and scatter ashes for you!"
"Good. Keep it up."
"Yes!"
Azkai reached for the ★ pile.
Twenty were needed to go from 8-star to 9-star.
We'd gotten 22 total this time.
No regrets spending most.
A stronger Azkai meant safer travels, faster growth for me.
And quicker ★ farming too.
Flash!
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!!!
A storm of black starlight engulfed Azkai.
"Ahh!"
A cry burst from him as vast spirit pressure erupted.
Azkai has advanced to 9-star (★★★★★★★★★)!
Potential breaks through the 9-star wall. Azkai's lava boils even hotter.
Kugrrrrrr.
Lava flowed from Azkai's body.
The yellow lava began turning pure white.
Azkai's lava has advanced to White Lotus Lava.
Upon evolving to White Lotus Lava, Azkai has acquired an Ultimate Technique!
With that message.
Kwagagagagagagaga!!
White lava erupted from Azkai like a volcano exploding.
***
Meanwhile.
The Superhuman Net buzzed all day with talk of Hong Seolhwa and Madoje.
That link led to Hong Seolhwa's interview.
That single quote from Hong Seolhwa had Madoje's name dominating discussions nonstop.
Through this event, everyone grasped how OP Madoje's gear was.
Naturally, curiosity about Madoje's identity and level exploded.
As everyone speculated on Madoje's level.
An incident occurred that let them roughly guess it.