— — — — — —
The downside was simple.
If his Spirit Rank stayed too low while his Cosmo grew too strong, if his status couldn't match his position, Little Garden's Central Core would classify Ryo as an anomaly and expel him.
And if the expulsion failed, he would become a flaw in the world itself—something akin to a Last Embryo to the gods.
It sounded impressive on paper. In reality, it was a minefield with heavy restrictions.
The moment he left for another world, the Central Core could seal his return path. If he wanted back into Little Garden, he'd have to pay an obscene number of points to sneak in.
At that point, he would essentially be treated like an Otherworldly Demon from the Reverend Insanity novel he had read before.
As for the upside…
"If my Spirit Rank has an Authority supporting it, the growth of my Cosmo won't be rootless anymore. Once I sublimate Authority into Divine Right, I can push my Cosmo into the Eighth Sense, Arayashiki."
"And if I elevate it all the way into Universal Truth, my will can ascend as well. The Cosmo could evolve into the 'Big Will' (Divine Cosmos)."
"And if my Spirit Rank already contains enough Authority or Divine Right in quantity, I can take a detour. Reach the Big Will first, then use it to temper my Divine Right in reverse, eventually refining it into Cosmic Truth."
"At that point, Little Garden won't restrict me. As long as I have enough Divine Right inside me, it can temporarily sustain my Spirit Rank. Even if I achieve the Big Will first, my life tier won't collapse."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"So this is basically a backdoor."
The gods of Little Garden could only follow the Authority system step by step, sublimating upward in sequence.
He, on the other hand, could develop two systems at once. Not just that, they would reinforce each other.
Engraving Authority into his Spirit Rank would temper his soul, body, and will.
The sublimation of will would strengthen his Cosmo.
A stronger Cosmo would accelerate his mastery of Authority.
It was like an engine finally meeting gasoline. Flooring the accelerator would be a matter of thought.
Ryo rubbed his temples, half amused, half exasperated.
If the Central Core had just explained it this clearly earlier, he would have started engraving Authority ages ago. Instead, it waited until the last second to throw out a warning.
Then again, expecting smooth communication from that thing was asking too much.
"Still some time left. I'll deal with Hermes' matter first. After that… which Authority to engrave?"
He stroked his chin.
Just as he was weighing the options, the stone steps in front of him split apart.
A massive white serpent pushed its head out from beneath the ground.
Ryo stopped walking.
His black eyes met its golden slit pupils. The air seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.
Then the white serpent dipped its head slightly. Its forked tongue extended, presenting a parchment scroll clasped between the tips.
"Algol's letter?"
Ryo accepted the scroll without surprise. The serpent nodded again and sank back underground.
He glanced at the spot where it vanished before unrolling the parchment.
What greeted him was a portrait, exquisitely painted.
The subject was Algol herself.
"…Seriously?"
He fell silent.
On the scroll, Algol stared at him for a few seconds, then blinked.
"Why are you hiding inside a painting?" Ryo asked flatly.
A line of text appeared across the scroll.
{I'm hiding from that ugly woman.}
{This demon scroll is a sealing-type divine artifact I made. Once I hide inside, even Little Garden's Central Core can't detect me!}
{Hehe, Athena and the others have probably realized I've disappeared by now, but they'll never guess I'm hiding here!}
{Al-chan's flawless victory~!}
Ryo stared at the Algol in the painting, who was flashing an over-the-top victory sign.
He didn't even know where to begin.
Sure, she couldn't be detected in there.
But wasn't that just switching prison cells?
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Did you obtain the Spirit Rank of the Demon Primogenitor?"
He carried the scroll as he descended the stairs.
Algol waved a hand in the painting. Lines of text formed above her.
{Let me put it in terms you'll understand.}
{Incomplete Spirit Rank Data: You are the one who ends all things and births them anew. The adversary of the gods. The demon set against the divine. The Primogenitor. The wellspring of all evil.}
Ryo frowned.
At the same time, the Dimensional Forum popped up with an evaluation.
[Assessment: A special Spirit Rank with potential to develop into a Two-Digit existence.]
[Suggested path: expand and sublimate Demon Divine Right. Approach the path taken by the Buddha. Elevate Demon Divine Right, project the Cosmic Truth of "Demon" into the multiverse, and become the true Demon Primogenitor.]
Ryo blinked.
After a long silence—
"Enjoying the view?"
Algol's voice echoed directly in his mind, abandoning written text for mental transmission.
"Yeah," Ryo sighed.
He then shook his head. "Your path won't be easy."
"Oh? With your level of knowledge, you can see that?" Algol sounded genuinely surprised.
"That's private information," Ryo replied, eyelid twitching.
She pounced immediately.
"This 'private information'… will it make me beautiful?"
Ryo almost choked.
Was he supposed to go ask the Dimensional Forum for cosmetic upgrades? That would bankrupt him on the spot.
"…No."
"Your reaction says yes," Algol declared confidently.
"So what, you're going to rob me?" he asked dryly.
"You really can!" Her tone shot up, gleeful.
Damn it. Walked right into that one.
He shut his mouth.
"Name your price!"
"Hey, talk to me!"
"Ryo~ I'm literally in your hands right now. What are you scared of? The most beautiful goddess in Little Garden is right here. Come on, share your little secret~"
"No way."
Amid the bickering, Ryo stepped into the underground prison of Arcadia.
— — —
Meanwhile - Headquarters of the community "Perseus."
With Aishelia still away in another world, Laius had assumed temporary leadership.
But at the moment, this acting leader stood off to the side, drenched in cold sweat, barely daring to breathe.
Before him stood a blonde goddess crowned with an olive wreath. Her expression was icy as she stared at an ancient bronze mirror.
A divine artifact used to seal the Demon Star Algol.
And now…
The entity that should have been imprisoned within the mirror was gone.
.
.
.