The journey to Universe 2 took three days.
Kafu stood at the bow of the small ship they had acquired—a sleek vessel capable of dimensional travel, purchased with the remaining crystals from the demon enclave. Behind him, his followers trained and prepared, their auras growing stronger with each passing hour. Makena stood at his side, her hand in his, her presence the anchor that kept him grounded.
Universe 2 unfolded before them like a dream—a realm of pure crystal, where planets were gems and stars were diamonds, where light refracted through infinite facets and the very air sparkled with energy.
[UNIVERSE 2: THE CRYSTAL EXPANSE]
· [TYPE: TYPE III CIVILIZATION (GALACTIC)]
· [GOVERNING BODY: THE CRYSTAL CONCLAVE]
· [THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]
· [NOTABLE FEATURES: THE CRYSTAL HEART (CORE OF THE UNIVERSE), THE ENERGY MAZE (SEAL LOCATION)]
"The Crystal Heart," Kafu murmured, consulting the map fragment. "It's at the center of the universe. Protected by the Conclave's best warriors."
Seraphina approached, her ancient eyes studying the crystal formations around them. "I've heard of this place. The Conclave is neutral—they don't interfere with outsiders unless provoked. But the Energy Maze is different. It's a trial, not a territory. Anyone can attempt it."
"Anyone can attempt it. Few survive."
"Fewer still succeed."
Kafu nodded. "Then we'll be the ones who do."
---
The Crystal Heart was exactly what its name suggested—a massive crystalline structure at the universe's center, pulsing with energy that made Kafu's domain seem like a candle before a sun. Around it, the Energy Maze sprawled in all directions—a labyrinth of pure power, its walls made of solidified light, its paths shifting and changing with each passing moment.
[THE ENERGY MAZE]
· [THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]
· [KNOWN SURVIVAL RATE: 0.01%]
· [KNOWN SUCCESS RATE: 0.001%]
· [SPECIAL: WRONG PATHS DRAIN ENERGY PERMANENTLY]
Kafu turned to his followers. "No one comes with me. This is a solo trial."
Makena grabbed his arm. "Kafu—"
"I'll be fine. I have the Pathfinder Crystal. I have my domain. I have everything I need." He cupped her face in his hands. "Trust me."
Her eyes searched his, then she nodded slowly. "Come back to me."
"Always."
---
He entered the maze.
The walls of light closed around him, their hum filling his ears, their glow blinding his eyes. He could feel the energy pressing against him, testing him, probing for weaknesses.
[PATHFINDER CRYSTAL — USE 1 OF 3]
He activated the crystal, and instantly, paths began to glow red—dozens of them, hundreds, all marked as wrong. Only one path remained unmarked—a narrow corridor that seemed to lead deeper into the maze.
Kafu followed it.
The maze shifted around him, its walls rearranging, its paths reforming. He used the crystal again.
[PATHFINDER CRYSTAL — USE 2 OF 3]
Another set of wrong paths illuminated. Another clear path revealed. He pressed on.
The deeper he went, the more intense the energy became. It pressed against his skin, his bones, his soul. He could feel his own energy reserves fluctuating, his cultivation wavering.
[ENERGY DRAIN DETECTED]
[LOSS RATE: 1% PER MINUTE]
[TIME REMAINING: 100 MINUTES]
He had less than two hours to find the seal.
---
He used the crystal a third time.
[PATHFINDER CRYSTAL — USE 3 OF 3]
The final wrong paths illuminated, revealing a straight corridor leading to a chamber of pure light. At its center, floating on a pedestal of crystal, rested the second seal.
But between him and the seal stood the guardian.
[PRIMORDIAL ENERGY ELEMENTAL — ASSESSMENT]
· RACE: ELEMENTAL (PRIMORDIAL)
· CULTIVATION: LAW VENERABLE LEVEL 9
· LIFE GENES: 8500
· CONSCIOUSNESS LEVEL: STAGE 5 (THE BATTLEFIELD)
· ALCHEMIC LEVEL: MASTER (ENERGY CRAFTING)
· SPECIALTY: ABSOLUTE ENERGY CONTROL, ENERGY ABSORPTION, REALTY ANCHORING
· WEAKNESS: PHYSICAL ATTACKS (TAKE 2× DAMAGE), DESTRUCTION LAW (50% BONUS)
"You have come far, mortal," the elemental said, its voice the sound of a thousand suns. "But you cannot pass. The seal is not for the unworthy."
Kafu's golden threads emerged, woven with destruction energy from the Heart of Destruction. "I've been called many things. Unworthy isn't one of them."
They clashed.
---
The battle was unlike anything Kafu had experienced.
The elemental's attacks were pure energy—beams of light that could vaporize mountains, waves of power that could shatter planets. Kafu dodged, weaved, used his domain to shield himself, but every hit drained him further.
[ENERGY RESERVES: 50%]
He needed a new approach.
The Scorpion's Armory activated. The Yan Sen Staff transformed into its tenth form—Domain Sync—becoming an extension of his golden domain. The demon blades circled him, their edges gleaming with soul-absorption energy. The Heart of Destruction pulsed with dark light.
[SCORPION'S ARMORY — ACTIVE]
· [ALL ATTACKS +30%]
· [SOUL CONTROL +25%]
· [DOMAIN EFFECTIVENESS +50%]
He struck.
The elemental screamed as destruction energy tore through its form. The demon blades slashed at its essence, each cut absorbing a fraction of its power. The domain pressed down on it, slowing its movements, weakening its attacks.
[ENERGY RESERVES: 30%]
But the elemental was not defeated. It gathered itself, focusing all its remaining power into a single attack—a beam of light that could erase Kafu from existence.
Kafu had no time to dodge.
He activated Destruction's Binding.
[DESTRUCTION'S BINDING — ACTIVE]
· [EFFECT: CREATES AN UNBREAKABLE BOND BETWEEN USER AND TARGET]
· [DURATION: 1 HOUR]
· [SIDE EFFECT: USER TAKES 50% OF DAMAGE DEALT TO TARGET]
The bond formed. The elemental's attack hit Kafu—and half of it rebounded onto the elemental itself.
They both screamed.
Kafu fell to his knees, his energy at 10%. The elemental writhed, its form destabilizing.
"Yield," Kafu gasped. "Yield, and I won't destroy you."
The elemental stared at him with something like respect. "You... you are worthy."
It faded, its energy dispersing into the maze.
---
Kafu crawled to the pedestal and grasped the second seal.
[SEAL 2: ENERGY FLOW — ACQUIRED]
· [LIFE GENES: +83,223]
· [TOTAL BASE LIFE GENES: 229,446]
· [NEW ABILITY: ENERGY MASTERY — PERFECT ENERGY CONTROL, ENERGY ATTACKS +50%, ENERGY DEFENSE +50%]
· [NEW ABILITY: ENERGY ABSORPTION — CAN ABSORB ENERGY ATTACKS TO RESTORE OWN RESERVES]
Power flooded into him—not just life genes, but understanding. He could feel energy now in ways he never had before. Could see it flowing through everything—the walls, the air, his own body. Could touch it, shape it, command it.
[ENERGY MASTERY ACHIEVED]
· [LAW PROFICIENCY: GOLD 70% → 75%, FIRE 45% → 50%, DARKNESS 40% → 45%, DESTRUCTION 30% → 35%, CHAOS 15% → 20%]
· [NEW ENERGY-BASED TECHNIQUES UNLOCKED]
He collapsed, unconscious, as the maze dissolved around him.
---
He woke in his domain, Makena's face hovering above him.
"You're awake," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're awake."
"The seal," he croaked. "Did we get it?"
"We got it. You got it." She helped him sit up, and he saw his followers gathered around, their faces alight with relief and pride.
Seraphina stepped forward. "The elemental could have killed you. But you didn't just defeat it—you earned its respect. That's... unprecedented."
Kafu smiled weakly. "I had help."
"The armory?"
"Her." He looked at Makena. "Always her