David opened his eyes, finding himself back beside Albert.
"Using both sword and spear to create opportunities for long-range strikes is only effective against weaker opponents, or if you have overwhelming experience," Albert stated. "Against a superior foe, you will never get the chance. First, master a single weapon. Trying to consume everything at once yields poor results. Choose the spear or the sword, and wield it until it feels like an extension of your own body."
David met his gaze. "I chose the spear."
"Good. Set the sword aside for now. We will begin with a spear martial art known as the 'Spear of Destruction.' It is a foundational art designed to maximize the weapon's potential. Once your style matures, you may create your own arts, even blending weapons. For now, baby steps. Your routine will alternate: three months in the virtual arena, three months tempering in the blood pond."
David immersed himself in the grueling practice. The secret realm settled into a silent rhythm.
Two years later.
A sudden tremor shook the realm's fabric. Albert appeared instantly by the blood pond. David floated above it, his body radiating a profound, terrifying aura. A law was manifesting around him—one so rare Albert took a moment to recognize it.
"The Law of Destruction… a Supreme Law," Albert murmured, a flicker of awe in his eyes. "Just as the lord foresaw. Once cultivated to its potential, it will be of great aid. He is our greatest hope. We must be patient; greater surprises may yet come."
As the enlightenment intensified, a second phenomenon erupted. Spatial distortions shimmered around David's form.
The Law of Space? Albert was truly shocked now. Two Supreme Laws, awakening in one person simultaneously? He watched with redoubled anticipation.
Within his trance, David, fully immersed in the Law of Destruction, suddenly felt a second power awaken from the depths of his soul—the Law of Space, as if it had been branded there since birth. He didn't question it. This was a rare gift from the universe; his only task was to absorb as much as he could.
When the cosmic movement finally ceased, Albert appeared before him. "What did you gain? Did a law diagram manifest?"
David assessed himself. His realm had broken through to the Universe Level. "I could have absorbed more, but I did receive a diagram… a Chaos Law Diagram."
"That is more than acceptable. Now you must use that diagram as your guide. Come, let us enter the Monument Room. Activate the diagram there to see which specific laws you must comprehend."
It was David's first time entering the hallowed room. He knew the Human Alliance headquarters housed similar monuments, accessible only to the absolute elite—like his mother and sister. The thought was a bitter pinprick. He shook his head, forcing himself back to the present.
The room hummed with palpable energy. Three thousand laws, from the most inferior to the supreme, resonated within it.
"Before you meditate, release all pressure and fatigue. Do not be distracted," Albert instructed. "Here, you may follow your Chaos Diagram, but do not resist comprehending other laws; they may prove useful. You will also find movement techniques here, such as 'Spatial Flow,' which utilizes the Law of Space for speed and can form spatial blades, depending on your comprehension. Your Spear of Destruction art will likewise deepen with your understanding of its corresponding law."
Centering himself, David approached the central monument and activated his Chaos Diagram. Knowledge flooded him: he needed to master 108 law patterns. The first 33 were tied to Space Law, while the later ones hinted at the pinnacle—Time Law. His Law of Destruction manifested as a singular, complex map-like pattern that intriguingly incorporated aspects of Space Law.
And so, David's life fell into a triad: combat in the virtual arena, tempering in the blood, and law comprehension before the monument.
Five years passed.
David, now 20 years old, sat at the dining table. Seven years had flowed since he first arrived in this realm. He was now a 9th-Level Domain Realm warrior, a single step from the World Master realm. His bloodline gene level had soared to a terrifying 9,000; below the Immortal realm, few could pose a threat.
In his laws, he had comprehended 10 patterns of Space Law—a staggering feat in five years—and 2 core patterns of the Law of Destruction. His mastery of Spatial Flow allowed him to move in the blink of an eye across short distances. He could now create small, lethal shards of spatial force, though it drained him immensely. The Spear of Destruction, enhanced by the two patterns, now carried an aura of absolute annihilation and had serendipitously led him to grasp the Law of Darkness, useful for both attack and concealment.
Albert's voice broke his reflection. "It is time to leave. Staying here grants strength, but not wisdom. True power is forged under pressure, in understanding the core meaning of life and death. You will go to a battlefield where different races fight for survival. You will learn whom to trust. My role now is only to protect you in absolute life-or-death situations. I must also replenish my diminished strength, so do not wake me lightly.
"The secret realm has bonded with you through the blood refinement. It can reside within your body, a sanctuary you can enter if in mortal peril. Prepare yourself mentally.
"As for your past… your appearance has changed over seven years. Use a different name. Your blood was drained and soul transformed, so blood intuition tracking will fail. If a problem arises, I will sense it."
Anxiety initially clenched David's heart at the thought of facing the outside world, but Albert's assurances brought calm. He began his practical preparations.
He sorted through his mountain of space rings. First, he selected an S-Grade spaceship—opulent enough to signify a powerful background and deter petty trouble, but not as eye-catching as an SSS-Grade vessel, which would only attract lethal greed. He chose a dark, triangular ship, unused and unmarked, and imprinted his soul upon it.
For armor, he selected an A-Grade set. S-Grade and above required more power than he could consistently channel at the Domain Realm. The dark armor with red stripes flowed over his body as he willed it, perfect and unobtrusive.
Finally, he gathered the unmarked universal bank cards. They were his lifeline—the means to travel and operate without having to barter his hard-won treasures from the realm. With resources, armor, and a ship ready, David stood at the threshold of a new, uncertain chapter.