The Monarch-Chapter 562: Ten rays

The universal balance was shifting as techniques and powers were blended, and the inevitability of war became central to all events. Death became a common occurrence. Ninth-realm mages, once revered as powerful beings, were now mere pawns in a much larger scheme. These mages, who once stood at the pinnacle of mortal power, were deployed freely in battle, their deaths regarded as collateral damage. The loss of ninth-realm mages no longer carried the weight it once did; they had become cannon fodder in the grand orchestration of universal conflict.

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In the end, the universe underwent a profound transformation. Zones began to overlap and merge randomly, leading to the creation of an enormous central area where two zones labeled "21" combined into a massive space at the universe’s core. The legendary law stones, which had hovered above the cosmos for millennia, finally ceased their ethereal dance, having fulfilled their mysterious purpose. Their departure heralded a new era, marked by the emergence of a tenth-realm mage—hidden by Netero, one of the universe’s secretive demigods. This mage was a secret weapon, a figure whose potential terrified even the bravest. Should this mage ascend to the status of a ten-ray demigod, the universe would witness the birth of a true king.

But this hidden mage was not the only one to reach new heights. Countless other mages rose to unprecedented levels of power, many becoming new demigods. These individuals, wielding laws extracted from the stones, started their ascension from points far beyond what was once imaginable. Their strength defied expectations, and over the course of tens of millions of years, they climbed to the pinnacle of society, claiming positions once held by ancient, monstrous entities.

In contrast, the Frozen Universe displayed minimal progress. Its conflicts were weaker than those seen in other regions, and its resurgence was negligible. Growth, when it occurred, was largely individual and sporadic. Among those who achieved notable growth was Matheus, one of the most remarkable mages of this era.

Matheus followed the path of the "false gods," elevating his understanding and strength to a new level. He could not reach the coveted status of a ten-ray mage, but he stood firmly at the absolute peak of the ninth realm, on the verge of transcending his current state. Yet, intriguingly, Matheus’s destiny was not to become a god. He was on the brink of something entirely uncharted, a realm that had yet to be named. It was only a matter of time before he reemerged as a transformative force in the universe. What drove him forward, above all else, was the lingering fear of Kayden’s promise—something Kayden himself had long forgotten but which remained deeply ingrained in Matheus’s psyche.

In truth, this war was a typical conflict, one that devastated mortal populations the most. Kayden, however, was unfazed by its developments or outcomes. The petty squabbles of lesser beings no longer held any relevance for him. His strength had ascended to a realm where only the universe’s mightiest forces could pose a threat—and those forces had no interest in senselessly opposing him.

And then, the moment arrived.

"Finally," Kayden whispered, a mix of relief and triumph coloring his voice as he felt the complete understanding of the Law of Balance crystallize in his mind. In that instant, the full dominion of the law opened itself to him. Kayden, in just over a hundred million years—a mere blink in cosmic terms—had mastered an entire universal law, one of the hundred known across existence.

Kayden’s talent was unparalleled. Across the vast stretches of the universe, he was the only being to possess a perfect soul, a rarity that had not been seen in all of creation. What should have taken tens of billions of years had been achieved in an astonishingly short period. While others might have been overwhelmed by pride or joy at such an accomplishment, Kayden merely felt relieved. For he knew this was only the beginning. The true challenge—the comprehension of the Fundamental Law of Balance—lay ahead, an obstacle that dwarfed even his current feat.

The difference was monumental. As the full essence of the Law of Balance entered his consciousness, Kayden once again felt like a mere frog at the bottom of an endless well. His perception expanded, merging with the universe around him. He became acutely aware of the beauty and omnipresence of the law he had mastered. It was present in every moment, every breath of existence.

Kayden’s understanding deepened. He could see the law’s influence in the grand and the minute. Stars, those colossal cosmic furnaces, burned in a perfect dance of creation and destruction, their energy sustaining entire systems in a delicate balance. Galaxies swirled with silent purpose, their arms adjusting in harmony to maintain order amidst chaos. Even black holes, with their voracious gravitational pull, served as instruments of balance, absorbing excesses and allowing the universe to reshape itself continuously.

In the smallest details, Kayden saw the same principles at work. A butterfly, fragile and fleeting, flapped its wings not merely to fly but to send ripples through its environment, influencing everything around it. Rivers carved their paths through the land, nurturing ecosystems with an innate understanding of balance. Mountains stood as silent sentinels, their peaks and valleys shaping winds and weather. Even magic itself, from the grandest invocations to the simplest enchantments, obeyed this invisible harmony that few could comprehend.

For Kayden, it was clear: the universe was not a chaotic assembly of random forces. Everything was connected by an unseen thread, a tapestry woven with precision and purpose. Each detail, no matter how small, contributed to the grand design.

And most importantly...

"Finally," Kayden muttered, now in the remotest corner of his zone. He was preparing to ascend realms once more. This time, he believed achieving ten rays would be far easier than before.

The heavens responded to Kayden’s presence. In an instant, the weight of the ten-ray challenge spread across the universe. Within moments, the sheer intensity of Kayden’s aura began to draw mages from every corner. Even from other zones, powerful individuals shattered their most prized teleportation treasures to witness the spectacle.

Nobody fully understood why they felt compelled to be there, but Kayden’s aura was irresistible, like honey to the starving. It was an unspoken intuition—this event would be one of the greatest of their lives. Even the gods were paying attention.

Though they hailed from another universe, these gods had their ways of observing and lightly intervening in this realm. During Kayden’s first ascension, only a handful had taken notice. But now, his reputation had soared to unimaginable heights, even in their domain. Thousands of deities now bore witness to this pivotal moment.