CHAPTER 209: AWAKENING II

Ten higher worlds rule over the ten-star zones, splitting the dark galaxy. A higher world divides its star zones into star fields and puts a middle world in charge of them. Therefore, each starzone contains approximately 300-500 star fields, with each star field being predominantly populated by thousands of lower worlds.

While many characteristics divide a world into its classes, the most important difference is the amount of mana the world contains. A higher world contains enough mana to birth Yellow-core mages, a middle world could give rise to Orange-core mages, while a lower world could only support the existence of Red-core mages. That was the fundamental difference between the three classes.

The Elves claimed two higher worlds, showing their prestige as one of the mightiest higher races. The only race that could stand shoulder to shoulder with them were the werewolves who also had two star zones under their rule, at least until the vampires appeared a couple of decades ago out of nowhere. Due to the emergence of the vampires led by Scarlett, the Lunar World, a higher world fell into the hands of the vampires. Still, due to their low numbers, the vampires couldn't spread their influence across countless worlds and could only concentrate their power within a few notable middle worlds, ensuring thousands of lower worlds in their jurisdiction. Because of that, the starzone ruled by the vampires was still called the Lunar Star zone, as the werewolves still ruled the bulk majority of the worlds within it.

The humans with their high reproductive abilities could give birth to countless experts over the years, allowing them to compete with the higher races. Eventually, the humans rose to rule a star zone. However, if one were to ask who was the true ruler of the dark galaxy, no one would hesitate to mention the Asura race. With three star zones under their belt, the Asuras were the undisputed rulers of the dark galaxy, with their ancestors usually referred to as Mama at their helm.

No one knew the state of the two remaining starzones, as an unbreachable barrier that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere had separated them from the others even in the history books.

.....

Emperor Razor released Arlo as he quickly retreated with a ghastly look on his face.

Mana surged wildly from every direction, appearing as blue hues of energy as they congregated at Arlo's position.

As if an illusion, Arlo's wounds quickly disappeared, his broken bones snapping into their right positions before healing instantly. Surrounded by an immeasurable amount of mana, his body rose into the air before disappearing in their embrace.

While all this was taking place outside, Arlo's senses were fixed on the transformation occurring within his body. Out of nowhere, foreign objects appeared at the position of his navel. Small orbs that seemed to be bound by thick chains materialized, and upon further observation, Arlo noticed the saber marks that were imprinted on the entire length of the chain.

It didn't take Arlo a moment to realize what the chains were.

<< I can't stop it any longer...>>

As the sounds of Old Bro's grunts resounded within Arlo's mind, he saw cracks abruptly spread along the chains, and before Old Bro's words could even be completed, the chains shattered.

Then, something marvelous occurred.

The tens of orbs which Arlo now recognized to be cores suddenly sprung into action.

With the singular large core at the center, the smaller cores of the same size started revolving around it like planets around the sun. The revolution started slowly at first before it started gaining speed, and soon after, Arlo couldn't follow their movements.

With their untraceable movement, a nebula of energy giving a milky glow started to form as the mana surrounding Arlo was sucked into his body like water falling into a bottomless abyss.

<< The essence of reality...>> Old bro whispered with a melancholic tone, but Arlo was too distracted to hear his words.

BOOM...

Arlo couldn't see it, but the many cores revolving at his abdomen started losing their black colors. But he didn't need to see it as he could feel it.

He had broken into the beginner stage before he could even make head or tail about what was happening...

BOOM...

BOOM...

Sounds of explosions continued to resound within his body, as his cultivation rose at an unprecedented speed.

The cores within his body quickly lost their black colors as the impurities within them were expelled, turning them into colorless stars. Then, with a terrifying speed, the cores were slowly divided into different parts and it wasn't until each of them were separated into twelve holes that...

BOOOOOOOM...

An explosion that rocked the surrounding mana shook the ground, causing the army of corrupted to stagger.

The spinning colorless orbs suddenly seized their movements as if locked in space, allowing Arlo to see how in the proverbial blink of an eye, one part of the twelve wholes took on a red hue.

Red-core stage!

But the changes didn't end there.

Boom...

Boom...

With each lower boom, the red hue started spreading along each part, until the once colorless cores now appeared completely red.

BOOOOOM!

Another explosion rocked the ground, and this time, many of the corrupted fell uncontrollably to the ground. Emperor Razor was among the few who could remain standing without exerting much effort. However, the pale look on his face as he gazed at the sea of blue mana covering the skies revealed how deeply his inner mind was shaken.

Within the sea of mana...

Once again, the previously spinning cores abruptly stopped as a part of them slowly became tinged with the color orange.

Orange-core stage!

While the process was described as slow, that was only relative. To Arlo, he could see the cores change from red to orange slowly before they were being swallowed by the latter color, however, to those outside, there was no time interval between each explosion that shook their senses.

Boom...

Second-level Orange-core stage!

Boom...

Third-level Orange-core stage!

Boom...

Fourth-level...

Boom...

Fifth...

Boom...

The sounds of explosions seemed to combine into a cacophony of sounds that engulfed the world.

Quickly yet steadily, Arlo's cultivation advanced.

BOOOOOOOM!

This time, even Emperor Razor could not avoid staggering.

The cores stopped once again, as Arlo noticed a yellow tint on their surfaces.

Yellow core stage!

"Ah!"

A low moan unconsciously leaked from Arlo's mouth.

Now he understood why they called him a monster. This was simply...

...Too much.

While Arlo reveled in the transformation brought to his body by each breakthrough, the changes didn't show any intention of slowing down not to mention stopping.

Boom...

Boom...

Boom...

Boom...

...

After a short while that seemed to last for an eternity, Arlo finally opened his eyes, causing two blue beams to pierce through the sea of mana. At the same time, the explosion that had been shaking the surroundings finally came to a stop. It wasn't that the changes had stopped...

No!

Waves upon waves of mana were being continuously sucked into Arlo's body, however, no matter how his cores drew upon this mana, no other breakthrough occurred.

He seemed to have reached his limit.

'No...'

Rather than calling it his limit, Arlo felt like it was more appropriate to say he had hit a barrier, one that seemed unbreakable.

"Haa..." Arlo released a deep breath.

Still...

"Twelfth level yellow core stage!" Arlo clenched and unfolded his hands several times as he felt the terrifying power nestling within his small body.

However, the changes within his body were the least of his worries, as he moved his senses once again to his core.

The milky energy formed around the now slowly revolving cores filled Arlo's mind with an unknown emotion.

If put into words...

"I feel like I can control the world, no..."He trailed off, "...the entire universe."

From within the sea of mana, an inestimable amount of spiritual energy spread out in all directions, causing Emperor Razor to stiffen on the spot with an expression of horror.

It seemed his mana wasn't the only thing that had transformed with his awakening.

In less than ten breaths, Arlo felt his spiritual energy engulfing the whole Lunar world.

The central continent...

The four polar continents...

The minor world within which the Darkblood academy was situated. As his thoughts arrived here, Arlo noticed a few life signals flashing within the minor world.

"Thank goodness!" A look of relief flashed on his face.

A few vampires had still survived the invasion of the army of corrupted, and among them was an unconscious Stefan who seemed to be carried by Grim.

Even the other minor world hidden from the Lunar world didn't escape Arlo's senses.

"Rose..." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly to form a wry smile, as the sight of an unconscious girl with a beautiful blend of golden and green hair entered his vision.

Shaking his head slightly to force himself to focus on the more pressing matters, Arlo shifted his senses from the unconscious Rose to all the corrupted present within the Lunar world.

No matter their location...

Be it the abomination still clashing against the Vampire Lords, or the corrupted killing unrestrainedly as they continued their slaughter.

All of them entered Arlo's sight.

Then Arlo closed his eyes.

Sending his will to his lower abdomen, Arlo tugged at the small amount of milky essence produced along the paths of his core's revolution.

Fwoosh!

The sea of mana engulfing Arlo scattered like smoke in all directions as his eyes snapped open.

Now exposed to Emperor Razor and the army of corrupted before him, Arlo raised his right hand as he unleashed one of the dual innate talents he had acquired upon his awakening.

As he pulled his hand down as if swatting a fly, his voice reverberated across the four corners of the Lunar World.

"Dust to Dust. Ashes to Ashes!"