Hou Yi's Knowledge

"Modus, what is Strange Matter?" said Jingsung as he turned around to his immortal counterpart. Modus shifted his view to Hou Yi and said, "You should ask your retainer. Stars and what happens inside them is more of his speciality."

Jingsung raised a brow and looked at the quiet bald archer. The trio were currently observing the battle whilst talking. To Jingsung, controlling an Avatar and battling a mortal at the same time was as easy as breathing, so it did little to affect him.

"Ehem. As you know Master there are many forms of matter. From ordinary matter that makes up the visible universe through the five mortal senses, to dark matter to anti-matter and the like. Close to the core of Neutron stars, where the gravity, heat and pressure approach reach reality-warping levels, sub-atomic particles are broken down into quarks.

Stars live in a state of equilibrium between two forces: one of expansion, driven by powerful nuclear reactions in their interior, and another of compression, caused by gravity. When stars run out of fuel, the force of gravity gains the upper hand and the dying star begins to collapse in on itself. The compression is brutal. For a star like a sun of a lower world with a diameter of almost one and a half million kilometres, what remains after the death process is completed is a corpse barely the size of a small mortal city, only a dozen or so kilometres across, known as a neutron star.

The intense pressure pushes matter to the limit until it fractures. In the first phase, the compression becomes so great that there is no space left between atoms, which strain to resist the pressure that compresses the atoms until their nuclei are stuck together. In this process, almost all the electrons and positrons are converted into neutrons, leaving only an ultra-compact mass of neutrons.

The matter that makes up a neutron star is called neutronium, which is remarkable for its density. A glass of neutronium water would be as heavy as the whole of a mortal mountain as big as the one we are standing on. Because the star's gravity has compressed all the particles of a mountain into the volume of a cup of coffee. Neutronium can compete with tetragranium in terms of weight and density so I'm sure that you can imagine how serious it is.

Near the core of the neutron star, things get really strange haha. The pressure is so intense that not even neutrons are able to remain stable, at which point they break down into their fundamental elements —quarks— forming an ocean of subatomic particles. Under intense pressure, there is one type of quark that can stay stable: the strange quark. Grouped together they form strange matter, a perfectly dense, stable and literally indestructible material.

One of the most bizarre characteristics of strange matter is that it is contagious. When strange matter comes into contact with normal matter it generates more strange matter. Just like the tale of King Midas, everything it touches turns into strange matter. It is analogous to how fire operates in an enormous blaze; at a sufficient temperature the fire converts everything around it into fire, but on a quantum level."

Jingsung Ha was not an expert on such topics but he was very intelligent. He quickly processed the knowledge and said, "That doesn't sound like something an ordinary mortal would be able to handle, let alone produce. Is there even a technique for such a thing?"

"I can tell you with confidence, that no being in the mortal realm can wield or use strange matter at this time. The whole universe would be at risk of being converted, so the first system admins and I took measures. But geniuses have a habit of breaking convention hehe." Snickered Modus.

Ha quickly diverted his attention back to the task at hand

….

"I do indeed know of strange matter, why do you ask such nonsense? A mortal like you can't wield such power."

'A mortal like you? Doesn't he mean mortals like us?' A light of revelation flashed in his eyes as he got more excited.

'Seems like the Atlas Columns got daddy a pretty big fish.'

"You are right, it's beyond me. But still, doesn't it remain alluring? The most indestructible, stable and contagious type of matter in existence. Just imagine the possibilities.

Jingsung frowned and said, 'Where is this boy going with this?'

Will's breath started to pick up the pace and the glow in his eyes brightened. "I am trying as hard as I can to come up with something similar in terms of attributes, but you be the judge. You seem like you know your stuff."

Jingsung was about to tilt his head in confusion until a feeling he had not felt in a long time started to creep up from within. The problem was that it was not only Jingsung's Avatar that felt this, the feeling of danger approaching was even stronger for the immortal.

Jingsung focused on Will and saw the silvery light in the boy's eyes start to fluctuate a bit. The latter narrowed his eyes in undisturbed focus and gripped his sword tight. All this while Will had been sensing that within Jinsung is an incredible power, a power that inherently suppressed him, or rather that is how it was supposed to be. Instead, this small yet overwhelming power source within Ha felt oddly vulnerable to Will. The young man felt like a human holding a knife in front of a thin sheet of outstretched plastic.

Will felt like he could slice through that power slice like he was cutting butter with a hot knife. This feeling was so intense it roused Will's desire for battle and allowed him to overcome his fears. Will started to sense that there was something within him that could genuinely cause serious damage to Ha. Whatever it was, it was intoxicating.

….

"Young one of the Ha, pay close attention now. Remove all defences. Trust me you will enjoy this."

Jingsung Ha snorted but did as Modus was told. The primary objective was not to thrash the young man but to evaluate him. And Jingsung had every intention of doing that properly.