Void Evolution System

[World Core Fusion Reactor]

The machine's name was straightforward, but its use wasn't as much. To most, a device like this would have no uses whatsoever.

After all, to use a machine that essentially fused World Cores together, wouldn't one need multiple World Cores on hand?

But Lynn's idea was different. In fact, it was only because she understood the machine so perfectly that she was able to think of something so ingenious.

The World Core Fusion Reactor had two main abilities. The first was to consume World Cores, and the second was the fuse them together. As for the purpose of this fusion? Even Damien didn't know.

Actually, the World Core Fusion Reactor was something akin to a half-heavenly treasure.

Lynn Carter's people found the ominous red cube in the Outer Wilds during an expedition, and at that time, it didn't have the aura of a heavenly treasure yet. At most, it could be considered an embryo.

But to a researcher, a heavenly treasure embryo was actually far more valuable than its fully formed counterpart. After all, it wasn't every day one was able to research the creation of natural treasures spawned by the universe itself.

However, understanding the cube was a far more daunting task than they ever imagined. It was only after Lynn personally took several months to experiment with it did she understand its qualities.

To consume World Force, this was the ability the cube had when it was still in embryo form. If it was given time to grow, perhaps it truly would've become a World Devourer.

But Lynn's team caught it before it developed a consciousness, turning it into a piece of machinery instead of a treasure.

It took many years to say the least. Lynn didn't mention exactly how long, but Damien could imagine the grueling process it was to turn a heavenly treasure embryo into its complete form using human hands, and even enhancing it.

As he gazed at the mysterious red cube for longer and longer, a thought suddenly appeared in his mind.

Just who was Lynn Carter?

The World Core Fusion Reactor already surpassed the bounds of what Niflheim could do. Even if they had powerful strength and minds, they simply didn't have wide enough perspectives to invent machines like this one.

It was their fate for being trapped in this unnamed world, and the greater Sector 3, for their whole lives.

But Lynn was different. She'd left Niflheim multiple times, though under strict surveillance, and she'd experienced far more.

It wasn't strange for her to have obtained a fortuitous encounter on one of her journeys, allowing her to create something like this.

But even then, why did she lead him here?

Obviously, the World Core Fusion Reactor would be far more useful to Damien than to anyone else.

To use the machine with Lynn's method was to destroy worlds and steal their World Cores. Even disregarding the inhumanity of such actions, they were entirely impractical.

But Damien was different. He was a Celestial. If he use his intrinsic connection with the World Cores simultaneously with the machine, he'd be able to fuse the World Cores without truly fusing them.

Essentially, it was like having one mind but multiple bodies. This would increase the efficiency and utility of his power as a Celestial exponentially.

But how did Lynn know? And if she didn't know, why did she lead him here?

The character known as Lynn Carter was shrouded in a veil of mystery. Her personality was cold and blunt, but her eyes carried an infinite amount of wisdom that didn't match her being.

In the 2 months Damien spent with Lynn before he went to Shadow Garden, he already understood that this woman wasn't simple, but he didn't realize just how deep her depths were.

After all, this entire massive facility belonged solely to Lynn. Everyone working within was working for her. And more than that, from what Damien could infer, she had a relatively tight grasp on Avalon as a whole.

'But...even if she's dangerous, at the moment, we're using each other. This kind of relationship is actually the most trustworthy, at least until our goals begin to conflict.'

He could only assume Lynn's goals, but if she showed him something as important as the World Core Fusion Reactor, she naturally viewed him as an ally for now.

Only...

'I hope you don't regret underestimating me in the future.' Damien grinned wildly. His body flashed, appearing in the tube next to the floating red cube. And in the next instant, he grabbed it and pushed it into his chest.

The red cube turned into a liquid-like substance that sunk into Damien's chest, entering his heart and circulating through his blood. Everywhere the red liquid passed, Damien's body was lit on fire both literally and figuratively. He was forced to endure an unimaginable level of pain.

Was his current action idiotic? Absolutely. But Damien felt like he could do it. It wasn't just confidence in himself, but confidence in his status as a Celestial.

Besides, Lynn Carter clearly showed him the magic cube to tempt him, thinking that with his current ability, he wouldn't be able to claim it. It was impossible for her to give him such a treasure as a mere downpayment.

Therefore, he would consume it. He would make the World Core Fusion Reactor a part of his strength and grow to a level where he could walk unhindered.

But before that...

Alarms blared through the underground workshop. A plethora of scientists and craftsmen panicked as they saw Damien's figure in the central tube, submerged in eerie red liquid.

But what were they supposed to do?

They were already weak in combat because they focused on secondary professions and only leveled up on the side. How were they supposed to contend with someone like Damien?

However, before their panic could become too prevalent, the alarms stopped blaring. A deep voice echoed through the large workshop.

"Leave him. This is all by the will of our master."

Those words were magical. The budding panic was suppressed just as quickly as it appeared, those researchers and craftsmen returning to their jobs as if nothing happened.

Their master was absolute. They didn't know who she was, but anything she planned was far out of their ability to comprehend. Instead of trying, it was better to simply focus on what they were best at.

And so, Damien was able to put his entire focus into absorbing the World Core Fusion Reactor. He could already tell from just the initial phases...this process would not be a short one at all.

***

Somewhere else in the unnamed world, a woman sat calmly at a small glass table overlooking the entire world. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this place was an immortal abode.

As she sat in silence, an old man approached from behind. The woman didn't acknowledge his presence even when he sat down next to her.

"Are things going as you wished for them to?" The old man asked with a smile.

The woman remained expressionless as she answered. "Not in the slightest."

"Hahahaha!" The old man laughed rambunctiously. "This is why I enjoy watching these adventures. It's always fun to see these unexpected events play out."

The woman finally looked over at the old man. "Are you mocking my hard work?"

Her aura didn't waver, flaring out immensely even though she knew she couldn't harm a hair on this old man's head.

But the old man simply brushed off her aura and shook his head. "Isn't my presence enough of an answer? Regardless, fate is truly a strange thing."

The woman looked down upon the world. For some reason, she felt oddly lonely in that moment.

"Mm, fate truly is a strange thing."

With her words falling, the strange duo descended into silence. It was unknown when they'd finally speak again.