The scene before Gilbert defied his understanding. Was this magic? No, something had definitely embedded itself within his body just now.
He could feel it; an inexplicable sensation was awakening.
Though alarmed, Gilbert remained calm, protecting his younger brother and sister, questioning Mei: "What did you do to me?"
"You'll know soon enough."
With that, Mei directly opened the door and walked out. Only then did Gilbert breathe a sigh of relief. His younger siblings immediately rushed to him anxiously: "Brother Gilbert, who was that person? They looked so scary..."
"Brother, are you okay?!"
Gilbert shook his head. "I'm fine."
He went outside the door but couldn't see Mei's figure. He was truly bewildered. He didn't know who Mei was, nor her reasons for doing what she did.
Also, what exactly had she done to him?
For a period afterward, Gilbert continued to play the role of a thief, as always. This was his way of survival. Becoming a laborer meant a slow death, being crushed into an unrecognizable, soulless husk.
Stealing was better.
Gilbert had full confidence in his abilities. To this day, he had never been caught by anyone, and he had a reputation in the nearby streets. From that day on, he remained vigilant, constantly alert, not knowing when Mei would reappear. But after that day, Mei never sought him out again.
Gilbert still didn't understand the meaning of Mei's actions that day.
Until half a month later, under the stimulation of the Subjective Aspect, driven by his subconscious thoughts, Gilbert's subjective power finally fully awakened.
Ambush and Stealth.
These were the characteristics of Gilbert's awakened subjective power. The awakening characteristics of subjective power were strongly linked to the individual's subconscious and beliefs.
As a thief, ambush and stealth were Gilbert's instincts. How powerful he could become after awakening subjective power depended solely on Gilbert himself.
Subjective power's strength was solely linked to an individual's willpower and beliefs. Sometimes, people would only break through the limits of these two when their emotions were extremely agitated.
Hatred.
Rage.
Despair.
These could all become triggers for a breakthrough in one's subjective power. Once the host's level broke through, the Subjective Aspect could leverage the host's power to elevate its own level.
Both benefited!
"Where is he? Where did he go?"
"I clearly saw him run this way!"
"Keep looking!"
A crowd of people shouted and ran past, completely oblivious to Gilbert, who was lying in ambush in the shadows. His presence and aura had been suppressed.
"They really didn't see me?"
Gilbert felt somewhat incredible. This wasn't a matter of technique but entering the realm of the mystical and supernatural.
"Your talent is quite poor, otherwise you would be stronger after awakening."
Mei calmly stated a fact, with no trace of mockery. However, her sudden opening startled Gilbert.
"Who?"
Gilbert suddenly turned around, recognizing Mei. "It's you!"
Seeing Mei again, his vigilance was mixed with even more apprehension. Someone capable of granting him such power must possess even greater strength.
He pressed Mei: "What exactly is your purpose?"
Mei had no interest in explaining anything to Gilbert. She merely said, "You just need to become as strong as possible. As for what you do, I have no interest in your freedom."
Transcendent.
Confident.
Indifferent.
These were Gilbert's impressions of Mei during their two encounters. Even the high-ranking nobles had never given him such an impression. It was indescribable.
Like a god observing the mundane world.
Gilbert was born rebellious. Facing Mei's disregard, a glint of defiance flashed in his eyes: "Become as strong as possible? Aren't you afraid I'll become stronger than you?"
Hearing this, Mei was pleased with Gilbert's evident talent. Gilbert had no idea the weight of his words; it was a weight that this world could not bear.
She smiled. "Rather, that's what I hope for."
The stronger Gilbert became, the higher the Subjective Aspect's level would be. If possible, Mei hoped Gilbert could break through to Tier 10. That way, when Mei retrieved the Subjective Aspect, she could also instantly jump to Tier 10.
Unfortunately, such a possibility didn't exist.
After a moment of silence, Gilbert attempted to gauge Mei's strength.
"How strong are you?"
"If you want to know, confirm it yourself."
Mei was always elusive. Gilbert still wanted to ask more questions, but the person in front of him was already gone. He glanced around, confirming no one was following before returning home.
Unexpectedly, as he reached his doorstep, Gilbert smelled blood. He was instantly alarmed and hastily pushed open the door, only to see his younger brother covered in gruesome, bleeding wounds.
His younger sister, tears streaming down her face, rummaged through drawers and cupboards. Seeing Gilbert return, she could no longer hold back her sobs: "Brother, Schaller was tricked by someone into the lord's dogfighting arena and was bitten and injured by the fighting dogs!"
Gilbert hastily embraced Schaller, his stern face showing no panic. "First, take Schaller for treatment. We'll talk about the rest later..."
His younger sister cried louder, holding out a few copper coins in her outstretched hands: "We don't have enough money. The doctor won't treat Schaller. I wanted to use those silver items as payment, but the doctor ran away after seeing them."
Blood dripped from Schaller's wounds. Gilbert fell silent.
"..."
At that moment, Schaller, in a dying gasp, opened his eyes, releasing his tightly clutched right hand. Inside were two blood-stained copper coins. His fading eyes gradually dimmed.
"Brother Gilbert, they lied to me. They clearly said it was five copper coins..."
"Yes."
Gilbert affirmed, and regardless of money, he rushed out with Schaller in his arms. But by the time he brought Schaller to the doctor, Schaller had already stopped breathing.
Dusk.
Gilbert sat on a dim chair, his face grim. His clothes were stained with blood. In his hand, he repeatedly turned over the two copper coins Schaller had given him.
In the quiet silence, killing intent surged.
An incredibly intense emotion, like an untamed horse, recklessly shattered its shackles. Gilbert's power surged wildly, almost in a matter of short breaths, pushing his strength into a completely new, powerful realm. He didn't even notice.
The dark night seemed to be stained with blood-ink, emanating the smell of blood. The blood-stained coins fell into his pocket. Gilbert drew his dagger and vanished into the night.
At the same time,
[Upgrade Task 1·Completed]
[Acquired: Transfinite Fusion 1]
[Transfinite Fusion uses: 1]
...
Clink-clank.
A shabbily dressed old man weighed the money pouch in his hand. The heavy copper coins made a satisfying sound, gladdening his heart.
"Heh heh, my luck's not bad today. Another silly brat got tricked."
The old man was delighted, a smile he couldn't suppress on his face. He had been in this line of work for many years. Everyone who knew him knew he was a heartless swindler, and only children still fell for his tricks.
Didn't he know what a dogfighting arena was? It was a place of entertainment for nobles, who loved to watch commoners torn apart by rabid dogs.
Even though the old man was also a commoner in the nobles' eyes, he didn't care. As long as he made money, he couldn't care less about the lives or deaths of those kids.
As for revenge, he'd rather worry about having money to eat tomorrow. He was old, unable to do hard work, and if he didn't swindle, he'd starve.
Thinking of how that foolish boy had followed him to the dogfighting arena, the old man shook his head: "Haha, he's probably dead by now."
The candlelight flickered dimly.
Unmoved by wind, it wavered.
Just as the old man was about to hide his money, a hand appeared from behind him without warning, covering his mouth. Gilbert's expression was icy. He decisively used his dagger to cut the old man's throat.
"Ugh...!!!"
The old man was terrified. Gilbert released his grip, allowing the man to collapse to the ground, clutching his spurting throat, only able to emit garbled sounds.
Gilbert coldly watched the old man transition from struggling to completely stopping breathing, then his figure silently vanished into the shadows.
The moonlight was hazy.
Gilbert walked with steady steps through the darkness, stealthily heading toward the lord's mansion. Unbridled killing intent bloomed in the night.
After midnight,
"Ah!!!"
A terrified scream echoed through the lord's mansion. A servant on night patrol discovered the lord brutally murdered in his study. The entire mansion was instantly alarmed.
"The lord has been murdered!"
"There's an assassin!!!"
"Quick, summon the knights and guards!!"
The once quiet mansion became a scene of chaos. What was terrifying was that events unfolded beyond everyone's expectations. Soon, the alarmed knights discovered that the lord's wife and his children were also being attacked.
It was initially thought the assassin's target was only the lord, but his target was the entire family. Most unbelievably, the assailant was still lurking within the walls.
"Find him!!"
The knights and guards were nearly insane. With a noble murdered, their failure to protect him could lead to severe punishment. They frantically scoured the mansion for Gilbert.
The assassin was not good at direct confrontation and was no match for a knight. As long as he was found, he would never escape. The knights' reasoning was sound.
However, their opponent this time was no ordinary person.
A knight, leading his men, rushed through a dark corridor. As he stepped into a corner, he was caught off guard and had his throat slit by a dagger.
BOOM! He hit the floor, dead on the spot.
If not in active battle, a knight wouldn't wear full plate armor. As long as a vital spot was exposed, Gilbert could deliver a fatal blow.
The guards witnessed this, terrified. They rushed forward to surround the area, but they couldn't find the assassin's figure at all.
"Where is he?"
The guards exchanged glances, their blood running cold. An assassin who could kill a knight right before their eyes left them helpless. If this continued, they would all eventually have their throats slit.
The mansion was in chaos, filled with soldiers. No one noticed a fair-haired, blue-eyed young boy quietly slipping out of a secret door, his face filled with terror as he ran.
The boy suppressed his fear and tears, running while looking back to see if the assassin was chasing him. In his panic, he bumped into someone and fell to the ground.
In that instant, the young boy's heart suddenly constricted. Pale with fear, he looked up. Under the hazy moonlight, enveloped in shadows, he saw an indifferent man standing before him.
The assassin?!
The boy's face was ashen, trembling uncontrollably.
However, to his surprise, the man merely gave him a fleeting glance and walked back into the mansion. The young boy, recovering, was overjoyed and fled into the night.
As Mei had said, she only granted Gilbert power. She didn't care how he used it, nor was she so bored as to manipulate Gilbert's fate.
To be honest,
Gilbert was far from having that qualification.
Whether it was Gilbert's bloody rampage or the miraculous escape of the lord's offspring, she remained uninvolved. She was simply an observer.
The blood was still warm. Mei walked through the red pools as if entering an empty space, leaving no trace. The blood rippled, and the mansion fell completely silent.
...
The lord's great hall.
The knights' and guards' blood stained the ground red. Gilbert stood silently, dagger in hand. Blood for blood—how others judged it was their concern. He only wanted to slaughter every noble in this house.
He watched the blood dripping from his blade. He hadn't expected this power to be stronger than he imagined. Ordinary people had no chance to resist him.
Mei slowly approached.
"How is it? This power that allows you to exact blood for blood—it's not bad, is it? So-called authority and money are like paper before absolute strength, utterly unable to withstand a single blow."
Gilbert had grown accustomed to Mei's elusive appearances. He asked her, "Who exactly are you? A god?"
A god?
Mei smiled but didn't speak.
Schaller's death had ignited an unprecedented killing intent in Gilbert. It was this intense emotion that allowed him to break through his limits and step into Tier 1.
Compared to his former self, an ordinary person, Gilbert deeply felt the immense difference. He couldn't imagine how strong he could become by continuing to break through.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just passing time, watching."
Mei didn't ask what Gilbert intended to do next. She could clearly see Gilbert's past and future trajectory, and she wouldn't exert any external influence.
If Gilbert died, she would simply find another host. Mei had plenty of time; whether it was wasted or not depended entirely on her mood.
...
In the darkness,
An uninvited guest stepped onto the Berkeley autonomous territory. It was a woman with long, wine-red hair, tall and slender, with a dazzlingly beautiful face, like fire, yet also like a thorny crimson rose.
A gentle breeze swept past.
A captivating smile instantly bloomed on Sylvia's face.
"The smell of blood."
With that, she looked toward the direction of the Berkeley lord's mansion.
...
After the bloody night,
Mei focused her attention on Transfinite Fusion. Gilbert's breakthrough to Tier 1 meant Mei had completed one Upgrade Task and gained one Transfinite Fusion opportunity.
She pondered for a moment.
She decided to try fusing [Limit Break] and [Super Burst] first.
[Ability: Limit Break]
[Level: LV10]
[Description: Duration 60 minutes. Consumes 1 day of future power to briefly break limits and jump to a higher Grade. Unfortunately, it can only break through to Tier 7 at maximum; otherwise, its value would far exceed this.]
——
[Ability: Super Burst]
[Level: LV24.6]
[Description: Concentrates all power, unleashing an attack capable of instantly destroying and obliterating all existences below Tier 8. Only Tier 8 or higher can stop it.]
These two abilities were highly practical, but as Mei's level grew higher, they had long since become less effective. She could use them to test the effect of Transfinite Fusion.
——
[Transfinite Fusion · Commencing ⬆]
BOOM!
Two clusters of light appeared in Mei's hand. The Limit Break and Super Burst abilities peeled away from Mei's body, manifesting before her.
As the fusion began, the two clusters of light instantly merged, becoming one, then erupted with powerful energy fluctuations. The intense power stirred Spacetime, confined entirely around Mei.
Logically, the result of Transfinite Fusion should not be inferior to the original strength and effect of either fused component, yielding a higher-quality fused product. That was the meaning of Transfinite Fusion's description.
But what exactly would be fused out, Mei was truly curious. Soon, the agitated energy stabilized, and the light cluster directly plunged into Mei's body.
[Transfinite Fusion · Completed]
[Acquired: Vermillion Crown]
[Ability: Vermillion Crown]
[Level: LV25]
[Description: Duration 120 minutes. Briefly possesses the form of the Crown of All Kings, surpassing current power levels. A full-power attack cannot be stopped by anything below or equal to Tier 8.]
"Acceptable."
The overall effect was roughly to combine the two abilities and then elevate their original strength by one level, acting as an enhanced version.
Most importantly, this fused ability could still be fused with other powers in the future. What its final form would become was difficult to imagine.
Seeing the result of Transfinite Fusion, Mei could now confidently fuse her other abilities. At least, it wouldn't deviate too severely, and the strength was guaranteed.
...
Gilbert had purged the Berkeley autonomous territory, yet in his subsequent life, he continued to linger in the lower strata, harboring no ambition for grand schemes.
After spending a few days becoming the de facto controller of the slums, he was content, ignoring the chaos in the inner city and the Berkeley autonomous territory.
Ordinary people couldn't predict the future, nor could they escape the perceptions and horizons shaped by their upbringing and era.
At least, Gilbert believed he could live quite well that way. If he had ambition, perhaps he would attempt to take control of the Berkeley autonomous territory, but he only wanted to protect his family.
Schaller was dead.
He now only had his younger sister.
Gilbert believed his current strength was enough to protect his sister, so he was content with the status quo. In reality, it was far from enough. He thought Mei was an exception, but he didn't know there were too many exceptions.
Mei wasn't the only one who had descended upon this continent.
"Boss, how about these goods?"
"These were all high-end items exclusively for nobles!"
His subordinate brought some high-end goods for Gilbert to inspect. Gilbert was now the controller of the slums, overseeing most of the grey market businesses there.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the Berkeley autonomous territory, his subordinates had acquired quite a few good items. Gilbert glanced at them casually, then nodded.
"Handle these according to your usual channels."
"Alright."
"Boss, this is the money from those goods two days ago."
"Put it down."
A subordinate placed a pouch of money, revealing the silver inside. Gilbert looked at the pouch of silver coins on the table, silently. This sum, for ordinary people in the slums, would probably take a lifetime to save.
Several subordinates quietly left the room, closing the door behind them. But no sooner had they stepped out than they were sent flying back, the wooden door shattering.
CRASH!
In an instant, a dagger appeared in Gilbert's hand. He stared at the beautiful woman with long, wine-red hair who walked through the doorway.
"Tsk."
Sylvia appraised Gilbert, a hint of disdain in her expression. She shook her head. "To wallow in a place like this, acting like a thug, you're truly lacking ambition."
Gilbert was on extreme alert. He felt an incredibly dangerous aura from this woman. Just her gaze put immense pressure on him.
Besides that person, there was another powerhouse like this?
Gilbert finally realized this point.
He spoke concisely.
"What do you want?"
Sylvia liked to be direct. She smiled and stated her intention: "Tell me, where is the person who granted you this power?"
This planet was a Tier 3 mission battlefield. Any Grand Traveler descending would be at least a Tier 3 powerhouse. Gilbert, a Tier 1 nobody, clearly couldn't be a Space Grand Traveler.
Sylvia's luck wasn't bad. Her intuition told her that the many who descended upon the Berkeley autonomous territory were likely Hyperdimensional Space's "useless old men."
It was a good opportunity to earn some points.
Clearly, Sylvia was a Transcender, a Grand Traveler of Transcendent Space.
Gilbert's expression was indifferent.
"I don't seem to have a reason to tell you..."
SWISH!
BOOM!!
The instant Gilbert's words fell, a wine-red afterimage flashed and disappeared before his eyes. An oppressive sensation and killing intent, strong enough to suffocate, erupted. He couldn't help but shiver.
Before Gilbert could react by brandishing his dagger, a vicious sword light had already torn through the air, severing Gilbert's dagger. The residual power transformed into a massive, invisible slash, directly destroying the wall behind him, splitting the entire street in two.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant.
A cold longsword rested against his neck. Gilbert's pupils constricted violently. He looked at the terrifying slash behind him, his expression one of disbelief.
Sylvia's tone was icy.
"I don't have the patience for too much nonsense from you. Is that reason enough? If it were someone skilled in mental control, they wouldn't be as easy to talk to as I am. You should be grateful I haven't cut off your limbs. Now, tell me, where is he?"
She was a pure Battlemage, a magic warrior. All her abilities were focused on combat and physique. Her destructive power was extremely formidable, but conversely, she had almost no abilities in mental control or information gathering.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be so troublesome.