In truth, there was no need to even try these two moves.
Celestial Comet Wall was a defensive skill elevated from the Dominion of Preservation. When cast on a single target (oneself), it granted a state of absolute "pseudo-invincibility." It sounds strange, but simply put, this move forcibly reduced all incoming damage, regardless of type, to a mere "1 point."
It had no cooldown. Its duration was measured by the user's consumption of Imaginary energy.
When this move was unleashed as a "large-scale skill," it required an extremely long charge time (similar to the Star-Annihilating Cannon) to construct a spherical, semi-permanent defensive belt at a distance no greater than the range of a "star system (the Solar System)." Any attack with a single-instance energy consumption less than that of the Celestial Comet Wall would be unable to penetrate its defense (though the energy would still be consumed).
This was a defensive measure that concerned an entire civilization, its "inspiration" drawn directly from "Qlipoth" of Preservation's Subspace Crystal Wall.
Galactic Silence, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of Celestial Comet Wall; the relationship between the two was one of mutual contradiction.
Although Lu Xing couldn't use it, he could still perform the preliminary step of "locking on." He tried aiming at the sun...
The effect was outstanding!
The Star-Annihilating Cannon, which would have previously taken a thousand years to shatter the sun, could now, if launched as Galactic Silence, have that time compressed to a mere 24 hours, by this egg's reckoning.
Sigh.
Having digested so much information, Lu Xing let out his second sigh in the void.
There were too many flashy things, but unfortunately, he couldn't try any of them. The only proper skills Lu Xing could use, besides Root Regression, were Divine Link.
This skill could expand Lu Xing's perceptual range to all territories reached by his Retainers, ignoring the constraints of time and space.
Simply put, whatever his Retainers perceived, the Monarch could obtain that information if he so wished.
It was perfect for eaves... ahem!
The only differences lay in the "clarity" and "energy consumption."
"..."
"This will have to do for now."
Lu Xing felt he couldn't research anything further.
Six Dominions, six Paths. They were continuously supplying his "hatching" with Imaginary energy. The Imaginary energy channeled by any single Dominion far exceeded the limits of the previous thirteen-core Monarch.
Although his main body couldn't go down to the planet, communicating with everyone on Earth using Divine Link was not a problem.
Voom.
---o---
Antarctica, the Throne Hall.
"The starry sky has fallen silent."
Shesha, his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
During the height of the battle, he hadn't dared to observe with his Super Perception. The storm whipped up by the clashing Authorities would have torn the mind of any observer to shreds.
"Did we win?"
"We should have... The Monarch didn't execute the third plan."
The third plan involved the Retainers who had returned to Earth ahead of time, but this emergency measure was never used in the end.
"Then why..."
Before Hua could finish her sentence, Pardofelis was already pointing at the sky and shouting. Cancer, the last surviving companion beast of Finality, which had chased her and the Great Crab all the way to Earth... had been blown to bits by the combined efforts of the more than twenty people who had returned early.
"Look at the sky!"
"What is that?"
"The moon?"
"It's daytime."
"That's not the point! The important thing is that the moon was already blown up!"
"..."
As everyone pondered what the round object above their heads could be—a world-ending creation of Finality, or a new technique the Monarch had yet to reveal—
"Do not worry."
"The threat of Finality has been eliminated."
The Monarch's voice echoed directly in everyone's mind.
"Little Bai—"
Xiao Zi subconsciously looked around, but she couldn't see the familiar figure.
"Where are you?"
"..."
"..."
"In the sky."
"The sky?"
Everyone simultaneously looked up and saw the moon they had just been discussing?
"That 'celestial body' is me."
Before this bombshell of a message could fully detonate, Lu Xing continued to add:
"The battle with Finality exhausted my power."
"I must now accumulate my strength again in this special 'high-speed recovery state'. During this period, I'm afraid 'you all' will have to rely on yourselves."
"..."
The atmosphere in the Throne Hall grew awkward for a moment.
This wasn't because of the Monarch's "joke," but something deeper... Even Pardofelis stopped "harassing" the Great Crab.
The Monarch had exhausted his power.
Regarding this fact that he had admitted himself...
"Monarch."
Within the somewhat quiet Throne Hall, Dr. Mei was the first to break the strange silence. The joy of their recent victory was now overlaid with a peculiar emotion.
In the low-temperature environment, some even found their palms unconsciously sweating.
"..."
"Do we need to replace you?"
Huuu. xN
Amidst clearly audible exhales, the frigid wind that had swept over mountains and seas once again grew warm and gentle within the Throne Hall.
"..."
After a barely perceptible pause.
"There is no need."
"It will take a considerable amount of time to maintain this state."
"I can serve as the moon for a while longer. Maintaining my current position is not difficult. Rather than spending resources on manufacturing a less precise artificial moon, it would be better to complete the next stage of 'work' as soon as possible."
"After all, many 'humans' cannot adapt to an Earth filled with Honkai energy."
Although its volume was comparable to the moon, the mass of the sphere the Monarch had transformed into was terrifyingly immense, as was the "gravity" it produced. As a temporary satellite, Lu Xing was relying on Imaginary energy to suppress its celestial influence.
"..."
"Your will be done."
For humanity, the final examination was over.
Although the price for arriving at the answer was the fact that they could no longer be defined as "human," from this moment on, a brand-new civilization would begin anew on Earth. It was close to the Tree, and also close to the Sea. The former provided a powerful driving force for the civilization's development, while the latter was the best tool for tempering the civilization's will.
Of course, having passed the examination, it would no longer be confined to this tiny planet. The first step would be to venture beyond the "dark curtain" surrounding the solar system.
"Very good."
"..."
The Monarch's voice resounded in everyone's minds.
No longer suppressing his emotions, one could hear clear satisfaction and praise in his voice.
"Then."
"Your examination is hereby declared complete."
The Monarch's consciousness swept through the Throne Hall.
Some were absent, but this was only temporary. The Monarch would not abandon his Retainers, just as the "Monarch" had never abandoned him.
"Our civilization..."
"At this moment, officially begins!"