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Vast quantities of spirit energy gathered above Aventurine's head, forming an energy sphere the size of a starship. Yet everyone who had witnessed the entire process knew that compared to the energy it contained, the sphere itself was far too small.
And after Diamond activated special permissions for Aventurine, the sphere not only failed to grow—it continued to shrink.
Within the once-dazzling orb, the swirling vortex spun incessantly, gradually dyed a pitch-black hue.
A bead of sweat slid down Aventurine's forehead.
His teeth clenched tightly, and his hands began to tremble.
This Spirit Bomb was already showing signs of going out of control!
At this level of condensation, that so-called property of being ineffective against the righteous had clearly become completely irrelevant.
Not to mention—he was no saint!
Beep! Beep! Warning! Danger ahead—evade immediately! Evade immediately!
Inside the starship, the accompanying IPC engineers hammered frantically at the control console, fingers flying across countless buttons.
The chief engineer stared at the continuously spiking, densely packed parameters on the screen and cursed aloud, "Damn it!"
Seeing this stubborn old man—seconded from the Intelligentsia Guild—actually lose his composure, everyone present, including Diamond far away in Pier Point, fixed their gaze on him.
Jade spoke urgently. "What's wrong? Can you analyze the composition of the spirit energy?"
"No!"
The chief engineer barked the word without the slightest embarrassment, then grit his teeth and continued. "But the energy density of that Spirit Bomb has already become immeasurable! Violent spatial fluctuations with tearing properties have appeared!"
"Look!" He enlarged the image on the screen and pointed at the edge of the Spirit Bomb.
Sure enough, the space there was trembling like a whirlpool inside a washing machine.
Jade didn't understand these physical phenomena, but using non-spatial abilities to produce effects like this on space itself was anything but simple.
At the very least, she had never seen Diamond capable of doing such a thing.
"Just say it plainly—what does this mean?"
Amid the piercing alarms of the starship, the chief engineer swallowed hard. His heavy tone carried an undercurrent of frenzied excitement.
"If our current physical theories aren't wrong, this is a precursor to gravitational collapse! If it continues, it might even knead a black hole into existence!"
Another researcher dropped what he was doing and called out, "We've detected a sudden, unknown gravitational influence! The starship is slowly sliding toward Director Aventurine!"
The ever-composed and elegant Jade sucked in a sharp breath.
Almost simultaneously, the others aboard the ship cried out, "It really can create a black hole?!"
A bone-chilling cold crept up their backs.
If they were this close, wouldn't they be—
Diamond's voice, deep and thunderous like a great bell, exploded through the holographic projection into the ears of the stunned crowd. "End this experiment!"
Jade snapped back to her senses and hurriedly snatched the communicator from the still-dazed liaison officer.
She broadcast urgently to her colleague outside the ship. "Aventurine, throw that bomb away immediately, then return at once! Now!"
From the other end came Aventurine's hoarse, low roar. "I don't need you to tell me that!"
No one understood better than he did just how terrifying the Spirit Bomb in his hands had become.
He was certain—the quadruple critical damage of the [Soul of the Universe] had already triggered!
With a violent swing of both arms, his Path power erupted in full, all to ensure the sphere wouldn't stop before reaching its designated position.
The light sphere passed through the [Spacium REDOUBLIZER] and slammed toward the planet that had already been ravaged by the [Jiki Jiki no Mi].
Before Aventurine could return on his own, a beam of light shot out from the starship, instantly restraining him and the amplifier and dragging them back aboard.
Almost at the same moment, Jade shouted to the operator, "Jump—activate the drive immediately!"
"Yes, jump—activating!"
The starship, already primed and ready, finally unleashed the engine's power. At the same time, the shockwave from the Spirit Bomb's detonation arrived as scheduled, appearing together with the violently rocked starship far out in the sea of stars.
Not long after, the starship finally stabilized.
The non-combat researchers and other staff members slowly stood up, bracing themselves against nearby chairs or whatever else they could grab.
With a trace of lingering hope—or perhaps simply out of routine—Jade asked the chief engineer, "Can we determine the extent of the damage to that star system?"
The chief engineer, famed as a research fanatic, looked at her as though she were foolish. Still, mindful of the vast difference in status, he replied politely, "Mm, not right now. That earlier reconnaissance satellite is probably reduced to dust—if even that remains. As for going back to inspect it in person immediately…"
He paused, still shaken. "For safety's sake, it's better to use unmanned equipment and take more time. As for the black hole, it shouldn't exist anymore. That was only a hypothesis to begin with, and now that the energy has been released, it's even less likely."
"Mm…"
Jade neither agreed nor disagreed, but on another matter, she had no reservations at all.
She turned around and smiled at Aventurine, who had just returned to the main control room.
"Congratulations. Although the exact situation isn't clear yet, that display of power was unmistakable. From now on, you could say your prospects within the IPC are boundless. Surpassing my position is only a matter of time."
She was happy for Aventurine, yet her feelings were tinged with an indescribable complexity.
This junior whom she had personally brought into the IPC was about to overtake her in the blink of an eye. Her own reflection appeared in the viewport's glass. She let out a soft sigh and chuckled inwardly. So, this is what they mean by the new generation surpassing the old? Time really does spare no one.
Aventurine's luck truly was something else. If it had been her opening the buckets, she likely wouldn't have gained anything of this caliber.
Still, in order to extract the greatest number of high-tier Curios from a limited supply of buckets, even now that he had grown this powerful, it would still have to be him opening them in the future.
Aventurine did not grow arrogant because of it. Wearing his usual signature smile, he replied, "Haha, Lady Jade, you flatter me. No matter what, you'll always be my senior."
"Neither arrogant nor impetuous. Very good—I didn't misjudge you back then."
Diamond's resounding voice rang out. For once, the usually stern superior was actually smiling at Aventurine. "Aventurine, I won't require you to hand over the Curios to the IPC. Continuing to serve the IPC is the best reward you can give."
"As for your prize…"
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