538 Void Maelstrom
Mike is the fastest?
"This... this can't be right!" Mike instinctively objected, feeling that something about Professor Gregory's analysis was off.
As a theorist, Professor Gregory was all about data and facts. He calmly explained, "You should have noticed by now. Aside from wealth, there's very little room left for you to improve in any other area."
Mike knew this all too well.
In fact, if there was anything the human race could offer to help Thor, they would have already given it to him, even for free.
Mike's purchase of the Force of Nature in the Trade Secret Realm for a few thousand gold coins was proof of this.
The Force of Nature, as an SS-grade equipment prototype, had the potential to become SSS-grade equipment.
Normally, it would have sold for at least tens of thousands of Lord Merits in the Mystic Market.
That deal had been heavily subsidized by the human race's leadership, who had paid the difference behind the scenes.
There was an unspoken understanding between both sides.
When it came to a potential Supreme Being, the human race would spare no effort in providing support.
And in return, the potential Supreme Being would step up when the time came.
For the past 300 years, every investment in a potential Supreme Being had brought the human race returns a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.
In fact, the resources invested in Thor had already paid off.
The Tower of Truth was the fastest place to improve one's combat power, and Mike had already maxed out his progress there.
It was like a car with the gas pedal floored—there was no more room for speed or acceleration.
Mike fell silent, once again hitting a dead end.
"But..." Professor Gregory's tone shifted, offering a glimmer of hope.
"There is one place, besides Earth and the Tower of Truth, where you can still improve your combat power."
Mike's curiosity was piqued. "Where?"
"The Void," Professor Gregory replied, then clarified, "More specifically, the Void Maelstrom. There's a Void Passage outside Earth, and on the other side of that passage is the Void Maelstrom."
Mike frowned slightly.
He didn't have a good impression of the Void.
His Fire Element had fused with a Void Fragment, causing Void Monsters to occasionally appear around him.
And the last time Mike had fought the Progenitor of Ghosts, a 1000-level Devil from the Void had nearly ruined everything.
The Void was a place full of unknowns and dangers.
The unknown and mysterious aspects didn't bother Mike too much—he had the Eye of Truth, which could help to some extent.
But the danger...
Mike repeated Professor Gregory's words, still confused.
"A Void Passage?" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"Yes, the passage was created when the Tower of Truth descended," Professor Gregory explained, giving a brief overview of the passage's origins.
He promised to send Mike a detailed report once he had compiled all the information.
As for whether Mike should go, and when, that would be up to him.
The human race had very little information about the Void Maelstrom. Only a handful of people had ever ventured there, and those who returned refused to speak about their experiences.
Before ending the conversation, Professor Gregory emphasized, "The Void Maelstrom is extremely dangerous. Morpheus once said that even a potential Supreme Being could fall there."
Fall?
Under normal circumstances, just hearing that would be enough for Thor to cross the Void Maelstrom off his list!
Mike could wait until he became a true Supreme Being, then team up with Apollo and Ares to explore the maelstrom together. Wouldn't that be a better idea?
But today, Thor was different.
Mike had always been self-aware.
He was afraid of death.
Who wouldn't be?
But Mike also knew that some things, if they happened, would be worse than death.
Mike didn't want to look back on his life and realize that there had been moments when he could have done better, when he could have changed something, but he hadn't.
If that happened...
So, she swallowed the second half of her sentence.
Mike reached out to take the Force of Nature, but Fool Master pulled it back.
She extended her other hand.
"Where's the money?"
A deal was a deal—payment first, then delivery!
Mike pulled out five copper coins, lined them up in his palm, then thought for a moment and took two back.
Fool Master: ...
Mike said, "You only hit it three times. Three copper coins is fair, right?"
Fair. Very fair!
Thor had said he'd pay, but he never said how much!
Fool Master silently accepted the three copper coins and handed the Force of Nature back to Thor.
With the money in hand, Fool Master's face lit up with a mischievous smile, her laughter ringing out like wind chimes.
Mike turned and glared at Vladimir.
"Put that wind chime away!"
Vladimir quickly stashed the wind chime, and the laughter abruptly stopped.
Mike eyed Fool Master warily, his expression full of suspicion.
"What are you laughing about?"
Fool Master waved him off dismissively.
"I just remembered something funny."
Mike snorted.
"What's so funny? Are you pregnant?"
Fool Master shook her head.
"No, I just learned a new skill recently."
Mike's face paled, sensing that something was off. He suddenly felt the urge to leave.
He suspected that staying any longer wasn't a good idea.
But Fool Master didn't give him the chance to escape.
The three copper coins floated in Fool Master's palm, forming an isosceles triangle in the air.
A wave of demonic energy surged out, and laws began to manifest. The three copper coins resonated with each other, spinning and creating a small, self-contained world.
Mike: ???
Just from this display, it was clear that Fool Master's true strength far exceeded that of a nine-star Lord!
Mike had long suspected that Fool Master wasn't an ordinary nine-star Lord.
But with Apollo's restrictions on her, and the Eye of Truth unable to see through her, Mike had no way of confirming it.
Still... what was Fool Master up to?
Mike watched her closely, ready to bolt at any moment.
Under the influence of the demonic energy, the space around the three copper coins became isolated from the rest of the world.
Then...
Fool Master drew a sword!
Mike seemed to sense what was about to happen and instinctively tried to stop her.
"No!"
Fool Master slashed with her sword.
The three copper coins turned into gold coins!
The small space around them seemed to be gilded in gold.
Mike's face turned pale, as if he had just lost a fortune. His teeth chattered, and he couldn't even form words.
My defenses have been breached!
Fool Master beamed, her smile as bright as the sun, and pointed to the three gold coins.
"Look, this is my new skill—Golden Abyss!"