Chapter 441: Back to the Abyss

Caelus opened Chaos Lifeline benefit’s overview and checked how much support a Lesser God would need.

The difference between mortal and divine bodies made the result far larger than he had expected. Restoring either him or Sylvia would take the combined support of many lower-ranked members.

"Roughly ten thousand Origin Lords to fill one of us back up," he said. "If we draw from Overlords instead, we’ll need about a hundred thousand."

Sylvia read the figures before looking at the recipient settings.

"Then letting everyone receive it at once might cause problems."

"I was thinking the same thing. I’ll restrict the protection to a chosen group for now."

Caelus changed the settings so the benefit would protect himself and the people closest to him. Then he checked the donor conditions again to make sure members in danger would never be selected.

The transfers would also leave every donor with HP and Mana remaining.

With more than ninety billion members, he could spread the cost across an enormous number of people. Small portions from those resting safely would make a huge difference to someone fighting for their life.

Caelus saved the settings with a satisfied smile. The system had rejected his proposal, yet he had forced it to work through his Origin power.

He wanted to see what else he could change, but they had already spent too long here.

"Alright, Sylvia. Let’s get ready to return to Earth."

Sylvia smiled as he proposed the idea.

"I was starting to think I’d have to carry you out of here."

They began preparing to leave shortly afterward.

Only the two of them would go to Earth. Their companions still needed to finish Divinization, and taking everyone into the Abyss before knowing what awaited them would be a mistake.

The Tier 2 World remained protected from the God Domain by Caelus’s severance.

The Hollow King had broken through it, but his power stood beyond the common ranks. The Heavenly Lord had shown no sign that he could do the same.

If he could cross whenever he wanted, why had he not already come for Freya?

Caelus did not mistake that delay for safety forever. However, it gave them time to search for answers while their people continued growing stronger.

As he finished the preparations, his thoughts returned to Faust.

She had vanished after entering the Path to Worlds. He had searched without finding her, and now he wondered whether the Heavenly Lord had been involved.

The man was already taking Enders by force.

Faust’s disappearance might be connected, though Caelus had no proof. He would have to keep that possibility in mind as they learned more.

Before leaving, he told John to act immediately if anything goes wrong. Then he and Sylvia traveled into space and approached the passage leading toward Tier 1.

Caelus could see the connection, but the world itself resisted when he reached toward it.

The passage remained closed.

He examined the restriction and understood why their descent was being blocked. Even an Origin Lord could cause terrible destruction in the lower world, and they had already passed that rank.

"Suppress your power before we enter," he told Sylvia. "I don’t want us damaging the place just by showing up."

She drew her power inward while he did the same. Once he was certain they had it under control, he reached for the restriction again.

[Ender’s Passive: Rule Override.]

The passage began opening beneath his authority.

Caelus crossed with Sylvia before letting the disturbance settle behind them. Immediately after arriving, he felt how much less resistance this world offered his power.

Everything around him seemed easier to affect.

"Impressive." He mumbled as he carefully spread his senses.

[Innate Power Activated: Prime Mind Manipulation.]

His awareness passed across nearby planets and continued beyond their stars. Before long, he could sense distant galaxies and the people moving through them.

Caelus kept his power contained as he searched for Earth.

The Space League was still active.

Ships carried players between worlds while others competed for resources and influence. Earth seemed to be managing well without him, which eased one of the worries he had carried back.

Then his senses passed over several planets occupied by demons.

He followed their presence far enough to notice a connection with another plane in the Tier 2 World. It was likely the Demon World, though investigating it would have to wait.

They had come to find the Abyss.

Caelus turned his attention back to Earth and searched beneath its surface. After passing through layers of stone, he found a hidden passage deep within the planet’s crust.

He stopped beside Sylvia and examined it more closely.

The Hollow King had told the truth about its location.

"I found the entrance. It’s buried beneath Earth’s surface."

"Can you open it from here?"

"I’ll need to get closer before I try."

Earth had held more secrets than he knew, but he could not find what exactly that secrets were.

Then his attention reached toward its core.

An uncomfortable feeling passed through him before he could examine it properly. Caelus withdrew his senses and looked at the planet again.

"What is this feeling?"

"What happened?" Sylvia asked.

"Nothing I understand yet. Let’s reach the entrance first."

They descended toward the hidden passage as Caelus moved the stone out of their way. Soon he could feel the barrier keeping it closed, though he still could not sense what waited beyond it.

"If my Origin power works here, we should be able to enter."

[Skill Activated: Origin Lock.]

He reached toward the concept holding the passage shut and tried to sever it.

The entrance did not change.

Caelus increased the force and tested it again, but the same barrier remained in place. He had expected the Abyss to resist him more than an ordinary passage between worlds.

Being able to affect the Tier 2 World did not mean he could treat the Abyss the same way.

"Then we’ll try the method that worked before."

[Ender’s Passive: Rule Override.]

The passage immediately shook beneath his power.

Caelus kept pressing against the restriction until a thin opening appeared. Immediately after that, its edges began closing again as though something was forcing them together.

He would not have time to hold it open and study the other side.

"Let’s go, Sylvia. We need to move now."

She tightened her grip on his hand, and they rushed through together before the passage closed.