'My preparations are complete,' thought the Hybrid Warmoth with a sigh. He was still sweating. 'However, this is something I didn't foresee.' He placed his hands on his knees and expelled a sharp breath. 'I wonder how much more strength it will take from me to start up on the Gene.'

The weariness had been stacking as Skullius went, but he'd associated that with regular strain. He was, after all, performing many high-stress tasks at the same time.

However, the real reason behind his fatigue had become clearer the more he considered the |Greater Cosmic Law|. Sure, it was crazy rare to even glimpse a chance at obtaining a fraction of acknowledgement from any of its aspects, but using it came at a cost. It was extremely taxing.

Skullius had the assistance of Maximum Jaqquezjaqqz to help weave Eklhesh, Conste, and the Immors, but still, it felt like he was pulling, pushing, and threading using his own physical strength, with every miniature task taxing a significant touch of his might.

Ridiculous. Skullius was only capable of using fractions of the cosmic law. What if he had access to more than that? Would that be too much for the Default Body?

'I assume my current prowess is the bare minimum required to use the |Greater Cosmic Law|,' Skullius massaged his forearms. 'Yet… I bet the Primeval Deities do it with nothing but their raw strength. Monsters.'

He laughed at himself upon thinking this and pulled up his status.

~~~

[Name: Skullius Festos Dawn]

[-Default Body-]

---

[Ascension Status: Broader Existence Phase 2]

[AKH: 5/2,000]

To progress to other Phases of your Broader Existence, you have to obtain the required AKHASHA units per Phase.

---

[Null EXP: 0]

[Mana Core: Gold]

[Classes: Nullmancer + Insurgent Magnus]

[Race: Hybrid Warmoth]

[Inv. Status: Doomed x2]

---

[+Stats+]

[Embodiment of Accelerant Starlight (Void) + Expanded Shadow Fiend's Leather (Realm):-]

(The former was received through an UNLIMITED CONTRACT with TITEMIUS, and the latter was received through a LIMITED CONTRACT with JOISEN ANTERRAS.)

[DUAL CONCEPT-TRACING IMPACT (III): ---]

[JU`WTTE BLIZZARD MOTION (III): ---]

[PHANTOM OMNISCIENCE (III): ---]

[EMPOWERED TRIGGER DEVIANT BUILD (III): ---]

[EMPOWERED PRIME PERPETUATION: ---]

---

[Exora Amras (Beginner Sage Affluent): 287,450/287,500]

[MANA (III): 745,087,700/745,087,700]

The <WEIGHT> property of Skullius' mana still works. Currently, he can master 44 billion tonnes of weight in each blow.

[Null Core (I) : 45,500,880/45,500,880]

Since travelling to the Null Verse and temporarily having his Null Life Essence reserves bolstered to the same range as those of an Authority of the Null Verse, Skullius' Essence has seen a qualitative increase that is quite similar to the jump in the quality of mana from white to blue. Hence, why it is denoted as (I) above.

[LUCK: 15]

---

[+Andori (Techniques)+]

[Sagacious Antiphon of Dawnlight | Fourth Grand Tier]

(This Andori has synced up very well with Skullius' new Immortal Void Physique, Embodiment of Accelerant Starlight)

[Forbidden Monastery of Black's Scion | Third Ascendant Tier]

(It syncs very well with the Immortal Physique, Expanded Shadow Fiend's Leather.)

[Avant Atelier: Fate's Rebel | Fourth Ascendant Tier]

[True Severance: Emphatic Dissonance | Third Sage Tier]

[Legion Eyes | First Sage Tier]

[Instant Embodiment of Perfection | Third Grand Tier]

---

[Nonstandard Splicer | First Sage Tier]

[False Tickler | First Sage Tier]

[Vision of Calamity | First Ascendant Tier]

(These three Andori are not always noted on the guidance field. They only emerge when Skullius mixes the essence Maximum Jaqquezjaqqz into Elusive Meta Carver, Ruining Cutter and Legion Eyes respectively. All three are able to do damage against a Deities.)

---

[+Skills+]

[Fiend's Clairvoyant Fever (Supreme) | Lv.1]

[Greatest Hegemon of Sorcerous Mana (Supreme) | Lv.1]

[Infinite Sword God: Primordial Sword (Supreme) | Lv.5]

[Great Rune Lord (Super) | Lv.1]

[Celestial Hack | None]

[Potions Master (Super) | Lv.1]

---

[+Exotic Parlous Natures+]

[Frigid Time (World)]

[Maximum Combustion (World)]

[Maximum Frost (World)]

[Maximum Time (World)]

[Maximum Pull (World)]

[Second Divine Sinew (Realm)]

[Maximum Jaqquezjaqqz (Pseudo-Void)]

[>Comprehension of Litte – 0.5%]

[>Comprehension of Conste – 0.095%]

[>Comprehension of Eklhesh – 0.0013%]

[>Comprehension of Immors – 0.001%]

---

[+Oddities+]

[Fruit of World Myths]

[Circuit of Impunity: In & Mu]

[Numinous Ichor: Bane of Gods]

---

[+Veneration Arts+]

[Violent Bond]

---

[+Seeds+]

[The womb (1)]

[Master Cataract (4)]

[Crude World Injection (9)]

[Exorbitance (5)]

---

[+Affinities+]

[Evil Darkness – S]

[Just Light – S]

[Distorted Gravity – C]

[Stagnant Space – D]

[Spatial Lightning – B]

[Grand Fire – S]

[Maximum Catalyst – S]

[Coordinated Disruption – C]

[Lambent Phosphor – B]

[Genesis Pull – B]

[Integral Time – B]

[Crafty Wool – C]

---

[+Patronage Benefits+]

[Attachments]

6/6

[Marked Spots]

15/15

[Counsel]

4/4

---

---

~~~

'I'll have to level up my physical strength in a way that doesn't conform to the Common Reality Leagues,' Skullius thought. 'And speaking of that…'

Using his Null Life Essence, he created a depiction of the final product he was trying to create at the moment. Tinged blue, it looked like a pill with faint threads of blinking light branching unstably from deep within it. That was a sign of the intricate genetic material hidden inside.

The Adaptor Gene.

As it happened, Skullius didn't want his subordinates to ever be on the weaker side of any physical confrontation, at least when comparing them to Deific opponents.

Indeed, the benchmark he was setting up the Stark-Soul Order against wasn't Divines, but Deities and high-end versions of them at that.

Additionally, Skullius had come to terms with the fact that Fundamental Barter was an inescapable facet of the power dynamics he was trying to create. Whoever was responsible for Fundamental Barter could also bless unique experts with it, after all. So, in order to maximize this boon, Skullius wanted his subordinates to have overwhelming physical prowess.

Abilities kissed by Fundamental Barter were only limited by how much the user could endure using them (within the conditions they could use set abilities, that is), hence advanced stamina was essential.

'Soidon and Sause's insights are key to the foundation of the Gene, but so is Kintar as a case study for the process the Adaptor Gene is supposed to take the Troops and Stars through,' thought Skullius. 'A complete rewrite of genetic material is pivotal.'

This would be paired with the process Kenno went through. Before rewriting their body and soul information, Skullius wanted all of his subordinates to experience the agony of becoming an anchor to his Imperial Territory, just like Kenno. That would make the Adaptor Gene far more effective.

And most important of all, to complete the procedure…

"Apexis," Skullius said, and the Apostle above him became active. "Convert all of my Null Life Essence reserves into your Focused Null Life Ota."

"Yes, my Liege."

At once, Skullius' quadrillions of units of Null Life Essence vanished and became 0.229 units of Focused Null Life Ota that appeared as a vaporous substance in Apexis' bowl-shaped head.

It would take Skullius about 14 minutes to completely replenish his reserves passively. His identity as an Authority of the Null Verse afforded this quality for his Null Core now.

Skullius then crossed his fingers and accessed the First Phase of the War Body.

It was a different entity indeed, with distinct functions, different abilities, and a series of limitations. However, its capacity for anything to do with the soul was precious, so precious, in fact, that Skullius needed it to create the first model of the Adaptor Gene.

He also needed the might powers of the Second Phase of the War Body. Only that monstrous power could bring the idea of the Adaptor Gene and the next Gene he needed after that, into actualization.

'Now, for an opponent…' thought Skullius as he used the properties of the Timemould Mirror Box to summon a suit of armour and give it the likeness, powers, and hostility of Fulgardt.

This mechanism was what had allowed Skullius to make the Impossible Task possible. The Mirror Box could replicate even Divine powers effectively.

The imitation of Fulgardt scowled at Skullius, burning with hatred.

'Perfect!' thought Skullius. The War Body's activation acknowledged the enemy in front of him and didn't start a countdown to dismiss itself.

Ironically, the real Fulgardt had figured out that the War Body's weakness was simply the lack of a hostile opponent, which would force Skullius back to his Default Body, yet this imitation of him wasn't half as inclined to fight smart.

'I could skip the five-minute timer till I have access to the Second Phase like I did last time, but I better refine this version of my War Body as well.' Skullius readied himself. The fake Fulgardt launched himself at him, itching to kill him for real. The Sovereign smirked. 'A mock battle with him should ge—'

….!!!

A shadow fell upon the entire Timemould Mirror Box and pressed down upon Skullius like a black sky. Suddenly, the fake Fulgardt collapsed onto the floor and returned to being a simple suit of armour.

Skullius frowned and looked up. What was this?

At first, he thought that the Primeval Deities had somehow found a way to breach into the Timemould Mirror Box, but he quickly realized that wasn't the case.

Slowly, his frown dissolved into a look of exasperation.

"I see," said Skullius, and the pressure waned and vanished. "You're not happy with this shortcut, are you, Warmoth?"