He Became A Monstrous Genius After Obtaining A Time Dilation Artifact-Chapter 656 Pawn into Self Destruction.
Mid-Tier Civilizations.
Dao Enlightenment Academy.
A group of people could be seen roaming the streets of the academy together. Everywhere they passed, respectful glances and whispers were directed their way.
"Look, it’s them."
"The Darkhaven Clique."
"Freaks. These guys are freaks."
"Right, all of them are currently dominating the academy rankings."
"There are even speculations that some of them could become arbiters in case the current arbiters break into the universe level."
"Well, considering their abnormal accomplishments, it’s only natural."
Arrie, Charles, Michael, Zarek, Lawrence, Jackson, and the others were used to this. They didn’t pay attention to the conversations. Currently, they were all at the Supreme Stage Dao Level.
Each one of them had returned from very difficult—and somewhat impossible—missions. Some of them were headed to artificial secret realms; others were headed towards cultivation mountains. These were their mission rewards, which went a long way to prove how remarkable their achievements had been. Currently, they were known throughout the whole Mid-Tier Civilizations.
To others, their accomplishments may seem abnormal. But when one had Kailen as a friend, one didn’t have any reason to boast. It was not like they compared themselves to Kailen; it was not like they had inferiority complexes. But Kailen had toppled over their perception of geniuses with his accomplishments. He had raised the standard for them—so much so that they didn’t deem their achievements as special. The saying that "iron sharpens iron" had proved true in their case.
Suddenly, several individuals blinked. Notifications. They checked their ID slots. The video was tagged:
[Shocking! The Mad Tactician Shakes the Universe Again]
The video detailed every one of Kailen’s accomplishments: from when he entered the RiverBlood Empire as Karag Anvilheart, to when he entered the Hall of Fame list, entered the Imperial Capital, and shifted to the Imperial Court scene where the second clan was to be executed. Then, everything the audience of the RiverBlood Empire had already seen—and everything the audience of the Imperial Court saw at the time of the incident—unfolded before them.
Then came the revelation of Kailen as Karag Anvilheart. Legoland as Thuldor Prime.
Kailen’s manipulation and tactical acumen was revealed over the situation. He was responsible for the first imperial clan turning on the second one. He was responsible for what Malverion’s wife did—from shocking everyone into silence to detonating herself and her own family before everyone could react and do something about the situation. To killing everyone in the second imperial clan and the rest of the first imperial clan members ruthlessly as a Rank 8 BlackFlask Alchemist.
Arrie and the others sighed and shook their heads. To them, Kailen would always shock them. He was not someone who could be reached or viewed with common sense. They didn’t harbor thoughts of competing with him; they just wanted to grow strong enough to protect themselves. Because in the universe, weakness was dangerous. Also, they didn’t want people to deem them easy targets to be used to get to Kailen. They knew how the universe worked. It was a ruthless place where strength meant everything.
The reason why they had shaken their heads was because Kailen had been silent for a while.
"As you expected, Arnold, that bastard was cooking something to shock us with," Lian Yu sighed.
Everyone chuckled. Arnold Kadman, the bunny demihuman and son of the late Ross Kadman, scratched the back of his head. "Kailen is either causing some commotion somewhere or orchestrating it. I just thought since we have not heard from him in a while, he was off somewhere orchestrating some scheme of some sort."
"True. Your father would have been proud of him, Arnold," Arrie said.
At her words, everyone turned silent for a moment. Arrie was right. They remembered what happened in Atlantis back then. Ross had sacrificed his life alongside his colleagues to save them. He would be really proud to see how far they have come—especially Kailen—and that he had not sacrificed his life for them in vain.
"He’d be proud of us all too," Borngreat said with a nod.
"Well, since my son-in-law is off somewhere shaking the universe, we can’t be left behind, can we?" Angela said.
"Indeed. But this fellow—what he has done is more terrifying than the events of the Fourfold Silence." A glint flashed through Zarek’s eyes. "The power he destroyed was led by someone at the Rank 1 Supreme Stage Universe Level who had the Law of Darkness. So technically, Malverion had the law power of a Rank 4 Supreme Stage Universe Level."
Everyone nodded.
"From now on, Kailen will not just be deemed dangerous because of law combat power," Jackson said. "It will be because he does not need to be at a weaker rank than you to dismantle you. Where combat power is a disadvantage, he will pawn you into your own destruction. That is very terrifying. Even those factions who have plans of getting rid of him will think twice from now. If the events of the Fourfold Silence didn’t teach them anything, this one will definitely sink into their skulls, no matter how stupid they are."
The group agreed with Jackson.
"Well, we need to also work hard. Let’s head to our destinations."
The group stood from the sidewalk benches they had sat on to watch the video and proceeded forward. However, everywhere they passed, only silence reigned. People were staring at empty spaces with puzzlement, shock, terror, and awe—most likely their ID slot screens as they watched the video. What they had just watched was not something one could just be excited about. Their brains were in a state of shock, trying to process what they were watching.
Kailen’s friends chuckled at the sight.
"Good thing we have walked with him for a long time," Michael said.
Charles added, "Else, we would have looked like some zombies, just like these fellows are looking now."
Everyone stared at Charles. This guy... where did he choose his words from? But well, he was not wrong.
The group chuckled and had conversations, the weight of Kailen’s achievements filling them with pride and satisfaction. But it was also a reminder: they needed to also work harder—not to catch up with him, but to become the best versions of themselves.
Meanwhile, across the universe, several reactions were similar to the people in the Dao Enlightenment Academy. In one particular place, for instance...
Dusktooth Empire.
Imperial Galaxy.
Royal Palace.
A meeting was being held. A video was being played. Everyone did not say a word. The weight of realization settled several moments stretching for hours after those at the meeting watched the video.
"He will be coming for us. We should not have threatened him into joining us, Your Highness," someone said.
Everyone looked at the emperor. The man was quiet. To be honest, the emperor was terrified.
Suddenly... something happened...
