Volume One, Chapter 46: Subduing the Trio

Torekia did not answer the question. Instead, he raised his hand and injected a surge of pure chaotic energy into his body.

“What are you doing!”

Bareru and Magna were startled, instantly alert.

But before they could react, they were blasted away by the sudden eruption of energy from Garum.

In a daze, Garum slowly stood up, staring at his hands in disbelief, murmuring, “Such… such powerful strength.”

In just a few seconds, he felt his body rejuvenated, brimming with vitality as if he were young again. An endless surge of energy coursed through him, impatiently yearning to burst forth.

Garum clenched his fists tightly, then fired an energy projectile toward a distant hill.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, the hill was instantly leveled.

Garum was stunned again, then suddenly realized what had happened, and knelt before Torekia, exclaiming with excitement and reverence, “Thank you, my lord! I, Garum, vow to follow you to the death!”

He did not know exactly what level his power now reached, but he was certain it was no less than stellar rank.

To so casually bestow someone with the power of a star—such strength left no room for hesitation!

Yet Torekia’s next words left him utterly speechless, lost in astonishment.

“Your energy level now has reached the first rank of the universe. Once you fully adapt, you’ll be comparable to the second rank.”

Torekia’s tone was so calm, as if he were describing something trivial.

“Universe rank!”

Garum looked up in horror, his pupils contracting wildly.

He even began to doubt his own ears.

Stellar rank was a level far beyond his reach.

But Torekia claimed he had already achieved universe rank!

He could only think of the Emperor of the Dark Nebula when considering what universe rank entailed.

Someone like that—in the past, Garum wouldn’t even qualify to carry his shoes!

Bareru and Magna’s faces were also filled with shock, but more with doubt and disbelief.

After all, to grant someone universe rank power so casually… it sounded like pure boasting!

“Lord Garum… did you really… reach universe rank?” Bareru asked, unable to believe it.

“I don’t know,” Garum shook his head, but replied confidently, “But I can clearly sense that I have the power to destroy this planet with a mere thought.”

“Ah!” Magna’s mouth dropped open, and he swallowed hard before asking, “Do you mean the Ghost Comet?”

“Of course!”

Garum replied unhesitatingly, gathering energy again in his hands.

Seeing this, Bareru’s pupils shrank as he hurriedly shouted, “Don’t!”

But before his words finished, Garum’s palm, guided by Torekia’s subtle signal, struck the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground instantly cracked, ravines spreading outward, as if the apocalypse had arrived.

There were more than just the three of them on the Ghost Comet—all the cosmic beings present cried out in bewildered panic.

Amid the fractured earth, Torekia slowly floated upward, taking Bareru and Magna with him.

Only then did they truly believe Garum’s earlier words were not an exaggeration.

The four rose to ten thousand meters above ground, as the surface of the Ghost Comet was utterly shattered, vanishing inch by inch in erupting flames.

An asteroid explosion might be equivalent to over 6,000 tons of TNT.

But the Ghost Comet was a true planet!

The resulting blast was powerful enough to ignite a star twice its size.

Faced with the rapidly expanding shockwave, Bareru and Magna instinctively closed their eyes.

Such destructive power—they had only seen it on television.

To witness it in reality was beyond imagination.

Now, this scene unfolded before their very eyes.

Most astonishing of all, the one responsible was their old friend, Garum.

Garum was the oldest in their squad, usually calm and persistent, but with a rash streak; he often disregarded his teammates’ safety for action.

Yet through countless battles together, they had forged a deep friendship.

Garum, by tacit agreement, had become their squad leader; in any situation, his opinion was sought first.

They knew him best.

Seconds passed, but the expected sensation never came.

Both opened their eyes, gazing with complex emotions at Garum, who now seemed like a god of war.

Finally, Magna gritted his teeth and spoke, “My lord, if I follow you, can I obtain such power?”

He still found it hard to believe.

Universe rank strength, aside from legendary ultimate lifeforms, belonged only to those at the very apex.

He had dreamed of becoming a true powerhouse and ruling the universe.

But dreams are beautiful; reality is harsh.

Even as a mutant, his strength could at most reach planetary rank.

Ascending further was harder than climbing to the heavens.

His talent had already limited his growth.

Now, before him lay an opportunity to become universe rank.

Previously, he would not have believed it.

But after witnessing Garum’s transformation, he wavered.

“Of course,” Torekia replied firmly. “Magma Starian, your physique is much stronger than that of the Gatz Starian. You can bear even more of my power.”

“More?” Magna was stunned.

Did that mean… he could be stronger than Lord Garum?!

“Is… is this true?” he asked, hardly daring to believe.

Universe rank power—he could no longer find words to describe the sensation.

Thud!

Magna knelt from afar, trembling as he pleaded, “My lord, please grant me your power!”

Such melodramatic words could only come from him.

Bareru covered his face and looked away.

Among the three, Garum was the oldest and steadiest.

Magna’s personality was the opposite; despite a sorrowful past, he was a true hot-blooded warrior.

He was always the first to act, never shrinking from anything.

And he also had a burning desire to become stronger.

Now, opportunity was right before him—so close it felt unreal.