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Nicholas didn’t get to celebrate yet... 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The alarm bells ringing in his mind were loud. They urged...no, they compelled him to find a location where he could be alone, because what’s about to happen will greatly affect his surroundings.

And Nick wasn’t one to ignore warnings like this. Therefore, he flew out of his seclusion chambers and flew all the way to a barren location that nobody will miss even if it were to be gone the next moment.

It didn’t take him long to find one such place. And upon his arrival, Nick patiently waited. He closed his eyes while standing, awaiting the decisive and life-changing moment.

And it’s a good thing he listened to his instinct, because he would’ve cursed himself if what happened next occurred at a nearby civilization.

Nick’s body seized up as it came.

The Origin Destruction Diagram flew out of his body beyond his control, rising up above him and releasing strong fluctuations that caused all the nearby heavenly bodies to shake as if they were leaves amidst the storm.

Nick’s body wasn’t in his control anymore. It’s as if some invisible force held him up and refused to let go. He could only stare wide-eyed at the scene before him.

Before he could get nervous, though. The moment came.

A presence, one that felt older and more primal than space and time itself, came. It carried the uncompromising force that destroys everything within its presence.

This presence was of the Origin Laws...

It’s probably the one that held him up, and seeing the destruction diagram hovering above him, the presence seemed to stare at him for quite some time.

During that, a strong fluctuation was released. One that swept through the entire Heavenly Star Chaos Realm. It was strong enough to frighten even the oldest beings that are hibernating somewhere within this realm, startling them awake.

The source of that presence made them feel a deep-seated fear. An unquestionable, undeniable, and irresistible force that could annihilate them at a single glance.

They didn’t dare to poke their heads out. They burrowed deeper into their coffins, praying hopelessly for whatever that entity was to not look in their direction.

Only those who had comprehended Grand Laws could sense this profound existential terror. Which means that it also includes Nick’s friends. Unlike others, though, they had a clue to what’s going on, so they hurried over to the source of the commotion.

They found Nick there, and above him, they saw the Origin Destruction Law Diagram. Seeing this confirmed their suspicions, but none of them dared to come close. They just knew it in their bones that if they dared to interrupt, the presence surrounding Nick would lash out and they would die before they knew what hit them.

So, they just watched and waited.

They saw how Nick looked at them briefly, trying to tell them that he’s okay through his gaze. That’s when he involuntarily closed his eyes as a new phenomenon occurred around him.

The law diagram above him suddenly became more real. It’s like it manifested with a physical form instead of being just a mere formation of light that emerged from within Nicholas.

Then, it started shrinking. It kept shrinking until it became a droplet of water that draped over Nick’s forehead.

It left something on his forehead, like some kind of a scar or a birthmark, only this one didn’t diminish Nick’s physical appearance. If anything, it made him look more divine and...complete.

Like his entire being sublimated when it appeared on him.

That was then followed by a wild and unrestrained flood of strength emanating from him. The other Human Sovereigns could tell that Nick wasn’t doing this subconsciously.

The way how he seemingly became destruction incarnate, how the barren place he was in just gave out and shortly turned into cosmic dust in mere seconds, and how even some of the distant heavenly bodies from him suddenly had cracks on their surface at the mere exposure of his presence was, in truth, just a fraction, a taste, of what Nick was capable of now that he’s become like this.

It was an incredible sight. One that intimidated even the Human Sovereigns themselves. Nick’s presence now, even this one that’s out of his control, was already grander and way more terrifying than all four of them combined.

This was what it means to wield the power of Origin Laws. Right now, Nick had stepped into a realm that’s unheard of before. Nick could easily overwhelm or even destroy a large chunk of the Heavenly Star Chaos Realm if he wasn’t being careful with his actions.

Nick regained control moments later. His overwhelming and destructive presence rolled up and tucked within him. Shortly later, it was completely gone. Now, Nick stood there like he’s just some regular person, if you excuse the fact that he’s still stepping in the vacuum of space like it was some solid ground.

The scar mark on his forehead also dissipated as if it sank into his skin. And when Nick opened his eyes, he exhaled lightly and smiled.

Nick felt good. So good, in fact, that he could almost say that he’d never been better until this moment.

He had seen the glimpse of the door, and it was beckoning him to come over, to push it wide open and see what’s on the other side.

Some kind of restriction deep within him, one that he doesn’t even remember having, suddenly broke when he received the recognition of the Origin Laws.

Nick felt really good, and he couldn’t stop grinning. He didn’t even feel the need to be careful about his actions because he felt in control. He was confident that he wouldn’t accidentally hurt anybody unless he actually meant it to happen.

He stared at his hands and sighed in wonder. His body felt good, light, and firm. It’s like an invisible burden, one that he never knew was there to begin with, was lifted from him.

Nick couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

"Congrats, Nick! That’s the Origin Laws, right? Right? Tell me I’m right! You’ve been acknowledged, right? It’s done!" Gibson excitedly flew over to him once the phenomenon was over.

Nick laughed at how excited Gibson was and he said: "Yes to all your questions, Gibby. I feel good, and yes, I’ve received the recognition of the Origin Destruction Laws."

"How did you manage it so fast? I’m still deducing my diagram." Patricia almost had a pout, almost.

Nick could also hear a little of her jealousy leaking out of her words, something that he didn’t miss but also didn’t dwell on for too long. He understands what she felt. If the situation were reversed, he’d probably feel the same as well.

He knows that Pat was just slightly jealous. It won’t get in the way of their friendship at all. She too just wanted this to be over with so she could finally relax.

"I don’t know what to say, Pat, other than good luck," Nick admitted generously. "The complete destruction diagram came to me out of nowhere. I wasn’t thinking about it or even planning to deduce it. It just showed itself to me when I was relaxing, and when I saw it, I hurriedly memorized it and replicated it within me."

"Oh." Patricia looked lost for a bit there.

"Well, very lucky indeed," Berk muttered softly nearby. "It’s alright, Pat, you’ll get there eventually. Just relax and don’t be in a hurry; maybe what happened to Nick will also happen to you."

"I hope so, too," Patricia sighed.

"Your aura just now was so scary." Urek swallowed nervously when he recalled it. "Even I felt like I wouldn’t be able to survive being near you when you release it. And that’s just a leak, too. I shudder to imagine what it’d be like if you actually unleash it all."

"Heavenly Star itself would cry if that happened," Berk stated. "I mean, his aura alone could possibly revert Heavenly Star to its most primitive stage if he lashed out."

"Damn right," Urek gasped, "Scary indeed."

Nick didn’t bother explaining. He didn’t need to.

It’s not that they’re wrong. If Nick truly wanted to, he could easily do just that. But they’re still underestimating the Origin Destruction Law.

Reverting Heavenly Star to its most primitive era was just a taste of what he could actually do. If Nick was serious, he could actually destroy this whole chaos realm quite effortlessly. That’s how absurdly strong he was now.

And this is without him reaching the Primal Lifeform Realm of Life Evolution yet.

"So? What’s next? Are you going to the Crimson Womb Chaos Realm to finally put an end to the rivalry between us and The Horde?" Gibson asked. "I mean, the Bug Empress isn’t your enemy anymore, not for quite some time now, and especially not now."

Nick wouldn’t lie. The idea was so incredibly tempting. Gibson’s right; the Bug Empress wasn’t an enemy anymore. Nick could easily pop her like a pimple if she dared to show up before him.

In the end, though, he shook his head and said, "As tempting as that is, I won’t. Not yet, at least."

"I’ll wait for Pat to complete hers, and then we’ll go together."