Kent is now aware of some things that he believes will broaden his perspective.

First, the lady before him isn’t simple at all. He had no idea what she was like in the past, but he could tell she was someone he couldn’t mess around with, or else he risked death. In fact, he can’t even glimpse anything about her true nature.

Second, from what she said, it appeared she was Lex Morvane’s master during the Dark Era. Kent could tell she was telling the truth, and that alone made him wonder about so many things, some of them even making him question if this mission was worth the preparation he had done before coming.

From the look of things, everything now revolves around the Ruthless Bandit. While he already had it on good authority that he would need his ruthless memories, he never expected them to be the focal point of his mission.

It now appeared he must read those memories and prepare for what would happen next.

From what Princess Pandora said, he must awaken the evil within him and gain control of it before leaving.

"Is your name even Pandora?" Kent asked, feeling like he knew nothing reliable at this point.

"My name is indeed Pandora. However, I am not a princess in the slightest. In fact, this version of me is merely an afterimage."

"Say what now?" Kent’s eyes widened.

The smile on Princess Pandora’s face widened, perhaps enjoying the look of shock on Kent’s face.

Naturally, Kent, who had already recovered his memories of a life where he reached the peak of Celestialhood, knew what she said wasn’t something easily achievable.

He rose to the peak, becoming an existence whose sword could sever the threads of fate. His sword could cut through the fabric of reality, exposing the void. He had achieved so much, yet the idea of having one’s afterimage live a full life was never one of them.

Afterimages are basically instances within the moment of one’s existence. If one takes a step forward, that small movement consists of many micro-movements stacked together to form the complete movement.

When separated and one is picked, that one pick can also be broken down further until it cannot be broken down any further. Once one reaches that stage, choosing just one movement can be considered an afterimage.

It is mostly seen when one’s movement is beyond what the eye can track. Long after they are gone, their afterimage would finally be registered in one’s view.

So, for her to claim this version of her was merely an afterimage, Kent doesn’t even know what or how to feel.

"Are you for real?" Kent asked, clearly in denial.

Seeing this, Princess Pandora smirked. "You are still a rookie, Lex. Years ago, you asked me what the absolute peak looks like, and I said I have yet to see it." She smiled and added, "I have seen it, and it is beyond what your mind can comprehend.

So relax and stop even thinking about anything. My existence is not something you can fathom. That said, I am what you need right now, so tell me, are you ready to become the Ruthless Bandit again?"

Kent sighed, still in shock. However, knowing he cannot ask for answers just yet, he had to focus on something else.

Before giving his answer, he asked a question first. "You said I must awaken the evil in me so you can help me keep it under control. What if I have no way of remembering all of my memories?"

"This is not a problem. I can already tell you have a way to start, so I will just have to wait and let you finish that. The rest can be opened by me when you are ready..."

He nodded.

"Then how about you tell me more about the Tormented Chaos Abyss first, since the High Priestess brought me here to learn more about that place?"

Princess Pandora nodded and turned her focus toward the scrolls on the table. For a moment, she planned on telling him everything. However, after a quick thought, she told him what he needed to know.

"It is the most dangerous place in the Star Realm. It has three levels, each filled with all kinds of horror. The Tormented Layer mostly has Immortal-level Chaos Beasts and a few demigods.

The Chaos Layer is filled with demigods and gods. Even Universal Gods can be found there, and each is a force of nature. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

As for the Abyss Layer, you have no reason to go there, so it would be best if you knew nothing about it. But you must know, even Celestials of today can easily die there."

She smiled weakly, seeing the expression on Kent’s face.

"Relax. Inside the Tormented Chaos Abyss, I hold 25% authority. In fact, you would be meeting my real body there. I have waited for your return, and so now that you are here, I believe it is time for me to awaken.

Also, you will only have to survive the outer layer since, once I awaken, I will come to you. Once I find you, you will have no need to kill to absorb Chaos Energy.

I have prepared enough resources to keep you fed for millions of years."

Kent smiled, already looking forward to the day he would meet Princess Pandora’s main body.

"That said, you must do your best to survive for as long as you can. Only by entering the Tormented Chaos Abyss holding the item hidden underground of this place would I start to awaken."

Kent nodded.

"Then do you have anything else to tell me before I start?"

She smiled and nodded.

"Indeed. During the memory extraction phase, if you feel like you are about to lose control, don’t resist. I will ensure no harm comes to you."

Kent had no reason to trust her; however, he nodded, knowing she would indeed protect him. Call it a gut feeling, but he can tell the Princess before him can be trusted.

In fact, he feels like being close to her is the safest he can be at the moment. Maybe because, deep down, he knew they had, at one point in his many lives, lived as master and disciple. Maybe they even went beyond that.

"I suppose I would need a quiet and private place to cultivate."

She nodded and stood up. "Follow me."

She led him to a spacious garden where, aside from green flowers and butterflies, everything about it reeked of love and affection.

"There is a Tier 26 formation around this garden. Without my permission, nobody can enter, so relax and handle your business well."

Kent thanked her, and after a few moments, she vanished from the garden.

After she was gone, Kent let out a deep sigh.

He doesn’t know what will happen once he starts reading the memory diary, but he knows for a fact that whatever happens over the next few days/weeks will change his life tremendously.

The memories he is about to examine are ones he never planned to face just yet. However, keeping them contained while learning was actually detrimental to his safety; he knew he must take that step while he still had the upper hand.

But before that, there is something else he must first do.

His mission may have changed into a much more difficult one, but that doesn’t mean he must forget the one he needed to complete if he wants to make it to Elina’s galaxy.

Tapping into his connection to the Soul Universe, his three Soul Warriors, [Calix], [Kenna], and [Bello], appeared in the garden.