Just call me Thor

538  Void Maelstrom

Mike is the fastest?

"This... this can't be right!" Mike instinctively objected, feeling that something about Professor Gregory's analysis was off.

As a theorist, Professor Gregory was all about data and facts. He calmly explained, "You should have noticed by now. Aside from wealth, there's very little room left for you to improve in any other area."

Mike knew this all too well.

In fact, if there was anything the human race could offer to help Thor, they would have already given it to him, even for free.

Mike's purchase of the Force of Nature in the Trade Secret Realm for a few thousand gold coins was proof of this.

The Force of Nature, as an SS-grade equipment prototype, had the potential to become SSS-grade equipment.

Normally, it would have sold for at least tens of thousands of Lord Merits in the Mystic Market.

That deal had been heavily subsidized by the human race's leadership, who had paid the difference behind the scenes.

There was an unspoken understanding between both sides.

When it came to a potential Supreme Being, the human race would spare no effort in providing support.

And in return, the potential Supreme Being would step up when the time came.

For the past 300 years, every investment in a potential Supreme Being had brought the human race returns a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.

In fact, the resources invested in Thor had already paid off.

The Tower of Truth was the fastest place to improve one's combat power, and Mike had already maxed out his progress there.

It was like a car with the gas pedal floored—there was no more room for speed or acceleration.

Mike fell silent, once again hitting a dead end.

"But..." Professor Gregory's tone shifted, offering a glimmer of hope.

"There is one place, besides Earth and the Tower of Truth, where you can still improve your combat power."

Mike's curiosity was piqued. "Where?"

"The Void," Professor Gregory replied, then clarified, "More specifically, the Void Maelstrom. There's a Void Passage outside Earth, and on the other side of that passage is the Void Maelstrom."

Mike frowned slightly.

He didn't have a good impression of the Void.

His Fire Element had fused with a Void Fragment, causing Void Monsters to occasionally appear around him.

And the last time Mike had fought the Progenitor of Ghosts, a 1000-level Devil from the Void had nearly ruined everything.

The Void was a place full of unknowns and dangers.

The unknown and mysterious aspects didn't bother Mike too much—he had the Eye of Truth, which could help to some extent.

But the danger...

Mike repeated Professor Gregory's words, still confused.

"A Void Passage?"

"Yes, the passage was created when the Tower of Truth descended," Professor Gregory explained, giving a brief overview of the passage's origins.

He promised to send Mike a detailed report once he had compiled all the information.

As for whether Mike should go, and when, that would be up to him.

The human race had very little information about the Void Maelstrom. Only a handful of people had ever ventured there, and those who returned refused to speak about their experiences.

Before ending the conversation, Professor Gregory emphasized, "The Void Maelstrom is extremely dangerous. Morpheus once said that even a potential Supreme Being could fall there."

Fall?

Under normal circumstances, just hearing that would be enough for Thor to cross the Void Maelstrom off his list!

Mike could wait until he became a true Supreme Being, then team up with Apollo and Ares to explore the maelstrom together. Wouldn't that be a better idea?

But today, Thor was different.

Mike had always been self-aware.

He was afraid of death. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Who wouldn't be?

But Mike also knew that some things, if they happened, would be worse than death.

Mike didn't want to look back on his life and realize that there had been moments when he could have done better, when he could have changed something, but he hadn't.

If that happened...

He feared he would regret it.

So, as long as he still had the chance, Mike was willing to take some risks and give it a try!

Professor Gregory had seen this in Mike, which was why he had brought up the Void Maelstrom in the first place.

...

When Professor Gregory mentioned the Void Maelstrom, the Eye of Truth immediately provided survival data.

[In your current state, the survival rate in the maelstrom is 17.56%.]

That's a low probability!

If you went 100 times, you'd die 83 times!

With odds like that, no sane person would go!

Of course, the Eye of Truth also offered some ways to increase the survival rate:

[Changing class could increase the survival rate by 15%.] [A fourth talent awakening would raise the survival rate to over 50%.] [Deconstructing the Greed Source could increase the survival rate based on the progress of the deconstruction.] [...]

Mike considered his upcoming schedule—it was packed.

First, he had a deathmatch to deal with.

On the 40th floor, a 999-level ghost race potential Supreme Being was waiting for Mike.

Without clearing the 40th floor, Mike couldn't access the Change Class Realm, let alone proceed with his talent awakening and other plans.

Second, after defeating the ghost race potential Supreme Being, Mike would have to decide whether to venture into the Void Maelstrom.

His own strength was one factor to consider, but he also needed to take into account the opinions of Ares and Apollo.

Finally, even if he decided to go, Mike would have to think about whether to bring a few people along with him...

At the end of the day, the most pressing task for Mike was to study the Greed Source!

Only by deconstructing the Greed Source and integrating it into his Thor's Sea could Mike increase his combat power, defeat the ghost race potential Supreme Being, and resolve all the other issues!

But a brass version of the Greed Source? Mike couldn't accept that!

So, first things first—Transmute!

After a brief chat with Professor Gregory, their conversation came to an end.

Though Gregory hadn't asked why Mike had come to see him, he had a pretty good idea.

It probably had something to do with Apollo's condition.

After saying goodbye to Professor Gregory, Mike didn't return to Earth right away. Instead, he headed to his private space.

"Fool, I need a favor!"

Mike held up the brass Force of Nature and called out.

"Help me disguise this thing."

The Transmute cooldown was short, so Mike needed to keep trying.

But walking around with an SSS-grade equipment like the Force of Nature in front of his classmates felt a bit too flashy.

Wouldn't that be too high-profile?

It might expose his true identity.

Fool Master sneered and asked, "Why should I help you?"

Mike replied confidently, "I'll pay you!"

"Deal!"

Fool Master agreed immediately, afraid that Thor might change his mind.

But as soon as she agreed, she realized something wasn't quite right.

Wait a minute...

I'm getting paid to help disguise something? Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

How did Thor manage to make it seem like paying me was some kind of grand favor?

Still, it was a simple task, and she wouldn't lose anything by doing it. Fool Master didn't dwell on it. She took the Force of Nature and gave it a few taps with her hammer, disguising it.

"Anyone below Ultimate Lord won't be able to see through it, but..."

Fool Master had originally planned to say, But this equipment will be a bit unlucky for a while.

In fact, most of the equipment she worked on tended to have bad luck for a while.

But after some time, the bad luck would dissipate, and the equipment would return to normal.

However, Fool Master thought better of it.

So, she swallowed the second half of her sentence.

Mike reached out to take the Force of Nature, but Fool Master pulled it back.

She extended her other hand.

"Where's the money?"

A deal was a deal—payment first, then delivery!

Mike pulled out five copper coins, lined them up in his palm, then thought for a moment and took two back.

Fool Master: ...

Mike said, "You only hit it three times. Three copper coins is fair, right?"

Fair. Very fair!

Thor had said he'd pay, but he never said how much!

Fool Master silently accepted the three copper coins and handed the Force of Nature back to Thor.

With the money in hand, Fool Master's face lit up with a mischievous smile, her laughter ringing out like wind chimes.

Mike turned and glared at Vladimir.

"Put that wind chime away!"

Vladimir quickly stashed the wind chime, and the laughter abruptly stopped.

Mike eyed Fool Master warily, his expression full of suspicion.

"What are you laughing about?"

Fool Master waved him off dismissively.

"I just remembered something funny."

Mike snorted.

"What's so funny? Are you pregnant?"

Fool Master shook her head.

"No, I just learned a new skill recently."

Mike's face paled, sensing that something was off. He suddenly felt the urge to leave.

He suspected that staying any longer wasn't a good idea.

But Fool Master didn't give him the chance to escape.

The three copper coins floated in Fool Master's palm, forming an isosceles triangle in the air.

A wave of demonic energy surged out, and laws began to manifest. The three copper coins resonated with each other, spinning and creating a small, self-contained world.

Mike: ???

Just from this display, it was clear that Fool Master's true strength far exceeded that of a nine-star Lord!

Mike had long suspected that Fool Master wasn't an ordinary nine-star Lord.

But with Apollo's restrictions on her, and the Eye of Truth unable to see through her, Mike had no way of confirming it.

Still... what was Fool Master up to?

Mike watched her closely, ready to bolt at any moment.

Under the influence of the demonic energy, the space around the three copper coins became isolated from the rest of the world.

Then...

Fool Master drew a sword!

Mike seemed to sense what was about to happen and instinctively tried to stop her.

"No!"

Fool Master slashed with her sword.

The three copper coins turned into gold coins!

The small space around them seemed to be gilded in gold.

Mike's face turned pale, as if he had just lost a fortune. His teeth chattered, and he couldn't even form words.

My defenses have been breached!

Fool Master beamed, her smile as bright as the sun, and pointed to the three gold coins.

"Look, this is my new skill—Golden Abyss!"