Starting from primitive world, building the strongest divine kingdom

These words left Enzo in a state of bewilderment.

He possessed an acute awareness of his own soul and was adept at wielding his spiritual power with remarkable finesse.

Maude continued to elucidate, "Since my arrival in Starry Sky and my acquisition of knowledge regarding the supernatural, I have come to realize that Disaster World is an exceptionally unique realm. In other worlds, supernatural powers are generally commonplace, but here, they are transmitted in the form of totems, which actually embody the properties of different elements.

Moreover, in Disaster World, supernatural beings can even forge their own soul worlds, a phenomenon that is nothing short of astonishing!"

At this point, Maude erupted into laughter.

Enzo remained perplexed.

With a solemn expression, Maude added, "The ability to construct a world from one's soul is a power reserved for immortal deities! Once the soul has shaped its world and elemental energies continually fill and coalesce into various materials, the soul world will evolve into a true realm. At that juncture, the immortal deities shall undergo yet another transformation."

"But now, supernatural beings in Disaster World can manifest their soul worlds even in their weakest moments."

"If this were to come to the attention of other immortal deities, they would undoubtedly covet Disaster World. Those immortal beings would certainly dismantle it piece by piece in search of its secrets."

Maude's explanation left Enzo in a state of profound shock.

He had sensed, albeit vaguely, that Disaster World was extraordinary.

Yet, only upon Maude's revelation did he truly grasp the incredible nature of the world in which he found himself.

If Disaster World was so exceptional, what about Artemis, the consciousness of the world?

Enzo pondered, when Maude suddenly interjected, "The ritual is about to commence. That thing is approaching."

"What—" Before Enzo could voice his question, he felt himself plunge into a void, his consciousness sinking into an unfathomable abyss. When he finally regained awareness, he found himself ensconced in an opulent palace.

"Enzo!" came a voice of surprise.

Turning his head, Enzo discovered it was Karina.

She wore a delicate white dress, yet shackles adorned her neck and wrists, binding her to a pillar within the palace.

Seeing Enzo arrive, Karina's face lit up with joy.

However, as the reality of her situation dawned on her, a wave of humiliation washed over her, and she quickly lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

Damn it!

That Maude fellow failed to explain what was happening!

Enzo silently grumbled, then turned to Karina, inquiring, "Karina, what's going on? How did you end up here?"

Karina looked up, confusion etched on her face.

She replied, "Weren't you here to rescue me? At Node Temple, Master Mau released the elemental seal within you, and then you mentioned needing to attend to something. We parted ways, and shortly after, Cornelius found me and brought me back to the temple."

Upon hearing this, Enzo furrowed his brow in deep thought.

He was certain that he had not experienced any of what Karina described, and the elemental seal within him… no, it had vanished!

The surge of elemental power flooded his entire being once more!

With a swift motion, Enzo severed the chains binding Karina and helped her to her feet, then asked, "You mean to say this is the temple?"

Karina nodded and replied, "This is indeed the Beast Temple, though merely one of its many palatial halls."

Enzo fell into contemplation.

According to his own judgment, his presence here was likely linked to Karina, for she too found herself within that eerie metallic Node Temple. Moreover, prior to his descent into unconsciousness, Karina had already succumbed to a peculiar state.

"Is this a dream... or a fabricated realm of consciousness?"

Enzo mused, suddenly sensing a peculiar fluctuation. Maude's figure materialized before him, regarding him with a smile that was both enigmatic and disconcerting.

"Maude... no, you are not him." Enzo's expression turned grave as he fixed his gaze upon the apparition of Maude.

Maude replied with a smile, "No, I am indeed Maude."

He continued, addressing Enzo, "Every person harbors both a benevolent and a malevolent side. Naturally, many prefer to label me as a fallen being. Enzo, one must learn to please oneself. You possess immense talent and ample wisdom. The Starry Sky is vast, and both you and I are destined to become formidable forces, ruling over all. I sincerely hope you will join me."

"Allow me to present you with a token of our first meeting."

With that, Maude waved his hand casually, conjuring the figure of Cornelius.

Yet, Cornelius was bound.

Lying on the ground, upon recognizing Maude's form, he suddenly cried out in terror, "The Revered Deity, I beseech you, spare me!"

The degenerated Maude paid him no heed. With a mere flick of his finger, Cornelius was reduced to a heap of flesh.

Then, with a smile directed at Enzo, he said, "You see? With sufficient power, all will fear you, all will be in dread of you. You shall possess unparalleled authority, able to dictate the fates of mortals at your whim!"

"Now, watching your enemy perish before you—does it not bring you a sense of exhilaration?"

The degenerated Maude laughed heartily, his mirth echoing through the air.

Enzo's gaze flickered momentarily, yet quickly steadied as he replied, "Are you attempting to seduce me?"

The degenerated Maude scoffed, "No, I have never seduced you. Those are merely your innermost thoughts unveiled. Enzo, admit it, the world is inherently a struggle for survival, where the weak have no right to exist! You must cast aside this naïve compassion if you wish to become truly powerful!"

Enzo offered no reply.

A vague sense of awareness tugged at him, yet it required validation.

Thus, he turned directly to the degenerated Maude and stated, "I have no fondness for a cold, unfeeling world. As for you, it seems you cannot directly confront me, but can only incessantly attempt to sway me with your words?"

For the first time, a shift was evident on the degenerated Maude's face.

He huffed in irritation and stormed away.

Once he departed, Enzo sensed a change, but just as he sought to explore it, the sensation inexplicably vanished.

At that moment, Karina suddenly embraced Enzo, exclaiming with excitement, "He's dead! Cornelius is finally dead!"

Though aware that this scene was but an illusion, Enzo chose not to shatter it, instead opting to suggest, "Let us leave this place."

In the next instant, Karina halted him.

Karina's arms encircled Enzo's neck, her gaze sultry, she whispered, "No, before we depart, I want to…"

As she leaned toward Enzo's lips, the unexpected moment rendered him speechless. He stared at Karina and asked, "So, even you are but a figment of imagination?"

Karina, perplexed, inquired, "What do you mean?"

Enzo did not respond. He seized Karina and swiftly bound her.

After some time, a peculiar disturbance arose, and all returned to silence. Karina returned to her former self, but kept her head bowed, her expression seemingly awry.

Subsequently, a series of occurrences unfolded—radiant treasures and supreme power manifested in tangible forms, incessantly tempting Enzo. Yet, at this juncture, he had already grasped the significance of these enticements.

Earlier, he had encountered Patricia and learned of the existence of the Starry Sky Temple of the Seven Gods.

This was an immensely powerful entity, named after the seven deadly sins—Pride, Envy, Rage, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust—commanding unparalleled authority within the Underground-River starfield, while the Fierce Beast realm housed the Beast Temple.

Within the Beast Temple resided numerous deities.

They could entere the Starry Sky.They were undoubtedly aware of the existence of even more formidable worlds.

Likewise, they should have known of others capable of traversing into the Fierce Beast domain.

However, it appeared that Patricia and her companions had never been targeted by the lifeforms of the Fierce Beast realm, a phenomenon that was evidently anomalous.

The singular truth behind this matter was that these individuals were aware but chose to remain complicit.

In the instant this thought took root in Enzo's mind, the surrounding palaces vanished in an instant, and he found himself ensconced within a metallic Node Temple, where the statues depicted not monsters, but the degenerated Maude.

With disheveled hair, she gazed at Enzo, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

Then, the degenerated Maude remarked, "Enzo, you truly are remarkable, capable of resisting the Seven Sins Curse of the Temple of the Seven Gods."

Enzo regarded the degenerated Maude, gaining a clearer understanding of what he was to undertake next.

In the blink of an eye, an overwhelming surge of soul power erupted forth.

The degenerated Maude sneered, "Your soul talent is indeed formidable, but to confront me with it? You are still not up to the task! So, return to where you belong!"

Yet, the degenerated Maude was taken aback.

As Enzo's soul power surged forth, he felt an immense pull, as if an unseen hand had grasped him, dragging him into an unknown realm.

Enzo, too, was startled. He had not anticipated such a swift resolution to the matter.

In this newfound place, the essence of Maude had utterly dissipated.

...

Simultaneously, within the vast expanse of Enzo's soul world, a boundless universe stretched endlessly. At the periphery of this cosmos, in a seemingly inconspicuous location, lay a continent adrift in the Starry Sky—an expanse so sparse that it boasted only a solitary tree and an individual.

However, in the next instant, another figure plummeted onto this continent.

"What is this place?"

The degenerated Maude's soul cried out in panic.

"Cease your shouting. No matter how loudly you call, no one will come to your rescue." A tranquil voice resonated in his ears.

Turning around, he beheld a familiar face.