"Earth… again?"
With the power of [Wanderer of Countless Worlds], Kei tore open the nearest rift in the world portal.
Gazing at the Earth before him, identical to the ones he'd seen in the Warhammer world and Marvel Universe, he briefly sensed the energy level of this small thousand-world, then used warp energy to quickly scan the planet's information.
An extremely ordinary, everyday world, no trace of any special power systems.
It seemed… truly mundane?
Massive data streams flashed before his eyes.
When Kei saw the name "Kayaba Akihiko" appear, along with information that the man had just finished preliminary development of a game and was preparing for a beta test, his eyes lit up with realization.
Sword Art Online, the world of Kirito and Asuna!
He estimated the size and scope of this world.
Scratching his cheek with one hand, he figured: since he was already here, why not make something of it?
He immediately performed a world-wide, visible divine descent in this world, announcing that a world portal had officially opened. The portal's location was set in international waters, and people of this world were invited to explore it.
As countless people fell into panic, excitement, confusion, and bewilderment...
After setting up the world portal, he noticed the Divine Kingdom had condensed another complete Cosmic Fruit, so he returned once more to the Marvel Universe to continue tearing open another, much farther, world portal.
Only, halfway through the process, his expression suddenly paused.
Sword Art Online… Aincrad… 100 floors?
In the Sword Art Online world, game designer Akihiko, to fulfill his dream, had created a floating castle fortress and developed a groundbreaking full-dive holographic game.
And during the initial beta test, using the life-threatening feature of the game helmet, he trapped 10,000 players in a deadly game of survival.
Virtual games, holographic tech… Kei wasn't interested.
No matter how well-made virtual stuff was, could it compare to the real thrill of the [Arena of the Gods]?
But the Nine Tiers of the Divine Kingdom did require a management and promotion system.
And to facilitate trade and communication between different worlds, a standardized economic order was essential!
"Labyrinthian Circuit, based on Sword Art Online, establish a 'Personal Info Panel' for everyone who enters the Divine Kingdom. Create an energy resource exchange. Set 'Energy Value' as currency…"
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he began issuing commands to the Labyrinthian Circuit.
His Eternal Primordial Divine Kingdom, under the support of the [Galaxy Devourer], could practically absorb all types of energy.
This absorbed energy, after deducting a 10% "processing fee," would be calculated into a numerical value and converted into a currency usable within the Divine Kingdom.
In simple terms, it was just a string of numbers on a "personal panel" in the Labyrinthian Circuit system!
It wasn't pegged to gold or silver, but to "world-level value"!
As long as he didn't die, the financial system would not collapse.
And the massive energy coming from different worlds would only serve to further upgrade the Divine Kingdom!
As for the Nine Tiers!
All he needed to do was set up trials between each level, modeled after Aincrad from Sword Art Online.
Over time, higher-level "players" would naturally advance to higher maps, while those with weaker power levels would remain on the lower tiers.
As the Labyrinthian Circuit activated, within the Eternal Primordial Divine Kingdom...
A surge of conceptual power and multi-colored world-origin energy began to gather and rise into the skies of the lowest tier of the Nine Tiers.
Within minutes, a massive floating island with 99 levels was fully formed.
At the same time...
"Energy Resource Exchanges" of identical design, differing only in scale, appeared throughout the Nine Tiers and within each Cosmic Fruit.
Everyone who entered the Divine Kingdom was greeted with a virtual interface.
It clearly explained how to use the personal panel, how to use energy as currency, how to ascend to higher layers of the Nine Tiers...
And included the initial version of the Divine Kingdom's legal code.
"Tch~ Fighting banned in peaceful zones? Want to duel? Gotta go to the death arena? Damn it, are they targeting me again?"
Wearing sleek combat gear and razor-wire accessories, Lelith quietly gave up her original idea of robbing people.
Looking at the map's marked exchange center and the glaring zero next to her energy value on her personal panel, she waved at the stoic Drazhar behind her.
"Hey, Torture-class Raider, go trade in some warp energy. Let's get some currency and buy magic from those Kamar-Taj fools."
"As you command, my Queen."
Drazhar bowed respectfully, then led a few Drukhari warriors toward the energy exchange.
"Sniff sniff~ My Queen, I detect the aura of the dimensional entity… and hmm… it carries the scent of mortal females."
Shyish twitched her nose slightly.
Her gaze shifted toward Tsunade and Kushina, who were surrounded by a group of vibrant young women, leisurely strolling through a resort.
"By the Dark City! Two enhanced mortals! That bastard really isn't afraid of dying between a woman's thighs!"
Lelith glanced at Tsunade and Kushina, instantly judging that both of them were likely stronger than she was!
Especially that faint aura connected to the entire world itself…
They had most likely received support from Kei's so-called 'Labyrinthian Circuit'!
And judging by the energy on their bodies…
If these weren't Kei's people, then what else could they be?
And those beauties trailing behind them…
Lelith's eyes glowed with a layer of crimson light. Activating her enhanced vision, she quickly scanned the information of the shrine maidens, who had average power levels, only enough to deal with low-tier Drukhari.
Shrine maidens? Divine attendants?
Damn! These two are really strong, planet-cracking level experts!
Yep, yep, no doubt about it, these shrine maidens are clearly harem candidates waiting in the wings!
That damn pervert… good thing I held my bottom line before!
"Hm?"
Sensing a faint feeling of being watched, Kaguya turned her head toward Lelith and her group.
When she saw the stunning appearances of Lelith and Shyish, her eyes showed a flicker of curiosity, but upon seeing the bizarre, spiky-armored Drukhari behind them, she couldn't help frowning.
"Tsunade-nee, they're so pretty! Lemme check… Drukhari? Lelith and Shyish? I think they're part of Kei's faction?"
Kushina had also noticed Lelith and Shyish.
"...Are you sure those aren't more women that bastard picked up behind our backs?"
"Huh? That might not be it! Should we go ask?"
"Forget it. She's still a pure... uh, old, um… woman. Yeah, let's just call her a woman."
Tsunade had also accessed Lelith's profile through the Labyrinthian Circuit.
But when she saw that her age was recorded as over 1,000 years, the word girl just couldn't come out of her mouth.
A 1,000-plus-year-old pure maiden…
Now that was rare!
"???"
Lelith suddenly felt a deliberate leak of warp energy data. She glanced at it curiously, and nearly spat venom!
Okay, sure, being over 1,000 years old was a little much, but staying pure, was that a crime?
Was that wrong!?
Damn it, are they trying to mock me?
Is this a deliberate taunt?
A hint for her to finally make a move on that bastard?
"Lowest level of the Nine Tiers. Let's challenge it."
After finishing her scan of the data, Hikari looked up at the floating 99-layer island and tugged Tsunade's sleeve.
"It's been a while since I've had a good fight."
Tsunade nodded in agreement and looked skyward at the island.
Kushina gave a small nod toward the still visibly irritated Lelith, then also looked up.
"Wanna try it?"
"We won't die anyway. Let's do it."
Seeing that everyone seemed interested, Tsunade glanced at her own energy panel.
A long string of 9s filled the 'Energy Value' section.
She nodded at Hikari.
The giant Susanoo emerged, wrapping everyone within it.
Over two hundred shrine maidens, along with Tsunade, Kushina, and the others, soared straight into the sky!
"...That bastard really is targeting me!"
Lelith was speechless, dark veins appearing on her forehead as she watched more than 200 people fly straight into the Tower of Ascension.
She had just scanned those weaker shrine maidens earlier, none of them had exchanged any energy value. And that energy exchange center had only just appeared!
This was 100% Kei modifying the backend data for his women!
First, he mocked her with the "1,000-plus-year-old virgin" thing, then showed off their special privileges?
She'd rather get flayed alive by Yvraine…
But she would never, ever, ever give in to that bastard!
So give up already!
"My Queen, over two hundred mortals… I believe the dimensional entity only truly… you know… has two real…"
Shyish pursed her lips, carefully glancing at her queen.
"Silence!"
"But earlier it was just four worlds, now six… and it looks like… wait? The seventh world's opening now!"
"Shyish, don't tell me… you're secretly switching sides to Kei!"