The Hall of Origins was more than a vault. It was a cemetery of lost civilizations. As Ethan clutched the Void World Heart, he felt the Space Cube within his soul release a metallic, hungry thrum. It was no longer just a tool. It behaved like a living organ, demanding more nutrients to evolve into the Chaos Rank.
"Nini," Ethan called out mentally, his voice tight. "The stone is melting. What else do we need?"
"Master," Nini replied, her voice strained, as if she were carrying a heavy weight. "The World Heart provides the foundation, but to reach the Chaos Rank, we need two more components: a Core of Absolute Stillness and Primordial Astral Marrow. I have scanned every inch of this treasury. The Velzard family… they do not have them."
Ethan frowned. The Velzards were one of the most powerful families in this universe, yet even their hoard was insufficient.
"Then we look elsewhere," Ethan said. "But first, I have a debt of courtesy to pay."
