"Special lives are deeply attuned to the Laws of the universe. You're aligned with the attribute of 'Zero,' so this phase should be the simplest for you," the Shadow said calmly.
With a thunderous stomp, a massive ring—tens of thousands of kilometers wide—materialized before them.
"This ring was created by the Dream-Eater Race in a previous era of reincarnation," the Shadow explained. "It's built on ancient illusion techniques and supports two combat modes."
"In the first mode, your mind enters the ring, and it simulates two identical entities based on your physical capabilities. Your consciousness takes over one, and defeating the other counts as a win."
"The second mode is for lifeforms below Universe Master level—those with single-evolution gene structures."
"In that one, your real body enters the ring. The system uses absorbed cosmic energy to create a mirror version of yourself, matching your physical stats but altering its comprehension of the Laws."
"In both modes, the mirror opponent will only use basic Law techniques for combat. Your test is to defeat the first opponent within one month."
The Shadow gestured toward the dome and floor.
"These patterns contain fusion Laws—ranging from the basics of Light-Speed fusion to fifth-order fusion techniques used by Law Masters. Use them to deepen your comprehension and accelerate your growth."
Malrick raised a brow. "Just the first opponent?"
"Yes. Don't be careless," the Shadow warned. "The entities this ring simulates all possess Law comprehension on par with Universe Masters. By the tenth level, it mimics an Immortal; the twenty-first is Venerable level, and by the twenty-sixth, you're facing Law Masters."
"You've only just stepped into Law comprehension, so this trial is balanced accordingly. Still, I suggest using the second mode. Life-and-death combat sharpens growth, and with your Original Nucleus, survival odds are in your favor."
Malrick nodded. "Understood. I'll try once."
With a leap, he entered the ring. A strange fluctuation pulsed through him. A hundred meters ahead, cosmic energy surged and quickly condensed into a perfect copy of him.
"A full mirror clone?" Malrick muttered.
He activated his Bio-field, channeling Time Acceleration alongside the Light Law.
"Let's begin."
Boom!
Malrick launched forward at light speed, throwing a punch strong enough to tear his own Bio-field apart. But his target vanished.
"An afterimage?!"
His punch slammed into the ring's surface—yet it didn't even stir a speck of dust.
Before he could retreat, his head suddenly exploded.
Behind him, the mirror version calmly retracted its fist.
The entire exchange lasted less than a ten-thousandth of a second.
"...Yeah, I lost that one."
The massive Shadow stepped forward, retrieved Malrick's collapsed form, and pulled a metallic ring from the void, placing it on his middle finger.
Seconds later, Malrick's head regenerated.
He blinked. "I… just died? No. My head was blown apart."
Then he frowned, confused. "Why does it feel like I'm standing in sunlight?"
He looked around—no sun in sight.
The beast pointed to the silver ring now on his hand. "Look inside it."
"A ring? You gave this to me?" Malrick turned it and let his consciousness sink in.
What he saw shocked him.
Inside the ring was a pocket universe—spanning over a trillion kilometers.
A complete world.
To an ordinary Law Master of a later reincarnation era, this might be nothing. But to Malrick, it was an invaluable artifact.
And more than that—it was filled with 100,000 yellow stars.
He stared wide-eyed at the Shadow. "All of this…"
The beast grinned. "I knew this would come in handy. Those stars were collected by 'Zero' during his wanderings. He used them as snacks. He still has seven or eight of these rings left."
"Wait—seven or eight rings, all packed with stars?"
"Exactly. But don't get greedy. This one's on loan. Only if you complete the entire assessment does it become yours."
The Shadow's tone grew more serious. "Back to the fight. Your mirror used a time afterimage—an extension of Time Acceleration. Until you understand the Time Law deeply, you'll never win."
"I suggest focusing your comprehension there."
Malrick nodded and tightened his fist with renewed determination. "Then I'll start with the Time Law."
He sat cross-legged and began examining the intricate secret patterns laid out across the dome and ring.
Though the map was enormous, there were only 18 patterns.
The first 9 were composed of light, solar forms, and radiant particles—illustrating the fusion of Time and Light Laws.
The next 9 featured fists, claws, and kinetic trails—recording powerful physical combat techniques.
Malrick started with the first.
Immediately, he was drawn in.
Every line in the diagram shimmered with meaning. The patterns mapped out a vast cosmic order.
As he traced them with his mind, each line unfolded, revealing endless derivations and possibilities.
His fingers moved on their own, sketching motions in the air, light swirling at his fingertips as traces of Time shimmered behind each gesture.
Time flowed unnoticed.
Days passed.
Malrick alternated between studying and fighting. Whenever his mirror image blew up his head, he'd return to study, using each death as a moment of insight.
He died dozens of times.
From helplessness to drawing even with his clone, he improved rapidly.
After one particularly intense match, Malrick returned to the patterns—and fell into a trance.
He sat quietly, locked in deep comprehension, unmoving.
The Shadow finally called out to him.
"Wake up. You're out of time."
Malrick blinked, the trance fading.
"A month has passed," the Shadow said. "Push it further, and you'll exceed your trial window."
"Thanks for the reminder." Malrick stood, his mind still echoing with cosmic threads of insight.
"How do you feel? Are you ready?" the Shadow asked, with more nervousness than expected.
"I think I can defeat the third mirror."
Confidence radiated from Malrick as he leapt back onto the ring.
Seconds later, the clone appeared.
Malrick stomped. Light and Time Laws surged in tandem.
Tens of thousands of afterimages burst into the sky.
He attacked with all of them at once.
In an instant, his mirror's head exploded, and the image dissolved into stardust.
Malrick clenched his fist where the copy vanished. "Guess that's payback."
The afterimages flickered and disappeared.
He turned. "I want to challenge the next one. Can I?"
"Of course!" The Shadow let out a hearty, lizard-like laugh.
Despite its colossal form, its joy was genuine.
Malrick was already used to it.
He faced the next mirror.
It fell quickly.
But the third clone pushed back hard.
They clashed evenly—speed for speed, Law for Law—until Malrick's chest was pierced.
He withdrew and recovered using the energy of the hundred thousand stars.
"You reached the third clone's level in one epiphany," the Shadow said, impressed. "Excellent progress."
"Only the willpower assessment remains, right?" Malrick asked.
The Shadow nodded. "Correct. Ready to begin?"
Malrick's eyes narrowed.
"Let's finish this."
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