TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
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In the observation car of the Astral Express.
At this moment, Big Herta was no longer sitting with her legs casually crossed. Instead, her long black-stockinged legs were pressed neatly together, both hands properly resting on her knees.
Clearly, after being thoroughly "educated" by Sol's wishes just now, she had put away her arrogance and become far more serious and equal in attitude.
Sol's demands were simply too great—far beyond what she could possibly satisfy!
And judging from what he wanted to do, whatever this guy was planning was absolutely earthshaking.
"I want two different kinds of light," Herta cleared her throat and spoke with extreme caution. "One is the light before transformation, and the other is the light after transformation within the dream."
"I only want these two lights. Nothing else. For each portion, just give me about the amount you finally distributed to those mortals who awakened from the dream on their own—just that little bit. Just a tiny bit."
This was the first time she had ever been so stingy, asking for only a trace.
Logically speaking, something like this should be researched with as many samples as possible—preferably with Sol's own research data included.
But Sol's asking price was far too high, so high that even she, a genius of the universe, felt she couldn't afford it.
So, she could only ask for a little, in order to reduce the price she had to pay.
"I see." Sol stroked his chin and said seriously, "If that's all you're asking for, then among the wishes I mentioned earlier, you only need to fulfill any two of them."
"Still two?! Why don't you just rob me outright!"
Big Herta's exquisitely beautiful face filled with indignation as she stared at Sol like he was a bandit, letting out a shrill, marmot-like scream.
She was only asking for that little, yet she still had to fulfill two of Sol's demands.
The first one might be manageable, but adding any one of the second or third would bankrupt her completely!
And the light she wanted was merely a small portion of what this guy had casually given away for free to a few hundred people.
Giving it away for nothing to others, but demanding she empty her entire fortune in exchange.
Was there no justice left? No law in the universe?!
"Clearly priced, fair to all!" Sol spread his hands helplessly. "By actual value, what you're asking for is worth exactly this much."
"Impossible!"
Big Herta crossed her arms and declared firmly, "Absolutely impossible!"
"Those two beams of light alone can't possibly be worth more than my entire fortune as a genius!"
She was Big Herta—the genius Big Herta—with a cute little pink wallet. Her wealth was practically inexhaustible.
Adding in her intellect and achievements, she was among the wealthiest beings in the universe.
Two mere beams of light—there was no way even she couldn't afford them!
"If those lights are really that expensive!" Big Herta lifted her chin and said word by word, "Then I, Big Herta, will eat Stelle's bat raw!"
"Don't!"
Stelle immediately protected her bat, saying nervously, "I'm the Galactic Baseballer! This bat is my most beloved partner! If you want to eat it, then—I need extra pay!"
"..."
Big Herta shot Stelle an annoyed glance. She was obviously just making a metaphor.
How could two beams of light possibly be worth more than her entire fortune?
Those lights were precious, sure—but at most they were stellar light with some additional properties.
Facing Herta's skepticism, a cluster of unawakened, primordial light appeared in Sol's hand. He smiled gently. "Sorry, Herta. It really is that expensive."
"Give me a reason."
Big Herta folded her arms, clearly unconvinced.
Even if Sol appreciated both her talent and her beauty, he couldn't treat her like a sucker in a place like this!
Sol lightly toyed with the light in his hand. "What I originally obtained was just a portion like this—no difference in energy level or properties from this light."
"And it was precisely this light that grew stronger as my power expanded. Later, it was sublimated by the hope of those awakened within the dreams, gaining the power to annihilate Dominicus in a single strike."
"A force capable of evolving toward a level beyond Emanators—and with a proven success case—I think it's perfectly reasonable for its value to exceed your entire fortune."
What he had initially obtained—the [Stone Statue of Tiga]—was essentially an open-source starter gift left behind by a certain great being. Anyone who met the conditions could use it, and anyone who met the upgrade conditions could advance it.
As for its raw energy, it was no more than the cluster of light he now held.
The true value lay in the inherited information within it: the structural data of beings of light, and the representative concept of the Light of Hope.
That was crucial—extremely crucial—and truly worth the price he stated.
As for the infinite energy supply from the [Type-III Perpetual Motion Engine], that was a completely separate matter.
"How is that possible?!"
Big Herta stared intensely at the cluster of light in Sol's hand and voiced her doubts. "These lights may be considered powerful, but they're still unimaginably far from the giant that defeated Dominicus!"
By her judgment, no matter how she looked at it, she couldn't connect this with the power that obliterated Dominicus in a single blow.
At best, it was mid-to-lower tier Pathstrider level—light-years away from an Emanator's peak, let alone reaching the Throne.
The Throne wasn't a fixed realm, but a title reserved for the strongest being within a single Path.
There was no doubt that the giant at its final stage was a true Throne.
No matter how she calculated or imagined it, this thing could never reach that level!
"Then watch."
Sol smiled noncommittally as the light in his hand began to change.
A small Tiga appeared—silver-white as the base, accented with red, blue, and gold.
"It's grown much stronger."
Big Herta nodded in acknowledgment and gave a sharp evaluation. "But it's only upper-tier Pathstrider level. Still lacking."
Sol said nothing, simply pouring in an endless torrent of light.
The tiny Tiga in his palm did not grow in size, but its aura surged to a terrifying degree.
To the surrounding universe, it felt like a star compared to a fragile bubble.
"It's already reached Emanator level!"
Big Herta looked at Sol in shock.
The injected energy was immense, yet this small figure could fully manifest it—its structure capable of bearing such power.
She was beginning to believe in the potential of this light.
But then—where was this guy getting so much energy from?!
It was coming entirely from himself, not imaginary energy drawn from a Path.
"Look again."
Sol injected a trace of transformed hope into it. "Adding one portion—the post-transformation light you want."
In an instant, the tiny Tiga underwent a tremendous change. Its entire body turned sacred gold, its power vast as an ocean, deep as an abyss, as though nothing in existence could stand against it!
"The magnitude of change is this extreme?!"
Big Herta's expression shifted dramatically as she stared unblinkingly. "What is this thing?"
She had fully acknowledged the value of this light. It truly was worth more than her entire fortune.
Reality stood before her—the light had evolved twice, reaching a level she could no longer comprehend.
Could this even be a precursor to an entirely new Path?
"Go on, eat it."
Stelle handed her bat to Herta, her expression filled with keen interest.
It wasn't that the bat wasn't precious—she was just curious how Herta would manage to eat it.
"I was joking."
Big Herta silently pushed the bat aside, her expression calm, as if nothing had happened at all.
===BREAK===
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