The information the elf girl revealed was far more than Seth had expected. For one, she explained that dungeon gates—like the one he had just stepped through—weren't permanent. They formed and vanished over time, appearing only when the balance between worlds wavered. These gateways were the result of unstable space-time distortions that occurred whenever mana merged with a planet's natural flow, temporarily linking it to other worlds rich in mana.
She went on to say that anyone who crossed through these portals would suffer heavy debuffs. Their combat power would drop drastically, forcibly adjusted to match the strength levels of the world they entered. It was nature's way of keeping the balance between realms.
Seth, however, was unaffected. He suffered none of those restrictions—mainly because his world was still weak. Its overall mana density and life level were too low to impose limits on someone like him. In the eyes of this universe, he was still considered beneath the threshold that needed suppressing.
Oh, and as for the wishes—every planet had gone through the same phenomenon. Every living being was granted a single wish when mana first merged with their world. Those who made strong, well-crafted wishes gained powerful talents—gifts capable of reshaping their destiny. Over time, those abilities didn't just vanish; they were passed down through generations, becoming the legacy of entire bloodlines.
However, with each passing generation, the strength of those talents diminished. The power became diluted as the bloodline expanded—grandchildren inheriting only fragments of the original might. The once-legendary gifts that shaped the first generation of wish-makers gradually faded into shadows of what they once were.
In essence, the first wish-bearers became the ancestors—the true founders of strength on every world. Everyone had been given the same opportunity for greatness, an equal chance to receive an SSS or even UR-rank talent. But not everyone had the wisdom—or luck—to word their wish correctly.
"You allowed a tier-zero brat to defeat you… and even extract information from you?" The elf king's voice rang out from the high throne, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he looked down at Evelin, who was kneeling before him.
"Yes, my lord," Evelin replied softly, her head bowed low. "His combat power was over two hundred—far too high for my eyes to properly gauge. His talent was so great that even I could not see through it. And he claimed… he claimed his world only gained mana a week ago." Her words came out quieter near the end, shame dripping from every syllable.
"I have failed you and our kingdom," she continued, bowing deeply until her forehead nearly touched the floor. "Please punish me."
"What you did was the best possible choice," the king said at last, his tone calm but firm. "Unlike those who would have foolishly thrown their lives away for pride, you chose to return and report to me—no matter the cost. You limited the information you gave once you realized he could tell when you were lying, and you used his arrogance to your advantage. Your quick thinking may very well have saved our kingdom."
Evelin's head snapped up, her silver eyes wide in shock. She had expected punishment, perhaps even execution, not praise from her king.
"Their world must still be in a barbaric era," the king continued, leaning back slightly as his expression turned contemplative. "But what you encountered might be a blessed one. Every planet that awakens to mana produces between one and seven SSS-rank talents."
His voice softened, more thoughtful now, as he spoke to himself as much as to her. "The quality of a planet determines the potential of those born upon it. A world rich in creativity and willpower before awakening… that kind of world will give rise to many gifted beyond reason when mana arrives."
The more creative a wish, the higher the rank of the resulting talent. Those who wished with imagination and depth were rewarded accordingly. But simply wishing for another person's ability was shallow—it lacked the originality needed to touch the higher tiers. At best, such a wish could only reach SS rank. So, those who had wished for something like Goku's bloodline or similar powers would never rise beyond that level.
"Go to the purification pool," the king said after a brief silence. "You have earned two weeks of access as your reward for this service to our kingdom."
Evelin's eyes widened in disbelieft. The purification pool was one of the kingdom's greatest treasures, a sacred spring said to cleanse and refine one's mana and very soul. Entering it allowed one the chance to purify their talent—perhaps even restore it to the SSS tier it had once been. Few were ever granted that honor, and only those whose deeds truly benefited the kingdom were deemed worthy.
She bowed deeply, overwhelmed. The king's decision wasn't just mercy—it was recognition.
Back to Seth—he stood with one foot pressed firmly against the neck of what looked to be a demon. The creature clawed wildly at his leg, its nails scraping against his skin with a shrill screech that failed to leave even a mark. Seth didn't bother looking down.
His gaze swept across the hellish landscape—a world of fire and ruin. The ground was cracked and scorched black, the air thick with heat that shimmered like liquid glass. Charred trees stood like skeletons, and in the distance, a river of molten flame twisted through the earth, painting the world in a dull red glow.
"Wow," Seth murmured, his tone almost bored. "You're weaker than the elf."
He shifted his weight slightly, his foot grinding deeper into the demon's throat. The creature's glowing eyes flared as it roared back in defiance, but Seth didn't flinch.
"A tier two demon with a combat power of only ninety," he muttered to himself.
With a faint sigh, Seth crushed its neck underfoot, the bones snapping with a dull crack. The demon's body went still as he stepped away, brushing the ash from his clothes. The heat of this world was intense, even eating away at the fabric of his shirt. He looked down at the faint scorch marks spreading across the cloth and frowned before walking off, deciding there was nothing else here worth his time.
Seth explored the many shops scattered throughout the mall, each doorway revealing a glimpse of a different world beyond. Every entrance led somewhere else—new landscapes, new creatures, and new dangers. Yet, with each step, his conclusion grew clearer: these weren't simple dungeons. They were gateways—connections to other planets that Earth simply wasn't ready to face.
With that realization, Seth left without hesitation. There was no point wasting time in places his world couldn't yet stand against.
Instead, he focused his attention on the current region boss. Finding it didn't take long, and the fight—if it could even be called that—ended almost instantly. Seth allowed the lizardmen to unleash all their skills first, watching with mild curiosity before ending the battle in a single motion. A single backhand strike shattered the creature's defense and silenced it forever.
After claiming victory, Seth took control of the territory, becoming the new region boss. He continued his conquest, moving systematically through every area on the path back to his camp. Each region fell with little resistance, his power making every challenge meaningless.
He used some of his accumulated MS to purchase monsters—guards to protect each dungeon entrance and serve as sentinels. Their task was simple: defend the entrances and alert him immediately if anyone dared to approach.
On his way back home, Seth came to a halt when he crossed into a region already under the control of another Overlord. His steps slowed, and a faint frown touched his face as he took in the state of the place. The streets were cracked and empty, buildings half-collapsed, and the air hung thick with despair.
He walked through the run-down neighborhood in silence, his senses stretched outward, reading every sound and trace of life—or the lack of it. Every cry, every faint heartbeat, every muffled movement told him the same story.
Then, his attention shifted toward a narrow alleyway. There, a small body lay motionless on the ground—a child, no older than ten. Seth stopped completely, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight. The boy's clothes were torn, his skin covered in bruises, and his eyes, once filled with life, were now empty… this wasn't done by monsters but humans.
Seth's frown deepened. This was the first time he had personally come across something like this—evidence of humanity's cruelty laid bare. In a world already thrown into chaos, this was what people had chosen to become. The dark side of humanity was no longer hidden behind laws or civility. It was now on full display for all to see.
Did you like someone? Why not take them by force if they reject you? In the old world, there were laws—rules that kept such darkness buried beneath fear of consequence. But now, with power dictating everything, what could the law truly do? Nothing. Those with strength could act however they wished. They could steal, kill, even commit unspeakable acts, and walk away without remorse. Age, morality, consequence—none of it mattered anymore.