Observing the patterns of the abyssal energy, Grey noticed a spiral. A spiral identical to that of True Origin energy.
No, it wasn't just similar—it was the exact same pattern.
"So, this is Abyssal Energy?" Grey was stunned for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.
To him, this only meant one thing: Abyssal Energy was another fragment created when Heaven forcefully split Nexus Energy to conceal its existence.
It was energy born from the same origin, yet opposite in nature. True origin Energy embodied birth and creation, while Abyssal Energy embodied decay and corrosion.
But before he could dwell on it further, the so-called Necro Star trembled violently. Its surface rapidly turned blood-red as a sinister miasma began spilling outward.
Grey froze in disbelief.
"This… Cosmic Energy of the outer world is fusing with Abyssal Energy?" His eyes widened in shock.
Energy fusion.
To think he would discover the fusion of energies here, inside a corruption field.
[By observing the fusion of Abyssal Energy and Cosmic Energy, you have gained understanding of Energy Fusion and comprehended the skill: 'Energy Fusion.']
"The corruption field itself is fusing with the outside world… using Cosmic Energy as the medium to combine with Abyssal Energy and form Corruption Energy," Grey muttered, surprised.
He had never read about any of this in the textbooks. In fact, it was highly likely that no one in this world even knew Abyssal Energy existed.
As the Necro Star turned crimson, viscous red liquid began to ooze from its glowing surface. The liquid dripped down, pooling together before slowly molding itself into monstrous forms.
The instant these abominations took shape, nightmarish echoes reverberated throughout the corruption field. A strange, otherworldly language resounded in the air, drilling directly into Grey's mind.
Roar!
The monsters revealed themselves. Their bodies were vaguely humanoid, but grotesquely twisted. Where their heads should have been was instead a floating black globe veiled in red miasma—like a miniature corruption field itself. And at the very center of their chests yawned a massive, perfectly circular hollow, radiating an aura of despair and decay.
"They look like something straight out of a nightmare," Grey muttered helplessly.
But fear never crossed his mind. Nexus Energy coursed steadily through his body, and he had already confirmed the truth—Corruption Energy couldn't harm him. In fact, Nexus Energy was its natural bane. It was the bane of all energies. When Nexus Energy revealed itself, everything else was forced to retreat.
With that certainty, Grey charged forward. Judging from the lack of oppressive aura radiating from the monsters, he was confident he could handle them without issue.
"I should probably create an appraisal skill in the future," Grey thought to himself as he closed the distance between him and the corruption monsters.
Sword energy erupted from his blade and hands, arcs of purple fire-like power splitting through the air. The humanoid abominations didn't even have the chance to react before they were cleaved apart, their twisted bodies collapsing into fragments of corruption energy that fizzled into the void.
Whoosh!
The two flying swords above Grey whistled forward like twin comets, leaving violet trails as they spun and carved through the horde. Each pass shredded several monsters at once, the sheer speed of their movements cracking the very air.
BOOM!
The ground trembled as Grey dashed straight through the collapsing remains of his foes, his sword energy weaving a storm of violet slashes that tore apart everything in his path.
"Too weak." Grey's eyes glowed, unbothered as he advanced, his every step leaving behind afterimages that blurred into a streak of violet destruction.
It didn't take long for Grey to completely clear out all the monsters in the corruption field. Now, he stood directly before the Necro Star.
"People of Blue Star call it the Corruption Core, but its true name is the Necro Star," Grey thought as his eyes narrowed, carefully observing the pulsating sphere.
This was the source. The thing that birthed the corruption monsters. As long as it remained, new abominations would continue to spawn endlessly.
"The way it creates these monsters… is by siphoning away the cosmic energy of Blue Star itself."
He recalled the countless theories he had read before—scholars and scientists alike debating why the density of cosmic energy had been thinning across the world's atmosphere. Now, the answer stood right in front of him. These corruption fields were devouring it all.
Eventually, the day would come when Blue Star's cosmic energy was completely drained. Grey didn't know what would happen when that time arrived, but one truth was certain: aside from Immortals, martial artists, and Espers who cultivated special forms of energy, every other evolutionary path would wither away. The rise of evolvers—an era that belonged to the common people—would end forever.
Sighing, Grey slowly took the Necro Star into his hand. Immediately, it reacted violently, trying to suck away his energy and life force. However, the instant the Necro Star came into contact with Nexus Energy, it withered and exploded right in his palm.
Buzz!
The moment it shattered, the space around Grey thinned, the sky cleared back to blue, and the whistling of wind echoed in his ears.
He had officially eliminated a corruption field, even without having an official ranker's license.
Then, Grey checked the time. It was almost 6 PM, the sun already dipping toward the horizon. Nights in the Outer Ring were far more dangerous than the day—monsters prowled the darkness to hunt, and the activities of the Tiger Claw Gang would multiply as soon as night fell.
Having killed three of their members, Grey knew he would be in deep trouble if they discovered the truth. So, after clearing the corruption field, he wasted no time and headed straight in the direction of Nova City.
Nexus Energy surged into his legs, overlocking them, and he shot forward like a cannonball, leaving a trail of sonic booms in his wake.
With Nexus Overlock, his speed was incomparable—thousands of times faster than when he used Instant Recoil Step. In no time, the towering walls of Nova City came into view, and before long, he was standing at the entrance gate.
After queuing for nearly thirty minutes, Grey finally entered Nova City, paying a fee of 50 Union Credits.
Then, he headed straight to the Golden Chamber and bought a healing potion—his face and head were still aching from the earlier battle, and the last thing he wanted was for Richard to notice his injuries.
With Sector 6 so close to the city's back gate, it didn't take him long to return home. To his surprise, the house was empty. Usually, Alissa would be there, but this time, no one greeted him.
With nothing else to do, Grey freshened up, cooked some noodles, ate quickly, and went straight to bed.
As soon as he lay down, drowsiness overwhelmed him. In his passive state, Nexus Energy had already begun sending signals of metamorphosis throughout his body. The moment he drifted into sleep, a veil of purple energy wrapped tightly around him. His brain received a signal from Nexus Energy, triggering the release of powerful growth hormones. Nexus Energy fused with those hormones and spread into every corner of his body.
Grey was now officially undergoing transformation!