Astral Express Crew Wiped Out at the Start

["What Aha?" She blinked. "Mo, what strange things are you thinking about again?"]

[You looked into her clear eyes.]

[You suddenly realized that this was a world without Aeons, without so-called hatred.]

[You suddenly felt that maybe... living in such a world, or in a dream, wouldn't be so bad?]

[Simulation End]

[Calculating rating, rewards...]

Chapter 45: Obtained Simulation Reward, Doomsday Grade!

Jiang Mo gasped, the cold air rushing into his lungs.

He sat up abruptly.

He was back in Belobog's Underworld, as the ten-year-old street urchin.

This was the second time, and he was almost used to the sense of loss. He didn't take long to recover.

"System, calculate the rewards!"

He couldn't wait.

The mechanical voice sounded.

[Comprehensive evaluation of this simulation: Doomsday Grade!]
[You were born humble, but with your own strength, you rose to the ranks of the Aeon of Destruction Emissary, and your actions won the praise of Nanook. Countless civilizations have met their end at your hands. Especially in the revenge against the Xianzhou, you used amazing strategies to completely destroy this once glorious civilization, making you a genius among villains! Undoubtedly, you are already a great villain who shakes the universe! However, as a pawn of the Destruction's will, you still have the possibility to go further.]
[Evaluation Reward: Villain Value +2000!]
[Final Settlement: A total of 7800 Villain Value points were obtained in this simulation!]

Jiang Mo's heart skipped a beat.

Doomsday Grade! Higher than the Cosmic Extinction Grade last time!

Moreover, the pure Villain Value obtained in this simulation was almost three times more than last time!

Adding the 660 points remaining before the simulation, he now had a total of 8460 Villain Value points.

This number was enough to exchange for several entries.

[According to the evaluation of this simulation, the host will receive one chance to permanently exchange for a [Red or below] entry from the initial three talents for free, and can use Villain Value to exchange for other entries that appeared in this simulation.]
[Do you want to view the reward list and exchange now?]

"View!"

A semi-transparent interface appeared before his eyes.

[Free Entry Three-Choose-One:]
[Premonition (Purple): Your senses have become exceptionally sharp, giving you a strong intuitive warning of impending direct attacks, greatly increasing the likelihood of evasion or parrying (Passive).
Growth: If you consume Villain Value to upgrade to Gold or above, its effect will be qualitatively changed:
It will not only be able to sense the occurrence of an attack, but may even briefly foresee the opponent's moves in the next 1-5 seconds.]
[Requires 5000 Villain Value.]
[Golden Threads of Fate (Gold): You can expend some mental energy to radiate "golden threads" that are difficult for mortal senses to detect into the surrounding environment.
These threads can silently attach to every corner of the environment, weaving a huge monitoring network.
Within the area effectively covered by your "golden threads" (the coverage can be expanded by investing more energy and deepening your control over the ability), you can selectively perceive everything that is happening within the range.]
[Requires 10000 Villain Value.]
[Zen State (Blue): Your mental core is relatively stable. Increases your resistance to mental interference such as fear, charm, and confusion, making you less susceptible to external will.]
[Requires 2000 Villain Value.]

Jiang Mo looked at these entries without much thought.

Golden Threads of Fate!

In the simulation, he relied on this entry to build a huge intelligence network and finally escape the Xianzhou.

Its value far exceeded those ordinary combat entries.

In a place like the Underworld, where information is blocked and dangers lurk everywhere, mastering information means mastering the initiative.

With it, he could more accurately manipulate the situation, avoid risks, and even speed up his journey to the Upperworld.

[Premonition] was also very tempting, and it had growth potential. It seemed that the entry could be upgraded?

But the purple entry, like the blue [Zen State], was obviously not as high priority as the gold one.

"I choose Golden Threads of Fate!"

[Selection confirmed. The gold entry [Golden Threads of Fate] has been permanently loaded into the host template.]

An invisible force surged into his brow, as if something had taken root in Jiang Mo's mind.

He closed his eyes and could feel some weak, outward-extending tendrils, the rudiments of "golden threads."

Okay.

Next up, the points exchange.

[Available Simulation Exchange List:]

Jiang Mo looked at the list.

He was stunned at first glance.

[Lord of Ruin (Purple)]

[Effect: Grants the identity of a Lord of Ruin, increasing affinity with Destruction. Other specific effects are unknown.]

[Exchange Cost: 6000 Villain Points.]

Lord of Ruin? Purple?

He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

In the simulation, he was a genuine Lord of Ruin, wielding the power of Destruction, capable of obliterating stars with a flick of his finger.

But why does this Lord of Ruin entry only explicitly state that it grants the identity? Since it's a Lord of Ruin, with an affinity for Destruction, shouldn't there be an increase in power?

Just wondering, if it's a purple entry, how much will the power be enhanced?

Moreover, "other specific effects are unknown"...

Is it asking him to gamble with his Villain Points?

Jiang Mo temporarily shelved this entry and continued reading.

[Stealth (Blue)]

[Effect: Can actively conceal one's aura and traces, greatly reducing the chance of being detected by enemies. Passive: 100% chance to hide true strength, making it impossible to discern.]

[Exchange Cost: 2000 Villain Points.]

This entry itself is good, especially the stealth aspect, which aligns with his current needs.

Wait a minute.

[Lord of Ruin]

plus

[Stealth]

One grants the identity of an Emissary, the other conceals aura and strength.

These two entries seem like a matching set?

It's as if the system is hinting, "If you want the identity of a Lord of Ruin, you better hide yourself well."

But if the

[Lord of Ruin]

entry is just an empty shell, what's the point of hiding a non-existent power?

There should be a power boost, and... there must be something fishy about that "specific effects unknown"!

Maybe it's some kind of ability that can only be triggered by possessing the identity of a Lord of Ruin? Or some kind of influence?

Jiang Mo's heart beat faster.

This is a high-stakes gamble.

Using 6000 Villain Points to bet on the unknown effects of a purple entry.

The risk is not small, but the potential benefits may be greater than they appear on the surface.

He took a deep breath and continued reading.

[Stellar Nucleus Essence (Gold)]

[Effect: Possesses a Stellar Nucleus within, granting power and abilities on par with a star. If you die, you can blow up the surrounding planets along with you.]

[Exchange Cost: 10000 Villain Points.]

Seeing this entry, Jiang Mo's eyes widened.

This entry was from the last simulation, but it has changed from purple to gold! And the effect has changed too!

Last time it was "specific abilities unknown," this time it directly states "granting power and abilities on par with a star"!

Wouldn't exchanging for this entry mean obtaining a protagonist template?

Possessing the power of a star, and being able to take others down with you when you die!

Ten thousand Villain Points for a gold entry, and one like this that only protagonists have, is definitely worth it!

Unfortunately...

He looked at his remaining Villain Points: 8460 points.

Still short by over a thousand.

He can't afford this entry for now.

He shifted his gaze to the remaining entries.

[Gamble Luck (Purple)]

5000 points.

[Sneak Attack (Blue)]

2000 points.

[Reality-Slicing Slash (Red)]

30000 points.

Swarm Nest (Red)

: 40,000 points.

The red entries were still astronomical figures, out of reach.

He could afford

Sneak Attack

and

Gamble Luck

, but there were other entries he wanted more right now.

Lord of Ruin

6,000 points, the bulk of his current villain points.

If he won the gamble, he might receive unexpected and huge rewards.

If he lost the gamble, then... it didn't seem like a loss?

At least in the Underworld right now, almost no one could threaten him, the man who had already become the mastermind behind the Wildfire organization.

The Golden Threads of Fate alone were enough for his current situation and status.

Aglaya was able to control the Holy City for hundreds of thousands of years with the Golden Threads.

Now that I have the Golden Threads, can't I control a small Jarilo-VI?

Then, Jiang Mo stared at the

Lord of Ruin

entry, lost in thought.

To gamble, or not to gamble?

He weighed the options in his mind.

This entry came with an identity, and the increase in strength was unknown...

"System."

Jiang Mo asked in his heart.

"Can this

Lord of Ruin

entry be upgraded?"