Simulation Reward Acquired: Emanator-Class!

"What Aha?" She blinked. "A'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.

All at once, you felt that perhaps... living in a world like this, or in a dream, would not be so bad.

Simulation ended.

Calculating evaluation and rewards...

Obtained Simulation Rewards, The Finality Grade!

Jiang Mo panted heavily as icy air rushed into his lungs.

He abruptly sat up.

He had become that ten-year-old orphan in Belobog's Underworld again.

This was the second time. He had more or less gotten used to this sense of disparity, and it did not take him long to recover.

"System, settle the rewards!"

He said impatiently.

The mechanical voice sounded.

Overall simulation evaluation: The Finality grade!

You were born lowly, yet through your own strength, you entered the ranks of the Aeon of Destruction Emissaries. Your actions earned Nanook's approval. Countless civilizations met destruction at your hands. Especially in your revenge against the Xianzhou, you used astonishing strategy to utterly wipe out that once-glorious civilization. You are truly a genius among villains! There is no doubt that you have become a great villain who makes the universe tremble! However, as a pawn of the will of Destruction, you still have room to go further.

Evaluation reward: Villain Points +2000!

Final settlement: You obtained a total of 7800 Villain Points in this simulation!

Jiang Mo's heart skipped a beat.

The Finality grade! It was even higher than the Universe-Ending grade from last time!

Moreover, the pure Villain Points he had gained from this simulation were nearly three times what he had received last time!

Including the 660 points left over before the simulation, he now had a total of 8460 Villain Points.

That number was enough to exchange for several traits.

Based on this simulation's evaluation, the host will receive one free opportunity to permanently exchange one red-grade or lower trait from the initial three talents. Villain Points may also be used to exchange for other traits that appeared during this simulation.

Would you like to view the reward list and make exchanges now?

"Show me!"

A translucent interface appeared before him.

Choose one of three free traits:

Foresight (Purple): Your senses become extraordinarily sharp. You will develop a powerful intuitive warning of imminent direct attacks, greatly increasing the chance of evasion or blocking. (Passive)

Growth Potential: If upgraded to Gold grade or above by consuming Villain Points, its effect will undergo a qualitative change:

You will not only sense incoming attacks, but may even briefly foresee the opponent's moves over the next 1–5 seconds.

Requires 5000 Villain Points.

Golden Threads of Fate (Gold): You may expend a portion of your mental energy to emit "golden threads" into the surrounding environment, threads that are difficult for ordinary senses to detect.

These threads can silently attach themselves to every corner of the environment, weaving an enormous surveillance network.

Within the area effectively covered by your "Golden Threads" (the coverage range can expand with greater investment of energy and deeper mastery of the ability), you may selectively perceive everything taking place within that range.

Requires 10000 Villain Points.

Zen State (Blue): Your mental core is relatively stable. It improves your resistance to mental interference such as fear, charm, and confusion, making you less susceptible to being swayed by external wills.

Requires 2000 Villain Points.

Jiang Mo looked at the traits without much hesitation.

Golden Threads of Fate!

During the simulation, he had relied on this trait to build a massive intelligence network and eventually escape the Xianzhou.

Its value far exceeded that of ordinary combat traits.

In a place like the Underworld, where information was cut off and danger lurked everywhere, controlling information meant controlling the initiative.

With it, he could manipulate the situation more precisely, avoid risks, and perhaps even speed up his journey to the Upper District.

Foresight was tempting too, and it had growth potential. Could traits actually be upgraded?

But a Purple trait, like the Blue Zen State, clearly took lower priority than a Gold one.

"I choose Golden Threads of Fate!"

Selection confirmed. The Gold trait Golden Threads of Fate has been permanently loaded into the host template.

An invisible force flowed into the space between his brows, as though something had taken root in Jiang Mo's mind.

He closed his eyes and sensed faint tendrils stretching outward. They were the embryonic form of the "Golden Threads."

Good.

Next came the paid exchanges.

List of exchangeable traits from this simulation:

Jiang Mo looked at the list.

At first glance, he froze.

Lord of Ruin (Purple)

Trait Effect: You may obtain the identity of a Lord of Ruin, increasing your affinity with Destruction. Other specific effects unknown.

Exchange Cost: 6000 Villain Points.

Lord of Ruin? Purple grade?

He rubbed his eyes, making sure he had not misread it.

In the simulation, he had genuinely been a Lord of Ruin. He possessed the power of Destruction and could annihilate stars with a flick of his hand.

But why did this Lord of Ruin trait only explicitly state that he would gain the identity? Since it was Lord of Ruin and increased his affinity with Destruction, it should enhance his power too, right?

He just did not know how much stronger it would make him if it was only a Purple trait.

And the other specific effects were unknown...

Was this asking him to gamble with Villain Points?

Jiang Mo temporarily put that trait aside and continued reading.

Concealment (Blue)

Trait Effect: You may actively conceal your aura and tracks, greatly reducing the chance of being discovered by enemies. Passive: Your true strength can be hidden 100%, making it impossible for others to gauge you.

Exchange Cost: 2000 Villain Points.

The trait itself was good, especially its ability to conceal his tracks. It suited his current needs perfectly.

Wait.

Lord of Ruin plus Concealment...

One granted the identity of an Emissary, while the other hid his aura and strength.

No matter how he looked at them, these two traits seemed like a matching set.

It was as though the system were hinting that if he wanted to claim the identity of Lord of Ruin, he had better conceal himself well.

But if the Lord of Ruin trait was merely an empty identity, what was the point of hiding power he did not possess?

It should increase his strength. And... there had to be some catch behind those "specific effects unknown"!

Perhaps it was some kind of ability that could only be triggered by possessing the identity of Lord of Ruin? Or some other kind of influence?

Jiang Mo's heartbeat quickened.

This was a huge gamble.

He would spend 6000 Villain Points to gamble on the unknown effects of a Purple trait.

The risk was not small, but the potential gains might be far greater than they appeared.

He took a deep breath and continued downward.

Stellar Nucleus Essence (Gold)

Trait Effect: You possess a Stellaron within your body, gaining power and abilities on the same level as Stelle. If you die, you can blow up the surrounding planets along with yourself.

Exchange Cost: 10000 Villain Points.

When he saw this trait, Jiang Mo's eyes flew wide open.

This trait had appeared in the previous simulation, but it had changed from Purple to Gold! Its effects had changed as well!

Last time, it had merely said "specific abilities unknown." This time, it directly stated, "gain power and abilities on the same level as Stelle"!

Would exchanging for this trait not mean obtaining a protagonist template?

He would possess Stelle's power, and even if he died, he could take others down with him!

Ten thousand Villain Points for a Gold trait—and one that only a protagonist should have—was absolutely worth it!

Unfortunately...

He looked at his remaining Villain Points: 8460.

He was still short by over a thousand.

For now, he could not afford this trait.

He shifted his gaze away and looked at the remaining traits.

Gamble Luck (Purple): 5000 points.

Sneak Attack (Blue): 2000 points.

Reality-Slicing Slash (Red): 30000 points.

Swarm Nest (Red): 40000 points.

The Red traits remained astronomical figures, far beyond his reach.

He could afford Sneak Attack and Gamble Luck, but there was a trait he wanted more right now.

Lord of Ruin...

Six thousand points was the bulk of his current Villain Points.

If he won the gamble, he might receive an unexpectedly huge return.

If he lost, then... it did not seem like much of a loss either?

At the very least, in the Underworld as it was now, almost no one could threaten him—the man who had already become the hidden leader of Wildfire.

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

Aglaea had relied on Golden Threads to control the Sacred City for hundreds, even thousands of years.

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

Then Jiang Mo stared at the Lord of Ruin trait and fell into thought.

Gamble, or not?

He weighed it in his mind.

This trait granted an identity, but the increase in strength was unknown...

"System."

Jiang Mo asked inwardly.

"Can this Lord of Ruin trait be upgraded?"