Devouring souls, devouring stars—which ascension entity didn't do that? If that was all they had done, the judge would usually have sent them to the upper dimensions as cannon fodder.
But Hong Kai and his companions had stolen a child of the judge's civilization. That could not be tolerated. The judge sentenced them to death.
"Stop! Let them go, or I'll destroy this child's soul even if it kills me!" Hong Kai knew he was no match for the Gods, but he still had one bargaining chip.
Sure enough, the judge hesitated. He was weighing whether he could stop Hong Kai before Hong Kai killed the child.
Hong Kai had already taken the first step toward becoming a π-level soul. The child, on the other hand, had nothing exceptional besides its π-level soul. With the child trapped inside him, Hong Kai could destroy its soul in an instant.
"I stole the child. Create a High-Dimensional Abyss and exile my companions to the upper dimensions. Whether they live or die will be up to them. How about it?" Hong Kai tried to negotiate.
With a thought, the judge created a valley-like region of spacetime. It was a device for ascending dimensions!
The moment he did, Hong Kai destroyed a third of the child's soul. "You will die for this!" the judge roared.
Hong Kai shrugged. "Sorry. I couldn't tell whether you were attacking me... My hand slipped..."
"I know I'm going to die. So let them leave. Once they're safely away, I'll spare your child and die right here."
The judge had acted without speaking to test Hong Kai's reaction speed.
Hong Kai had been too decisive, and he had Spacetime True Sight. The slightest movement would make him destroy the child. Whatever a Star God created took at least a