Ainz put down the crystal, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling with his scarlet eyes.
Demiurge.
"Exist."
Do you think Higashino's plan will succeed?
Demiurge adjusted his glasses.
"Your subordinate... is unsure. But if Higashino says it's worth a try, then there's a possibility of success."
Ainz nodded.
"That's true, he usually doesn't speak carelessly."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the artificial starry sky.
Pandora.
"Exist."
A figure emerged from the shadows.
He was dressed in a uniform similar to that of the German army, had three holes in his head, and his fingers were four tendrils-like things.
"Lord Ainz, did you call me?"
"Try to create a communication device that can transcend space. Just tell me what you need."
Pandora's eyes lit up, and she raised her hand in greeting.
"Yes, sir, Ainz!"
He bowed slightly, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Ainz stood by the window, his crimson eyes gazing at the starry sky.
"Another world..."
He sighed softly.
The edge of the cave, the fortress on the east side.
Kurumi stood atop the fortress, her right eye fixed on the enormous void.
The black cat "Zafkiel" perched on her shoulder, its golden eyes also fixed on the darkness.
Gokusai Kaibi stood beside her, her crimson eyes reflecting the distorted spatial patterns.
Kurumi.
"Um."
Have you received any new intelligence?
Kurumi was silent for a moment.
"No."
I really want to go inside and take a look.
"But the adults said we're not allowed to go in."
She paused.
"The orders of my superiors are my principles."
Gokusai Kaibi looked at her for two seconds, then chuckled softly.
"You're quite obedient."
"I just didn't want to disappoint the adults."
Kurumi turned around and walked down the tower.
"Let's go. Time to get to work."
Gokusai Kaibi followed behind her, her golden curls fluttering in the wind.
The two figures disappeared into the depths of the fortress.
We did it right away.
Higashino Makoto is not one to procrastinate, especially after he has made up his mind.
At the edge of the void, that door to an unknown world pierced his heart like a thorn.
He can't sleep unless he pulls it out.
He stood at the edge of the void, holding the silver-white ring in his hand.
The ring is about ten centimeters in diameter, its surface is covered with complex runes, and at its center is a pure, non-existent Void.
Tingyun stood behind him, her Kohaku eyes looking at him, her fox tail swaying gently behind her.
"Grown ups."
She finally spoke, her voice very soft.
"Um."
"Are you... sure you want to do this? Didn't you say before that you planned to envelop Novas Etier entirely?"
Higashino Makoto didn't answer. He just stared at the ring in his hand, its golden eyes reflecting the flowing light.
"I'm sure. The Novas Etier matter can wait a bit, but until the Great Hollow is resolved, I probably won't be able to get a good night's sleep."
He took a deep breath and threw the ring into the empty space above.
The ring hovered in mid-air, slowly rotating. The runes began to glow.
Light surged from the ring, spreading in all directions and enveloping the entire void.
Then, the world changed.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he sensed it.
A space.
A completely new space, one that had never existed before, belonging solely to him.
It expands outward from the center of the void, like an invisible giant hand, smoothing out the distorted spatial patterns one by one.
It devoured those spatial rifts, filled those fractured layers, and absorbed and devoured everything chaotic, disordered, and dangerous.
It has a diameter of one kilometer and is spherical.
The boundary is transparent, like crystal, or like solidified air.
Beyond the border lies the original world: yellow sand, ruins, and a deep purple sky.
Within the boundary lies Void; there is light, but no sound, no life.
Only pure, absolute space.
Higashino Makoto can sense everything in that space.
He could sense every inch of its boundaries, every slight ripple, and every breath it took.
Because that space belongs to him.
He created it; it is a part of him.
It's done.
His voice was calm, but Tingyun could hear the suppressed excitement within it.
"My lord, you succeeded?"
"It's a success, but it's just the beginning."
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes, a certain light gleaming in his golden eyes.
"It's expanding at a rate of one kilometer per hour. In seven hours, the diameter will reach seven kilometers."
Tingyun was taken aback for a moment.
Seven hours? Seven kilometers?
"Right."
Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly.
"In mythology, God created the world in seven days. I created a space in seven hours."
He paused.
"But God rested after seven days, I can't."
Because of the expansion of space, resources are needed.
It was late at night when Higashino Makoto returned to Novas Etier.
Without resting, he went straight into the treasure vault.
The treasure vault was so large that your voice would echo.
Gold coins piled up like mountains, equipment hung all over the walls, and props filled the shelves.
The light shone on the gleaming gold coins, reflecting a warm glow.
Higashino Makoto stood before the mountain of gold coins, his golden eyes gazing at the wealth, and remained silent for a moment.
Then he raised his hand and waved it gently.
The mountain of gold coins began to move.
They disappeared one by one, as if swallowed up by something.
The gold coins passed through space and entered the space created by the Creator, transforming into nutrients for expansion.
One trillion gold coins.
This is the maximum amount he can currently allocate without affecting the normal operation of Novas Etier.
According to his estimate, these gold coins would be enough for the Creator to consume for more than twenty years.
The mountain of gold coins is shrinking at a rate visible to the naked eye.
One trillion gold coins is no small amount.
Even at the Creator's rate of consumption, it would take a very long time to digest it all.
But Higashino Makoto can wait; he has plenty of time.
He waited for an hour, then sensed the Creator's state.
His expression froze.
The expansion rate has not slowed down; on the contrary, it has accelerated.
However, the resources consumed do not increase proportionally, but exponentially.
"What?"
He spoke in a low voice, a hint of shock flashing in his golden eyes.
He quickly calculated the subsequent costs.
For the first seven days, the expansion will be 1,000 meters per day, consuming 100 million gold coins.
The second seven days involve expanding ten kilometers each day, consuming one billion gold coins.
The third seven-day period involves expanding by 100 kilometers each day, consuming 10 billion gold coins.
The fourth seven-day period saw an expansion of 1,000 kilometers per day, consuming 100 billion gold coins.