Cultivation, Consolidation, and Preparation

Seven days later.

At a cliffside waterfall deep in the vast primeval forest near Kletam City, within the Thorn Ring's territory.

White water plunged straight down from the cliff, crashing into the deep pool below. It scoured the rocks with a thunderous roar.

Mist from the impact caught the sunlight and formed a brilliant rainbow. Surrounded by lush greenery, the scene was both majestic and beautiful.

A figure stood quietly amid the splendor. Vast currents of energy flowed around him, and countless mysterious forces rose from within him, forming a surging power of domain.

Dark energy particles circled him like microscopic black holes, collapsing the air and warping the light.

There were 499 of them. As they slowly revolved around him, a five-hundredth dark particle quietly appeared.

The instant it formed, every surging force around him fell still. Even the perpetual roar of the waterfall receded.

All was calm. Countless free-floating energy particles gathered silently, and the five hundred dark particles merged with them. A pitch-black [Despair Death River] appeared out of nowhere.

Like a river flowing from the legendary land of the dead, it was silent and still, yet carried the terrifying force to sweep everything away.

The Despair Death River flowed gently through the silver-white waterfall spilling from the cliff. Wherever it passed, the falling water vanished without a sound, leaving the cascade severed.

"Phew—"

The figure controlling the Despair Death River breathed out softly, relief audible in his voice.

"Finally, I can summon and control the death river at will."

Dago's eyes flickered. Within his Mental Space, he activated the Soul Imprint [Prism].

In an instant, even more energy particles surged in, and the Despair Death River before him became two.

One flowed above the other, as though a vast invisible mirror lay between them. The next