Showdown

New York, Manhattan District, in a secluded warehouse.

This was the location Demiurge had chosen for Annie's training. Though the warehouse appeared to occupy less than two hundred square meters from the outside, spatial expansion magic had been cast on it, making its interior a thousand times larger than its exterior. Calling it inconceivable would not be an exaggeration.

It was only after Annie personally watched Demiurge create all this with a wave of his hand that she believed she had truly stumbled upon an extraordinary opportunity rather than encountered a scammer.

On the second floor of the training grounds, Ryan and Sebas appeared amid a flash of pitch-black Teleportation light.

The entire training grounds were divided into two levels.

The first floor was where Annie trained. It was filled with all kinds of training equipment, while a massive magic array formed from converging magical runes could be seen on the ground. Several crucial nodes were embedded with top-grade Magic Energy Gems as their power source.

At that moment, the array was active. Magic power, almost visible to the naked eye, gathered throughout the training grounds. Annie could only absorb an infinitesimal portion of it, while the rest gradually dissipated into the air with the passage of time.

The second floor was for resting. The floor was entirely paved in gold, while the walls were carved from the finest white jade and covered in fantastical murals. Above them was a ceiling built around multicolored stones that could respond to changes in outside light, along with a starry-sky reflection carved from tens of thousands of Perfect Magic Diamonds. Whether it was day or night, one could see a beautiful, dazzling starry sky illuminating the entire training grounds.

The surrounding tables, chairs, and ornaments were equally extravagant. Even the cups and spoons on the tables were made from Adamantine Mithril.

Ryan took a quick look around and felt his heart thumping wildly.

He knew he was not short on money or resources, but before they were used, they were merely numbers. No matter how large those numbers were, he would at most be excited for a while before calming down again if he had not seen them with his own eyes.

But now that he had personally witnessed materials that were exceptionally rare in the game being used as mere decorations, he felt a strange emotion that those who had never experienced it could never understand.

Perfect Magic Diamonds, each worth a relic-grade item, were used by the tens of thousands as ornaments overhead. Adamantine Mithril, the primary material for crafting divine artifacts, could only be used for cups and spoons here. The least valuable things were instead the gold and fine jade. If he had dared to do this in the game, players from other guilds would have gone mad trying to capture this place and pack up every valuable item within it.

"What a waste! But I like it!"

Ryan took a deep breath as he looked at everything before him. Even his frustration over Nick, that bald bastard, ruining his plan eased somewhat.

He had been too small-minded before. After obtaining nearly limitless resources and absolutely loyal, capable subordinates, he had actually only thought about plotting in the shadows and playing tricks. That was wrong—very wrong!

He was the Supreme Being of Nazarick, a man who wanted to break free from the system's bindings, attain immortality in the infinite multiverse, and uncover the truth behind his transmigration!

Schemes and tricks could be used, but they could not become his foundation. Only the grand and righteous path, using overwhelming power to suppress others, was the road he should take.

It was like pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. At first, one was still a tiger, but after pretending for too long, one would truly become a pig.

Perhaps Nick had helped him this time, allowing him to see himself clearly.

"Greetings, Lord Ryan. But please forgive this subordinate's boldness—may I ask why the Supreme Being has come here this time?"

The moment Ryan arrived, Demiurge sensed him. His figure flickered, and he appeared nearby before kneeling and asking.

"My identity has been discovered by this world, so there is no need to continue with the plan. Also, bring Annie up. There is no need to keep it hidden anymore."

Ryan spoke calmly, but Demiurge was suddenly shocked upon hearing this.

The Supreme Being's identity had actually been exposed. He had considered countless possibilities, but this was the one possibility he had never expected. Still, it was not appropriate to ask more now.

After respectfully acknowledging Ryan's order, he headed toward the training grounds.

Sharp whooshing sounds continually rang out across the training grounds.

Annie wore magical armor and gripped a longsword, her eyes resolute as she swung at the target again and again with all her strength.

A puddle of water had gathered beneath her feet, formed entirely from the sweat flowing from her training.

Without experience points, that cheat-like shortcut to becoming stronger, the only way to gain strength was through step-by-step, grueling training.

For her to raise her body beyond human limits in only three days, the Arcane Energy Training Grounds Alva had created certainly deserved credit, but Annie's own efforts were equally important.

Otherwise, if it had been someone lazy and unable to persevere, even staying here for a hundred years would not bring much improvement.

The sound of footsteps approached from afar.

Annie, who had raised her sword over her head and was about to deliver another slash, twitched her ears, lowered her sword, and turned around.

"Teacher Di, is something wrong?"

Sheathed her sword, wiped the constantly beading sweat from her forehead, Annie asked in confusion.

Teacher Di had never interrupted her training before, although this was only the third day since they had met.

"The Supreme Being wishes to see you, Princess Annie."

Demiurge bowed slightly and spoke respectfully.

Things were different now. From the moment Lord Ryan decided to reveal his identity to Princess Annie, Annie was no longer his disciple, but Nazarick's princess. Naturally, he could no longer address her as he had before.

"The Supreme Being? Princess?"

Startled by Demiurge's sudden manner and form of address, Annie first confirmed that the man before her was not an impostor before asking in confusion, "Who wants to see me? And why are you calling me... Princess?"

"Princess" was generally a form of address reserved for royalty. Although she had an incredibly wealthy brother, that still did not qualify her for such a title, much less warrant such respect from Teacher Di, who possessed power like that of gods and demons. Could it be that, like in some melodramatic story, she had a powerful biological father from some royal family? Maybe even Teacher Di had been sent by him to teach her?

She bit her lower lip slightly. If that was truly the case, then as long as he could accept her staying by Ryan's side, she would acknowledge this convenient father for Ryan's sake, since he could help him. But if he could not accept it, then that bastard who had never shown himself all these years could go die!

Even if she died, he would never separate her from Ryan!

"You will know once you go there."

Demiurge hesitated briefly before answering. From the changes in Annie's expression, he could even guess what she was thinking.

However, this was a private matter of the Supreme Being's family, and it was not his place to interfere.

"Lead the way!"

Annie took a deep breath, her expression firm.

No matter what, she had to face it.

"Yes."

Demiurge lowered his head slightly in respect and headed toward where Ryan was.