"The Crown you have chosen will draw too much power from the Origin of the Universe."
"This Crown will evolve from 'Adapted Lines.'"
"This Crown will randomly take one of your abilities to make up for the Universe's loss."
"Do you agree?"
"If you agree, the Universe will bestow the Crown upon you through the Dark Crown Ritual."
"If you do not agree, please consider another Crown."
Xu Yuan froze for only an instant before saying:
"I won't change it. This is the one—take any ability you want!"
This was a first.
The first time the Universe had demanded something back as compensation.
That alone proved just how powerful this Crown was.
After all, it was Creation from Nothing!
To be honest, that ability had gone beyond ordinary thought and logic.
He had to have it!
At Xu Yuan's choice, the halo hovering above his head came to a steady halt. Intricate light spilled from it, forming threads that slithered through the surrounding Void like snakes. A fierce wind blew down from Heaven and struck the Crown, gathering into a voice whose measured cadence was beautiful, though its speaker's gender was impossible to discern:
"In the beginning."
"There was nothing."
"No Universe, no life, no matter, no time or space, no higher dimensions or multiverse."
"It was the great and eternal Origin of Truth that created the Universe and all things from a realm without beginning."
"This fundamental power is Creation from Nothing."
"You desire this supreme Truth as your Crown."
"One of your abilities must now be taken in exchange and used to make up for the Universe's loss."
"Selection begins."
"From your many abilities, the Universe has selected Lifeform Reshaping."
"The exchange is complete."
"Furthermore:"
"No being may learn that you have obtained the secret of Creation from