"His body had been etherized? That was a little too unbelievable."
Richard found Matchstick Man's claim rather inconceivable.
Leaving aside whether a level 8.5 creature's body could be eroded by ether, even if it could, the process would have taken an exceedingly long time.
Even an ordinary Dominator's body, if thrown into the Astral Realm, would need at least several hundred thousand years before etherization began. And between ordinary Dominators and Level 8.5 creatures stood two more tiers: Limit-Breaking Dominators and Civilization Leaders.
Richard did not dare imagine what reason could have made the Civilization Devourer drift through the Astral Realm for such an unimaginably long time.
"It truly was rather unbelievable. But according to the information we gathered, it should have been a 'baby' at the time. It possessed no knowledge, only the most basic survival instincts. There was no inherited legacy in its bloodline, and naturally, its power was not so great.
"Of course, it was also possible that those little fellows back then lacked the technical ability and simply failed to detect it."
"A baby?"
A flicker of horror appeared on Richard's face.
Could the Civilization Devourer be a whole species?
"That's right. The Black Mud Monster was a baby back then." Matchstick Man sighed. "In terms of strength, any Dominator at the time could have slain it with ease.
"But before a baby with the potential to become a Dominator, who could restrain their greed?"
Richard was speechless. Indeed, faced with a young creature possessing the potential to become a Dominator, what civilization's Dominators could restrain their greed?
Who would not want to take in a Dominator as a subordinate—or even a pet?
"So the Dominators of the World Cluster subdued it," Richard said gravely.
"Of course." Matchstick Man spoke slowly. "For its sake, that newborn