050. The Secret of Omega Energy (Part 2)
"No, you don't understand."
The old man opened a door, revealing stairs leading underground. He turned to Li Aozi and said,
"Our mission was to pull down the lofty gods from their thrones, to let mortals also enjoy the secrets of eternity. It took the efforts of each of us—even with the greatest scientists and magicians in all of Abyss, progress was still slow."
Of course, Li Aozi knew this—how could he not?
He nodded slightly, adopting a casual tone as he deliberately echoed the words from the strategy guide,
"It's no big deal, really. When it comes down to it, godhood on the path remains the most reliable choice."
"…Heh, yes, everything according to your view is correct."
The old man sneered, not refuting him but instead gripping the stair railing as he slowly descended.
"Young people are selfish—that's normal. You haven't experienced that era. Back then, three narration-level civilizations, countless layers of Abyss's population, various nations, all united by a single belief. People once groveled before the gods, but if the Collective's research succeeded, we'd be equals with them."
"In this Abyss, everyone wanted to be better. When everyone's interests were tied together, self-interest became altruism; what benefited the group also mattered to the individual."
"It's not your fault that you're so selfish. It's the fault of this miserable universe, this wretched Abyss, the selfish shortsightedness of the three narration-levels."
Li Aozi didn't respond.
Click.
"We're here."
The old man stepped onto the lab floor and calmly called out,
"Liuer, a mutant kid is here for you."
Buzz—
In the empty lab, blue and purple ripples suddenly spread, and in the next moment, waves pulsed through the cold, underground space as a humanoid figure slowly emerged from the temporal ripples.
Li Aozi stepped forward and greeted her,
"Hey, Mr. Liuer—"
Clang!
Before he could finish, a pale blue blade stopped right before his throat. The photons scattered against his neck, stinging with a burning pain.
Then, a low, hoarse voice echoed,
"I didn't authorize anyone to bring people here, Tro-Tro-Tro—"
Her voice reverberated like being in a vast, empty valley.
Li Aozi looked up, his eyes reflecting Liuer's true form: she wore a wide white lab coat, her bioengineered body solid and robust. The blade extended from the back of her hand, and her body bore heavy signs of bio-modifications and implant equipment, making any gender markers indistinguishable.
Most striking of all, her head was entirely gone.
Above her neck was only a shifting, illusory ripple, like a colorless flame, igniting with each of her words, creating echoes in the surrounding space.
"Liuer," the old man addressed her as 'Tro' and said, "he means no harm. He's just a young [Mutant] seeking your guidance."
"[Mutant]?"
Liuer murmured, scanning Li Aozi, then abruptly extended her hand as a light blue neural probe shot from her palm, piercing Li Aozi's neck.
[Establishing neural link (no malicious signals)...]
[Link established. Identity information exchange initiated.]
"What the hell!"
Liuer cursed outright.
"You've got so many high-energy gene pairs inside you...are you trying to die?"
The more she examined, the more shocked she became. Even without a face, Li Aozi could almost see an older woman's eyes widening, her crows' feet stretching out, as shock and disbelief grew.
"These gene pairs are odd—wait, I've seen this before. This ability...sequential omega energy!"
Liuer withdrew her neural probe abruptly, then jabbed a finger at Li Aozi's nose, scolding,
"Why don't you have any self-respect? How did your parents raise you? Has no one told you that sequential omega energy is even more dangerous than Omega-level energy?"
"They didn't, actually," Li Aozi answered honestly. "Is it really that serious?"
"To put it mildly, this thing could kill you."
"And at worst?"
"I can't even say."
Liuer raised her hand, and immediately, Li Aozi felt the gravitational force alter, pressing him onto a nearby operating chair. Numerous bionic arms fixed him in place as Liuer briskly adjusted the instruments on each console, speaking as she went.
"Do you know what omega energy really is?"
"Uh," Li Aozi didn't know—no player had ever dug that deep.
He could only guess, replying, "A kind of...genetic power?"
"Physics once pointed to one thing: everything's essence is information.
[Mechanics] realized from this that life could be preserved digitally.
[Biochemists] were inspired to directly cut genes with information technology, using chaotic algorithms to accelerate biological evolution.
[Mages] went even further, constructing a magical network to allow spellcasting without innate talent.
[Architects] went deeper, modifying and programming physical rules directly—like a network framework able to create entire ecosystems and landscapes."
Liuer explained as she operated.
"You're probably wondering how this connects to [Mutants] and omega energy, right?"
"That's exactly why I'm here..." Li Aozi replied before immediately being injected with a needle.
"Yes, you kids still haven't grasped the biggest issue."
Liuer let out a cold laugh.
"Omega energy is also information, but it's different from ordinary information."
"If the universe were a network, omega energy would be the access key."
"The essence of omega energy is just that—omega energy (Ultra Power), the ultimate force. The Collective's research was developed based on its special properties."
"What exactly is it?" Li Aozi couldn't help but ask.
"Authority," Liuer replied. "The authority of the Creator."
"Authority..."
"Omega energy grants access to the rules of Star Abyss. All sequential omega energy originates from the Ten Primal Omega Energies, the original Star Abyss treaties. Our [Dominion] path power fundamentally comes from Abyss's granted access rights."
Liuer continued,
"To be precise, this originates from the now-deceased [Dominion] main god Morphedria, a product of her [Dominion of the Universe]—the authority of Morphedria as the Creator."
While preparing a solution for Li Aozi, she asked,
"You have at least two Omega-level omega energies, plus sequential omega energy. It will erode and affect your will, especially as we who specialize in [Dominion] omega energy... to put it bluntly, holding a sequential omega energy means you're already more dangerous than the average transcendent, practically a walking catastrophe."
"[Abyssal Lord] will keep influencing and flattering you with words. When you finally reach godhood, you'll only be his puppet. Sequential omega energy will give him an opening, dammit! You seriously want to die! Taking in sequential omega energy so recklessly!"
"Um... the sequential omega energy I hold isn't just one."
"You want to argue? I can see it clearly—you, like me, hold [Gravity] omega energy."
"I do have [Gravity]."
Li Aozi clarified,
"But I have two sequential omega energies."
Today, just 5,000 words. Tomorrow, 10,000.