With declining biodiversity, acid rain spreading, forest loss, desertification, air pollution, water pollution, ocean pollution, and solid waste contamination, Muria found himself surveying the situation in the Earth Star world. It was clear that this world was suffering from numerous, critical problems. Furthermore, each issue was intricately interconnected, resulting in reduced biodiversity, which in turn weakened the world's consciousness and compromised its protective barriers to an unprecedented degree.
In Muria's view, such self-destructive actions amounted to a path of ruin. In a world without a system of extraordinary power, the world's protective barrier is its strongest and final defense. A world without such a barrier is like a tempting dessert to void-dwelling evil gods, who obtain primal power through destruction, and for them, Earth Star was irresistibly alluring.
Yet, humans in Earth Star were relentlessly undermining their world's defenses. To many civilizations in the void, this behavior seemed foolish and laughable.
"The defenses of Earth Star are on the verge of collapse!" Muria sighed as he walked through a barren desert. He could barely feel any rule-based suppression, indicating how fragile the world's resistance had become.
At this point, Muria hadn't revealed his true form; instead, he was using an Ikon person's body to traverse Earth Star. His strength in this form had reached the peak soul-intent level, meaning it was powerful yet within the scope of the world's rule suppression. The stronger the power, the more substantial the suppression.
"Lord Ur, what exactly are you searching for?" asked a veteran general, who had been the one to order a surrender to Muria, following with a nervous question from a small fleet accompanying him.
"In a world you've damaged so thoroughly, what could I possibly want to find?" Muria responded, countering the question.
"If you're not searching for something, then what are you doing?"
"I wanted to see the extent to which you've destroyed the world that nurtured you. Then, based on the damage, I'll create a comprehensive ecological restoration plan."
As Muria's intentions became clear, a faint, world-spanning tremor echoed. The slight rule suppression he had sensed earlier completely dissipated; the world was no longer attempting to restrain him.
The general and others accompanying him looked visibly stunned. Urging from the advisors and frantic gestures from legislators watching the scene remotely pressured the old general into responding.
"Your Majesty, Lord Ur, while our world does indeed suffer severe pollution, we have already devised a feasible plan to address it, so your assistance is unnecessary."
Clearly, Earth Star's leaders misunderstood Muria's intentions, interpreting them as a sign of his desire to permanently settle and rule Earth Star.
"Oh? If you already have a feasible plan, why has everything I've seen along my way been such a mess?" Muria gestured toward a massive sandstorm surging from afar.
"Uh, Lord Ur, we've indeed built the necessary equipment, but due to an energy shortage, we haven't been able to put it to use!"
"So, you'd like me to provide energy resources, but you don't want me to stay. You prefer that I leave your world, correct?"
The people around Muria were left speechless. Of course, they didn't want a terrifying presence like Muria to remain in their world, but they also hoped to extract energy resources from Pandora. Thinking it was one thing; saying it aloud was quite another.
"Wishful thinking," Muria chuckled. "Remember your status: you are defeated. You have no right to make demands. Your only option is to follow my arrangements obediently."
Muria continued, "Rest assured, I have no interest in this world you've ravaged so thoroughly. My sole purpose is to restore it to its original, true state. This benefits me greatly."
"What benefit?" This question lingered in the minds of the humans listening to Muria. They couldn't comprehend what a being of his caliber would need.
The vast disparity between their lifeforms left the humans like birds guarding a rotten rodent they'd stumbled upon, terrified that the majestic phoenix flying above would descend and snatch their prize. But Muria, the phoenix, had no interest in their trifles. He entered Earth Star as a triumphant ruler, indifferent to the power struggles or lives of Earth Star's people. Their technological advancement had reached a level where starvation was no longer an issue.
All he cared about was restoring and improving Earth Star's environment. Everything else had to give way to his environmental restoration plan—factories, companies, even mega-corporations. Anyone who dared hinder him or resisted through passive sabotage would simply be erased.
Anyone obstructing his goal of obtaining primal power was an enemy.
Once Muria freed himself from Pandora's restrictive rules and revealed his full legendary power, Pandora and Earth Star were officially under his dominion, and everything began to operate according to his will.
Earth Star's civilization began sending large groups of teachers to Pandora to share their knowledge, fundamentally transforming Pandora's civilization and helping it bypass lengthy phases of growth and directly reach the interstellar level. In return, Pandora mined and transported vast quantities of radiant stones to Earth Star, alleviating its energy crisis.
Just as the general had suggested, with a sufficient supply of clean energy, Earth Star's environmental pollution issues could indeed be mitigated by its own people. But Muria would never allow them to go at it alone. The glory of rescuing and transforming an entire world could only be his, and all salvation efforts had to be under his direction. As time passed, the rules of both worlds grew increasingly lenient toward Muria, to the point where he could enter and leave at will.
For Pandora, providing some radiant stones, abundant within the world, enabled a profound leap for its intelligent species—a mutually beneficial exchange. For Earth Star, it could solve its energy crisis by offering knowledge, gaining without loss.
Time flew by, and a century passed in the blink of an eye. Muria stood above Earth Star, looking at a world transformed from dull gray to vibrant blue, a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment filling his gaze.
This once-decaying world had found salvation under his leadership, and Earth Star's civilization had advanced in leaps under his guidance. Muria had eradicated all corruption and injustice as a dictator, suppressing every problem with sheer force. Under his might, the civilization flourished and seemed filled with promise.
But Muria knew this was all a facade born of his overpowering strength. If he left, the darkness would soon re-emerge in his absence. Yet, at that point, it would be Earth Star's responsibility to face those challenges.
"The bond is so strong!" Muria extended his hand toward Earth Star, blue glows emanating from its barrier and converging on his palm.
"If I wished, I could become this world's god right now!" Muria smiled as he watched the blue light wrap around his hand, then severed it effortlessly. "But that's not my intention. I came to claim what you owe me."
As Muria uttered these words, golden light began to emanate from his Ikon body. The body he had tempered for a hundred years transformed, becoming a radiant sun. From within the sun, a towering being of divine majesty unfolded, revealing his true form.
"Come to me!" Muria, now in his true form, stretched his hand toward Earth Star, imposing his will.
Earth Star seemed silent, as if unwilling to respond. But as the golden light on Muria's Titan form grew more intense, the planet began to tremble lightly. Brilliant streams of light emerged from its depths, rising into the void to coalesce in Muria's hand.
A meteor shower of light, perhaps never to be seen again on Earth Star, enveloped the world. As it faded, Muria, standing in the void, held in his open hand a drop of crystalline liquid that seemed to contain every color, embodying all creation.
A radiant smile crossed Muria's face as he gazed at this hard-won primal power. Slowly, he closed his hand, and the entire Earth Star world was reflected in his eyes.
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