"That really was unexpected."
Azril replied softly.
"I thought the world would plunge into even greater chaos after Artosh-sama died."
"I didn't expect Rei Ao-sama to just use the Suniaster to rewrite the rules."
Michiru, however, didn't join the discussion.
Her gaze kept sweeping the surroundings, worry etched between her brows.
Ever since Rei Ao obtained the Suniaster, said he "needed to study it," and then disappeared—
a full week had gone by.
There had been no news of him all week.
Even Kanna said she couldn't sense his presence.
"Michiru, you seem really worried about me?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
"!!!"
Michiru spun around.
Rei Ao was standing there, smiling at her.
He looked no different from when he'd left.
But a closer look revealed a new, indescribable depth in his eyes, as if they held the secrets of the entire cosmos.
"Rei Ao!"
Michiru cried out in delight, at last letting go of the knot in her heart.
Kanna and Schwi noticed him too.
Kanna immediately released Michiru's hand and ran to throw herself into Rei Ao's arms, while Schwi moved quietly but swiftly to his other side.
The two of them took Rei Ao's hands, one on each side, like they were afraid he'd vanish again.
Jibril and Azril also stepped forward.
Excitement and curiosity flashed in Jibril's eyes, whereas Azril stared at Rei Ao with a grave look, her brow furrowing.
"Master, you seem… stronger?" she asked, uncertain.
She could feel a presence that made the soul tremble.
It was faint—almost imperceptible—and yet the pressure woven into it elicited instinctive awe.
Rei Ao smiled. "I have, yes—advanced another step."
In his mind, an interface only he could see quietly unfolded.
[Name]: Rei Ao
[Level]: Demon Lord Class
[Abilities]: "Freeze," "Self," "True Sight," "Transmutation," "Blessing," "Divine Soul," "Spirit King," "One True God," "Electromaster," "Mind Mastery," "True Demonic Aspect," "Cognitive Erasure," "Sword Aura Mastery," "True Crimson Dragon God," "Genetic Code," "True Ancestor of Blood," "Ten Avatars," "Authority of Storms," "Time–Causality Interference"
[Possessions]: "Sole Artifact: King of All Things," "Grimoire: Ilias' Fragment," "Grimoire: Astil's Manuscript," "Awakening Stone ×2"
[Bio]: The universe already rests in your hand!
This leap came from the Suniaster.
Rei Ao understood the Suniaster's essence.
The Suniaster is Disboard's conceptual device—
at its core, the aggregate of all power in the universe, the symbol of "absolute dominion, omniscience and omnipotence, the one and only god."
The Suniaster did not create the universe itself.
It is the embodiment of every power within the universe—"the entirety of the Disboard cosmos itself."
You could also call it this world's source.
In theory, whoever controls a world's source becomes that world's sole god.
But unlike other worlds' sources, the Suniaster is tangible!
After attempting to seize the Suniaster, he himself essentially became a vessel bearing a universe, and the boost he gained was far beyond anything he'd gotten from mastering other worlds' sources.
His level blasted past 100, turning him into something labeled "Demon Lord Class."
He didn't know exactly how that class was defined, but he knew beyond doubt that he now held the power to create—or destroy—a universe.
He hadn't fully adapted to the newly risen power yet, so a trace of it still leaked out—which the keen-sensed Azril had picked up on.
"Master, where were you this past week?"
Jibril asked, curious.
"We couldn't sense you at all."
Rei Ao gently stroked Kanna's hair and answered:
"I was inside the space within the Suniaster."
"Time flows differently there; in truth, I spent quite a long time."
"That long? Are you okay?"
Michiru looked at him, worried.
"Of course I am."
Rei Ao smiled.
"On the contrary, I gained more than ever before."
He had not only fully mastered the Suniaster's power, but also reached a deeper understanding of his own abilities.
He raised his hand, palm up.
A tiny sphere of light gathered in his hand.
Within it seemed to swirl the secrets of the universe itself; countless stars were born and died in endless cycles.
"This is…"
Azril stared at the sphere, stunned.
She could feel the terrifying force contained within—one that surpassed even Artosh at his peak.
"A physicalization of a tiny sliver of the Suniaster's power,"
Rei Ao said, closing his hand. The light vanished.
"As I am now, I'm effectively equivalent to the universe itself."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, digesting that staggering statement.
In the end, it was Couronne who broke the silence.
"Um, Rei Ao-sama, since you're back, would you like to see how the city's changed?"
"Imanity is what it is today entirely thanks to your gift. Everyone is very grateful to you."
Rei Ao considered, then nodded.
"Alright. Show me—this world I reshaped."
…
They strolled through the human city as a group.
Acting as guide, Clonie enthusiastically pointed out the changes.
"This is the Magic Academy," she said, indicating a grand building. "Any human with talent can learn magic here."
"Thanks to Rei Ao-san changing the world's rules, we humans can use magic like the forest spirits now."
Rei Ao watched the students going in and out.
Their faces shone with the hunger to learn and hope for the future, and he couldn't help but smile.
"Over there is the Artisans' Quarter,"
Couronne went on.
"The dwarf race has sent master craftsmen to teach us how to make magitech devices."
"In exchange, our human chefs teach them cuisine."
"Didn't the other races resist?" Michiru asked, curious. "Changing rules that have stood for thousands of years, all at once."
Azril answered for her. "Of course there was resistance."
"But before Rei Ao-sama's absolute power, any resistance is futile."
She looked at Rei Ao, her eyes complicated.
"A few Old Deus even tried to band together against him, and Rei Ao-sama subdued them all with a mere lift of his hand."
"Since then, no one has dared to question the new rules."
Truly, one person subduing an entire era!