Novak wasn't particularly concerned about the Fang siblings' affairs. Instead, his mind had already drifted to memories of Origin City from his previous life.
Power is a complicated thing.
Before the apocalypse, society operated under structured order.
But after the world fell into chaos, power became nothing more than an extension of personal strength.
When an individual's strength alone could shatter everything, the very notion of political power became laughable.
In his past life, Origin City had housed many formidable beings—even emperor-level evolutionaries.
However, Novak had limited interaction with them. As the apocalypse dragged on, Kepler's territory inexplicably expanded, growing to a size countless times larger than before.
The distance between regions became unfathomable. Saints and Emperor-level evolutionaries had means to enhance their speed, but for ordinary evolutionaries, traveling from one major city to another became an almost insurmountable challenge.
Because of this, Novak's knowledge of Origin City's inner workings remained limited.
He pondered for a long time, searching his memories for anything meaningful, but nothing substantial surfaced. With a slight shake of his head, he decided to refocus his energy—there were more pressing matters at hand.
Letting go of irrelevant concerns, Novak turned his attention to something far more critical—his own growth.
At present, he had reached level 18.
His strength now surpassed every evolutionary on Kepler.
Moreover, after consuming the monster's inner core from Somi's Demon-Sealing Tower, his attributes had increased by another hundred points.
The blacklight virus had also progressed to 20%, granting him dozens of additional attribute points, not to mention the boosts from leveling up.
Currently, even his lowest attribute—Constitution—was nearing 700 points.
In his previous life, even most level 30 evolutionaries couldn't achieve such stats.
No, it wasn't just unlikely—it was outright impossible.
Even with SSS-level talents and S-tier professions, the highest attribute growth upon every ten-level advancement typically added only around a hundred points.
At best, a well-rounded evolutionary might accumulate four to five hundred points across their attributes, which was already considered the pinnacle of power.
Yet, at merely level 18, Novak's attributes had surpassed 600 in all categories except for his spiritual power, which, when boosted by the Shepherd's Horn, soared to nearly 900 points.
This unparalleled surge in strength, coming so shortly after his job change, had once again elevated Novak's power to unimaginable heights.
Armed with this newfound strength, Novak was confident he could finally conquer the tenth level of the Abyss.
And within that abyss lay the true realm of the Abyss Master—his destined kingdom!
Odu, the demon warrior, held the rank of a second-tier profession. However, the title of demon warrior itself wasn't particularly noteworthy.
In the abyss, most demons could transition into this basic, low-level occupation upon reaching adulthood, making it quite common and unimpressive.
Yet, during his time in the Abyss Trial, Novak had already gained a thorough understanding of Odu's strengths and weaknesses.
Novak was confident—he could defeat that demon and bring the tenth floor of the abyss under the rule of the Abyss Master.
Most importantly, conquering the abyss didn't require killing the demon lord as the trials did. If possible, Novak preferred to subdue Odu and make him a pawn in his ever-growing army.
Of course, Novak was well aware that conquest wouldn't be as straightforward as the trial.
The demon lord's subordinates wouldn't stand idle. Once battle commenced, they would undoubtedly join the fray, making the challenge significantly harder.
Still, it was a challenge worth taking.
Fortunately, the power granted by his Abyss Master authority provided Novak with endless opportunities to try and fail. He could launch his assault anytime, anywhere, without consequences.
Truly, it was fitting for the Abyss Master to be hailed as the most mysterious and formidable existence across all realms. His destined power was undeniable.
After a brief conversation with Daphne, Novak's figure vanished from White Emperor City in an instant.
He had no problem playing the role of an absent ruler, and Daphne never faltered in managing the city. Occasionally, she would grumble about his lack of involvement, but she handled White Emperor City's affairs flawlessly regardless.
The tenth floor of the abyss appeared unremarkable at first glance—another vast, desolate plane, no different from the previous nine floors.
Novak materialized near the Abyss Well, nodding in approval.
Zogwort hadn't made his move yet, but preparations were already underway to establish this as the first safe zone within the abyss.
The central point of all ten initial Abyss floors would converge here.
This was where Novak would build the Abyss's first grand city.
The era of chaos and disorder that had long defined the abyss would finally come to an end.
A new age was dawning—an era where the abyss would reign supreme. With its boundless resources, the abyss would flourish under Novak's command, growing at an unimaginable speed.
Novak's heart surged with ambition. But a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts from behind:
"I remember your figure. You're that human—the one who completed the Abyss Trial. But even if you survived the trial, no mere human could ever make Odu surrender!"
Novak turned around to see an old acquaintance—the demon he had slain over two thousand times during the Abyss Trial.
He had stopped counting after two thousand.
With a sigh, Novak recalled Gabul, Winifred, and Meikanxie—powerful demons who had sworn their loyalty the moment the Abyss Master stepped onto their respective floors.
They understood the truth: in the abyss, no one could ever truly kill Novak or halt his advance. His power as the Abyss Master ensured that he would always resurrect, always return.
But low-level demons like Odu? They were far more stubborn. Without breaking them in battle, submission was nearly impossible.
The Abyss Well on the tenth floor stood in the middle of a barren plain—Odu's domain.
Even as a demon lord, Odu's reign was less about ruling over others and more about proving himself as the strongest in this wasteland.
Typical of Odu, really.
Novak exhaled slowly and stepped forward.
"Well, in that case, let me make it clear."
Before Odu could react, Novak's expression hardened, his voice cutting through the air like a blade:
"Either die—or surrender."