Kyle just paused for a short moment before he focused on the Base Fragment of Yin-Metal.
As soon as Kyle started trying to comprehend it, he realized that it was much more difficult than expected.
However, he kept at it and never paused.
This would be his longest session of Law Comprehension.
About ten years into his comprehension, Kyle felt a tremendous wave of Ether spreading across the world.
He looked over and saw an unfamiliar man advancing.
This was very different from the time the Nobodies advanced.
This was someone advancing with a Full Law!
Kyle watched as the person gathered an ungodly amount of Ether from the atmosphere.
The Ether Essence he had been using was not nearly enough.
'Did the same thing happen during my breakthrough?' Kyle thought.
After some minutes, the man advanced.
The man smiled happily as some people watched in wonder.
Then, everyone noticed that light was gathering around the new Transcendent.
Under the watching eyes, the man ascended.
The world had created its first Standard Transcendent in millennia!
As soon as the Transcendent ascended, Kyle felt something.
Somehow, a positive feeling broke through the unending wave of pain.
For just a moment, Kyle felt like he saw some kind of green wave.
'Positive Karmic Luck,' he thought. 'I think creating a Standard Transcendent gives me a boatload of positive Karma!'
But then, Kyle sighed.
'Magic Lady said it would take millennia, and I don't think she missed this source of positive Karma.'
'Yes, it's a lot, but it's nothing compared to the negative Karma I have accumulated.'
Kyle shook his head and returned to his comprehension.
'I already survived the worst of it. You know, if I keep focusing on the Laws, time passes quite quickly.'
'Maybe a couple of millennia isn't so long after all.'
Kyle continued comprehending, and twenty years later, another Standard Transcendent ascended.
This time, Kyle could see the positive Karma more clearly.
It was like a tiny green line had become very bright for just a moment.
Kyle kept comprehending.
Another Transcendent was born.
Then, another one.
Finally, Kyle finished the last Fragment of Yin-Metal.
It had taken him 55 years.
The Fragment of Yin-Metal Energy Conversion.
The Fragment that allowed Kyle to control the energy properties of Yin-Metal.
He could turn it more ethereal, which would increase its power, but he could also turn it solid.
However, even while solid, it had ethereal properties.
It wasn't as hard as the Rank S Metals, but it had something that made them incredible.
Yin-Metal could be infused!
Kyle could now infuse his hammer, made of Yang-Metal, with Yin-Metal.
This would not make his hammer harder, but it would give it far more attacking power.
As soon as the hammer hit something, the Yin-Metal would use up all of its Ether in a chosen form of power.
Kyle took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
He gathered all his insights.
And finally…
BOOOOM!
Kyle comprehended the Pure Level Two Law of Yin-Metal!
However, he didn't think a lot about his new power.
Instead, he looked at his hammer and infused it with a specific form of Yin-Metal.
Then, he shot at the World Ceiling.
'Let's see how hard you are now!' he thought.
Meteor Ether gathered around Kyle as he reached the World Ceiling.
Yin-Metal gathered around his hammer.
He struck.
BANG! BANG!
As soon as Kyle's hammer touched the World Ceiling, the Yin-Metal exploded.
Its properties were tied to Kyle's hammer.
It unleashed the same amount of power as Kyle could unleash with his hammer.
This meant that the World Ceiling was essentially struck twice by Kyle's hammer in one single instance.
Kyle's body shook under the tremendous force, but that was a good thing.
This meant his attacking power had increased a lot.
The vibrations seemed to become more intense as Kyle watched with excitement.
CRK!
A tiny crack appeared on the ceiling.
Kyle's eyes widened.
'It's possible!'
'I can break through it!'
But then, the crack closed in an instant.
'Hey, it's a start! At leas-'
Suddenly, the World Ceiling shone with white light.
BANG!
Kyle hadn't been able to see what had happened.
He just knew that something was in his body and that he was shooting towards the ground like a meteorite.
BOOOM!
Kyle's body created a humongous crater.
A moment later, he regained his faculties.
He looked at his torso, and his mind nearly stopped.
A sword of light was poking out of his chest.
It had completely broken past his armor like it didn't even exist.
When Kyle realized where the sword was, he broke out into a cold sweat.
It was one fucking millimeter from his Core Spark!
BANG!
At that point, a second sword of light buried into his body.
This one penetrated his heart.
BANG!
Another one a millimeter beside his Center.
BANG!
This one broke through the side of his skull, barely scraping the outside of his left brain.
All of Kyle's Ether was in chaos as the light swords spread chaotic Ether through his body.
He couldn't move!
Then, another sword shot down.
Kyle saw it approaching the space between his eyes.
He was going to die!
And then…
It stopped.
It stopped a mere inch in front of the space between his eyes.
Kyle just watched in horror.
The sword calmly spun above his head for a couple of seconds.
Then, all the swords dispersed.
Kyle didn't move.
The message was clear.
This was a warning shot.
It was a demonstration.
If Kyle attacked the world again…
It would kill him.
The world wasn't helpless.
It could defend itself.
Technically, it could deal with whatever threat came its way.
It was just that it wasn't very intelligent.
It was like a simple animal.
And Kyle had angered it.
The only reason he was still alive was that he was the Overseer.
But he wouldn't get another chance.
If he did anything like this again…
It would kill him.
Kyle just looked in shock upwards.
His hope…
His hope of escape…
It was gone!
The power he had just felt was unmistakable.
This was not something someone in the Fourth Realm could deal with.
It didn't matter how much Kyle trained. As long as he was a Transcendent, he wouldn't be able to resist these attacks.
All of Kyle's hope vanished.
His body lost power, and he just looked upward.
'Of course I can't break out,' Kyle thought. 'Why did I even think this would work?'
'Magic Lady never even mentioned not attacking the World Ceiling.'
'That's because she didn't need to.'
'If there were an issue with the World Ceiling, it would be in the contract I signed.'
Kyle had worked so hard to become stronger.
He had spent an entire century comprehending Yin-Metal.
And yet…
'It was all for nothing.'
The burning pain of the Karmic Flames seemed to become more intense.
'I'm stuck.'
Kyle just looked upward.
"So, you've finally noticed."
Kyle's head shot up as he heard a familiar yet unfamiliar voice.
His perception and instincts hadn't warned him of this person's presence.
It was like they had just appeared there.
When Kyle saw the person, his eyes widened in shock.
Two threatening yellow eyes, surrounded by black scales, looked into Kyle's eyes.
One of his arms had become black and scaly with claws coming out of it.
Yet, Kyle still recognized him.
"It's been a while, Boss, " the man said with a friendly smile.
"Horatio?" Kyle asked.
Horatio's smile became more malicious.
"I still remember my promise, and I intend to keep it," Horatio said.
"However, more importantly, are you interested in keeping it?"
Kyle didn't immediately answer.
"Or, in other words," Horatio continued as he kneeled down to get closer to Kyle, who was still lying on the ground.
"Are you interested in a deal?"
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