103: Running Away (Part Two)

At the moment the will of the main universe descended, if one stood from a sufficiently high-dimensional perspective, one would discover that within the immeasurable expanse of the Universe, everything had fallen into stillness.

This stillness was not merely a cessation of time, but a deeper solidification.

If the original Universe were a flowing scroll, then at this moment, that scroll had been completely frozen.

Dancing dust motes solidified in mid-air, meteors streaking across the sky stopped abruptly, and even that Gray Snake attempting an invasion remained in a claw-baring, fanged posture.

All life, whether as powerful as gods or as insignificant as ants, had their thoughts, their consciousness, and the most subtle fluctuations in the depths of their Soul completely stagnated.

Even the rules themselves lost their vitality.

Gravity no longer pulled on objects, electromagnetic forces no longer transmitted information, and the strong and weak nuclear forces also ceased to function; the most basic framework constituting the world seemed to have been forcibly pressed with a pause button by an invisible, massive hand.

The entire Universe became a massive, absolutely static specimen.

In this Domain of absolute stillness, the gaze of the will of the main universe swept across, eventually landing on the four subjects it had specially pardoned.

Xiang Yan, the world will of the Magical Girl World, Meng Yu floating in the ritual, and that strange creature that resembled both a fish and a human.

Facing this supreme existence, Xiang Yan's expression was solemn.

He respectfully bowed to that indescribable will, and in an ancient and solemn language, said: "Great will of the main universe, I offer you my highest respects."

Pausing for a moment, he continued: "Today, under your gaze, this world will face a choice of paths. Whether to continue with the Magical Girl system as the core, or to turn to the path of Monster Bloodline evolution."

Xiang Yan's voice echoed in the static Universe, every word containing an inexplicable power.

"This change of paths is an autonomous choice from within the world, not something imposed by external forces. Therefore, I implore you to deliver your judgment and witness this historic moment."

He pointed to Meng Yu and that strange fish-human creature in the ritual, adding: "These two are the representatives of this path change. The Magical Girl Meng Yu and the Monster Sato Shinsui."

Regarding Xiang Yan's statement, the will of the main universe did not immediately respond; its invisible gaze turned toward the world will of the Magical Girl World.

It was an indescribable gaze, as if it could pierce through all falsehoods and reach straight to the Origin.

The world will of the Magical Girl World trembled before the will of the main universe.

It was timid; if its thoughts had been more mature, perhaps it would have refuted, but now, driven by instinct and under the gaze of the Main Universe, it dared not make any response.

The will of the main universe watched all of this calmly.

From the moment of its arrival, it had already grasped all the cause and effect, including Xiang Yan's little schemes, the situation facing the world will, and even the small movements of that Gray Snake and the world behind it.

But it did not care.

For a great existence like the will of the main universe, the scene before it was nothing more than a common game of "house" between its children.

The Magical Girl World, the world behind the Gray Snake, and Xiang Yan—which of these three was not its child?

It was just that some children were obedient, some were ambitious, and others were relatively unconventional.

Between children, fighting and squabbling to see who is superior was perfectly normal.

Whoever won could receive more attention, more resources, and grow faster; those who lost would either have to exit sadly or... learn to tuck their tails and behave.

The will of the main universe was long accustomed to this.

It had created countless worlds and witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations; this level of conflict did not even amount to a ripple in its long span of time.

Anyway, no matter the outcome, it did not matter to it.

Winning was certainly gratifying; losing was also of no great consequence.

After all, it had more than just these three children...

The gaze of the will of the main universe lingered on the world will of the Magical Girl World for a long time.

That gaze was calm and waveless, yet it made the latter feel as if needles were pricking its back, and its already thin consciousness body was almost crushed by this invisible pressure.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched, with every instant as agonizing as a century.

Finally, the world will of the Magical Girl World still did not make any response.

It had no courage to speak before the will of the main universe, let alone refute Xiang Yan's lies.

The will of the main universe withdrew its gaze, silently.

Just as the corner of Xiang Yan's mouth was about to curve into a victorious arc, an irresistible force suddenly descended.

This force was not aimed at Xiang Yan, but acted upon the entire ritual formation, as well as Meng Yu and that strange fish-human creature within it.

"Boom!"

In the Void Realm, it was as if an invisible door had been slammed open.

The ritual formation, along with everything within it, instantly vanished.

A strange space forcefully intruded into Xiang Yan's field of vision; this space was vast and boundless, yet completely empty.

There were no stars, no light or darkness, and even the concepts of time and space became blurred.

Silently, Meng Yu and Sato Shinsui were already confronting each other.

There were no superfluous movements, no probing words, only gazes that crossed like blades, colliding to spark invisible flames.

The "gift" from the will of the main universe weighed heavily on their hearts; it was a cruel manual regarding victory and defeat—the winner takes all, and the loser... would not even have their ashes left behind.

A tense atmosphere permeated the air, like a taut string that could snap at any moment.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out!

As expected, Sato Shinsui lost; even though he had struggled with all his might, he still could not change the fact that they were to be erased.

After all, Xiang Yan's definition of him was merely a tool.

It was merely a defective product created by Xiang Yan to start the ritual.

The dust settled, and Sato Shinsui turned into fly ash, dissipating into this void space.

The gaze of the will of the main universe swept across again; this time, its attention was focused on Meng Yu.

This gaze seemed to carry a certain inquiry, or perhaps a certain scrutiny.

Suddenly, the will of the main universe "saw" something, and the invisible fluctuations suddenly became intense.

Those fluctuations were not anger, not joy, but a pure, emotionless "surprise".

It was just like opening a book at random, only to find an old, long-forgotten photograph tucked inside.

The will of the main universe discovered that the Magical Girl system of this world had actually undergone a change.

And Meng Yu happened to belong to that ancient Magical Girl system from before the change.

This discovery led the will of the main universe to make a decision.

A decision sufficient to change the fate of the entire world.

In the Void Realm, a "rumbling" sound echoed again, as if something had been forcibly twisted.

The will of the main universe, with its supreme power, forcibly negated the existing Magical Girl system of this world.

It was as if using an eraser to wipe away newly added strokes on a drawing paper.

Immediately after, an even more astonishing scene occurred.

The negated system was actually forcibly reversed, returning to its ancient appearance.

It was as if the erased strokes had reappeared on the drawing paper.

Not only that, but all existing Magical Girls were forcibly changed by this power.

Their powers and their forms were forcibly "formatted," returning to the state of the ancient Magical Girl system.

This change came too fast and too suddenly, so much so that no one could react.

Throughout the entire process, the will of the main universe did not say a word, nor did it give any explanation.

It simply did what it deemed "should" be done.

Subsequently, that vast will retreated like the tide, disappearing without a trace.

Leaving behind only this completely changed, static world.

The corner of Xiang Yan's mouth finally curled into a wide arc; plan successful!

He didn't care about any Magical Girl system or any path of Monster evolution.

From the very beginning, his goal was only one—to run away!

As for Meng Yu and Sato Shinsui, they were merely chess pieces he used to start the ritual.

Whoever won or lost, he didn't care at all.

What he truly wanted was to take advantage of the opportunity of the Universe will's descent to restrict the world will.

As long as the world will dared not act rashly, he would have enough time to escape this damn place.

As for this "surprise" of the system reshaping now?

Heh, that was even more like icing on the cake, simply wonderful!

Now, his certainty of escaping was even greater.