"With this, even squeezing in another giant galaxy wouldn't be a problem."
"However, I still need to practice more on how to use spacetime powers to place a planet inside that small bead."
In the following days, Zane kept imagining and simulating in his mind a model of shrinking a planet to fit into the small black bead on his neck.
The previous arrival of the Beyonder was like a brief interlude, passing in a flash.
And so, the slender, elongated spaceship they had obtained from the Watcher, which resembled a curved lacrosse stick, carried Zane and the other two along the star map's designated trajectory, heading toward Atlantheia.
"We're here!"
Roma gradually slowed the readings on the control instruments, then excitedly called out to the other two on the ship.
At that moment, Zane tapped on the glass window at the edge of the ship, which instantly revealed the outside view.
What lay outside was a particularly desolate scene.
The term "desolate" didn't mean the utter devastation Zane had seen after battling with the Celestial Clan, where not a single fragment was left behind.
Rather, it described an endlessly vast void, empty and barren.
Scattered sporadically were a few celestial bodies, like lost companions, drifting far apart.
These celestial bodies, resembling fragments of shattered clay reassembled into planets, orbited a dim star that had clearly entered the late stages of its life as a star.
Together, they formed a uniquely vast and sparse star system.
"Is this... the place?"
Zane looked at Roma and asked.
"Yes, this is it."
"Using this star and the largest planet as the longitudinal axis, with the star as the origin, the point 7.61 million kilometers directly ahead from the star—"
"That's the location where the Atlantheia cosmic gateway was once discovered."
After finishing, Roma blinked and swiftly positioned herself, standing firm at a specific spot and looking at Zane and the other person.
Seeing Roma's confident gaze, Zane knew she had likely been here more than once, enabling her to easily pinpoint the critical coordinates.
"So, how do we now open the gateway to Atlantheia? Or rather, how do we find the Key?"
As Roma finished speaking, she glanced at Lorna and the glowing Infinity Gauntlet in her hand.
The Infinity Gauntlet had once been shattered during Zane's battle with Arishem.
But it had been instantly retrieved into Zane's [King's Treasury] and repaired to perfection.
Thus, before coming here, Zane had handed it to Lorna.
According to legend, to open the relic of the Vengeful Goddess, one must gather all six gems and the Key.
Both were indispensable.
Boom!!!
Just as Lorna approached the spot where Roma stood, the Infinity Gauntlet in her hand emitted a dazzling brilliance.
"It seems... the relic is being activated," Zane murmured as he watched the scene unfold.
*Swish!*
The Infinity Gauntlet on Lorna's hand burst forth with radiant brilliance, outshining even the aged star nearby.
In an instant, it illuminated the vast and silent expanse of space.
Zane opened his highly enhanced vision using his [Mangekyō Sharingan], the crimson triangular patterns in his eyes spinning rapidly, capturing the full scope of everything within a ten-light-year radius.
Within his view, he saw that the star closest to them was orbited by only five similarly sized asteroids, arranged in a perfect circular formation.
The largest of the asteroids, however, was the one closest to the star.
In other words, these six celestial bodies and the star at the center formed a micro-star system that blatantly defied the usual laws of planetary motion.
Beyond this system, Zane strained his gaze but found not a single other celestial body—no stars, no clusters of meteoric debris.
It was as if an unknown force had wiped this vast region clean, leaving behind only the six orbiting planets and the aging star at the center.
This anomaly puzzled Zane.
"Why is it like this?" Zane asked aloud.
"You're referring to the fact that within a ten-light-year radius, there are only these six asteroids and this dying star, right?"
Roma glanced at him upon hearing the question, then replied:
"People who've been here before have noticed this same phenomenon."
"They speculated that when the Goddess disintegrated herself, the resulting annihilation energy wiped out all life and matter within this region of the Celestial Sky."
"Over time, new stars began to form beyond this ten-light-year range, but this core zone—where the energy was most intense—has remained barren to this day."
"Then why are these few celestial bodies still here?" Zane asked. Based on Roma's explanation, these planets should have been obliterated long ago.
"Perhaps the residual energy left after the Vengeful Goddess's death condensed into these forms," Roma suggested.
"Interestingly, there are six planets plus the central star—matching the exact number of Infinity Stones."
"Many believe there's a connection between the two."
"But," she added, "even when others managed to gather all six Infinity Stones, they never triggered such a massive reaction as the one you've caused now."
"Of course, throughout the history of the Omniverse, the number of people who've successfully collected all six Infinity Stones and lived to reach this place can be counted on one hand."
As she finished, Roma glanced at Zane with a teasing smile.
Zane understood her point. He also knew that his victory against the Celestials had been largely due to his unique skill set.
Those who could effortlessly overpower the Celestials had no need to covet the power of the Infinity Stones, let alone venture into the ruins of the Vengeful Goddess to search for its entrance.
Such beings likely possessed power comparable to the Vengeful Goddess herself before her demise.
However, Zane wasn't one to let any opportunity for growth slip by, especially when this power was meant for Lorna.
He wouldn't let it go to waste.
With this thought in mind, Zane turned his gaze toward Lorna, who was wearing the glowing Infinity Gauntlet.
At that moment, the light from the Gauntlet surged suddenly, only to vanish entirely in an instant.
"Uh, what happened, darling?" Lorna asked, confused, as she looked at Zane.
"Lorna! Quickly, release the power from that Void Dimension inside you!" Zane shouted urgently.
*Swish!*
Hearing him, Lorna didn't hesitate and acted immediately.
*************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is Lord_Immortal_0170