"What interests us kings the most is the theory mentioned under this list."
Shadow Origin's eyes glinted with realization. "The Hypothesis of Restricted Stats…" he recalled, his breathing quickening with every next word (-was there any truth to this hypothesis, he thought inwardly-). "The younger brother said that the Characters within the Random World possess all the Attributes that of a Contestant, but are not digitized. And thus, they have the access to these Manifestations at the cost of the fact that they can't direct their powers in a particular direction.
"In contrast to the Characters, the Contestants' Stats provide them the means of redirecting this source of power using Attributes, but being digitized, they must tap into these Attributes one by one at specific gaps to access the Manifestations."
The king hummed in agreement. "And these specific gaps are…"
The word was already on the tip of Shadow Origin's tongue. "Thresholds!"
But what does this have to do with Red? Shadow Origin couldn't help but think that he was missing something. According to the Hypothesis of Restricted Stats, Perception's manifestations can only be accessed by the Contestants after crossing a particular threshold.
Manifestations above 100 rank are the most easily accessible, right after resurrection.
The ones from 51 to 100 are only accessible after the 1st Threshold, marked by 20 or above points in each Active Attribute.
11 to 50 ranked Manifestations are accessible only after the 2nd Threshold, marked by 50 or above points in each Active Attribute.
And the ones ranked from 1 to 10 are thought to be accessible only after the 3rd Threshold, marked by 100 or above points in each Active Attribute.
But the top 10 Manifestations are unique and have baffled researchers for ages.
"Hahaha!"
The sudden laugh took Shadow Origin by surprise. He confoundedly stared at the purple mist, which seemed to laugh along with the king.
"It has everything to do with Red and his current situation," the king said, still laughing, and almost reading the viceroy's doubts. "Have you forgotten the condition of becoming a King?"
Shadow's Origin trembled. Yes! How could he forget that? It was he who had remarked it last time.
"To be a King," he mumbled, more to himself and less to the king, "one must have access to at least one of the top-10 ranked Manifestations. As Perception is the glue holding the Multiverse together, one must use a Perception's Manifestation as a glue too, combining Extremities of at least two different Random Worlds."
"Good," the king praised. "That is correct indeed. Take the Golden King as an example.
"Like Red, he had also accessed a manifestation under the 1st Threshold — Color of Observation; ranked 5th on The Myriad Manifestations of Perception.
"Later, the Golden King combined one Extremity of the One Piece Random World, the Gomu Gomu no Mi Devil Fruit, with another Extremity of the Naruto World, sealing the Nine-Tailed Fox within him.
"Huh! Ingenious, isn't it?"
Shadow Origin felt like a child being educated by a sage.
He knew that there many Extremities in a Single Random World. But even with his status, finding these details about another king would have been a horrendous task.
Yet here he was, lectured by a king himself. He couldn't help but wonder which two Extremities His Grace, the Purple King, must have combined.
But as soon as his mind wandered in that direction, Shadow Origin chastised himself.
Blasphemy! He roared in his mind. You fool! You will die a horrific death by having these idiotic thoughts.
Shadow Origin wasn't a Contestant who had gained his position by asking questions he shouldn't have asked. Not to mention, the topic at hand was still hot.
"I get it now," the viceroy said, choosing his words meticulously. "With Red capable of using Color of Observation, the Systems must have selected a Unique Random World, keeping the said Manifestation in its analyzation.
"And upon considering his Items, the mysteries surrounding him related to the assassination and the two temples, the previous stage's rewards, and his Abilities and Worth, the grade of his mission must be at least C- or even C.
"Yet, he doesn't have the Stats to complement his oddities. You said wonderfully, your grace.
"Attributes restrict the Contestants as much as they assist them."
Shadow Origin closed his eyes, digesting the entire knowledge instantly.
The king said nothing, then.
After two days, they saw Red leaving the cave, and then fighting with two other characters.
The snapping of fingers and the use of Magic made Shadow Origin frown. "Wandless Magic…" he said. "How unrefined…"
However, he knew that by using this, Red had masterfully closed the gap between the discrepancy between his stats. But for how long? The question made him shake his head.
Then they saw Kai's absurd action of helping the Insect Hashira, the words he said, and then taking care of her for the next three days.
The king chortled, to the viceroy's surprise.
"What is it, your grace?" Shadow Origin asked humbly. "Please enlighten me."
"He is an Adulterer," the king replied passively.
Adulterer? Shadow Origin repeated. Oh! Adulterer, the Title. Hmm, that makes sense. He must have put the Title Status points awarded by the Systems into the Title. Still, not just anyone can handle the ridiculous Skill — Heart Rhythm. Millions of Contestants have died pursuing beauties from the Random Worlds using this Skill. Tch-Tch!
Now, the screen played the scene of Kai and the Flame Hashira facing each other.
Kagutsuchi?! The viceroy frowned. When did the Demon Slayers start naming their swords? Perhaps a Timeline divergence. Yes. That must be it.
He looked sideways but got no hint from the purple mist.
With every passing moment, Shadow Origin couldn't help but praise Red's use of Color of Observation and the Wandless Magic in his heart.
No matter what, he thought, smiling, as he saw Red once again discarding his humanity and then going for the final kill. This kid got style!
The moment he saw a flame pillar rushing towards heaven, and the subsequent state of Kai and Rengoku, Shadow Origin folded his arms over his chest. "Haha!" he laughed. "It's over. The fight was worth every Mission Credit."
However, just when he had relaxed, seeing Red going towards the hut, he saw the Flame Hashira getting up.
For years to come the Viceroy wouldn't forget how he had stood near the king, stupefied, listening to those abysmal words.
Rengoku Kyojuro's spiritual pressure was almost visible on the screen, burning the very space in Red's surroundings.
It was then that the Flame Hashira said those words.
Those abysmal words were…
"Ban…Kai!!! …
… Roar! Hi-no-Kagutsuchi!!!"
…
Boom!
On Shadow Origin's left, the entire throne crumbled to pieces, as the king slowly stood up, the purple mist flapping like a roaring purple fire.
Before Shadow Origin lost consciousness because of the king's outrageous Haki, Shadow Origin only caught a few words, hammering them into his subconsciousness.
"Verse Fusion?!!! Impossible!" the Purple King was saying, shocked. "No… How can this be?! This kid… this kid hides an immense secret!!!"
***************
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