The dividing line between low-energy worlds and high-energy worlds is the creation of beings tied to laws or conceptual lifeforms.
Only worlds possessing avatars of laws, known as gods, or conceptual gods can ascend to the status of high-energy worlds.
High-energy worlds alone can develop suppressive forces like Gaia Consciousness, Alaya Consciousness, Plane Consciousness, or Planetary Consciousness—mechanisms that actively sustain and promote the world's growth.
With such suppressive forces, worlds can autonomously avoid extinction-level crises.
However, not all high-energy worlds with gods possess such suppressive forces.
The birth of a god is merely a foundational condition, as gods are essentially the administrators of the world.
For instance, in Teyvat, there are no such suppressive forces, or rather, the Heavenly Principle itself acts as a humanoid suppressive force.
In fact, the Heavenly Principle surpasses standard suppressive forces, resembling a fusion of a creator and a suppressive force.
For a world like Akame ga Kill, which only needs an opportunity to become a high-energy world, the role of the devourer is to ensure it never gets that chance.
While the odds of a god triggering the awakening of suppressive forces are slim, the risk cannot be ignored.
Should suppressive forces rise in opposition, unforeseen complications could arise during the assimilation process.
Although the benefits of devouring a high-energy world are beyond imagination, Teyvat is still in a fractured state—too risky to gamble with now.
Noah was just about to act personally, intending to capture Esdeath and bring her to Celestia for observation.
Suddenly, the spatial sigil on the throne belonging to Asmoday began to glow.
Asmoday appeared on her throne. Upon seeing Noah, she greeted him respectfully: "Master."
Noah stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is there an issue with the routine patrol of the lower worlds?"
Asmoday shook her head. "There is no issue with the world itself, but a war has broken out among the nations of the lower realms. Should I intervene to stop it?"
The first world was currently in its equivalent of the 18th century, in the midst of what could be considered its First World War.
Noah glanced at the aloof Asmoday, a plan forming in his mind. "Ah, Asmoday, leave the humans' wars alone; it's just part of their normal historical trajectory. I have a more important task for you."
Hearing that she had been assigned a mission, Asmoday's golden eyes lit up with determination as she focused intently on Noah. "Please, Master, command me."
To her, every task assigned by the Heavenly Principle benefited Teyvat. No matter the challenge, as long as it was for Teyvat's prosperity, she would see it through.
Noah snapped his fingers, projecting the image of the Akame ga Kill world before her.
"Currently, the Akame ga Kill world has been preliminarily enveloped by the Human Realm Force System. Human faith is already within our grasp," Noah began.
"However, this world is quite unique. It is on the verge of birthing a god. If that happens, it could cause complications for the assimilation process."
Hearing that the assimilation might face difficulties, Asmoday's golden eyes immediately gleamed with palpable, murderous intent.
"I will eliminate her right now," she declared, her tone icy.
As she prepared to step into the world gate, Noah quickly stopped her. "I'm not finished yet! Don't rush, Asmoday."
He couldn't help but feel both helpless and amused. Asmoday seemed to care about the assimilation of worlds even more than he, the Heavenly Principle, did.
Her "workaholic" attitude—one that seemed to scream, If I can't work, I'd rather die—was endearing in a way, though it left him helpless.
Asmoday halted and turned back. "Please continue, Master."
Noah gestured toward the image of Esdeath on the projection. "Since she is someone capable of triggering the transformation of this world into a high-energy world, suppress and seal her, then bring her to me. Killing her would be too wasteful."
After all, Esdeath had been his very first reason to immerse himself in this world—a dominant yet elegant sadist.
Beyond personal sentiment, Esdeath's mindset was practically tailor-made for someone like him, the Heavenly Principle.
Her philosophy dictated that the strong should dominate the weak, and the weak were naturally the property of the strong. Once defeated, she would wholeheartedly submit to her conqueror, much like Asmoday herself.
Furthermore, Esdeath represented a critical opportunity for the world to ascend to high-energy status. Her potential rivaled even the Four Shadows of the Heavens.
Despite not yet being a god, she already wielded power comparable to a high-ranking god. Should she ascend, her authority—composed of 80% Ice Rules and 20% Time Rules—would be on par with, if not slightly below, the Four Shadows of the Heavens.
Asmoday nodded, her demeanor as mechanical and obedient as ever. "Understood, Master. I will proceed immediately."
With that, she stepped through the world gate.
The scene shifted to the Akame ga Kill world.
Though the environmental conditions differed from those of Teyvat, causing some minor discomfort for Asmoday, her power remained unaffected.
As a Sustainer of the Heavenly Principle, her strength was intrinsically tied to Noah's. As long as the Heavenly Principle were intact, no world could diminish her power.
Using her authority over space, she quickly scanned and located her target.
…
On the northern plains, Esdeath was leading the empire's million-strong army back to the capital.
The Imperial Capital was far from the northern border, and with such a massive force, even at their fastest pace, the journey would take at least a month.
Esdeath, riding a captured tiger-like Danger Beast as her mount, glanced down at her subordinates on horseback.
"How many days until we reach the capital?" she asked.
Liver, ever respectful, retrieved a pocket watch from his coat and replied, "At least 17 more days, General. If you're in a hurry, you could leave us behind and capture a flying Danger Beast to return ahead of the army."
Esdeath let out a cold snort. "Hmph. Just report the time; the rest is unnecessary."
Liver retracted his pocket watch and sighed. "The General is as considerate of her subordinates as ever."
Though General Esdeath was merciless to foreign tribes, akin to a demon, she treated her soldiers and civilians with remarkable kindness.
She often distributed the rewards given by the Emperor among her troops and shared meals with regular soldiers in the barracks.
Because of this, the soldiers under General Esdeath were the empire's most elite and battle-hardened forces, and she was well-loved by the citizens of the capital.
At that moment, the million-strong army's horses suddenly lost control, neighing wildly.
"What's going on? The horses are out of control!"
"Damn it! Hold the reins tight!"
"Hey! What's happening?"
As chaos spread among the soldiers, Esdeath rose from her Danger Beast mount, her sharp gaze locked forward.
"The atmosphere of the entire space has changed! What a powerful sense of oppression! Something is coming from somewhere!"
Esdeath's ice-blue eyes narrowed, fixed on the distance ahead.
Her body was reacting with fear. Trembling. What was it? A legendary Super-Class Danger Beast?
Even as her body shivered in fright, her eyes and face lit up with uncontainable excitement.
"All units, halt!"
Crack—Buzz—
A sound like fabric being torn reverberated across the heavens and earth.
Everyone turned to see an enormous black-and-red rift slowly opening in the space ahead, resembling a terrifying gaping maw.
The rift was so massive it could have swallowed nearly half of the army.
An unimaginable sense of oppression surged out from the tear in space.
Under this crushing pressure, the horses of the million-strong army collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
One of the commanders, his face twisted in fear, screamed, "Dear heavens! What is that?"
Esdeath drew the sword at her waist, her entire being trembling with exhilaration as she gazed at the rift.
From the rift stepped a woman with long white hair and golden eyes, her entire presence radiating a pressure so overwhelming it seemed to tear the heavens and crush the earth.
The word "god" involuntarily surfaced in Esdeath's mind.
No human could exude such a terrifying aura, one that even made her body tremble in terror.
Asmoday emerged from the spatial tear, her cold gaze fixed on the target who had drawn her sword in defiance.
"Defier of the Heavenly Principle, your journey ends here."
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