Returning to the villa with Daphne, who was slightly out of breath, Novak found the hall lights still on.
Aria and Dane were nowhere to be seen, likely already asleep. Novak paid no mind to their absence. Now, only three people remained in the living room—Novak, Daphne, and Nicole.
Novak decided to offer a final warning:
"There are only two days left until doomsday erupts. I'll be retreating for a while. I'm not sure when I'll return, but it should be before doomsday begins. During this time, take care of yourselves."
Without waiting for a response, Novak retrieved two items from his belongings. One was the 'Wall of Roshan', which he had just acquired, and the other was the 'Corpse Heart Pill' he had previously collected.
The 'Corpse Heart Pill' was nothing more than a small wooden bottle with a piece of paper inside. But the 'Wall of Roshan' was far more grotesque, resembling a pulsating, writhing mass of flesh. Its appearance immediately disgusted both Daphne and Nicole.
Novak, however, was unfazed. He placed the wriggling piece of meat on the table and began to explain.
"This is called the 'Wall of Roshan'. You've seen what Roshan is capable of. This is a special building material that possesses the same traits. When fed with corpses and fresh meat, it can divide and grow indefinitely, forming walls that are incredibly strong. Over time, it will even develop the ability to defend itself against attackers and self-repair.
"Just be sure to stay clear of it while it's feeding," Novak added with a wry smile.
Daphne's eyes gleamed with understanding.
"However, in order to build a city or a gathering place recognized by the Cosmic Will, you'll need a special item—a 'City Building Order'. Keep this for now," Novak said, gesturing toward the pulsating wall of flesh.
Having grasped its potential, Daphne no longer found the large chunk of meat as repulsive as before.
"As for this," Novak continued, holding up the small bottle, "it's the 'Corpse Heart Pill'. After consuming it, your constitution will significantly improve. But you'll need to take the antidote regularly to stay alive. This is a highly effective tool for controlling others, as the antidote is dosed individually. The process to make it isn't complicated, but it's not something to be taken lightly."
He paused before continuing, "Of course, using medicine to control others is nothing more than a temporary method. The true way to rule is with strength, wisdom, and benevolence. You know this better than anyone."
Daphne appeared deep in thought, but beneath her composed expression was a growing sense of excitement. She was an ambitious woman, and now, with Novak's help, her aspirations were expanding beyond the realm of business. She could see herself achieving even greater power.
"Remember," Novak added, "when doomsday begins, and the trial field is opened, these tools will be secondary. The most important thing will be your own strength. Without it, nothing else matters. Strength ensures safety, and with enough power, you can maintain your youth, prolong your life, even achieve immortality—or become a god."
At the mention of eternal youth, prolonged life, and the possibility of becoming a god, both Daphne and Nicole's eyes lit up with an almost feverish desire. What was doomsday to others was now their greatest opportunity.
The strong live, the weak die!
Novak's warning hung in the air as he made his way to the attic on the villa's top floor, a place where he could be alone, undisturbed by anyone.
Late into the night, Novak gazed out the window at the dark sky, the moon, and stars twinkling above. He wondered if any gods were already watching, peering down on Earth as it prepared to become the center of the Cosmic Will—the stage for an imminent cosmic trial.
The 'Blacklight Virus' coursed through Novak's veins, rapidly accelerating within his cells. Even standing still, he could feel his body temperature rising sharply. To anyone else, it would seem as though Novak was on the verge of passing out from an extreme fever.
But Novak was calm, in no rush. He opened the chat in the No. 001 group.
[White Emperor]: @All members, there are two days left until the end. I'll be occupied during this time and won't be able to monitor the group. But I have faith that each of you will grow stronger in the future. Please take care of the Cosmic Evolution Forerunners Post Bar in my absence. I'll grant you administrative privileges to manage things. If new members apply to join, verify and approve them on my behalf. If I'm still absent after doomsday begins, close off the group to further applications.
After assigning Ian, Lotte, Vince, and a few others as administrators, Novak closed the group chat, not waiting for their responses.
In the next moment, the light in his room disappeared entirely, plunging everything into pitch-black darkness.
This time, Novak could feel the 'Blacklight Virus' awakening within him, giving him a direct feedback loop in his genes. Under the 'Virus King' talent, he had an innate understanding and control over the virus, which filled him with confidence.
He could sense that the 'Blacklight Virus' had reached a critical threshold—1% awakening. It was a significant milestone, but it would require more time for the full evolution to complete.
Novak could only hope that this awakening wouldn't take too long. He wanted to witness doomsday with his own eyes.
With that thought, Novak shifted his consciousness toward his talent interface, ready for what came next.