Chapter 133: Gate, Push & Pull (Second - Of Mass Release)

Chapter 133: Gate, Push & Pull (Second Chapter Of Mass Release)

?Its energy had reached an effectively infinite state, behaving like a region of negative space that drew everything toward itself.

Rather than merely releasing energy into its surroundings, the core had become an insatiable sink, pulling in anything that came within its reach.

?This was the true nature of the Worldbreaker.

?It wasn’t simply a bomb that released enough energy to destroy a planet. It was a device that created something resembling a black hole at the heart of a world, an artificial phenomenon whose attraction threatened to consume everything around it.

?Conventional power had no answer to an infinite force.

?To counter it, Cassian needed something equally inexhaustible.

?Fortunately, he possessed exactly that.

?His [Infinite Mana] blessing.

?The moment the Worldbreaker Core began drawing in his mana, Cassian felt the strain on his body change.

?Until now, he had been forcing mana out of himself, attempting to regulate its flow while resisting the machine’s repulsive force.

Every second had demanded deliberate effort, and even his inexhaustible reserves hadn’t spared him the physical strain of maintaining contact.

?But now, something was different.

?The core was pulling. His mana was flowing into it.

?Cassian no longer needed to force the energy out. He only needed to let it flow.

?The first phase was the hard part.

?His expression gradually relaxed.

?This phase is easy.

?It was almost absurd.

?He had spent the earlier stage fighting against the Worldbreaker Core’s output, struggling to maintain a delicate equilibrium while the machine attempted to push him away.

Now, the device itself was doing the work for him, drawing his mana into its core at an astonishing rate.

?All he had to do was maintain contact and allow his Infinite Mana to replenish the energy being consumed.

?It was like filling a pit.

?Except the pit was a black hole, and the substance filling it was an endless supply of mana.

?Cassian’s lips twitched.

’?Well, at least I finally found something that can appreciate my blessing.’

?Mana poured from his palm.

?The Worldbreaker Core absorbed it without pause, its internal structures glowing brighter as the opposing energies collided.

The machine continued to draw energy toward itself, but the mana supplied by Cassian flooded into the reaction, countering its destructive effects.

?For several moments, the two forces remained locked in a struggle.

?Then, Cassian felt something shift within his understanding.

?The attraction pulling mana from his body was no longer merely a phenomenon he observed. He could feel the underlying principle governing the movement, the way the force drew energy toward a central point and how the opposing force could drive it outward.

?Push.

?Pull.

?Two expressions of the same fundamental principle.

?Cassian’s eyes widened slightly.

?Wait a moment.

?He focused on the mana flowing from his palm.

?He had already learned to project energy, but he had never properly considered the underlying relationship between projection and attraction.

One forced something away from a point; the other drew it toward that point.

?They were opposites, yet they belonged to the same concept.

?And if he could understand that concept, perhaps he could reproduce it.

?A notification appeared before his eyes.

?[Comprehension Achieved!]

?Through direct exposure to an extreme energy phenomenon, you have comprehended a new skill.

?[New Skill Acquired: Push and Pull]

Description: Allows the user to manipulate the movement of objects and energy through mana. The user can generate a repulsive force to push targets away or an attractive force to draw targets toward a designated point. Effectiveness depends on mana output, target resistance, and the user’s control.

?Cassian stared at the notification for a moment.

?Then, he smiled.

’?Now that’s useful.’

?The skill was surprisingly straightforward, yet its potential was considerable. With sufficient mana and control, he could push enemies away, pull objects toward himself, or manipulate the movement of energy within his surroundings.

?In a way, it reminded him of Morghanna’s Authority, [Weight of the World].

?Of course, there was a significant difference between the two.

?Morghanna’s Authority allowed her to manipulate mass and gravity with extraordinary precision.

Her control extended beyond simply attracting or repelling objects, allowing her to influence the fundamental conditions governing their movement.

?[Push and Pull] was a far more basic application.

?Nevertheless, Cassian suspected that learning this skill would make understanding his second Champion’s Authority considerably easier.

?After all, he now possessed a practical foundation for manipulating attractive and repulsive forces.

’?Morghanna will be pleased when she finds out.’

?He could already imagine her reaction. She would probably demand a sparring match to test the skill’s limits.

?Cassian suppressed a chuckle.

’?One problem at a time.’

?He returned his attention to the Worldbreaker Core.

?The mana continued flowing from his palm, replenishing the energy being drawn into the machine.

The pressure remained immense, but it no longer felt like an enemy he needed to fight. Instead, the core had become a channel through which his Infinite Mana could be supplied without interruption.

?Seconds passed.

?Then minutes.

?Gradually, the tremendous force pulling at Cassian began to weaken.

?The machine’s humming grew quieter, and the violent fluctuations in its energy signature started to diminish.

The enormous rings surrounding its central column slowed, while the light shining through the containment structures faded from a blinding radiance to a subdued glow.

?Cassian watched the changes carefully. He didn’t dare relax too soon.

?The Worldbreaker Core had already demonstrated that its reaction could change dramatically within moments. Until he was certain the process had stabilized, he would continue supplying mana.

?Finally, the pull weakened to almost nothing.

?Then, it stopped.

?The mana streaming from Cassian’s palm ceased flowing into the machine, and the oppressive force that had filled the chamber disappeared.

?Silence descended.

?The Worldbreaker Core stood completely still.

?Its enormous structure remained intact, but the terrifying energy that had threatened to consume the planet was gone. The binary fusion reaction had been neutralized, leaving the weapon dormant and incapable of continuing its destructive process.

?Cassian slowly withdrew his hand.

?His body ached, his muscles trembled from the strain, and sweat ran down his forehead.

?But he was alive.

?And so was Planet Roca.

?Behind him, Nyxara finally released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

?"My lord..."

?Her voice was barely audible.

?Cassian turned toward her, offering a tired smile. "It’s fine. The crisis is over."

?Before she could respond, another notification appeared before his eyes.

?This one was different.

?Its text was more elaborate, and its appearance carried an unmistakable sense of significance. The familiar interface of the Lord’s Domain had been replaced by a more sophisticated display, its luminous characters arranged in a formal proclamation.

?[ASTRAL DOMINION — CIVILIZATION EMERGENCY RESOLUTION]

?Congratulations, Lord Cassian Voss.

?Through your intervention, the destruction of Planet Roca has been prevented, preserving billions of lives and safeguarding a portion of the Astral Dominion.

?Your actions have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the survival of your anchor civilization.

?The Astral Dominion acknowledges your sacrifice and contribution.

?As recognition of your achievement, you have been granted a special skill: [Gate].

?Cassian’s eyes widened.

?Then, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

?The reward.

?He had suspected that preventing the destruction of Planet Roca would yield something worthwhile, but he hadn’t expected the Astral Dominion itself to acknowledge his actions with a special skill.

?His gaze settled on the final line.

?[Gate].

?The name alone was intriguing.

?Cassian opened the skill’s description, eager to discover exactly what he had just obtained.