"I've decided," Asher said, halting mid-flight as they hovered in the starry expanse. "I want to reach the peak of this universe before we leave."
Valeris turned to him, her silver hair glinting under the starlight. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
Asher's expression was serious, his gaze distant as he answered, "The Universal Membrane isn't like the Galaxy Barrier. If we try to force our way through it, it will trigger a response—like striking a divine bell."
Valeris raised a brow. "A response?"
He nodded. "The moment we pierce through the membrane, it's the same as announcing our presence to other universes. The Chains of Reality embedded in this universe will activate, marking us as anomalies. And worse... the signal could attract invasion scouts from other universes."
Valeris inhaled sharply. "So crossing the universal barrier isn't just a matter of strength."
