"This gem... isn't it..."
Baize paused for a moment, recollecting his thoughts. This gem was none other than the one embedded in the staff of the Lich Archmage.
The staff itself seemed to have rotted away, leaving only this gem, which continued to float in space, untouched by time.
Considering the earlier cracks in the gem and the Archmage's apparent regression in power, it was clear this gem was extraordinary.
But what did that last statement mean?
"Contains some kind of ancient information?" Baize muttered aloud.
Turning to the system, he asked, "What does this mean?"
[Ding! Exactly what it says. The gem contains sealed information.]
"How do I unlock it?" Baize pressed.
[With Genesis Points. If you have enough, the system can decode it for you.]
"How many points are we talking about?"
[Ding! Initial analysis indicates it will cost 10,000 Genesis Points to unlock this information.]
Baize glanced at his status panel. He had just about half that amount of Genesis Points.
Yet, curiosity gnawed at him. What secrets could this gem possibly hold?
And what if it was some sort of surveillance device? Keeping it around might pose a risk.
"Fine," Baize sighed. "System, convert Faith Points to make up the difference."
Though the thought pained him, he knew it was necessary.
[Ding! Faith Points successfully converted. Remaining Faith Points: 21.]
[Ding! Payment of Genesis Points complete. Remaining Genesis Points: 70.]
[Ding! Decoding the information...]
With swift precision, the system began its work. Baize held his breath as the moments stretched on.
After a few minutes, the decoded information appeared before him: a simple string of numbers.
11111, 34443, 7224
"Huh?"
"What is this? Just a bunch of numbers?"
"Are you messing with me?" Baize felt a pang of frustration.
But in the next moment, a revelation struck him like a thunderclap.
"Coordinates!"
That was it. This sequence of numbers most likely represented XYZ coordinates in space, pinpointing a specific location in the universe.
"Could it be... the location of the Lich homeworld?" Baize speculated.
The Lich had always kept the location of their homeworld hidden, a deliberate strategy in this vast, dangerous cosmos.
In the "Dark Forest" of the universe, every civilization was like an armed hunter. No one wanted to reveal their position.
However, if the Lich homeworld had truly withered, leaving only a few survivors, obtaining its coordinates could be a golden opportunity.
With this location in hand, Baize could potentially swoop in and claim the spoils.
As for travel? That was the least of his concerns.
The Portal Card in his possession still had two uses left. With precise coordinates, he could instantly teleport to the location, bypassing any danger en route.
"And there's another crucial point..." Baize's thoughts turned deeper.
The Lich homeworld, despite its current state, was once capable of sustaining intelligent life.
If he could clear out any remaining Lich and revive its ecosystem, it could serve as the foundation for cosmic colonization.
The idea sent a ripple of excitement through Baize.
But his rational side quickly tempered his enthusiasm.
"No. Rumor has it that some of the Lich's peak combatants are still in slumber."
"What if they aren't entirely dead? What if they have hidden trump cards?"
Baize recalled the intelligence from the Eye of God about the Lich Archmage.
The Archmage was ranked as the weakest of the Lich God's ten generals—a mere low-tier Sovereign.
This meant there were at least nine other generals, each stronger than the Archmage, still potentially active.
And then there was the Lich God itself—a being rumored to have transcended the Sovereign realm to reach Divinity.
With only three Commanders under his command, Baize couldn't afford to take such risks.
If those beings survived and retaliated through the portal, it would be catastrophic.
"Too risky," Baize concluded.
Instead, he considered using the simulator to scout the location—a safer but expensive option. However, the cost of using the simulator with the portal was another 10,000 Genesis Points.
"Looks like this will have to wait until I'm stronger," Baize decided.
He stored the coordinates in the system for future retrieval.
Then, his attention returned to the gem.
"The Crimson Stone... Why does it have the suffix 'Magic'?"
Baize pondered for a moment. The name likely stemmed from the Lich Archmage itself.
However, the suffix hinted at a broader implication—perhaps there were other stones with different attributes.
"Does this mean the other nine Lich generals each possess their unique stones?"
Unable to determine the answer, Baize set the thought aside.
The gem's description mentioned that it could be consumed.
"Better let Hyper Zetton absorb it and avoid any unnecessary trouble," Baize decided.
"I've examined it," he said aloud.
"This Crimson Stone is from the Lich Archmage. It can be absorbed. It's no longer of use to me, so take it."
With a flick of his finger, Baize sent the gem as a streak of light to Hyper Zetton.
Holding the vibrant, glowing gem, Hyper Zetton bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Father God, for your divine gift! Praise be to the great deity!"
Under Baize's watchful eye, Hyper Zetton lifted the gem high and fused it into the yellow crystal on its chest.
Instantly, the gem dissolved, releasing a surge of overwhelming energy that coursed through Hyper Zetton's body.
The stable realm of its power began to shift and rise.
The energy spread to every corner of its being, strengthening it at an unprecedented rate.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Hyper Zetton has advanced to Mid-tier Commander Level!]
[Ding! Hyper Zetton has absorbed the "Magic" power of the Crimson Stone. Long-range spell damage increased.]
[Ding! New ability unlocked for Dark Fireball: Upon initial explosion, it will split into multiple smaller fireballs for a secondary attack!]
A satisfied grin spread across Baize's face at the notifications.
Hyper Zetton, now radiating with power, tested its newfound strength, shattering nearby debris with a roar.
"Zedon~~!"
Its triumphant cry echoed, shaking the surrounding space.
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