Just call me Thor

Tower of Truth, private space.

After inventorying the haul from the Mushroom Forest, Mike handed the pre-packaged food, wine, and other supplies to Dorian.

As per their previous agreement, those with high work points could freely exchange for items.

At this moment, Mike also received the pricing plan for [Wind's Reach].

In addition to the conditions Mike had previously proposed, humanity was willing to provide a subsidy for Mike.

For every [Wind's Reach] sold, Mike could claim a 1,000 gold coin subsidy from the [Mystic Market].

All in all, Mike wouldn't lose money; he might even make a small profit.

"No problem."

With Mike's agreement, the matter was settled.

In the private space, Vladimir had reverted to his vampire form and was much more compliant.

"This is the master smith. You can call her Master. Fool, come and meet everyone."

With Mike's enthusiastic introduction, everyone met Master Fool.

To forge SSS-tier equipment, the production plan for the Mysterious Mine was completely overhauled.

Mining of B-grade and A-grade ores was temporarily halted, focusing instead on S-grade and above ores.

According to the master smith, even S-grade materials weren't sufficient; at least SS-grade ores were needed!

The dwarves were also excited.

They had long grown tired of hammering ore bricks day in and day out and were eager to do something different.

Mike sincerely said, "We can start by incorporating mushrooms into lower-quality equipment, like S-grade or SS-grade, to practice."

The demon race master smith gave him a cold look. "You call SS-grade equipment low-quality?"

Mike nodded, "It just shows how skilled you are!"

The demon race master smith couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Though she called herself Fool, she wasn't actually foolish!

Thor was being way too obvious about trying to take advantage!

"You can start by forging a sword. As for the forging fee, we can discuss it."

After arranging everything, Mike left the private space and returned to Earth.

As usual, a shadow awaited Mike.

"Shadow Nine, I've missed you so much!"

Mike almost teared up with emotion.

"You fucking missed me?"

A blade glinted in the shadow.

"Need me to help you meet your maker?"

Alright, it's the Irritable version of Shadow Nine again?!

Mike suddenly felt that Apollo wasn't so scary after all.

"Shadow Nine, is this how you treat humanity's fourth potential Supreme Being?!"

Saying this, Mike tossed his camera to Shadow Nine.

Shadow Nine took the camera and fell silent, clearly reviewing something.

Mike pulled up a chair, sat down, and stretched, "Shadow Nine, I have a question."

"Speak."

Shadow Nine seemed in a good mood, willing to chat a bit more.

Mike asked, "Shadow Nine, I've heard you can break through to the Supreme level?"

The Supreme level, or level 1000.

From what Mike understood, only those with SSS-tier talents had a chance to reach this level.

A voice came from the shadow, "Yes."

Shadow Nine organized her thoughts and spoke again, "Everyone has the potential to reach level 1000."

Mike couldn't help but say, "Enough with the lies in the materials!"

If the Tower of Truth was a game-like world blending virtual and reality, and the prerequisite for level 1000 was an SSS-tier talent, it meant 99.999999% of people would never reach level 1000.

Only SSS-tier talents could become gods?

That didn't seem reasonable.

And were all existing gods SSS-tier talents?

Unlikely.

Mike waited for more.

Shadow Nine continued,

"Ordinary Ultimate Battle Lords, upon reaching level 1000, will face a corresponding deity. They will fight, and only one will survive."

Mike knew this.

A new god's birth meant the old god had to make way, and a battle was inevitable.

Could it be that the gods were too powerful to defeat?

That was possible.

"Even if they kill the descending deity."

Shadow Nine's voice carried a hint of sorrow, recalling the past,

"The survivor will be taken by the Tower of Truth's power, forcibly leaving Earth for a mysterious space, never to return. Earth, the Tower of Truth, and the Abyssal Plane will have no trace of them.

This has happened twice in human history. Only those with SSS-tier talents can stay on Earth after reaching level 1000."

This explained the origin of the Supreme Beings.

It wasn't that others couldn't reach level 1000.

But once they did, surviving the battle with the deity meant being forced to leave, unable to return.

Only SSS-tier talents could forcibly stay on Earth.

Listening to Shadow Nine's explanation, Mike frowned slightly.

Becoming a god and unable to stay in the world.

It sounded like [ascension].

"If that's the case... something doesn't add up."

Mike found a flaw. If Shadow Nine reached level 1000 and killed the corresponding deity, he would also be forced to leave.

In other words, reaching level 1000 would weaken humanity's top combat power, not strengthen it!

Shadow Nine included!

A cold laugh came from the shadow.

"I created a secret technique. Upon reaching level 1000, I can self-harm to drop my level. My strength will always hover between 999 and 1000, not enough to fight the Supreme Demon God, but more than enough for ordinary enemies."

Self-harm.

"No wonder you're Shadow Nine, you're ruthless."

Mike quickly realized something was off.

Usually, when Mike talked to Shadow Nine, he was aloof.

Today, he was unusually responsive.

This was suspicious.

Mike cautiously asked, "Shadow Nine, do you need my help with something?"

"What, you want to help voluntarily?"

Shadow Nine clearly misunderstood, feigning surprise,

"How did you know Gregory was in trouble and needed you to go to the Abyssal Plane to rescue him?"

"Not only are you humanity's fourth potential Supreme Being, but you're also prescient, passionate, and selfless. I admire you!"

Mike: ...

When it comes to shamelessness, Shadow Nine takes the cake!

...

"Professor Gregory is in trouble?"

Mike sat up straight, serious, "Shadow Nine, tell me exactly what's going on."

The last time Mike saw Professor Gregory was during the live broadcast from the second Abyssal Plane.

The abyssal demon god had specifically requested Professor Gregory join the negotiation team, with ulterior motives.

But a harsh word from Shadow Nine made the second demon god abandon the plan to trap Professor Gregory.

From what Mike understood, Professor Gregory needed Ares's help for his second talent awakening.

Mike thought, "Could it be that he encountered trouble after his second talent awakening?"

Shadow Nine sighed, "They left the second abyss not long ago and got trapped in a small Abyssal Plane."

From Shadow Nine's explanation, Mike learned about Professor Gregory's current predicament.

This small Abyssal Plane was specifically created to target Professor Gregory!

The second demon god's plan to kill Gregory failed, so he teamed up with other demon gods, using the Supreme Demon God's power to create this small Abyssal Plane.

The most crucial restriction: beings above a certain level couldn't enter this small Abyssal Plane.

Forcing entry would cause the small Abyssal Plane to collapse.

If the plane collapsed, Shadow Eleven, who was with Professor Gregory, might survive, but Professor Gregory would have no chance.

Thus, humanity's top fighters couldn't enter.

"Indeed tricky..."

Mike frowned, "What's the highest level allowed?"

"Ninth-tier Battle Lord, level 980."

Crossing level 900 made one a Battle Lord.

Level 900 corresponded to a first-tier Battle Lord.

Every 10 levels increased the tier by one.

Level 990 reached Ultimate Battle Lord, a different realm.

A level 980 Battle Lord was just touching the ninth-tier Battle Lord threshold.

Shadow Eleven, who was with Professor Gregory, was at level 980.

Besides the level restriction, this small Abyssal Plane had other limitations.

For example: thick fog, numerous illusions, very short visible range, and periodic vision deprivation.

If it were just these, Shadow Eleven could handle it.

The Abyssal Plane's demon creatures had a special buff:

"Ignoring damage from higher-level sources!"

Mike had encountered this buff in the Tower of Truth, on the seventh level's boss, the ice dragon.

He didn't expect to see it again in the Abyssal Plane.

"Heh."

Mike couldn't help but laugh, "These guys might as well put a sign on their foreheads saying this Abyssal Plane is a trap!"