"This is… a rift outside the world!"
Kouqing opened his eyes and found himself in a pitch-black void. He could clearly see the azure planet below him and the vast starry sky beyond it.
But seeing did not equate to touching. This special world was protected by multiple barriers, preventing him from entering the azure planet below or venturing into the outside starry sky.
It was like a colossal prison, trapping many Cataclysm-level powerhouses, and Kouqing was one of them.
Unlike other monsters, when Kouqing was sent here, although his formidable vitality remained, his body was already shattered beyond recognition.
As a result, he was naturally targeted by other Cataclysm-level beings within the rift.
Energy was scarce here, making it difficult for Cataclysm-level powerhouses to replenish their energy. Kouqing's shattered body, brimming with abundant energy, was their most ideal food.
Thus, countless Cataclysm-level creatures swarmed him, madly snatching at Kouqing's flesh and blood.
Kouqing wished to fight back, but though he possessed immense vitality, his powerful physical strength could not be fully exerted. His scattered flesh and blood lay all around, and he could only protect a portion of it.
In the end, Kouqing's scattered flesh and blood were completely devoured by those Cataclysm-level powerhouses, leaving only his broken torso, head, and one arm.
This flesh and blood contained the vast energy infused by Ensuk into Kouqing, which was a great boon to those Cataclysm-level beings in the rift.
After a small portion of his flesh and blood was consumed, these Cataclysm-level powerhouses dispersed, refraining from further attacks on Kouqing.
To press further would invite Kouqing's counterattack, and possibly result in injury.
In this barren place, injury was a costly affair, possibly leading to the same fate as Kouqing.
Lovis watched this feast from the side, not participating.
Cold sweat covered his forehead, terrified that these Cataclysm-level powerhouses might set their sights on him.
As the summoning ritual drew nearer to success, Lovis's body within the rift became increasingly ethereal.
To avoid being detected by other Cataclysm-level beings, he had deliberately kept his distance from them.
But who would have thought that Kouqing, of all people, would be transferred right beside him at the brink of death, attracting the covetous gazes of a crowd of Cataclysm-level powerhouses.
Fortunately, these Cataclysm-level powerhouses, in order to digest Kouqing's energy, did not linger here for long but instead fled far away to digest the energy alone, thus allowing Lovis to escape this calamity.
"Just give me two more days, and I'll be able to enter this world that hasn't been corrupted yet!"
"I can claim a piece of fertile land here. When this place is fully corrupted, I will be the protector of a territory, infinitely stronger than my previous life in the Pale Forest."
Looking at the world before him, Lovis's eyes showed a longing expression.
...
The rifts in the air gradually disappeared. Wen Wen watched in regret in Kouqing's direction.
"What a shame, I wanted to add another prisoner."
However, Wen Wen was not overly disappointed. After all, his Cataclysm state was about to expire. Even if Kouqing hadn't been sent to the rift by Kyokū Soratama, he wouldn't have been able to contain Kouqing this time.
Moreover, the Disaster Containment Facility's Cataclysm Zone did not have much space, with only ten Cataclysm-level cells in total. It was better not to occupy a spot with a low-quality Cataclysm like Kouqing.
Kyokū flashed beside Wen Wen, looking at him with interest. "Brother, you're really full of hidden depths. If I hadn't happened to come to the comic convention and bumped into you, I might not have discovered your identity at all."
That's right, Kyokū Soratama's presence here had no deep reason; he was simply attending a comic convention.
As a native of the Sakura Region, and still young, Kyokū was a devoted otaku. When he wasn't on missions, he was either at home reading manga and watching anime, or wandering around comic conventions.
As for cultivation?
Apologies, geniuses don't need to cultivate.
He might even comprehend a ultimate move like the Spiral of Death just by rolling around at home...
Kyokū had no intention of using Wen Wen's identity for his own gain; he was simply happy to have met Wen Wen.
"There's a treasure-level ramen shop in Woye City. I'll treat you to some."
Wen Wen smiled and followed behind Kyokū towards the ramen shop he mentioned.
He decided to befriend Kyokū Soratama, not just because they shared similar tastes. He had only met Kyokū for the first time today and couldn't claim to know him well.
The true reason for him to socialize was Kyokū's strength. Cataclysm-level strength already placed him at the top tier in the Federation, and no one could afford to ignore a Cataclysm-level powerhouse.
Another reason was the way Kyokū defeated Kouqing.
The move that sent Kouqing to the rift made Wen Wen attach great importance to it.
This world was protected by several layers of powerful barriers. Wen Wen had only known of the Sky Curtain Giant Whale as a being capable of expelling Cataclysm-level powerhouses from this world; now, he had Kyokū Soratama.
Perhaps one day, Wen Wen might find Kyokū's ability useful.
As they talked and walked, they soon found a ramen shop.
The ramen shop was not large. A few white cloths painted with ramen patterns hung in front of the shop, with several large characters written on them.
'Otogimaru Happy Ramen Shop'
A colorless and transparent barrier enveloped the surroundings, making ordinary people around it completely unaware of the ramen shop.
"This shop only serves skilled demon hunters. The owner has taken the craftsman's spirit to the extreme, aiming to create a single bowl of peerless ramen. We in the Sakura Demon Hunter Association call him the 'Ramen God'," Kyokū Soratama enthusiastically introduced.
Wen Wen was not particularly interested in Kyokū's claims.
The so-called craftsman's spirit of the Sakura Region, in Wen Wen's opinion, was nothing special. While it had its merits, it couldn't turn decay into magic.
It was like sharpshooting, mere practice made perfect.
But when the bowl was served, Wen Wen's eyes widened. Could such ramen exist in this world?
Though the bowl of ramen only looked aesthetically pleasing, the aroma it exuded deeply captivated Wen Wen, causing him to smile involuntarily.
As an experienced individual, Wen Wen immediately recognized that this aroma had a similar effect to 'berserk,' but without the negative side effects of berserk.
"Shocked, aren't you? I was the same as you the first time," Kyokū said, smiling at Wen Wen as he ate his ramen with large mouthfuls.
"Otogimaru, the owner, is also a Superhuman. His superpower is making ramen."
"A normal person with such an ability might have long since given up and become a mere tool for making ramen."
"But Master Otogimaru is different. He wants people who eat his ramen to be happy, so he has dedicated himself for decades to making the finest ramen, his realm steadily climbing until he became a True Order-level Superhuman!"
"Anyone who eats his ramen can feel happiness from within. This happiness can alleviate the pressure on Superhumans and make them more optimistic than before."
Wen Wen looked at the bowl of ramen before him and said seriously to Kyokū, "This ramen is very good."
Then he looked at the owner, appraising him with a mischievous gaze. Unfortunately, after several glances, he couldn't find any conspiracy from Master Otogimaru.
If this owner were planning some evil conspiracy, Wen Wen could capture him and bring him to the containment facility to serve as its chef...