Planet Master

204- Universe Market, Two Trials

For some purposes, Dian went alone to the Universe Market. There were just too many new fledging Planet Masters who had appeared since the last time He was there.Dian felt the flow and the ebb of the Planet Masters around him. Then he went to the Planet Master Service Center first to get reliable information for a Fourth Rank Planet Master.

After arriving there, Dian took a position that was both comfortable and a bit empty to sit cross-legged inside the facility. Then he began searching for information regarding the Rank 4 Planet Master’s capability.

Then he searched for the most important event.

[Title: Galaxy on Fire

Note: This is the mode where several Planet Masters are going to be the greatest in a galaxy prepared just for this event. Of course, other than Planet Masters, there would be other variables you need to account for, like Calamity.

There are several ways to achieve victory: Conquest, Diplomatic, Scientific, and Transcendence.

Conquest: Your territory has at least half of the galaxy or eliminates all the Planet Master’s entrance rifts.

Diplomatic: Be the one who is voted to be the leader of the United Galaxy.

Scientific: Be the first one to reach the pinnacle of the T4 technology tree.

Transcendence: Be the first one to reach the pinnacle of your current transcendent tree.]

Dian looked at this information with full attention. First, this mode was where several Planet Masters would be placed in a galaxy so the numbers should be quite a lot.

Second was about Calamity. The notification when Dian was promoted also mentioned that but the Planet Master System put it under mystery. Perhaps he should ask Tritis to confirm what kind of Calamity could appear in this Special Star Battle.

That was right. Dian knew that Galaxy on Fire was a special kind of Star Battle where it was not one-on-one but could possibly be one versus many or many versus many.

Third was the several ways to achieve victory. Although he had a feeling that eliminating the Calamity was not a way to victory but it would be able to make you leap and boost your prestige among the so-called United Galaxy.

Fourth, United Galaxy was probably the gathering of many Planet Masters, forming an organization that wanted to be able to control the galaxy through diplomatic means.

Dian breathed out as he processed this information. His mind churned through many scenarios. Although his transcendent tree was on par with the usual T4 Transcendent Tree of other races but his Technology Tree was still far behind. He was probably outclassed in technology alone.

“I need a method to make sure that my civilization can reach the T4 Technology Tree. Meaning they are a proper Interstellar civilization. From my observation on them so far, they only take a step toward the T4 Technology Tree by Charlene’s help, mostly since she made a trip inside the Machina Race’s Mothership.” Dian could easily see this since it was obvious where the inspiration came from.

Dian then searched for another type of information, primarily about Planet Behemoth. Previously, his race had encountered one, and since they could meet one, there would be a second encounter and more.

Then Dian chose the one he felt was the most comprehensive.

[Title: Planet Behemoth

Note: Planet Behemoth is the creation of the universe during its birth. That is why they are treated like a deity. But know this: there are various kinds of Planet Behemoth; some are docile while others are easily irritated and threatening Planetary civilization.

If you become a Star System Civilization, I believe you can deal with the newborn Planet Behemoth. They can reproduce to let the next generation of Planet Behemoth follow the laws of the universe. The newborn appearance and detection mean that the universe has undergone an eon. Primordial Eon is when the Progenitor Planet Behemoth appears.

Then the second generation, as the universe entered the Stabilization Eon.

The third, while the universe entered the Mature Eon.

The last will be when the universe undergoes the Assimilation Eon.

As for why the universe will undergo the Assimilation Eon, it involves the Void Domain and possibly our current reality. Anyway, that is all I can say in this note.]

Dian frowned as he did not get the name of the poster. Perhaps it was a protective measure from the Planet Master System so that the poster had a chance of not becoming the target of others.

Anyway, he read more of the information needed for a Fourth Rank Planet Master. There was so much of it that Dian stayed at the Planet Master Service Center for twenty-four hours in the Universe Market time.

When he blinked his eyes for clarity, Dian found out that his understanding of the information was barely passable. Therefore, he contacted Tritis for clarification. Although the Planet Master System was being watched, but some things had to be done so as not to make them suspicious.

[Dian: Your Excellency, I have some questions that I need the answer to.]

After a while, Tritis sent a message.

[Tritis: Oh, congratulations on becoming a Fourth Rank Planet Master.]

[Dian: Yes, about the mode of the Star Battle of the Fourth Rank…]

Dian detailed the Galaxy on Fire mode. Tritis answered that it was a show of everything a Planet Master had for the Universe Council to watch over.

[Dian: So does that mean that the Universe Council is watching over the Star Battle?]

[Tritis: Well, they watch over high-ranking Star Battles. The Galaxy on Fire mode is one of them. There are many other variations, of course, but this is the one that is being implemented for the promotion of the Fourth Rank Planet Master.]

[Dian: Thank you for explaining to me some of the important things about the mode of the Star Battle of the Fourth Rank.]

From this point onward, Dian realized that there were variations of the Star Battle other than the one-versus-one mode. Mostly, one versus many.

Other than Galaxy on Fire, there were other variations like the Dark Forest, which some of the Ten Venerables had experience with.

The difference between Galaxy on Fire and the Dark Forest lies in the rules of engagement.

If Galaxy on Fire could rely on many victory conditions by engaging in one of the available ways to achieve victory, the Dark Forest’s rule was to survive as long as possible.

Fortunately for Dian, his first new mode was actually Galaxy on Fire so he could rely on many aspects of the civilization.

[Tritis: Alright, you have been busy reading that information, correct? No matter how fast you can read, if you don’t properly rest, then the others will worry.]

[Dian: Don’t worry about it, I will rest after I complete my objectives in the Universe Market.]

Dian then closed the [Message] and then stood up from his current position. He then exited the Planet Master Service Center.

Now that Dian had acquired the necessary knowledge, it was time for him to upgrade his card.

But with his current energy points, he had financial freedom at least.

And he also met the Little Bride on the third floor, a bit surprising but understandable, and then upgraded his Auxiliary Ability Card.

Cosmic Fog (D) -> Cosmic Fog (C)

Advanced Insight (D) -> Advanced Insight (C)

Adaptive Body(D) -> Adaptive Body (C)

Great Luck (D) -> Great Luck (C)

The effect was strengthened to be able to cover the entire civilization at the Interstellar level, along with the increased effect on the Core and Acquired Race.

Dian then went to the center of the Universe Market. He then looked at the stele which recorded the holder of the greatest potential race in Third Rank and above.

Now that he was promoted to Fourth Rank, Dian looked at the next stele. There, he was surprised to find out that his race was still on top. Dian frowned but he turned around, feeling strange.

Dian thought about this constantly after he saw that Fourth Rank stele. He walked around to get his mind some rest but really he just wanted some time to think alone without anyone interfering.

He knew the way around the Universe Market so he just spun around the Universe Market. Of course, the moment he reached the tenth round, some Planet Master was bound to notice.

“Hey, his look…does he actually the Planet Master of the human race?” one Planet Master asked.

“He really is.” Answered the Undead Planet Master.

“Wha! What are you doing here, you disgrace!”

“He is our savior and breakthrough.” The Undead Planet Master said while keeping his sight on Dian.

Dian did not even notice the commotion between the Undead Planet Master and the others due to his extreme focus on himself.

He was ruminating and internally thinking about his existence so far.

He did not even realize that he had been spotted by the Undead Planet Masters. But even if he knew, Dian would just laugh it off. Dian was alone and he was internally thinking about his own life so far.

Dian kept thinking while walking around the Universe Market. No Planet Master dared to stop him. First because he had a connection with Tritis and second because he had the greatest potential race under him so it was likely that the Universe Council had been paying attention to him.

Dian did not even realize how long had passed. He kept thinking and thinking about himself.

Dian referred to the Historium Playback he had gone through. When he thought about it, there was no way that was not related to him after all. The Legacy Database reacted to him, meaning he had been given access to the device and its content.

Although the content was still inaccessible to him but at least he knew the name.

Dian then thought about the planet's ecosystem. Did he do a good job in managing it? He did not know, but at least there was a balance between the wilderness and the civilization on the Cerulean Planet.

Then he thought about the flora and fauna that inhabited the ecosystem. They were fine as of now but what about in the future? Would a conflict between them and the civilization occur?

Dian did not know the answer to these but he had a feeling that he needed to intervene at the right time before it was too late.

Furthermore, as the civilization grew, trouble would arise. Growing pains, to be exact. The civilization still lacked that, which meant their growing pains would be amplified during the Star Battle Galaxy on Fire mode.

There was no other way Dian could do it. After all, his civilization was developing so smoothly and was probably invincible in one-on-one confrontation. But the Galaxy on Fire mode was about navigating things through four victory conditions, and triggering one was enough to be declared a victor.

It was a race against time while at the same time inhibiting the other civilizations and advancing your own.

Dian thought about this carefully.

He wanted to tell them, but not telling them was actually more in line with his thoughts. His civilization needed to be independent from him more so that they could stand on their own two feet.

“Ha, truly, I am just indulging them as their Father God.” Dian murmured as he stopped walking. When he did that, countless thoughts that he had before became directives for him, who was previously in the sea of confusion.

“Move forward, guide my civilization, stabilize the ecosystem, give directives to others, as well as becoming stronger. That’s all I need to do.” Dian said to convince himself.

“But I think I see a new available facility in the Universe Market. Should I look for it?” Dian asked himself.

But in the end, he should at least try to get a grasp of the new available facility. The facility was actually located at the southern part of the Universe Market. It was actually a two-in-one facility.

When Dian arrived at the southernmost part of the Universe Market, he could finally see it.

“Abyss and Tower Trials.” Dian opened his mouth and read the large banner in front of him.

According to his latest information, these two were actually created to gauge your strongest path. Either the Technological or Transcendent path, they could be used here. But as a wielder of both, Dian saw an opportunity.

Then he walked to the entrance of the facility and saw a half-beast guarding the entrance. He was a half-raccoon species with round ears above his head. The moment he saw Dian, he greeted him heartily.

“Hello, esteemed Planet Master. What do you want to try? Abyss Trial or Tower Trial?”

“What’s the difference between the two?” Dian asked for more details.

“Well, the Tower Trial tests your Transcendent path while the Abyss Trial tests your Technological path. Which one will you choose?”

“I take the two, of course.” Dian said flatly.

“Both? That is quite rare. Well, the preparation room is this way.” The half-beast raccoon then nodded and guided Dian to a large chamber inside. From outside, though, it looked small.

Dian looked at it and understood the principles.

“Here, you can connect with your Planet Master Space directly. You can then summon some of your race’s individuals into this chamber. This chamber is also known as the Chamber of Summoning.” The half-beast raccoon explained.

Dian naturally realized that point. The function of this chamber was to enable the Planet Master’s race individuals to come and try their best on the two trials.

Then he connected with his Planet Master Space, extending his will to the Library of Consciousness before calling Tatsumi, who was just finished with his matter and was idle.

“Child, do you have time?” Dian asked.

“Hmm? Father God, what do you need?” Tatsumi was quick on the uptake and realized that Dian calling at this time meant that something important was underway.

In his house, he called Ame, Charlene, and Tabitha. Although he only called them, Tetsuya, Rihana and Ivana also went but did not disturb them since they only wanted to know why those people were called specifically.

“It looks like there will be some sort of ‘trial’. Well, to sum it up, there are two trials. One tests our Transcendent path while the other tests our Technology path. While I am confident in the Transcendent path we have, I am worried about our technological prowess.” Tatsumi said objectively.

After all, the Federation barely reached Interstellar Travel with Charlene’s help but it was not enough. It needed a comprehensive development of almost all ways of life, not just a spaceship alone.

Fortunately, Charlene had been developing more things as she derived them from the learned materials that enabled her to improve and even revolutionize spaceship manufacture.

Then a strange light suddenly appeared on them.

“Well, the time has come. Perhaps the time flow will be different so I don’t know what time we will return.” Tatsumi said to Tetsuya, Rihana and Ivana while waving his hand.

“Please be well while we are summoned.” Ame reminded.

“Just don’t go to my room right now. I still have some manuscripts left to be finished.” Charlene added.

Tetsuya felt bitter. Why was the Father God summoning his father and mothers but not him?

Perhaps what He needed were the high-end individuals rather than potential now. Rihana, who saw Tetsuya’s changing expression, then grabbed his hand and offered consolation.

“Whatever they are summoned for, it is definitely important to our civilization. So please trust them and trust the Father God.”

Hearing that, Tetsuya blinked. He was feeling a bit down but when Rihana said it like that, he could not let her see his bad side too often; he could not do that.

As for Ivana, her red eyes were glancing at the light that appeared. She wanted to analyze the workings of the teleportation light but found out that it was more than just that in workings. Perhaps she needed to do some deep research into light as a carrier of information and its relation to genetics as an information carrier.

Tatsumi, Ame and Charlene then arrived in the Planet Master Space. Before they could process what was going on, they felt the scene shift before the others, like Leif and Frie, even realized what was going on.

Then Tatsumi blinked his eyes and saw himself in the large chamber and then he saw the familiar figure of the Father God.

“What kind of trials are we going to undergo?” Tatsumi asked first.

“I don’t know since this Mister here said that the trial is customized to fit the Planet Master’s civilization.” Dian said while gesturing toward the half-beast raccoon.

Ame looked at the figure and was interested, while Charlene was more interested in the chamber and what lay beyond the door that was closed.