I've already reached the maximum level, and you guys are just starting out?

Chapter 142 Cause and Effect! Divine Intervention! Forbidden Power!
Blue Star.

Above space.

Before the embers, a massive, pitch-black celestial body, trailing a bright, long tail, roared in.

Wherever the pitch-black celestial body passed, even space itself groaned under its strain.

it is……

A fifteenth-order galactic-level pollution source—extinction!
Too……

In Nyarlathotep's prophecy, the embers saw the 'Oumuamua 2'!
Before this.

Ember always believed that the tragic scene of the 'beautiful fireworks' in Nyarlathotep's prophecy occurred because he returned to Earth too late.

He arrived late, only appearing with Yin Yao and the others the moment Oumuamua 2 landed.

But now?
When I saw 'Oumuamua 2' appear out of thin air.

Yu Jin finally realized that he was wrong, terribly wrong!

It turns out, it wasn't because I came back late at all!
But...

Because he returned after 60 days, he attracted 'Oumuamua 2'!
More precisely...

Because he returned to Earth 60 days later and purified the planet's pollution, 'Oumuamua 2' was able to arrive!

The arrival of 'Oumuamua 2 was triggered by its renewed purification of Earth!
Pollution cannot be stopped.

"Blue Star will eventually be destroyed."

Wu Yufei's words suddenly echoed in Yu Jin's ears.

A strong sense of destiny, as if it could never be changed, enveloped Yu Jin.

"Do not……"

"It shouldn't be like this!"

As Yu Jin watched the approaching dark celestial body, he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

Om-!
Within his body, elemental energy surged and raged.

In front of him, a ten-minute countdown was ticking away.

2:39
2:38
……

Snap!
Yu Jin raised his hand, revealing the entrance to the tenth-tier crystal.

This is the reward for purifying the blue planet.

At this moment, the embers were used to replenish the almost depleted energy in their bodies.

Faced with a level 15 source of contamination, Ember has only one choice: purification.

He must, and absolutely must, purify this 'Oumuamua 2'.

Because in a way, this was truly something I brought upon myself...

Even though this is a level 15 pollution source, it is still higher than the current level 14 of the Ember!
Even though the 'Unification' ability and the 'Enhancement' talent are currently on cooldown and cannot be used at all.

but……

There is no way out!

Whoosh-!
The wings of light behind Yu Jin vibrated.

He roared as he charged toward the distant, dark celestial body!
Ember used its body to shield it from Blue Star!

"Purify!"

With a soft shout, Yu Jin unleashed his inner energy.

boom--!
A tiny beam of light collides with the vastness of heaven and earth.

Zizzi——!
The void vibrated, and the pollution evaporated.

[You, with the body of an ant, have purified the 'fifteenth-tier galaxy-level pollution source—Extinction', a feat far exceeding your own level!]

Such a feat is unprecedented and unparalleled, its fame resounding throughout the Wasteland Galaxy!

[Current purification progress: 1%]

Unlike when nuclear waste was being purified, Ember cannot collect rewards and crystals while purifying it.

After the purifying light passed, the energy within him was nearly exhausted...

However, 99% of the pollution sources at level 15 are still present!
Once this 99% of pollution descends upon Earth...

Just as its name suggests, the fifteenth-order pollution source—extinction!
This 'Oumuamua 2 spacecraft is headed straight for the extinction of Earth!
It, or rather, a certain rule, does not accept the fact that the pollution of Earth has been purified, and it must be revised!
The pollution level of Earth can be increased, but it cannot be decreased.

Oumuamua 2 is the method of correction!
"call--"

As Yu Jin watched Omomo approach, he took a deep breath.

He still has one last trump card.

This is his biggest trump card!

Since awakening, he has restrained himself and has almost never used it.

But in the current desperate situation...

Besides this, Ember couldn't think of any other way to break the deadlock.

Eighth attribute: Causality!

When Ember first awakened this incredible attribute, he conducted a small experiment on Nyarlathotep.

The result is……

A mutant mosquito, practically a bug, has appeared.

The causal attribute is also the only thing the system has explicitly warned about.

Use with caution! Improper use may cause the rules of the area to collapse, resulting in annihilation!

Of the nine abilities with causal attributes, Ember has only used the least impactful one, 'Buff Link,' since that experiment.

But now?
Ember must, and can only, use this forbidden power of 'cause and effect'.

hum-

An indescribable aura emanated from Yu Jin.

Faced with the oncoming fifteenth-order pollution source, he gently closed his eyes.

There are nine abilities related to causality.

Among them, there might be a chance to change our current desperate situation...

[Second-order causal attribute ability: Probability lock at level 9]

[Active Effect: Locks the probability of an attack or a certain event, making it certain to occur]

【hint--】

You can only lock events that are within your current rank's influence; you cannot lock events that are beyond your current rank's influence.

[Max level effect: Can lock events whose influence is no more than two ranks higher than the user's own]

Ember's current rank is fourteen.

It cannot exceed two ranks, that is, at most fifteen ranks.

"Locking probability..."

Yu Jin silently recited the command and activated his ability.

However, he wasn't locking in the probability of purifying Oumuamua with 100% certainty; that ability alone wasn't enough to achieve that.

But -

[Third-Order Causality Attribute Ability: Causality Correction Lv9]

[Active Effect: Modifies or reverses the outcome of a local event (the current rank can affect the event)]

[Max Level Effect: This ability can be affected by 'probability lock', increasing the success rate of corrections]

Yu Jin was unsure what kind of rule brought about the "correction method" of the 'Oumuamua 2' in front of him.

All he knew was—

"If you can fix it, so can I!"

When Yu Jin first used his 'Causality' ability, he immediately exploited a bug by stepping on his own foot with his left foot.

And the cause and effect he wants to correct...

It is not the blue planet that has been purified of 90% of its pollution.

It wasn't just 1% purified Oumumo 2.

These two targets are too large and completely exceed the level of influence of the embers.

Even if one advances from the fourteenth to the fifteenth rank, it will not change anything.

This is the information that the 'cause and effect' attribute passes to the embers.

It allows the embers to know clearly—

What causes and effects could be changed, and what causes he is currently powerless to change?

Therefore.

Yu Jin did not use the eighth-tier ability 'Current Dominator' or the ninth-tier ability 'Reversing Cause and Effect'.

Because both Oumuamua 2 and Blue Star involve too much cause and effect, far beyond what Ember, a mere fourteenth-tier evolver, can bear or change.

Even if he was willing to bear the unknown and terrible consequences, he still could not make it come true.

The power of cause and effect is not like Aladdin's lamp, which grants wishes.

Causality must also follow some basic logic.

[Seventh-tier causal attribute ability: Causal Reincarnation lv1]

[Active Effect: Creates a causal loop, causing enemies in the area to repeatedly suffer or enjoy negative/positive status effects.]

"Creating a cycle of cause and effect..."

"Cyclical Cause and Effect - The fifteenth-order pollution source suffers the negative effects of the 'Light of Purification'."

"In a single cycle, 1% of the fifteenth-order pollution source is purified."

"Causal correction—the number of cycles approaches 100,"

"..."

Yu Jin had his eyes closed, but within his vision, it seemed as if countless concrete lines of cause and effect were intertwined. This was undoubtedly a true 'divine intervention'.

This is also the only attempt that Ember can currently make to transfer the 'cause and effect' attribute to him!

but……

The embers must bear the corresponding 'cause and effect consequences'.

【because--】

You purified the '15th-order pollution source - extinction' 99 times, purifying 1% each time, for a total purification of 99%.

【fruit--】

To obtain the energy for 99 purifications, you were willing to burn your flesh, soul, and attributes...

[You have lost the attributes: Peace and Cards]

[You lost flesh and blood: your right arm]

[You lost your soul: Memories of the purification of the fifteenth-tier contaminant source]

[Your energy is depleted: You will sleep for seven days]

【hint--】

The attributes, flesh, and soul you have lost can be fully restored by absorbing equivalent energy.

All of this is complicated.

But in reality, it all happens in an instant.

Om-!
Embers activate their abilities simultaneously—

Probability Lock lv9 + Causality Correction lv9 + Causality Reincarnation lv1!

boom--!
Ahead of the embers.

The Oumuamua 2, hurtling towards them, was suddenly struck by the 'purification light' that erupted from Ember's hand.

[You, with the body of an ant, have purified the 'fifteenth-tier galaxy-level pollution source—Extinction', a feat far exceeding your own level!]

Such a feat is unprecedented and unparalleled, its fame resounding throughout the Wasteland Galaxy!

[Current purification progress: 2%]

boom--!
Another beam of purifying light.

【…】

[Current purification progress: 3%]

【…】

[Current purification progress: 4%]

【…】

The energy within Yu Jin's body was clearly exhausted.

Can be biased.

One after another, beams of purifying light roared out from his hands.

Each purifying beam of light purified exactly 1% of Oumuamua 2.

As the purifying light burst forth, the embers themselves also gradually changed.

His right hand, starting from the palm, gradually burned and turned into nothingness.

His attributes, cards, and alliances were erased from existence in some unknown form.

His memory gradually faded; he was clearly purifying the 'fifteenth-order pollution source,' but he was slowly forgetting that he was purifying the 'fifteenth-order pollution source.'

Cause and effect do not generate energy out of thin air.

Cause and effect is simply using taboo methods to pre-emptively draw on energy.

Above the blue planet.

Time passes slowly.

at last.

at some point.

On the panel in front of Ember, the purification progress has reached 99%.

[You, with the body of an ant, have purified the 'fifteenth-tier galaxy-level pollution source—Extinction', a feat far exceeding your own level!]

Such a feat is unprecedented and unparalleled, its fame resounding throughout the Wasteland Galaxy!

[Final purification progress: 99%!]

[Do you want to receive the reward? 】

Yu Jin's consciousness seemed to suddenly return from illusion to reality.

"Ok?"

He gazed at a small, black celestial body hurtling towards him and let out a soft exclamation.

"Oumuamua?"

"Wasn't I purifying the pollution of Earth? How come..."

Yu Jin didn't have time to think further.

He didn't even have time to notice—

My right arm disappeared, and I lost two attributes.

He felt an intense sense of drowsiness sweeping over the deepest part of his soul.

His eyelids were so heavy that he could barely open them.

but……

Driven by instinct, he silently chanted in his mind, "Claim...the reward..."

[You have received the following reward: 10 Tier 15 Energy Crystals]

[You have received the reward: New attribute 'Destruction']

[You have received the following reward: 100000 Civilization Points]

[You have earned the title: Guardian of Blue Star Civilization]

【…】

Ember couldn't see clearly what the so-called 'Guardian of Blue Star Civilization' title actually had.

He only saw—

The countdown timer on the panel has reset to 0:00.

hum-

The spatial fluctuations instantly enveloped Yu Jin.

After the trance.

The cold, mechanical voice of the rules of Planet A3 echoed in Yu Jin's ears—

【Hello, player 'Ember' from the Level I civilization Earth!】

[You have accumulated 100000 Civilization Source Points...]

[You are the first player in the Level I civilization, Blue Star, to surpass 10 million Source Points!]

[You have received a reward from the game Wasteland]

[You have received the following resources: 100000 Beta Test Helmets]

[The beta test helmet has been automatically distributed]

Ember lost consciousness, and his vision went dark.

……

……

Planet A3.

Dawn City.

Sky Tower, top of the tower.

Om-!
Waves rippled outwards from the black hole in mid-air.

Nearly ten minutes have passed since the embers entered the black hole and returned to Earth.

Yin Yao, Neil, Chen Gang, and others never left and always stayed here.

Is the president coming back?

Yin Yao noticed the anomaly in the spatial black hole, and her beautiful eyes narrowed instantly.

She never expected that her long-awaited return to Earth would be so short.

"Eh?"

"Holy crap! What's going on?!"

"What happened?!"

Chen Gang's shout brought Yin Yao back to her senses.

Just for a moment.

Yin Yao stared at the empty area in front of her, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.

The black hole in space has disappeared!

But the embers did not appear!

"how so……"

Everyone present was stunned.

NieR's mechanical blue eyes blinked incessantly.

Deeper within the tower's top lies the city lord's private space, unseen by Yin Yao and the others.

On the ten-meter-long bed, Naya, who had been sleeping for many days, trembled slightly with her long eyelashes, as if she was about to wake up...

　I'm short one update today. I'll summarize the major climax of the A3 planet storyline later, and then I'll make up for it. (orz)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)