Unrivaled in another world

[: 3rd POV :]

Throughout countless ages, the universe did not tremble the moment a king chose to conquer.

It only trembled when any significant being made an impactful decision.

Within the vast expanse of his Territory, Daniel Valenhardt stood alone.

There was no ground beneath his feet, no sky above his head.

He stood at the centre of a boundless domain that reflected neither space nor void, but something in between, an authority-space born from his existence as a World Sanctum.

Before him stretched an endless horizon of light.

Stars flickered across the darkness.

They were not natural stars.

They were worlds.

Each radiance pulsed faintly, layered with information only he could perceive: mana density, planetary rank, defensive fortifications, sovereign signatures, population scale, dominant races, alliance affiliations.

Some glowed steadily.

Others shimmered violently, unstable or heavily contested.

A few burned with disciplined rhythm, indicating structured civilisations under organised banners.

Ever since Daniel had become a Sanctum World, there were privileges granted to him, systems that were not mere tools, but inheritances of authority.

Mika's evolution had unlocked one of the most significant.

Observation.

She could now inspect planets of similar tier or lower ranking.

She could not peer into pantheon domains nor ancient god-sealed territories; those were still beyond them, but among mid-tier and high-tier worlds, her sight was vast.

Too vast.

As the cosmic map unfolded before Daniel, it did not appear as a flat projection but as a three-dimensional lattice of galaxies layered upon galaxies.

Clusters intertwined with clusters.

Interstellar currents formed highways between alliances. Sovereign markers pulsed like territorial warnings.

At first glance, one might think they were stars.

But Daniel knew better.

Every flicker was a potential invasion.

Every glow was a decision.

And there were far too many to count.

Even when he narrowed his focus to a single galactic cluster, dozens of viable targets appeared, some isolated, some protected by minor factions, others loosely tied under small alliances that could spiral into larger conflict if provoked.

The silence around him felt heavier than battle.

Choosing a planet was not as simple as selecting the weakest.

Weakness could be deception.

Peace could be temporary.

Neutrality could mask opportunism.

His gaze settled on a soft blue world rotating calmly within a sparse sector.

Low military development.

Moderate mana levels.

High civilian density.

No known faction ties.

Peaceful.

Daniel's expression did not change.

Could he invade a peaceful planet?

The question formed naturally.

He shifted his focus to another world.

It had a crimson atmosphere with militarised continents.

There were Divine-level beings registered, and they were part of a minor group known as the Iron Pact.

Invading that world would not be contained.

It would ripple.

Is there any way to conquer a planet without sacrificing blood?

His jaw tightened slightly.

Those thoughts were not meant for a ruler, but the weak.

As someone who had become the axis of an entire world, Daniel did not have the luxury of naive hesitation.

Terria's future rested upon growth.

Mika's evolution required the accumulation of laws.

His people would stagnate if they remained sheltered forever.

Defence alone was a slow death.

And yet...he refused to become a tyrant who crushed the innocent simply because he could.

His Territory responded faintly to his emotions, the stars dimming and brightening like a living conscience.

There were limits to how far he would go.

Lines he would not cross.

He would conquer.

But not indiscriminately.

Not blindly.

Time and mercy, however, were not allies.

The more planets he conquered, the stronger Terria would become.

Mana density would rise again.

New laws would integrate.

His people would evolve further.

Mika would ascend in rank.

And one day, perhaps sooner than expected, they could stand firm against pantheon-backed factions without fear.

If he delayed too long, others would notice Terria's transformation.

And when they noticed...they would not ask for permission.

Daniel exhaled slowly; he was in conflict.

Terria pulsed quietly beneath him.

From this height, the singular continent shimmered like a living heart, its ley lines glowing in slow, rhythmic waves.

Oceans reflected starlight in fractured silver.

Cities flickered like constellations brought down to earth. The world was calm.

But calm did not mean safe.

Within the endless expanse of his Territory, Daniel stood suspended above the projection of galaxies.

Countless worlds rotated slowly in layered dimensions, each one a potential future, a potential enemy… or a potential sin.

Mika lingered at the edges of his awareness.

For once, she was quiet.

She watched him instead.

The way his eyes hardened when he analysed a militarised world.

The way his gaze softened, almost imperceptibly, when he hovered over peaceful civilisations.

A faint smile curved her lips.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mika asked gently, drifting closer.

Her voice carried warmth, curiosity…and something softer beneath.

Daniel didn't look at her immediately.

"Nah," he exhaled lightly, "I'm just thinking which and what kind of planet should I make for our first conquest."

He folded his arms.

"…I never thought it would be this hard."

Mika tilted her head, long strands of starlit hair cascading over her shoulder.

"Even after everything you've been through," she said softly, "you'd still show sympathy to other planets."

She floated in front of him now, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"As far as I know, no ruler of planets considers sympathy when expanding."

Her galactic eyes gleamed faintly.

"Maybe you're the first."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Is that not good…?"

A playful light entered Mika's expression.

Without hesitation, she drifted forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

Her form was warm, impossibly warm, like sunlight woven with cosmic energy.

She leaned close, her lips brushing near his ear as she whispered.

"No…"

Her voice softened.

"In fact… that's the reason I'm still here."

Daniel stilled slightly.

"It's because of you."

There was no teasing in her tone this time.

It was sincere.

She tightened her embrace just a little, as though anchoring herself to him.

"But even then," she murmured, her breath grazing his ear, "you shouldn't show that much kindness."

Her voice lowered.

"It turns into poison later."

Daniel's gaze remained on the projection of stars.

"In this universe," Mika continued, her arms still around him, "there's no telling who stands with us."

She rested her chin lightly against his shoulder.

"Those so-called Keepers of Balance…the Factions of Justice…"

A faint scoff escaped her lips.

"Hypocrites."

Her eyes dimmed slightly.

"Ever since I evolved, the Will of the Universe granted me knowledge. Fragments of history. Truths hidden between wars."

Her voice grew quieter.

"This universe isn't worth your kindness."

She paused.

Then, almost shyly...

"In fact…you should only show it to me."

A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she looked to the side.

"…And to this world."

Daniel allowed a small smile to form.

"Maybe," he shrugged lightly, "I'm just too sensitive."

Mika huffed softly.

"You're not sensitive. You're dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Yes," she said, tightening her arms for a moment before releasing him. "Because a king with power and compassion?"

She met his eyes.

"That's someone who can change the structure of the universe."

Silence lingered between them.

Then her playful tone returned.

"Well," she said, turning toward the projection, "for starters… how about we begin with this?"

With a flick of her fingers, the star map shifted.

Galaxies spiralled inward as she zoomed toward a specific coordinate.

A single world expanded into view.

Daniel's brows rose slightly.

"This planet…?"

The image was grim.

The atmosphere swirled with murky violet and sickly green currents. Continents were cracked with spreading veins of darkness. Oceans appeared thick, sluggish — almost rotting.

It did not look alive.

It looked infected.

"This doesn't even resemble a habitable planet," Daniel said quietly.

"How could civilisations live there?"

Mika crossed her arms lightly, her expression sharpening.

"That's because it's been corrupted."

Daniel glanced at her.

"Corrupted? As in… evil?"

She nodded.

"That's right, my charming prince."

The planet rotated slowly before them, revealing massive black structures embedded deep into its crust, spires that pulsed like parasitic organs.

"Just as there are Keepers of Balance," Mika explained, "there are countless other factions. Major. Minor. Hidden."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"This one belongs to a group so insignificant that no god bothers with them."

"Insignificant?" Daniel murmured.

"They're not even considered low-tier."

A faint smirk tugged at her lips.

"But they're clever."

The projection zoomed further, revealing cities shrouded in shadow, industries fueled by siphoned life-force, mana extraction pipelines draining the planet's core.

"They call themselves the Black Meridians."

Daniel's gaze hardened.

"They specialise in corruption."

"Not the dramatic, apocalypse-kind," Mika added lightly. "They don't destroy worlds outright. That would attract attention."

Her tone grew colder.

"They infect them slowly''

The planet pulsed weakly, like a patient on the verge of collapse.

"They drain value," she said softly. "Then move on before anyone powerful notices."

Daniel was silent.

"They're parasites," he concluded.

Mika smiled faintly.

"And no one cares enough to remove them."

She stepped closer again, her voice lowering.

"But if we intervene…"

Her fingers brushed lightly against his chest.

"It wouldn't just be conquest."

"It would be liberation."

Daniel studied the dying world.

A corrupted planet.

A minor group.

An invasion that would ripple, but not shake pantheons.

It was big.

But not too big.

"And if they resist?" he asked calmly.

Mika's eyes gleamed.

"Then," she said softly, leaning in close once more, "my lucky prince charm…"

"We show them what a true king looks like."

Her hand hovered over the projection.

"Shall we?"

Daniel's gaze sharpened, resolve settling into place.

"Yes."

The corrupted planet glowed faintly.

And somewhere across the universe...

The Black Meridians unknowingly marked themselves for extinction.