'Hold on, that's not right.'

Damien took control of the universal laws and wrapped the budding world in a cocoon of energy, forcing it together and disallowing it from shattering entirely.

However, he didn't heal the cracks in the world. He allowed the world to break apart within the sphere of influence he allowed.

After all, it was an important step in the process.

As the world broke apart, the two Realm Seeds latched onto the world's several sections and even its World Core, rooting themselves in the world's surface.

Afterward, it was merely a matter of blooming.

As the Realm Seeds bloomed, they would create specialized training areas, but they'd also force the world to adapt to their presence. The current broken pieces would be melded together and destroyed several times to facilitate this adaptation and strengthen the word.

The method of strengthening was extremely similar to human body reconstruction.

Nevertheless…

'It'll take several days for the Realm Seeds to integrate into the world and finish strengthening it. While that happens, I should fix the most immediate problem.'

Damien snapped his fingers and changed the time dilation once again, making it much, much tamer.

The previous time dilation that turned a month into a mere hour on the outside world was incredibly useful, but couldn't be maintained for long with the Sanctuary's current structural integrity.

The ability would only be strengthened once Damien added more worlds to the space.

For now, though, changing the time difference so an hour on the outside world was a day inside the Sanctuary still provided a decent amount of time without damaging the environment.

'Though, it's good that I've reached this level already. If not, I can't imagine how annoying it would be to set aside 6 months to birth this world in the current circumstance.'

Damien gently set Astoria down on the ground next to him and changed her clothes. He couldn't allow her to continue the mostly ripped fabric that she arrived in that revealed almost her whole body.

He almost wanted to slap her for having to sense of shame, but he couldn't blame her since he also forgot about her situation while teaching her.

'Let's repair her Mana Veins first.'

Damien diverted a portion of his attention and cast [Heal] on Astoria, enveloping her in beautiful white light that made her feel endlessly comfortable.

While that was going on, Damien used his remaining mental strength to submerge his senses into the world and observe the ongoing processes.

'It's insane. Everything is happening so smoothly because of the laws already in place, but it's actually an extremely complex and intrinsic process currently taking place. If this was attempted without the universal law facilitating, I can't imagine how many centuries of trial and error would be necessary to succeed.'

The universal law was the most complete set of rules in existence. Under its structure, any and all phenomena could take place. If it was taken away…

Damien simply couldn't fathom the chaos that would ensue.

Shaking his head, Damien cleared his thoughts and returned his focus to the task at hand.

For the next few months, this would be his last opportunity to train properly. After this, there was far too much to be done for him to take time for himself.

'My Void Intent has grown to…well, using it in battle seems viable now.'

Using the Void directly was difficult, not because it was too complicated and restricted, but specifically because it was too free.

Taking Void Mana as an example, it became clear to its user that the Void could transform into anything.

Damien could use his existing spatial skills with Void Mana as a replacement for his usual Spatial Mana, and not much would change.

However, his attacks would gain a special devouring property, and he'd gain a level of control that almost defied the laws of the universe.

'I should take this time to get acclimated with using my mana pathways properly with Void Mana. I can't let it rebel against me during battle ever again.'

The semi-sentient entity that was his mana had been awfully quiet recently, but Damien wasn't going to risk it.

As such, he began training with fervor

And many days passed.

Finally, Astoria woke up for the second time.

"Sheesh, what a disciple. I didn't expect you to faint every time something became too much for you."

Damien teasing words were the first to enter her mind.

She jumped up in fright and stood at attention. "I apologize, Master! I'll never do— eh? Master? Did you change me?"

Astoria looked down at the new robes on her body and furiously blushed.

Damien shrugged in response. "You were nearly naked before. Are you going to blame me for your own lacking situational awareness?"

"U-uhm…"

Astoria looked away while fidgeting.

Regardless of what he said, he was still the first man to ever see her naked.

Even for the devil princess, didn't such status have some sort of mean—

Tak!

"Stop thinking useless thoughts and follow me. It's time to start your training."

Astoria rubbed her forehead and followed Damien, watching his back carefully.

Suddenly, she realized something.

'He's not much older than me, but he's still my Master.'

It wasn't that Astoria hadn't accepted Damien in her heart, but that the barely existent age difference and the fact that Damien was the most handsome young man she'd ever seen was hard to ignore.

However, he was her Master.

As he'd told her before, he held the same status as her father, and evidently, he viewed her from this position.

She was nothing more than a little girl in his eyes.

It was a slightly empty feeling for unknown reasons, but more than anything, it was extremely relieving.

"Trust" was built on instances like this.

And today, Astoria felt her first inking of that feeling.

The feeling that, no matter what happened, she could trust her Master to be by her side.

However, what accompanied this feeling…

…was a training hell.

"Astoria, in this space, we have plenty of time before the tournament begins. Using this time, I promise I'll turn you into an expert who can stand on your own with confidence in this vast universe."

Damien turned around with eyes like crescents.

"And I…am not a man who breaks promises."

Astoria felt a shiver go down her spine.

For some reason…

Damien's current sunny expression was extremely ominous.

***

Several months passed since that fateful day.

Every day that pased during those months, the Sanctuary's void was populated with the sounds of shrieking, crying, explosions, and many more exciting things.

It got to the point where a certain rumor spread between the people of Theavel.

A rumor that the Lord had reached an unexplainable level, and for some reason, had decided to kill chickens and pigs in space.

Inexplicably, Damien earned another nickname that he wouldn't learn about until it was far too late.

To the people of Theavel who saw a star light up in their sky for the first time before this strange phenomenon took place…

Damien became the Immortal Rancher: a man who could even raise stars with his genius farming ability!

Wasn't it glamorous?