Facing the Apocalypse with My Other Selves

After Shen Yu acquired the toxin, he quickly directed a portion of the research staff to begin their investigations.

Once he amassed enough Gray Mist, he actually put confidentiality measures in place for some researchers, while also openly announcing the existence of the Multi-Dimensional Apocalypse Civilization Mutual Aid Association and the Otherworld.

These researchers had long been deeply interested in the Magic World and the existence of the Divine Spirits.

Moreover, after learning the real situation, they established a much more detailed, precise, and even systematic structure for "Divine Spirit and Divine Power Research."

They no longer simply focused on researching a single type of Divine Punishment Virus or the Divine Punishment Poison.

They even viewed them in cross-comparisons.

Soon, it was discovered that the Divine Power energy contained in both of these substances was generally consistent, but in the finer forms of manifestation, there were significant differences.

Simply put, the Divine Power present in the Divine Punishment Virus could only exert a relatively sensitive influence on the virus itself and was unable to exert the same effect on the toxin.

The opposite was true as well.

"The strength of the Divine Spirits varies, but their divine offices seem to be determined by the traits of their Divine Power," Shen Yu summarized the research findings and the collected reports from the team, and handed them along with the antidote to Wizard Shen Yu. "This is also the biggest difference between Divine Power and Magic Power aside from simple strength — Magic Power manifests traits depending on the type of magic, but it's not irrevocable. From this perspective, when a Mage reaches divine level, they might end up more versatile and even stronger than those innate Divine Spirits limited by their Divine Power traits."

Wizard Shen Yu casually browsed the reports, clearly impressed.

"To have grasped so much information already."

"Much of it is based on the observed patterns, so they're primarily well-founded hypotheses," Shen Yu smiled. "This even includes our ongoing research into magic itself. Your applications of magic are still rather superficial, especially magic patterns — it's a discipline that's governed by very clear rules, much like circuit diagrams. Magic Power forms different patterns and structures to exhibit different magic. The research potential in this is massive. In fact, the Goddess of Hope is already overseeing a full-scale optimization of Magic Guides."

This was exactly what Shen Yu had been busy with lately.

The central issue with magic research was the severe lack of mage samples.

Even though Shen Yu used Gray Mist to directly create several test subject mages, the quality and traits of their Magic Power still couldn't compare with his own.

The choice of Meditation Method Magic Pattern and the frequency of fusion both have significant impact.

So Shen Yu still had to personally participate.

But the results have been remarkable.

By optimizing the energy structure and customizing the mechanical structure of Magic Guides according to the special properties of magical materials, advancements were rapidly made.

Already, a number of achievements have emerged.

Shen Yu has uploaded part of the results to the Association, allowing both himself and Martial Artist Shen Yu to benefit from them.

After all, although each mage's Magic Power is different, every version of Shen Yu shares the same magical traits.

"This is just too amazing," Wizard Shen Yu grinned broadly. "This truly is the power of science!"

In such a short time, so many findings have even surpassed what mages have accomplished over thousands of years!

"You could just say they have different traits," Shen Yu replied with a smile. "Extraordinary Power introduces more possibilities to the real world, but these possibilities can also be approached, researched, theorized, and applied using scientific methods. When all's said and done, the traits of Extraordinary Power mean it's tied more closely to life and to individual strength, while science is more closely tied to civilization itself, fulfilling our collective urge to explore and harness the unknown. For many in research, science and the extraordinary aren't mutually exclusive, but can be closely integrated."

"No doubt about it!" Wizard Shen Yu gave a thumbs-up. "I'll have people gather and send you all the magic and divine spirit data collected from every Plane."

Recently, the connections between the Magic Empire and the various Planes were mainly concentrated on the mages themselves.

Although, many of the research results from mages across different Planes were similar in broad strokes, there certainly were unique highlights among them.

Getting access now to the interstellar civilization's database could potentially refine these findings even further.

AI is certainly powerful — maybe lacking creativity, but it can free humans from the bulk of work that doesn't require creative thought.

Thus massively boosting research efficiency.

"Good." Shen Yu was looking forward to it as well.

These days, he'd been stationed in the rear laboratory, getting to know some of the new research breakthroughs.

He was deeply impressed.

Human researchers were not just exploring the extraordinary itself, but the integration of the extraordinary and technology.

For example, Eye Worm Weapons — they'd even developed a third generation: these weapons are now engineered as prosthetic limbs, with energy organs implanted directly into the human body, allowing people to activate attacks with their artificial limbs at any moment.

This was clearly more potent than simply holding a weapon.

At the very least, there's no way for the Void Spirit to determine from someone's appearance whether they are dangerous.

Similarly, some projects were focused on developing implantable Martial Arts techniques.

For example, certain Martial Arts require long-term training, but at their core they are merely special modes of True Power deployment, making it conceivable to substitute with artificial limbs.

All in all, in that place, Shen Yu witnessed the sparks produced by the collision of worlds, forces, and paths unlike any other.