Chapter 1237 Title Effect

The priest seemed to notice that Michael's patience was beginning to disappear. His struggling became more frantic for a moment, but instead of trying to break Michael's grip again, one of his hands hurriedly rose and made several gestures toward his mouth.

Michael hesitated. Then his fingers loosened slightly.

The priest immediately sucked in a breath. Normally, supernaturals at his level wouldn't be affected by something as simple as a lack of air, but this bastard had done more than just strangle him. His fingers had been coated in mana, digging into his skin and causing damage.

"I only wanted to talk." The man's voice was hoarse and shaky, like speaking caused him pain.

Michael said nothing.

The priest glanced at his expression before continuing quickly.

"I had no intention of fighting you. But… it seems you're not in the mood for a conversation right now."

That was an understatement. Even saying those words made the priest nervous.

His name was Selar, and he came from the small Verith Realm.

Compared to many of the realms represented within the Origin Battlefield, Verith was insignificant. It possessed no Demigod, so it was no great civilization whose influence stretched across entire realms.

At present, Selar himself was the strongest existence within the realm. That technically placed him in a position somewhat similar to a Realm Master.

But only superficially.

A true Realm Master possessed more than raw strength. There was normally some deeper relationship between such an existence and the realm itself, whether through recognition, authority, inheritance, law, or another form of symbolic connection. Selar had none of that. He was simply the strongest person Verith currently possessed.

That was precisely why he had accepted Michael's challenge. He had only just completed a ranking battle of his own and climbed by a single position. His injuries had not yet recovered, but the moment Michael Norman's challenge appeared, Selar accepted almost immediately.

Michael's name had already become too prominent to ignore. Though he didn't have the resources other civilizations had to know more about this figure, he was still able to learn something after forking out money to obtain information from the Shadow Pavilion, even if it was only superficial knowledge.

Selar had never believed someone attracting that much attention could be ordinary. For a small realm like Verith, meeting such a person wasn't necessarily a threat. It could be an opportunity.

Selar had hoped to see Michael personally, judge his temperament, and perhaps establish some kind of connection that might benefit Verith in the future. Even something as simple as being remembered favorably by someone with seemingly enormous potential could prove valuable.

He had deliberately selected a battlefield saturated with darkness partly to show that he hadn't entered with hostile intentions.

He simply hadn't expected Michael to appear beside him almost immediately after the battle began and seize him by the throat.

Worse, Michael's reaction had been so fast that Selar hadn't even finished deciding how he wanted to introduce himself.

Then the universal announcement appeared.

The same man currently holding him in the air had apparently just become the first person to do something again.

Was this truly the Origin Battlefield, or was this Michael Norman's personal playground?

Selar's original assessment of Michael rose considerably.

So did his fear.

Fortunately, Michael didn't seem interested in killing him.

Selar quickly continued.

"I only wanted to make a friend." Selar continued. "I'll forfeit, seeing it looks like you have somewhere else to be. If there's an opportunity in the future, perhaps we can have a more pleasant conversation."

Michael studied him for several seconds. That was considerably better than whatever complicated proposal he had expected. Michael's impression of him improved slightly.

His hand finally left Selar's throat.

The priest landed lightly on the black ground beneath them, one hand immediately rising to rub his neck.

Michael looked at him.

"Next time, if you still want to talk, you can challenge me."

Selar blinked. Then his expression brightened considerably.

Ranking challenges guaranteed both parties would enter the same arena. More importantly, if Michael was willing to accept one specifically for a conversation, it meant he hadn't completely rejected the possibility of future contact.

Selar nodded quickly.

"Of course."

A panel appeared in front of him almost immediately.

[Would you like to forfeit the Ranking Challenge?]

Selar selected the option without hesitation.

[Forfeit Confirmed.]

[Opponent Has Forfeited.]

[Challenge Victory Confirmed.]

[Ranking Positions Will Be Exchanged.]

The priest gave him one final respectful nod before disappearing completely.

Michael watched as Selar's body gradually became surrounded by light.

A moment later, Michael was left alone beneath the dark sky.

His ranking had changed again.

Rank 108.

He only had one challenge left.

At this point, most of Michael's earlier anger had already faded.

His expression became complicated as he called out a panel of the title he had received.

Even now, when his body in the Land of Origin was checking the same thing, Michael was shocked in both realms.

[Universal Pioneer]

[You have drawn the attention of the Universal Will.]

[Your achievement has been recorded as one beneficial to countless worlds and future civilizations.]

[For successfully opening a path beyond ordinary universal boundaries, you have received its blessing.]

[Effect 1: Universal Law Resonance]

[The effectiveness of your Law is increased by 250% anywhere within the universe.]

[Effect 2: Pioneer's Choice]

[Whenever you advance through a Major Rank from this point onward, three Traits will be generated from which you may select one to keep]

Silence.

Michael stared at the panel.

The irritation he had felt only a short while ago disappeared almost immediately.

A two-hundred-and-fifty-percent increase to the effectiveness of his Law.

This reminded him of another gift of his that gave a similar effect.

[Gift]: Aurora's Child

[Description]: Ever since Aurora awakened, she has been searching for a partner to her will. Unfortunately, she has yet to find one. Still, Aurora has not given up. At certain points, she chooses individuals born within her realm as candidates to inherit her will.

[Effect]: Law effectiveness is increased by 200% within Aurora.