Atavaka's phantom began dissipating, but those eyes perceiving the underworld shone startlingly bright. "Interesting. Truly interesting. I sense in you a realm even gods haven't touched."
His form gradually turned transparent, yet his final words were engraved upon space like a brand. "It seems my premonition wasn't wrong. You will be my chance to attain Buddhahood. Hehe, looking forward to the day you truly step into the Underworld…"
Setsuna ignored his ramblings, contemplating inwardly.
The concept of Ultra Instinct was separating consciousness from the body, allowing body parts to act autonomously through conditioned reflexes, achieving ultimate breakthroughs in speed and reaction.
Thanks to the battle with Poseidon two years ago, his Cosmos perfectly fused with himself.
True Ultra Instinct separated consciousness from the body. He, however, used Cosmos to completely integrate consciousness into the body.
'Now I hold the key to Ultra Instinct. When I enter the Eighth Sense realm, perhaps I can truly open the gate to this divine technique.' Setsuna inwardly sighed with emotion. He hadn't even transformed into Super Saiyan 1, yet was about to overtake and master Ultra Instinct.
However, even if he truly mastered Ultra Instinct, he likely couldn't use it at will.
Like transforming into Super Saiyan… besides meeting S-cell requirements within the body, one's base combat power was equally crucial.
Regulus stared blankly at Setsuna, admiration in his eyes. "Sensei, I sense my father's aura from you back then. Has Sensei also stepped into the Eighth Sense realm?"
Setsuna slightly shook his head. "Not yet. But perhaps I somewhat understand Ilias's realm back then."
The Eighth Sense transcended life and death. The soul grew powerful enough to ignore the Underworld's laws.
Thanks to [Great Teacher] Atavaka's Rokudo Rinne, he personally experienced this realm, gaining some comprehension of the Eighth Sense.
Setsuna looked at Regulus, his voice calm yet carrying some certainty. "Do you want to see Ilias?"
Regulus's entire body shuddered. "Father… is still alive?"
A trace of depth flashed in Setsuna's eyes. "The closer one gets to the Eighth Sense, the more one understands this realm's power. Even if the physical body dies, the soul can still exist in this world in a higher-dimensional form."
"I want to go." Anticipation gleamed in Regulus's eyes.
Setsuna nodded, turning to Tenma. "Tenma, guard Cúana here. We'll be back soon."
"Mhm." Tenma nodded.
The next moment, Setsuna and Regulus vanished.
Cúana exclaimed in surprise. "Where are they?"
"They already left." Tenma's eyes held envy. "If only I could comprehend the Seventh Sense too. Teleportation is just too cool."
…
Winds howled across the American plateau, sweeping past ancient stone pillars. This was Ilias's resting place.
When Setsuna and Regulus's figures appeared, the wind suddenly stilled.
"Father…" Regulus softly called.
The air beneath the stone pillars slightly distorted. A yet majestic figure gradually took shape.
"Father!" Regulus was overjoyed, lunging forward from within Ilias's phantom.
"Ah." Ilias only sighed lightly.
Regulus was somewhat puzzled. "Father, why don't you return to Sanctuary? Sanctuary needs you now."
"Precisely because I am a Saint, I cannot return." Ilias's soul shimmered with gentle golden light. "Saints protect order and rules. The dead interfering with the living itself tramples upon rules."
Wind swept up sand and dust, forming a vortex between father and son. Ilias's voice came with the wind. "If we only follow rules when beneficial, how are we different from the Specters?"
Regulus clenched his fist. After a moment, a brilliant smile suddenly bloomed. "Then watch from above! We will definitely protect this earth well!"
Ilias was very pleased, then looked at Setsuna. "And you? You came hoping to converse with me, right?"
Setsuna looked directly at this soul. "I want to see the essence of the Eighth Sense."
Ilias didn't refuse. "Then use your body to feel."
Ilias's figure suddenly blurred. The next second, the entire space was filled with golden lightning.
"Lightning Plasma!"
Though not the first time dealing with an Eighth Sense powerhouse, this was Setsuna's first time directly facing the Eighth Sense.
This wasn't physical restraint but suppression at the soul level.
Setsuna felt thrown into a vast starry sea, even his thoughts about to freeze.
At the critical moment, Setsuna's pupils abruptly dilated, entering the Ultra Instinct state again.
Though consciousness was suppressed, his body still reacted instinctively.
The spiritual impact of the Phoenix Illusion Demon Fist collided mid-air with the golden lightning, erupting in a blinding flash.
"You could still counterattack under Eighth Sense suppression." Ilias withdrew his fist, praise in his voice. "So, what did you see?"
Setsuna pondered. "The Sixth Sense is 'sense of consciousness', transcending bodily limits by digging into one's Cosmos. The Seventh Sense is 'sense of time', the bridge connecting microcosm and macrocosm."
He looked up at Ilias. "And the Eighth Sense is Arayashiki, the ocean of all consciousness, the will of the cosmos itself. You just integrated your will into the sea of consciousness, manipulating cosmic force for that strike."
"Correct." Ilias's figure resonated wonderfully with the surroundings. Each wisp of wind seemed his extension. "All living beings' consciousness ultimately flows into this ocean."
His fingers traced through the void, stirring ripple-like undulations. "But only by reaching the Eighth Sense can one transcend from it and control it. This cosmic will controlled by the gods is authority."
Setsuna was quite impressed. "The Seventh Sense merely borrows cosmic power. The Eighth Sense actually controls cosmic power."
"Cosmic power isn't so easily controlled." Ilias slightly shook his head. "If one's own will isn't strong enough, rashly integrating will into the cosmos risks assimilation by cosmic consciousness. Therefore, most innate gods actually remain at the first stage."
"They can only be considered tertiary gods, not even acknowledged as true gods, regarded as minor deities. After all, without obtaining authority, the Eighth Sense isn't much stronger than the Seventh Sense."
Setsuna contemplated inwardly. Authority was certainly powerful but ultimately external force.
Like the Supreme Kai in the Dragon Ball World. According to their authority, they were practically creation gods, capable of creating planets with their will.
Yet the result? Seeing a Demon Realm King comparable to Super Saiyan 2 could startle them into a cold sweat.
Though there was the factor of him being forced into the role, it still ruined the Supreme Kai's prestige. This showed power was more reliable than authority.
"Moreover, I can also try methods of obtaining authority to enhance strength." Setsuna's thoughts diverged.
The Eighth Sense Arayashiki was all consciousness, integrating consciousness into the cosmos. He, however, integrated consciousness into his own microcosm. Moreover, his body contained the negative emotions absorbed by Omega Shenron from destroying a universe.
Weren't negative emotions also consciousness?
If he could later unify that portion of negative emotional power, wouldn't he leap to become a principal god-level existence?