Nine.
From the vantage point of space, one could see nine massive, ethereal blue magic circles manifesting across the surface of the Earth. As time passed, these magic circles began to generate clusters of azure-colored ore within their boundaries.
This was the physical manifestation of Universe Energy. Under the command of the Undead Central Hub, the undead began mining the ore in vast quantities, eventually transporting it back to the Longhuang Universe.
Why nine? This specific number allowed for a perfect cycle. The Universe Energy produced by the [Apocalypse] Universe would be harvested in a sustainable loop, wasting nothing and causing no fundamental damage to the world itself.
Simultaneously, the Undead Central Hub monitored the entire [Apocalypse] Universe. Whenever life began to sprout on any other planet, an alarm would trigger, and zombies would be dispatched to construct more magic circles for mining, creating one complete cycle after another.
Overall, the work on the [Apocalypse] Universe was essentially complete.
Riku and Alice, the husband and wife duo, floated in the starry sky, gazing down at the changes occurring on Earth.
Alice crossed her arms over her chest and said confidently, "Looking at it this way, the preparations for the [Apocalypse] Universe can be considered finished."
"Indeed." Riku nodded with a smile. "Next, by using the Universe Energy mined from here, we can gradually clear away the Extinction within the Longhuang Universe and begin planning the next steps."
Alice asked with a mischievous grin, drawing out her words, "Honey, it seems you have a lot of plans for the [Saint Seiya] Universe~"
Riku looked at the teasing Alice with amusement but shook his head. "I have many plans, but for now, you cannot go there to play. It is still too dangerous. With your current strength, the possibility of an accident is quite high."
Was Alice weak? Not exactly. If placed in the neighboring [Saint Seiya] Universe, she would be at the level of the Seventh Sense, comparable to a Gold Saint.
But in that universe, what did a Gold Saint even count for? That place was truly a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and God knows when some monster might suddenly pop out from nowhere.
After all, what Riku provided was an elevation in life-form status; he did not actually have a method to forcibly boost raw combat power. Generally speaking, as the Lord of the Universe, he had the authority to grant Universal Authorities and Powers. However, the Longhuang Universe was plagued by too much Extinction, and calling it "tattered" would be an understatement. Its Authorities and Powers were all locked away, creating a stagnant cycle.
"Honey~~~" Alice leaned in, drawing out her voice even more, and cutely puffed out her cheeks.
She was truly adorable. The term "eccentric and clever" suited Alice perfectly.
"No! Absolutely not! It is not happening, so do not even try!" Riku refused her directly. No meant no.
"Ugh!" Alice knew her dear husband was doing it for her own good, but she could not help but start whimpering.
"Daddy!"
"Mommy!"
"Klee is here!"
Right then, accompanied by a cute shout, a streak of fiery red light shot toward them from the distance.
Little Klee, wearing goggles and a well-fitted fiery red biker suit, was riding a super-mini motorcycle. She waved her small hand at the two of them as she sped toward them.
"..."
Riku fell silent, though he still gave his daughter a gentle smile and waved back. Then, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Mommy's over here~" Alice shouted loudly, but she silently took a step back, performing a practiced retreat.
However, a hand suddenly wrapped around her slender waist before she could get far.
"Alice, I think you owe me an explanation. How did my precious daughter fall in love with *that* thing?" Riku's smile was incredibly gentle, but the gentler it was, the more dangerous it felt.
"Well..."
"You see..."
"I think I can explain." Alice's confidence wavered, and her voice grew quieter and quieter.
Riku watched his daughter perform a skillful drift, the motorcycle leaving a trail of fiery red exhaust as it screeched to a halt right in front of them. Then, she hopped off.
'Old man! I parked my "Ghost Fire" ride downstairs, you better not lose it!'
This meme-like phrase immediately popped into Riku's head. He quickly shook his head to toss the nonsense aside.
Riku kept one arm around Alice and asked in an exceptionally gentle voice, "Little Klee, when did you learn how to do that?"
He did not mind his daughter playing with Jumpy Dumpties. That was not a big deal. If she liked them, she could play with them. But the problem was, where did this motorcycle come from?
"Hehehe~" Klee laughed happily. Her big eyes behind the goggles crinkled into crescents as she asked boastfully, "Daddy, Daddy, am I amazing?"
"Amazing, amazing. Klee is the most amazing." Riku naturally praised his daughter, then continued the previous topic. "Little Klee, tell Daddy, when did you learn this?"
"Mommy taught me! She even told me I absolutely could not tell you, Daddy. She said I should learn it and then show off in front of you!" Klee, in her innocent honesty, immediately sold out her mother.
"I see!" Riku nodded understandingly and said warmly, "Alright, alright. Klee, let's head back first."
"Okay!" Klee nodded her little head obediently, then with a wave of her little hand, she put the motorcycle away.
Riku held his adorable daughter's hand with one hand and kept the other around Alice's slender waist, saying softly, "Honey! Let's go back too. It has been a tiring few days; let's get some good rest!"
"Waaah~" Alice let out a cry of despair.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Klee tilted her head, blinking her large eyes.
"It's nothing." Alice forced a matching smile, acting as if nothing was wrong, but inside she felt only hopelessness.
'It's over.'
'It's over.'
'I'm dead.'
'I am definitely going to die today.'
Meanwhile, Riku simply led the skipping Klee along while speaking softly. Since his daughter had already learned it, he would slowly teach her the right way; he would not stifle his daughter's happiness.