I Spread my Genes to Level Up in the Apocalypse

This wasn't the first time Ray had felt the bitter sting of complete helplessness, where all his abilities and means were rendered utterly ineffective.

The feeling mirrored the first time he faced a Peak Planetary being—a sensation of his overwhelming strength being nothing but dust against an incomprehensible force. However, this time, the mechanics were entirely different.

"What exactly was I affected by?" Ray pondered in the depths of his mind, his thoughts spiraling.

It wasn't a simple suppression of his abilities. No, this was something far more profound, a severing of his very connection to existence within this universe. It didn't matter how much he increased his attributes, nor how far he pushed his potential—this vulnerability couldn't be removed.

"This isn't something I can ignore. I need to understand it… and find a way to counter it when I get back," he resolved.

The answer might lie in the essence of his being. He wasn't even at the Planetary level or anything beyond; he was still a Celestial being. His life level was still too small and insignificant.

While contemplating this, Ray maintained an expressionless face as he gazed at the being before him.

"Good. Then you can do it now," she said with a commanding tone.

"Right now?" Ray tilted his head, surprise flickering across his otherwise calm demeanor.

"Yes, right now." Her voice echoed, reverberating through the vast expanse of the universe.

Dhum! Dhum! Boom!

The entire fabric of space began to quiver, trembling as if the universe itself held its breath. Reality warped; space distorted in chaotic waves of unseen energy.

Ray narrowed his eyes, squinting toward the horizon of infinity. And then, he froze.
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For all the mysteries the cosmos held, one truth became evident: the universe wasn't endlessly expanding as time marched forward. No, this was a misconception. It wasn't the universe that expanded—it was that light itself could not keep pace with its boundless depths.

Imagine a fish swimming in a river. Its world is bound by the distance it can see. If it swims further, does the river expand? Or is it simply a shift in perspective?

In this moment, Ray grappled with that very question.

Before him stretched a dazzling expanse of glittering lights, filling his vision as far as his True Eyes could reach. Each shimmer was one whole galaxy then from these galaxies came beings.

Each entity radiated an aura of overwhelming power. They were walking paradoxes—anomalies whose very existence defied the natural order. Simply standing there, they caused the framework of reality to fracture and collapse around them.

The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Ray couldn't help but gulp, his throat dry.

For some reason, these beings exuded an overwhelming sense of danger—a sensation far greater than the one evoked by the colossal entity before him, a giant whose size rivaled two suns.

"They're all at the Universal Level," Ray murmured to himself, steadying his thoughts. His expression remained calm, though his mind churned beneath the surface.

He shifted his gaze toward her.

"She's at the Universal Level too... but weaker," he thought, narrowing his eyes. "Or should I say, they—combined—are stronger?"

Ray's True Eyes scanned the countless towering monsters converging in this realm.

As Ray looked at the countless giant monster gathering, he could faintly already determine the power structure of this entire universe and how it operated.

Seeing how these Universal beings swaggered and stormed into this place, the image has already formed in his mind.

"Madman," she began, her voice echoing with an unshakable authority. "Though I cannot leave this universe, you may take my army and begin your conquest."

"I see," Ray responded with a nod, his tone thoughtful. Then, his curiosity sparked another question. "But why can't you go?"

"Who will defend the universe if I leave?" she replied.

Ray furrowed his brow, not entirely satisfied. "Then how are we supposed to conquer other universes?"

One question led to another, and Ray pressed on with a rapid barrage of inquiries. Each one was sharp, valid, and impossible to ignore.

"That," she interrupted, her voice tinged with irritation, "will be explained by that squid over there. Don't disturb me further."

With that, her massive cosmic form shifted slightly, and one of her colossal hands extended outward, shimmering with celestial energy. A bracelet materialized in her palm.

"You can take this. Use it to summon me if you truly need my help," she said, her tone softening ever so slightly.

Without waiting for a response, her immense figure began to fade, her form dissolving into the void like ink blending into water. In moments, she vanished entirely, leaving no trace of her existence, as though she had never been there at all.

Ray turned toward the groups of beings and said with a chuckle:

"It's nice to meet you all."

Silence!

A menacing silence prevailed in the surroundings until a giant squid floated out of the crowd.

This squid resembled a humanoid, with its bulbous, textured head resembling a cephalopod and tentacle-like appendages extending downward. Its slimy skin bore a mix of greenish and reddish hues, while its deep-set, small eyes peered out from behind translucent white glasses.

"A Cthulhu?" This thought almost immediately arose in Ray's mind as he looked at the giant squid, at least the size of a star.

"Human, ask any question you have," the massive squid said, using one of its tentacles to adjust its glasses and speaking in a deep tone.

"I want to ask you— is there a power difference in the other universes?" Ray's main concern was this.

If the other universes were the same as this one, how could they possibly conquer them? Even if slightly weaker, there would always be that Universal Being standing guard. And who knew? They might even possess the same ability to detach a universe. If that were the case, the consequences could only lead to death.

"No, human. Although every universe has a Universal Being, their power depends on the size of the universe itself. Some universes barely even have one," the giant squid replied.

"Could they do what she did to me?"

"Yes," the Cthulhu replied.

"Then…"

"We will go undercover— slowly corrupt the universe until the universal beings notice us until then it is too late to stop us. To corrupt the universe, all we need to do is stay in that plane for some time."

"Is that all?" Ray asked with a tilt of his head.

"Yes."

"I need some time to prepare, is that fine?"

"You are given fifty years— nothing more than that."

Cthulhu's eyes narrowed, and they all turned to leave the place, leaving Ray alone.

Ray's figure also disappeared with a deep gaze.

…

It was a sunny day on Earth, and Ray was lying there casually on the bed, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

There were beauties sitting on his lap, vying for all his attention.

"Ray, so is that the story?" Vanessa asked, worry reflected in her eyes.

"Don't worry, I will be fine."

"I hope you do," Elsha said sternly from the side. "Bastard, you already have so many wives, children, and grandchildren. You must return."

"Haha, aren't you still there even if something happens to me?"

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