After a brief silence, the atmosphere erupted like a dormant volcano as the furious voices of the rejected humans rose and filled the metallic hall.

"Are you freaking serious?!" One yelled with a face flushed in anger, "How could he be chosen of all people here!? This is bullshit!"

Another voice joined in of a woman with clenched fists and a contorted expression of disbelief.

"He's a measly lowly businessman! What makes him so special? The entire selection process is rigged!"

"I demand a redo! I refuse to believe those hearts to be sentinal!"

The outrage spread like wildfire through the ranks of the rejected, their voices overlapping in indignation.

Unfortunately, Empress Emily couldn't care less about their criticisms and whines. She simply teleported Felix to the chosen side and got rid of those with the loudest mouths.

As people started seeing their peers getting snuffed rapidly, their loud disgruntlement disappeared.

Meanwhile, even the ones chosen didn't seem too pleased with Felix's joining their side. They kept giving him irked glances, like the sacredness of being chosen by the seven hearts had been tainted by his presence.

Felix ignored everyone's disdainful glances and kept gazing at the seven celestial hearts with a sense of wonder.

'They think I am worthy to become their new owner...' He murmured.

Although it sounded too crazy to believe, it still lit up something in Felix's heart as he knew that the seven celestial hearts must have seen something in him.

He could excuse Queen Ai choosing him, but he couldn't think less of being chosen by the celestial hearts instead of millions of the finest humans.

'I have to know what it saw in me.' Felix narrowed his eyes solemnly as he kept watching the rest of the humans getting rejected continuously.

After a long, long while, the last participant finally took the stage and without any surprises, he was sent away disappointed.

"The initial screening stage has been concluded." Empress Emily announced calmly, "Forty individuals have induced a reaction from the seven celestial hearts."

Emilia and the rest of the chosen ones showed arrogant smirks as they gazed at the rejected ones. Before the failures could cause another scene, Empress Emily added, "Since we don't have much data about the process of the emergence of the new universe's consciousness, you are allowed to stick by and wait in case another opportunity arises. If not, you may leave this place."

Usually, the moment one fails to be picked, he should take a hike. After all, there was no way the celestial hearts would skip past their future possible owner.

But, Empress Emily decided to keep them around in case all the chosen ones failed to ascend.

In her mind, they were already at an impasse and they had nothing to lose in trying everything.

"Tsk, I ain't going nowhere." One of the kings sat down with a cold expression, "I have to see whose more worthy than I."

"Heh, I am sure the seven hearts will turn back to me once those useless 'chosen ones' fail to produce any results." Another haughty Queen showed the same attitude.

"Even though I wasn't picked, this is an amazing opportunity to research those mysterious hearts."

A scientist showed a wide innocent smile while bringing out a holographic notepad, seemingly delighted just to be kept around.

While each one had their own reason for staying put, not a single human had decided to leave!

That's to be expected when they understood that their memories would be erased the instant they leave this hall.

But, if they stuck behind, there might be a chance of Empress Emily allowing them to keep the information.

"Let's begin the second stage of screening." Without further ado, Empress Emily clapped her hands and teleported all the rejects to a newly built-in stand at the back of the hall.

The chosen ones were teleported to the center of the hall.

Then, she brought the seven celestial hearts closer to Felix and the rest, making them hover a mere couple of meters above their heads.

'How is she doing this?'

When Felix saw this, he couldn't help but wonder how could Empress Emily control the seven celestial hearts.

'Did Supreme Azzorus make his hearts listen to her before he perished or were they sentinal to the point they can understand everything going on around them.'

The answer came sooner than he anticipated.

Without Empress Emily's orders, the seven celestial hearts suddenly released seven different colors before they merged into a massive colorful dome.

The chosen ones were placed inside of it.

"What's going on?" Rhyzel uttered with a stern expression as he raised his guard.

He was an infamous mercenary, who was born in a war-torn land and lived his entire life battling for survival.

He was the oldest of the bunch and the one most feared and respected, making Emilia and many other chosen individuals edge slowly over to his side for protection.

Before anyone could process the situation, forty pillars of light descended from the ceiling of the dome in a circular shape around the chosen ones.

Each pillar seemed to be facing an individual, making them feel like it was calling for them.

'Are we supposed to enter those light pillars?' Felix frowned, not having a good feeling at all.

It was like his instincts screamed at him to not get any closer to those pillars...It gazed like Rhyzel and the others felt the same.

Alas...

"Step inside." Empress Emily ordered expressionlessly.

Empress Emily had no plans to comfort them as she also had no clue what those pillars meant and what was the point of them.

The only thing she knew was that everyone was going to enter them whether voluntarily or forcefully.

"If you are scared, trade with me!"

"Yes right! Stop wasting our time and go in!"

"Cowards, given a shot at godhood and they are still hesitating!"

The rejects didn't hesitate to remind them that they were holding the line and that if they refused to follow the seven celestial hearts' instructions, they should bow down.

Upon hearing their loud chatter, Emilia and the rest gritted their teeth and stepped forth towards the pillars.

Only Felix and Rhyzel remained in the center, watching as their peers walked toward the pillar of light with clear signs of concern and anxiety.

'What will happen...' Felix wondered with a solemn look, 'Will they get teleported to the Multiverse? Will they meet with a memory of Supreme Azzorus? Will they receive trials and they have to complete them?'

All options were on the table when no information was given.

Unfortunately, Felix and Rhyzel weren't allowed to stay back and spectate as they started feeling like their bodies were forcefully being pushed to their own pillars.

They weren't too surprised as they knew that it was Empress Emily's doing.

"I can walk on my own," Rhyzel uttered coldly as he continued what was parted of the distance.

Felix kept his silence but he also moved on his own after steeling his heart. After everyone stood a mere half a meter from the pillar, they glanced at each other and then took a collective step forward.

The moment they went in, they disappeared from everyone's vision.

...

As Felix opened his eyes slowly, his senses gradually returned as he took in the sight around him.

He found himself inside a small cozy sphere with transparent walls glowing faintly. The warmth of the light gave the space an oddly comforting feeling.

Underneath him, lay a lake that stretched endlessly around him...The water was white yet serene.

"Where am I? Is this a consciousness space?" He murmured as he gazed around him, scanning the endless expanse of water, but found nothing.

Curious, Felix reached out with his hand, his fingers brushing the surface of the water under him.

The moment his skin made contact with the cold, smooth water, the lake seemed to ripple, and then, suddenly, from the depths of the lake, a spiritual featureless figure emerged!

Felix recognized him immediately, making his heart skip a beat.

"Supreme Azzorus..."

He spoke under his breath while his pulse quickened at the unexplainable overwhelming aura flowing over his body.

Supreme Azzorus merely showed him a faint gentle smile and asked, "In three words, tell me why you want to ascend to the Supreme Position?"

"This..." Felix was parted baffled immediately.