The central point, deep within the multiverse.

The Star of Heroes, within a vast and majestic temple in ruins.

The Phantom Stranger's refined figure floated upward, surrounded by spatial fluctuations within the massive square of the temple. His body became a translucent projection. Hands outstretched, eyes closed, he remained silent like a saint, pitying the world as he hovered in the air.

After a moment, the Phantom Stranger opened his eyes, restrained the spatial fluctuations around him, and slowly descended to the ground.

A dull-colored round table appeared. Golden Superman, Mandrakk, the Spectre, and the Phantom Stranger each took their seats.

"It's been more than half a year, and Barmulodi has not spread any subsystems."

The Phantom Stranger sat down and spoke. The various contact groups throughout the multiverse—the general chat groups—had been spread by him to detect the presence of Bardi's system.

With the Spectre's magic, the Monitor race's technology provided by Mandrakk, and the fifth-dimensional abilities of Golden Superman combined with the multiverse communication network developed by the Phantom Stranger, they had the power to detect the system.

"Compared to how his subsystems spread across entire universes within seven to ten days in the past, can we now confirm that he has secretly joined a contact group?"

The Spectre, now a ghostly existence, sat tall in his chair. A dark green cloak shrouded his form in thick gray mist, his figure obscured as he asked.

Currently, his form was intangible. When entering the multiverse, he needed to find a powerful host in order to manifest materially and affect the physical world.

"Has the contact group been compromised? It should have been. The group has now spread across far too many multiverses. Each day, more than hundreds of multiversal characters join and interact with their peers. It would be nearly impossible for him not to have discovered it."

Mandrakk rested his hands on his chest. The reflective surface of his smooth blue-and-white armor mirrored the figures of those present, especially the radiant figure of Golden Superman, who stood out the most.

"Can we detect which group he's in?"

Golden Superman asked. He sat upright, his posture straight, face solemn, exuding an aura of righteousness.

Mandrakk sneered. The red electronic eyes behind his smooth helmet narrowed, expressing disdain for the question.

"You underestimate the will and wisdom of the One God."

Golden Superman glanced at him coldly. "It's because I can't perceive the will of a lesser god that I'm asking."

"I can't detect it. I don't even know if he's truly in the group. The contact groups we created can only detect the spread of Barmulodi's subsystems. They cannot sense the arrival of his divine will. That will belongs to the One God. No one can detect it."

"Even by monitoring each hero who enters the group and comparing changes in their behavioral patterns, there are no discernible anomalies."

The Phantom Stranger shook his head, his voice uncertain.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Each of them was an entity capable of destroying entire universes, reversing time, creating life, forging worlds, controlling quantum mechanics and space-time, beings on par with creator gods.

And yet, even such a powerful assembly could not determine the existence of their enemy's will.

"He's already in the contact group."

Suddenly, Golden Superman's solemn expression deepened. His chiseled golden features reflected conviction.

A bright golden light flashed in his eyes, unwavering.

The Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, and Mandrakk turned toward him simultaneously.

"We've combined the Monitor race's technology, the Spectre's magic, your spatial-temporal abilities, and the multiverse connectivity of the Phantom Stranger. With the combined will of every universe, we created a unified contact group. And yet, we still can't detect the arrival of his will. How are you so sure that Barmulodi has joined the group?"

Mandrakk's tone was cold, his question laced with frustration.

"It's because we've relied too heavily on the contact group's system to locate his will."

"If he's been inside the contact group for over half a year, and hasn't spread any subsystems to harm the universe..."

Golden Superman leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, hands clasped in front of his contemplative face, and said seriously, "Do you really think, after discovering that the contact group can detect his subsystems, he would remain idle? That he wouldn't adapt, improve, or conceal his presence?"

The Phantom Stranger and the Spectre's eyes lit up. A metaphorical light bulb clicked on in their minds, understanding Golden Superman's implication.

They had placed too much trust in the contact group they had created.

If Barmulodi had realized his subsystems could be detected through it, he would certainly have upgraded them, perhaps even using the contact group's internal structure to enhance them and avoid detection.

For a One God, this was not difficult. His intelligence and ability were immeasurable. Although they had backup systems in place to upgrade the contact group as needed and suppress Barmulodi's subsystems, Golden Superman's point shed new light on the situation.

Barmulodi had not upgraded his subsystems. He had not released any subsystems to harm the multiverse for over half a year. Wasn't this clear proof that he had discovered the contact group immediately, sent his will to possess a certain superhero, and joined the group to monitor their movements?

The Phantom Stranger and the Spectre exchanged cautious glances, understanding the logic.

They weren't fools, but they had become too focused on the contact group, trying to use their joint technology to trap and eliminate the disappearing scourge of Barmulodi's system. But now, taking a step back, they could infer the truth more clearly.

Barmulodi had no time to return to his main body and update his subsystems. When he first discovered the group, he entered and then stopped all activity. He no longer deployed subsystems throughout the universe.

"Your reasoning is sound, but we still have no concrete proof that he is among us."

Even Mandrakk, who always viewed Golden Superman as a rival, began to nod in agreement. The red light in his eyes flickered with intensity before he spoke again.

"Then let's summon everyone in the contact group into this place and seal them all. That way, we leave no room for error."

The Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, and Golden Superman's expressions changed instantly.

"No!"

(To be continued.)