Chapter121-First Meeting with Alice
The seed of suspicion had begun to take root in Alice's heart.
More and more, she felt that Daniel's extraordinary performance was somehow deeply connected to the honorable Crossbridge. At the same time, her curiosity toward Daniel only continued to grow.
After a moment's hesitation, Alice closed her eyes and began to pray silently in her heart.
"O great Lord Crossbridge, your most devout follower Alice humbly offers this prayer."
...
Sensing Alice's prayer within his mind, Daniel didn't hesitate. He immediately selected one of his avatars and activated the Divine Temple.
As the avatar entered the Divine Temple, Daniel felt even more aware of how valuable these avatars were.
Thanks to the connection between him and his avatars, they could even exchange items freely with one another.
In other words, there was virtually no difference between his real body and his avatars—
with just one exception:
Only Daniel's main body could use [Time Stream].
Inside the Divine Temple,
Alice once again offered a sincere blessing.
Daniel gave a slight nod in response, signaling his acknowledgment.
Perhaps because this god appeared approachable, Alice no longer felt as constrained and cautious as she had in the beginning.
"Honorable Lord Crossbridge, I'm about to complete my 2-star Star Upgrade Quest," she said with bright eyes and a face full of eager anticipation.
"All my clanspeople are proud and honored by my status as a devotee of a god."
She gave a simple report of her recent activities, her expression full of admiration as she gazed up at Daniel seated on the throne.
"You've done reasonably well," Daniel replied.
The moment Alice heard his praise, her face lit up with joy. After a moment's pause, she ventured a tentative question.
"Lord Crossbridge, there is a human in our world named Daniel."
"He also possesses extremely formidable power. I believe this is something I should report to you personally."
After speaking, Alice bowed her head respectfully.
She merely reported the situation.
What the god chose to do—or not do—with that information was far beyond her ability to question.
If her god showed no interest or chose not to comment, Alice would not press the matter further.
On the other side, upon hearing Alice's report, Daniel couldn't help but feel amused.
He truly hadn't expected his own devotee to take notice of him under his human name.
But upon further thought, it made perfect sense.
After all, his recent feats had already stirred up a huge commotion across the myriad races. Even if someone didn't want to know, it would be difficult to remain unaware.
At the same time, Daniel realized it was time to take on a separate identity—
one he could use to communicate with his devotee on a more equal footing.
After all, always playing the role of a god made certain conversations difficult.
Suddenly, he recalled the reward he had received upon completing his Star Upgrade Quest—
the Divine Temple Keystone.
Perhaps... it was finally time to build his own Divine Temple.
However, gods were not allowed to directly build temples themselves. They required a representative.
And who better to act as that representative... than himself?
As that thought occurred, a faint smile spread across Daniel's lips. His tone also became more casual.
"My devoted Alice, you are quite perceptive.
The Daniel you mentioned is indeed my chosen successor, and in the near future, he will inherit my divine mantle."
"It seems he has performed well enough.
Since you've brought him up... perhaps now is the time for you two to meet."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Daniel summoned his real body into the Divine Temple once more.
His avatar remained seated on the throne, while his true body appeared beside Alice.
Alice noticed Daniel's sudden appearance and greeted him with a gentle smile.
"It's an honor to meet you, Alice of the elven race," Daniel said with a polite smile.
"Lord Crossbridge has likely already informed you of my identity. I have inherited His divine legacy and now serve as His representative."
"I'm also the strongest among the younger generation of humankind."
As he introduced himself, his tone was calm and confident.
Alice, on the other hand, felt all the pieces of the puzzle finally fall into place. The confusion in her heart was now fully resolved.
So that was why Daniel was so powerful—
He was the future inheritor of a god's divinity.
But... if even a god had chosen an inheritor, didn't that mean this millennial Apocalypse was far more terrifying than any before?
Taking a step back, it was worth noting—
The world didn't have just one god like Lord Crossbridge.
What if the other gods were also choosing successors?
Alice felt as if she had just brushed up against some divine-level secret.
Could it be that even gods couldn't remain uninvolved in the coming millennial Apocalypse?
And what sort of plans were they laying?
Even someone like her, an elf, had been chosen to serve as a god's devotee.
Did that mean... the entire world was caught in the gods' grand schemes?
Alice drew in a quiet breath, startled by her own thoughts. Then she quickly returned to her senses, realizing she should properly introduce herself as well.
She offered a soft smile, her voice sweet and respectful.
"It's an honor to meet you as well, Lord Daniel.
My name is Alice. You may call me that directly."
"I believe you already know—I am a devotee of Lord Crossbridge."
"Though I'm not exactly sure... which number devotee I am."
Daniel nodded, his smile remaining warm.
"Alice, in truth... you are the very first devotee chosen by Lord Crossbridge."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Daniel turned his gaze to the avatar seated on the throne.
He opened his backpack and took out ten pieces of a rare material—Starlight Shards—and respectfully placed them upon the altar.
"Praise be to you, great Lord Crossbridge."
"These are the rare materials I have collected. I now offer them to you."
On the throne, Daniel's avatar gave a slight nod.
A moment later, the materials on the altar vanished.
Alice, watching the scene from nearby, took it all in—and her heart was genuinely moved.
Come to think of it, she had used Lord Crossbridge's power quite a bit recently...
And yet, she had never once made a sacrificial offering.
But even Daniel, the god's chosen inheritor, was offering precious materials in reverence.
Then as a mere devotee, wasn't she being terribly neglectful?
The thought filled Alice with guilt.
Even though her god had shown no signs of displeasure, Alice felt that she needed to remedy the situation.
She didn't want to incur divine dissatisfaction over such a small matter.
At once, she dropped to her knees and began to pray earnestly.
"O great Lord Crossbridge, I am currently in the middle of my 2-star Star Upgrade Quest and cannot yet spare the time."
"Please grant me a little more time. Once I complete my quest, I will immediately offer you the finest materials I can find."
Daniel stood beside her, silently observing the entire scene.
He was fairly satisfied with Alice's response.
At least his subtle reminder hadn't gone to waste.
On the throne, his avatar gave a small nod and spoke:
"My devoted one, from now on, meeting Daniel is the same as meeting me."
"The millennial Apocalypse... may be upon us very soon."
Chapter122-Invitation from the Emperor of the Abyss
A flash of light passed before Alice's eyes.
When she regained her senses, she had already returned to her wooden cabin.
Yet her mind was still preoccupied with the god's final words.
"The Millennial Apocalypse."
What could it mean?
What kind of cataclysm would be so grave that even a god took it seriously?
Suppressing her thoughts for now, Alice picked up her communicator and began searching for all available information about Daniel.
At the same time, she sent Daniel a friend request.
Moments later, the request was accepted.
Her heart immediately tensed.
After some hesitation, she decided to send him a message.
"Hello, Lord Daniel. This is Alice.
I know we met just a short while ago."
Upon noticing that Daniel didn't act haughty or distant, Alice let out a small sigh of relief.
She hesitated once more, then typed a line on her communicator.
"Lord Daniel, I've only recently become a god's devotee, so I'm not sure what kinds of offerings Lord Crossbridge prefers.
If it's not too much trouble, could you offer me some guidance?"
In truth, Alice was uncertain about what exactly counted as an appropriate sacrificial offering.
She didn't know if her understanding of "precious materials" aligned with what a god would expect.
To be on the safe side, she chose to seek advice directly from Daniel.
And as far as she was concerned, there was no doubt he would know.
After all, he was the chosen successor of the god. Surely his level of authority was much higher than hers.
As long as she followed Daniel's instructions, she figured she wouldn't go wrong.
On the other side, seeing Alice's cautious inquiry, Daniel couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
After all this effort, Alice had finally taken the bait.
If not for his alternate identity as Daniel, how could the lofty Lord Crossbridge ever feel dignified asking his own devotee for offerings?
After all, he was playing the role of a god—
If he openly asked for things, it would severely damage that image.
But with Daniel as a middleman, he could make his requests freely and without concern.
With that thought, he quickly sent a reply.
"Lord Crossbridge prefers rare and precious materials unique to various races."
After sending that message, Daniel glanced at his God Rank Skill Compendium.
Now that he had reached level 100, he had unlocked up to the 79th god-rank skill in the list.
Considering the materials he was currently missing, Daniel picked a few and sent the list to Alice.
"If you can find thirty pieces of Strange Beast Fur and twenty units of Rainbow Grass, Lord Crossbridge will be very pleased."
By now, Daniel had acquired the god-rank skill [Judgment of the God of Thieves], which meant that he no longer lacked ordinary materials.
Even relatively rare materials were no longer an issue for him.
All he needed was a single unit—he could replicate twenty of them from just one.
The materials he had just listed for Alice were all unique to the elven race.
If Daniel wanted to obtain them through the Multiracial Commerce League, it would take considerable time and logistical effort.
But if Alice were to offer them as sacrifices, Daniel could acquire them swiftly and effortlessly.
Moreover, he had already gathered most of the components needed for his next god-rank skill.
He now intended to synthesize the 83rd-ranked skill: [Gift of the Veiled Goddess].
...
Elsewhere, within the Abyss Kingdom—
Daniel had finished negotiating the division of spoils with Sarko.
The treasure hoard of Karsas was indeed vast and opulent.
But Daniel and Sarko had different priorities and desires.
So when they split the loot, there wasn't much conflict.
Even if they both laid claim to a particular treasure, they would resolve it amicably through a wager.
Whoever won the wager would get the item.
Their division of Karsas's hoard didn't take too long.
To Daniel, most items held little value—only materials were truly precious in his eyes.
As for the rest, he wasn't remotely interested.
In the end, even though Sarko lost to Daniel multiple times—without winning a single bet—he was still quite satisfied with what he had obtained.
Once everything had been divided, a greedy gleam appeared in Sarko's eyes.
"My friend, our haul this time has exceeded all expectations!
If you're willing, I believe we should continue to—"
Before he could finish his sentence, an imposing voice thundered inside his mind.
"Sarko! Karsas was slain within your territory!
Tell me honestly—was the human who killed him someone you brought in?"
It wasn't just the myriad races who could view the system announcements.
The Emperor of the Abyss had seen them too.
And that was why he had come to question Sarko directly.
On Daniel's side, he noticed that Sarko had stopped mid-sentence and now wore an awkward expression.
Though it quickly faded, it didn't go unnoticed.
Daniel's eyes narrowed. A seed of suspicion was planted in his heart.
Meanwhile, Sarko recovered his composure and quickly changed the subject.
At the same time, he reached out to Daniel via mind communication.
"My friend... would you be willing to meet with our Emperor of the Abyss?"
Daniel blinked, then nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
Sarko was surprised at how quickly Daniel agreed.
On the surface, he remained calm. But deep inside, a storm was raging.
Just how powerful was this human?
He had only just slain a King of the Abyss, and now he readily agreed to meet the Emperor without a shred of fear.
Was he not worried about retaliation?
No—
It could only mean one thing: Daniel was utterly confident in his own strength.
Sarko's heart began to race.
The Emperor of the Abyss wasn't just some ordinary ruler—he was the strongest entity in the entire Abyss.
And what if the human race had millions more like Daniel?
Moments ago, Sarko had already shared all the information he had about Daniel with the Emperor.
He had even warned him—repeatedly—to proceed with caution.
And yet, the Emperor still insisted on meeting him.
Given the circumstances, Sarko had no authority to refuse. All he could do was ask Daniel for his opinion.
As for whether the Emperor would give Daniel a hard time, Sarko wasn't too worried.
With the Emperor's temperament, he wouldn't intentionally provoke such a powerful human.
"My friend, allow me to take you to meet our Emperor of the Abyss," Sarko said smoothly.
"He is extremely hospitable—and holds great admiration for your people."
Daniel gave a soft chuckle and nodded lightly.
Even without using [Eye of Insight], he could tell Sarko wasn't telling the full truth.
Chapter123-Questioning
The Abyss spanned an unimaginably vast territory, but thankfully, with the existence of the Anygates, traveling between distant regions had become swift and efficient.
After stepping through one Anygate, Daniel continued forward, traversing hundreds more in succession. Only after this extensive journey did he finally arrive in the domain ruled by the Emperor of the Abyss.
Throughout the trip, Daniel made it a point to mark and remember numerous locations along the way. This meant that, should he wish to, he could activate his [Flashback] ability at any time and instantly return to any of the places he had passed through.
The Emperor of the Abyss resided in a massive and imposing empire—the largest and most powerful nation in the entire Abyss. It was not merely a place; it was a declaration of dominance.
Walking beside Daniel, Sarko voluntarily took on the role of a guide, gesturing toward the vast land stretched out before them.
"My friend, this is our Empire of the Abyss. It's an honor to welcome you here," Sarko said, his tone respectful but tinged with caution.
He paused before continuing, "To be honest, His Majesty, the Emperor of the Abyss, seldom bothers with the affairs of this land. He pays even less attention to what happens across the rest of the Abyss. Even if one of us Kings of the Abyss causes bloodshed or starts a war, he usually wouldn't bat an eye, much less mete out punishment."
"You might find that surprising," Sarko added with a shrug, "but in the Abyss, strength is the only law that matters."
Daniel nodded slightly. He could tell Sarko wasn't lying. The laws of survival here were completely different from those on the surface. In this harsh, chaotic world, survival of the fittest wasn't just a rule—it was a way of life.
"In that case," Daniel asked calmly, "why does the Emperor of the Abyss want to meet me? Surely he's not simply looking to praise an outsider like me?"
Sarko gave a tight, awkward smile, as if he'd expected that question all along.
"Our emperor has never seen a human before. He's merely curious. That's all," he explained.
"You don't need to worry. His Majesty respects the strong, no matter where they come from. He won't hold it against you for killing Karsas."
Despite his words, Sarko couldn't hide his unease. He was caught in a difficult position. Whether it was the Emperor of the Abyss or Daniel, both were entities he couldn't afford to offend.
What made things worse was that he had a nagging suspicion—Daniel had grown significantly stronger. But exactly how strong, he couldn't say for sure. After all, thanks to the [Mist], even the Emperor himself wouldn't be able to fully perceive the depths of Daniel's power.
The two made their way deeper into the empire. Along the way, Daniel noticed the local Abyssal creatures. Compared to those from Sarko's own kingdom, these were clearly on a different level—stronger, more dangerous, and far more savage.
Soon, they approached another Anygate. Without hesitation, they stepped through.
After one final transfer, Sarko and Daniel stood before a towering palace, the seat of the Emperor himself.
Daniel couldn't help but exclaim inwardly at the sight. As expected of the domain belonging to the Emperor of the Abyss, both the sheer scale and the oppressive aura of the palace far surpassed Sarko's.
The structure radiated an intense abyssal energy that pressed heavily upon anyone who dared approach it. But Daniel remained unaffected. His current strength had long since rendered such oppressive energy meaningless.
He followed Sarko into the palace. And before long, they entered the throne chamber—where Daniel laid eyes upon the ruler of the entire Abyss.
[Emperor of the Abyss: Malkar]
[Level: 260]
[Talent: Abyssal World Tree – SSS Grade]
Level 260!?
Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly. This Malkar was, without question, the highest-leveled being he had ever encountered.
Yet even with that towering level, Daniel could sense that Malkar had not yet reached his peak. He was still in his prime, and his strength was continuing to grow.
Malkar's physical form was immense, to say the least—an enormous entity towering well over a thousand meters in height. His skin resembled the bark of an ancient tree, rugged and layered in ash-black wrinkles.
Across his titanic trunk-like body were two neat rows of giant eyes—dozens of them, packed together, giving off a disturbing, otherworldly vibe. The sight was deeply unsettling, evoking a primal sense of dread.
As soon as Daniel stepped into the throne room, every single one of those eyes turned in unison, locking onto him.
Almost simultaneously, a voice echoed directly into Daniel's mind—deep, ancient, and weighty.
"Welcome, traveler from the distant world of humanity," the voice said slowly. "You are the first human I have ever seen. Under normal circumstances, I would have held a feast in your honor."
The voice paused, and its tone shifted into something darker.
"But just moments ago... you killed one of our abyssal kings without provocation."
"You are an outsider. Do you not fear my wrath for what you've done?"
At those words, a jolt of tension surged through Daniel's heart. And almost immediately, the entire palace was engulfed by an overwhelming pressure.
The aura of the Emperor of the Abyss exploded forth.
A notification window appeared before Daniel's eyes:
[Abnormal Status: Fear]
[Effect: Increased cowardice tendency, damage dealt reduced by 90%]
[Status: Immune]
Thanks to Daniel's skill, [Divine Cleanse], this intimidation attempt was destined to fail.
Facing the Emperor's oppressive questioning, Daniel remained calm and composed. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Emperor of the Abyss, I think you may have misunderstood something," he said lightly. "Karsas was killed on Sarko's orders. I merely followed through. It had nothing to do with me."
Without the slightest hesitation, Daniel threw Sarko under the bus.
Sarko's expression twitched as he was blindsided by the accusation. But he dared not object. Offending Daniel could mean death, so he forced a tight smile and kept quiet.
The Emperor's many eyes stared coldly at Sarko for a long moment, each like a bottomless pit of darkness.
After a period of silence, Malkar finally spoke again.
"In the Abyss, I do not interfere in battles between abyssal beings. But your presence here as a human complicates things. I will need a justification."
Sarko began to panic inwardly. He couldn't make sense of the Emperor's intentions. He had already explained Daniel's identity earlier—so why was the Emperor pressing so hard?
Was he really willing to risk provoking a powerful human? What if this led to war between the Abyss and the human world? That would be a disaster.
What is His Majesty thinking?
Daniel, on the other hand, remained composed. Even when facing the supreme being of the Abyss, he was as steady as ever—unfazed and confident.
"You want a justification?" he said, his voice calm but resolute. "Then experience this for yourself."
The moment he spoke, the twenty Spirits of Skills beside him suddenly lit up with blinding radiance!
In the blink of an eye, countless [Starlight Flurry] beams surged out like a torrential storm, bombarding Malkar from every angle.
The suddenness of the attack caught even the mighty Emperor off guard. Before he could react, the rain of light tore through his colossal frame.
His body was riddled with holes in an instant. Chunks of abyssal wood scattered across the throne room like falling leaves.
Chapter124-Daniel's Power
From Daniel's point of view, it was simply staggering.
Just a single synchronized volley from his twenty Spirits of Skills had nearly drained the Emperor of Abyss's entire health bar. The abyssal sovereign barely survived—only because of a last-second survival passive. Had it not triggered, he might've been slain on the spot.
Daniel stood calmly, expression unshaken. "Is that explanation satisfactory to you?"
At this moment, he indeed had the capital to act with arrogance.
Though he was merely Level 100—light-years away from the Emperor of Abyss's terrifying Level 260—it was dangerous to judge him by level alone. The twenty Spirit of Skills at his command were not merely decorative. Combined with his devastating arsenal of God Rank Skills and high-level synergy, Daniel had already attained the qualifications to stand toe-to-toe with an apex predator like the abyssal emperor.
If there was a weakness in Daniel's current combat configuration, it was his relatively limited toolkit. He lacked diversified means of continuous or adaptive damage. And right now, the Emperor of Abyss had retreated, merging his roots and tentacles deep into the abyssal forests that surrounded his empire. Within that terrain, the emperor could rapidly regenerate his HP using the ambient abyssal essence.
This kind of regenerative battlefield control was something Daniel couldn't yet counter. Still, one strike was enough to send the intended message.
After all, being able to force a being of such caliber to activate their survival skill on the first strike was, in and of itself, a frightening declaration of strength. It sent a very clear message to all of abyss.
That's all Daniel had come for—to issue a warning.
If the abyss continued meddling in the affairs of humanity... if they insisted on declaring war... then Daniel wouldn't mind doing a bit of "cleansing" himself. He might not be able to slay the Emperor of Abyss just yet, but as someone who had reached the 3-star threshold, eliminating any of the Kings of Abyss was well within his grasp.
As the Emperor of Abyss slowly regenerated, the entire atmosphere of the abyssal palace grew tense—so tense it felt as though it might collapse under the pressure.
Soon, other Kings of Abyss began to reveal their presence. Their aura flared subtly in every direction, one after another.
Daniel wasn't surprised.
He'd anticipated their ambush. Through his [Eye of Insight], he had already spotted the signs. Despite their booming voices and outward aggression, most of them had already quietly activated life-saving spells or protective enchantments.
That spoke volumes.
They were afraid.
"Human!" one of the Kings snarled, his gaze filled with suppressed fury. "How dare you disrespect our sovereign!? Do you truly think you can bully the entire abyss by yourself?"
Another bellowed, "Even if you're strong, there's only one of you! You're surrounded, outsider. There's no escape."
Daniel didn't flinch.
His eyes swept across them lazily. "Surrounded, am I?"
He gave a faint chuckle.
"You all talk so much... but you still know nothing of true power."
As soon as he spoke, Daniel sensed a subtle compression in the air. A heavy, nearly imperceptible constriction wrapped around space itself.
His senses were acute—he immediately realized: space had been sealed.
And among everyone present, only the Emperor of Abyss had the ability to do something like this.
Instinctively, Daniel tested his [Flashback] skill.
As he expected, it remained completely unaffected.
What a joke, he thought. Even if you lock space down completely, [Flashback] operates on an entirely different mechanism—it can't be blocked by normal dimensional locks.
"Do you really think you've boxed me in?" he asked softly.
With an amused glint in his eyes, Daniel smiled again. "Your understanding of power is painfully shallow."
This simple confidence only unsettled the Kings further. They didn't understand why this human still appeared so calm—so utterly composed—in the face of a dozen apex predators.
Was he bluffing?
Or was his strength truly that deep?
While the Kings hesitated, Daniel pondered briefly. He needed to break the standoff—and do it in style.
So, with a sudden shift in posture, he bent his knees, pressed his hands together, and adopted a stance reminiscent of ancient sealing arts.
"Let me show you what real power looks like," he announced.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
In an instant—nineteen identical copies of Daniel burst into existence around him. Each clone exuded exactly the same aura, posture, and vitality as the original.
In the blink of an eye, twenty Daniels stood within the vast, crumbling palace.
The Kings of Abyss were stunned. Eyes widened. Mouths twitched.
This... this has to be cheating! someone screamed internally.
Weren't we supposed to gang up on one human?! How did this turn into a full-blown group battle... with us on the defensive!?
To make matters worse, Daniel showed them no mercy. With a simple wave of his hand, he summoned twenty Spirits of Skills—each attaching to a different clone.
Then came the kicker.
"Abyssal Summoning."
Dozens upon dozens of massive abyss bosses were conjured instantly. Their colossal bodies smashed apart the black stone walls, their screeches shaking the heavens.
The palace was utterly annihilated.
The Kings of Abyss barely had time to blink before they realized—they were now the ones being surrounded.
"Wait... what the hell is going on!?"
"Why are there so many bosses!?"
"Is this still a fair fight?!"
Their expressions turned uglier by the second. Sweat beaded on demonic foreheads. Tension reached a boiling point.
Daniel, meanwhile, smiled mockingly.
"You all wanted a brawl, didn't you?" he said coldly. "Sounds good in theory. Too bad reality has a way of spoiling dreams."
He spread his arms and motioned toward the battlefield of chaos.
"Now tell me... do you still want to fight?"
The Kings of Abyss fell silent.
Not one dared to speak. Not one dared to move.
But Daniel wasn't done.
With a sneer, he summoned the God of Thieves' Dagger, its blade flickering with forbidden light.
"You seem to be under the impression that this is the extent of my power," he said, voice suddenly sharp. "You still think you have a chance?"
"Fine. I'll show you what real despair looks like."
Without waiting for a response, Daniel darted forward and began slashing through his own summoned abyss bosses—cutting open rifts in reality with each strike.
From those rifts, even more bosses emerged.
Their numbers multiplied twentyfold.
Towering monstrosities. Winged titans. Crawling horrors. The sky blackened. The earth split. The very capital of the abyss Empire—centuries-old—was reduced to ashes in mere seconds.
And the Kings of Abyss?
They were horrified.
Some couldn't even process what was happening anymore. They were now facing an army of god-tier monsters—each of which was more than enough to take them down individually.
And Daniel wasn't even fighting seriously yet.
They slowly turned, as if by some unspoken agreement, to the only one they could rely on now...
Their sovereign.
The Emperor of Abyss.
"Your Majesty..." one of the Kings muttered, voice trembling. "Do we... do we really have to go to war with this terrifying human?"
Chapter125-The Powerful Malkar
Sarko stood to the side, jaws dropped, utterly stunned by the tumult unfolding before his eyes.
It wasn't until this moment that he finally awakened to a terrifying realization: when Daniel had slain Karsas earlier, he hadn't even unleashed his full potential.
Even now—after displaying a power capable of subjugating the entire Abyss—Sarko believed Daniel was still holding something back. After all, this cunning human had never once allowed him to win anything when they had made bets. How could such a man possibly reveal all his cards?
With only a moment's hesitation, Sarko made a decision. His survival depended on staying aligned with Daniel. For now, it would be far wiser not to show any hostility.
Daniel, who had been calmly observing the reactions around him, noticed Sarko's wary stance. With casual confidence, he addressed him:
"My friend, this isn't quite the scenario you described. It seems your Emperor doesn't appear very welcoming."
Sarko heard the subtle sting in Daniel's words—an underlying question, a reprimand. His heart sank. He now knew that if Daniel decided to eliminate him, it would be easier than crushing an ant.
He reflexively glanced at the Emperor of the Abyss, opened his mouth as if to speak—but no words came.
This was a disastrous turn; wreaked either way, he'd find himself damned.
Sensing Sarko's paralysis, Malkar transmitted a voice into his mind—the darkness spilled from his tone like thick tar.
"Sarko, coward! Why are you standing still? Why hasn't your blade moved?"
Sarko's body trembled. His face drained of color, nearly ashy. His predicament was unspeakably dire.
He stumbled over his words:
"Your Majesty, please understand, this... this human approaches in peace! He comes to us with goodwill. Surely, we shouldn't strike at him!"
"Strike him?!" Malkar's tentacle-like vines lashed the air, his tone steeped in incredulity. "Sarko, you've lost your mind! This friend is a honored guest of the Abyss—you think we assault our guests?"
"We—we should receive him properly! Fulfilling our duties as hosts!"
Those words snapped Sarko back to the semblance of a smile. He turned to Daniel, attempting to salvage both faces.
"My friend, please forgive the misunderstanding. What you're seeing is actually a... well-intentioned display of welcome!"
He forced a grin. "Yes. We Abyssal lords have assembled before you precisely to show how much we honor your presence."
Malkar, overhearing, let out a deep, reverberating chuckle.
"That's right—friend from the human world, you are our esteemed guest."
"How could we harm you? We respect the strong."
"Karsas's death was his own fault—he lacked the power to survive."
"And because it was you who bested Karsas, you are deservedly entitled to his domain."
"If you accept, you may become a King of the Abyss in place of Karsas."
"In addition to his territory, I am prepared to award you several Abyssal Core nodes. What say you?"
At these words, the remaining Kings of Abyss exchanged glances. They clearly wanted to object—but dared not speak nonsense. They neither wished to provoke Daniel nor contradict their sovereign.
Now, they looked to Daniel and Malkar as the true pinnacles of power—everyone else was subordinate.
Daniel's expression remained cool, unchanged. He faced Malkar and asked simply:
"That's all?"
In truth, Daniel had studied Abyssal politics in depth—the credit owed entirely to Sarko, who'd been an information wellspring.
Allowing the victor to claim the spoils was standard Abyssal law. Yet Daniel wasn't satisfied. Power, after all, secured benefits—so why accept less than he deserved?
A cold smile curved his lips as he looked at Malkar. His tone was icy.
"I know Abyssal rules. Since Karsas died at my hands, his domain is naturally mine."
"But I'm even more curious—what if I were to kill the Emperor of the Abyss himself?"
No sooner had the words fallen than Daniel's twenty shadow clones launched a coordinated assault on Malkar.
Not just that—every Spirit of Skills, and even the summoned abyssal bosses, surged forward in unison. Their target: the Emperor himself.
"I want to see... will I become the next Emperor of the Abyss?"
The assembled Kings of Abyss sucked in harsh breaths. They hadn't expected this foreigner to be so brazen! A mere outsider... daring to challenge their Emperor?
One by one, they silently withdrew from the battlefield, unwilling to stand in the way of these two terrifying titans.
After Several Probing Exchanges...
Daniel had grown to understand Malkar's nature.
The Emperor was the leader of a long-vanished race—the Abyss Elder-Tree People. Though they'd gone extinct centuries ago, Malkar remained, sustained by ancient abyssal power.
While his methods brimmed with dark, corrupt energy, his essence was still rooted in tree-born traits—brute force, regeneration, the power of entangling roots. Daniel had studied these traits, gleaned from surviving texts and lore—even though he'd never faced a true Elder-Tree entity until now.
To be cautious, he employed his [Eye of Insight].
Indeed, Malkar's strength was no mere bravado. His skillset was impressive, and each ability was powerful. But what truly unsettled Daniel was Malkar's Talent Specializations:
Anti‑Magic FieldSilence Zone
These talents created zones that nullified skills. Any ability cast within—aside from non-classed abilities—was instantly nullified.
Even Daniel was affected. [Flashback] and [Time Stream] were not disabled—they weren't classified as "magic"—but spell-like skills were blocked.
Best the ice rhe devil-infested manu of no hope.
Even though Daniel possessed [Divine Cleanse], it was useless within these death zones. Without completing his Star Upgrade Quest, he was powerless against such suppression.
In that moment, Daniel felt deeply outmatched.
Yet after obtaining his 3-Star upgrade, he had gained one final trump: [Judgment of the God of Thieves]. It manifested as a physical weapon.
And now, with the God of Thieves' Blessed Dagger in his grasp—everything could change.
The Dagger of the God of Thieves wasn't just a weapon—it was the tangible form of the God Rank Skill [Judgment of the God of Thieves].
In the strictest sense, it didn't fall under the category of a skill. It was something beyond that—something transcending the rules that bound lesser abilities. Which meant that even inside the suppressive influence of [Anti‑Magic Field] and [Silence Zone], the dagger retained its full potency.
And that was what made it terrifying.
Chapter126-No Match
The Dagger of the God of Thieves wasn't just a weapon—it was the tangible form of the God Rank Skill [Judgment of the God of Thieves].
In the strictest sense, it didn't fall under the category of a skill. It was something beyond that—something transcending the rules that bound lesser abilities. Which meant that even inside the suppressive influence of [Anti‑Magic Field] and [Silence Zone], the dagger retained its full potency.
And that was what made it terrifying.
More than just an instrument of replication, the dagger was also one of Daniel's strongest sources of raw damage. In fact, it was arguably the single most devastating attack in his arsenal at the moment.
From Daniel's perspective now, even the seemingly invincible Emperor of the Abyss didn't seem that impossible to deal with. At least not completely.
He wasn't powerless anymore.
On the other side of the battlefield, Malkar, the Abyssal Emperor, was both shocked and furious that Daniel had the audacity to provoke him so directly.
"Human, do you even comprehend the weight of what you're saying?"
Though he acknowledged Daniel's strength, Malkar didn't believe for a moment that he would be bested.
He had existed in the Abyss for longer than most could imagine, and in all that time, he had never been defeated.
"Human," he growled, "you know nothing of my power."
"I may not understand how your people measure strength, but know this—within the Abyss, I am sovereign."
"So long as we remain in this realm, you will never be my equal."
"I advise you: don't let your power blind you. Arrogance will be your downfall."
Daniel, however, remained calm—eerily so. His tone was even, almost casual:
"Relax. I'm just testing things out."
"After all, I've never fought someone like you before."
His words were light, but his actions were anything but. As he gave a silent command through mind power, all of his Spirits of Skills launched into coordinated motion.
A brilliant white light exploded outward—blinding, sharp, and focused solely on Malkar.
—20.48 trillion! (CRITICAL STRIKE!)
That wasn't a random attack—it had been meticulously prepared in advance.
Daniel had combined [Stellar Charge+] with [Starlight Flurry], unleashing a cataclysmic burst of damage in one go.
Previously, he had considered letting his Spirits of Skills or his shadow clones attempt to use [Judgment of the God of Thieves], but they couldn't—just like they couldn't use [Flashback] or [Time Stream]. Those abilities were beyond replication.
Excluding that God Rank Skill, Daniel's strongest offensive option was still the one he had stolen—no, acquired—from Alice.
So, while it appeared as if Daniel had suddenly struck on impulse, the truth was that he had been preparing for this moment for quite some time.
And that searing white light was merely the opening shot.
Following that initial beam were nineteen more—all lined up and waiting to pierce Malkar's defenses.
But the Abyss Emperor was not so easily subdued.
The moment he was hit by that first attack, Malkar immediately activated his Elder Tree State. In this form, his body was transformed into a mass of dense, gnarled bark and ancient vitality.
The subsequent strikes did land—but they barely left a mark.
Instead, Malkar summoned a massive vine from his body, which extended outward and buried itself deep into the surrounding Abyssal Forest.
Just one second later, his HP bar, which had been lowered, was now restored to full.
+20.48 trillion!
A perfect regeneration.
Daniel couldn't help but let out a low sigh.
This enemy wasn't just tough—he was absurdly resilient.
That first assault, though meticulously planned, had failed to cause lasting damage. Malkar had countered it effortlessly.
And the moment that thought crossed Daniel's mind, dozens of vines erupted from the blackened earth beneath his feet, piercing through his body like javelins.
His HP bar instantly plummeted to near zero.
Fortunately, his passive—[Dance of Death]—granted him immunity to death for a short period, preventing him from falling.
But he knew now.
There was no point in continuing the assault.
Instead of pressing the attack, Daniel silently recalled his summoned abyssal bosses.
"I admit it," he said with a faint breath, "I'm not your match right now."
"But once I grow stronger... I'll challenge you again."
As his voice faded, Daniel activated his trump card—[Time Stream], another God Rank Skill.
And in the blink of an eye, time folded in on itself.
Daniel reopened his eyes—two minutes earlier, in the exact same place.
Malkar's voice echoed once more, as if nothing had happened:
"My friend, if you're interested, I can immediately grant you the title of an Abyssal King."
"In addition to Karsas's former territory, I'll personally ensure that you receive several Abyssal Core mines as a gesture of goodwill."
Daniel's gaze lingered on Malkar.
Just moments ago, that very man had brought him to the brink of death.
It was, in fact, the first time since awakening his innate talent that Daniel had experienced such overwhelming power from an opponent.
He couldn't deny it—the Emperor of the Abyss was terrifying.
Still, Daniel wasn't discouraged. After all, he was only level 100.
He was convinced that once he completed his next Star Upgrade Quest, he would stand a real chance at victory.
Silently collecting his thoughts, Daniel looked back at Malkar and asked in a steady voice:
"With my strength, do you really think a mere King of the Abyss title is enough?"
He had no intention of provoking another fight—not now. He had already measured Malkar's strength and knew full well that he stood little chance in a prolonged battle.
But that didn't mean he'd act submissively.
Turning to Sarko, he added:
"Emperor of the Abyss, surely now you understand what it feels like to be challenged and disrespected."
"To be honest, my first impression of the Abyss hasn't been very pleasant."
Malkar didn't react with anger. Instead, he pondered Daniel's words, then spoke slowly:
"You're right. What Karsas did was wrong."
"You're a guest of the Abyss. He had no right to treat you that way."
"Well then, since we're all friends now, if there's anything you desire—speak freely."
"We may be a shadowed realm, but we do have our own special resources."
Clearly, Malkar had no intention of turning Daniel into an enemy.
Even as powerful as he was, he understood that Daniel had only shown a fraction of his strength. Who knew what other secrets he still held?
It would be foolish to provoke such a being.
Daniel's eyes lit up.
He immediately opened his inventory and flipped through the God Rank Skill Compendium, scanning the lists of rare ingredients he still lacked.
Each God Rank Skill required specific, precious materials—items of such rarity that even legendary beings struggled to obtain them.
Then again, for the gods themselves, such materials might not be all that hard to gather.
Unfortunately... Daniel was no god.
He sighed internally at the thought—but kept a calm demeanor on the surface.
"Your Majesty," he said respectfully, "there are indeed... a few materials I'm in dire need of."
Chapter127-It's Terrifying
The Emperor of the Abyss, Malkar, displayed immense generosity when Daniel made his request. Twisting his massive vine-like limbs, he reached out with an aura of calm benevolence.
"My friend, state the materials you require," he said, his voice resonating like growing roots deep in the abyssal earth.
Daniel didn't hesitate. With a swift gesture, he produced a neatly formatted requisition list on a shimmering projection of mana:
"I need 300 units of Abyss Dark Blood Stone, 200,000 units of Fallen Souls, several Abyss Heart units at Tier 20 or above, and ..." Daniel continued listing rare materials.
As Malkar listened, the motion of his vines gradually slowed, his expression shifting subtly. Beneath the stern veneer, there was astonishment—perhaps even the hint of dread.
"Human," Malkar finally answered, his deep voice resonating with authority. "You do not understand the gravity of your request. These materials are rare even within the Abyss. The Abyss Dark Blood Stone—you ask for 300 of them. Yet such a stone only forms once every century, and even I must expend great effort to extract a single one. They are part of my personal store," he clarified, voice taut with emphasis.
His words held solemn gravity. The Abyss Dark Blood Stone lay buried in the deepest, most inhospitable regions of the Abyss—areas so frigid and hostile that only the mightiest of Abyssal kings could reach them. Even most other Kings of the Abyss lacked that capability.
Malkar himself had collected them across millennia—he was easily over 30,000 years old.
To fulfill Daniel's demand of 300 units—and allow Daniel to replicate them with his God of Thieves' Dagger—would empty centuries of Malkar's personal hoard. To say it was an unreasonable request would be an understatement.
For the Abyss Emperor, it might feel like watching a tsunami sweep away everything he had spent 40,000 years building.
At that moment, the usually impassive Malkar's vines trembled, as though his very roots convulsed with distress. Then came a thought that filled him with horror: And this is only the first item on his list. The rest are no less difficult.
Meanwhile, Daniel had already used his [Eye of Insight] to confirm Malkar's claims—they were accurate. The materials he needed were genuinely unattainable by anyone else in the Abyss.
Daniel feigned innocence, blinking wide-eyed at the revelation:
"Your Majesty," he replied softly, "I had no idea these were so precious. But I really need them... would you consider granting them to me?"
He paused, adopting an expression of harmless innocence mixed with gentle pleading.
Malkar barely held back his exasperation—an existential dread at the outrageous request:
"How could I possibly give these to you?" he thought. What is this human even thinking?
But Malkar maintained composure in public, speaking aloud:
"Human friend, you must choose another proposal. These items are too valuable—even for the Abyss, they are beyond our capacity to spare."
Daniel listened quietly, his mind racing. Instantly he realized that one of his God Rank Skill goals—[Gift of the Veiled Goddess]—required 4,000 Abyss Dark Blood Stones. Four thousand pieces. That would represent 400,000 years of collection time for Malkar himself. In other words, it was impossible.
The stuff of legend.
Without the God of Thieves' Dagger to replicate them, even dreaming of crafting that skill would be hopeless. Now, faced with Malkar's curt refusal, Daniel reflected: indeed, this path would be a dead end.
After a moment of thought, Daniel tried to negotiate again—this time with more subtlety.
"Then what if I borrowed only 200 units?" he asked, deliberately emphasizing the word "borrow." "I promise—I will not use them permanently. I just need to make copies. And I will return them."
He looked up with pleading sincerity.
Malkar's vines twitched—no human dared request what he had requested. Yet... the word "borrow" painted a different picture.
"Borrow?" he echoed at length. "You assure me you will not use the Stones? Tell me—why do you ask to borrow them?"
Ceremony ended, Malkar revealed the aloof suspicion beneath his surface calm:
"If you were to give them away, they would be lost forever," he thought bleakly. I'm giving that away?!?!
But outwardly, he said simply:
"Let me think."
Daniel stood still, his composure measured.
Minutes passed.
Finally, Malkar spoke again:
"I may lend them... but under one condition," he said ominously: "you must swear an oath straight from your soul and form a contract binding you. Failure to return the materials exactly as borrowed will bind your life to the Abyss itself."
With that, Malkar turned to Sarko:
"Sarko," he said with authority, "you are well-versed in contracts. You will serve as the witness to this bond. Do you accept?"
Sarko nodded vigorously, face pale but resolved.
"Of course, Your Majesty. I will oversee this contract with fairness and transparency."
Malkar nodded.
"As for the Fallen Souls and Abyss Hearts—you can gather those yourself after ascending to the rank of King of the Abyss."
He paused and looked back at Daniel.
"But as for anything else," he said, voice solemn, "I have no more. I have given all I can."
In that statement lay the full weight of his sacrifice—an admission that he had reached his limit for this fragile, ephemeral human.
Yet he could not ignore Daniel's strength. He had killed a King of the Abyss, claimed his territory, and walked away victorious. Surely that gave him some rights—even if it demanded a price.
Now, in this moment of uneasy generosity, Malkar offered Daniel the greatest gift any Abyss ruler could bestow: a covenant and a testament of trust.
As he finalized the offer, he spoke clearly:
"If you accept these terms, you may become the first foreign King of the Abyss."
He allowed a brief pause.
"Of course, you may refuse. If you choose to depart, we will allow you to leave unopposed."
He ended on a hard, watchful note.
Daniel's gaze remained steady. No hesitation, no doubt in his eyes.
"Very well. Let us proceed," he said quietly—but firmly.
"These things... they're no problem to me."
Chapter128-Kingdom Binding
Malkar couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable anger when he heard how casually Daniel spoke.
Why did it seem like this human was feeling a bit... smug?
However, that emotion only lingered for a brief moment before Malkar regained his composure.
"My friend," he said with a calm yet weighty tone, "if you have no further questions, shall we be on our way?"
But Daniel didn't move. Instead, he remained where he stood, his gaze dark and unfriendly as it swept across the nearby Kings of the Abyss.
"Your Majesty," Daniel said, voice tinged with a dangerous curiosity, "I actually have one small question left."
"According to the rules of the Abyss... am I allowed to kill them all?"
The moment Daniel posed that question, every King of the Abyss present went on high alert.
Each of them tensed as if facing a mortal threat, eyes warily fixed on Daniel.
They immediately began establishing silent communications with one another, attempting to form a quick alliance for mutual defense.
After all, based on the sheer power Daniel had displayed just moments ago, none of them felt remotely confident in standing against him alone.
This human was terrifying. Far beyond what any of them had expected.
Meanwhile, Malkar found himself caught in a dilemma.
Because, truth be told, Daniel's question wasn't wrong—not in terms of Abyssal law.
Technically, Daniel did have the right to kill the other Kings of the Abyss.
But ultimately, Malkar shook his head and gave a firm reply.
"No. Unless one of the Kings actively provokes you, you may not kill them."
"Otherwise, the Abyss will no longer welcome you."
The Abyss had always functioned under the principle of survival of the fittest.
That brutal law was what gave rise to powerful lifeforms over generations.
But if someone like Daniel were permitted to run rampant, it would be like releasing a tiger into a flock of sheep.
Sure, the tiger would feast.
But the flock would be annihilated.
And if all the strongest within the Abyss were wiped out, how would new powerful beings ever rise again?
Daniel frowned slightly at Malkar's answer.
"If that's the case, then why bother asking your permission at all?"
"What if I killed a few Kings first, then met with you afterward? Would you still call me your friend?"
Malkar fell into silence.
Daniel wasn't in a hurry. He simply stood quietly, waiting for an answer.
Eventually, Malkar let out a long breath and relented, though his voice was heavy.
"You may kill... one King of the Abyss. No more."
The moment those words left his mouth, the sense of relief among the other Kings vanished.
Tension returned, more intense than before.
"Your Majesty, isn't that too much?" one of the Kings protested.
"Yes! We've all been loyal to you!" another added.
But Malkar offered no reply.
He ignored their complaints and kept his gaze fixed on Daniel.
"My human friend, I've done everything I can to show you the goodwill of the Abyss."
"You are truly welcome to become one of us. I hope that, at the next Abyssal Conclave, you will attend as one of our own."
Hearing Malkar finally back down, a radiant smile spread across Daniel's face.
"As you wish, Your Majesty. From this moment on... I am one of the Abyss."
...
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Karsas, chaos reigned.
Ever since the fall of Karsas, the entire Kingdom had been thrown into disarray.
"Damn it! Our King was slain by a human! What are we supposed to do now?!"
"What else? We have to invite that human... to be our new King!"
"But he's human! He's not one of us. Can we really let an outsider lead an Abyssal Kingdom?"
"Enough of that! Our last King was a terrifying force, and even he fell to this human. We're just ants in comparison!"
In the capital of Karsas's Kingdom, abyssal creatures gathered in nervous clusters, arguing, fretting, and panicking.
To them, the identity of their King was not just symbolic—it was their very future.
None of them knew what fate awaited them next.
...
"My friend, the time has come. Let us go."
With the Emperor's blessing, Sarko escorted Daniel through a portal reserved for sovereigns.
On the other side lay the Kingdom of Karsas—a desolate, mountainous region.
Its inhabitants lived scattered throughout the valleys nestled between the peaks.
Daniel's point of arrival was the largest valley of all—the location of the capital itself.
Unbeknownst to Daniel, after he departed, a complex expression appeared on Malkar's face.
Allowing a human to become a King of the Abyss... was it truly the right decision?
Still, there was no denying Daniel's strength.
Even now, Malkar couldn't sense his exact location or power level.
He was simply too strong.
...
Led by Sarko, Daniel made his way deep into Karsas's fortress.
In its underground chamber, they found an ancient sigil carved from fragments of spatial essence.
"My friend," Sarko explained, "this is the heart of the Kingdom."
"It's the presence of these Chaos Fragments that allows a Kingdom to form a semi-independent spatial domain."
"And now, it is yours. I hope you will govern this land well."
Daniel nodded silently.
He raised his palm and pressed it against the floating shard of chaos energy.
Immediately, a familiar system prompt appeared before him:
[Current Kingdom is unbound. Would you like to bind now?]
[Binding successful. You may now name your Kingdom.]
After a few quick steps, Daniel completed the binding process.
He could immediately sense the entire Kingdom responding to his will—as though he had become one with the land.
At the same time, a surge of power coursed through him.
His base stats had doubled.
Feeling the immense strength rising within him, Daniel finally understood what it meant to be a King.
Though he didn't know what benefits a human would gain from coronation within their own race, the effects here in the Abyss were already incredible.
Ironically, before even achieving kingship among humans... he had already become a King in the Abyss.
Of course, none of this would've been possible without the Emperor's approval.
No matter how strong Daniel was, without Malkar's endorsement, even killing Karsas wouldn't have allowed him to inherit the Kingdom.
Daniel's gaze swept over the surrounding landscape.
Now that this was his domain... it needed a new name.
He pondered briefly before deciding.
"Let's call it... the Infinite Abyss."
[Kingdom name updated.]
For now, Daniel was still unfamiliar with the full scope of his sovereign powers.
So he took his time, cautiously testing each function.
As he expanded his spiritual awareness, his perception extended to the far reaches of the Kingdom.
But what he discovered made him frown.
This entire realm was steeped in violence and bloodshed.
Abyssal creatures had a strange, almost fanatical passion for war.
Then again, their sheer strength did seem to surpass that of humans.
Chapter129-Decisive Action
For Daniel, even someone as relatively weak as Sarko was already on par with the Human Emperor in terms of strength. When it came to the Emperor of the Abyss, Daniel was almost certain—without a doubt—that the Human Emperor would not be his match.
Even now, Daniel felt a palpable sense of helplessness whenever he faced the Emperor of the Abyss. There was only one word that came to mind when thinking about Malkar: unbeatable. If the abyss truly launched a full-scale invasion of the surface world, Daniel feared that humanity would stand no chance of resisting them. The gap in power was simply too vast.
Just as he was pondering these things, the abyss communicator in his hand buzzed. A message had arrived from none other than the Emperor of the Abyss himself. Due to the chaotic energy interference within the abyssal realm, Daniel's usual communicator had become completely useless. The one he was currently using had been specially crafted for use within the abyss—an artifact gifted to him personally by Sarko.
Daniel opened the communicator and read the message:
"The next Abyssal Council meeting will include a vote on whether or not to invade the surface world."
This simple sentence carried more meaning than it seemed on the surface. The Emperor of the Abyss, Malkar, wasn't merely passing on information—this was a subtle but deliberate expression of his stance. He had no real intention of leading an invasion onto the surface. However, protocol was still protocol. The council's procedures and vote had to go forward regardless of Malkar's personal opinions.
As the supreme ruler of the abyss, Malkar wielded unmatched authority. Yet he could not afford to arbitrarily cancel something as significant as the Abyssal Council's deliberation. It would reflect poorly on his leadership. He had an image to maintain—a reputation of absolute power and control. So the message was clear: the process would proceed, but it would do so under controlled conditions.
"I understand," Daniel replied, keeping his response short and to the point. Then, after a brief pause, he shut off the abyss communicator.
He stood in silence for a moment, then reached into his backpack and pulled out a curious-looking item: a Divine Temple Keystone (Replica).
Although this was technically a replica and not the original artifact, its effects were exactly the same as the genuine version. The Divine Temple Keystone had a very specific purpose—it could conjure an Infinite Divine Temple on any patch of open ground.
[The Infinite Divine Temple grants unique blessings to devoted followers.]
[However, for zealots, these blessings can become a curse, pulling them deeper into obsession.]
Despite being a mere "replica," the Divine Temple Keystone was incredibly powerful. It was part of the same reward tier as a god-rank skill—specifically one ranked ninth in the entire God Rank Skill Compendium. That alone made it an item of tremendous significance.
Since Daniel had obtained royal authority, he now possessed the ability to travel freely within the abyssal Kingdom. He wandered casually through the abyss until he found a relatively quiet, vacant area. Without hesitation, he tossed the Divine Temple Keystone onto the ground.
In the blink of an eye, a majestic cathedral surged from the abyssal terrain—tall, grand, and radiant in its divine glory.
Why a cathedral, one might ask?
The answer was simple. This wasn't just about displaying power. Daniel needed a place to perform miracles, and more importantly, a platform to spread a message. A messenger, a prophet, a structure of faith—all were essential components. And the Keystone had been designed with this in mind, preloaded with everything required to manifest the full experience of divinity.
The abyssal creatures had never seen anything like it. Their lives were typically steeped in violence, chaos, and monotony. The appearance of this gleaming temple shook them to their core. One by one, they looked up with wide, bewildered eyes, trying to make sense of the spectacle before them.
After a few stunned moments, their gazes began to converge—not on the temple itself, but on the figure standing before it.
A human.
Standing right there, in front of the temple doors, was a man. A human being. In the very heart of the abyss.
Could this be the one who had defeated King Karsas?
They were surprised, even confused. Daniel didn't appear all that imposing. He didn't have bulging muscles or a monstrous aura. In fact, he looked... ordinary.
Whispers started to ripple through the crowd of abyssal beings. Curious eyes scanned Daniel from top to bottom.
Daniel made no effort to conceal his identity. On the contrary—he wanted to be seen for who he truly was. If he was going to lead this realm, he would do so without hiding behind a mask. Whether or not they could accept that... well, that would be up to them.
Predictably, not everyone was pleased.
"This is the abyss!" someone shouted. "We don't welcome humans here!"
"Get out of here! We don't need a human ruling over us!"
"Don't think just because you beat Karsas that you can relax. We're watching you."
"You're an outsider! You'd better keep your head down if you know what's good for you."
The dissent grew louder. Their voices were full of scorn and disdain. But Daniel wasn't rattled. He wasn't going to beg for their approval, nor was he going to tolerate disrespect.
He snapped his fingers.
In an instant, the Spirit of Skills appeared at his side, launching a blinding barrage of radiant light.
The abyssal hecklers who had just been yelling were torn to shreds in the blink of an eye—pierced through by holy beams like paper dolls under a hail of arrows.
Silence fell over the kingdom.
Daniel stood tall, unflinching, and spoke in a voice that, though not loud, carried the weight of absolute authority.
"If anyone else has something to say, now's your chance. Speak up. I'll make sure to honor your courage."
His words were calm, but they radiated deadly seriousness. No one dared to respond.
The opposition had been dealt with—in one single, overwhelming strike. The message was clear: Daniel was not to be challenged lightly.
"Anyone else?" he asked, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes. "Anyone unhappy with me being your king?"
The abyssal creatures avoided his gaze, heads bowed, silence absolute. They had learned their lesson—through fear, if not loyalty.
Just then, a faint voice rose up in the distance—one final cry of defiance.
Daniel didn't even look. Another snap of the fingers—and the voice was gone. Its owner reduced to ashes, their remnants swallowed by the abyss.
Seven waves of purging followed. By the end, those who remained were markedly more docile. On the surface at least, no one dared question Daniel's rule anymore.
In the abyss, reason had no place. Here, only strength determined one's right to lead. The strong ruled, the weak obeyed—or perished. Daniel understood this deeply. That was why he acted without hesitation, crushing dissent before it could fester.
Strangely enough, for the abyssal creatures, this wasn't abnormal. In their world, brutal dominance was the natural order. Daniel's actions, in their eyes, were not cruel—they were necessary.
Daniel looked at the now-silent crowd.
"Let me ask you one more time," he said. "Is there anyone here who still objects?"
The crowd remained still. No one met his eyes. Heads stayed bowed, submissive.
"Very well," Daniel said at last. "From this moment on, you are my people."
"I have two announcements to make."
"First: from today onward, this kingdom shall be renamed the Infinite Abyss Kingdom."
"Second: the Divine Temple that now stands within this kingdom—no one is to damage it. I will not force you to worship the god enshrined within it. That is your choice. But it will remain here—for comfort, for remembrance, and for peace of mind."
He didn't bother with further explanations. The message was delivered. His rule was now absolute.
With that, Daniel turned and walked away—leaving behind a stunned, silenced kingdom.
Chapter130-Alice's Intentions
Northern Territory of the Human Race
At this very moment, the Human Emperor had already arrived at the edge of the northern frontier.
Seated atop the back of his Snowdragon Beast, he could already see the distant outline of the Abyss.
From the gaping maw of the Abyss, waves of putrid, decaying energy were still pouring out into the world.
Staring at this eerie sight, the Human Emperor couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions.
Right now, his mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Daniel. Just what the hell was that kid doing down in the Abyss?
The Human Emperor felt as if he no longer understood Daniel at all. The two of them had clearly agreed to hold the coronation ceremony in the northern front, and yet now?
Daniel had gone wild in the Abyss, slaughtering left and right—while he, the great Human Emperor, could only sit on the back of a dragon and rush to keep up.
With a trace of frustration in his heart, the Human Emperor pulled out his communicator and began checking the latest headlines on the network.
As expected, the entire communications network was flooded with reports of Daniel.
But what shocked the Human Emperor even more was this: Daniel didn't seem to be confined to the Abyss.
To his astonishment, there were even rumors of Daniel appearing in places like Castle Mington, the Bone Plateau, and the Multiracial Commerce League.
What the hell is going on?
Isn't Daniel still in the Abyss? Why is he showing up in the Bone Plateau as well?
Frowning deeply, the Human Emperor scrolled further down.
Before long, a few eye-catching headlines caught his attention:
"Bone Plateau record shattered once again—Is Daniel about to become the nightmare of all Awakeners?"
"World-Rank Boss on Bone Plateau defeated—Eyewitnesses claim they only managed to scavenge leftovers."
No way... how is this guy managing to travel across so many regions in such a short time?
Even if he had a spatial-type ability, there should still be some form of cooldown, right?
And if there isn't... then such an ability probably borders on god-tier, doesn't it?
No, wait—even gods shouldn't be able to teleport like that without limits.
The more the Human Emperor thought about it, the more his head ached. He could clearly sense that Daniel was hiding countless secrets.
Just as he was lost in thought, a notification box suddenly popped up in front of him.
[A new King has emerged in the Abyss.]
[Newly crowned King of the Abyss: Daniel (Human Race)]
[Abyss Kingdom: Infinite Abyss]
...
Luminous Forest
With a thunderous crash, a gigantic beast—its size comparable to a thunder dragon—collapsed to the ground. It was a World-Rank Boss, now lifeless at Alice's feet.
Alice stepped forward and opened the loot chest that dropped, mentally calculating her current mission progress.
This was the second stage of her Star Upgrade Quest, and it required her to slay five World-Rank Bosses.
At this point, she had completed all five kills. However, in the grand scheme of her Star Upgrade Quest, this was merely one segment of the entire challenge.
After doing the math, Alice was surprised to find that she had already completed more than half of her overall Star Upgrade progression.
She had also cleared the required Challenger's Labyrinth, which meant she was ready to begin Tier-3 of the quest.
Even though Alice had mentally prepared herself for quick advancement, the current pace still startled her.
Seriously?
It hasn't even been that long... and I'm already about to begin Tier-3? That's way too fast!
Originally, Alice had estimated that it would take at least two to three months just to level up sufficiently—even with assistance from her kin.
But it was precisely because of the presence of the great Lord Crossbridge that Alice had managed to level up and advance through her Star Upgrade Quest at such a staggering pace.
She couldn't deny it—God-Rank skills were outrageously powerful.
Since she had now completed the second stage, Alice figured it was the perfect opportunity to offer a tribute to Lord Crossbridge.
Once the decision was made in her heart, she immediately returned to her elven tribe.
However, the Alice who returned today was no longer an unknown junior.
She was now one of the most famous figures among the Elves.
As soon as she stepped foot into her homeland, she was warmly greeted by her kin.
"Princess Alice, you're finally back!"
"You truly are the future hope of the Elven Race. None of us imagined you could take down five World-Rank bosses in a row!"
"As expected of the heir to the Elven Queen—your strength is absolutely remarkable."
Alice returned their warm welcomes with gentle smiles, yet she said nothing in reply.
The reason she came back wasn't to bask in praise or admiration—she had simply returned to the Star Upgrade Hall to report the completion of her quest.
With a flash of light, a giant Water Mana Stone lit up, displaying the details of Alice's completed task.
Unlike the previous time, this time the system showed the mission as "Completed"—and even proactively asked whether she wanted to accept the next tier.
To Alice, nothing was more important than her Star Upgrade Quest.
Without hesitation, she confirmed.
In the next moment, the Water Mana Stone displayed the mission parameters for her Tier-3 challenge.
Alice took only one glance before involuntarily gasping in shock.
She had to admit: an SSS-tier Star Upgrade Quest really was terrifying.
The stronger the power, the more brutal the requirements.
If it had been in the past, Alice might have given up immediately. But now, with Lord Crossbridge as her divine patron, she was filled with confidence.
Raising her hand, she tapped "Accept."
A radiant beam of divine light shone down upon her, illuminating her form.
Once again, Alice became the center of attention among the Elves.
"Princess Alice is unbelievable. Even her Star Upgrade effects are on a whole other level from us!"
"I wonder how hard an SSS-tier Star Upgrade Quest actually is..."
But Alice didn't pay them any mind.
Without a word, she turned and made her way directly to the Queen's Palace.
This palace—hidden deep within a lush, tropical rainforest—instantly gave off a feeling of peace and serenity, as though it truly embodied harmony with nature.
And yet, at this moment, the face of the Elven Queen was visibly frowning.
"Alice, aren't your demands a little excessive?"
"I know these materials are for your Star Upgrade stage, but I just can't understand—what kind of quest did you accept that requires these?"
Alice sensed that the Queen was in low spirits.
Though she had many questions in her heart, she decided not to press further.
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke softly:
"Your Majesty, you know that an SSS-tier Star Upgrade Quest is... absurdly difficult."
"Are these materials really that rare?"
The Queen's face grew even more serious.
"These materials you speak of—this isn't just about rarity anymore."
"In fact, even I don't have them... not personally, and not in the entire treasury of the Elven Race."
"If only the Gnomes were still around. But unfortunately, their race was all but wiped out..."