Chapter211-Flying to the Sky
Within the Grand Council Hall of the City of the Artists, the sovereigns of all races finally agreed to Daniel's proposal.
However, Daniel knew clearly in his heart: the reason they had chosen to follow him was entirely due to his overwhelming strength. It wasn't loyalty, nor faith—it was pragmatic survival.
Once the matter had been finalized, a joint announcement from the myriad races was swiftly published across the communication network.
The moment it was released, the network exploded with activity.
"This is incredible! Our power can finally be improved once more! Thank you, glorious Lord Daniel! Thank you for granting us this opportunity!"
"Lord Daniel, you're the savior of my family! If it weren't for becoming a believer of the Infinite Divine Temple, my whole family would've been killed by the boss monster!"
"What are you all standing around for? Every second counts now! What are you waiting for? Go to the Void Tower and pick up your missions!"
"Do you really need to remind us? Who doesn't already know that? I'm already in the Void Tower!"
"My mission is to hunt abyss creatures. It's like killing two birds with one stone—this is amazing!"
"Thank the heavens! Thank the mighty Lord Daniel! Finally, someone like me, a so-called 'failure,' can be of use!"
...
At this point, the Human Emperor had completely given up on his responsibilities.
He no longer bothered with the affairs of the human race, leaving everything entirely in Daniel's hands. He took up a purely supportive role, no longer the center of authority.
Odin, for one, was tired of waiting. If he had his way, he would have passed the throne to Daniel right that moment without hesitation.
Before long, in the presence of all the royal figures of the races, a new covenant was officially established. There were no delays, no hiccups, no loopholes—everything proceeded smoothly.
At the moment of confirmation, a glowing prompt appeared before the eyes of every sovereign present:
[You have used your authority to form a Subordinate Covenant with Daniel.]
[This covenant is temporary and can be terminated at any time.]
[During the period of this covenant's effect, neither party may harm the other. (This clause has been revoked.)]
[While the covenant is in effect, your race will be regarded as part of the human race, receiving all of its associated benefits.]
...
Instantly, across the entire world, a vast number of Awakeners experienced a noticeable surge in their strength.
For the myriad races, this covenant was simply too good to be true.
They were practically basking in the benefits of becoming human—with no hidden conditions, no soul-binding oaths, and the only limitation being non-aggression between allies. The advantages far outweighed the costs.
The council meeting concluded successfully.
And just as Daniel had predicted, the world entered a state of unprecedented unification.
In essence, there was now only one "race" left in the world—the human race. All other species were effectively reclassified as sub-branches of humanity.
Daniel had single-handedly achieved a historical transformation—bringing the world under one unified banner to prepare for the impending thousand-year Apocalypse.
...
His name was etched into the history books of not only the human race, but of all races.
Even hundreds or thousands of years later, as long as civilization endured, Daniel's name would remain immortal, forever preserved in their shared histories.
...
Northern Frontier of the Human Realm
More and more Awakeners arrived in droves.
After receiving their assignments from the Void Tower, they immediately made haste toward the abyssal breach without resting.
As a result, abyssal creatures were no longer sufficient to meet the demand of the increasingly powerful forces arriving to slay them.
Even the [New Life] organization stopped initiating attacks, instead dedicating itself entirely to support roles.
Before long, the human race had effectively invaded the abyss.
After a prolonged period of fierce combat, many Awakeners experienced a breakthrough in their innate talents.
Golden light fell like rain from the heavens, enveloping these warriors.
Their talents began to evolve—ascending to the coveted S-rank.
Every single moment, someone else succeeded in awakening their dormant potential.
The power of the united races surged like never before in recorded history.
"Thank you, Lord Daniel! I used to be a mere scavenger with an F-rank talent. But now, thanks to the Void Tower, I've become an S-rank Absorber!"
"From this moment on, I am no longer trash! No one can call me worthless again!"
"We thank you, Lord Daniel—and you as well, Your Grace Crossbridge! If not for the two of you, [New Life] would never have existed!"
...
In that moment, many who had once languished at the bottom found new hope through Daniel.
They surged toward the Void Tower, desperate to step onto the path of ascension—no matter the cost.
"Enough talking—don't waste time! Now that your talent has evolved, start raising your level immediately!"
"I heard the Infinite Divine Temple sells potions that accelerate experience gain!"
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
In a flurry of motion, Awakeners across the land leapt into action.
With their strength visibly growing, they became more confident than ever about their futures.
Who cared about so-called higher races?
Was the Angel of Gold and Silver really that terrifying? At the end of the day, weren't they just a bunch of overgrown birds?
...
Above the Clouds
After completing the covenant, one of Daniel's avatars took flight, heading toward the blood-red moon hanging ominously in the sky.
The mission of this avatar was extremely simple: to approach the blood moon as closely as possible.
In order to save time, Daniel exploited a loophole in the system.
Every five minutes, he activated Time Stream—resetting the avatar's position slightly closer each time.
In this way, using Flashback in conjunction with Time Stream, the avatar could steadily and safely inch toward the blood moon without violating temporal constraints.
After what felt like countless attempts, the avatar finally reached the shattered layer of the sky.
And at that moment, Daniel finally saw what lay beyond the cracks.
Behind the rupture was a space composed entirely of golden and silver matter. Floating in the void was an immense, intricate structure.
Different regions of this structure were filled with complex buildings.
And within those buildings lived the higher beings—the Angels of Gold and Silver.
They resembled traditional depictions of winged celestial beings—avian humanoids with great wings sprouting from their backs.
With just a single glance, Daniel could sense the raw power emanating from them.
Despite the fracture in the sky, the firmament hadn't truly collapsed.
A protective barrier still separated both worlds.
Daniel couldn't determine how many of these winged beings existed within that other world, nor could he judge how far away it truly was.
Even with his mental powers, he couldn't sense the ground below anymore—the scale was beyond anything he had imagined.
After a brief pause at the boundary, Daniel's avatar once again ascended—soaring ever higher into the unknown.
Chapter212-Entering the Undead Lands
The higher Daniel flew, the more frequent and dense the cracks in the sky became.
Of course, these fractures weren't his destination. His true goal lay farther still—he wanted to understand the truth behind the blood moon.
He sought to approach those celestial bodies, to uncover what secrets they held.
After all, according to ancient legends passed down among the myriad races, the stars themselves were said to be a form of monstrous life—perhaps even their own distinct race: the stellar monsters.
Yet for Daniel, these tales remained unverified. He had never once directly encountered any of these so-called stellar monsters.
Even when using his Eye of Revelation, he couldn't obtain any useful intel—his target was simply too far away for any details to be discerned.
In the annals of the myriad races, stellar monsters were regarded as mythological threats from a previous millennial Apocalypse. However, that particular Apocalypse had actually been one of the better outcomes for the world.
At the time, the stellar monsters had descended from the skies, obliterated a single race, and then left the continent entirely.
On the other side of things, Daniel's ascent had gone completely unnoticed by the Angels.
These Angels of Gold and Silver—resplendent with flowing golden hair and impossibly beautiful appearances—were utterly focused on the continent below.
"Praise be to you, glorious Aurelia! We shall not disappoint your divine expectations. We will reshape this world into a beautiful divine kingdom."
"The world below is filled with vile, low-born creatures. Once we descend, we will initiate a grand cleansing."
"After the purification is complete, we will perform the sacred rites and welcome your true descent."
These angels prayed with feverish zeal. Their expressions were twisted with ecstatic devotion.
"Oh great Goddess of Gold and Silver, Aurelia, we offer you our most pious prayers. Grant us strength—make us more perfect."
...
Their golden eyes burned with an intense fanaticism.
When they looked upon the world beneath them, all they saw was filth.
From their divine perspective, the continent was a cesspool of filth and ugliness.
The beings living down there were distorted, horrifying in appearance, and aesthetically offensive.
In their minds, such grotesque things had no right to inhabit this world.
If there were any tolerable exceptions, it was perhaps the elves—the only race that looked passable in their eyes. They might be spared as slave stock.
Everyone else? They were meant to be purged.
"Disgusting creatures... They pollute my vision!"
"These abominations must be completely annihilated!"
To the angels, only beauty deserved the right to exist.
They couldn't wait to descend in the name of holiness and carry out a thorough purification of the land.
And just then, a saintess emerged from the towering cathedral behind them.
Her face bore a sorrowful compassion as she gazed down at the races of the world.
"How pitiful they are... so hideous, yet still clinging to life. If it were me, I'd rather die immediately."
"Their existence must be filled with suffering. Perhaps we can guide them toward liberation."
"Yes, by killing them, we free their souls. That is the purest form of mercy."
"Praise to the great Aurelia. Without you, we angels would not possess such beauty and perfection."
"I can hardly wait to grant them release!"
...
Unbeknownst to them, the time had crept past 1 a.m.
While everyone else was still scrambling to improve their strength, the sky suddenly lit up with a blinding light, turning night into day.
"What's going on? Why is it suddenly so bright?!"
"Can anyone tell me what just happened? Is this another Apocalypse?"
At the same time, Daniel lifted his gaze toward the sky.
His heart was heavy with complicated thoughts.
I wonder which of us will arrive first... will you descend, or will I complete the Star Upgrade Quest before that happens?
But the avatar he had sent flying into the sky continued its climb, ascending steadily toward the stars above.
As for Daniel's real body—it had now arrived at the entrance to the Undead Lands.
The matters concerning the humans and other races had mostly been settled. Now, it was time for Daniel to tackle his own mission.
Just as he had expected, the entrance to the Undead Lands barred any avatars or incarnations from entry.
Even using the Dagger of the God of Thieves had no effect.
After pondering for a while, Daniel came to a realization: to enter the Undead Lands, one needed a complete soul.
His avatars, being extensions of himself without true souls, were incapable of passing through the threshold.
After preparing briefly, Daniel retrieved his entry ticket—and the moment he activated it, his physical form vanished right in front of the Undead Lands gate.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an utterly unique space.
In this strange dimension, he could feel an invisible force tugging at his soul.
It was a bizarre sensation—almost like someone was deliberately trying to pull his soul out of his body.
And the longer the teleportation lasted, the stronger the feeling grew.
Soon, the separation between his soul and his body reached a breaking point.
And then—it happened.
His soul completely detached from his physical form!
But what surprised Daniel the most was that, even though his soul had left his body, his attribute values remained intact. His abilities, skills, and even combat prowess were still fully functional.
That's when he remembered his Talent Specialization:
[Infinite Fusion] – All of one's powers are fused into the soul itself. Even gods cannot strip them away.
Thanks to this talent, Daniel could now fight at full power—even within the Undead Lands, even as a soul.
Confirming that everything was functioning normally, Daniel finally breathed a sigh of relief.
For a moment there, I really thought I was done for. But thankfully, everything held up.
He couldn't help but acknowledge how crucial his Talent Specializations were.
Most of his strength stemmed directly from these innate talents.
So as long as his attributes and learned skills remained unchanged, his overall power was intact.
That one Talent Specialization—usually overlooked—had now proven to be his saving grace.
Meanwhile, as Daniel had prearranged, once his soul departed from his body, his physical form was swiftly retrieved by two of his puppet avatars and taken to a secure location for safekeeping.
After an indeterminate amount of time drifting through the void, Daniel's surroundings finally began to change.
Before him appeared a haunting and otherworldly sight:
A river—deep, vast, and shimmering with a ghostly violet glow.
Chapter213-Kafka
The violet river shimmered with a soft, faint glow, subtly illuminating the surroundings in a dreamlike light.
Daniel had never seen anything quite like this. A glint of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
On the far bank of the river lay another world—silent, still, yet strangely inviting.
Spanning the river overhead was a narrow bridge, a delicate structure linking the two worlds together.
A peculiar expression appeared on Daniel's face. Though he knew it was likely just his imagination, the small bridge before him looked oddly familiar—almost like the legendary Bridge of Forgetfulness from myths of his past life.
Shaking his head to dismiss the fanciful thought, Daniel refocused himself.
Without hesitation, he stepped onto the bridge and crossed it, officially entering the true realm of the Undead Lands.
When he looked back, he noticed that the bridge remained behind him, unchanging. And just behind it, hovering silently in space, was a pitch-black portal.
Daniel immediately understood—once he crossed that small bridge, he could return to the world he had come from.
After confirming the location and its structure once again, he began his exploration of the Undead Lands.
To his surprise, the scenery was far from what he had imagined.
He had expected a bleak landscape strewn with rotting corpses, drenched in the stench of blood and death.
Yet reality painted a completely different picture.
None of those imagined horrors existed here. In fact, this realm felt... tranquil—serene even. It gave Daniel the uncanny feeling of stepping into a hidden paradise, an untouched sanctuary.
Only now did he notice that the clouds drifting overhead weren't mere vapor—they were teeming with souls.
These souls possessed translucent, ethereal forms. Their gazes were vacant, devoid of thought or awareness.
After a moment of careful observation, Daniel turned his eyes away.
Because that's when he realized something truly strange—this place was utterly silent.
There was no wind, no rustling, no distant cries—nothing.
Even when he tried to speak, not a single sound emerged. It was as if he had entered a dimension where sound itself had ceased to exist.
The sensation was eerie, but oddly fascinating.
He immediately expanded his mind power, activating his Eye of Insight to scan the area around him.
His abilities still functioned within the Undead Lands, although certain rules imposed unique limitations. For example, Flashback could only be used to traverse within the Undead Lands—it could no longer return him to the outside world.
Still, Daniel decided to test something else: Time Stream.
This God-ranked skill didn't disappoint. In an instant, it transported him back to the very moment he first entered the Undead Lands.
That alone removed a major concern from his mind—he now had a reliable way in and out.
Re-entering the Undead Lands again, Daniel tested several of his other abilities.
The Dagger of the God of Thieves still worked, and he could even create new avatars within this realm. However, the avatars from the original world remained disconnected and unusable.
Fortunately, the dark portal was bidirectional—he could return to the physical world at any time.
After a series of successful tests, Daniel confirmed the scope of his abilities.
Then, his Eye of Insight fully activated.
He cast his perception across the land. His mind power spread like invisible tendrils, enveloping the area in all directions.
What unfolded before him was a vast, unending plain. Distant hills rose and fell gently under the watchful gaze of the violet sky.
The clouds—those drifting congregations overhead—were indeed made of countless souls.
Elves, orcs, dwarves... even a few species Daniel had never seen before.
These souls retained vague outlines of their former racial features, but their faces were blurry, their expressions blank.
They drifted aimlessly like dust in the wind, their will and purpose completely eroded.
A shiver ran through Daniel's chest.
These... aren't they exactly the kind of top-grade materials needed to synthesize God-ranked skills?
Moreover, there seemed to be no limit to their number.
Without further hesitation, Daniel acted.
He extended his right hand, and in his palm appeared a tiny black vortex, spinning steadily like the eye of a storm.
An invisible suction force erupted from the vortex in an instant.
The souls floating in the sky above began to stir—drawn as if by a magnetic command they could not resist.
Streams of translucent spirits formed into flowing currents, all surging toward Daniel.
In mere moments, they were absorbed by the swirling vortex.
[You have collected [Soul of Elf] x127]
[You have collected [Soul of Orc] x251]
[You have collected [Soul of Dwarf] x89]
...
A series of notifications cascaded across Daniel's vision.
He stood at the gateway to the Undead Lands like a perfect harvesting machine, pulling in the souls at astonishing speed.
There were so many souls it was overwhelming—more than he could've ever imagined.
In just a few minutes, he had already collected over a million souls.
And yet, the cloud of souls above showed no signs of thinning.
Daniel even began to wonder—if he truly desired it, could he take all the souls in the Undead Lands for himself?
This place felt like a treasure vault crafted specifically for him.
Just as Daniel was reveling in his rapid success, a sudden disturbance broke the rhythm.
A figure appeared in the distance—clearly distinct from the aimless drifting souls.
This soul was different.
It did not float without purpose—it moved with intent, heading directly toward Daniel's location.
Daniel immediately ceased his absorption. His eyes narrowed, becoming razor-sharp.
The small black vortex vanished silently from his palm.
He turned a cautious gaze to the approaching entity.
This soul had a more solid, well-defined form than the others. Daniel could even make out the details of its attire—an antique ceremonial robe, regal in its simplicity.
Though its face remained slightly blurred, Daniel could sense an aura of authority and nobility that came only from long-standing rulers.
Then, a voice echoed directly in his mind—not through sound, but through soul-level communication.
"Greetings, newcomer."
Daniel's pupils contracted slightly.
He instantly activated his Eye of Insight.
A panel of information materialized over the figure:
[Name: Kafka]
[Race: Human (Soul Form)]
[Identity: Seventeenth King of Humanity (Deceased 1,800 years ago)]
[Status: Fragmented Soul – Conscious]
[...]
One of humanity's ancient kings—from 1,800 years ago?
Daniel felt a ripple in his heart, though his face remained calm.
A monarch who had died nearly two millennia ago—yet still retained awareness and will?
This Undead Lands... was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Kafka's soul stopped ten meters in front of Daniel, observing him closely.
There was a hint of admiration and curiosity in his eyes.
"Unbelievable. I can sense the power and completeness of your soul," Kafka said slowly. "If possible, I'd like to get to know you better."
Chapter214-Soul Enforcer
"I'm not interested."
Daniel replied via soul transmission, his voice cold and laced with caution.
Kafka, however, didn't seem the least bit bothered by Daniel's guarded demeanor. Instead, he let out a soft laugh—one that echoed directly inside Daniel's mind.
"There's no need to be so tense, my friend. In this land of eternal silence, meeting someone capable of communication is cause for celebration."
"I've been observing you for quite some time."
Kafka continued speaking without pause.
"You've been collecting those unconscious fragments of soul. It must be for some special purpose, yes?"
Daniel didn't respond. He merely looked at Kafka silently, waiting for him to continue.
Kafka raised his hand, pointing toward the drifting masses of translucent souls in the distance.
"Those are merely the dust of this land—insignificant and scattered. The real treasure isn't here."
"Oh?" Daniel finally showed a flicker of interest. "And what treasure are you talking about?"
"Soul Stones," Kafka said, his tone taking on a note of solemnity.
"They're special crystals formed from the highest purity of soul energy, compressed and condensed over tens of thousands of years."
"For souls like us—those who still retain consciousness—Soul Stones are essential for sustaining our existence."
Daniel's mind stirred.
Soul Stones... They were precisely the kind of material he needed right now.
"Why are you telling me this?" Daniel asked. He didn't believe for a second that a long-dead monarch would reveal such secrets out of simple goodwill.
"Because I need a partner," Kafka finally revealed, his gaze sincere.
"I know of a Soul Stone mine—a rich vein of it. But the place is guarded. Powerful protectors stand watch, and I can't approach it alone."
He looked at Daniel, eyes full of hope.
"Your soul is powerful—extraordinary, even. Far beyond anything I've seen here. If we join forces, we can claim those Soul Stones."
"All I ask is thirty percent—just enough to maintain my presence. The remaining seventy percent is yours."
Daniel said nothing for a moment, weighing Kafka's words carefully.
His Eye of Insight reported no signs of deception.
And the Soul Stones... they were indeed tempting.
An ancient king dead for nearly two millennia, a mine full of Soul Stones, powerful guardians shrouded in mystery—everything about this place was becoming more intriguing by the minute.
"How can I be sure you won't stab me in the back?" Daniel asked bluntly, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Kafka, unfazed, spread his hands openly.
"I have no proof to offer. I can only swear by the honor I once held as the King of Humanity. And besides, with your power, even if I tried something, I'd only end up humiliating myself."
There was a raw honesty in his voice.
Daniel studied him for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Fine. I'll accept your proposal."
"But first, I want you to answer one question."
"What do you know about the Book of Souls?"
The moment the words left Daniel's lips, Kafka's expression twisted as if he'd seen a ghost—which, considering their current states, was ironically appropriate.
His translucent face was suddenly full of dread.
"Are you mad?! Do you want to be punished?!"
"The Book of Souls isn't something we should even speak of—let alone inquire about! It's—"
Before he could finish, the space beside them warped violently.
In an instant, two cloaked figures appeared.
They were draped in heavy black robes, with oversized hoods that completely obscured their faces. No flesh was visible—only the shadowed abyss within their hoods.
Each carried a massive, bone-white scythe in one hand.
The moment they arrived, the stillness of the Undead Lands changed.
The air grew cold. Heavier. As though the entire space had been pressed beneath a blanket of dread.
Daniel's Eye of Insight triggered automatically.
[Name: Soul Enforcer]
[Level: 100]
[Role: Enforcer of Order – Undead Lands]
[...]
Level one hundred.
Daniel's eyes narrowed with surprise, though his expression remained unchanged. After all, Kafka was only level twelve—a mere shadow of his former glory.
He didn't move, instead calmly assessing the two newcomers.
One of the Soul Enforcers slowly raised his head. From beneath the darkness of his hood, a pair of invisible eyes seemed to lock onto Daniel.
Then a voice—cold, mechanical, completely devoid of emotion—echoed through the depths of Daniel's and Kafka's souls.
"You have violated the laws of the Lord of the Undead Lands."
Kafka's soul form trembled violently.
He instinctively drifted backward several paces, trying to put distance between himself and Daniel. His voice broke into a whimper:
"It wasn't me! It was him! He's the one who mentioned that forbidden name—it has nothing to do with me!"
But the Soul Enforcers didn't even acknowledge his plea.
One of them slowly raised his massive scythe.
Dark violet energy coiled along the blade, wisps of black mist twisting around it like serpents.
The entire energy of the surrounding space began to funnel toward that blade.
Daniel narrowed his eyes, already preparing to strike if needed.
But what happened next was completely unexpected.
The scythe came down in a flash of raw destruction—but not toward Daniel, the one who had spoken the taboo name.
It struck Kafka.
"NO—!"
Kafka let out a scream of pure spiritual agony.
He tried to move, to flee—but the overwhelming pressure had frozen his soul in place. He couldn't even twitch.
The scythe sliced cleanly through him, leaving a trail of translucent fragments in its wake.
A soft ripping sound—like cloth being torn—filled the space.
Kafka's soul was instantly torn apart, his once-vivid outline now faded and tattered.
His figure grew hazy, unstable—on the verge of vanishing entirely.
He curled inward, wracked with unspeakable pain. Soul pain—it was far worse than anything a physical body could ever endure.
Yet even more powerful than the pain was his shock. And fury.
He looked up, his blurred features twisted in disbelief and rage.
"WHY?!"
"Why me?!"
"It was him! He's the one who said it! He broke the rule!"
The Soul Enforcer who had struck him slowly retracted his weapon.
His hood turned toward Daniel, as if evaluating him.
After a moment of silence, the cold mechanical voice once again echoed through the air.
The reply was for Kafka. And it shattered him.
"He has privileges."
"His actions do not constitute a violation."
Kafka went completely still.
The last remnants of defiance in his spirit faded away—replaced by blank incomprehension.
And just like that, the once-mighty king of a long-forgotten age drifted silently in the violet air, more ghost than soul.
Chapter215-Soul Enforcer's Invitation
The northern frontier of the Human Realm—
By now, all of Daniel's avatars had been completely modified.
This meant Daniel no longer needed to split his soul to control them. As long as he set their programs correctly, they would function autonomously.
However, these actions were purely mechanical, devoid of independent consciousness.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Alice were still relentlessly working to complete their respective Star Upgrade Quests.
As for the deployment of [New Life], it had taken on some unexpected new developments.
The New Life units were no longer stationed solely in the abyss. A portion of them had been dispatched to the major capitals of various races.
With New Life presiding in those key cities, the Seeds of Chaos could no longer pose any significant threat.
In Castle Mington stood the largest cathedral in all of humanity.
At this moment, the current Archbishop appeared much older than before. A heavy aura of despair hung over his figure.
Staring up at the statue of the Goddess of Gold & Silver, he could no longer contain the sorrow in his heart and began praying silently.
"O mighty Goddess Aurelia... why must you treat your faithful so cruelly?"
"Have you truly abandoned us?"
The statue of the Goddess of Gold & Silver remained as motionless as ever, standing tall and unmoved, giving no response.
The Archbishop and his most devout followers now seemed like forsaken children, collapsing to the ground one after another. Despair etched itself across their faces.
None of them could understand—why had their goddess turned her back on them?
Behind the Archbishop, Human Emperor Odin stood with a cadre of powerful human warriors, coldly observing the scene.
"My old friend," Odin spoke flatly, "You've seen the situation with your own eyes. It's not that we don't want to help you—it's that the god you serve now seeks to destroy humanity."
"I'm giving you two choices. Either completely renounce your faith, or prepare to fight us to the death."
The Archbishop had no fight left in him.
Turning around slowly, his expression was filled with despair as he looked at his old friend—the Human Emperor—and said,
"My dear friend... we've known each other for over a thousand years. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"You've always held a devout faith," Odin answered honestly, "And you've always been willing to sacrifice for humanity. So frankly, I don't know what choice you'll make today."
"You still don't truly understand me," the Archbishop said with a bitter smile. "For me, no faith is more important than the survival of humanity."
After saying those words, he struggled to his feet and turned toward the kneeling faithful behind him. His voice echoed in the grand cathedral:
"If our god has chosen to become humanity's enemy, then we are left with no other choice.
Starting today, the Church is officially disbanded."
The moment his words fell, a chorus of heart-wrenching cries burst forth from the congregation.
None of them could believe it. The god they had worshipped for so many years had now—fallen.
"Archbishop, don't be fooled by them! How could god possibly abandon us?"
"There's no way god would turn against humanity. This is all a trick! The Human Emperor has been corrupted by an evil god!"
"That's right! It's that Infinite Divine Temple! That thing was created by evil! You mustn't believe them!"
Several desperate voices cried out, some of them accusing and confrontational.
A few began hurling insults at the Archbishop. Some even made physical attempts to attack him.
Others, cowards at heart, tried to sneak away in the chaos.
But none of them realized—two figures were hiding in a concealed corner of the cathedral, silently watching everything unfold.
Daniel was here as well, observing in silence. Though he had not revealed himself, he was closely following the Archbishop's decision.
Suddenly, the Archbishop turned and spoke once more:
"My old friend, since the moment has come... I have nothing more to say.
But I do have one request: may I lead these faithful in one final prayer?"
"This will be... our last."
The Human Emperor hesitated briefly but eventually nodded.
After all, they had known each other for over a millennium. He didn't want to push things past the point of no return.
"...Very well, my old friend. I will trust you one last time."
"Allow me to express my gratitude."
The Archbishop gave a solemn bow, then lifted his prayer book and began reciting:
"O exalted Lady Aurelia, you have taught us to be merciful, to hold life in reverence..."
As the gentle and virtuous prayer filled the air, the emotions in the room grew increasingly complex.
Who would have imagined that a god who preached compassion and kindness—would be the very one orchestrating humanity's destruction?
During this final prayer, many of the devout broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.
Even some of the hardened human warriors were moved, though they remained vigilant.
Still, a sliver of sympathy crept into their hearts.
After all, no matter who you are, watching the collapse of your lifelong belief is a painful thing.
But compared to the fate of an entire race, these sorrows were trivial.
Undead Lands
Kafka was on the verge of a breakdown.
He couldn't believe it—these Soul Enforcers were completely unreasonable!
What did they mean by "privilege"? Weren't they all souls?
Why did that guy get special treatment?
And hadn't Daniel just said "Book of Souls" out loud too? Why was Kafka the only one being punished?
Daniel, meanwhile, put on his most innocent face.
"He said nothing. You must have misheard. You've broken the law—stop trying to argue."
"You are hereby placed under arrest. You will be imprisoned and await formal judgment. Come with us."
With that, one of the Soul Enforcers seized Kafka and disappeared with him instantly.
Another Soul Enforcer remained behind, turning toward Daniel with visible respect.
"O mighty being, I can sense your extraordinary power.
Our city lord is looking for talents just like you.
If you are willing, I can guide you to our city.
Would you be interested in coming with me?"
"Please rest assured—in these Undead Lands, few possess power such as yours.
Our city lord will undoubtedly reward you generously."
Hearing the invitation, Daniel gave a faint smile.
"If your city lord is that enthusiastic... then I see no reason to refuse. I'd be glad to go with you."
Daniel's agreement was not merely out of politeness.
He was genuinely curious about how cities operated in the Undead Lands.
Besides, there was no downside.
Even if he gained nothing else—at least he'd earn another teleportation point.
Chapter216-The Junkyard
On the way to the city, Daniel couldn't help but ask the Soul Enforcer walking beside him with a trace of curiosity.
"By the way, what kind of punishment will that soul from earlier face?"
Upon hearing the question, the Soul Enforcer answered casually, stating the outcome without hesitation.
"He'll probably be imprisoned indefinitely. If he behaves well in prison, he might be released after a few hundred years. But if he behaves poorly, there's also a chance he'll be executed outright."
Daniel narrowed his eyes slightly.
He hadn't expected that merely uttering the phrase Book of Souls would carry such a severe consequence.
"Please wait a moment. I will now open a portal for you."
The Soul Enforcer raised his hand, and a portal materialized in the air before him.
Surprisingly, the surface of the portal was covered in countless tentacles, writhing and twitching faintly.
"All set. Please, go on in."
Daniel didn't hesitate and stepped directly into the portal.
The next instant, when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an entirely new city.
Soul City.
He had arrived at the headquarters of the Soul Enforcers in Soul City.
Clearly, the Soul Enforcer who had escorted him held only limited authority—he had only been able to bring Daniel to the main lobby of the headquarters.
Of course, this was something Daniel had deduced based on the other's strength.
From his perspective, this Soul Enforcer was incredibly weak—he could easily obliterate him in a single breath if he wanted to.
Once inside Soul City, Daniel immediately released his mind power.
With the assistance of the Eye of Insight, he quickly perceived that the souls living in this city were generally low-level.
The Undead Lands were home to an enormous number of souls. In fact, one could say the entire region was composed solely of spiritual entities.
Unlike in the realms of the myriad races—where souls could not be seen with the naked eye and could only be detected through mind power—in the Undead Lands, things were different.
Here, Daniel could clearly see the souls around him with just his eyes.
Within the scope of his mind power, he also sensed a particularly powerful presence.
[Soul City Lord – Glaton]
"Honored guest, please wait here for a moment. I will go report your arrival to the city lord."
With that, the Soul Enforcer vanished into thin air.
As soon as the Enforcer left, Daniel activated Time Stream.
Re-entering the river of time, he returned to the moment he had just stepped into the Undead Lands.
There, with the Dagger of the God of Thieves in hand, he crafted another avatar of himself.
Kafka, who stood nearby, was stunned by what he saw. His eyes were fixed in disbelief on Daniel.
In the blink of an eye, Daniel's original body disappeared from the spot, leaving only the avatar standing before Kafka.
"Kafka, I'll accompany you to search for the Soul Stone."
Meanwhile, Daniel's original body had reappeared within Soul City.
This time, however, his arrival did not alert the city lord, Glaton.
In Soul City, a vast number of souls resided.
The majority were of low level, hovering around level 60.
To Daniel, these weak souls were laughable. He didn't even need to use a skill—just a light tap might be enough to shatter them entirely.
As his mind power expanded outward, he continued searching for clues about the Book of Souls—but no matter how far he extended his perception, he couldn't locate its presence.
Still, he stumbled upon something curious.
In Soul City, there existed a place called the "junkyard."
It wasn't a garbage dump in the traditional sense. Instead, it was a location dedicated to the disposal and processing of abandoned souls.
Countless souls, having already lost all sense of self-awareness, stood in long lines, slowly shuffling toward the junkyard.
Daniel could feel that within this junkyard, the concentration of soul energy was incredibly dense.
The souls had essentially been broken down into a type of pure energy—but apparently, no one seemed to want it.
In addition to this, Daniel discovered a few familiar presences.
Some of the powerful beings who had appeared during previous millennial Apocalypses were now locked away within Soul City's dungeon.
Names like Mad Chaos Joseph and Biochemical Lunatic Zack surfaced in his perception.
Yet what surprised Daniel the most... was the presence of the Artists—their souls now imprisoned within the Soul City jail.
Even now, those Artists were still bickering and quarreling amongst themselves.
"The Primordial Core Weapon was incredible, Guttman! Thanks to your theory, we managed to construct it and annihilate the entire gnome race!"
The Artist named Guttman turned pale with anger.
"The power of the Primordial Core was meant to bring prosperity to all races! Why would you use it to destroy the world!?"
Before the other Artist could respond, a dense cluster of dark souls suddenly appeared—these were the very souls of the gnomes who had been wiped out.
"You damn bastard! So you're the one who got us killed! Brothers—get him!!"
Under Daniel's watchful mind, what followed was a chaotic clash—a soul battle broke out right inside the jail.
Though they called it a battle, to Daniel it looked more like children play-fighting.
These were souls barely at level 30. It was hardly even a skirmish.
As for whether they could truly die—the answer was no.
In the Undead Lands, battles between souls might lead to one party temporarily "losing," but the loser would simply be shattered into soul fragments and, after a short while, regenerate again.
So far, Daniel had noticed a peculiar phenomenon.
Apart from the Soul Enforcers—who were all level 100—he hadn't encountered a single soul that surpassed level 60.
While pondering this oddity, he continued tagging souls that were either his allies or part of his original race, marking them for future tracking.
At the same time, his mind power kept searching for the whereabouts of the elusive Book of Souls.
Elsewhere, Daniel's avatar was deep in conversation with Kafka, explaining the basic laws of the Undead Lands.
Together, they had arrived at a nearby mountain range, where they had begun searching for the Soul Stone.
Back in Soul City, Daniel remained active.
His first destination: the junkyard located just outside the city walls.
He was eager to see what this place was really about.
When he finally arrived, Daniel saw that the junkyard was vast in scale.
At the bottom of unfathomably deep pits were countless discarded souls.
All of them had one thing in common—they were numb and emotionless, having lost all traces of self-awareness.
Even the staff managing the junkyard were souls themselves.
One such manager caught Daniel's attention: perched on his shoulder was a tiny soul, fluttering lightly like a wisp of mist.
Chapter217-Mind Hunt
Watching the soul manager efficiently carry out his duties, the small soul perched on his shoulder asked curiously:
"Daddy, we're souls just like them... So why are they being dumped here?"
The soul manager gently rubbed the little soul's head with fatherly affection, then replied in a warm tone:
"Child, you're still too young to understand. As souls, we are eternal beings, it's true—but if we go too long without passing through the Gate of Life, our consciousness will eventually dissipate."
"And when that happens, we become just like them."
...
Daniel had already learned this not long ago.
For a soul, if too much time passed without traversing the Gate of Life, they would slowly lose self-awareness and become no more than the discarded remnants in the junkyard.
Technically speaking, these souls were still "alive"—but only barely.
It was life in the most mechanical sense—existence without awareness, without purpose, without self.
Daniel had also uncovered a more troubling truth:
The reason so many souls failed to pass through the Gate of Life was because the city lord Glaton controlled access to it.
For the average soul, one could only gain entry to the Gate by accumulating sufficient "contribution points."
But under Daniel's perceptive scan, he discovered something else entirely:
The Gate of Life actually had no restrictions.
There were no quotas, no waiting lists, no functional limits.
In theory, if left unmonopolized, any soul could pass through and re-enter the cycle of life—renewed, revived, reborn.
And yet this limitless, unrestricted Gate was now entirely under the control of Soul City's lord, Glaton.
Daniel couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
This was no accident. This was the deliberate manufacture of artificial scarcity.
It was a system crafted for exploitation—a system where ordinary souls would toil endlessly for Glaton's benefit, chasing a false promise of "rebirth."
The entire setup was a grotesque display of capitalist manipulation.
If there was a word worse than "scam," Daniel would have used it.
He sighed softly, then in a flash of motion, leapt down into the junkyard.
At the same time, he began absorbing the soulless husks—those spirits whose consciousness had already dissolved.
Since their minds were gone, Daniel saw no issue in borrowing them for his own use.
And so, without further hesitation, he started harvesting these soul bodies in bulk.
While these mindless souls were worthless to others, to Daniel, they held unimaginable value.
Why?
Because to synthesize certain God Rank Skills, he required vast quantities of soul essence.
Unknowingly, Daniel had already collected five billion soul fragments.
But that wasn't nearly enough.
He opened his inventory and activated [Forceful Convergence], a skill designed for high-efficiency resource gathering.
Within just five minutes, Daniel's inventory held one hundred billion souls.
And yet, despite such a massive intake, the junkyard didn't look any different.
After countless years of accumulation, the place was layered—mountains of discarded souls piled atop one another, a horrifying yet deeply sorrowful sight.
With one hundred billion fragments in hand, Daniel stopped collecting and opened his God Rank Skill Compendium.
[God Rank Skill: Mind Assassination]
Required Materials:
Heart of a level 200 abyssal monster10 million souls from the myriad races × 100 = 1,000,000,000,000 (one hundred billion total)
Daniel had already gathered all the components.
Now that he had enough, he immediately selected "synthesize."
[God Rank Skill: Mind Assassination — Acquired]
Skill status: Not yet maxed. Would you like to enhance it fully now?
Max it out.
Why even ask?
Moments later, a torrent of spiritual energy erupted before Daniel's eyes.
The soul resonance lasted nearly thirty seconds before finally dissipating.
When the light faded, Daniel's status screen now showed a new divine skill:
[God Rank Skill: Mind Hunt]
Effect 1: Each of your attacks now applies a Sanity Reduction effect. This effect can only be dispelled by a god-tier being. Any creature below god level will eventually fall into complete madness once their sanity falls beneath a certain threshold. (You may manually dispel the effect on any target.)
Effect 2: You may exert limited control over any creature driven mad by this sanity loss. The stronger the creature, the weaker your control becomes.
Upon reading the effects, Daniel blinked in surprise.
This wasn't what he had expected.
He'd assumed Mind Hunt would be a direct offensive ability—something like a mental assassination strike.
But as it turned out, it was more of a buff-type skill, one that enhanced his attacks with sanity damage.
Still... it was incredibly powerful.
This meant Daniel now had another method to hunt monsters—one that didn't rely solely on brute force.
Under normal circumstances, an Awakener needed to whittle down a monster's health bar to zero to secure a kill.
But now, with Mind Hunt, Daniel had a second option.
Rather than just using his skills to blast enemies into oblivion, he could instead lower their sanity, driving them mad in the process.
Once a monster went insane, it became far easier to deal with—perhaps even turning on its own kind or lowering its defenses.
He could, in theory, manipulate them into tearing themselves apart.
In short, the benefits of acquiring Mind Hunt far exceeded the cost.
And more importantly, Daniel now possessed a mental attack ability.
This kind of soul-level technique was particularly effective against certain unique or resistant creatures.
It was a massive improvement to Daniel's overall arsenal.
In terms of raw offensive power, he wasn't lacking.
But as he leveled up, he found that monsters were no longer so easy to defeat.
Many of them had special defensive mechanics, and relying solely on brute force became increasingly inefficient and time-consuming.
With Mind Hunt, things had changed.
Now he could strike from the mental plane, bypassing traditional defenses entirely.
In fact, Daniel had once considered whether he could truly kill the Emperor of the Abyss, Malkar.
From a purely offensive standpoint—it seemed plausible.
But in reality, Malkar possessed numerous buffs and defensive enhancements. Killing him wouldn't be so simple.
Mind Hunt, however... had the potential to change that.
Chapter218-Entering the Castle
As thoughts raced through Daniel's mind, he couldn't help but recall another continent—
The one overwhelmed by flesh and blood.
That grotesque Heart of Flesh seemed to fall under the same category as a Fake God.
But a Fake God, after all, was still fake. Its power, compared to a true god, was still a tier lower.
So now Daniel had a bold thought—
Could his newly acquired skill [Mind Hunt] also be effective against a Fake God?
And what about the high-ranking races that were about to descend—such as the Angels of Gold and Silver?
Could [Mind Hunt] affect them as well?
These questions and possibilities stirred wildly in Daniel's mind.
In fact, one of the objectives listed in his Star Upgrade Quest was to kill a royal figure from a superior race.
And the Angel of Gold and Silver race—
To Daniel, they made for the perfect target.
Of course, all of this depended on one important detail:
The ruler of the Angels of Gold and Silver must not be Goddess Aurelia, the Goddess of Gold & Silver.
If it were really her... then things would be far more complicated.
In that case, he'd have no choice but to look for a different high-ranking target.
But then again—
Strictly speaking, gods shouldn't serve as rulers of any one race.
Once a being ascends to the status of god, their very essence changes.
They transcend the boundaries of race, leaving their original form behind.
Daniel pondered this for a moment.
Then, in a flash, he teleported back to the central district of Soul City.
At the same time, his mind power had already locked onto his next target:
[Target: Soul City Lord — Glaton]
Level: 300Current Jurisdiction: Soul City, City of LunarRank: DemigodAbilities: [ ... ]Description: A powerful soul-based entity who holds control over the Gate of Life. Any soul wishing to reincarnate must first receive Glaton's permission.
Seeing this information, Daniel couldn't help but frown.
Under his Eye of Insight, Glaton appeared as a massive soul creature resembling a gigantic centipede—
Towering nearly twenty meters tall, his form exuded a menacing authority.
What stood out most, however, was his rank—Demigod.
This was the first time Daniel had encountered a being ranked at the demigod level.
He instantly shifted into a more serious mindset and began scanning Glaton's stats in greater detail using the Eye of Insight.
At the same time, Daniel moved in the direction of Glaton's castle.
It took him only a few seconds to arrive outside the city lord's fortress.
But when he reached the perimeter, he came to a deliberate stop.
Looking up, he saw layer upon layer of protective defensive formations, stacked like some enormous wedding cake of magic.
Daniel frowned.
"This city lord really is afraid of death, huh?"
Getting through these defensive layers wouldn't be easy.
Daniel didn't possess any specific skills designed to bypass defensive arrays.
If he wanted in, he'd have to brute-force his way through.
And normally, that was fine—
His usual strategy was simple: blast it apart.
Just unleash overwhelming force until the defenses crumbled.
But this time... things weren't that straightforward.
These were no ordinary barriers.
They were demigod-level defensive arrays.
First, they weren't so easy to destroy.
Second—even if you broke through one layer, there were still thousands more behind it.
"Damn it, not this crap again!"
Daniel's eyes flashed with anger.
Back on the Flesh Continent, he had been blocked in the same way—
By layer upon layer of infuriating magical shields.
But now wasn't the time to hesitate.
Just do it.
With a sweep of his hand, Daniel summoned 51 Spirits of Skills all at once.
Then, with a single command, a barrage of arrows—each streaking with shimmering light—descended upon the defensive formations in a storm.
[Meteor Arrow Rain].
Waves of soul energy rippled across the barrier.
Yet what felt unnatural to Daniel was the utter silence that followed.
Normally, when Meteor Arrow Rain was cast, it was accompanied by a deafening series of explosions.
But here, in the Undead Lands, everything was eerily quiet.
There were no sounds.
Daniel could see the violent detonations, but he couldn't hear a single thing—
The absence of noise disturbed him deeply.
Still, the skill had worked wonders.
Dozens of shield layers were shattered in an instant.
Even the deeper barriers now showed dense networks of cracks.
Suddenly, a sharp voice echoed in Daniel's mind:
"Who dares?!"
His attack had finally drawn Glaton's attention.
The demigod's immense mind power surged outward, flooding the area in an attempt to locate the source of the assault.
In the blink of an eye, Glaton's psychic field engulfed Daniel's position.
But because of the [Mist] effect surrounding him, Glaton found nothing.
Even so, Daniel had yet to find any trace of the Book of Souls.
After a few seconds of silent calculation, he decided to partially lift the mist shrouding his presence.
In an instant, his entire figure became visible within Glaton's perception.
"So... it's you," Glaton said, clearly surprised.
His tone immediately shifted into something more solemn.
"You may enter."
To Daniel's astonishment, Glaton didn't scold him for the attack.
He didn't retaliate, didn't raise any objections.
Instead, he extended an invitation.
And just like that, all the defensive formations surrounding the castle vanished.
Daniel frowned, confused.
He had expected Glaton to lash out in fury.
Instead, the city lord was acting calm.
Too calm.
Even going so far as to welcome him inside the very castle he had just tried to break into.
Daniel, however, felt no fear.
With confident strides, he walked straight through the now-unshielded gates and entered Glaton's fortress.
Inside the grand hall, he finally saw Glaton in person.
Though the creature was made entirely of soul energy, he still appeared grotesquely obese—like a giant bloated maggot.
As Daniel stepped in, Glaton wriggled his massive body and spoke:
"You must be Daniel, am I right?"
Daniel was caught off guard.
The city lord of the Undead Lands... knew his name?
That made no sense.
Still, he maintained his usual composure and answered evenly:
"That's right. I am."
Glaton let out a slightly smug chuckle.
"You must be wondering how I know who you are."
Daniel didn't deny it.
He simply nodded and began strolling leisurely through the hall—
As if he didn't regard Glaton as the host at all.
Glaton frowned slightly, sensing the lack of respect.
Still, he held his temper and continued:
"The world you come from—all those who die are under my dominion."
"I learned about you from the mouths of the dead."
"Daniel... You truly are an extraordinary individual."
"Which is why I'm allowing you into my castle."
Chapter219-The Collection
On the surface,
Daniel appeared to be casually strolling around, taking in the sights of the castle.
But inwardly, his attention remained razor sharp—constantly alert.
Although Glaton's outward appearance was grotesque and repulsive, Daniel had to admit... he was surprisingly clever.
Not only was he sharp, but he had even taken the initiative to gather intel on other worlds.
With the sheer number of beings dying every second across the multiverse, it made sense.
In a way, Glaton probably knew just as much—if not more—about the Myriad Races Continent than Daniel himself.
After clearing his mind, Daniel turned to Glaton with a faint smile and asked,
"Glaton, why do you think I came to find you?"
Glaton, as if having anticipated the question, grinned even more broadly.
"Hahaha, Daniel, if you don't mind me saying so, I think we could become good friends."
"I know you're facing the pressure of the next Millennial Apocalypse, and it's not an easy burden to bear."
"So, this visit of yours to the Undead Lands... you're hoping that I can release a large number of souls to help you survive it, correct?"
"The living aren't powerful enough, so you wish to harness the strength of the dead."
"You want the undead to fight for you. Am I wrong?"
Hearing this, Daniel paused slightly.
Truth be told, he hadn't even thought about that yet.
He had to admit—this ghostly city lord had quite the imaginative mind.
But perhaps... that imagination had just given him a brand-new path forward.
Originally, Daniel's plan had been simple:
Find the Book of Souls, synthesize [Grand Resurrection], and use it to revive the gnome race.
But now, after hearing Glaton's words, he realized that idea was... too small.
If he was already deep inside the Undead Lands, why stop at resurrecting a single race?
Why not bring back every fallen powerhouse he could find?
Or better yet—why not kill Glaton, take his authority, and claim control over all souls in the Undead Lands?
With the power of [Grand Resurrection], he could revive them all.
If that happened... wouldn't he essentially control the cycle of life and death across the entire multiverse?
The dead of all races... reborn by his hand?
He would become the true ruler of the Myriad Races.
In essence, the entire multiverse would become his personal undead army.
As these thoughts spiraled in his mind, Daniel's gaze toward Glaton began to burn—intensely.
And in that very instant, Glaton felt it.
His massive body trembled.
As a demigod-ranked being, he had terrifying instincts.
He knew without a doubt—Daniel had just considered killing him.
Daniel, realizing Glaton had sensed his intent, immediately activated [Time Stream], rewinding himself to two seconds before the thought had taken shape.
This time, he let the malice go.
Instead, with a casual smile, he resumed his slow stroll through the castle.
Now was not the time to turn against Glaton—not yet.
He still needed information.
Specifically: the location of the Book of Souls.
Only after he got everything he wanted would he consider striking.
And as for Glaton? Daniel wasn't fooled by the friendly tone.
Despite calling him "friend" so warmly, it was obvious Glaton had his own agenda—he wanted Daniel to submit, to serve under him.
Just then, a playful, smug smile curled across Glaton's face.
"My friend," he said, "I'd like to show you something—my most precious collection over the years."
As he spoke, Glaton raised a hand.
A massive iron cage slowly descended from above, landing gently on the stone floor.
It had a strange, alien design.
Darkness and lightning twisted around its bars like living serpents.
What intrigued Daniel most was that the cage wasn't physical—it was made from some kind of high-density soul energy.
If a soul were trapped inside, they wouldn't even be able to twitch.
The dark and thunderous energies would instantly erode their form.
After all, thunder was the natural bane of all soul-based beings.
"Inside this cage," Glaton said, voice full of pride, "is your people's very first powerhouse—your first Human Emperor."
"He possessed an SSS-rank innate talent: 'Judicator.' If you're willing to serve me for two years, I'll grant him his freedom."
"Think about it seriously, my friend—but don't take too long."
"His soul has endured great torment over the years. I doubt it will last much longer."
"If he passes through the Gate of Life, your human race will regain an SSS-level combatant. Of course, it will take some time for him to grow strong again..."
"But the Millennial Apocalypse won't be ending soon. He may prove very helpful."
Daniel remained silent, thoughtful.
Glaton didn't push him for an answer. Instead, he lifted his hand again—
And another cage descended.
"This one," he said, "is your race's second Human Emperor—also an SSS-level Awakener. But for him, I'll offer a discount—just one year of servitude."
"And here's the third Human Emperor..."
"This one's the founding emperor of the dragon race—looks like a filthy lizard, doesn't he? Hahaha!"
"And this... this is the first Emperor of the Blood Clan. By your people's standards, she'd be a goddess of beauty—but I personally prefer the ladies from the Abyss."
"Oh, and here—this is the elven queen. Want to take her home? I can brand her soul and make her your slave—forever loyal."
Glaton suddenly paused, then raised a finger to point at a delicate-looking cage off to the side.
"This one's especially rare."
"He was the first Artist—the founder of the entire Artist movement."
"Insane, yes—but lightyears ahead of your human scholars in the field of research."
Glaton's smile widened as he gestured toward his many trophies.
He was sure Daniel would be shocked—after all, the cages held some of the greatest beings ever born among the myriad races.
It had always been his pride.
Yet for all these years, he'd had no one to boast to.
Now, with Daniel here, he finally had the chance to show off.
"You may not realize this," he continued, "but if these individuals were allowed to pass through the Gate of Life, your race would be flooded with new power."
"You wouldn't have to worry about the Millennial Apocalypse anymore."
"But alas—they are my collection now."
"And I will never set them free."
"Unless... of course... you're willing to make a deal."
Chapter220-Contamination
Inside the dark and eerie Undead Castle, Glaton wore a proud, almost smug smile on his grotesque face.
After so many years, this was the first time he had ever shown his treasured collection to a living being.
From the corner of his eye, Glaton tried to catch a glimpse of Daniel's expression, expecting to see horror or at least despair etched across his face. After all, any reasonable person would feel dread after seeing something like this.
The poor fool. If it weren't for Glaton's "collection," humanity would likely possess far greater strength by now.
No matter how many times a soul is reincarnated, its innate talent does not change. This fundamental truth meant that the races of the myriad realms—especially humanity—could have been far more powerful than they currently were. Heroes could have risen again and again, growing stronger with each rebirth.
But because Glaton had intercepted and imprisoned these souls, because he had selfishly locked them away for his personal enjoyment, the power of the myriad races had been greatly diminished. The long arc of progress had been forcibly interrupted.
If humanity ever learned of this cruel reality, wouldn't they be driven to utter despair?
Turning his massive head, Glaton opened countless secondary eyes across his bloated and decaying form. All of them focused on Daniel.
He stared intently, eager to capture the flicker of shock, the twitch of a frown, any change in expression. He wanted to see the moment Daniel broke.
But to his confusion and dismay, Daniel's expression didn't change in the slightest.
From beginning to end, Daniel's face remained calm—serene even. He looked on with the cold detachment of a bystander, as though none of this concerned him, as though the imprisoned souls weren't once his kin or predecessors.
"Oh, my friend," Glaton said, his voice oozing sarcasm. "Don't you feel anything for these poor wretches?"
"They are in pain, writhing in torment, struggling in vain. And you... you show not the slightest reaction? But they are your kind, your ancestors, the great warriors of the human race!"
"My dear friend, are you truly made of stone? Do you have no heart at all?"
Faced with Glaton's barrage of emotional manipulation, Daniel simply let out a soft sigh.
"It's... regrettable, in a way," he said, voice calm. "But for humanity, there is only one path—to keep growing stronger, no matter the cost."
"As for those who came before... I pity what they've endured."
As he finished speaking, a dagger suddenly appeared in Daniel's hand.
[Mind Hunt]—a soul-bound weapon—gleamed with a pale, ghostly light as it fused to the blade.
Without the slightest hesitation, Daniel stabbed the dagger straight into Glaton's side. His tone remained casual, as if he were simply continuing a conversation.
"Pity alone doesn't help anyone. I prefer action. And lucky for you, it's not too late."
[Glaton: SAN value decreased by 0.1%]
"Wha—what are you doing, my friend?" Glaton stammered, caught off guard by the sudden assault.
He genuinely could not comprehend why Daniel had suddenly attacked him. There had been no warning signs, no aggression in his tone, nothing.
Of course, Daniel had no intention of explaining himself.
Glaton frowned and glanced down at the dagger embedded in his grotesque flesh. Compared to his immense body, the weapon seemed utterly insignificant. It hadn't even managed to pierce his thick hide.
The whole thing struck him as laughable.
"My friend, you don't really think that little toothpick can hurt me, do you?"
"Your attack is like a mosquito bite. No matter how strong you get, it's meaningless."
"Let me tell you something: This world is eternal. The Undead Lands are unkillable and undying. All souls are immortal... and that includes me."
Daniel nodded nonchalantly, still strolling casually through the castle.
"I'm well aware," he replied.
In truth, Daniel had already noticed something unusual the moment he arrived in the Undead Lands—none of the ghosts or spirits here had visible HP bars.
It was one of this realm's strange rules. No health, no death.
A subtle smile crept onto Daniel's face—playful, almost mocking.
"You're right, Glaton. You can't die," he said. "But... have you checked your own status lately?"
Startled by Daniel's words, Glaton suddenly had a very bad feeling.
He immediately activated a soul-detection spell and pulled up his own status window.
And when his eyes landed on the SAN value, his grotesque expression twisted into one of horror.
[SAN Value Decrease: 0.1%]
[Status: Contamination — SAN value decreases by 0.1% per day]
The number 0.1% didn't seem that large on its own—almost negligible, really. But Glaton knew what happened when SAN value dropped. The effects of mental corruption were devastating. Even a slight dip could spiral into madness.
"You—" Glaton growled, trembling. "What the hell did you do?!"
Daniel smiled, unbothered.
"I didn't do anything," he said lightly.
Before Glaton could respond, Daniel stabbed him again.
And again.
Each strike chipped away another 0.1% of his SAN value.
[SAN value decreased by 0.1%]
[SAN value decreased by 0.1%]
...
Glaton's face contorted as he watched the contamination stack. His SAN was actively deteriorating.
"Damn you, Daniel! You want to die?! In this plane, I cannot be killed!"
But there was nothing he could actually do about it.
Daniel, like Glaton, was in a soul state while in the Undead Lands. And in this place, souls could not die.
The irony was almost too much.
In fact, Daniel was now so powerful that not even a demigod could confidently defeat him—only a true god could pose a threat.
And Glaton was not a god.
Daniel, for his part, ignored the furious yelling and kept stabbing.
Within moments, Glaton's SAN had dropped a full 2%.
The contamination effect evolved. Now, instead of losing 0.1% daily, Glaton's SAN was decreasing by 0.5% per day.
In other words, in just 196 days, Glaton would lose all reason—becoming a raving lunatic. Even in soul form, madness would consume him.
For Glaton, a being that had existed for thousands of years, 200 days was a blink of an eye.
In a panic, he immediately cast every purification spell he had at himself—dozens of cleansing and restoring incantations.
But they did nothing.
The [Contamination] status remained.
Only a true god could remove a corruption of this kind. A demigod like Glaton didn't stand a chance.
"Daniel... what do you want!?" he bellowed.
His only answer came in the form of another stab.
"Still talking?"
Enraged beyond reason, Glaton finally snapped and launched a brutal counterattack.
[Soul Boom]—a soul-shattering technique.
In an instant, a massive explosion of energy tore through the castle, reducing everything to ash and rubble. Even nearby wandering spirits trembled and fled in fear at the shockwave.
But the attack was useless.
The moment Glaton struck, Daniel's soul had already vanished.
Elsewhere—in the Soulstone Mines...
Kafka was focused entirely on digging through the rocks, searching for Soul Stones.
Behind him, Daniel stood silently—though his figure was shimmering slightly, as if flickering in and out of reality.
Noticing the strange distortion, Kafka turned around in concern.
"My friend, are you alright? You look... unstable. Are you sick?"
"Soul Blink is a dangerous sign. Should I take you to a doctor?"
Daniel shook his head calmly and answered, "No need to worry. Let's just focus on collecting Soul Stones."
No sooner had he spoken than his figure vanished again, disappearing on the spot.
Kafka stared at the space he'd just occupied, dumbfounded.
"That Soul Blink is serious, man... You really should see a doctor."